Ext -- Night, Central City, approximately 3:45 AM

It's a homage to Arrow's pilot −− we're moving through a dense woods, first person perspective; the camera is slightly shaky. We hear heavy breathing, the sound of someone sobbing.

Cut to:

A frontal view of two figures. TONI -- a tall, 29 year old Latina woman with midnight hair, which blends into the shadows of the night and tear filled rubin eyes -- and ETHAN -- 2 years old, tiny frame, thick head of hair, and wide eyes matching his mother's. TONI carries ETHAN in her arms, perhaps squeezing him a bit too tight due to nerves. She's running as fast as she can manage, glancing behind her every now and again as if something is following her -- or someone.

The camera spins around to a rear view of the mother and son; TONI keeps running until she collides with RAY -- a charming looking man with soft, dazzling brown eyes and a warm, inviting smile. She screams, startled. He frowns, putting his hands up.

RAY
It's okay! I'm not going to hurt you. I, uh, saw you running and thought you might need some help.

He gives her another warm smile. TONI is frantic; her eyes are darting around every which way. She's bouncing on the balls of her feet. Tears are gathering at the corner of her retinas, and her lip is trembling.

TONI
He's after us!

RAY
Who?

XAVIER XANDER -- an older looking fellow with grey sideburns and thin dark hair -- jumps out from the shadows, charges TONI and ETHAN. He's got a mean snarl curled on his lips and a rabid look in his eyes -- like a mean dog.

XANDER
You can't take him from me!

He grabs TONI's arm so roughly, she screams and drops ETHAN. RAY's instincts take over; he throws himself in between TONI and XANDER as they begin throwing punches.

MICK (o.s.)
Haircut!

RAY
Mick!

RAY is struggling to keep TONI and XANDER apart, their fists flying in every direction. It's hard to tell who's attacking from where, or if they're even hitting each other, Ray caught in between, his ATOM suit taking most of the blows. He's doing his best to keep them apart, but it's hard to push two people back at once. There's shouting too, but it's incoherent.

Mick -- a burly man with hulking muscles and a mean snarl of his own -- appears. There's a hunger in his eyes, an adrenaline rush, and absolute readiness to fight. He raises his gun -- a small hand held with a large, orange tank attached to the side, the Heat Gun. When he pulls the trigger, flames shoot out of the barrel, lighting up the dark with a faint, orange hew.

MICK
Back, you bastard!

Ray pushes Toni out of the way before the flames can hit her, scooping little Ethan up and out of harm's way in the process.

Ray
Uh, watch your language. There's a kid!

Xander recovers from the blow quickly, though there is a pretty nasty burn on the right side of his face now -- puss, charred skin, and smoke steaming, almost as if coming straight from his ears. He's furious.

Ethan screams. He squirms from Ray's arms and takes off.

Toni
Ethan!

She starts after him, only to be stopped by Xander, who grabs her roughly around the arms. Mick and Ray continue to intervene. Meanwhile, Ethan is now hiding behind a nearby shrub, shivering and shaking. Suddenly, a flash of blue. Nora -- a beautiful maiden in an elegant navy ball gown, magic wand in hand -- appears before the boy. She scoops him up protectively in her arms.

Nora
It's alright, little one. You don't have to be afraid anymore.

Ethan
W-who are you?

Nora
I am your fairy godmother.

Ethan
Like Cindy-ella?

Nora chuckles at the child's inability to say "Cinderella."

Nora
Kind of.

Ethan considers this fact for a moment. He looks much older than a mere two year old who can barely speak. His brown, watery eyes examine the fight between Ray, Mick, and his parents with a sort of exasperation only found within war veterans.

Ethan
How does it work?

Nora
Make a wish. Anything you want, it's yours. I'm here to make sure you have the best life you possibly can.

Her eyes flicker briefly to the fight when Ray is thrown off to the side and Mick fires the Heat Gun once more, but she keeps her focus on the child in front of her. Still, Ethan notices, perhaps because he can't stop watching the fight either.

Ethan
I can wish for anything I want?

Nora
Anything.

Toni is running away now, dashing off into the woods and away from Xander and the two Legends defending her. She seems to have forgotten all about Ethan.

Ethan
I want... better fam-lee...

Nora frowns, her heart strings being pulled in all different directions. She feels this on a spiritual level, as is evident by the expression on her face.

Ethan looks up at her hopefully. There's a hint of a little smile tugging at his tiny lips; his eyes are large and wide.

Ethan
I want you three to be my new parents.

Nora is shocked by this request. She hesitates for a moment, watching as Mick and Ray finally apprehend Xander. Mick knocks him out cold with one final blow to the head.

Nora
Are you sure that's what you want? I-I could just make them be better parents...

Ethan
They can't be better. They never are. You said you wanted me to have the best 'wife I can, an' they don't want him to hurt us. Mommy ran away, and Daddy is mean. They aren't better. They're bad. I don't want them. I want you. Pwease?

Nora hesitates for another moment. She's not sure if she's up for the task of motherhood quite yet, least of all with Mick Rory as a co-parent. But on the other hand, she has been working with kids for years now and Rory is already an okay parent to his daughter Leta. Besides, she doesn't have much of a choice but to grant the child his wish anyway. It's the rule of being a fairy godmother.

With a slight nod and a wide wave of her wand, blue sparkles form around Ethan, Ray, Mick, and herself. And thus, Ethan Rory-Palmer is born.