Young Justice Oneshots

Oz(part three)

The three friends walked down the yellow brick road, laughing as if they had known each other for much longer than fifteen minutes. They were so invested in their conversation in fact, that they barely noticed when they entered a spooky part of the forest. Then M'gann heard a growl.

"Uhm, guys?" She asked with a quavering voice, "what was that?"

"It sounded," Wally started, but his voice came out like a small child's and he was forced to try again. "It sounded like a lion."

"Or a tiger," Dick supplied, "or maybe a bear."

"Oh my," M'gann said. She looked like she was trying to make herself as small as possible.

Wally shot Dick a look and reached to comfort M'gann. "It's okay," he said, "Robin and I will fight off the animals if they come anywhere near you. And we all know how terrifying Bart is."

As if he knew M'gann was distressed, Bart jumped up into her arms and began nuzzling her elbow.

"Yeah," Dick said, joining in, "and Kid Mouth over there will scare them so badly with his dress, they won't know what hit them."

The nickname shocked Wally so much that he let go of M'gann's shoulders. Where had he heard that before? It had to have been somewhere, but where? He hadn't known Dick before they met in the cornfield an hour back. Why did the name sound so familiar?

"Wally?" Dick asked, sounding much more concerned than was probably necessary. "You okay, man?"

Wally shook it off. He was probably just imagining things. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just a little insulted you brought up the dress thing again. I mean you're wearing a cape and a domino mask! Who has worse fashion sense here?"

Unfortunately, before Dick could come up with a quippier response, the group heard another growl, much closer than before. Just as Wally was about to suggest that they run for their lives, Bart jumped from M'gann's arms and ran into the forest.

"Bart!" Wally yelled. He could hear his little dog barking, but he didn't know what was going on. It scared the crap out of him.

Then, as suddenly as the dog had disappeared, a lion came storming out of the forest. He ran over behind M'gann and hid under her blue cape. The poor girl looked like she was going to pass out.

"Hey," Dick yelled, "get away from her!"

"I'll do anything," the lion replied, "just get that dog away from me!"

Wally called Bart, who came immediately and jumped back into his wicker basket. Dick jerked the lion to it's feet and glowered at it.

"Alright, buddy," Dick threatened. Wally's heart did not beat quicker in his chest at the demanding tone. "Who do you think you are?"

"I'm just a lion!" Said the lion.

"We know that," Wally replied, "but what's your name? Why have you been following us?"

The lion lowered his head in defeat and sighed. "I was scared."

"Of us?" Wally gawked. "Why? How?"

"You're intimidating, okay?" The lion flared. "I was following you because I heard you singing about seeing the Lantern, and I wanted to ask if I could come with. My name's Conner. I'm missing my courage."

"Apparently," Wally mumbled. Dick shifted his glower. Wally's stomach did not flip.

"Well," M'gann said, "I suppose you could come with us. As long as you don't try to scare us again." She smiled a sweet little smile, and Wally could see Conner's heart melting.