reborn in young justice1

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or any of its characters. They belong to DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. The only thing I own is my original character.

The last thing I remembered was the screech of tires and the blaring horn of a truck. Then, darkness. For what felt like an eternity, I floated in an abyss, no sound, no light—just an endless void.

When I finally came to, I wasn't in a hospital, as I had half-expected. Instead, I was surrounded by trees, tall and ancient, their canopies blocking out most of the sunlight. The air smelled fresh, like pine and damp earth. It wasn't the world I remembered.

I stumbled to my feet, confusion clouding my mind. My clothes were unfamiliar—a sleek black bodysuit with subtle blue highlights. It clung to me like a second skin, flexible but durable. My hands were gloved, my feet booted.

"What the hell?" I muttered, my voice raspy.

As I looked down at myself, a flood of foreign memories hit me like a tidal wave. Memories of a name I didn't recognize: Kade Ryder. That wasn't my name… was it?

Then came the abilities. The realization was almost instinctual. I could feel the energy coursing through me, an electric hum just beneath my skin. With a flick of my wrist, a small orb of crackling energy appeared in my palm. I stared at it, wide-eyed, before it fizzled out.

"What is this? Some kind of dream?" I questioned aloud, trying to make sense of the situation.

The sound of voices nearby broke my thoughts. They were distant but growing louder—angry, urgent. I hid behind a tree, peeking out cautiously.

In the clearing ahead, I saw them: Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad. My heart nearly stopped.

"No way," I whispered. "This can't be real."

They were exactly as I remembered them from the show. Robin, with his cocky grin and acrobatics; Kid Flash, full of energy and quick wit; Aqualad, calm and commanding. They were locked in a heated battle against a group of shadowy figures dressed in tactical gear.

This wasn't some random street fight. These guys were professionals, and they weren't pulling punches.

I wanted to stay hidden, to let it play out, but something inside me screamed to act. I wasn't sure if it was my old self or this new persona—Kade Ryder—but I couldn't just stand there.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out from behind the tree. "Hey!" I shouted, trying to sound confident. "Need a hand?"

The combatants froze, turning to look at me. Kid Flash blinked in surprise. "Who's this guy?"

"Not the time, KF," Robin snapped, dodging a punch.

One of the shadowy figures charged at me, clearly not waiting for introductions. My body reacted on instinct. I sidestepped the attack and lashed out with my fist, a burst of energy amplifying the blow. The guy went flying, landing in a heap several feet away.

The others didn't take kindly to that. Three of them rushed me at once. I barely had time to think before my hands crackled with energy again, this time forming a shield that absorbed their attacks. With a burst of force, I pushed them back, sending them sprawling.

"Whoa," Kid Flash muttered, skidding to a stop beside me. "Who are you?"

"Still figuring that out," I admitted.

Aqualad joined us, his water-bearers glowing in his hands. "Whoever you are, we appreciate the help. But we need to finish this quickly."

Robin, now perched on a branch above us, called out, "Incoming reinforcements! We need to move!"

I didn't need to be told twice. Whatever was going on, it was bigger than me, and I was now in the middle of it.

As we fought our way out of the clearing, I couldn't help but wonder: How did I end up here? And what did this new life have in store for me?