This is a long one
Summary: Five years ago, she was lost at sea. Five years ago, she was presumed dead. Five years ago, she left a spoiled Billionaire. Today, she returns, not as the drunk, spoiled daughter she left as but as a symbol of Justice. She is Luz Noceda, she is... Arrow.
A person in a green hood ran through the woods, jumping over rocks and swinging from branch to branch. They climbed up a large boulder and looked at the sea, seeing a small fishing boat. They grabbed a bow and quiver and ran to a large rock outcropping. They placed their knife between two rocks and used it to ignite an arrow and aim it. They released it and it hit a large pile of wood that got lit, followed with a large explosion that got the attention of the fishermen. They sail their boat to the shore and the person fell to their knees. They removed their hood, revealing a girl in her early to mid-twenties, with dirt and blood on her face, her hair was long due to not being able to cut it. Soon, the girl was on the boat with a blanket wrapped around her. One of the fisherman brought her over a cup of tea and she gladly sipped it.
"The name of the Island they found me on is Lian Yu. It's mandarin for "purgatory". I've been stranded here for 5 years. I've dreamt of my rescue every cold black night since then. For 5 years, I have had only one thought, one goal... survive... survive and one day return home. The island held many dangers. To live, I had to make myself more than what I was, to forge myself into a weapon. I am returning not the girl who was shipwrecked but the woman who will bring justice to those who have poisoned my city. My name is Luz Noceda."
Later, the News reporter started speaking.
"Luz Noceda is alive. The Starling City resident was found by fishermen in the North China sea 5 days ago, 5 years after she was missing and presumed dead following the accident at sea which claimed the Noceda's yacht, named, the "Azura". Noceda was a regular tabloid presence and a fixture at the Starling City club scene. Shortly before her disappearance, she was acquitted of assault charges stemming from a highly publicized drunken altercation with paparazzi. Noceda is the daughter of Starling City Billionaire, Robert Noceda, who was also on board but now officially confirmed as deceased."
Luz, with a new haircut, stood in a hospital room and looked out the window as a doctor talks with Luz's mom.
"20% of her body is covered in scar tissue. Second-degree burns on her back and arms. X-rays show at least 12 fractures that never properly healed." The doctor said.
"Has she said anything?" Camila asked.
"No, she's barely said anything. Be prepared Camila, the Luz that returned... may not have been the one that returned."
Camila entered the room, still not sure if this was real or not.
"Mija?"
Luz turned around and smiled.
"Mami."
Camila walked over and hugged Luz.
"Oh, my baby girl."
The next morning, a Limo drove in front of a mansion. The trunk was opened and a servant grabbed Luz's suitcase for her. Luz stopped them.
"I got it." She said.
Luz and her mother walked into the Manor.
"Your room is just how you left it, I never had the heart to change it."
"Luz." Luz looked up and saw a man that she remembers, "It's good to see you. It's Walter. Walter Steele."
Luz stayed quiet.
"You remember Walter, the man that worked with your father?" Camila said.
Luz just walked around him and went to the maid.
"It's good to see you, Riasa."
"Welcome home, Miss Luz." Riasa said, turning her attention to Camila, "The Blights called, they wish to join you for dinner."
"That's wonderful, Luz did you hear that?" Camila asked.
Luz just looked at the top of the stairs.
"Hey, sis."
Luz's younger adopted sister, a seventeen year old, Arab-American girl named Boscha, smiled and ran down the stairs with tears in her eyes.
"I knew it! I knew you were alive!" Boscha said.
Boscha hugged Luz and Luz hugged her back.
"You were with me the whole time." Luz said.
Later, Luz was walking out of her private bathroom. One thing she missed a lot on the Island, was running water. She stood in front of her mirror in pants and a bra.
"After five years, everything that was once familiar is now unrecognizable. The face I see in the mirror is a stranger."
She looked at her reflection. Scars littered her body, along with a couple tattoos. She looked out the window and saw dark clouds rolling in, it will probably start storming by night fall. While still a while away, she could still hear the thunder. Just like the night of the accident.
Five Years Ago:
"Category two storm. Captain recommends we head back." A crew member said.
"Alright. Inform the crew." Robert said.
Luz walked past her dad with a wine bottle in hand. He grabbed the bottle out of her hands when she walked by.
"Last time I checked, you aren't twenty one yet." He said, smiling at her.
"Last time I checked; we are in international waters." Luz said, taking the bottle back.
"Try not to get blackout drunk again. I'd rather not have another paparazzi incident."
"There's no pap in the middle of the ocean." Luz said, walking to her room.
Present day:
A fully dressed Luz looked at photo of her mom, dad, Boscha, and her. Taken only a couple days before the accident.
"What did we tell you?"
"Yacht's suck."
Luz smiled and turned around.
"Emira, Edric."
Luz hugged the twins. They were a few years older than her, but she became good friends them. She looked past and saw-
"Amity." Luz said, walking up to Amity.
"Luz."
Luz wasn't able to get a word in as Amity pressed her lips against Luz's.
"I missed you so much." Amity said.
At the dinner table, the Blight and Noceda families were talking while eating.
"So, Edric is working at Blight Incorporated, I'm working at CNRI, and Amity is training under Detective Lilith, trying to become a detective herself." Emira said.
"We are so proud of our children." Odalia said, "All trying to make this city a better place."
"What about you, Luz?" Alador asked, "Any plans now that your back?"
"I was hoping to stop off by the office. I'll think about what I do after that." Luz said.
"Well, there's plenty of time for that. Noceda Industries isn't going anywhere." Walter said.
"You know what, I should show you around tomorrow. Show what you has changed." Edric said.
"I don't know Edric." Camila said, "Last time you two went out, we had to spend three grand to bail you two out."
"It'll be fine." Luz said, "I need to get out and see the city."
"If you're sure." Camila said, "Fine, go have fun with Edric tomorrow."
Raisa comes to set a bowl of pears on the table. She trips but Luz catches her and restores her balance.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss Luz." Raisa said.
"Это не волнуйся." Luz said, earing a lot of surprised looks.
"Dude, you speak Russian?" Edric asked.
"I didn't realize you took Russian at school, Luz." Walter said.
"I didn't realize you wanted to sleep with my mother, Walter."
The table quickly gets quiet and Camila looks at Boscha.
"I didn't tell her." Boscha said.
"She didn't have to." Luz said.
"Luz...Walter and I are married, and I don't want you to think that either one of us did anything to disrespect your father." Camila said.
"We both believed that Robert, like you, was, uh, gone."
"It's fine." Luz stood up, "May I be excused?"
Camila nodded and Luz walked out of the room. Later, Luz was laying on the floor. She was being hit with rain as the wind blew the window open. Her mind gave her a nightmare of when the boat went down.
Five Years Ago:
Luz was drinking from the bottle while watching the TV. She thought today couldn't get better. Her phone rang and she answered it.
"Hi, Babe."
It was Amity.
"Hi, Amity, how's the apartment search going?" Luz asked.
"It's going pretty good. How's the water?"
"Pretty rough but, it's not that bad."
How wrong Luz was. The storm outside flipped the boat and Luz was pulled under. The last thing she heard on her phone was Amity calling out her name before being submerged. Luz was quickly running out of breath as she swam to the surface. She quickly started taking deep intakes of oxygen as she hears her name being called. She saw her dad and a crew member in a life raft and started swimming towards it. Her dad pulls her onto the raft. She is on the borderline of tears as she brushes her wet hair out of her face.
Present Day
Camila lightly shook Luz, who instantly woke up and flipped her mom over and holds her hand to her throat, ready to deliver a finishing blow. She heard Walter call her name and she fully wakes up. She lets go and moved closer to the wall.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Luz said, horrified at how close she was to killing her mom.
"I-it's okay. You're home." Camila said.
Luz didn't get back to sleep after that. She just laid down and let the time go by. The next morning, Luz was getting dressed as Boscha was in her room with her friends, crushing pills.
"Where did you get these?" Boscha asked.
"Roxies, thank you daddy's ACL tear." one of her 'Friends' said.
They heard a knock on the door and placed a book over powder.
"Lu Lu." Boscha said.
"No one's called me that in a while, Three eyes." Luz said.
"Worst nickname ever."
"I don't know, being able to see trouble coming from a mile away, fit pretty well. Wonder if you still can do that?" She said, sending a knowing look at her.
"See you at school, Three eyes." Her friend said, leaving.
"Sorry about her."
"I have something for you." Luz said.
"You did not come back from a deserted island with a souvenir." Boscha said, with a small laugh.
"It's a Hozen and in Buddhism, it symbolizes reconnecting. I kept it in hopes that one day, it would reconnect me with you."
Boscha took it and smiled.
"A rock! That is sweet. You know, I want one of those t-shirts that says "My friend was a castaway, and all I got was this crappy shirt." Edric said.
Boscha got up and started to walk out.
"Don't let him get you into too much trouble, you just got back. Take it slow."
They hug and Luz kissed Boscha's cheek.
"The city awaits." Edric said.
They drove down the street in Edric's Mercedes SLR. Luz had him drive through the Glades and stop outside her dad's old steel factory.
"This city's gone to crap. Your dad sold his factory just in time. Why did you want drive out here anyway?" Edirc asked.
"No reason." Luz said, looking at the factory.
"So, where to first?" Luz asked.
"Well, first, I need to bring Emira her lunch. She was in such a hurry today that she forgot it."
"I'll bring it in for you." Luz said.
Edric handed Luz the bag and she walked into CNRI. She found Emira and walked over to her.
"Hello, Emira, I believe you forgot your lunch."
"Thanks, Luz. You are a life saver."
"Hey, if you aren't busy, can I talk to you for a minute?"
Emira and Luz walked outside and walked a little down the street.
"So, what did you want to talk about? No offense, but I have a case against Adam Hunt."
"From what I've been told, Hunt is a heavy hitter." Luz said, "Em, I need to know... what happened with Amity after I... left."
"Luz, she took your death harder than anybody. She didn't date anyone, she didn't talk to anyone, she only went to work and then back to her apartment."
"It's all my fault." Luz said.
"No, it's not. You never asked for that to happen."
"But-"
"No buts, you didn't ask for it. You're back, she'll go back to being her normal self soon."
Emira went back to work and Luz walked back to Edric's car. He got out and smiled at her.
"Well, if you're not too sick of fish, there's a new sushi place that just-"
Edric got cut off as an unmarked van drove up. A group of men in devil masks get out and fire a tranq dart into Edric's neck along with Luz's. Edric was knocked out almost instantly, while Luz stayed up long enough to see them shoot a man that saw the kidnapping. She finally succumbed to the darkness. She started dreaming of the night the yacht went down.
5 Years Ago:
The storm tosses the raft around. The crew member tried to navigate the raft out of the storm.
"Here! Drink!" Robert said, handing a water bottle to Luz.
"What are you doing?! That's all we got!" The crew member said.
"If anyone's going to make it out of this, it's going to be her!" He turned back to Luz, "I'm so sorry. I thought I'd have more time. I'm not the man you think I am. I didn't build our city. I failed it. And I wasn't the only one."
Present Day:
"Miss Noceda. Miss Noceda!"
The bag over Luz's head was pulled off and the kidnapper's held a taser to her face.
"Did your father survive the accident?! Did he tell you anything!?" They taser Luz, "Did he make it to the island? Did he tell you anything?"
They taser her again, making her scream in pain.
"Yes, he did." Luz said.
"What did he tell you, Miss Noceda?"
Luz looked at Edric, who was unconscious on the floor, zip-tied like her.
"He told me... that I'm going to kill you." Luz said.
They laughed.
"You're delusional. You're zip-cuffed to the chair."
Luz raised her hands.
"Not anymore."
The first kidnapper attacks Luz, Luz meanwhile dodges his attack and knocks him out with the chair. She disarms the second kidnapper and uses him as a human shield. The third kidnapper makes a run for it but Luz chases him down, apprehends him, and put him in a choke hold
"You killed that man." Luz said.
"You don't need to do this." He said, struggling to breathe.
"Yes, I do. No one can know my secret."
Luz snapped their neck and dropped the body.
I was debating between posting this one, or the "Red String AU" one. Follow, Favorite, and Review for more.