YJ the story Chapter 8

Chapter 8
The Attack on Agrelith
The trial began with Vlofohl calling Wally to the stand as he was the only person who could proof his innocents. Wally was led to the stand chained to it.
"Now human state your name" said the vizier.
"I am Wally West, and I am from Planet Earth and my Hero name is Kid Flash" replied Wally when he pulled his mask down around his neck.
"How did you get here?" asked Vlofohl.
"I saved my planet when I was hit several times by a chrysalis that threatened to destroy my planet. I was hit several times and slowly vanished. Everybody I love think I am dead. When I awoke I saw nothing but desert and wasteland with the oasis with the strawberry water and weird fruit" explained Wally.
"Is that so, So why do you wear goggles?" asked the Vizier.
"It's easy nimrod, I can run at super human speed and it protects my eyes and allows me to see infrared lasers and enemies while on missions.
"What kind of missions?" asked Vlofohl as he looked at Wally intrigued.
"Mostly recon missions, sent by Batman" explained Wally.
"So you've been sent to spy on us by this Batman" said the vizier trying to catch Wally out.
"Father I must object" shouted Vikyhl.
"Proceed Vikyhl" said King Tuekeg when Vikyhl stood up and stood beside Vlofohl and asked,
"Now Wally what abilities do hold?" asked the mature Princess Vikyhl.
"I have Superhuman speed, I also have Accelerated healing, Superhuman endurance and reflexes. I also have a high IQ" finished Wally.
"A High IQ you say?" asked Vlofohl.
"Yes I do" replied Wally.
"What knowledge do you hold?" asked the Queen from her chair.
"I know of Science, my lady" replied Wally to Queen Ivvir.
Just then there was a long silence as King Tuekeg stood up and said,
"There will be a three hour intermission, and then we shall continue with the trial" as he ordered as the guards took Wally back to his cell when suddenly Vikyhl said,
"Farther please could I look after Wally please" she asked.
Tuekeg then looked at his Queen who nodded and the two got up and left.
"Release him" ordered King Tuekeg as the guards removed Wally's shackles and left guarding the King and Queen.
After the King and Queen had left, Vlofohl walked up to the young Princess and said,
"You've made a big mistake Princess" as he turned and walked off to his chamber.
Wally then walked over to Vikyhl and said,
"Thank you Princess for standing up for me" he said with a smile as he watched Vlofohl walk off.
"It's worth it for you Wally West" said the Princess.
"Please call me Wally" replied the speedster.
"Ok Wally come I will give you a quick tour of the castle" said the princess as she took Wally's hand and the two went around the castle.

January 10 - 22:00 - Star City

When Artemis came around from her long sleep, she slowly groaned as she got up and looked around and saw that the floors and walls were soft. It was like she was in a holding cell at Arkham.
The room was pitch black and Artemis couldn't even see her hand in front of her.
Artemis looked around and shouted,
"Canary, where are you?" she called out but there was no answer.
Artemis then looked for a door and asked herself, "Where am I?" when looking for a door again though there was no answer.
Artemis caught on a few minutes later that she wasn't going to get a answer. She pondered on what to do as she cried out,
"Why have you put me in this room" she shouted as again the only voice was her own bouncing of the walls. Artemis looked and looked when she discovered a black box. Just then a single tube light turned on just as Artemis opened the black box. Inside was a large hand mirror and a note written by Black Canary herself.
Artemis then opened the folded note and saw what it read. It read "Who are you?" as Artemis shouted up and looked around the room.
"This isn't funny anymore Canary, tell me what to do" she shouted angrily.
Artemis then took the large mirror and read the note once more. Artemis had worn so many different masks over her time on the team she lost who she actually was. It suddenly dawned on her what she had to do. Just then Artemis turned and saw three podiums holding three different masks.
One was her old Artemis mission mask she had worn while on the team, the other one that was lit was her Tigress mask that she had worn to cope with Wally's death and the one she wore when on a undercover mission with Aqualad as Tigress.
The last mask however was in the darkness and couldn't be seen. Artemis closed her eyes and took a huge sigh as she said softly under her breath *I am Artemis Crock* Artemis then opened her eyes and took a look at the first mask. It was the first mask she had worn from the first day she was took under Green Arrows wing and took the identity of Artemis and joined the team. It was her green mask that extended from her hairline and finished at her cheekbones. It had been years since she had seen and even worn it. Artemis then looked at the note and then the mirror. She approached the first foam head and took the mask from it.
Artemis was hesitant at putting the mask on after so many years. Inside the black box was three lights, all were red. Artemis then muttered to herself 'Let's get this over with' she said when she pulled her green mask on and down over her face. To her surprise the mask still fitted her perfectly, she then picked the mirror up and looked at herself and wanted to remove it as quickly as she could but she opened her eyes and said, "I am Artemis Lian Crock" when suddenly one of the red lights turned green. As soon as she saw the light, she ripped off her mask and threw it to the ground. it didn't bounce as she started to look for the cables which led out through the wall and to a three lock door.
I then turned back to the podiums and on the second podium was the mask that she had worn to help her cope but also lead to more secrets and lies. It was her Tigress mask. She picked it up and immediately had flash backs to the whole undercover mission Nightwing and Aqualad had planned. In those flashbacks she saw her own faked death, her transformation and the result of Wally's death.
She didn't want to wear it but had too.
After placing the mask upon her face she picked up the mirror and as soon she had she felt terrible. Artemis looked at herself in the mirror and said,
"I faked my death, lied to all my friends, I pretended to be a villain" she said as she wanted to smash the mirror but she didn't. She opened her eyes and said to herself into the mirror.
"I am Artemis Lian Crock" slowly but firmly. As soon as she did another light changed from red to green.
Artemis grabbed the mask and ripped it from her face as quickly as possible not wanting to wear it a second longer. She threw the mask that bounced on the soft padded floor. Finally the time had come to face her fears and come face to face with her tormentor. Artemis walked to the third last podium and reached for the mask to then discover the light flashed on and there standing in front of her was the mask. The same mask her sister Jade wore. It was Cheshire's mask. It was the mask Artemis dreaded the most. In her mind, Artemis always felt that this mask, Cheshire's mask had been made of secrets and lies.
Artemis looked at Cheshire's mask and said,
"Great, I have to put you on and say who I am. I can't do it" she stopped as she had flashbacks of her nightmare where she was the Cheshire and not her sister Jade.
Artemis slumped against the white padded wall and slid down and hung her head. The mask however was just sitting there staring at her seemingly laughing at her and mocking her weakness. Artemis looked up and said to the mask,
"What are you grinning at?" she asked as she was beginning to lose it when she got back up to her feet.
It was as though the mask was speaking to her mentally, it rang in her head, 'how pathetic, you are weak and you will never escape it'. this rang through her mind over and over when everything flashed before her. Flashbacks of her battles with her sister, her dad and even her own team. Suddenly Artemis picked the mask up and said while looking at the grinning face of the mask and said,
"Well it's now or never Artemis" she said to herself when she picked the mask up and flipped it around. Artemis looked at all the tech that was embedded within the mask. It had everything, from the built in air filters to the infrared scanner lenses.
Artemis brought the mask up to her face and everything flashed before her. The mask sat to her face perfectly and remained on when she removed her hand from it. Artemis picked the mirror up and could see her dark grey eyes that were now darker due to the eyes of the mask as she said,
"i...am...artemis...lian...crock"... "I...am...Artemis...lian... Crock..." "I AM ARTEMIS LIAN CROCK!" she finally shouted as the images of the past and her memories shattered and a new path was revealed to her when the last red light turned to green as the door unlocked and in walked Black Canary.
"Well done Artemis, you did it you've discovered who you are, I'm very proud of you" she said when walked in and looked into her eyes through the eyes of the mask Artemis was wearing.
She removed the mask from Artemis' face and dropped it to the ground and trod on it as it broke in two.
"Canary what have you done? That was Wally's?" Artemis looked at the mask in pieces.
"But that wasn't Wally's mask Artemis, as I have the real thing right here" said Canary when she took out the real Cheshire mask and showed it to Artemis.
"You tricked me?" said Artemis.
"No Artemis I didn't, I helped you to see that it is only a mask, now get some rest as you have a long day ahead tomorrow" replied Canary as she walked through the door with the mask in her hand and Artemis followed her before going to hit the showers.

Aogladius  

The three hour break ended and everybody came back into the royal courtroom where Princess Vikyhl was already waiting with Wally for her mother and farther. With the King and Queen back, in came Vlofohl who was determined to proof Wally was guilty and a spy. It was getting late and the sun was lowering rather quickly. Meanwhile outside was a large line of soldiers led by Captain Kruyrt and Vice-Captain Olevrrc. A line of large catapults were aligned and ready to be fired. They waited till the sun had set before launching their attack on Agrelith.
In the courtroom the trial progress at an alarming rate. Vlofohl tried to get Wally to slip up and Princess Vikyhl protected him to the best of her ability.
Suddenly outside the walls of Agrelith was the war cry of Captain Kruyrt of "FIRE!" as one of the foot soldiers released a large flaming rock was flung at the castle. Wally was in the stand once more when he suddenly saw the flaming rock heading the courtroom.
"King Tuekeg, Queen Ivvir" he shouted when he dashed around and grabbed the King and Queen before grabbing the Princess and hitting the deck hard as the flaming Rock smashed through the wall.
"Wally, Thank you" said the beautiful Queen.
"You're welcome Queen Ivvir, it's what I do" replied Wally.
"Wally, I'm sorry for putting you through this, you have saved me and my family and have earned my respect.
"I don't want to sound rude your Kingness, But we must get out of here" replied Wally as he looked at the hole and King Tuekeg ordered his Queen and Princess  to run to the safe room.
"I can help if You'll let me" Wally said to the King.
"No you protect my Wife and Daughter, that is an order" said the King.
"Yes sir" said Wally as he raced and found the Queen, Princess and their maidens and Viziers and led them down a back stairwell.
King Tuekeg then raced to the armoury and prepared for battle. He grabbed every weapon he had forged himself with magic and steel work. He then with his army went to face the enemy in battle.
"Wally Please go and help my Farther" said Princess Vikyhl to him.
"But he told me to protect you and your mother" said Wally in reply.
"Go We'll be ok" said Queen Ivvir as Wally nodded and raced to join the King in battle.
Soldiers had broken through the gates and into Agrelith and began to burn everything they saw trying to smoke out the soldiers and King. It didn't take long till the King on a horse like creature appeared and charged with one of his Battle Axe's he had forged from an unbreakable steel and magic.
He charged and killed numerous soldiers and charged ahead. Wally had joined him on the front as he used his super speed to take out numerous on charging soldiers.
"King Tuekeg I have come to help you" he said when they pulled up sharply.
at the front of one of the battering rams, was Captain Kruyrt and his Vice Captain.
"King Tuekeg, Surrender now or prepare to die" shouted the arrogant Captain.
"Never you Unaledien scum" shouted the king back at the captain.
"Wally can you take out the catapults?" asked the King.
"Yes I can" said Wally when he raced off leaving Captain Waro to protect his King.
Wally raced right into the middle of the foot soldiers and the catapults.
"Great" said Wally as he was surrounded with arrows and swords and maces waiting to hurt him. Just then Wally began to spin rapidly and in doing so creating a large yellow and red tornado which picked the foot soldiers and catapults up and blew them away.
Meanwhile in the castle, Vlofohl was in his chamber before he pulled on a cord that revealed a secret staircase. He grabbed a small leather pouch which held inside a large red and silver toned crystal and took off for the secret underground passageway.
In the hidden passageway underneath the Castle, Queen Ivvir and her daughter Princess Vikyhl wasn't alone as they had Emsyss and Cypylph with them also Eibonna and Xentha to protect them. The Queen lead the way towards the exit as she took everybody a right turn then a left and a final left before they came to a trap door in a nearby tavern. Unknowing to them that Xiex, Jaeq'ielsa and Goliks was waiting for them and Vlofohl was waiting for them too. Just then the trap door was pushed open by Queen Ivvir as she looked to see if the coast was clear. She pushed the trap door open and climbed out only to be ambushed by Vlofohl and the royal Unaledien soldiers. Once Queen Ivvir turned she was just about to help her daughter up and out of the trap door but was interrupted by the sinister tone of Vlofohl's voice.
"Hello Queen Ivvir" he said when he walked forward wearing a long red robe and holding a staff in one hand and a small leather pouch in the other.
"Vlofohl, What is the meaning of this?" asked the Queen.
"Isn't it oblivious my Queen, I have been the mole in your kingdom for a long time and now in this pouch I have the key to your weakness.
"I have no weakness" denied Queen Ivvir.
"Oh you don't do you then how about we test out that theory shall we" said Vlofohl sinisterly when he opened the pouch and slipped out a red and silver tones crystal.
"Where did you get that?" shouted Queen Ivvir as she was stunned to see the anhyozincite crystal that was her and her daughter's weakness. The anhyozincite was the weakness of all Agrelithians like Kryptonite was to Kryptonian's.
"I had my scouts find the mine that your King knew about for years" said the evil vizier.
Queen Ivvir knew what the crystal was capable off as she was suddenly grabbed from behind and shackled with fragments of the anhyozincite crystal embedded within them as she began to feel strange and weak. She tried a spell but she was weakened by the effect of the crystal as Vlofohl walked forward and said,
"Gag reh!" as a spell when suddenly the veil that Queen Ivvir wore became a solid white cloth and tied itself tightly around the queens mouth in doing so gagging her.
"Now try and cast spells now my Queen" mocked Vlofohl when he attached the crystal to the top of his sceptre.      
Vlofohl walked forward with his now Sceptre in hand as he walked forward and held up Queen Ivvir's head up by cupping her chin between his thumb and index finger.
He looked down at the Queen and said,
"Such Beauty you will make a fine slave to my real and true Queen of Aogladius... Queen Eamylkea" he said as Queen Ivvir pulled her head away so she didn't have to look at the evil Vizier but was getting weaker and weaker by the moment.
Eibonna and Xentha saw that their Queen in trouble as they quietly stayed out of view and said quietly,
" Etaerc a elbbub fo elbisivni ruomalg" that created a bubble that made them invisible. The snook up the wooden steps but then suddenly Vlofohl caught them as he had a infrared eye and caught them with his sceptre.
"Foolish girls, you shall be the first to be enslaved now tell me where is the Princess" said the evil Vlofohl.
"We will never tell you... monster" said a defiant Eibonna.
"Suit yourself my dear, Sniahc eb sepor" he chanted when nearby ropes that were holding a support beam up changed to steel chains and wrapped themselves around Eibonna and Xentha as they joined their queen as his prisoners.
"Now I am going to ask this one last time, Where is the princess?" said Vlofohl.
Princess Vikyhl kept silent and in the darkness of the secret passageway when she had enough and said,
"Etativel!" as she levitated up out of the safety of the secret passageway and said,
"Vlofohl, you want me then here I am" said the young princess still wearing her gold veil over her face.
"Let my mother go" ordered Vikyhl.
"Sorry Princess but My true king needs her and now Enots Eb" Vlofohl as he chanted a spell and shot a red ball at her.
Vikyhl put up her right gloved hand and said,
"Detogen Eb" which blocked Vlofohl's spell and negated it.
"Pathetic from such a little girl. Tropelet" when suddenly Vlofohl disappeared and re appeared behind the young Princess.
He grabbed her arms and covered her mouth as he struck her with his sceptre and chanted,
"Yllanrete Peels" as Princess Vikyhl began to feel weak by the anhyozincite crystal before falling asleep.
"Mmmppphhh" groaned Ivvir as she tried to reach her daughter who Vlofohl dropped to the ground in a heap with glazed over eyes although she was not dead as she was in a deep sleep.
"Take them away" ordered Vlofohl as the guards dragged Queen Ivvir, Eibonna and Xentha away. Vlofohl then followed behind when he stopped and chanted with his sceptre held aloft "Edolxe Erif" when the thatched straw ignited and began to burn a radiant red and orange glow.
He laughed as he thought that the fire would be the death of the Princess.
Meanwhile all of the weapons that the foot soldiers had were gone and King Tuekeg and Wally stood looking at Captain Kruyrt and his vice captain.
"Tell me who sent you before you die" ordered King Tuekeg.
"Never" shouted Kruyrt as he received word to retreat.
"Look behind you" shouted Kruyrt as Wally and King Tuekeg turned and saw the tavern ablaze.
"No Ivvir, Vikyhl!" shouted the King as he spun on his steed and headed for the burning tavern.
"Wally run on ahead... save my wife and daughter" pleaded the King.
"I'm on it" replied Wally as he raced at his top speed to reach the burning tavern. He looked at the flames and raced in.
"Queen Ivvir, Princess are you in here" shouted Wally as he was blinded by thick smoke.
"Ivvir, Vikyhl where are you?" he shouted when suddenly the roof began to cave in just as he spotted the un moving princess.
"Princess!" screamed Wally as he baseball slid over her body and protected her from the falling roof as King Tuekeg looked on in horror and sadness as he chanted,
"Enog Eb Erif" when he used his magic to water bend from a nearby well and put the fire out.
"Wally are you ok" shouted the King.
There was no reply when suddenly a large pile of straw began to stir. A red gloved hand reached up through it and created a air pocket. King Tuekeg then walked over and took his hand and pulled him and his daughter out of the rubble.
"Wally is she..." He said not wanting the truth.
"It's ok King Tuekeg she is just sleeping. Vikyhl wake up please" he said as he cradled the sleeping Princess.
"I'm Sorry Wally, I knew you were innocent all along, Will you forgive me?"
"Of course King Tuekeg" replied Wally.
"Come, let's go back to the castle and wake her up" said King Tuekeg as he took his daughter and carried her back to the castle where he summoned Paephype who was the elder Vizier and sorcerer.
"Paephype, My dear old friend please prepare your mages for the awakening of my Daughter" said the king as he reached the large doors.
"Yes my Lord, Right away" said Paephype as he took the sleeping Princess.
"King Tuekeg, Will she be alright?" asked Wally.
"Yes she is strong willed and won't stop fighting" replied the King when he and Wally was helped to the royal chamber.
While in the other Kingdom of Aogladius, Unaledien, King Golfudua and Queen Eamylkea was waiting for their conquering Vizier and their soon to be slaves. The Captain then tugged the chains and in a line was Queen Ivvir and behind her was Eibonna and Xentha.
"Good work Captain, and Excellent Vlofohl you shall be rewarded handsomely. Take the prisoners away" ordered King Golfudua.
Captain Kruyrt then led the prisoners down to the dungeon as he chained all three girls up using anhyozincite coated chains which took away their strength and weakened their magic abilities. Kruyrt then left the gag over Queen Ivvir's mouth so she couldn't chant any spells to free herself and left to retire and recover from the fight.  

January 10 - 23:00 - Star City

After taking a hot shower, Artemis turned in for the night after having a cup of tea and something to eat.
Black Canary on the other hand was preparing for Artemis' last training session She had gathered enough information from the team secretly to create an exact replica of Cheshire's outfit and even got a set of assassin Sais and even a large black styled wig and makeup to make her look exactly like Cheshire.
While preparing the outfit, Canary turned and looked at the real mask she had used to create a copy of it as you picked it up and was about to place it on the mannequin but stopped just before placing it over its face.
Canary then smiled and took the mask back over to her mirrored vanity table, she sat down and looked at herself in the mirror. She then looked at the mask in her hands and thought nothing of it as she turned the mask around and placed it upon her face.
She saw herself wearing it and was surprised how well it fit her but knew what she had to do. She had to show Artemis that she could beat her sister with her acting like her in every way. She then took off the mask and contacted Batman to let him know that Artemis was on her final session before turning in herself for the night.