Lian Yu:
The Story
Of Oliver Queen
Disclaimer: I've had this in my head a long while now but never did anything with it until recently. Takes place after season 1 but Tommy is NOT dead.
Summary: Sometime in the aftermath of the Undertaking, a book about Oliver's first two years on Lian Yu is released.
My name is Oliver Queen and for five years I was believed dead after my family's yacht, 'The Queen's Gambit', sank in the North China Sea. But I wasn't, as instead, I ended up on the island of Lian Yu. Which meant 'Purgatory' in English and once was a prison that China used for certain prisoners. My story, of which I will share the first two years of my life on Lian Yu with those who read this, will not be for the faint of heart. For you will learn what it took for me to survive and become more then what I once was prior to sailing to the North China Sea. My triumphs and failures and the secrets I have kept locked away in my mind from what I endured of my first two years on Lian will perhaps laugh, cry, and possibly even feel a great amount of anger.
Whether its towards me or towards another. To Mei Gulong, if you are reading this, I hope this helps provide you a further sense of closure. To Sara Lance and the Lance family in its entirety, I am sorry from the bottom of my heart. For a secret I was asked to keep will be known within these pages. A secret that will most likely shatter any remaining bonds I have with the Lance family. So if you are ready to read the story of how I became something… Else. In order to survive… Then simply turn the page.
Oliver Queen
"In tonight's top story is the surprise reveal of Oliver Queen's first ever book known as 'Lian Yu: The Story Of Oliver Queen'. Which features the first two years of his time on the island and has said that it will cause a range of emotions while not being for the faint at heart. Early reviews are already coming in and a few medical professionals have even weighed in with their thoughts of Oliver Queen's story. This reporter has yet to read it but I am certainly eager! This is Susan Williams at Starling Entertainment News."
Moira
For Moira, being handed a book from a guard at Iron Heights that her son had apparently written had been vastly unexpected. Even more so was the fact that said book was about the first two years of his time on that horrid island that had turned him into a bow wielding vigilante. The very same vigilante she'd shot and that horrifying fact kept her up at night after having realized her son and that man were one in the same. She was quite frankly amazed that that boy of her's could even stand to be around her after that! And the feelings he put into the pages of his book were simply astounding, heart breaking even. As she had been unable to stop crying after learning that her Robert had ended his own life just to ensure their son could live on. That he was even buried on Lian Yu's shores was also something of a relief as well for her and wondered if perhaps a visit or arrangements to move his body to be buried in Starling could happen.
But if her son's book could touch her this deeply in a short amount of time… She was almost dreading to see what else could touch her just as much. Especially where poor Sara was concerned…
Thea and Roy
Much like her mother, Thea had been damned surprised over the fact her brother had put out a book about his first two years on that island he'd been on. And much like her mother, was very much in tears after learning of what had really and truly happened to her and Ollie's father. The fact Ollie had had to witness that was utterly heart breaking and she was just unable to hide her tears. Causing Roy to hold her tightly in his arms as sobs racked her body and even giving the book her brother had written a harsh glare. Almost daring it to try and make his girl even more worse off then what she already was. And while he detested a majority of Starling's rich elite, even he knew that they didn't deserve to be forced to watch their own loved one shoot themselves in the head. It honestly made Roy wonder just truly screwed up his Princess' brother really was.
And if he and Thea should even actually find that out given what they haven't read yet. Giving one last glare to the book, he gave his attention to Thea and kissed the top of her head while rubbing soothing circles on her back.
Tommy
The fact the man he once called a best friend and brother in all but blood until life tore them apart had been secretly writing a damn book of all things about a part of his time on that island had greatly surprised Tommy. Not to mention making him wonder when the Hell Ollie had found the time to do so given his focus on his so called 'Mission', the club, attempts to date here and there, and being with his family and friends again. That he had been forced to witness Robert shooting himself in the head and later burying him on that island had been damned emotional for Tommy that he had had to stop reading the book. Especially since the older man had been such an important figure in his own life. This, Tommy knew, was definitely something that helped shape Ollie into the kind of man he was now.
The kind of man who fought the worst of what the city had to offer with a bow and arrow. No matter the cost to himself so long as they were brought down. Which had horrifically enough, included his own father. Who had wanted to kill off everyone in the Glades just because of what had happened to his mother. Sure, he might not be the biggest fan of the Glades and those in it, but he wasn't about to support something like mass murder on people who didn't in any shape or form deserve it. Tommy knew that Ollie had had to do what was needed in order to stop his father, even if that hadn't fully worked out given that half the Glades went bye bye. But the Merlyn Scion wasn't sure he could willingly be around Ollie after stopping his father. Hopefully… He'd find out he was wrong on that line of thought at some point in the future.
Carter Bowen
Carter Bowen was honestly feeling a little smug at that point. As he just knew that Oliver had written his book because of his comments all that time ago. Pity a contract hadn't been made that stipulated a portion of the money made go to him for providing the idea but if a movie were to happen… Well, Carter wasn't gonna let that opportunity pass him by! And if the movie could pull at one's heart strings like the book did as his mother had claimed had happened to her, he knew it would be a sure fire hit. One that Oliver could potentially bank off of and get away from the tarnish that had occurred on his family name with that Undertaking business. Carter also figured he'd better read the book for himself. If only to know he didn't have competition for his own when he finally made and released his.
The Lances
Laurel honestly wasn't sure if she wanted to scream and beat the ever loving Hell out of Ollie or hug him. Scream and beat because his book had practically driven her daddy straight down several bottles of Whiskey after having read it as fast as possible just to learn what had happened to Sara. And hug because she finally knew everything where he and Sara were concerned. Not to mention the horrors they had gone through and now deeply regretted a few words of her's to Ollie that first day they had talked for the first time in years. Her father was in her apartment, deep asleep with a bottle of Whiskey nearby and the book clutched tightly to his chest. Murmurs of Sara's name could be heard as he slept as well. That Ollie had chosen to honor what would end up being Sara's last request had been noble in a sense. But Laurel still felt that ultimately they deserved to know everything.
If only for some sense of peace of mind and she could only hope this wouldn't spur her mother into another attempt to see if she could somehow find Sara. Especially after having been flushed out of that horrifying freighter after trying to help Ollie with his former friend, Slade. Who miraculously had come back from the dead because of an old serum by the Japanese and boy was that hard to wrap her head around… And though the man had come back from death itself, the decades old serum had greatly changed him into the kind of nightmare no one ever wanted to have. Loss, and so much of it… And lies hadn't helped whatsoever. Laurel knew it was nothing short of a miracle that Ollie had survived that whole mess. That he still had any kind of sanity after everything, from his father shooting himself in the head to putting an arrow in Slade's eye, was incredible.
Still… She found herself wondering if certain claims of his about being unable to do certain things were lies or truths to a degree after reading his book. As for Dinah, a big part of her wanted nothing more then to launch another campaign to find her little girl. Especially with the knowledge that she had been swept out to sea for a second time on that horrid island. A lesser part wanted to find Oliver and hug him for finally revealing the whole truth despite certain last wishes and she hoped her little girl would be able to forgive him, wherever she was. Not knowing her little girl was already in Starling, keeping an eye on her sister and father while wanting to locate Oliver and beat the Hell out of him for breaking a promise. The fact she had actually cried when she thought she couldn't do such a thing anymore had been a huge surprise for her as well after having read his book from start to finish.
Even making her wish even more that she had been able to know Shado, Slade, and Shado's father like Ollie had been able too…
Slade
"THIS CHANGES NOTHING, KID! IT CHANGES NOTHING! FOR I'VE MADE A PROMISE AND I WILL KEEP IT!" Roared the man as he tore apart his 'brother's' book after having finished it in his home.
The Mirakuru and the hallucination of Shado making it impossible for him to realize that the only true person at fault was Anthony Ivo.
Mei
A tearful Mei Gulong sat on her couch in Hong Kong, cradling Oliver's book against her chest. Feeling a sense of gratefulness for finally knowing everything while feeling horrified by what had happened. She truly hoped that her father and her sister were at peace now in Heaven and that their killers were rotting in the deepest parts of Hell for what they'd done to her family. Mei also hoped that Oliver himself was a bit more at peace with himself as well after this. For the short time she'd known him, she could see how troubled and in grief he was over their deaths, along with the deaths of others such as his father.
Raisa
Pride swelled in Raisa as she finished Mr. Oliver's book. Though there were tears in her eyes as well due to what the son of her heart had been through on that horrible island. He truly was a good boy in her view despite some of what he'd done. Such as taking the lives of those horrible men known as Fyers and Ivo. Raisa promised herself to make Mr. Oliver the best meal ever once she saw him again.
Iris and Barry
"Ooh, Oliver Queen just got even hotter." Sighed Iris West after seeing a news report about the Queen Scion's book.
Barry just rolled his eyes but said nothing as he focused on his CSI work in front of him. Part of him however… Was curious about the book though and resolved to try and read it as soon as possible.
Samantha
Samantha Clayton found herself in a quandry after having read Oliver's book. Said quandry making her wonder if he should know about William. As his time on that island had clearly matured him to a point she wouldn't have to fear their son turning out like his party boy self. But the fact he had gone through such Hell worried her about what kind of effect it might have on William if he was in their son's life. Putting the book aside, the mother took a deep breath and went to go check in on her son in his room. Allowing her to think about the whole thing at a later time.
Anatoly
"Ahh… Olleever always managing to surprise me." Chuckled Anatoly after one of his men had brought him the very book that many were talking about at the moment.
That his 'brother' had done this made the Pakhan wonder about the other man's mindset and hoped he was okay. I make call to him soon. If not okay, I come and do what I can to help make better.
Author's Notes: I probably could have kept going but figured that was a really good stopping point with Anatoly. Though originally I wasn't planning on including reactions but I think it works nicely. R and R!