Disclaimer: I still sadly do not own Young Justice; all rights go to their respective owners. I only own the Rangers and the plot
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The next day around 5:30.
"So he caused a humongous fire storm destroying the monsters and almost you as well?" asked Wally
"Then he went back to his astral plane because he was ashamed of himself?" asked Roy
Richie nodded his head.
"And we haven't heard from him all day." Said M'gann
"I went to go see him but he's not being very talkative." Said Zatanna
It was the afternoon after their last mission and the Team was fully gathered with Richie and Anna and were sitting on the sofa telling Roy and Wally what they had missed.
"Is he throwing knives against a target?" asked Richie
Zatanna looked up at him. "Yes, he is. How did you know?"
Richie sighed "It's what he does when he's really depressed."
"Why is he so depressed? Because this Ogre thing mention his parents? Robin watched his parents die!"
"I don't think it was because of what the Ogre said, he keeps on saying 'I swore I would control myself…' over and over again" said Zatanna
Anna nodded her head "I figured."
"What did he do that was so bad?" asked Wally
Richie rolled up his shirt and showed them he had burn scars covering the whole right side of his chest and shoulder. "When he accidentally did this to me he swore he would never lose control and do that ever again. That is why he directs all of his magic through his arrows and is not a magic user."
"But how could he harness that much power you saw what he did! Even my father would have trouble doing that."
"He didn't harness it." Said Anna "That what wizard do they use magic from outside them. Agni, even though he will always say the differ, is a sorcerer and uses magic from inside of him."
"But he said he was a wizard why would he lie?" Robin asked
"What comes to mind the first thing when someone says sorcerer?" asked Richie
"Evil guy twisting his little beard and laughing that evil laugh all the bad guys use." Admitted Wally truthfully
"That is why he says he's a wizard." Concluded Artemis
Richie nodded his head and rested it on the back of the couch. "He's been away to long, Zatanna could you please go ad try to convince him to come back?"
"I'll try but I doubt he will listen to me."
"He'll listen to you more than any of us." Said Kaldur
Zatanna opened a portal and walked into it.
*Thunk* a knife slid into the target
Zatanna stepped out of the portal into the astral plane and looked around Agni was by his armory throwing knives.
*Thunk* another one hit the center of the target.
"Agni?"
*Thunk*
"Agni!"
*Thunk*
"Taeh that sefink latem!" she said
Agni next knife suddenly turned red hot and he dropped it and blew on his hand.
He turned and faced her. "What?"
"What is wrong with you?"
"I could have hurt someone." Agni said turning back to her and returning to his knives.
"But you didn't!"
"I swore I would control myself." He said throwing another knife
Zatanna walked up and stood in front of the target before he could throw his next knife.
Agni dropped his hands to his sides "Just leave me alone." He said miserably
"Richie showed me what happened to him."
"Must you remind me what happened last time I lost control?" Agni said
Zatanna stared at him and folded her arms. "You didn't hurt anyone and no one blames you for what you did."
Agni looked at her. "Don't you understand? I lost control and almost killed everyone and myself! So I might not have hurt anyone this time but what about next time? Hmm? There no knowing that I may not kill everyone next time. I CAN'T CONTROL MY POWERS!"
"And that's why you became an arcane archer, to try to use your powers in a controlled way."
"Exactly!"
Zatanna dropped her arms and rolled her eyes. "You are such an idiot you know that?"
A small smile crept to Agni's face but he didn't say a word. He still had a sad look on his face.
"If you don't gear up and come back your going to be sorry!" Zatanna said trying as hard as she could to be threatening.
"Or what?"
"Or I'll let Richie into here."
"He'd never come."
Zatanna thought for a few seconds
"Then I'll bring Wally."
The smile on Agni's face slowly grew bigger in till he was laughing.
"Are you blackmailing me to return to the material plane?" he said trying to stop laughing
"Yes!"
"What can't you just leave me be?"
"Because I… I want you to come back!"
Agni rolled his eyes "I thought I was a bad liar." He said walking into his armory.
"Are you coming back?" she yelled after him
Agni ignored her and slipped on a chest plate made out of flexible black dragon scales. He grabbed his bow and quiver and slid them onto his back. He slung his katana onto his back with a shotgun and grabbed his weapon belt and cloak and walked out.
"Yes I am. I just have to get something from my cave."
Agni returned fastening a large red ruby to his cloak.
"What's that?"
Agni wiped some dust of it and said "It was made for me to help me control my powers. I thought I had enough control over them but I was wrong." Agni sighed
"What does it do?" Zatanna asked curiously
"It's a magic damper."
"But won't that make it hard for me and Anna?"
Agni shook his head "It will only bother me."
Agni opened a portal and walked through it with Zatanna. Before then entered the material plane Agni slipped his hood on.
Zatanna looked at him "Take your hood off!"
"No."
Zatanna reached over and yanked it off
Agni just glared at her and they stepped into the cave.
Batman was standing there waiting for them.
"Oh great , yippee." Agni groaned inwardly
"Agni if you would follow me that would be nice."
Agni followed Batman down the hall into a closed room
"Are you okay? I heard you had a ruff night yesterday."
Agni looked at him in surprise "Is Master Bruce asking me if I am alright?"
Bruce glared at him "Don't get used to it and answer my question."
"I'm fine it won't happen again."
"I am not concerned about you exploding like that; feel free to do it when you want. It's that Richie told me it tires you out."
"No I'm fine I had too much magic energies lock up because I haven't been using them and when I got angry it exploded."
"What's that around your neck?"
"It will help me control my powers."
Batman nodded his head "I am here to tell you that there have been many rumors of a short bearded guy walking around with a large hammer and a shield with the Super-family symbol on it in Gotham running around beating the hell out of criminals and spending the rest of his time in taverns."
Agni groan and face-palmed "It's Connie."
"The Super-family are dwarves in your dimension?" Batman said with a snort of laughter
"Yes, they are."
"Well I would suggest that you go find out, in civilian clothes, if you own any."
"You mean without my armor?"
"There is not much anyone here can do to you that has not already been done."
"What about the purple skin and white hair?" Agni asked rubbing his face.
"It will be night time no one will notice."
"Am I to go alone?"
"No the whole team will be under your control during any missions regarding you and your dimension."
"Are you sure that will be wise?" Agni asked dubiously
Batman nodded his head. "Yes I am sure. You will be leaving in an hour I would hurry and get ready."
Agni saluted and went back to the Team informing them of the mission.
"Everyone should have at least 1 concealed weapon."
"I'll have my utility belt." Robin said taking his masking off and quickly replacing it with sunglasses before anyone could see his eyes. He handed a pair to Richie.
"Hey Agni could you bring me some throwing stars I'm all out." Richie called going towards his room.
Agni nodded and opened his portal and walked through it. Zatanna hopped in right before it closed.
Agni stepped out in front of his cave and dropped his cloak onto table.
"Do you even own clothes that aren't armor?" said a voice behind him
Agni jumped and spun around and a simple dagger appeared in his hand with a flash of light and stopped it an inch before it reached Zatanna's neck.
She didn't even flinch
Agni exhaled deeply and said "Never sneak up on me! I could accidentally kill you! I own many clothes that aren't armor… I think."
Agni scowled at her smile and went into his armory (followed by her) he returned his weapons to their places and took off his armor. He hung his armor up on a stand, starts undoing his belt and unbuttoned his pants.
Zatanna blushed a deep red and dropped her eyes. "Sorry" she said "I'll wait outside." She finished speeding out.
Agni looked up in bewilderment. "Did I do something wrong?" he said to air she just was standing in. "I'm still wearing breeches." He shrugged and took of his bracer by muttering a few magical words.
Agni walked into his armor room and stared at all of them, none of them looked very civilian like other then a leather vest he had, he picked up the vest and looked at it. He vetoed the idea and replaced it on its stand he went over to a closet that was standing in the corner and opened it. It had 2 outfits that Richie had given him for his birthdays.
One was a dark blue vest that was cut halfway up the chest with skin tight shorts that went halfway down his thighs and ridiculous large hat that was wider than his shoulders, with half an ostrich's feathers hanging off it. It also came with a pair of pointed toed boots that went up past his knee and long white opera gloves.
The other out fit was a purple, green and blue puffy shirt with golden trimmings on it. It came had orange leggings with stripes criss-crossing down them. There was a pair of white and pink sandals and a brown leopard skin hat with a single raven feather tucked into its band.
Agni held them both up eye them puzzled. He chose the bark blue one with the vest, he quickly put it on and looked at himself in the mirror.
"The dwarf owes me big time for having to wear this." He said to himself. He picked up the other one and he walked out side to Zatanna, who was waiting for him.
Zatanna gave him one look and face-palmed. "No." she said "Just… NO!"
"Is this one better?" Agni asked meekly holding up the other one.
Zatanna gave it one horrified look and pointed her wand at him and said "Lamorn gnihtolc Lamorn gnihtolc
LAMORN GNIHTOLC!"
Magical energies swirled around Agni turning his clothes into a pair of black jeans, a black hoodie, black and grey sneakers and black leather gloves with no fingertips.
Agni looked down at himself in amazement "This defiantly looks better." He said
"I am taking you shopping tomorrow." She said
Agni looked at her she was still wearing her costume
"What about you?" he said "You're going in that?"
Zatanna shook her head "Egnahc mrofinu otni raluger sehtolc." She said pointing her wand at herself.
Her clothes did the same as Agni's did; suddenly she was wearing a dark red top with black pants, shoes and earrings.
"Uh… you look nice." Said Agni
"You're starting with the 'uh' again." She said with a laugh.
Agni and Zatanna went back into his armory.
"Do you need anything?" Agni asked her.
"No I'm going to just bring my wand."
"Suit your self." He said.
He set some throwing knives into a set of straps then he pulled them up onto his arm his arm. Agni picked up his bracers and put them back on under his sleeves. He flexed his hands in several different ways to check if all his hidden components were operational: hidden daggers, punch blades, dart shooters, mini mithril grappling hook and lock-picks.
"Well everything's working." Agni said
"Is that everything it can do?" asked Zatanna?"
"Maybe."
"That means no… Who made those?"
"Master Bruce made them for me."
"Who's that?"
"Someone from my dimension." Agni said with a small smile.
Agni picked up his Bag of holding and began tossing a few things in it, a few healing potions, some healing stones, his pair of small crossbows, his katana, some throwing stars and daggers and several different types of grenades.
"I wanted to give you one of these I have an extra one somewhere around here." Agni commented throwing in a few extra crossbow dart magazines
"Oh thank you."
Agni put the mall bag on his belt and turned around.
"Okay I'm ready."
"Then let's go."
They went through the portal and into the mission room where the Team was waiting for them.
"About time your back." Said Conner
"I didn't have anything to wear." said Agni looking thankfully at Zatanna.
Everyone was wearing their everyday clothes. The only person who was wearing the same clothes was Conner who was leaning up against the wall with his arms folded and Roy was holding a large bag.
"How are we going to get there?" asked Richie
"I'll take Richie and Anna on the motorbikes." Said Robin
"I'll take Roy, Conner and Artemis in the Bio-ship." Said M'gann
"Then I'll run there." Wally said
"I'll teleport with Kaldur and Zatanna."
"Zatanna, why don't you come with us on the bikes?" Robin asked
"I uh sure if you want." said Zatanna perplexed
"Okay, fine then, Richie you can come with me." Agni said perplexed "Team and Ranger GO!" he shouted and everyone zoomed off in different directions.
Kaldur and Richie went and stood by Agni
"Let them get a head start it takes us a split second to get there." Agni said giving Richie his throwing stars.
"What's up between you and Zatanna?" said Kaldur
Agni sighed "I knew that question was coming." He sighed again "There is nothing really between us, not much unfortunately."
Richie snorted. "You like her don't you?"
"No shit Sherlock." Agni exclaimed "Don't you think if there was something between us you would be the first I'd tell?" he turned to Kaldur "No offense"
"None taken, Agni." said Kaldur
"We should go now." Agni said placing a hand on their shoulders.
They felt something pull and push then and they were suddenly standing in Gotham City in the slums in front of bars and other assorted places.
"I guess we are still first." Kaldur said
Agni pressed his intercom "This is Agni reporting. Er I don't know if I am doing this right but where is everyone?"
"Almost there." Said Wally it sounded like he was panting
"We're coming in now." M'gann said dropping down in front of them with Conner and Artemis."
"Where is Roy?" asked Kaldur
"Keeping lookout." Said Conner
Several motorcycles came rolling down the street. Robin, Anna and Zatanna hopped of and joined them.
"Everyone ready?" asked Agni
Roy jumped down
"Okay here's the plan we spread out in pairs and look for any signs of a short person running around bashing people with a hammer and drinking a lot, okay pair up and spread out." Agni said
Robin bee-lined towards Zatanna but Anna intercepted him and dragged him away. Kaldur walked away with Roy, M'gann and Conner walked off in the opposite direction. Artemis looked at Wally and sighed and followed him.
Agni, Zatanna and Richie stared at each other in a silent argument.
"You two can go I rather be alone." Agni said
Zatanna tilted her head puzzled "Oh okay…." She walked off followed by Richie who gave a look at Agni that said 'What in the abysses name are you doing' very clearly
Agni sighed and smacked himself in the head. "What was I thinking?" he muttered to himself
He inspected the ground looking for large short footsteps. He wandered aimlessly around the street. He walked down an alley way and saw a bunch of thugs sitting around a fire.
He walked past them without a word. Just as he was going to go past them one of them stepped in his way.
"Hey who'd think you are just walkin down here?" he said
Agni stared at the guy from under his hood. "You got a problem with something human?"
The guys raised an eyebrow "Kinda cocky ain't ya?" said one next to the fire.
"How about we beat you silly and leave you to walk home naked in the morning?"
Agni grinned "Be my guest."
The man in front Agni lunged down to grab him. Agni stepped back and kicked him in the head. The man went sprawling onto the ground.
"Now you're going to get it." Yelled one swinging his fist at Agni's face. Agni ducked and disappeared into the darkness of the shadows.
"Where'd he go?" said the one who got kicked he was now standing up holding a piece of wood with several nails in it.
Agni appeared behind him "I'm right here dumbass." Agni said chopping him in the back of the neck. Agni rubbed his fist and lashed out his foot to the next on knocking him and, Agni then leaped forward his muscled arms punching the man's chest. When the man fell down Agni heard a tinkle of chain from behind him. Agni turned around to see another one holding a long chain in his hand that was raised to swings. Agni raised his right and shot a dart into the man's neck. The man looked dazed for a moment then slumped to the ground. Agni turned to the next one who was cowering behind the fire. Agni slowly walked over to the fire and scooped some of it up into his hand and tossed it up and down like a small ball, the man shrieked in fear.
"So you're the only one left huh?" Agni said
"I'll... give you all my money just don't kill me." He stammered
Agni cocked his head "If I was going to kill you or them don't you think I would have used this?" Agni said jerking his wrist flicking his hidden dagger out. "Or this?" he flicked out his punch blade. "Or maybe even this ball of lovely fire?"
"Then what do you want?"
"I want to know where the little guy named Connie with a big hammer and shield is?"
"The new guy? The one that has been beating all of us up?"
"Yep that's the one? Now if you tell me where he is I'll let you run for it… if you don't you'll be joining your friends in the land of dreams… a little more painfully."
"He drinks in the Dancing Lions bar!" the man shrieked again as Agni came closer. "Three blocks away from here. Though he might be beating up gangs somewhere around there!"
"Good now I'll count to five then I'll throw this ball of fire if your not gone it's gonna burn you. Now run!"
The man ran down the alley while Agni counted "One three five!" he said throwing the ball; it hit the man just before he turned the corner. The man ran down the street screaming with his coat on fire.
"Nicely done Agni." said a dark voice behind him
Agni turned around to see Batman standing in the corner
"Hmm I didn't detect you coming."
"That is because I found a way to hide my aura by sucking all magic away from me. It also dampens spell that are sent my way."
Agni nodded his head "I'm impressed."
"I came to check up on you when I found out you weren't with Zatanna like I thought you would."
"There was an odd number of us so I decided to go alone."
"If you ever might want to talk you know I-Well maybe Bruce may be able to help you."
Agni smiled under his hood "Thank you Master Bruce. You are much kinder than the one from my dimension."
Batman accepted the complement with silence. "I must go now. You should tell the team what you have learned."
"I will. Thank you Batman for this little talk."
Batman nodded and faded into the shadows
Agni put his finger to his ear and spoke "Team I found out where Connie might be."
"Where?" came Robins voice
"In a tavern called the Dancing Lion. Everyone rendezvous there as fast as you can."
Everyone confirmed that they were on their way.
"Um guys, could someone tell me what a block is?" Agni asked
"I'll come and show you the way." Said Wally
Wally came zooming around the corner and a few minutes later they were all standing in front of the bar. There were many loud noises and different smells coming out of the place. Agni looked around to make sure everyone was there.
"How are we going to get in there?" asked Wally "We're a bunch of kids."
Agni slipped off his hood. "We're doing this my way
Agni walked up to the door where a large man guarding the door.
The man grinned evilly when they approached "Sorry little kiddies this place is only for grown ups but I heard there is a place selling milkshakes a few blocks from here."
Agni looked up at the guy and kneed him heavily in the groin making him bend over them elbowed him in the neck knocking him
"What is a milkshake?" Agni asked Wally before walking in
"It's when you take milk and ice and different flavoring and mix it together making a delicious drink."
"I'll have to get one sometime."
"Tomorrow when I take you shopping."
"You're taking him shopping?" demanded Robin
"Dude what did she do to convince you to go shopping with her?" Wally said
"Now's not the time for this!" said Roy from behind them
"Red Arrow is right we should go in." said Kaldur
Agni nodded his head (Yes I know he does it a lot.)and walked into the bar.
The place was packed with men and women singing, dancing and drinking. When Agni entered the music stopped and most people turned to stare at him.
"Doesh that boy hav purple skinsh and pointied earsh?" said a drunken man leaning over on the bar.
"Yes that I do." Said Agni calmly
"Hey, You! Kids aren't allowed in-" said a man said a man walking up with a baseball bat. He dropped down with a dart in his chest.
Agni calmly slid two more darts into his bracers.
"I wouldn't anger him if I were you he could take out the whole place with a single breath if he wanted to." Said Wally from behind him puffing out his chest
"You must be the Blackranger." Said the bartender he was holding a glass and was wiping it with a dirty cloth.
"How do you know who I am?"
"Connie always talks about his dark elven friend."
"Really? When?" Agni huffed
"Only when he's really drunk." The bartender said
"You wouldn't know where he is now would you?"
The bartender looked at a clock on the wall. "He usually comes in in about 15 minutes for a drink. Feel free to sit and wait, not that I could stop you and your company if I wanted to."
Agni smiled "Thank you."
"Can't we wait outside?" hissed Artemis under her breath.
"Sure go sit and watch if you want." Said Conner
"My father would kill me if he knew where I was right now." Said Zatanna keeping close to Agni.
"Hey pretty boy how much you sell the pretty girl for?" said a drunken man walking up. He got answered by being sent across the room by Agni's hand and he would have gotten more but Zatanna withheld him.
"Hey Agni you got any spare coins on you by any chance?" said Richie
Agni pulled a handful of gold coins and walked up to the barman "Get them whatever they want on me. Just nothing too strong," Agni said handing him a few gold coins.
"Sure no thing." said the barman eyeing the gold coins eagerly
"Get yourselves something to drink, if you want." Agni said sitting down in the corner
"Uh I doubt they sell juice in this place." Said Wally grinning weakly
They all sat around Agni (who everyone else was trying to get far away from) except for Richie who was at the bar trying different drinks.
"You should try dis one Agni it taste almost like mead" Richie said
"What is it?"
"Beer." Said the barman
"Is it okay he's drinking that much?" asked M'gann
"He'll be okay. I've watched him drink much stronger stuff than that, I can't even smell it from here"
Conner eyes Richie and walked over "Gimme one too."
"Conner!" scolded M'gann
"What? I just want to taste."
They sat and waited for a few more minutes watching the bar and dragging Richie away from it.
After a longer wait then they thought a man came running in.
"They got the short guy in the alley their going to beat him to death!" he shouted
Agni stood up and strode over to the man. "Where?" he asked simply
"Down the street second alley on the left." The man said
"Team move out you heard the man." Agni shouted.
Robin was suddenly holding his eskrima sticks and had his utility belt around his shoulder. Artemis was holding a small crossbow and had her mask on. Roy took a bow and quiver out of his bag and slipped his mask on as well. Richie was holding a quarterstaff that he had collapsed in his pocket. Anna and Zatanna had their wands. And Kaldur was holding his Water-bearers. What about Agni you may ask? Nothing he just ran down the street.
They reached the alleyway and found 2 guards holding metal pipes guarding the entrance. Agni walked up to them and without a word his punch daggers came out and he punched them both several times before letting them fall down. He continued on barely breaking his stride to a ring of thugs that were cheer on someone.
Someone was holding Connie and someone else was beating him.
The team saw Agni's red ruby he had on around his neck suddenly shine really bright illuminating the alley even more than the fires and street lights.
Everyone took a step back but Zatanna walked gallantly up beside him and looked into the fires that were burning in his eyes.
"Go get them." She whispered.
Agni dashed ahead taking out the first few thugs without anyone noticing then they started to turn and notice he was steadily taking all the thugs in the back out
"It's his dark skinned friend he was talking about get him!" yelled someone from the crowd
Robin and Kaldur surged ahead beating people out of their way. Conner smile and pounded his way through saying something about 'no one hits him and gets away with it, even if it's another dimension him'. Artemis and Roy not wanting to hurt their team mates from behind climbed up to the roof and began shooting down. Wally zipped around hitting people from behind and taking any weapons away from the people that had them. Zatanna and Anna not having much to do just sat back and enjoyed watching an enraged Agni and Conner pound their way through the crowd of thugs to reach Connie.
Agni still had his punch blades out was steadily making his way to Connie, mostly because when the thugs saw a dark skinned, pointy eared, enraged person with large punch blades coming at them they tended to turn and run for their lives.
Agni finally reached Connie at the same time Conner did. Conner went for the person holding Connie and Agni went for Connie's attackers
Agni walked up to him in till the thug had his back against the wall. The thug tried to fight Agni off with his fist but Agni just knocked the bows aside. Agni swung a right hook taking the guy in the face. "No one!" he sucker punched him "Hurts!" he uppercut him "My!" he kicked him as hard as he could in the groin "Friends." He finished by bashing the man over the head. He turned back to Connie who was standing and had retrieved his hammer and shield.
"'Ey dark elf, Did ya miss me?" Connie shouted cheerfully
"I can't say I didn't. how's everything going."
"Ahh ya know kickin ass here drinkin dere, everythin goin well. Did ya bring me a pint of something real? They drink stuff like horse piss 'ere."
Agni smiled at the dwarfs words. "Yes I did and you can get it later."
All the thugs were down and the team regrouped
Connie and Conner locked eyes and stared at each other for a few seconds
"Well, I'm defiantly a good lookin lad." Connie said confidently
"Uh thanks?" said Conner
"Now let's go get that pint." Connie said "Is dat Richie and Anna?"
"The one and only!" said Richie running over and hugging the dwarf (even though he had to bend down a bit.)
"Anna! How about a hug for an old pal?"
Anna crinkled her nose "Not in till you've had a bath? When's the last time you washed yourself?"
"I told ye a thousand, thousand times DWARVES DON'T TAKE BATH! WE DRINK ALE AN' MEAD AN' ALL THAT GOOD STUFF."
Wow longest chapter over 5,000 words…
Now go review and tell me how you liked it!
I hoped you enjoyed it
More tomorrow or the day after that depending
SorifTheHunter