Arrow: Friend or Foe?

by Xhadow

Origins

Who am I?

I felt myself falling through unsettling dreams, living Oliver's life in reverse.

Fighting Lyra, Confronting Vinyl, knocking out that kid behind the club...

Where did I go wrong? I glanced at the walls of this tunnel of memories, I wish this hadn't happened...that I never came here.

---

I first woke up on the corner of D ave and C street. It was an old hotel that hadn't seen a tenant in my lifetime. But...somehow, as if by an act of some deranged god the room I woke up in was in immaculate.

"Top of the mornin' to ya," the stranger greeted, adjusting his green, half-tied necktie.

Naturally I asked where I was, remembering I was just in the shower seconds before.

"Don't you worry about that, lad," The stranger pulled a pipe out of nowhere and blew out a stream of pink and yellow bubbles.

I clenched my fist, demanding answers or that he just kill me and get it over with...honestly I don't know which option I preferred.

"You don't sound so sure that's what you want." He snapped his fingers and the bonds I didn't know I had on vanished.

I spat something like, "go to hell Maxwell."

He stopped, stood up from his chair, and turned to the window. Toying with his jacket he turned around wearing Maxwell's suit, straight out of the game. "This suits me, I think. Of course, I don't care about anyone else's opinion." he turned back to the window, modeling his new look.

While he was distracted I rolled off the side of the bed and started for the door.

The Irishman turned and with a snap of his fingers I froze.

He suddenly appeared in front of me, so close I could smell the wet ink on his suit. "This city needs some excitement, and from what I've gathered so do you. Here's the deal: you finish this list..." He snapped his fingers and a notebook appeared, floating just above his hand. "And You'll be home."

He stepped back, studying me for an uncomfortable amount of time. "But you can't go out like that. You'll look like a freak....no, no, no, see we can't have you standing out."

He snapped his fingers and my green arrow cosplay suit appeared, with my 10$ bow prop to complete the ensemble.

When and what did I take? And how much did it cost? I tried in vain to reach for my wallet.

"Oh...I assure ya, this is as real as it gets." This Irish troll, grabbed and ripped my 200$ suit in half right in front of me!

"Just getting it to size, lad," He winked at me, "honestly you worry too much." He snapped my bow in half.

I've killed for less! I thought at him, trying to kill him with just my rage.

"You, know," He leaned in real close, "You don't look like you belong. Let's fix that, but let's bring the pain while we're at it!"

He clapped twice and everything went black.

I was conscious for everything, bones shifting, breaking, contracting, growing. My entire body burned as my vital organs reshaped and shifted. Everything hurt, more than I'd ever hurt before and it never stopped. It just kept going! There was no end, all I wanted was to be able to breathe, be able to scream, anything!

I couldn't feel the tears flowing down my face, but I knew they were there. I don't know why, but I took a slight comfort in the thought that at least they existed, that my eyes cared.

As suddenly as all this started I was dropped to the floor. I couldn't move, I just felt like I ran ten miles, died was resurrected, and ran another ten.

"You'll thank me for this later," he slammed the book against my chest, "oh, I took the liberty of changing your name into something...a little more fitting. Welcome to Canterlot Kid, Bye-Bye."

I didn't hear him leave. I didn't hear anything...for a long time. I was unable to process anything...my mind felt crushed like someone ran over my brain with a steam roller.

'Did I just get...' Slowly, and with great pain I pushed myself to a sitting position.

Everything felt...different. I risked a glance at my hand.

I sighed... "No, if I have to become a bad fanfic can't it be in their real world? Why this one?!"

I forced myself upright, fighting the vertigo given by an extra foot of leg.

It's hard to come to terms with, it felt like being on stilts. And my mind was adjusting like windows RT trying to boot.

When I was finally able to look anywhere but the ground I saw my suit.

It was 'real' before. Made of a high quality leather-esc material with quivers that would actually hold real tipped arrows. It came with a black undershirt with fake shoulder pads attached to the sleeves; pants; the leg holster thingies; the arm guards (I didn't get the sleeved one.); the mask; the jacket and the main quiver.

The only difference that I could see from across the room was that the quivers were full of arrows.

I turned my gaze over to the bed, where, on the pillow rested a full size exact replica of Oliver's season one re-curve.

Slowly. I wobbled my way across the room, determined to not fall on my face.

I didn't exactly want to meet the new world dressed as the Starling City vigilante, but the only other option was walking around Canterlot in my undershirt and shorts. 'My life might be a horrible fanfic, but it's not going there.'

Picking up the varied garments I noticed that they'd become much heavier. The pleather had become real body armor. Light enough for mobility, but still noticeable.

"I really have to stop questioning these things..." Deciding two layers was enough I peeled off my undershirt.

Um...That...are not correct...

I looked down at myself, blinking every three seconds, waiting for the delusion to fade.

I...I'm...Ripped...?

I shook myself, "That ain't gonna last." I pulled on the black, dryfit undershirt, hiding the paradox underneath. "This is great..."

I wasn't completely unhealthy, a little overweight with a light dusting of acne that simply refused to let me grow out of the phase. But...I don't even know where to start here.

I grabbed my pants and the quivers placing them carefully on the bed next to me.

I looked to my shorts for a second...

Nope. Not going there.

I pulled my pants on, and...

Have you ever had something that fit you? That truly fit you, like it was made explicitly with you in mind? Until now, I hadn't either.

I threw on my vest, zipped it up, threw up the hood, and strapped on my quiver. 'Well, let's make the most of it...or something...'

I looked over to the bow, and wondered how long it would take for the cops to arrest me.

I grabbed my bow, feeling like a true badass for the first time in my life.

After a momentary examination of the weapon I let out a sigh of relief. 'Finally, something left-handed.'

Idly, I tried drawing the bow and to my surprise, it was actually quite easy. But not knowing a thing about archery I assumed that was good, besides it wasn't like I was going to use the thing.

I put on my gloves, mask, and grabbed the list...just out of curiosity.

I found a pair of boots by the door with a new wallet inside.

I opened the green, leather pocket book, finding no paper notes. Not even a place for them, instead it was like a coin organizer. Half of it was dedicated to various important cards and the like. It contained a motorcycle license with my name and face on it.

"What?"

The wallet also held a set of keys emblazoned with a 750ti. "This is a joke." I shook my head in disbelief. "That's my graphics card back home."

...

"I..."

....

"I..have to do this...Don't I?"

...

The thought of hunting down anyone, cartoon world or no, made me sick.

"I can't do this."

...

I looked at the book, turning it over in my hand.

Finish this and you'll be home.

With a renewed determination I grabbed the boots and sat on the bed. He never said I couldn't take this down to the local PD, and let them do it the right way.

Feeling like I beat the system I laced up my boots, "This is going to be as easy as Batman makes it look."

I grabbed my bow and considered how best to open the door.

On the one hand I could kick it down, roll out into the hallway and find my way out of here like batman would.

On the other hand I could just open it and avoid collateral damage.

I stood there just long enough to make me feel like a total idiot, before calmly twisting the knob and slowly pushing open the vaguely painted door.

I took one last look back at the room. Just in case I missed something.

---

Back in the ICU...

Lyra cracked open her eyes for the first time in three days, only to be greeted by white light and burning pain. "Where am I?"

"Get a crash cart in here!"

"....What..." Lyra managed through the vertigo.

"Paddles!"

"Charging," There was an uncomfortable silence, "Clear!"

"No effect, doctor."

"Hit him again!"

"Clear!" Thud! "No response."

Lyra's eyes finally cleared enough to give her a guess as to what was happening. As far as she could tell, she was in fact alive and in the hospital. "What happened?" Lyra thought back as far as she could, but there was this huge gap from when she shut Oliver in a locker and locking the gym doors.

Lyra's eyes went wide, "Green Arrow... he saved my life..."

"Hit him again," The doctor ordered.

The nurse picked up the paddles and the doctor stepped back, giving Lyra a first look at who was dying.

"Oliver?!"

"Clear!"

The nurse hit Oliver with a jolt of electricity powerful enough to lift his upper body off the bed.

Lyra heard a bunch of beeping sounds and they put the paddles away. "They're going to let him die..."

The pair crossed the room and threw away their gloves, before obsessively washing their hands and getting new gloves.

"You have to save him," Lyra screamed, "You can't let him die like this!"

"Redheart, decrease the dosage to 86, and change the bandages once per day." The doctor ordered.

Redheart, the nurse, nodded and added the new orders to the clipboard on the counter.

The doctor pulled a stool up next to Lyra's bed and sat down with her chart. Staring at it like a gypsy into a crystal ball. "I see you're back to normal. How do you feel?"

"No. screw that, save Oliver!"

The doctor made a note of what Lyra had said, "Why?"

"Why?! You're a doctor, it's your job for goddess' sake!" Lyra was angry, if she wasn't strapped down she would be at this guy's throat right now.

"But why him, specifically?" The doctor asked, leading the conversation in circles.

"Because..." Lyra looked over at her dying friend, she knew he'd do anything for her. "Because...I love him."

"You don't sound too certain of that."

Lyra turned her glare on the doctor, "Drop dead."

"That's good to hear, actually. Given the circumstances." The doctor made a few quick notes before laying the clipboard down at the foot of the bed. "Do you know why you're here, Lyra?"

"yeah." Lyra whispered, tearing up and looking desperately to Oliver for help.

"Why are you here?" The doctor asked.

"Why are you still here?"

"Oliver is alive Lyra. But we're worried about you right now."

"Did...did, I put him there?" Lyra asked, her eyes overflowing.

"You...weren't yourself." The doctor watched Lyra like a hawk, looking for a specific reaction.

"I..." Lyra choked on nothing, "Who stopped me?"

"He left this in the desk when you were admitted," The doctor showed Lyra an arrowhead that he had been hiding.

"...he...someone else..." Lyra found herself studying her friend, "I'm not going to let him down." Lyra turned back to the doctor, determination burning in her eyes, "I will not fail this city."

"Always good to hear." the doctor turned to leave.

"H-how long do we have to stay here?" Lyra asked, a hint of panic in her voice.

"You'll both be here at least a week. You're lucky you know," The doctor looked back at her, a single tear sliding down his cheek, "I've seen too many kids die on this junk. And not one of them took half as much as you did."

"My goddess," Lyra sighed, sinking into the pillow. And for the first time in a long time she considered her future.

---

I felt nothing. A white, blank canvass had become my reality.

Silence.

I tried calling out, but no reply.

"That's poetic," as the words left my mouth a raven landed on my finger, clutching a black rose in her talons.

"I know." I lifted my hand, letting the bird fly away.

"I've had enough of the fighting, if this is to be my death, take me now."

The dream. Shattered. Leaving only nonsensical fragments of memory.

I found myself on a glorified stretcher in a bland white room with the letters, ICU on the wall outside.

I turned my head, and noticed Lyra.

She looked like a wreck. Her hair was a mess; she'd cried herself to sleep; and she had lost a ton of weight.

"Oh, god kid..." I laid back down, trying to reconcile my memory of Lyra to her current state. It didn't work.

"I..." grimacing, I pulled myself out of "bed" and, using my IV, stand as a walking stick, crossed the room. "I have to know..."

"Hey, kid," I managed, pulling up a stool.

"Mmwha?" Lyra looked at me cross-eyed, "Gr-ararow?"

"Where did you get the drugs," I asked, voice barely above a low rasp.

"you...what...?"

"Lyra, who gave you the drugs?"

"Drug...s?" Lyra looked at me, laughed a while, "Apples."

"No. Drugs. Who gave you Nightmare?" I was rapidly running out of patients.

"Yeah, yeah. Apples. Big apple." Lyra looked at the ceiling and laughed a while, "You. go to big apple, he's set you up."

"Macintosh?" My mind screamed at the impossibilities, "Are you saying Macintosh gave this to you?"

"No. Paid sixty bits. S-I-X-T-Y Bits!" Lyra slumped over, unconscious.

"Macintosh?" I can't take her word for it. She's high. But...no. There has to be someone else doing this. He'd never....

"What the hell are you doing?!" Captain Heartstrings demanded from the doorway.

"What you won't," I turned, falling to the floor.

"Nurse!" He called over his shoulder, "We need some help in here, bring restraints!"

"Counting your chicks before they hatch, captain?" I asked, struggling to stand upright.

I heard a gun chamber, "I've got you now, you won't get away this time!"

"I wouldn't try that captain. This room is oxygenated, you fire one round and half the hospital blows up." I warned pulling myself to my feet.

"Captain! Put that away."

I always got butterflies when I met a character from the show for the first time, and this was no exception.

Nurse Redheart stepped into view, took one look at me and rushed to my aid. "You shouldn't be out of bed, and you shouldn't have that. I'm a nurse not your mothers, I have enough to deal with already!"

"I was talking to a friend I almost lost, can you blame me?" I asked, choking on the last bit. "She almost..."

"let's get you to bed," Redheart glared back at the captain.

"Don't help him. He's green arrow." The captain holstered his gun, and rested his hand on his baton.

"Above all do no harm, Captain," Redheart spat, as she looped my arm over her shoulder.

"If Lyra tells you who gave her Nightmare she goes free." I added, recalling my Equestrian law classes.

"I can't trust you," the captain made his way to Lyra, never once taking his eyes off of me.

"I'll testify as a witness and plea a code 76," I told the captain, this was my friend's life on the line.

"Shut him up, nurse."

"It'll clean her record..."

"Boys," Redheart interrupted, "there's someone to see you."

I followed her gaze to the doorway.

"Oliver Queen!"

There, in the doorway like the angel of death stood Green Arrow.

"You have failed this city!"

"What?!" I demanded of the paradox.

The figure released an arrow. It was a bad shot.

Without a thought I reached out, grabbing the projectile an inch from Redheart's throat.

To the nurse's credit she didn't even flinch.

When the three of us looked back to the figure it was gone. leaving only an aura of confusion and dread hanging in the air.

Author's Note:

This is my excuse for my inexcusable tardiness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5rjDLzc9FE

And then: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djbXktkM-TE

Yeah...my acting is intolerable....just guess who I portrayed...I are sorry...

Comments

[Xhadow]

8076343 Thanks for the input, I'll try to fix it.