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— a test from fate —

IN A RUSH VALLI AND HAZEL MADE THEIR WAY TO THE CASTLE AND RYN WAS THERE JUST AS RUSHED AS THEY WERE. Only as guards began to follow them closely did Valli step away from Hazel and rush to Ryn's side. "What has happened?" Valli's voice was commanding and stern, much harsher than he had ever spoken to Hazel.

Hazel watched them with cautious eyes, trying to keep pace with them as they sped down the halls. "It's the Seer's," Ryn answered in a hushed voice, almost reluctant as if it was something Hazel wasn't supposed to know.

And it probably was. As soon as the words left Ryn's mouth, Valli froze and stared at Ryn, looking for any signs of this being a cruel joke. When there wasn't Valli turned to Hazel, showing the worry and fear swelling in his gaze again. Then Ryn continued, "She wants to see her."

Something flashed in Valli's eyes, but he turned his head before Hazel could determine what it was. Valli looked at Ryn and nodded softly. "I will take her there myself," Valli ordered. Ryn nodded and bowed slightly before turning and walking off down the hall, the guards following him.

When Valli looked at Hazel he could see the nerves building within her, threatening to spill into a panic or rage. "We must speak," Valli said quickly, urging Hazel on. They were silent after that, keeping their worries and fears to themselves to let it simmer, but Hazel didn't dare speak, or even breathe too hard.

Her mind was racing, and it hadn't stopped racing since she had been thrown through space, and she had almost gotten used to it. The constant panic, feeling like she was stepping out into an abyss of nothing with no end in sight, and maybe she had grown like Valli and seeing him physically panic made her fears worse.

She finally let out a deep breath as they stepped through the doors to the empty council room, strangely comforted by the odd Veman flowers covering the walls. Then Valli strode past her to the head off the table, deflated and defeated, as if he had already lost a battle. The heavy golden chair scraped against the floor as he pulled it out and sat, motioning for Hazel to do the same.

She sat across from him, trying to keep his gaze but he only looked at the table, almost scared to look up at her. Hazel placed her hands on the table and toyed with her fingers, swallowing her nerves and forcing herself to form words. "Are you. . . okay?" Her question sounded unsure, but her voice was sincere, it made Valli look up and smile softly. "Earlier you called me Sunarr," Hazel said, trying to distract them both and calm them. "Is that my name?"

His smile grew slightly, and he nodded, "Your Veman name. Your mother said you should have one as well as your earth name, in case you wanted to choose." Hazel chuckled softly, the nerves lifting from their shoulders for a few seconds. But as his hands settled on the table, Valli could no longer ignore what was gnawing at his brain.

He took a deep breath and intertwined his fingers, his face turning stone cold serious. "I want to apologise in advance," Valli started, and Hazel felt her face pale a shade, "I have withheld some information. I thought with time and trust I may be able to explain it better, but with the demon recognizing you that time is gone."

Hazel could feel her eyes slowly shift away and Valli had to take another breath. "A long time ago I battled with Trigon and in a moment of weakness, where I thought I would lose, I went to the Seer's and bargained for a way to defeat him." He took a moment, his eyes darting away as his face filled with guilt.

"It came at a price, didn't it?" Hazel guessed, her eyes darting around in nervousness.

"A Son of Trigon was always going to rise, I just prolonged the inevitable," Valli summarised. "And my price was to lose something to defeat His Son." Valli finally met Hazel's eyes and clenched his jaw, "You are the price."

Hazel felt her stomach twist and she shuddered. She dropped her head into her eyes, the burn in her throat tearing at her. Valli reached for her and placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing softly. "I am so, so sorry— I didn't think."

Hazel shook her head quickly and looked up at her father. "It's okay," Hazel promised, moving to take Valli's hand. "You were doing the right thing." A quick knock at the door made them jump. Valli had to take another breath, his patience wearing thin.

"She wants to see you, and she determines if after—" Valli stopped himself, his brain refusing to let himself say the words; as if it would make him throw up. "She will determine if will come back like us and live here, or. . ."

"Die," Hazel cut in. Her father shuddered, his skin paling and his jaw clenching as some knocked on the door once again. "The idea of dying is. . . daunting," Hazel said, careful of her words. "But I have done it a few times, I understand." Hazel squeezed her father's hand again and smiled. "I understand what I have to do."

Hazel stood slowly and Valli jumped to his feet as he was ready to protest her, but Hazel just shook her head and smiled. "I'll see you after," Hazel said, keeping her voice hopeful even though her heart was hammering against her chest, and she swore it could break her ribs. She smiled once more at her father before she turned and walked to the golden door.

She took a breath and pulled the door open before Ryn could knock again. Once he met Hazel's eyes he turned to look just as worried as Hazel and Valli were. "Princess?" Ryn questioned, "Are you—?"

"Just take me wherever I need to go," Hazel said quickly, interrupting Ryn before he could question her. He quickly closed his mouth. He looked passed Hazel toward her father who stood silently, refusing to acknowledge Ryn at all. Ryn turned his attention back to Hazel and nodded softly.

Hazel stepped past Ryn and out into the hall, sparing once last glance at her father as Ryn shut the door. Arralyn was standing on the other side of the hall, her body nearly shaking with the nerves in her body, but she smiled when Hazel looked at her. "Good luck," she said, masking the shake in her voice.

Ryn nodded Hazel on, and she sighed. "Thank you Arralyn," Hazel called before following Ryn down the hall. Ryn kept a close eye on her as they ventured further and further into the castle, reaching places Hazel had yet to see. The stone walls got darker, the soft white cobblestone now hardened and back, the stone slabbed filled with tiny pebbles and rocks making it easy to cut someone if they stepped on it.

They started to descend the stairs, going lower and lower, the bright neon plant life that gave everything its light died out leaving the underground halls pitch black. Ryn grabbed an old metal torch off the hall and lit it with a small orange flame from his fingertips. It lit the hall enough to let Hazel see the array of wooden doors and the halls that seemed to stretch on forever.

"You must stay close to me," Ryn ordered, looking down at Hazel, his eyes holding more seriousness than she had ever seen. Hazel nodded softly, her words dying on her tongue as her nerves consumed her. Thankfully that was enough for Ryn.

He held the torch high and ensured Hazel was right next to him before he started to walk down the hall, never letting Hazel leave his side. And Hazel ensured the stay right next to him, the lines of door that looked more like asylum cells unsettling her enough. The sound of their footsteps echoed like bullets in her head and her breathing was so loud in the thick dense air it made her ears hurt, but she kept her pace, keeping in her place beside Ryn.

The terrible sound of metal scraping metal made Hazel jump. Then she realised she and Ryn had stopped walking and were standing in front of a dark metal door. The door was covered with engravings that matched on both sides of the black handles. The sound was Ryn sliding the handle of the torch into its place on the wall.

Hazel looked up at him, her eyebrows turning in confusion as his face was filled with regret. "You must go in by yourself," Ryn explained, his voice filled with sorrow. "I wish you luck, I'll be waiting for you here."

Hazel smiled at him, "Thank you."

She took a deep breath and placed her hand on the cold handle. She pushed the door open with a click, the sound echoing through the massive empty room. The room was nearly pitch black, the only light coming from the impossible hole in the roof letting in the soft moonlight. Hazel continued to step further in the room, looking up at the stone art carved into the walls.

Hazel stepped out of the shadows, stopping on the edge of the moonlight circle. Directly across from her sat an old woman, black robes covering her body and a mesh mask covering her face. Suddenly the air was tight, and panic began to crawl up her spine. It's like all her senses had heightened, nearly making her tremble.

"Come," the woman's voice was commanding, and Hazel didn't dare protest, taking a few steps forward, stopping just before the centre of the room. Hazel stared at the woman, her heart hammering in her chest. "What are you?"

Hazel's eyebrows raised, "Excuse me?"

A terrine pain burned through her chest and Hazel fell to her knees, her breath coming out in short breaths. "You do not ask questions," Her voice boomed, and it shot a pain through Hazel's skull. "What are you?"

Hazel shuffled up onto her knees, the pain gone from her chest. "I don't— I don't know," Hazel said honestly, shrugging ever so slightly.

The woman slowly cocked her head to the side, almost as if she was offended by her answer. "You have had 22 years to answer my question and that is your answer?"

Hazel quickly stood and took a few bold steps forward. "We'll what would you like me to say?" Hazel snapped, glaring at the old woman.

"You are brave," The old woman mused.

"I am tired of people like you trying to dictate people like me," Hazel said, just as angry as she was before. The woman hummed softly, amused at Hazel's outburst. Hazel's eyebrows raised, her patience wearing thin. "What is your—?"

"Kneel."

Hazel went so lightheaded she thought she would fall. The world seemed to shift and the urge to vomit surfaced quickly. By the time her mind was steady she was knelt in front of the old woman looking into her white eyes. Hazel's chest heaved as she took heavy breaths as terror consumed her, drowning as she looked into the woman's eyes. She was frozen in place, her throat tight but she couldn't look away stuck in an endless circle of fear.

The old woman studied her closely, watching as Hazel held back the trembles of pain and fear. The woman hummed again, "An animal caught in a trap will gnaw off its own leg to survive." Hazel shuddered, a small groan of pain passing her lips. "What will you do?"

Hazel was thrown back, tossed away and slammed into the centre of the floor. She groaned, trying her arms and legs out as a burning pain tore through her but she couldn't will her body to move. She gave up with a tired groan and rolled onto her back, looking up at the ceiling above her.

"What is your name?" She asked. Hazel's eyes darted around, trying to find the old woman but it was never there, her looming voice moving around of its own accord. "That is your first decision; Hazel or Sunarr?" The woman continued. "In return I shall tell you my name. A fair exchange, a privilege you have yet to experience."

Hazel's head fell back against the floor, her mind instantly yelling for her to pick Hazel. But she thought a moment longer and imagined how Sunarr would actually sound from other people. She imagined Gar's voice saying her name, then her other. She was quick to pick the first.

"Hazel," She called. "My name is Hazel."

The air stilled and Hazel was able to push herself onto her elbows. She looked at the old woman who hadn't even moved from her chair. "Very good," She mused.

Hazel was hurled back again, and she braced herself for the inevitable impact with the ground. But instead of the hard ground, she felt herself fall into deep, icy water. The shock of the cold enveloped her, stealing her breath as she was swallowed by the dark depths. Panic flared in her chest as the water closed over her head, its relentless pull dragging her down faster than she could react. She barely managed to snatch a breath before the pressure of the depths crushed against her, the force so intense that she swore she could feel her ears burst. The world above quickly faded into a distant blur of light, replaced by the heavy, suffocating darkness that threatened to consume her entirely.

Then she was thrown from the freezing water and hit the ground on the other side. Hazel felt the cold air on her skin, and she quickly sucked in a deep breath, trying to fill her lungs all while coughing, the burn in her lungs tight from holding so little breath for so long.
Once her breathing had settled, Hazel rolled onto her back. There was nothing, just an endless void of black nothing with some sort of glassy floor and somehow with no light, her reflection stared back at her in the obsidian floors. When she turned to look up, she was quick to jump in surprise when she noticed the dark water looming over her, the ripples reflecting a white light but there was nothing in the black space.

There was the soft sound of footsteps and then a hand reached out. Hazel took it and let the woman pull her to her feet. She stared at the woman, the very young and beautiful woman; her hair pinned back in a neat bun, her clothes black and perfectly pressed. "Are you—?" Hazel quickly stopped herself and took her hand back. "No questions."

"Very good," she said, but her face remained stoic. "My name is Sty, as promised." Hazel nodded softly but she didn't comment. That did make Sty smile and tilt her head softly, "You take instructions very well. Where do you get that from? Your mother, Marina Lillis?"

Hazel shook her head softly, "No. My uh— teacher," Hazel said, unsure of what word to use. "Dick Grayson."

Sty hummed softly and then there was a click of a lock and a creak of a door. Hazel looked over her shoulder, staring at the open door that appeared in the nothing. On the other side of the door was her old room in San Francisco, she recognised the couch and display of her guitars. Hazel looked back at Sty and she nodded her on.

Hazel walked up to the door and stepped through, her eyes softening as she looked at a younger version herself sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands shaking. It was the night she had the guts to go back to the tower after she had run. She barely let anyone see her before she was rushing to her room, hiding from the others. So, in the end she didn't have any guts at all.

Hazel's eyes snapped up to the door when someone knocked. She knew it was Dick but the scared little girl on the bed just hid further away, turning her back to the door. Dick slowly opened the door, inviting himself inside but Hazel just continued to hide.

"You should have looked at him," Sty said, stepping beside Hazel.

Hazel shook her head softly. "I didn't want to," Hazel excused.

"You should look at him now," Sty ordered. Hazel glanced at her before she looked up at Dick, his face filled with sorrow and understanding. "Of them all, Richard has the most experience with guilt, and he offers you help, yet you ignore his comfort.

Hazel shrugged softly, "I didn't want his comfort."

"Training is at 8, I want you up at 7," Dick ordered, the sorrow in his face changing to stoic, the same overly strict Dick he normally was. That made Hazel turn out of her hiding spot and nod at Dick.

"I had just spent a week with Hank, I didn't want Dick's pity," Hazel said, watching Dick close the door.

Sty nodded in approval, "So what did you do?"

"Got up at 6 and met Dick in the training room," Hazel explained, looking at Sty.

The room around then and everything inside, including the young Hazel fell away, rippling into smoke that faded just as quickly. Hazel watched the last of the smoke fade as they returned to the nothing. "So. . ." Hazel turned her attention to Sty, "the angry girl who had never listened to authority her entire life listens to the man who she barely respects?"

"He's a good man," Hazel defended.

"With troubles," Sty snapped quickly. "But you are familiar with trouble. You've even held hands with Evil." Hazel's eyebrows raised in surprise, but she still didn't question her. Sty looked past Hazel,

 and she followed her eyes out into the black void and to Jason messing with his red bike. It was like he had been cut out her memory and pasted onto the black void.

It was the Jason she knew and loved but his hair had grown out a fair bit, the black curls twisting neatly on his head. He had swapped his dark leather for a dark coffee brown jacket with half a dozen pockets and buttons. He had cleaned himself up.

"Is this now? Hazel asked, looking back at Sty.

"I thought I made it clear about my stance on questions," Sty said, her voice dropping into disappointment for a moment. Hazel kept her ground, waiting patiently as she continued to stare at Sty. The woman didn't move from Hazel's gaze and eventually gave in, nodding softly. "Yes. This is now."

Hazel turned back to look at Jason and smiled softly. Sty studied her for a moment and stepped closer. "What are you thinking?" She asked, watching Hazel's eyes flick over Jason's figure.

"He looks good," Hazel said softly. "He was still coming down last time I saw him. But he looks good now."

"He killed thousands of people," Sty commented, her voice dripping with venom. Hazel's head turned towards her eyes already narrowed at her in a glare. "And resulted in the death of so many more," Sty went on. "He killed Hank Hall, one of the most important people in your life."

"I haven't forgiven him for that," Hazel snapped, shaking her head as she turned her eyes back to Jason.

That made Sty's eyebrows raise. "But he can earn your forgives?"

Hazel looked between Jason and Sty for a moment. "He— No one treated him right as a kid. Dick and Bruce treated him like crap," Hazel argued, her voice growing louder. "He got hooked, that wasn't his fault, and it wasn't his fault when Crane weaponised that."

"Is that why you killed him?"

Hazel took a deep breath and tried to look back at Jason, but his image was already turning to smoke and fading away. "If Bruce had killed the Joker, the Joker wouldn't have killed Jason. I killed Crane so no one else could be hurt again."

"One for the many?" Sty questioned, her head tilting up. This question had a correct answer.

Hazel turned to Sty, holding her gaze and even taking a bold step forward. "In a heartbeat."

Sty's face didn't change, nor her posture, her aura, nothing. She had remained still and completely unchanged. "You owed Jason nothing, he was one for the many," Sty continued. "Why didn't you abandon him?"

"He could be saved," Hazel said, keeping her voice steady, but as she thought harder, she had to swallow hard and look away for a moment. "He needed me, I wasn't going to give up on him," Hazel confessed looking at Sty once again.

"You were selfish," Sty summarised.

"Yeah, well, you get screwed over as much as me and you get to be a little selfish," Hazel scoffed, though her words were far more theatrical than intended.

Sty began to walk around Hazel, circling her closely, examining her every movement. "Jason Todd. . . he came for you that night, the carnival attack. Even with your powers on high alert your brain let Jason in." Sty's words were very precise and calculated, the very tone of her words putting you on edge. "Before that Deathstroke took him. Why weren't you there?"

"I didn't know," Hazel said honestly. "Gar. . ." saying his name out loud almost hurt, the need to see him growing with every second. In the simplest term, she missed him, a lot. Hazel forced herself to look at Sty and continued, "Gar kept it a secret,"

Sty froze, standing beside Hazel. "Gar. . . Garfield Logan," She let the words roll off her tongue. "The Changeling. He's important." Sty then looked away suppressing a smile. "Clumsy boy, too out of his element." Hazel spun toward Sty, a terrible burning anger rising in her chest. "I rather thought him incompetent—"

Hazel sent a blast of red light at the woman, but she was already expecting it, creating a shield to protect herself. Sty looked at Hazel as the light cascaded and floated around them, her face a mix of shock and glee. "Dro'coryo," Sty said. "I will be sure to see you again Videl."

Hazel eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "What?"

In a flash Sty sent the remnants of Hazel red light at Hazel and sent her flying back through the void. She was only racing through the void for a few moments before she was thrown back into the water. The cold consumed her, chilling her bones before she was thrown out again. Her feet grazed the floor, and she tumbled, rolling through the sand. She quickly stopped herself from spinning and she skidded to a stop on her knees, kicking the sand up around her.

Hazel pushed herself up but as she did a light consumed her, rippling over her body. Her Veman clothes quickly disappeared as detailed red and golden armour encased her. Her black boots stayed the same, but her leather pants quickly gained golden detailing up her pants, along the panelling of red leather. The sleeves were the same, running from her shoulders to her hands to make gloves, and the bodice wasn't much different, covering her stomach and torso with black leather, the rest of the top half made of the same red panelling that blended into her sleeves.

She felt something flap against her legs and Hazel reached for the long red and black cloak flapping behind her. She looked down watching the last sparks of light form a sleeveless jacket with gold detailing. Hazel looked at her new armour smiling to herself, "Whoa."

"Wow."

Hazel's head snapped up, meeting Gar's eyes.

— legacies —