"Hold it, poozer!"

"I... I can't!"

"Hold it!" Kilowog ordered, tightening his chain constructs.

After my small episode, Hal decided to call Laira and Kilowog to Earth to try and find a way to use my full abilities while still keeping control of my Ring.

Which leads me to my current situation... being chained down on the sand while the Team stands on the sidelines with Hal, John and Carol holding them back.

"Don't let your mind betray you, Zaria. Control it." Laira said, constructing even more chains around me and I glanced at Hal and Carol in panic. "The only thing that limits you is your mind."

"Are you sure this is necessary!?" Wally exclaimed and John nodded. "WHY!?"

"Reasons." Hal answered and looked away when Kilowog picked me up only to throw me back to the sand. "This is how we managed to get her to regain control last time."

"She's losing control of the Ring!?"

"No comment."

"Break my constructs, poozer." Kilowog said, throwing me to a boulder and I screamed out in pain. "Break them and fight me."

"I can't!" I cried.

"Can't or won't?"

"Won't." I admitted and Laira flew up and held my face.

"You were the one who took down Atrocitus without much effort, faced Krona to save the universe and saved your planet from a tyrant and now you cannot break a simple and weak construct?" She scoffed and punched me. "Pathetic."

"Watch it, Laira." Hal warned.

"Stop coddling her, Jordan. You seem to forget where you found her."

"Which is why I'm warning you to watch it... you weren't there."

"But I was." Kilowog butted, yanking the chains so I fell to my knees in front of him. "And I was in Ysmault with you. I know what she's capable of."

"That's not who I want to be." I said through gritted teeth and John rolled his eyes.

"What about Krona?"

"I lost control."

"Did you?"

"Yes."

"DID YOU!?"

"No..." I admitted and Laira grabbed me by the neck.

"Okay, this is just plain torture!" Dick yelled.

"Don't fight it, child." Laira whispered and wiped my tears. "It's okay... we're here to help you."

"Laira, I think it's time for a break." Carol called out and she let me go. "Baby steps, remember?"

"Do you want a break?"

"Please?" I whimpered as Laira nodded and I flew up to Hal.

"Baby steps, little Red. You managed to keep it under control for now and that's okay." He assured and I nodded shakily. "You did great so far."

"Rome wasn't built in a day, Zar. It'll take some time, but it's gonna be worth it." Carol continued and rubbed my back. "Walk away and breathe. If you're up to it, we can pick this up later."

"I think I'll take a break... rethink strategy." I decided and they both frowned.

"Sweetheart... not everything is a fight."

"Except that it is."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"Crimson? You want something to eat? Hal brought Chinese."

"Egg rolls?"

"All yours." Dick smiled and walked inside my spare room in the Cave. "I think Kilowog will want to visit more often after seeing him beat Wally in an eating contest."

"Sorry I missed it." I shrugged.

"You sure you're okay, Zaria? I sensed you're not whelmed."

"Eventually."

"Amuse me."

"It's complicated."

"You want to talk about it?"

"I keep losing control of the Ring. My concentration lapses are getting shorter because the Ring keeps screaming at me to take over." I admitted and his eyes widened. "It's a constant fight for control because all I feel is anger."

"And there's nothing we can do to help?"

"I'm afraid this is a battle I have to fight on my own, Dick."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"Take it slow, Zar. Let it take over and fight it."

"Hal, have you lost your mind!?"

"We've tried everything in our arsenal and nothing works. We're going back to basics." Hal shrugged and pointed his Ring at me. "Remember that talk we had about willpower? I think it's a good time to put it to practice."

I took a deep breath and raised my hand, the Ring glowing bright red. The rest of the Lanterns pointed their Rings at me and nodded.

"In theory, we submit you to enough willpower and you just might regain control again." John explained and I let out a shaky nod.

"And if it fails?" Kaldur asked as he stood to the side with the rest of the Team who refused to leave me alone.

"We take her back to Oa and hope the Guardians can help her... But she's a tough girl with a lot more willpower than she thinks."

"It's gonna be okay, Zar." Hal assured just as I felt my fangs begin to grow. "I've got your back, kid."

Once the veins in my arms darkened, Hal and Laira constructed a series of chains and forced me onto my knees. Kilowog and John created a dome when they noticed the Ring glow even brighter.

I managed to break the constructs and tried to break the dome with rage plasma but it was no use. Instead of my normal nails, sharp talons appeared and my hands turned practically pitch black.

"Carol, now!" Hal yelled and she used her Ring to shoot a beam right at my chest forcing me back.

I fell to my knees and noticed black goo dropping down into the sand.

"Hal!" Kilowog widened his eyes. Hal shook off the shock and forced the spoiled blood back into my body. "Hal, you're gonna kill her!"

"Hold the construct and shut the fuck up!"

Using their shock as an advantage, I managed to break the dome and knocked them all back. Carol immediately flew up to the Team and casted a shield around them.

Laira constructed a hatchet but before she could swing, I grabbed her by the neck and threw her to the other side of the beach.

"ZARIA!" Artemis yelled but I ignored her.

John tried to shoot a beam, but I constructed a giant hand and swatted him away, knocking him and Kilowog to a boulder.

"Okay... plan B, little Red." Hal cracked his knuckles and I grinned. "Let's just hope you don't hate me after this."

Before I had the chance to do anything, Hal tied my hands and flew up to me.

"Sorry about this, kiddo." He whispered before pressing his Ring to my temple. "In brightest day... in darkest night-"

"HAL! It'll kill her!" Carol protested and the Team started screaming as well.

"No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power... Green Lantern's light!"

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"You shouldn't have done that! You could've sent her into a coma!"

"What the hell else was I supposed to do, Carol!? There was literally no way we could've saved her from the Ring if I didn't do this."

"There's no way she would survive it twice, Hal! You both got lucky the first time but-"

"Can you two please argue outside? I think I'm getting a migraine." I grumbled, opening my eyes and they both let out a sigh of relief. "How long was I out?"

"Sixteen hours. We've been watching these two argue for about eight of those." Dick called out from the corner of the room where the rest of the Team were. "You missed Kilowog hyperventilating until Laira slapped him."

"Aww, if it isn't my favorite Red." Guy cooed and I groaned, throwing a pillow at him.

"Kill me. Kill me now." I begged Hal who just laughed and pressed a kiss to my head. "I'm dead serious, Jordan... Take that Ring and kill me so I don't have to deal with Guy anymore."

"I just got here!"

"And your presence is enough to irritate me to no end... Literally, no one likes you, Guy."

"Is she humbling him again?" John smirked walking inside and Hal nodded. "Yeah, she's back to normal."

"Speaking of... what happened to me? Last thing I remember was the oath and the rest was just black."

"Look at your Ring, little red." Carol grinned and I looked down.

What once was a bright red Ring, now has a small green hue surrounding it.

"Your willpower combined with my own managed to create a small barrier around it, Zar." Hal explained and lifted his hand to show a red hue surrounding his own Ring. "In theory, it should give you just enough to use your Ring without you going all crazy on us like you did last night."

"But why is your Ring-"

"Thats not important right now, kid."

"It worked and that's what matters." Laira said and Kilowog smiled big. "You have control again."

"Does it feel any different?" Wally asked and I shrugged.

"I don't feel as angry anymore and it's not screaming as much for control." I admitted and the Team cheered.

"One day at a time, Crimson. But it's a huge first step." Dick smiled and I found myself smiling back.

"Yeah... one day at a time."