Lessons: Becoming the Green Arrow

Episode 16 - Family bonds (Part 2)

Episode 16 – Family bonds (Part 2)

AN – This is the final episode and I know it's a long story! If you made it this far, THANK YOU! Again, there is a happy ending but not everything will be fully resolved: I want their journey to continue as there will always be threats and Lessons for the Team.

DISCLAIMER – Still no legal right to play but that hasn't stopped me and it won't stop me now!

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"Thea, you forced me to act. You were feeling torn between your past and your future and I didn't want that to burden you any longer. Remember the freedom you felt when you pulled the trigger to kill me?"

Thea turned her attention back to her father now and simply quirked a brow. She wasn't surprised when he continued.

"You can feel that again when you kill Oliver. It will release you from the pain."

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Thea barely kept the emotions from showing on her face – equal parts disgust, fear, and anger. This was the psychopath who had tried to wipe out the Glades because of his wife's death and now she had to play his game once again as her brother's life hung in the balance. Thea paused as she realized that it wasn't just her and Oliver as Malcolm would also destroy his Team. He would kill Roy, Felicity, and Diggle without thought or emotion and then there would be no one to stop him. Turning away, she took several breaths to calm her heart and mind. Deliberately giving herself time to bury all of the emotions crashing through her, she slowly picked up her bow and strapped on her quiver.

"It is unfair all that you have been burdened with by the Queens. You left them behind and came with me though and together we've done great things. We can do more."

Oliver barely processed Malcolm's words as he focused on his sister. She wasn't the little girl he had once known nor the young woman he had returned to after the Island. He had to believe she was still Thea though and that her smile had been real. She had been changed by her recent experiences but his own experiences in purgatory hadn't changed his love for her. He knew he could take out Malcolm if given the chance; however, he also knew he couldn't target his own sister. This choice had to be hers and he had to let her make it.

Thea heard the distinct sound of metal meeting flesh but stopped herself from jerking around. Instead she continued her preparation as the sounds continued. Turning slowly she saw that Malcolm was using a metal baton to beat Oliver. Remaining silent she forced herself to breathe and wait...her patience paid off as Malcolm turned to speak to her.

"You need to kill him Thea. Prove yourself to me." Malcolm put down the baton and again picked up the dagger that was already wet with Oliver's blood.

"I don't need to prove anything – I know who I am. Thanks to you, I really do know myself now." Those words were nothing less than the truth. Thanks to Malcolm, she knew she didn't want to be anything like him and she knew she wasn't like him. She was and wanted to be her brother's sister. Turning, she started walking away hoping to force him to focus on her instead of Oliver. She continued her steps even though he spoke.

"I can do it for you but it will be better for you if you kill him." He was determined to force Thea to make the right choice. Malcolm needed Oliver Queen dead and he needed Thea Merlyn to remain by his side. His daughter was young and still new to the art so he could forgive her this lapse if she made the right decision. To prove his point he brought the dagger to Oliver's chest and waited.

Thea stopped and paused for a moment with her back to them, but at Oliver's low moan she acted. In a single instant, Thea turned, pulled and nocked an arrow, aimed and fired. The arrow sliced between Oliver and Malcolm forcing Malcolm to step back even as he laughed. Thea met Malcolm's eyes and grinned as well, again playing her part as she fired another arrow that drew blood as it pierced Oliver's arm.