Being a Shadow meant growing up at a rapid pace.

As Dick's age went into the teenage years, he found himself to be becoming more mature, far more mature than most kid his age. Gone was the child who feared the empty space in his bedroom, replaced by a boy with a stronger body and mind. Even his vocabulary had taken a turn for the better, though he still found joy in messing with his words. If he ignored the incident concerning Armstead, he could call himself genuinely happy.

Today, Dick found himself spending his day off while in Ra's study, the two of them playing a game of chess. He had never been able to beat his mentor before, but it wasn't the game that he enjoyed anyways. Dick found joy in simply conversing with his guardian. The two of them became a lot closer since their discussion after they encountered Batman, and having the man by his side so often made it easier to hold the weight of everything else on his shoulders. He was no longer bothered by Talia and the majority of the Shadows' intense dislike for him. Ra's chose him for a reason, and their opinions meant nothing compared to his.

"Checkmate," Ra's murmured, looking amused when Dick slumped in his chair with a defeated groan. "Worry not, child, you will best me in battle someday."

"Well with you teaching me, I'll be able to beat anyone," Dick said in a somewhat cheerful tone, and his thoughts strayed towards Batman once again. Ever since he saw how Ra's still wanted the bat at his side, Dick was constantly envisioning himself defeating the Dark Knight. If he took down Batman, that would make him the perfect heir for Ra's, wouldn't it? He would no longer have to fear being replaced if he was out of the picture.

Ra's spoke again before his thoughts could stray too far, "You certainly have excelled quite a bit during the years you have spent training with me... Your only setback was your hesitance to kill, but I think we've worked past that for the most part. All that's left is for you to avenge your parents, and then you will be able to move past the beginning stages of training, and start your real training."

Beginning stages? Dick felt a frown form on his face. Everything he had learned so far had been very complicated, and extremely difficult to master. How much farther could Ra's push him without making him die from exhaustion? "I've been learning the same thing as everyone else. Isn't my training standard procedure? I'm on par with Jade now, and she told me she only has a couple of weeks left before she'll be an official Shadow and able to go on missions." His face grew warm when he thought about Jade; the girl had flirted with him on several occasions, not minding the fact that they were a whole five years apart. Training with her became very awkward, very fast. He cleared his throat before speaking again, "Doesn't that mean my training should be complete as well?"

To his surprise, Ra's shook his head in response. "Jade is not training to be my second in command, is she? Like Talia, you will train even harder than the rest of them. But, while she is indeed my daughter, she is not worthy of being my right hand. You will train even farther than she has." He folded his hands in front of him, studying Dick's face. "You will have to participate in the Demon Trials, and then you will have to bathe in the Lazarus Pits, which is something that not even Talia is able to do. These methods of training is what will set you apart from the other Shadows, and only when you complete these trials will the Shadows have the same respect for you that they have for me."

Something about both the Trials and the Pits made Dick's hair stand on end. "Care to elaborate on what those are?" He asked, unsuccessfully trying to hide his nervousness. "You've never mentioned either of those things before."

"I cannot tell you what the Demon Trials are, other than that they are designed to test your mind." His steely eyes flicked with an identifiable emotion. "As for the Lazarus Pits, it would benefit you if you saw one for your own eyes. Come." He stood, and on instinct, Dick immediately copied the gesture and followed his guardian out of the study. "The Pits are only to be seen by Shadows that I have deemed worthy. You have proven that you can be trusted with this knowledge, so I will show you the secret to my success," Ra's brought him outside, and led him across the ground, dismissing the foot soldiers that either bowed or saluted them.

Dick barely noticed the cold that settled on his skin; living on an isolated mountain for so long allowed him to adjust to the weather a long time ago. But one thing he would never get used to was how he was greeted. Even Jade had to either give him a half bow or salute to him when she came into contact with him, and she was one of his only friends. It always made him feel isolated, and the loneliness of his role only intensified every time someone had to show him that kind of respect. Being powerful wasn't as great as people thought.

"Here," Ra's told him, drawing him out of his thoughts. The man opened the doors to what Dick knew to be a forbidden building, which revealed a long and narrow staircase leading underground. Wow... That was kind of cliche... "The Pits are our most sacred treasure. When I am not around, it is highly guarded so that no intruder will be able to go through. If someone evil were to use these, the entire world would be in grave danger." They walked down the steep steps, and the further they went, the dimmer the light became, and Dick had to squint in order to see Ra's. But it didn't last long. Eventually, the space was filled with an eerie green light.

"What is that?" Dick whispered as the steps disappeared and they walked closer to the origins of the light. "It looks kinda creepy."

"That...is the Lazarus Pit." And that's when Dick saw it. A giant pool of green liquid sat in the middle of the cave they had entered, which let off the eerie light Dick had noticed before. "If you decide to become my heir, you will have to go into that water."

"...What does it do?" Dick hesitantly asked, afraid of the answer. If taking a bath in that green water was what it took for him to become Ra's heir, then he doubted it was ordinary water. There was something mystical about it, he felt.

Ra's eyes didn't stray from the Pit. "It heals even the most fatal wounds, and is believed to have the capability of reviving the dead, though that has been untested thus far. But, it has a catch- those who swim in its waters will experience hallucinations unlike anything anyone has seen before. If not careful, the person who dares to use it will likely go mad. One must have a strong will and mind to keep those effects at bay."

Dick gulped, taking a small step backwards. What Ra's described was not something he wanted to have to experience, but if that was what he had to do to become his heir, then what choice did he have. "That sounds unpleasant, but if it necessary to becoming your heir, I will do it." Ra's made a humming noise of approval while Dick frowned at the Pit. "What else can it do?"

"It can restore youth. That is why many have attempted to bathe in its waters without any injury." He seemed displeased. "But as it is, using the Pits while you are completely healthy makes it more likely for you to become insane. That is why whenever I use them for youth, I bring myself injury first. The more you are injured, the least likely you lose your mind."

"...Wait, does that mean I have to be seriously hurt before I take the test?" Dick questioned, alarmed by the thought. "Do I have to hurt myself? Will you make someone else do it?"

Ra's smiled at him reassuringly. "Do not worry over that now, you should have plenty of time before you are ready to bathe in the Pits. Besides, you will have to avenge your parents before anything else... Which reminds me." To Dick's surprise, Ra's suddenly produced a piece of paper similar to the one he gave him when he asked him to execute Armstead. "I have your first real target."

After a split second of hesitation, Dick accepted the paper and immediately looked at the name. "Anthony Zucco, aka Tony." He then looked at the picture, taking in the greasy black hair and soulless brown eyes. "...It says here that he and his brother own a manure factory in Newtown, but they also work together as mob bosses." He narrowed his own eyes before forcing them away from the information. "He sounds awful, but I don't see how he would be a priority of the Shadows. Is he who I think he is?"

Ra's put a steady hand on his shoulder. "...That, Richard, is the confirmed murderer of Mary and John Grayson." Dick's blood went cold, and his eyes sought the image of Zucco once again, immediately saving it to his memory. "And after your disappearance, the authorities decided that he must have murdered you as well."

Dick didn't care about that last tidbit of information, he could only focus on the crime that Zucco actually did- he took his parents away from him. His fingers tightened around the thin slip of paper in his hands. He had him. The person that killed his parents seemed to be within arms reach, and Dick wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them and finish this. Never mind the fact that Dick hated killing, Tony Zucco would definitely be his exception. He would pay for what he had done to his parents, he would make sure of that. "Where is he?" He growled out, and Ra's seemed mildly surprised by his sudden flip in attitude.

"Zucco is being held in Newtown, and has been there for the past two days. I only just caught word that he was linked to your parents' deaths." He inclined his head. "I take it that you wish to end him immediately?" Dick nodded stiffly, and Ra's sighed. "I thought so. Richard, I must ask for you to wait until tomorrow, after you are fully rested. If you leave now, the only thing that shall be on your mind is hatred, and your anger will cloud your judgment. You will be of no use to anyone if you are dead, and your parents will go unavenged if you are killed as well."

Dick's immediate response was to rebel against that idea, but he forced those feelings back with a deep, shuddering breath. Ra's was right, rushing into battle right now would only get him killed. He had to be perfectly stable when he went after Zucco, or everything he worked for would have been for nothing. "What's the plan?" He asked, but did not remove his eyes from the picture. He now had a face for the person who murdered his parents, and it took all of his willpower to not rip the paper to shreds and then proceed to tear down the rest of the base to tame his frustration. He had never felt so much anger like this, it was an animalistic rage that he could barely keep under control.

Ra's studied him for a moment longer, as though he was searching for a sign that he was calm enough for conversation. After a moment passed, he seemed to find what he was searching for. "As we speak, a few of my men are killing the people Zucco has hired to break him out of prison, and they will be the ones to get him out instead. By the time you are ready, they will have lured Zucco to a secluded area in Newtown where you can then execute him in any means you deem fit." Dick twitched at that, and for the first time he wondered how he was going to go through with his plans to kill Zucco. Would he shoot him? Slit his throat with his sword? Strangle him? Ra's noticed his frazzled look. "I see you have not yet made a solid plan on bow you will execute him. That is also a good reason for why you should not go after him just yet."

"...I'll figure it out by the time I leave," Dick mumbled, and began to hand over the slip of paper. Ra's shook his head and pushed it back towards him.

"No, child. I am certain you will wish to keep that for yourself."

Dick frowned and looked down at the picture. Ra's wanted him to keep it as a memo of sorts, so that he could look back at this someday. But would Dick be proud of his accomplishment, or would he learn to be ashamed over what he did? Right now, all he could feel was a burning desire to shed blood, but what if that didn't last? "I don't-"

Ra's held up a hand, and Dick fell silent. "Go rest, Richard. You are in a very emotional state, and you are probably very confused. Your resistance to spilling blood will fade once you have avenged your parents, and if that doesn't work, the Trails and the Pits certainly will open your mind." He fully turned his body towards the green water in a dismissive manner. "Farewell."

Now apprehensive over the Demon Trials and Lazarus Pits again, Dick slowly turned around and left the room, his head swimming with a vast amount of thoughts. Zucco was the main subject of his inner turmoil, but the Pits and Trials were there too, and so was his parents. Time and time again, he questioned whether or not his parents would approve of what he's been doing. Would they be proud of what he has accomplished, or would they be horrified? Would they approve of his decision to become Ra's heir for the rest of eternity? And what about Zucco? Would they even want to be avenged like this?

"Of course they would," Dick muttered to himself. "They would want justice for what has happened to them. If I was murdered, I would bring myself back from the dead if it meant getting justice for my death. If they're proud of me for anything I've done, it would have to be this. And I'm sure they could look past everything else if it means avenging them. If they don't approve of it now, they will once they see all of the good I can do when I stay with Ra's."

Satisfied with his train of thought, Dick erased any form of hesitance he harbored in his mind before. He was doing the right thing killing Tony Zucco. Hell, he even did the right thing when he executed Armstead. He had been too focused on the wrong morals that his parents have taught him to see the good he has done for the world. Armstead was a dangerous man who worked with the Shadows' enemy to get rid of Ra's. And if Ra's died, then who would work on ridding the planet of its filth? Not the imbeciles of the Justice League, that was for sure.

Dick stopped in front of his room, already feeling more relaxed than he did when he left it this morning. Who would have guessed that visiting the Lazarus Pits would have ended like this? It seemed like everything had changed in the span of a half hour.

xXx

AN: Okay, so as a reminder, the chemicals from the Lazarus Pit affects everyone mentally, and you don't have to literally swim in the Pit to be affected by it. In Arkham City, there was a place called Wonder City, and their society used the Lazarus chemicals as a power source of sorts. The inhabitants of that city were never in direct contact with the chemical, but the radiation of it still drove them insane. So, in conclusion, just being near the chemicals is enough to affect someone mentally. Maybe being near the Pits for even a couple of seconds can change them... (*hint hint*)

Anyways, thank you all so much for your reviews! I appreciate all of the amazing comments that I have received, and I can't wait to see you all next chapter!