This is a quick reminder that I'm still not accepting random commission offers from scammers! Take the hint already, people! If you post any fake nonsense in my stories, I will block you as much as reported!
Now, back to the story.
Batman and Doctor Fate opened their eyes to see that they were not in the Batcave anymore. "Did it work?" Batman asked.
Doctor Fate nodded. "Indeed. We are inside Black Arrow's mind. Now, we must find the source of her trauma. And avoid personal stalking into her memories. Hopefully, find the real hurt that is trapped in it."
"Then, let's go, for her sake," Batman said.
Batman and Doctor Fate soon found themselves in complete darkness after entering Black Arrow's mind. That darkness soon changed into a scenery of what looks like a mix of Star City and Japan. Judging by the red and white Cherry Blossom tree. It was nighttime with the moon shining so brightly. There were even a few Terracotta statues of Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Speedy.
"Black Arrow seems to be fascinated with Japanese culture, and idolizes Green Arrow, like he told me," Batman noted.
"You and Green Arrow have a mutual understanding and friendly rivalry," Doctor Fate added. "And although the world sees you as its greatest hero, there will be some who idolize other heroes, as well. It's not like you have to be the only superhero this world needs."
Batman gives an upset look at Doctor Fate.
"I am not that interested in boosting my ego. And it's not my fault that the world sees me as a better hero than everyone else," Batman replied. Just then, he got shoved by Doctor Fate's arm, blocking him from walking further. "What?"
"I sense that we are not alone," Doctor Fate replied, as he then pointed to a strange looking tree. "Over there!"
Just then, a white little Kitsune with blue and grey markings stepped behind the tree. It tilted its head towards the heroes after stopping.
"A kitsune. A mythical fox with nine tails, and believed to have supernatural god-like powers," Batman exclaimed.
"Must be the guardian of this mindscape," Doctor Fate assumed.
The Kitsune then walked closer to the adult heroes.
Batman then asked a question to it. "Do you know where we can find Black Arrow?"
The Kitsune gave a small bark and directed the heroes to the Green Arrow statue, even digging a hole behind it that led to something or somewhere.
"The Green Arrow statue?" Batman asked.
"Perhaps it is something we are not seeing clearly," Doctor Fate added.
After some digging, there was a door locked and chained. It also had some warnings that screamed 'KEEP OUT!'.
"Of course. The statues are to represent certain memories," Doctor Fate realized. "The statues of Speedy, Black Canary, and Green Arrow represent certain memories that Black Arrow had with them."
"And judging from this door and the sign, this must be something that her mind doesn't want us to see," Batman added. "Something that involves Green Arrow."
"And yet, we have no choice. If we don't learn about what happened three years ago during the invasion, Black Arrow will be lost in her paranoia forever," Doctor Fate stated.
The Kitsune looked around with its ears down while Batman and Doctor Fate tried unlocking the door. As if watching out for something...or someone.
Batman tried using his batarang to unlock the door, but it didn't work.
"That wouldn't work regardless," Doctor Fate said. "Young Macy Monroe's mind is leaving some ground rules so no one would take advantage. You should know that when the Joker entered your mind."
Batman glared at Doctor Fate again; he never liked that moment in his life when Joker killed him a bunch of times. "Do you have a better idea?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." Doctor Fate replied. "Although her mind is setting rules, she did not imply a magic user." Doctor Fate uses another incantation to create a magical key that destroys the lock on the 'Keep Out' door.
After getting the lock and chains broken, there was a loud roar coming from the distance. It even terrified the Kitsune to the point of hiding underneath Batman's cape, shaking and whimpering.
"Something is not right," Batman said.
"It isn't, indeed," Doctor Fate replied. "If Kitsune is the protector of the mind, then there must also be something out there that is going to prevent us from helping Macy Monroe.
"Then, we need to hurry," Batman said.
Batman and Doctor Fate quickly opened the door and dived in to avoid getting caught by whatever is coming. Even the Kitsune followed.
The two heroes and the Kitsune see nothing but darkness again. But then, everything went bright once more. Seeing beautiful cherry blossoms before switching to what appears to be the night sky. Batman and Doctor Fate soon found themselves on a rooftop.
"This is Star City," Batman said, as he then sees the people of Star City with their faces covered in the Starro spores. "Three years ago. When Starro and his minion, the Faceless Hunter, invaded the city."
"Then, we are on the right track." Doctor Fate said. "This is Macy's memory of her perspective of the invasion."
"I remember Booster Gold and I were calling all the remaining heroes to help fight back against the infected heroes," Batman said. "Captain Marvel, Firestorm..." Batman paused for a moment. "... And B'wana Beast."
"We all remember that day," Doctor Fate said, feeling remorse for the C-list hero who died a hero to stop the Starro monster.
"Let's find Macy," Batman said. "If this is her memory, then we need to find out what she was doing during the invasion."
The Kitsune barked and wagged its multiple tails in happiness at something to get the other heroes to see.
"I think the Kitsune has found her," Doctor Fate stated.
Nodding, the Kitsune did a pointing stance at a different rooftop. It showed what looked like Green Arrow running and jumping across the city.
Doctor Fate and Batman took notice of the 'Green Arrow.' "Green Arrow?" Batman asked.
"Wasn't he infected by the spores?" Dr. Fate asked. "Unless..."
The heroes quickly learned that it was not Green Arrow since the real one remained under the control of Starro. Along with doing a few gymnastic moves that weren't exactly the Emerald Archer's style.
"Of course! That's not Green Arrow," Dr. Fate realized.
As the moonlight shone on 'Green Arrow,' Batman recognized who it was. "That's Macy Monroe impersonating Green Arrow!"
"That's right. Ms. Monroe said that she pretended to be Green Arrow during the invasion to keep hope strong in Star City," Doctor Fate said.
"While the remaining heroes and I were fighting the infected heroes before Starro arrived," Batman added.
To Batman and Doctor Fate's surprise, Macy, in her Green Arrow disguise, was doing a phenomenal job in saving civilians not yet infected by zombified Starro people. She kept herself from getting too close in having others see it's not the actual main hero to Star City. And they were more shocked on how she mimicked Green Arrow's voice spot-on while firing her arrows.
"Go! Head to the Smith O'Neil High School and don't stop until you get there!" Macy exclaimed, using Green Arrow's voice to the crowd running away. "I'll hold them off for as long as I can!"
A concerned citizen then asked, "What about you?"
"Don't worry about me! Your safety is my main priority until Batman handles the bigger fish," Macy assured the random citizen, firing a net arrow at the Starro Zombies to slow down. "And knowing Bats, he'll find a way to stop this invasion from getting any worse...I hope."
Batman couldn't believe what he heard from Macy, disguised as Green Arrow, say about him.
"It seems she had faith in you during that time, Batman," Doctor Fate stated.
The two heroes could then see when Starro arrived on Earth where Batman and his team tried dealing with the evil space creature. Even saw and heard when Macy started running to the stadium.
"Oh, no...The stadium! My parents could be there!" Macy exclaimed, before making her leave in a big hurry. "Don't worry, mom and dad...I'm on my way."
"If I had known about her sooner, I could've recruited her to help fight against Starro," Batman realized.
"You and the others were too busy dealing with Starro and everyone else that was infected," Doctor Fate reminded. "But sometimes, people with hearts of gold take matters into their own hands. That's how heroes are made when they realize how to make the world a better place."
Batman agreed with Doctor Fate. "We'd better follow her and see what happened. We need more information."
He and Doctor Fate ran towards the Macy memory fragment to the stadium to see what transpired next.
The Archerette in disguise was almost at the stadium. However, just before she could get there, Macy was blindsided by an infected Starro zombie who ram-tackled her to a nearby Teppanyaki-style restaurant. Along with three more civilians in Starro's control running in to finish the job.
"We need to see what happens," Batman said.
"But we cannot help her. This is a memory of what happened back then," Doctor Fate reminded.
However, just before Batman and Doctor Fate could see what was going on, the whole scene started to glitch out for a few seconds until they ended up in the tunnels; where Macy, as Green Arrow, saved not just the civilians but also her mother. Along with a bunch of defeated Starro spores, already off the ones who used to be infected.
"Something is wrong," Doctor Fate said. "It is like that piece of her memory has been blocked by some mental barrier."
The Caped Crusader took a closer look at Macy dressed as Star City's hero. He noticed the stains and tears that weren't there before. And could see the expression on her face. Neutral yet completely emotionless and dead inside.
Batman then started putting the pieces together. "I think I figured out what happened," He said. "But let's wait it out and see what happens."
"Is everyone all right?" Macy asked, her Green Arrow voice a little shaky.
The non-starfish people were very relieved to see their hero, Green Arrow. "We are," Cindy said.
"Good. Take the unconscious civilians free from Starro's control and keep moving forward," She commanded neutrally, pointing to the other end of the tunnel with her bow. "Don't stop until you reach safety."
Doctor Fate was surprised at Macy's impersonation of Green Arrow. "Her voice sounds exactly like Green Arrow's."
"That's because Macy is using ventriloquism. It's a cruel deception that can fool anyone," Batman explained. "I can relate to that. Superman and I used it to fool Lex Luthor after he tried to use Red Kryptonite to turn Superman bad so he could ruin his reputation."
"Now I understand how she pulled off being Green Arrow all this time. To his costume and his voice," Doctor Fate remarked.
"And it happened when Firestorm, Booster Gold, and Captain Marvel were getting everyone out of the stadium, while B'wana Beast and I were fighting off the Faceless Hunter," Batman realized.
They soon got their attention back to the memory of Macy speaking to her mom.
"Green Arrow? I know this is bad timing, but I lost my husband and daughter," Cindy said, very sad and worried. "Any chance you've seen them?"
Macy looked at her mom with a small smile. "I take it you're Mrs. Cindy Monroe?"
The adult woman gasped lightly. "How do you know my name?"
"Your daughter told me about you," Macy answered, continuing her role as Green Arrow. "She was the one who alerted me to where to find you after I guided her to safety. I even saved her father along the way. He's disoriented during the chaos but otherwise okay."
"Green Arrow definitely doesn't recall Black Arrow telling her about this." Doctor Fate stated.
"It's probably best he hears about it. Since it is he who inspired Black Arrow to become a crime fighter," Batman suggested.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Cindy exclaimed in happiness, feeling tears in her eyes. "I thought I would never see them again."
"I understand the feeling," Macy spoke softly, before covering her mouth to burp. "Sorry. Ate some bacon along the way. You need to keep following the others. You'll find your family ahead."
Doctor Fate now had a revelation. ""Ate some bacon?" Of course! I know where we must go."
"I realized that, too. When she was ambushed in that restaurant!" Batman said. "Something must've happened in there that she doesn't want anyone to know. Not even herself."
"Then, we must go back to that gap in her memory and see what she did," Doctor Fate exclaimed.
Knowing when and where they needed to go, Doctor Fate used his magic to try to rewind the scene before Macy reached the restaurant in hopes of not missing it again.
The memory rewinds itself like a videotape. Reaching into the part where Macy as Green Arrow got ambushed by the star-infected zombies.
"This is where the memory shifted to the tunnel underneath the stadium." Doctor Fate said.
"This is the key part of the problem," Batman said, as he and Doctor Fate approached the door to the restaurant. "Whatever happened in there, Macy was not proud of herself because of it."
Suddenly, a big shadowy hand with three sharp-clawed fingers slammed down from the restaurant entrance, leaving Batman and Doctor Fate back away, scratching on the surface with its white metallic nails. All they could see at the moment from the dark opening were a pair of red glowing eyes and black slit pupils. And hear an audible yet familiar growl.
"Fate? What is this?" Batman asked.
"It must be a manifestation of Macy's mind that doesn't want anyone to know certain parts of her memory," Doctor Fate replied.
The little Kitsune then ran away to hide while whimpering. As it sees the shadowy figure show itself.
The mystery figure then slowly got out of the restaurant to expose itself as a giant wingless dragon known/found in Japanese mythology. Its hair was white while the scales were all black yet outlined in silver. But its teeth were as scary and sharp as the dragon's glaring eyes seeing right through the intruders in rage.
"GET OUT!" The dragon yelled.
The dragon belched out a powerful roar that pushed Batman and Doctor Fate almost halfway across the city street.
"I can sense her, Batman." Doctor Fate said. "She's in that restaurant. Macy Monroe is in there, and the dragon is stopping us from getting to her."
In retaliation, the dragon opened its mouth to release what looked like fire arrows! As in arrows with the heads set on fire.
Batman and Fate quickly evaded the fire arrows, and Batman now knows what to do. "Then we need to get past this Dragon if we want to get inside the restaurant. Whatever Macy did... She is not proud of herself."
"I think I know what it is," Doctor Fate said, reminiscing what he saw when Macy belched in front of her mother by accident. "I think...She ate-" The doctor's sentence was stopped when the dragon punched him really hard.
"Fate!" Batman yelled. Then, he got hit by the dragon's tail. But he managed to stand his ground before he could hit a nearby building. "We just want to help, Macy!" He exclaimed to the dragon.
"Help? …No...Help," The dragon stated, now more enraged than ever at the Dark Knight. "GET OUT!" It then shot more fire arrows at Batman.
Meanwhile…
In the waking world, Batman and Doctor Fate in meditation poses, are feeling stress and pain. They were getting beaten up by the dragon while Black Arrow was twitching and struggling to fight the infiltrators in her mind.
"Get out…get out…" Black Arrow muttered while still asleep. "No one can know…"
Although still wearing her mask, Macy/Black Arrow was crying a lot.
To be continued…
We're getting closer to the truth. Whatever caused Macy to be distraught happened between her heading to the stadium and reuniting with her mother. But what could have been so bad to change Macy's mood so fast? Will Batman and Doctor Fate be able to defeat this dark dragon? Or even survive?
Before the next chapter, I recommend that my readers start brushing up on Japanese mythology. Specifically, the meanings behind the creatures you've read about here. They may come in handy to help figure out whose role is whose.
We're almost there before the big reveal. Have you solved what Macy did yet?
I hope you all enjoy. Please, no flamed or fake reviews.