Rise of the Green Hood and the Red Shadow Pt. 3

In the future, the wake of the metahuman coming into existence, a new age of evolution had begun. Since ancient times, metas had became a myth since the Golden Age. In 2028, President Lex Luthor had placed a ban of vigilantism under unknown circumstances. And as a result, no vigilantes will emerge again without the risk of sentry robots being made to detect metahumans and arrest them. However, little do they known that a new generation will come into action.

-8 Years Ago-

"And then Little Red came closer to her grandmother. But to her confusion, she had never seen her so big before." Lian's mother read her a book months before her departure from their home. Lian is only 2 when she was asleep listening to the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. "But the person she thought was her grandmother covered herself in bedsheets. The girl looked over her and said "What a deep voice you have." She says. But the old lady response was, "The better to greet you with."

Her mother turned the page of the book. Lian was used to hearing dark fairy tales cause it was literature to her. "Seeing the eyes of her grandmother, she says, "What big eyes you have."

Lian interrupts as she awoke and begins to speak in a tiny voice. "Mommy. Why would wolves eat people? Do they have to harm us?" Lian asked as she rubbed her eyes. Her mother then caressed her hair as she felt her eyes heavy. "Wolves can take the form of people, Lian. It showed the true colors of one's self. Someday, you can beat those wolves." Her mother stated.

-In 1978-

A teenage Nyssa Al Ghul was trained by her older sister as she aimed at her with arrows with her bow. Nyssa deflected with her palms and wrists with every throw she has. Perfectly, and gracefully.

Next she spars with Talia (her sister), blindfolded. She parried every hit Talia makes. Jumping her her swift kick. Talia was then grabbed by Nyssa with the shoulder and threw her to the floor and slammed her. Talia then said, "Enough. You may stop now. You did well, sister. If you keep this up, I can imagine you standing next to me as one of the faces in the shadows. Together, we will face every adversary that stands in the way. What are the words I told you before, Nyssa?"

Nyssa then bowed to her in respect. No love, no affection from Talia. But she wanted to prove her worth. "Once a shadow, always a shadow. I trust you above all else, sister." Nyssa assured her. Kneeling to her. Talia nodded. "Good." Then hands her a katana. "From now on, you will be my eyes. Cause you are now the Demon's Eyes." Talia stated by handing her the title.

"You have my word, Talia. I don't question your judgement for this, but why kill the innocent too?" Talia blinked, but also a bit annoyed at that question. But she never hesitates to answer. "Because, Nyssa. Innocence is nothing more than a weakness. It's why peace always dies. This world needs to evolve within the Light. That's why it is our job to make it stronger. This world was weak because of peace. And the time will come for it to come together to rid such weaknesses. You will see that in the end, innocence is nothing but an illusion. Do you understand, sister?"

Nyssa gulped, she never thought by meeting her sister, it will show her her true colors. She knew by joining the League of Shadows, she cannot turn back. "Yes, sister." She replied.

Lian got into her motorcycle she borrowed from a friend whom her father thinks is a bad influence. Still, she managed to get a hang for rising one. In the bay of Star City after gearing rumors of drugs lords rallying children for drug experiments.

Lian will not forgive a crime like that. Especially kidnappers. She despises crime and evil till this day. To her, the bad guys are wolves that hunt the weak in the night. Hunting down the people that used their own personal gain for their ends meet, it was her own goal.

But was she asking for it too much? To be a hero like in the books and movies? Life can never be a movie or a story. Inspired by the vigilantes in the stories, Lian wants the superhero world to be back in the fray. And wants to make it happen.

The thing about wolves, they hunt down the prey at night. Scum of the Earth like the League of Shadows, even The 100. Their hearts are as black as ink that is thick enough to flood the city. Like Mom says, I will have to face the wolves. But to do so, I have to become a wolf.

Parents from the Glades have reported their children missing. The one place that hasn't been remodeled for security for years.

Lian hid behind one of the trailers that contains each of the kids from Asia and Europe. One of the things she hates kidnappers for was taking them away from the families that were feeling the pain of losing them. Lian then puts on a black mask her father wore once. A momentum she will keep forever.

Lian sees the ringleader she recognized on the news, one of the politicians, China White. She thought of her as just a woman with twisted speeches on television, but never thought she would be involved something dark.

"China White? Never thought she be involved. Not like it matters. Better check it out." Lian then sees a flash of light, but she quickly climbed to the top of the trailer and laid back down to not let any rogues see her.

She silently crawled and taped it on video through her phone to tip the police, anonymously. China White was known to have a criminal record of selling drugs and thievery, not to mention assassinations. Second to the powerful crime lord, Tobias Whale.

"Ma'am, we rallied 80 of the kids from the Ridgewood, Glades. Where do you want us to transfers them to?"

"We leave for Brazil in a few minutes. With Green Arrow and his Canaries out of the picture, we can finally put our plan into motion. And if you see anyone trying to interfere, do not hesitate to put them down, permanently. Move it! We don't have all night!"

"Yes, Ms. White." One of her henchmen complied and left to gather the kids to the boat. As soon as the ringleader and some of her henchmen left, Lian climbs down and tries to silently get away to come up with a next plan. Until she was grabbed and dragged inside one of the trailers.

"What were you thinking, Lian?!" A harsh whispered was let out when Lian looked up to see it was Connor. But this time he is in a green spandex and mask, with arrows on his back.

"Dude, why are you in a mask and suit? And I though you're not into the whole vigilante business." Lian replied trying to change the subject, but Connor wasn't having any of it. "Not important right now. I told you to stay home and you didn't and trying to get yourself killed!"

"Not my problem." Lian folded her arms and sticks out her tongue. "This is my fight too. Look, China White is going to get those kids to Brazil and if we stop them, she won't keep up with us. I'm just as much as a shadow as you are."

Connor now feels agitated for the mess he had gotten himself and Lian into. If he were to keep her safe, he will have to keep and eye on her for awhile.

"Okay, fine. Just stick with me and follow my lead." Then they heard clicking, knowing the container was about to open. Connor then pulls Lian, and hid with her behind crates. One of White's henchmen lights a flashlight in front of them as the two vigilante partners-to-be were silent. "Thought I heard someone inside."

"Maybe you're just heading things. Come on, the boss is waiting!" Then they closed the door and locked it. Now locked inside, Connor, or rather Green Arrow and Lian had no choice but to wait for them to be shipped elsewhere and for the containment to be opened again. Then they were lifted by a crane and being placed on the ship.

"Now what?" Lian whispered as they came out of hiding.

"We wait." Green Arrow replied.

"Gee, we were already locked inside this thing for 5 seconds and it's getting boring already." Lian sighs as she sat down and rests her head on her palms, tired.

"Well, that's what you get for sneaking out in the middle of the night." Green Arrow remarked, earning a glared from Lian. Then the green archer texts Night Sparrow the video Lian recorded and send it to her. Letting her know of their next move.

"You should be glad. You could use a sidekick."

"Must you be so rebellious? What's been driving you into this?" Lian tosses and spins her Sai as she waits for the arrival.

"Well, excuse me, Mr. Uptight! I fight. I'm young, not helpless. To be honest, I don't remember the last time I had much fun seeing my parents fighting assassins. But for some reason, I always find the thrills exciting."

"Your parents. Do they have anything to do with any "inspiration?" I kinda figured." Connor asked. "Why bother risking your life when it isn't your fight?"

Lian looked to Connor. Her eyes blinked. She never thought about what she thinks, since she never remembers her mother. "That picture of my mom was all I have. All I could remember was her reading me "Little Red Riding Hood," hearing that tale, it got me thinking, how come the world be filled with such evil? Then there was this dream, a mask of a cat. I don't know what it means but it could mean something. The last words Mom said to me before she left was this. Cho kẻ thù của bạn thấy không sợ hãi."

"Show your enemies no fear."

"Wow, you also spoke Vietnamese? Nice one." Lian gave Connor a thumbs up. He sat down and leaned his back against the crates, feeling exhausted coming all this way from Japan. "What about you? What's with the suit?"

"To be honest. This is something I inherit from my dad." Connor explains.

"Wait. What do you mean your dad? Hold on a sec, that suit was the one Green Arrow wore. You mean your dad is-?!" Before Lian raised her voice in shock, Connor sushed jer before any of the guards can hear her to not get caught. "Shh!" Lian covered her mouth. "Sorry. I mean your dad is actually Green Arrow? I had no idea Libby had a brother."

"Wait, you know Olivia?" He asked.

"Yeah, I mean my dad happens to know her dad. Well, actually yours and Libby's. Same thing. I mean he's sorta like an uncle whenever I see him." Lian responded. "But what's the deal with you being in secrecy?"

"I knew I was a master archer, but being a son of a vigilante is rather too much to know. My aunt trained me for as long as I can remember. Took me in after I ran off. Dad left off when I was a baby, got another family 14 years later. I was happy when it was just me and my mom, until she and her boyfriend got married and neither of us had any idea he was dangerous. And that guy, Milo, he's dangerous. I don't know what Mom sees in him, but I was afraid to tell her what I found out about him. Maybe it's the thought she would never believe me. Until I figure things out, I can't go back. And even if I moved to Japan, or Star City, it never helped. I don't know what to think of Dad, or rather Oliver. He could've have the decency to see me, but in the end, he's dead to me, and now here I am."

Lian sighs as Connor finished his background. Looked at him sympathetically. She knew Green Arrow as Oliver Queen when she was a little girl. But she had no idea that the person she looked up to now was his son. Who is also her friend's half-brother. But she feels for him after her mother disappeared from her life as well. She resented her mother, but can't hate her without any reason to.

"Honestly, I know how that feels you were just raised with one parent. Grandma would told me how Mom was not good at facing her problems. But she never gave me a full detail. That's why I hate lies. Now I lost both of my parents." Lian said it both sarcastically and sadly.

Connor then palmed Lian's shoulder. Aside from Libby, Connor can relate to Lian of being left behind by one parent. Sitting next to her in a brotherly way. Something about Lian that he senses that for some reason, they are connected in soul. "Someday, maybe all will be cleared, Lian. We'll both find anything that can give us closure." Connor assured her.

Lian yawned as her head laid on Connor's shoulder. Connor decided to let her be. He felt like having sisters won't be so bad after all. He gently ruffles her hair, the same way her father would affectionately, making Lian smile in her sleep. She only met him for a few days and already she has found a friend. Feeling she can rely on him for emotional support. Being an only child and no siblings. Her mother, missing. Her father being taken by assassins. Her uncle, busy to spend time with her. Her grandmother, bound to a wheelchair when her mother was in her teens. Her life began to twist with unimaginable moments.

But with Connor, she was happy to have someone to listen to her, even just this once. Around him, she feels at peace. Even it never lasts.

Sometime in the future. A woman with ginger hair in a green hood and black mask, wearing the same suit as Connor knelt down with a katana laying in front of her. Placing orchids in front of the grave with Connor's name on it.

Connor Hawke.

Beloved son, brother, mentor and hero.

R.I.P

As she prayed to the grave, she picks up Connor's katana and stood up and left. The wind blew through her hair. She looked up and her flowy hair dances as she feels someone with her, but wasn't.

"See you around, bro." She said to the grave.

Brazil

January 7, 2028

6:09 ETD

Lian woke up to the sound of a thud. Connor snapped awake as he heard it. The clicking sounds happened otherwise. Then a tiny light is seeping inside. This prompted both to hide behind behind the doors to get ready.

"Thought I heard something again."

"I think you're being paranoid. Grab those firearms from the crates and move." Connor and Lian, heading behind the doors nod to each other and he signals them to shut the door, trapping the henchmen inside.

"What the-?! Argh!"

"The hell! Oof!" They both grunted in pain as they did not see it coming. As Connor and Lian ambushed the henchmen with their combat. Once they were finished, they were rendered unconscious. Green Arrow and Lian tried them up and gagged them to keep them quiet should they wake up.

Then they exited the trailer. They found themselves inside the ship. In an array of containments. Green Arrow signals Lian to follow him. Lian does what she was told, as a means to have a bit of action to hone her skills.

But once again, Green Arrow had placed his hand on her shoulder to keep her calm as he hears the sound of her growl, and the scowl on her face. It worked, at least for a brief moment. "Take a look around and keep in the shadows. See what you can gather here." Green Arrow whispered to Lian. Lian nodded and found an air vent to climb into and climbed in.

After venturing around the ship, they landed on Brazil. Knowing that there was an underground base that was a hideout for super criminals and villains that gathered there. Lian then climbed out of the vent and reunite with Connor.

"Anything?" Green Arrow asked.

"Looks like China White was about to head to the Amazon Jungle next. Oh, this is gonna be a riot when we get there." Lian did a smirk as she was about to give China a piece of her mind. But Green Arrow stopped her. "No."

"Aw, what? Again?"

"It's better you stay put while I deal with White. Look, think of this as a stake out. Once I get the kids out, you stay in the shadows." Green Arrow then came out of hiding to get inside the cargo trucks while Lian remained put, unamused.

Star City

January 7, 2028

6:21 ETD

Tommy, inside the training facility of Merlyn Industries, was testing his stealth attacks with his training robots hos father had established to practice his combat. He leaps and kicked the robot on the head, causing it to fell off. Then he slices his sword on another robot's back, and then crossed the chest.

Two others robots had shot lasers at Tommy, causing him to deflect them as he then rolls away and takes out his bow and shoots his arrows at the robots' heads.

Tommy then goes to the bench and took a. sip of his water and dry the sweat off with a towel. The. his phone began to vibrate. "Master Thomas, we have two intruders in the Brazil faction. Sent in the Giga Shogun."

"Let Miss White know about this. And tell my father know I'll be overseeing the process." Tommy ordered his associates.

"Yes, sir. Personal case in that manner." Tommy hung up, being 11, he was skilled since being trained in a young age. Not only he wanted to do his father proud, but he wanted to rule the world with him as one of the highest families in the criminal empire. Malcolm would tell him that someday, the world will be his to take. Despite being allies with the Luthors, neither Lex, nor Lena will take what belongs to the Merlyns.

The world will belong to his father and him alone.

He experienced a memory for when he was 5. He took out at least 7 men that his father sent to spar with. He even gave one of them a bleeding nose to prove his coldness to his father. Showing no fear to his enemies. He turned to his father and he gave him a bow and arrow.

"You have done well, my son. With you by my side, we will rule together. Someday, it will be yours."

"Thank you, Father!"

Then Tommy snapped from his memory and hopped onto his family chopper as they took off to Brazil. "I will do you proud, Father." Tommy vowed to himself and to his father.

Author's note:

A glimpse in the future foreshadows Connor's fate in a few years. This fanfic is an unaltered timeline before the events of Season 2: Invasion, right before Bart Allen/Impulse travels back in time to set things right in 2016.

We also see a flashback for Lian's perspective after hearing the story of Little Red Riding Hood from her mother. The color red inspired her to put her fate to the test.