~Dick's POV~

"Boy Wonder, a word."

"Uhh.. what's up?"

"Zar is probably going to bite my head off for this, but I'm worried." Hal rubbed his temples and pushed me to the back of the ship. "I need you to keep an eye on Zaria. You two have a... special bond as it were. I just need you to watch out for her. Tamaran isn't exactly how she remembers it, especially now with Komand'r in charge."

"I don't-"

"People will try to kill her the moment we land. I can try and shield her, but it won't be enough... It'll trigger her to transform, Robin. I need you to be her anchor in this."

"Hal, I've never seen her transform. I don't know what to do." I pointed out.

"You'll know when the time comes. There's been times, long before the Team was formed, where she was about to lose control and you've somehow managed to ground her. I'm just asking you to do what you always do."

"What do I-"

"Kilowog! Laira!" We heard Zaria yell and Hal smiled big dragging me back to the cockpit. "What are you two doing here!?"

"We have come to ensure you have a safe landing, Zaria." The alien woman I assumed was Laira smiled and nodded at Hal. "Are these the friends we've heard so much about?"

"Ooh... guys, meet Kilowog and Laira. They helped train me when I lived in Oa and Kilowog was in Tamaran the day the Ring chose me." Zaria said and we all waved. "These are my friends! That's Kori, M'gann, Artemis, Kaldur, Superboy, Robin and Wally... it's actually because of Wally that we were able to defeat Krona."

"Me!?"

"I remember when you bored me to death once talking about matter and anti-matter. That's how I got the idea to throw a planet."

"And almost died!" Hal retorted and she rolled her eyes. "I think the four of us should go outside and talk about this. Is it really as bad as the Guardians said?"

"It is." Kilowog said and Kori frowned. "We're doing all we can, Princess. But your sister-"

"Is impossible to negotiate with. She always wanted the throne and now has the perfect opportunity to rule Tamaran with anger."

"That's not anger, Kori. That's revenge." Zaria said and the Lanterns left Bioship but still stayed close.

"I don't have a good feeling about this." Superboy grumbled and Artemis nodded.

"Especially when Hal said I needed to keep an eye on Zar." I admitted and they all turned to me with wide eyes. "Somehow, Hal says I'm able to keep her anger at bay."

"Zaria has always been angry." Kori sadly said and we all turned to her. "She had a rough childhood... about as rough as it can get being the daughter of two warriors."

"What do you mean, Kori?"

"Zaria was always able to adapt to her surroundings because she had to, not because she wanted to. Her parents have been training her for battle since the moment she learned to crawl. And when the time came for the opportunity to go to Okaara, they did not hesitate to send her."

"And when she got there?"

"She received the worst treatment because she was raised a warrior. She would wake up before the sun rose and went to bed long after dusk. They trained her like an animal until she adapted and fought back."

"And how old was she?" Kaldur asked.

"Four years old... I joined her two years later with my sister, but it was different because we are royalty, Zaria is not."

"Okay, so I did a small scan and I think I found a place we can land without being attacked." Zaria smiled, re-entering the Bioship and M'gann let her drive. "Hal, Laira and Kilowog are going to guard the place until we land... oh, you guys are going to love Tamaran! And the Zorka berries are amazing!"

"Is there anything edible for us?" Artemis grimaced once we started to descend.

"Everything, pretty much. But I would definitely recommend the Zorka berries since they're in season." Kori said and Zaria practically squealed in excitement.

"She really missed home, huh?" Wally whispered and I nodded slightly. "But are her eyes getting darker?"

"And her hair isn't pin straight anymore." Artemis hummed.

"Oh, my hair isn't naturally straight." Zaria said, her smile never faltering. "I think it's a side effect of the ring, but coming home is definitely changing that."

"Someone's excited to be back." M'gann laughed and she nodded frantically.

"It's home, y'know? Something about eating my favorite berries made me more homesick than I already was."

"Then we'll get you a ton to eat for the ride back." I assured and her smile faltered a bit.

"Right..."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"ZARIA!"

The moment we landed, it all quickly turned into a disaster.

We barely got off Bioship when Zaria was attacked and chained by a couple of Tamaranians while Kilowog shielded us and Kori. Hal and Laira immediately conjured up weapons but were tackled by more Tamaranians.

"Zar!" Hal yelled when she let out a scream.

Wally and I poked our heads from Kilowog's shoulder to see Zaria with large fangs and her hair seemingly on fire while struggling against the chains placed on her and screaming in Tamaranian.

"Let her go!" Artemis yelled and shot an arrow, trapping the Tamaranians who chained her.

"You are all going to regret that." Zaria said, her voice coming out distorted causing all of us to take a step back. Her eyes glowed brighter as she broke the chains and grabbed the two men by their necks. "Where is Komand'r?"

"Oh, she's not whelmed... not whelmed at all." Wally mumbled in shock and I nodded.

"Tell me where she is or you will never speak again!"

"The palace... she's at the palace." One of them said, struggling to breathe.

"Zaria, that's enough!" I yelled and she let them go.

"You will take us to Komand'r now."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"Princess Komand'r of Tamaran. You are to surrender the throne at once if you continue to value your life."

"What's this?" Komand'r grinned, standing up from the throne and flew down towards us. "The troq is back?"

Hal let out a small gasp and stepped forwards but Laira held him back.

"She-"

"This is not your fight anymore. She must learn to battle on her own." She whispered.

"Sister, you are not to use such words towards Zaria. She is our friend!" Kori tried to reason but her sister just laughed, forcing Zaria on her knees.

"Miss M, you have any clue what that means?" Artemis asked but M'gann said nothing, her jaw clenched. "Miss M?"

"It means nothing." Was all she said and I raised an eyebrow.

"Princess Komand'r, by order of the Guardians, you are to surrender your crown at once." Hal said, stepping forward.

"You... you took her from her planet." Komand'r grinned, flying up to us. "And you brought these... humans, a Kryptonian and a Martian here to my palace?"

"I'm not feeling all that nice and neither is my kid, so if you would just cooperate, you'd save me a lot of headaches."

"Mmm... throw them in the dungeons and I shall deal with them later. First, I must deal with the troq and my sister."

"Don't call me that." Zaria snarled, turning around and we all took a step back.

Zaria's fangs seem to grow larger and horns appeared on her head while her eyes started emitting black smoke.

"Oh, that's not good." Wally mumbled and we all nodded.

"Troq." Komand'r repeated and that's all it took for Zaria to fly up and tackle her to the ground, delivering punches left and right.

"I challenge Komand'r of Tamaran to a duel for the crown." Zaria said and everyone in the throne room lowered their weapons.

"Take off your ring then." Komand'r taunted, blasting her to a wall.

"Remove the jewel of Chaarta that you're currently wearing."

"Then it wouldn't be a fair fight, how would it? With this, I'm invincible." She smirked and they both took to the skies.

"And we are supposed to stand here and do nothing?" Kaldur asked in shock and Hal nodded.

"It is a fight for honor, we are not to intervine. If we do, the challenge is void and Zaria loses." Kori frowned and winced when Zaria crashed on the floor in front of us.

"Zar!" I exclaimed, moving to check on her but Superboy pushed me back.

"You will always be inferior to me, troqqie." Komand'r laughed.

"I'm afraid it's you who will always be inferior, Komand'r." Zaria stood up with ease and wiped the black goo coming out of her mouth, shooting beams at her.

Komand'r started shooting back until Zaria was thrown again and the floor cracked beneath us.

"Earth has changed you, Zaria. The humans have changed you." She said and forced her on her knees. "That's right... bow before your queen."

"You may be the queen of this planet... but you're sure as hell not the boss of me." Zaria said and threw what seemed to be plasma at Komand'r's chest, destroying the jewel that adorned her chest and was thrown the wall beside us.

Zaria immediately flew after her, constructing two giant fists and hit her until she fell to the ground unconscious.

"Is it over? Can I look now?" Wally asked and we all turned to see him hiding behind Kilowog.

"The challenge is complete. Tamaran has a new ruler."

"Yeah, it's over." I called out and caught Zaria when she fell to her knees. "You with us, Zar?"

"Y-yeah. I believe so." She mumbled, holding her head as the horns and smoke disappeared. "I won..."

"And you've made these Lanterns proud." Kilowog smiled and helped her stand. "You're gonna make an excellent queen, Zaria."

"Yeah... sure."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"Hal, you've been quiet since the fight. It's not like you."

"She found her parents... they seem proud of her."

"I suppose every parent should be after what we just witnessed." I shrugged, standing next to him. "You don't want her to stay, do you?"

"Can't believe I'm talking to a thirteen year old about this... and to Batman's kid of all people." He groaned and banged his head against the railing.

"Hey, I'm wise beyond my years."

"You're a feral child that desperately needs to be leashed."

"And the fact that I'm not just proves how wise I am." I defended and he sighed.

"I may not have raised her... but that's my kid, y'know? And now she's queen of a whole planet."

"Then you should be proud." Kaldur butted and joined us. "Zaria has managed to not only defend her honor, but the state of her home and immediately regained control of her anger. You have taught her all you know. You have been an excellent mentor to her."

"B-but I'm queen now! You should be proud of me!" We heard Zaria yell as she immediately flew up to us and hugged Hal tight, tears streaming down her face.

"Red? What-"

"I did everything right and it's not good enough! I'll never be good enough for them." She cried and he shielded her when her parents arrived.

"Y'know that you guys are assholes, right? She didn't have to do any of this. She didn't have to fight Komand'r while trying to control herself for any of you." Hal defended just as the rest of the Team and Kori arrived. "You both are partially to blame."

"She is a soldier." Her father shrugged.

"She's a child! A child who was left alone in that cave surrounded by dead bodies, alone and confused and the Ring took advantage of that and chose her."

"She is a disgrace to her race by carrying that Ring and now she cannot remove it." Her mother added and took a step forward, making Zaria whimper and I reached out to hold her hand. "She should've turned out like you, Green Lantern. She should've brought great honor by being the second Tamaranean Green Lantern and the youngest as well."

"Sometimes things don't turn out how we planned so we have to adapt."

"How can she be queen when she is not what's best for Tamaran? She came back, therefore her punishment is-"

"Don't tell me you're seriously considering killing your only daughter!?" Artemis yelled and they both stayed quiet. "She's your daughter for crying out loud!"

"It is tradition." Kori frowned. "But it doesn't mean it's right... and as Princess of Tamaran-"

"But you are not Princess anymore, Koriand'r." Zaria's father smirked and her eyes widened in realization.

"You're right... she's queen now." Zaria said and pulled away, removing her crown and handed it to Kori. "I challenged Komand'r because she is not best for Tamaran, but you do not need to challenge me, my dearest friend... I already yield."

"Zaria-"

"I have a new life now with people who accept and care for me. Tamaran will always be my home, but Earth slowly became my home too."

"I cannot be a ruler yet! I have not earned it!" Kori defended.

"You convinced me to come back after all these years away. I believe you've earned it." Zaria laughed and hugged her tight. "You are what's best for Tamaran, Kori. You love these people certainly more than I do."

"I will make you proud, my friend."

"I'm counting on it." She smiled and turned back to face her parents, the fangs slowly making an appearance again. "And as far as I'm concerned, you two stopped being my parents when you left me for dead in that cave!"

"We thought you died!"

"You didn't care!" Zaria cried out as her teeth turned back to normal. "You thought that dying a soldier's death was more worthy to an eight year old than fighting to keep her alive."

"It's better than the life you live with that forsaken ring keeping you alive." Her father spat and was punched in the face by Hal.

"I've been wanting to do that for years!" He cheered and crouched down. "And you two stay the hell away from my daughter if you know what's good for you. Because next time, you won't be dealing with her anger, you'll be dealing with mine. And I don't have the same restraints Zaria does."

"I thought Green Lanterns had honor."

"We do... that's just some good old fashioned Hal Jordan ass whooping!"

"She's not your daughter, Hal Jordan. She never will be... she isn't your blood."

"Hey, not being blood has nothing to do with family!" I called out and crossed my arms. "My parents died and my new dad isn't related by blood, but that doesn't mean he's not my dad... He's my dad because he takes care of me just as much as Hal cares for Zaria."

"My uncle's not my dad, but he scolds me like one." Wally added and stood next to Zaria. "And he defended Zaria when it was needed so he's kinda like her uncle too."

"Bottom line is that family isn't just who you're related to." M'gann crossed her arms. "And I heard you call her that word."

"What word?"

"I'm not saying it."

"My father called me a troq." Zaria mumbled and looked down when Hal widened his eyes.

"And I suppose that is bad considering the reactions every time we hear it." Kaldur wondered and she nodded. "Can you tell us what it means?"

"It means nothing."

"Then if it means nothing-"

"No, Kaldur. The definition of the word is nothing... it's a word used when you feel someone or a race is inferior or worthless to you."

"I see..."

"You do know I can charge you both with treason and a list of war crimes committed in the past few years? Which the punishment would include banishment since death would be too good for you." Kori said and we all smirked.

"By order of the Guardians, I place you two under arrest for not only child neglect, but raising a child soldier, treason and persecution of race during the War." Hal's grin widened and they widened their eyes. "The only reason I didn't have you arrested years ago was because you're Zaria's parents, but since she just said that you're not... there's nothing stopping me now."

"Poozers, we're ready to take the Princess to Oa for trial." Kilowog called out as Laira dragged Komand'r who was covered in chains. "Little Poozer, you wanna come with?"

"Got room for two more, Kilowog? Because Empress Koriand'r and I just banished these two from the planet."

"Zaria, we're your parents! Please!" Her mother begged as Laira chained both of them failing to hide her smirk. Zaria just turned around and said nothing. "ZARIA!"

Silence.

"You ungrateful troq! How dare you-" Shs was cut off by Kilowog placing a mouth guard on both of them and stepped forward.

"Oh, I've been waiting to get my hands on you two since Hal found her in that cave. Laira and I are going to be your worst nightmares until we get to Oa."

"We shall keep you updated if you wish, Zaria." Laira offered but she shook her head.

"I... I just wanna go back home. It's been a long day."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"You're hiding."

"I tend to do that at times... everyone's asleep?"

"Everyone except you, me and Hal." I said, sitting across from her. "It's a stupid question, but are you alright?"

"Can you promise me something, Dick?" Zaria asked and I nodded immediately. "Can you promise to not tell Batman about... y'know..."

"You going full demon?"

"Yeah... he already doesn't like me very much and I don't want to add more fuel to the fire. The rest of the Team agreed to not tell a soul, but you live with him... Hal doesn't wanna tell him because it'll give him just enough to make a contingency plan and he doesn't like that."

"Secret's safe with me, Zar. I won't tell a soul." I assured and she smiled slightly. "And in his defense, Batman is just a little paranoid. Gotham tends to do that to you after a while."

"Your town scares me a little bit." She admitted and I laughed.

"Is it Joker?"

"And the Scarecrow one... Hatter's creepy too."

"He likes to psychoanalyze you. Just start repeating back everything he says and show no emotion and you'll be fine. You'll actually drive him mad. I'd stay as far away from Hatter if I were you. He has an obsession with finding Alice and it's gotten to a point where Batman doesn't let go on patrol when he's out."

"And Joker?"

"Tell him his jokes aren't funny but make sure he doesn't have a gun on him first. And beware the flower on his jacket and the green smoke that sometimes appears."

"And you deal with that every night?"

"Yeah, but I'm used to it. It's not so bad once you almost send a guy three times your size into a coma."

"Funny."

"All jokes aside... you did good, Zar. You even became a queen, even if it was for a few hours." I smiled and she shrugged.

"I guess..." Zaria mumbled and reached not to hold my hand. "Thanks for coming with me, all of you. You all didn't have to do that."

"Hey, someone's gotta watch your back, Red. And it was fun getting to see your home planet and everything. Maybe next time we can go to Mars and see where M'gann grew up."

"I promise that the next won't be full of such chaos and I'll actually show you guys around." She finally laughed and I smiled. "But you're a good friend, Dick. Thank you for having my back."

"Hey, we're a team, right? I got your back and you have mine."

"Exactly." She smiled just as the door opened and Hal walked inside.

"I thought you two were asleep." Hal mused as I stood up.

"I was just going to." I yawned, letting go of Zaria's hand. "I'll see you all when we land."

"Thank you." He mouthed and I nodded, walking away.

What a day.