Arrow: Rise Of The Shadow

(Nanda Parbat)

John Was Sparring With Ra's al Ghul, Ra's Had Centuries of Experience Over John, But John was Ra's Horseman For A Reason. John had Served Four Tours in Afghanistan and Had A Well-Deserved Reputation As A Master Hand-To-Hand Combatant and Infiltrator. John Was Previously Part of A Joint-Military and ARGUS Taskforce as it's Executive Officer, and the Taskforce's Weapons and Tactics and Specialist. He Could Slip in and Out Without Being Seen and Could Cause Distractions From Afar Or Nearby No Matter The Risk or Difficulty. Ra's had Sought Him Out, Busted Him Out of The Federal Penitentiary when the Taskforce When Tits up and He Was Blamed and thrown in Max Security Lock Up.

John was Given The Chance to Right His Past Wronging, and Managed To Do It and Get Publicly Exonerated. Before Telling the ones to Publicly Exonerate Him, to "Take Their Fake Joy and Get Fucked with it", He Then Decked His Old Boss, Amanda Waller, and Brutally Dispatched Anyone Who Attempted to Stop, Arrest, and/or take him down when he left. Which Was How He Came To Serve Ra's. John was His Most Effective Soldier, He Was Called The Shadow, because He Was An Assassin Who Killed Like Such. His Specialization was Bow and Sword, He Could Take an Opponent Down With Arrows or Fletchettes and Could Fire His Sword As An Arrow and Use It In Close-Quarters.

John Had Long Been Considered Worthy of Ascending To Ra's al Ghul, but John Always Refused, Chiefly Because He Hadn't Been Cut Down By Ra's and Survived. He'd Marry Nyssa in A Second, But He'd Never Disrespect Ra's By Bringing Dishonour To The League and Ra's in order to Pursue Nyssa Romantically. But This Mattered Little, For A New Ra's Was To Ascend.

"You Are Always Ready Shadow, Not Once Have You Disappointed Me. But My Time Is Coming To an End, and I Must Know, Will You Follow My Heir, Al Sah-him, As You Have Followed Me?"' Asks Ra's. "I am Your Horseman, But I Follow The Man Who Holds The Title and Wears The Ring. I Follow The Ideals and Tenets of The League, Any Who Dishonor's Them Will never Have My Loyalty, even A Ra's. But I Will Always Remain, Because I Am Loyal To The League.'' Says John. ''Your Potential To Suceed Me, Your Loyalty to Our Ideals and Tenets, and Your Honor Code Had always Instilled In Me My Belief You were to Become The Next Ra's. But Now You Have Shown Me Why You Refused, You Never Felt Worthy. You Felt You Would Bring Dishonor To The League and More Importantly, To Me. If Al Sah-him Falls From The Path Of A True Ra's, Then I Must Ask You either Return Him To It, or End Him.'' Says Ra's. ''Your My Master, My Teacher, and More Importantly, My Purpose, If You Command, I Obey. If You Ask, I Agree. If You Think, I Know. I am Always Yours To Utilise My Liege.'' Replies John.

''My Wayward Daughter Has Gone Rogue, in Time, I Shall Send Al Sah-him To Deal With Her, But Until Then, I Want You to Observe Her, When I send Al Sah-him, You Will Serve Him as You Do Me, Treat Him As You Would Me, Obey Him As You Would Me.'' Ra's Commands. ''Yes, My Liege, The Hydra and I Will Depart Immediately.'' Says John As He Bows in Obedience Before Beckoning His Men To Follow.