Story Author's Notes:
This plot bunny attacked me when I was beyond frustrated with the character portrayal on Arrow. The Arrowverse is not the DCU. I know this, but that doesn't mean I like all the decisions the Arrow writers made. This is not a Revenge Fic. I'm not here to bad mouth what choices were made. Just that I wouldn't have made them.
Part 02 is the second part of MY AU. The three friends have made it off of the island a little over six months after the yacht has sunk in the Pacific Ocean. They have all been traumatized from their experiences. Oliver on Lian Yu and the raft. Tommy and Laurel on the Amazo. But they have accepted Nyssa's offer to join her people to hunt evil… to feel useful.
Remember that the League is DIFFERENT. Ra's al Ghul is DIFFERENT. Check out part X to read more about my world building for the League. The training is brutal and it totally sucks. Realistically, it is not much different from joining any military branch… including the indoctrination part.
One of the MAIN things I did with this AU is change the timelines and altered the past. My vision of these characters.
For reference:
Oliver, Laurel, and Tommy are only 20 in this AU. Thea is 11.
Malcolm disappeared when Rebecca was killed for six years. He returned when Oliver, Laurel, and Tommy were 14 years old. He has only been working with Tempest for six years.
-All these changes were to point out how Malcolm has not degraded too much in his League skill set in six years.
-Likewise, it took him six years to earn his skills. Yes, he was still a Horseman, but that rank is different in this AU.
-The horseman is not the most skilled fighter. He is the one of the best leaders. There are always at least four Horseman and an Heir. This is the advising council for Ra's al Ghul. (World Building for the League)
Original Posting: 26 Oct 2022.
First Edit Posting: 22 Nov 2022 (updated world building, added Nexus and Ruya, spelling, grammar. Not plot changes)
Second Edit Posting: 25 Feb 2023 (enhanced tags, updated world building, minor text edits, spelling, grammar)
Third Edit Posting: 11 Jul 2024 (upgraded narrative, grammar, spelling, minor text edits)
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
ARROW REDESIGNED 02: THE LEAGUE, BASIC TRAINING
Chapter 1: Acceptance
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
Speech Notes:
"Normal," - Spoken in English.
Normal= Spoken in a foreign language. I will note which language is in the text. I.e., he said in Spanish.
-Normal- mental speech or telepathy. Used to converse with the Nexus.
Italics - thoughts
Underline - written. This is used for text messages, computer messages, signs, and paper notes.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
TIBET, HINDU KUSH MOUNTAINS – UNKNOWN: 14 NOV 2012
Oliver, Laurel, and Thomas all followed Nyssa from the train to a series of waiting jeeps. They looked like they were built for all kinds of terrain. Based on their current location, they were more than adequate for the high mountain desert climate they were now in.
After they had accepted Nyssa's offer, she ushered them into a private train car for the overland travel. The whole week Nyssa had not answered any questions about who her people were or what they did besides hunt evil. While this was frustrating, it also allowed the three friends to slowly reforge their bonds of friendship.
Thomas was absorbing all of the Chinese that Oliver had learned. He would frequently grill Nyssa for even more on that language. While Nyssa wouldn't talk about her people, she seemed more than willing to share what she knew of Chinese with Thomas.
Meanwhile, Laurel and Oliver were tentatively reconnecting on a more personal level. Laurel's bruising slowly healed, but it was Oliver's careful approach that healed her heart. She could only hold him, but she didn't jump when she was unexpectedly touched. That jumpiness seemed to make her angry more than anything else. Which was why Oliver was working with her on resolving it.
An hour's drive from the train station, the jeeps pulled into a circle of tents. Everyone slowly emerged from the vehicles and waited.
Come= a hidden voice called out in Arabic.
The rest of Nyssa's people slowly approached the tents. Nyssa held back before she turned to them. "You three will follow me and wait in silence until you are addressed. Kneel where I point out. Do you understand?" she told them seriously.
"Kneel?" Oliver asked.
"It is a sign of respect," Nyssa replied. "As is the silence."
"Okay, I understand," Oliver replied. He had been in business meetings with his father where other cultures were honored. He knew some men needed those little signs of respect from strangers.
"I'm good," Thomas added.
Laurel just nodded. She would take the lead from Oliver and Thomas. She knew that they were no longer in America. Culturally, things would be different here.
Nyssa nodded and then led them into the circle of tents. She led them to another tent at the center of the circle before she stood erect and strode into the tent with the three behind her.
The tent was portioned off. The largest portion housed a throne-like chair with a man sitting on it. He was a stout man with a heavy fighter's build. He appeared to be middle-aged. His hair was graying slightly at the temples. He had keen brown eyes that took in everything with sharp intelligence.
Behind him stood two large men with swords at their sides. They were wearing the same gear as the rest of Nyssa's people, but these had three red stripes and one white stripe on their shoulder pads. Their keen eyes examined the new arrivals in detail. Around the room, the rest of Nyssa's people knelt. They had left a space in the front for Nyssa.
Nyssa pointed to three spots towards the rear of the group. Then she strode forward and knelt before the figure on the throne and waited. Oliver, Laurel, and Thomas knelt where indicated and were silent.
"Daughter," the man smiled in greeting. "I see that you have returned. I am pleased that you have suffered no losses with this evil."
"Thank you, Father," Nyssa replied. "The battle would have been more difficult if we did not have the assistance of Lian Yu."
"Interesting," Ra's al Ghul replied. "How did you gain the assistance of Lian Yu? That Nexus is notoriously picky in its alliances."
"Indeed," Nyssa agreed. "But this evil tried to take someone favored by Lian Yu. It was inclined to assist us in freeing him. Lian Yu made our opponents unaware of our presence. We were able to dispatch them very easily."
"I see," Ra's al Ghul nodded. "The Demon's Fang may rest until your next mission." He said with a wave. The rest of Nyssa's people rose and left the tent. Oliver, Laurel, and Thomas stayed where they were. The two men behind the throne stayed as well.
When the tent was finally cleared, Nyssa spoke again, "Father, I think that these three would benefit the family." Nyssa made a motion to Oliver, Laurel, and Thomas.
Ra's al Ghul stood and came over to examine them closer. "They are too young to join the family," he said softly. "They will be missed," he commented to Nyssa.
"They will not," Nyssa replied. "They were all assumed dead six months ago in a yacht accident that killed the rest on their craft. They have survived various trials during that time, but their families do not know of their survival."
Ra's al Ghul stared down at Oliver, then Laurel, and finally Thomas. "Why do you want to join our people?" he asked them. "Why not return home to your families?"
"To hunt evil," Oliver replied. "Fyers was on Lian Yu. We were able to stop him from destroying a civilian airliner, but someone paid him to do it. I want to be a part of that. I want to hunt that kind of evil. To stop it before it hurts others."
"To kill it?" Ra's al Ghul asked him. It bothered him that Batman was too blind to see that some evil could only be replaced with death.
"To kill it… Like I did with Fyers," Oliver said frankly.
Ra's al Ghul nodded in approval. This one had already killed evil. He would not be as limited as Batman. "What of you?" he asked Laurel.
"I was on the ship. Ivo… he needed to die. I didn't know how to do it," Laurel said. "I did what I could to keep me and Thomas alive. I would like to learn how to kill that kind of evil."
"I see," Ra's al Ghul nodded. He turned to Thomas. "What of you?" he asked.
"I would like to think that I can kill to end evil, but I don't know. I was on the ship. I did everything I could to help Laurel keep her sanity," Thomas said. "I know that Ivo needed to die. I just hope I can be someone who can do it. If not, I will gladly support Oliver and Laurel as they do what is needed."
"Interesting," Ra's al Ghul replied. "It is not a weakness to admit that you are unsure of being able to do something. However, to show that you will support others that need to do it is a profound strength." He returned to his throne. "A new group of trainees is gathering at Nanda Parbat. You will take them there. Instruct al Sikiyn on what their strengths are."
"It will be done, Ra's al Ghul," Nyssa replied with a bow. Then she rose and turned to them, "Come." She led them out of the tent.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
TIBET, NANDA PARBAT – LEAGUE CITADEL, RECRUIT CLASSROOM: 28 DEC 2012
For the next few weeks, they were sequestered at Nanda Parbat with the other trainees. The priestess who oversaw them made sure that they knew where all the basic facilities were located. Today was the first time they were called together into the classroom. They were excited to start learning about their new home.
"Good morning, Trainees," the older albino priest said with a smile. "I am Dusan."
The trainees all whispered and greeted the old priest.
"You are perhaps wondering why we are all gathering here like this before we begin any of your training," Dusan started with a gentle smile.
Several of the students began to nod in agreement.
"There are many reasons," Dusan continued as he sat on the rug in front of them. "For one, joining the League is a huge life change. You have all had something happen to you. Something traumatic. This trauma may cause you to make rash choices. Joining the League is not a rash choice. It is a life choice."
Dusan stopped and took the time to look each of the trainees in the eye before he finally continued. "For another, it takes time for all of our potential new trainees to come to Nanda Parbat from around the world," he said with a soft smile. "We like to start you all together."
"Today is your first day together," Dusan said. "From what I have been told, this is all of the new trainees that are expected. Do any of you have any questions about where to find any of the facilities?" he asked.
"There are only eight of us?" Laurel asked. She seemed surprised at the small group of people with her.
"Yes," Dusan replied. "This is actually a rather large group. I do know that Dafdae has just come of age." He smiled at the young woman. "She is a child of the League. She is now old enough to become a full member."
"The League?" Thomas asked. This was the first time that he had heard the name of the group. Everyone else had named them family or people.
Dusan smiled. "You are stealing my thunder, young man. Yes, we are all the League. The League is an ancient order of Shadow Warriors. We were tasked by the Source to stand apart from the outside world. To bring balance. To ensure that good and evil remain in balance," Dusan said with a kind smile.
"If we are supposed to maintain balance… Why do we hunt evil?" Oliver asked in confusion. He was certain that Nyssa had said that her people hunted evil.
"Good question, young man," Dusan replied. "This is why we stand apart. We do not hold the beliefs of any of he outside societies in the world. Most of those societies hold various beliefs that worship an ASPECT of the Source, but the Source is in balance. These societies do not see that balance. They only see their aspect."
"An aspect of the Source?" a young man said. "What do they call their aspect?" he asked.
"Their aspect has many different names," Dusan replied. "The outside societies even go to war over which one is correct when it is the same by a different name. Which is why we stand apart. The Source is in balance. God, Allah, Yahweh, Zeus, Iuppiter… none of these aspects are truly the Source."
"But…" the young man stuttered. "Those are good. Not evil."
"The aspect is good," Dusan replied. "The men who commit evil in the name of that aspect are not good. That is why we stand apart. We answer only to the Source. Our duty is only to balance. What happens when our people must eliminate an evil man who uses the name of Allah to commit genocide?" he asked the young man.
The young man looked down in shame. "The people who follow that man would think he was assassinated for his beliefs in Allah and look to commit the genocide in his name," he replied sadly.
"Sadly, that is too true," Dusan said. "It is why our people have to live in the shadows. It is why our people stand apart. The outside world labels us as Assassins, but we are not. We serve balance," he said. "We do not kill the man who steals bread to feed his family. We kill the man who orchestrates the plan to starve the city for more gold. That is the true purpose of the League. Our true duty. We are not a League of Assassins… though the outside world calls us that. We are simply the League."
"We recruit and train all our people. Often, children are born to our Shadow Warriors. These children are raised in the League. They are cared for by our priests and priestesses while their parents are hunting evil," Dusan replied. "All these children are raised to respect and uphold the League Code… as I am sure young Dafdae will tell you." He smiled again at the young woman who smiled back.
"As I said, joining the League is a life change. It is not to be taken lightly. It is meant to be a permanent change in your life," Dusan told them. "Very rarely has the ruling Ra's al Ghul released a member to return to their former life, and ONLY if that member swears to uphold the League Code in their life."
"What is the League Code?" Oliver asked. He was curious. Dusan had mentioned it several times.
"Ah," Dusan replied. "There are several important aspects of the League Code. The first and most important is to serve balance. The second is to honor the secrecy of the League. Outside of these walls, the League is a secret. It is hunted and misunderstood. You have been invited into our family. To betray our secrecy is to betray your family. The third is to minimize your killing."
Dusan looked at each of them. "We will teach you to kill, but we do NOT want you to kill indiscriminately. Balance is our first code. Finally, allow the outside world to take care of evil within their grasp. Give them the tools they need to eliminate evil on their own. This helps our first and our second code. The outside world fails to stop evil because they do not know of it. Help them know about it."
"People never leave the League?" Thomas asked softly.
"Rarely," Dusan said. "Do you want to leave?" he asked. "It is better to have doubts now than later. Those doubts would only cost your life at a critical time."
"I… I want to stay with my friends… support them," Thomas said.
"There are many positions in the League that are not active in hunting. Because of my skin condition, I cannot be on an active hunt. That is why I am a priest," Dusan said gently.
"I have nothing," one of the other trainees said softly. "All my family are dead. I can't go back."
"You are alive," Dusan reminded her. "You can find that kind of evil and replace it with death so that no other families are killed. No one else needs to suffer the same losses as you."
"I can do that," she replied with a sad nod.
"Good," Dusan said in encouragement. "To start this new life in the League, you will need a new name. Your old names live only in the past. They will be forgotten. Your new name is the name your new family will call you. The League. Consider how you came to be here. I can help you choose your new name."
The trainees turned to each other and started little discussions about what had brought them to Nanda Parbat. Oliver had already talked about his experience with Fyers to Laurel and Thomas.
"What do you guys think?" Oliver asked them.
"For a name?" Thomas asked. "I don't know, but it should be something simple, right?"
"I would prefer simple," Oliver replied. "Laurel shielded you from Ivo. That should be Laurel's name. The shield."
"I like that," Thomas said. "Caged, doesn't really do it for me."
"You did so much more than that, Thomas," Laurel replied. "You keep talking about choosing your fate. What about that?" she asked him.
"Yeah, the hand of fate," Thomas said. "That pretty much sums up how I got here."
"What about me?" Oliver asked. "Washed ashore? Punching bag? Bad hunter?" he quipped.
"Arrow," Laurel replied. "It was your arrow that killed Fyers. You replaced his evil with death. That was the start of your journey."
"Arrow," Oliver said. "I could use that name."
Dusan walked up to the small group of three. "Have you three come up with any potential names?" he asked.
"I think we have," Laurel replied. "I am 'the shield' for how I shielded my friend from Ivo on the ship."
"This Ivo was a source of evil?" Dusan asked.
"He was," Laurel said through gritted teeth. "Nyssa was able to kill him."
"It is always good when evil is replaced with death. Yes, Shield. Al Aldire. It is a fitting name for you," Dusan said with a kind smile. He turned to Oliver, "Do you have a name?" he asked.
"Arrow," Oliver replied. "For the first time, I replaced evil with death."
"Then it is a most fitting name for you. Al Sah-him," Dusan replied with a nod. He turned last to Thomas.
"I didn't do anything nearly as memorable as they did. I was locked in a cage and supported Laurel. It was the hand of fate that brought me here," Thomas sighed.
"The hand of fate. Yad Alqadar," Dusan replied. "It is not a bad name. You could be named frog."
"Frog?" Thomas asked.
"Dafdae," Dusan replied. "It means frog. She likes it though."
Thomas shook his head. "I'll stick with the Hand of Fate," he replied.
"Yad Alqadar," Dusan replied. "Longer names are often shortened. Alqadar."
For the other trainees, this was a harder time. A few of them were unsure about committing to the League for the rest of their lives. One was afraid of the family they left at home, but all were burning to do real justice in the world. To hunt evil.
After an hour, Dusan called their attention back to the head of the room. "All right everyone. It appears that everyone has decided on a name. From now on, you will begin to refer to each other by only your new names. Allow me to introduce you to your new family," Dusan started. Then he walked over to the young woman he had identified as a League child. "This is Dafdae or Frog." He then stepped over to the young man next to her. "This is Tayir Alfiniq or Phoenix." He continued to Oliver. "This is Sah-him or Arrow." To Laurel, "This is Aldire or Shield." To Thomas, "This is Yad Alqadar or Hand of Fate." To another young woman, "This is Samita or Silence." To the next man, "This is Eadatan or Bite." To the last man, "This is Sahalia or Lizard."
"These are the trainees for this solar cycle," Dusan said. "Your old names are alive only in the past. They are forgotten." He took a brief break to let that sink into all the trainees. "Go eat and then return. We will begin discussions about the history of the League and why it is important to maintain balance." With that Dusan rose and left the room to make preparations for the indoctrination phase of their training.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
TIBET, NANDA PARBAT – LEAGUE CITADEL, FORGE: 28 DEC 2012
The evening before their indoctrination was to begin, Dusan took them to a different room. It looked like the room where the many weapons were forged. The furnace was burning hot and the coals were a bright white color.
Dusan stepped forward. "Sikiyn, the trainees are ready to bear their new lives," Dusan said formally.
"Thank you, Qas Dusan," Sikiyn replied. He turned to the new trainees. "You have chosen your new names. Now you will bear them on your skin to show your commitment to your new life. Dafdae, remove your top and brace yourself."
The young League-born woman stepped forward and took off her top, stripping to the waist. Then she stepped up on a small platform and grabbed hold of two knotted ropes that hung from the ceiling. As the others watched, Sikiyn approached with a white-hot brand from the furnace and pressed it into the skin on her back. Her skin sizzled, but he removed the brand before it could damage more than the skin it was pressed upon. Her brand was in the shape of a frog.
"Al Aldire," Sikiyn called next. Laurel replaced Dafdae after she had removed her top. She was branded with the outline of a shield.
"Al Samita," Sikiyn called. Samita replaced Laurel. She was branded with a circle with a slash through it.
"Al Sah-him," Sikiyn called. Oliver replaced Samita. He was branded with an outline of an arrowhead.
"Tayir Alfiniq," Sikiyn called. Tayir replaced Oliver. He was branded with a bird in a fire. A phoenix.
"Eadaten," Sikiyn called. Eadaten replaced Tayir. He was branded by teeth biting.
"Yad Alqadar," Sikiyn called. Thomas replaced Eadaten. He was branded with an outline of a hand.
"Al Sahalia," Sikiyn called. Sahalia replaced Thomas. He was branded with an outline of a lizard.
"You will now be taken to the Isolation cells," Sikiyn told them. "Follow," he ordered and he led them out of the foundry to the Isolation wing.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
USA, WA, STARLING CITY – LANCE HOME: 1 JAN 2013
"Dinah," Quentin said in a resigned tone. "Please be reasonable."
Dinah Lance turned on Quentin with fire in her eyes. "You don't think I'm being reasonable?" she demanded. "I am staying this long for Sara. Not for you."
Quentin sighed. He had seen this coming. Dinah had started to pull away from him and Sara as soon as the news of the Gambit had come to them. He didn't help. He ran to his work and when that didn't work, he ran to the bottle.
Sara was the one who pulled him out of his funk over the holidays. She had demanded that he be present for every little thing she was doing… for Thea.
Quentin couldn't wallow in his guilt when he was there to cheer up a young girl of just 12. A child who had lost her father AND her brothers in one blow. He couldn't drink… which he supposed was the whole point that Sara was trying to make.
Dinah hadn't even tried. She had failed to go to any of the holiday events. She had actively avoided her family. Her daughter. Sara was hurt by her mother's rejection, but she had already been accepted to the University of Starling City. All she had left to do was graduate.
Once she graduated, Dinah was taking that as her free pass to leave Starling. Forever. To abandon her family.
"I don't expect you to stay for me," Quentin replied. "I would hope that you still loved me enough to stay, but I won't make you. If that's what you want…" He sighed. "But Sara…" he hesitated, "Sara doesn't understand why you want to leave. Talk to her. She has been accepted to U of SC."
"Well," Dinah proclaimed, "maybe she will change her mind and come to Central City University. Get away from all these memories."
Quentin sighed. "Sara wants to be here for Thea. She can't do that in Central City," he said. "Talk to her."
"Why does she even bother?" Dinah sneered angrily. "That girl is not family. Sara shouldn't need to cater to the Queens any longer."
"That's unfair, Dinah," Quentin replied. "Thea was born after we got here from Gotham. Sara helped to raise that girl. She is like a little sister to Sara. She never catered to the Queens. She was there for her friends and her sister."
"Look at where it got her sister?" Dinah spat at him. "Dead. I will continue to blame the entire family for the loss of my child. Laurel had such a bright future." She turned hate-filled eyes at him. "I was just informing you that I will be changing employment. You can come or not. I don't care. I can't stay in this city any longer."
Quentin sighed. "I won't be coming," he replied tiredly. "I'm too old to start over in a new Police Department. I have seniority here."
"Very well then," Dinah replied. "I will pack my things as soon as the school year is over. Expect divorce paperwork around that time. Sara will have graduated. We won't need to worry about her any longer."
"That's cold, Dinah," Quentin replied. "Laurel stayed at the house for her first two years at the University."
"Sara won't need to," Dinah replied with spite. "Her so-called friends gave her money. She can fund her own place."
"Fine," Quentin told her. "Be jealous and hateful. It has nothing to do with Sara. Sara is still OUR daughter. Whom I love. I'm not so sure about you with this whole display…"
"How dare you assume that I don't love my daughter," Dinah spat.
"Hey," Quentin replied. "I am only going off of your actions. If you love her, talk to her."
"Fine," Dinah said spitefully.
"Good," Quentin said as she stormed out of the room. Hopefully, Sara can talk some sense into you.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~