I hope those who read chapter 4 enjoyed the idea of how Earth 5 would be for the Queen Family, Starling, and how the keys came to be.
The Crusade Begins
Queen Mansion- Night
Oliver and Sean had retired their rooms, unable to sleep on their beds they slept on the floor by an open window. A strong thunderstorm had begun outside, the Queen Brothers were restless with their minds going back to the night of the sinking
Gambit- Oliver's Cabin
Sara, Sean, and Oliver were sitting on the bed sharing a bottle of wine. Oliver sat looking at the couple. Sara was straddling Sean's lap with her legs wrapped behind his back. The couple was kissing and rubbing their noses making Oliver gag, "Hey! If you two going to go for another round go back to your room." Sean glared, while Sara smirked, "What's the matter Ollie? Has it been a while since you and Laurel had some fun? Are you frustrated and need a release". Oliver glared, "No to all of that. I just don't reminders of what I saw." "Oliver you could have knocked," Sara stated, and Sean agreed. Oliver rolled his eyes and went to pour some more wine only to see an empty bottle. Sara looked at Sean, "Is the bottle opener in our room?" "Yes, I will go get it. I'll be right back Angel," Sean kissed Sara and left the room. On the way to his cabin Sean heard and felt an explosion vibrate through the deck. A few moments later the yacht lurched forward. Sean managed to grab a side railing he looked down and saw water filling the hallway. He lost his grip and fell into the dark, cold water. Sean's survival instincts kicked in and he swam to the surface. He looked around calling out for anyone. "Sean over here, son!" Sean looked around, he saw his father and brother on a life raft. Swimming as hard as he could, he reached the raft and pulled himself up with the help of his family. "Are you alright, son?!" Sean ignored his father and looked around frantically, "Where is Sara?" Seeing the looks on their faces Sean's heart sank. Hearing a rumbling he turned and saw the Gambit going down. Sean moved to get out of the raft but was restrained by his father and brother. "Sara! Sara! Let me go I must save her!" Robert pulled Sean to look at him, "Son she's gone! She's gone there is nothing you can do."
Queen Mansion-Night
Sean jolts awake breathing very heavily with sweat and rain running down his face. He gets up to close the window and leaves to go check on Oliver. When he arrives in Oliver's room he sees his mother about to touch Oliver. "Mom wait!" His warning came too late as Moira places her hand on Oliver's shoulder to wake him up. Oliver jolts awake, flips his mother, and pins her down gripping her throat. Sean brushes past Walter and pins Oliver down. "Wake up Oliver! Wake up!" Oliver looks at Sean then releases Moira. "God mom I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Walter helps Moira stand. "It's okay, Oliver. You're home sweetheart." She moves but Sean stops her. "I'll put him back to bed mom, he's going to have trouble with all you for a while." Moira and Walter nodded and left the room. Sean helped his brother to bed. After his brother had settled Sean went back to his room and went to sleep.
Queen Mansion-Morning
Sean awoke ready to start the day. He gets dressed and he goes over to his desk and pulls out a small wooden box. He takes out the Anywhere Key. He remembers when he first found all the keys and when he made some of his own. Sean goes to the back of his closet, pulls clothes aside to reveal a small door. Using the key, he opens the door and steps out into a cave where there is a fully equipped forge and a cabinet. Sean is in the cave system that is under the estate. A door of to the right before the cabinet leads to where the Omega Door is. By time he was 12 years old Sean had discovered all the keys and where the Omega Door was located. He kept the keys a secret from Oliver and Thea because of their wild behavior. His father didn't remember the keys because at age 18 with this type of magic you forget. This happened for some unknown reason after Joseph Queen died. Using the Omega Key Sean opened the door and managed to get two pieces of Whispering Iron. Using notes left behind Sean then made three new keys, The Memory Key, The Conjuring* Key, and The Consecration Key*. The Memory Key allows you to remember this type of magic after the age 18. The Conjuring Key allows you create anything you think of. With the Conjuring Key Sean was able to obtain more Whispering Iron without having to open the Omega Door. The Consecration Key allows a person to consecrate anything it's as though it had been blessed by the high priest of every religion, the deities of every religion, and beings of great power from all over The Cosmos (including the entire multiverse, every plane of existence and the realm of fiction). The Conjuring Key was used to make many other items as well. The box that had the Anywhere Key in it was created with this key, it stores the key and uses magic to prevent the key from whispering to his siblings and it's made from Cosmic Wood. The rest of the keys were stored in a box that was placed in the cabinet. Sean knew the keys will be useful along with the Cosmic Forge and its tools. He remembered the last time he was here. Using the Conjuring Key he conjured pure Cosmic Silver and used the forge to make the Claddagh Rings. Sean looked around and saw the Cosmic Palantir he made from Cosmic Metal and created it in the Cosmic Forge when he turned 20. The Cosmic Palantir allows someone to see throughout the Cosmos. Sean used it to learn about the history of other timelines and acquire useful information/ technology that hasn't been invented on his Earth along with fighting techniques. Combining magic and technology Sean connected the Palantir to Cosmic Computer Core he created to store the information. The information inside will be useful in the coming crusade.
Using the Anywhere Key Sean went back to his room. It was time for Oliver and him to go out on the town with Tommy. Though Sean wanted to get to work, he knew they had to keep up appearances. Sean pulled the Hozen out of the crate he placed under his bed and left his room to talk to Thea. Standing outside her door Sean listened to Thea's conversation with her friend Margot. "Where did you get these?" Thea asked "Roxy's. Thank you daddy's ACL tear." Margot said. Sean knocked on the door. Thea and Margot scrambled to hide what they were doing before he came in the room. "Sean." Thea said. "Good morning Speedy." Sean said with a smile. "Worst nickname ever." she replied. "Oliver and I were always chasing after use as a kid. We thought it fit very well. Maybe it still does." he smirked. "See you at school Speedy." Margot smirked. "Sorry about her." Thea said. "I have something for you." Sean presented her the Hozen. "Sean, you didn't come back from a deserted island with souvenir?" she questioned. "It's a Hozen. In Buddhism it symbolizes reconnecting. I kept it in hopes it would reconnect me with you" he handed it to her and with a smile she gratefully accepted.
Oliver and Tommy had walked in at that point. "A rock. That's sweet." Tommy said. "You know I want a t-shirt that says, "My friend and his brother were castaways," instead of this crappy shirt." Which caused Thea to chuckle a bit. "Don't let him get you into too much trouble. It's your first day back." Thea glared at Oliver. Sean smirked and pulled her in to a hug. This why Sean doesn't like Tommy. Sean believed that Tommy was a bad influence on Oliver. Oliver hugged Thea next, and the three men left. "Have you two noticed how hot your sister has gotten?" Tommy said receiving a stern glare from Sean and Oliver. "Because I have not." Tommy quickly said.
Tommy's Car
"Your funerals blew." Tommy stated. "Did you get lucky?" Oliver asked. "Like fish in a barrel." Tommy replied. "Anyways I need another target rich environment for you guys' welcome home bash." Tommy stated. "Our what?" Oliver asked, while Sean rolled his eyes. "The Queen Brothers came back from the dead. This calls for a party. You two tell me where and when. I'll make all the arrangements." Tommy stated before he pulled up by an old factory. Sean and Oliver looked at the building. "This city's gone to hell. Your dad sold this factory just in time. Why'd you two want to drive through this neighborhood anyway?" "No reason." Sean replied. "So what'd you guys miss the most." Tommy asked. "Laurel." Oliver said while Sean shrugged. "Oliver everyone is happy your alive and you want to see the one person who isn't?" Tommy asked. "I mean you cheated on her with her sister". Tommy stated. "No, he didn't." Sean said. "Sara and I had been together for almost 2 years prior to the Gambit and two nights before we became engaged." Tommy's jaw dropped in shock. "You and Sara. That's just…wow…I would never have guessed it." Sean just glared and turned to look out the window.
CNRI
Laurel was talking with her friend/coworker Johanna about their current case against Adam Hunt, which was just made more difficult now. "Laurel, this just arrived from Hunt's Lawyers. They filed a change of venue. We are now being presided over Judge Grell." Johanna stated and Laurel sighed. "Hunt funded Grell's re-election campaign. He's had Grell in his pocket." Johanna nodded. "Its fun being your friend because I get to say, "I told you so" a lot." Laurel just rolled her eyes. "Adam Hunt isn't smarter than us." Laurel stated. "No, he is just richer and willing to commit felonies." Laurel was about respond when she saw Oliver, Sean, and Tommy approaching. Laurel's breath hitched as Oliver came up to her. "Hello Laurel." Oliver said. "Hi". Laurel said. "Do you have time to talk?" he asked. Laurel nodded knowing they needed to talk. They walked outside.
CNRI-Outside
Laurel and Oliver sat down on a bench. While Sean and Tommy stood a few feet away. "You went to law school just like you said you would." Oliver stated. Laurel nodded. "Yes, everyone is proud." They both felt the tension between each other. "Adam Hunt is a heavy hitter, are you sure you want to take him on?" he asked. He doesn't really know what to say to the woman he still loves. Laurel looks at him with confusion. "It's been 5 years and you want to talk with me about Adam Hunt?" Oliver looks at her. "No. I know Sean talked to you yesterday. I was in the limo outside. I wanted to come inside and talk to you, but given the circumstances Sean thought it would be better if he spoke to you first and give what he told you time to sink in." Laurel sighed and looked at him. "Yes, Ollie I'm so sorry." "For what? Laurel it was fair for you to assume that Sara was there with me. I had cheated once before, which led to our 5 months break up. You have nothing to be sorry for." Oliver said. "While that is true, the next 3 years we were together before you left on the Gambit you did everything you could to prove yourself worthy of me again. You toned down your drinking, partying, and you improved your grades." Laurel said. "That happened because I didn't realize what I had with you until I lost it and I asked Sean for help." Oliver said as she looked at him in shock. "For a month after we broke up I was in a deep stupor, which I knew was my fault. I drank and partied a lot, until one night after I came home Sean caught me retching in my bathroom. He looked down at me with that look of contempt. He asked me why I was worse than usual. I told him I loved and missed you so much." Oliver said while Laurel looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Sean told me I brought it on myself by cheating on you by having a drunken one-night fling. He told me if I wanted you back, I would have to prove myself worthy. Which meant I had to change my behavior. I could still go to a party, but I didn't need to get drunk or have a one-night stand or both to have fun. I just need to have one drink and that's it. Sean also told me I had to do better in school. I knew I couldn't do that on my own. So, at that moment hell froze over and the devil was giving free sleigh rides, because I did something I never thought I would do. I asked Sean for help." Laurel chuckled at that. Knowing how different the brothers were. "So, with his help I improved. Once you and I got back together I was finally happy again and proud knowing that all my hard work paid off. Sean pointed out that just because I got you back, I had to continue and not slack off. That became a problem at that point. I became sexually frustrated by not getting enough, so Sean started training me in mixed martial arts. That helped with that. I never cheated on you again like I swore I wouldn't. I didn't want to use you again."
Laurel had tears in her eyes. Hearing how hard he had worked to be worthy of her again. This made her feel even worse about sleeping with Tommy out of pure spite. As much as it may hurt Oliver, she must tell him. "Ollie there is something I need to tell you. When I found out Sara was on the boat, and I jumped to conclusions that she was there with you I was so angry. I had never felt such rage and hatred before towards anyone. 3 months after the yacht went down a began an 8-month fling with Tommy. I did so out pure spite because I wanted revenge on you for cheating on me with my sister." Laurel said with tears of guilt and shame running down her face. Oliver just looked at her and then at Tommy with a glare. Sean was just shocked that Laurel could be so petty and he glared in anger at Tommy. Tommy looked shocked, guilty, and afraid. He now knew that Laurel was just using him, and he had let himself be used. He was afraid of Sean right now and knew Sean didn't like him. Sean looked at Oliver sending a silent question, "Do you want me to beat him up?", Oliver shook his head. "Oliver I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. Please forgive me." Laurel said. Oliver looked at her. He was hurt by what she did, but he couldn't judge her. "Laurel, I can't judge you too hard. I never told you this, but the night before Sean agreed to help me, I had a one-night stand with a fellow student name Samantha Clayton. Even though we weren't together I still felt guilty like I had cheated again. That's the reason why I was so the drunk the next night. Anyway, you know I went on my quest for self-improvement. However, a month before we resumed our relationship Samantha came to tell me she was pregnant." Laurel gasped in shock and put her had over her mouth. "I was shocked. I never expected this to happen. While I was deciding on what to do, she called me up a week later. She had fell down some stairs and while she wasn't seriously hurt, she did suffer a miscarriage. I told Sean and he was sympathetic, but he pointed out the miscarriage was a blessing in disguise. He told me the was an additional kick in the ass I needed to improve my behavior." Laurel nodded. "Why didn't you tell me this?" "When we got back together a month later, I didn't want to dwell on the past and no offense it really wasn't any of your business. It was private business between Samantha and I." Oliver said, and Laurel nodded in agreement.
"Ollie, where to we go from here?" Laurel asked. "If you are willing I would love to give our relationship another try." Oliver stated. Laurel smiled, she put her arms around Oliver's neck and kissed him deeply. Oliver wrapped his arms around Laurel and pulled her close. They broke apart and leaned their foreheads against each other. "I love you so much Laurel." "I love you too Ollie." Laurel and Oliver had sealed the agreement to give their relationship another chance with a kiss.
Laurel went inside, she is happy again, the happiest she has been in a long time. Oliver went over to Sean and Tommy, but before anyone can say anything a van approached them from behind. Armed men jumped out and shot the three of them with tranquilizer darts and put black hoods over their heads. A bystander tried to intervene but was killed.
Abandoned Warehouse
The hoods are yanked off Sean's and Oliver's heads. "Mr. and Mr. Queen! Did your father survive the accident? I ask the questions and one of you give me the answers." Neither respond and both are tased. "Did he make it to the island? Did he tell you anything?" When they don't answer they get tased again. "Yes, he did." Sean said. "What did he tell Mr. Queen?" "That we are going to kill you." Oliver said. Their kidnappers laughed. "You two are delusional. You two are still zip-cuffed to chairs." The Queen Brothers smirk and showed their hands. The first thug attacks Oliver who dodges and grabs the taser and kills his opponent with a high-powered current. Concurrently the second thug charges at Sean who superior martial art skills allow him to easily beat his opponent. The third thug tries to shoot Sean, but he uses the second as human shield. Sean then attacks the third thug, disarms him, punches him, kicks his legs out from underneath him, and then traps him in a headlock. "Please, let me go." the thug begged. "Nobody can know our secret." Sean said and broke his neck. While Oliver checked on Tommy, Sean was standing to the side. He knew that it had to Malcolm Merlyn who sent these men. Sean, while he didn't show it was furious, they weren't even back a day and already they were being attacked by Malcom. This act just further Sean's resolve to take the fight back to Merlyn. This war is far from over.
A.N. Well there's chapter five. Anyone who was hoping for Oliver and Laurel to get back together has their wish. The next will follow the same story line as Earth 1 except Dinah Drake will make her first appearance. Yes, Samantha Clayton did have a miscarriage, so William Clayton doesn't exist on this Earth. Well until next time please review and let me know what you think.
