User blog:Taw2541/Arrow Season 7 speculation

Ok, so even though I am done with Arrow there was this one article that I saved because it just something that I was working on for a while. So I finally finished it and it is partly by the speculative seasons I have read. Anyway this was just a speculative set of ideas of what Arrow Season 7 could be based on where the story is going at this point. Before I begin there are a few key plot elements that need to be addressed before this happens.



The following happens in Season 6 in no specific order. Dinah Drake the current Black Canary, has her vocal cords irreparable damage during a confrontation with Black rendering her unable to use her Sonic Scream. Additionally, the traumatic event and the death of her former lover Vincent Sobel/Vigilante, causes her to experience a psychological regression during her torture when she was an undercover cop; causing her to be unable to enter the field again because she never dealt with the earlier trauma. Because of this she is forced to retire from the Team. Cayden James ends up causing severe devastation to Star City, as he ends up killing Felicity's mother Donna Smoak. Donna's death sends Felicity down a path where she manipulates, deceives, and even purposely endangers the people that she cares about. Felicity even at one point asks Oliver to kill James for her but he refuses citing that knows that killing someone out of revenge does nothing, even though he admits he has done it before for Laurel by killing Darhk and also mentions that he is trying not to feed what he confessed to Adrian Chase: that he still fears that he secretly enjoys killing. This causes a lot of tension between the two and after Felicity uses the Team without their knowledge in an attempt to kill James herself and later endangers William's life, Oliver fed up and horrified by what she has done separates from Felicity until she gets her act together.

While working for James, Black Siren inadvertently causes Quentin's death after he sacrifices his life for her because of how tragic her backstory is. Oliver because of the FBI's investigation and Cayden James' constant attacks on his administration, the City Council decides to reluctantly let Oliver go because of his rather public spectacles and public opinion worrying he is rather unstable choice as Mayor because of it; however, they allow Oliver to help him find a suitable successor so that all the work that he did has the potential to last. Additionally, William comes to terms with Oliver being the Green Arrow as while he does not want to be alone should Oliver die, he comes to understand that the Star City is more dangerous without his father as the Green Arrow. Rory Regan, regains his powers and returns to the team and Thea returns to the Team as Speedy.

Finally, in the Season 6 finale, after Cayden James' syndicate is defeated, Black Siren after feeling the guilt and shame of her actions for the first time since Quentin died feels that she cannot live with what she has done or the monster that she has become and decides to do the only good thing only she can do: Resurrect her doppelgänger, Laurel Lance of Earth 1. While doing this Oliver arrives in the Arrowcave with Black Siren and Laurel's open coffin, after she explains what she is trying to do Oliver tries to talk her out of it but eventually relents after she tells him that this is her redemption and because he wants Laurel back. Black Siren explains that there are myths on her Earth about a group of people called, The Monitors, that studied the secrets of the multiverse and learned to take the life-force of their doppelgängers effectively making themselves immortal, however, Siren explain that it is possible to use in a reverse manner by transferring her life-force to Laurel's corpse in hopes to resurrect her; she claims that she discovered this method years ago when she was trying to bring her loved ones back but couldn’t because of their lack of bodies. Siren tells Oliver that she was probably better off never meeting Oliver but tells him that maybe just one version of themselves can be together now. As Siren starts to transfer her life force, the process is so painful that Siren starts screaming causing the arrow-cave to be damaged. Ultimately, Black Siren is now a withered husk while Laurel now alive exits her coffin and gazes at Black Siren's corpse. Oliver asks if it really is Laurel as she sarcastically replies how many of her are there, causing Oliver to embrace her and the two gaze at each other as the season ends.

Season 7 Begins



Laurel has returned to the field as Black Canary with Oliver, Curtis, Thea and Rory Regan. Since her revival, Laurel has been focusing all her time and energy on being Black Canary and training when not out in the field. Additionally, because Oliver revealed her identity to Star CIty Laurel is now in hiding unable to really practice law or even go out soc ially without risk to her identity and potentially endangering the lives of her friends and remaining family. Laurel has also become rather jaded due to all of her experiences since coming back to life and regularly visits her father's grave. Oliver now out of his mayoral office, spends his time at managing and volunteering at several charity organizations he established such a Community Youth Center sometimes doing it alongside with William and Thea. John now longer able to enter the field because of pushing himself too far in field as Green Arrow, has now caused full blown paralysis in his entire right arm and now he has retired from the field permanently; thus causing John to start job hunting and spending time with his family. <span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">Dinah Drake, still traumatized by the events of Black Siren's attack focuses on her desk job and later is promoted to Captain of the SSPD; additionally, she and Laurel have barely had any communication as while she knows that she is not Black Siren but is reminded of her trauma each time. Finally, Rene now has new job as a self-defense and gun training instructor because of the collapse of Oliver's administration, he also very reluctant to return as a vigilante due to regaining custody of Zoe and worries about should his vigilante activities be discovered he'll lose her again. Felicity and Curtis's new company has done very well, however, Curtis has little time for being a vigilante because of it and Felicity is still trying to reconcile with Oliver but is refusing to do so because of her actions but also because of his reignited feelings for Laurel which he has been keeping to himself.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Flashbacks of the first episode just right after Laurel's resurrection, Laurel asks Oliver how she is back as she knows that the Lazarus Pit was destroyed by Nyssa after Sara's resurrection. Oliver tells Laurel that its’ complicated but Laurel suddenly remembers Damien Darhk escaping prison but Oliver calms her down and tells her that Darhk is dead, as he killed her for what he did to her and after his prison break a few years ago. After sitting her down, Oliver tries to explain to Laurel that she been dead for two years. Laurel stunned, asks Oliver about her father's been. However, suddenly the Team enters the cave with John, Thea, Rene, Curtis, and Rory point their guns at her with Felicity thinking that Laurel is Black Siren and anger at her for working with Cayden James, quickly punches Laurel. Confused Laurel punches her back, after Felicity tries to take a second hit. Oliver then quickly intervenes tells everyone that it really is their Laurel and tells everyone to look at the coffin, realizing that it is indeed the Laurel they knew with everyone then quickly hugging, crying, and apologizing for their earlier actions now and before her death. Laurel asks to go see her father, causing Oliver to suggest she come with him to his place as there are a lot of things that she needs to be filled in on. Laurel arrives at Oliver's apartment where she runs into William and Raisa, where the latter is truly shocked to see her alive. As Oliver tries to calm her down, she asks him to take William out for couple hours as he needs to tell Laurel some things in private. Laurel asks why William is living with Oliver, causing him to tell her that Samantha died a year ago and William has been living with him since and that Oliver and Felicity are married. After taking a shower to clean herself and clear her thoughts, Oliver using that time to prepare her a meal and figure out what he needs to tell her. While sitting on the couch, Oliver re-explains to her about the multiverse and tells her about Black Siren and her life and why she brought Laurel back. He also explains that the reason Black Siren brought her back was because of the guilt she felt over causing Quentin's death. Heartbroken about learning of her father's death, causes Laurel to break down crying with Oliver hugging her but as she screams louder she inadvertently causes a Sonic Scream which painfully hurts Oliver and shocks Laurel. ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">In the following months, Laurel is still struggling with the recent events in her life. Gradually it is revealed through her training sessions against the Team, Laurel has shown a huge increase in her combat skills proving to be superior to the likes of Rene, Thea, Curtis, Rory and is even shown to be able to go toe-to-toe against Oliver. Oliver and the Team theorize that Laurel not only got Black Siren's metahuman powers but also now has her combat skills as well which added to her own makes her a highly skilled martial artist now. She also doesn't remember anything about the time she was dead and has no memories of these new combat skills as it is just muscle memory to her. Felicity has also noticed that Laurel has been exhibited some of Black Siren's personality traits as well she is more sarcastic, jaded, and violent during training and in the field, which worries her but Oliver dismisses it believing she is just being affected by the recent changes in her life. ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">As Werner Zytle is preparing a new drug supply of Vertigo but is interrupted when his 19-year old niece, Perdita Werner, arrives and performs a hostile takeover revealing that for months now she has been secretly studying the Vertigo drug trade and turning his men against him. Killing Werner, Perdita takes command of the drug trade and renames herself "Countess Vertigo". Launching a drug operation, the Countess, begins killing various members of the competition in order to recruit new drug manufactures to produce a new type of vertigo. Team Arrow intercedes where Oliver shots an arrow directly at the Countess but it misses her to his shock. As the Team begins to attack her enforcers, Oliver and Laurel confront in hand-to-hand combat where she is able to gain advantage against both of them because they keep missing their attacks; the Countess explains that she was in the particle accelerator explosion in Central City studying abroad from her country and that whatever makes it difficult for people to hit her. Oliver confused asking what is going on, Curtis on the communication link explains that the Countess is sending a signal into their brains where she is disrupts things such muscle control, focus, vision, etc; all qualities that are link to a person's aim. The Countess then escapes but not before injecting Oliver and Laurel with a modified version of a Vertigo drug where they are forced to face their problems in contrast to what most people take drugs for which is escape their problems.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">Brought back to the Arrowcave, Laurel and Oliver experience hallucinations of all things they have been ignoring. Laurel her father's death and all the changes in her life. While Oliver, deals with his crumbling marriage to Felicity and that he is a coward for not telling her or Laurel how he really feels. Oliver and Laurel later awaken from their psychedelic experience, where he tries to talk to Laurel. But her drug experience coupled with the last couple months since her resurrection causes her to explode. Telling Oliver that Black Siren made a mistake for bring her back telling Oliver she doesn't hardly have anything anymore from the life she worked so hard to build; her dad is dead, her sister running around through history, she can't be a lawyer anymore, she has powers and skills that scare and confuse her, she cannot even go outside without worrying that someone will recognize her identity endangering herself or others and the man she loves is married to another woman before she abruptly leaves. Oliver later goes to see Felicity, where they finally talk about their marriage where Felicity apologizes again for endangering William. Oliver tells Felicity that for months he has tried to forgive her but ultimately cannot bring himself to do so and ever since Laurel came back he has been denying something that he has known for a long time that he loves her more than Felicity but hopes that one day they will be on good terms with each other, Oliver then hands Felicity divorce papers and asks her to sign them immediately as she starts crying.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">Oliver then arrives at Laurel's safe-house that she lives in where she apologizes for her earlier outbursts but tells her she has nothing to apologize for after everything she has been through. Oliver shows Laurel his signed divorce papers from Felicity, where he tells her he is sad his marriage is over but knows that he is not love with her anymore. Oliver confesses to Laurel that he loves her even though he doesn't deserve her and reveals that he called her from Lian Yu, hallucinated as she convinced him from not committing suicide, and marrying her in a virtual world, things he wanted to tell her a long time ago and should have done it sooner. Understanding if she needs time Oliver suggest he should leave but Laurel stops him from going as while she is confused about a lot of things in her life right now, loving him is not one of them; leading the two of them to passionately make love and reignite their relationship.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">While Oliver and Laurel enjoy being back in a relationship, however, they later come into conflict with each other over William as Laurel initially refuses to spend time with him and Oliver because she feels like he is a constant reminder of how he cheated on her with Samantha and she doesn't know she look at him every day because of it. However, Thea's helps convince Laurel that it is possible to love a child that came out of a messy situation because her legal father Robert Queen did it for her; telling Laurel that he knew that Malcolm Merlyn was her biological father. Laurel later tries to connect with William and ends liking him and learns they share a lot of common interests. Dinah laters asks the team's help in taking down the Countess, which causes her to finally confront Laurel directly. Laurel and Dinah finally confront each other when Laurel asks her to face her problems as she knows what it is like to pretend to avoid her problems and act like everything is alright, eventually causing Dinah reluctantly admit her trauma to her something that she hasn't done with anyone. As Team Arrow tries to stop the Countess, her plan is reveal as her new version of Vertigo and nano-trackers in them so anyone who partakes in Vertigo drugs she will quickly know the location of all her buyers allowing her to blackmail those with money and influence for her own benefit to increase her criminal empire further; Team Arrow later arrests her but she secretly continues her drug operation from prison. Later Laurel ask Dinah to help her with her powers as while she can control them she wants to explore them and find less destructive uses for them than Black Siren did when she had. Dinah agrees and she and Laurel become friendly with each other, with Laurel asking to call her "DD" because every-time she calls her Dinah it just reminds her of mother; something that amuses Dinah as she did not know that Laurel's mother is named Dinah as well.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">Felicity eventually finds out by Laurel, that she and Oliver are seeing each other again. While Felicity tries to remain calm about it and has been focusing on her Curtis's new company to distract her from her divorce, however, it eventually blows over causing her verbally attack Laurel and Oliver, citing that Laurel stole her husband. However, both of them eventually tell her off causing Felicity to realize that just how much she screwed up her marriage and that she has nothing really left in Star City anymore. Deciding that Curtis is more than capable of taking care of their company and the team in Star City, deciding to create a second location near Havenrock where she can make up for the damage that she cause there. Meanwhile, John has gotten a new job managing a security company but is looking to use it as a means for changing it, as he wants to change into a company that protects the civilians and allows them to protect themselves instead of just protecting wealthy or those who can protect themselves. Oliver later faces a man from with a strangely dressed warrior and during the fight, Oliver notices a strange tattoo of four fists interlocked with each other on the warrior’s body. Later Laurel is attacked at her safe house by the same warrior who attack Oliver, with Laurel defeating them while noticing their tattoos but of a Sword and an Arrowhead. Oliver laters recognizes the symbols are from when he was with the League of Assassins. Causing him to ask for Nyssa al Ghul. Meeting in person, Nyssa is overjoyed to see Laurel alive again. Shown the symbols, Nyssa explains that these symbols are members of a group who her father considered to be the eternal enemies of the League of Assassins: The Outsiders.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">Nyssa explains to Team Arrow what the Outsiders are but has to start by explaining how the League of Assassins's was formed: ''Three Thousand Years ago before the time of Christ, a band of warriors and survivors from a destroyed village banded to together seeking righteous vengeance against a prince of nearby land whose life they had saved and he returned their kindness by pillaging and destroying their home. After their vengeance was complete, the tribe remained together realizing how they had served as an instrument of justice by replacing evil with death. The League at first was a group that made its decisions by a small council of elite warriors but this changed after the League saw to the fall of the Roman Empire. The League's deadliest warriors explored distant lands and eventually found what would be called Nanda Parbat. The team led by a skilled but elderly warrior eventually found the greatest secret of Nanda Parbat: The Lazarus Pit. Using the Pit, the elderly warrior who used the water had his youth restored, using his renewed vitality he killed his team and sent word to the remaining members of the League to come to Nanda Part. The League astonished by his youth and fearing the warrior accepted his claim as the sole leader of the League of Assassins, the 1st Ra's al Ghul (The Demon's Head). But six highly skilled members of the League refused seeing that no organization as powerful as the League should be under the leadership of one man. Fleeing for their lives, they continued the League's old ways making collective decisions as a group becoming known as Alghurba' (The Outsiders). The Outsiders original members then formed clans each naming their clans after a specific weapon that they specialized in there is the Arrow Clan, The Fist Clan, The Sword Clan, The Axe Clan, The Shield Clan, and the Spear Clan; with each clan being led by a single Outsider. The Outsiders born from corruption exist to rid the world of humanities' corruption by target corrupt countries, cities, and organizations.''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">Oliver believes that because of Star City's history of corruption is the reason why the Outsiders in Star City targeting the members of his team. Nyssa admits that is possible but also believes that there is another possible alternative to their arrival. Nyssa mentions that her father once told her that the Outsiders were fascinated by the concept of life after death and the have extensively conducted various studies to explore the possibility. This makes the team believe that the Outsiders are after Laurel because who better to find out about the afterlife than someone who returned from the dead even though Laurel states she has no memory of her time being dead. The Team begins to discuss the possibility of life after death bringing up hopes of seeing loved ones again, having eternal peace, and in Oliver's case fears of damnation. The Outsiders clans attack once again while Laurel is hanging out with Nyssa, the two fight members of the Axe Clan with Nyssa becoming injured, while on the run with each Laurel strangely uses techniques to slow down the blood loss and lessens the pain; something that both Nyssa and Laurel herself didn't know she could no she could do. Eventually Laurel and Nyssa meet an Axe Clan's leader, The Butcher. The Butcher explains that his clansmen were never to send to harm or kill Laurel merely test her skills and those of her compatriots and wanted to ask if she remembers while she was dead; Laurel replies that she doesn't, but the Butcher claims that eventually she will. Laurel sends Nyssa away from Star City as she needs her to look into the Outsiders even further. Laurel later starts to have a flashback of a learning the pressure relieving techniques from a mysterious woman that she used on Nyssa but does not tell the Team.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">While at school, William notices some peculiar events happening to his friends and asks Oliver to look into these events for him. While looking into the school, Oliver gains new i <span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">nsights into his son's life. Oliver eventually finds out the some of the students of the school including William's friends are part of underground training group inspired by the Green Arrow to one day become vigilantes themselves. While wanting to discourage this group into disbanding, Oliver and William start arguing about how handle the situation. Oliver eventually recommends to William's school to get the students trained in self-defense by Rene so that they can be properly trained to handle themselves and talked into avoiding danger instead of confronting it. Oliver then has a serious discussion with William about his potential interest on becoming a vigilante, William says that he has mixed feelings about it but promises Oliver he wouldn't try anything until he was 18.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">Following the Crossover in which the Arrowverse heroes face the Monitors and the Anti-Monitor, Laurel, Oliver, William and Thea celebrate Christmas together and the three of them work to cheer Laurel up because she been feeling blue since the holidays began and she meet with Sara whose still with the Legends. Meanwhile the Clan leaders of the Outsiders come together in an unknown crypt in the Pamir Mountains, with Butcher saying it has been nearly 3 years since they were last together. Alongside Butcher are Kodiak the Shield Clan's leader, Golgotha the Spear Clan's leader, Simon Lacroix/Komodo the Arrow Clan's leader, and its most recent member Tatsu Yamashiro/Katana the leader of the Sword Clan. With the Outsiders together they state that the alignment is together once more and the doorway can be opened, a bright light from a hidden passageway. Suddenly an Asian woman exist from the tomb, the fellow Outsiders welcome her back to the world of the living bowing on their knees greeting her as Lady Shiva, the Leader of the Outsiders and of the Fist Clan. Shiva replies that the time for the Outsider's age to begin.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">While working with Dinah Drake on exploring her powers, Laurel gets a call from Oliver that her mother, Dinah Lance, has returned to Star City. Deciding it’s time to meet her mother, Laurel, goes to see her with Dinah stunned to find out that she is alive. As the two reconnect, Dinah finds out that Laurel has returned as the Black Canary which greatly upsets her because it ended up costing her life. Laurel replies that she has no say in how she lives her life especially given the fact she hasn't really been a part of her life in sometime. However, things become complicated when Laurel and her mother are attack by Kodiak. Kodiak exceptionally large physique and mastery of using shield during battle with his main weapon being a customized Greek Hoplite Shield, make a difficult opponent for Laurel fight with her mother around. Kodiak ultimately slams Laurel off a roof, however, Laurel uses her Canary Cry to create enough sonic pressure to cushion her fall and later propels herself in air and gets back to Kodiak through gliding on top of the roof. Kodiak shocked that Laurel is one of the metahumans he has heard rumors about is surprised by her and Laurel then tells him he can do so much more than that after explaining the scientific effects of resonance, Laurel claims she has been training to able to do this more precisely than her the doppelgänger who gave her these powers which she proves by precisely shattering Kodiak's shield. Laurel then engages Kodiak in battle and defeats him. Later, Dinah prepares to back to Central CIty but not before reconciling with Laurel and she states that her having powers makes it easier for her acting as the Black Canary. Later Dinah Drake appears to hang out with Laurel and runs into her and mother, Dinah Lance later states the Drake looks exactly like her late mother; shocking Dinah Drake and Laurel that they might all be related. Meanwhile back at the crypt of the Shiva training and viciously beating the members of her clan acknowledges that their skills have declined since her journey to the afterlife. Golgotha arrives to inform them that Kodiak has been captured by Laurel Lance's allies and decides it’s time to go to meet her former student.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">Dinah thinking the odds are slim, decides to secretly test her DNA and Laurel’s and learns that she is Laurel's biological grandmother and thus Dinah Lance's mother. Sharing the results with Laurel who later contacts Sara, they learn that Dinah is actually an anachronism as after she was born in the 1960s she became time displaced at an orphanage in the 1980s. Wanting to meet her parents for the first time, the Waverider takes Dinah back to meet Richard and Mary Drake. Afterwards, Dinah learns that Laurel and Sara have now started to fade away from the timeline. After the three battle the Countess, Cupid, China White, Liza Warner, and Onyx Adams in prison in an attempt to stop the Countess' inside drug operation. After some major reluctance, Dinah eventually realizes that she has to go back to the 1960s so that her daughter and granddaughters can be born. Before she leaves Dinah resigns from the police department, says goodbye to Team Arrow and in particular thanks Oliver for giving her a second chance at life. She also says goodbye to Laurel and Sara saying she was proud to be a part of the Canary legacy and loves how strong and kickass her granddaughters are. After Sara takes Dinah back to the 1960s and Laurel goes to visit her mother learning about Dinah's fate that she passed away of cancer a year and half after Laurel was born and ironically named her; when Laurel asks if Dinah was happy in the end she replies that she was as Laurel smiles at an old photograph of Dinah holding Laurel's mother as a baby.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">While interrogating Kodiak, Oliver tries to figure out what the Outsiders want with Kodiak explaining they intend to bring about a new age justice system explaining that world' judicial system has failed but then Oliver knows this. Kodiak explains that the Outsiders have recruited vigilantes throughout history to their cause such as members of the Black Panther party or Cowboys of the Old West. They are also aware that that Oliver began as the Arrow before he later faked his alter-ego's death to adopt his current Green Arrow Identity. Kodiak states that the Outsiders greatly considered recruiting Oliver and those he inspired to their clans but that Oliver has proven inadequate because of unpredictability towards the justice system either because of his killing or non-killing of criminals. Later Curtis notes that someone has been sending fire signals to the Green Arrow, while investigating the crime scene; the Team sees discovers a second hidden message where it demands that the Green Arrow meet at a precise location between the Outsiders' Leader and Team Arrow. As the Team Enters the building, Oliver comes face to face with Shiva. Thea is ambushed by Komodo, who sarcastically comments that the last time they meet she was a guy before shooting arrows at her. Curtis and Renee face the Butcher and Golgotha who easily over power them. Tatsu faces Laurel, who is stunned to learn that she is among the Outsiders and is even leading the group among them. Tatsu explains that as a samurai she is honor bound to the Outsiders and that she truly believes in the new justice system that they will bring to the world. Tatsu explains to Laurel that does not wish to fight her or Oliver as she still considers him and his allies by extension friends asking her to release Kodiak and her what the Outsiders intend to do; Laurel says that she will talk to Oliver and find a diplomatic solution. Shiva states that she is impressed with Oliver's skills and reputation as a killer, challenges him to combat but Oliver refuses however, Shiva states she was not asking. Oliver fires several arrows at her but Shiva catches or dodges them, Oliver then fires three arrows at once but Shiva then deflects them with a single kick. Blitzing towards Oliver, the two trade blows in long fight with Shiva coming out on top after breaking Oliver's bow. Shiva's states that as a worthy opponent she will kill him with her "signature technique" just as she is about to do so Laurel interrupts. Laurel who recognizes Shiva from her memory flash is stunned to see her, Shiva greets Laurel as Siu Jerk Jai (Mandarin for Little Bird) and speaks to her in Chinese, but does not understand. Shiva's says that Laurel was to be taken to join the Outsider's cause and that she is herself trained her to do so saying that she was a promising student. Laurel still confused chooses to fight Shiva after seeing a near dead Oliver, however, she easily bests her saying that while she knows new moves they are not the moves she taught her; Laurel bleeding and broken is saved from Shiva by Thea who distracts her by shooting an arrow allowing Laurel to hit her with a Canary Cry allowing Thea to escape with Oliver and Laurel.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Recovering from their injuries, the Team is shocked by the Outsider's and Shiva's skills; Oliver in particular is particularly dishearten to learn that Tatsu is with them and is worried if she is following the same road as her late husband, Maseo. As the team questions Laurel about how she knows Shiva, she reiterates that doesn't remember but does admit that she had a flashback of Shiva teaching her something so Shiva is telling the truth. Curtis suggest that maybe Laurel's memories that could be useful to figure out want the Outsider's want. Thea suggest that they do it with Hypnosis. Revealing that Malcolm taught her how to perform Hypnotherapy, Thea has Laurel relax and calms her down saying that the memories are there and she can remember them if she wants too. Through the Thea's hypnosis, Laurel describes her time while she was dead while the team listens on. ''Remembering her death at the hospital, Laurel then awakens in the hospital where she died but finds that no one is there as she begins wandering she eventually comes to realize that no one is around and remembers that she died. Eventually Laurel finds a strong light source and heads towards it before being engulfed by the same light. Laurel finds herself surrounded by warriors each of them training in different methods and most of them are dressed in different attire from different eras including Roman Gladiators, Samurai, Medieval Knights, Ninjas, World War 1 soldiers, and even modern day troops. As Laurel walks around looking at what she is seeing, Shiva appears from behind to greet her which doesn't not startle Laurel who felt her following her a while ago. Laurel asks where she is and Shiva explains that they are in what the Norseman called Valhalla the afterlife of fallen warriors but it has many other names. Astounded by what she is seeing Laurel asks why warriors train here in the first place if they are dead and what the point is if they are already dead. Shiva then immediately strikes Laurel and two spare quickly before Laurel is swiftly beaten, Shiva calling her a capable novice explains to Laurel that warriors such as them need something to fight as their peace is in the heat of battle; Laurel is surprised how she felt the pain that Shiva inflicted on her as she explains that although Laurel is dead she still has some form of connection to her physical body making pain possible but not death which is useful for training. Laurel impressed by Shiva asks her to train her which Shiva states that is why she is here. As Shiva trains Laurel she explains that she is fully aware of Laurel's fighting style explaining that Laurel was trained in the art of Boxing by a professional, League of Assassin's Krav Maga, Kali, Jeet Kune Do which she picked from sparing with Sara, and teaches herself Judo. Laurel surprised asks how she knows this, Shiva states she has trained in martial arts her entire life and has picked up a talent for reading Body Language which how she knows where to block and evade Laurel's attacks so easily. Shiva claims this talent tells her that she knows exactly what Laurel needs to improve on claiming that her knowledge of boxing is that of a pro but her other skills are adequate at best. Training Laurel to improve in all her other areas Shiva learns through Laurel's sparing that she needs to be faster and more lethal during combat so Shiva teaches Laurel her own unique style of combat mostly composed of Silat known for its speed and brutality; however, her training is so brutal with Laurel being injured repeatedly and Shiva using Pressure relieving techniques so that Laurel's pain can be lessened and can resume training again.''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Gradually during Laurel's time in the afterlife, Laurel spends her time training with Shiva and defeating warriors, eating lavish foods, and bedding handsome warriors. <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"> Despite this Laurel eventually starts missing her life and her family, Shiva later informs her of some interesting facts about the afterlife. As Shiva walks out of the afterlife with Laurel, she shows Laurel where she started her journey in the afterlife in what the Greeks called the Asphodel Meadows and Christians call Limbo but is known to what is called by others as the Spirit World; a realm where all departed souls begin wandering before the finding or being brought to the section of the Afterlife that they most belong to and for Laurel it is here she also explains to her the history of the Outsiders to her. During one of their training sessions, Laurel explores the Spirit World but finds a mysterious zone with an enigmatic man named Magus tortured in the most unimaginable ways. Laurel horrified by what she has seen; Magus realizes she is not like the rest of Shiva's students tells her that everything she knows about the afterlife is a lie. Magnus tells Laurel that long ago he was a member of the Outsiders but came across an ancient artifact known only as "The Totem", the totem offered him and his allies enlightenment but Magus rightfully suspected that his allies would abuse the Totem's knowledge so he betrayed the Outsiders and left with the Totem eventually burying the totem before he died. However, the Outsider who had long mastered death and the afterlife created what they call "Valhalla" as a recruitment center to find, train, and learn from the greatest warriors who died have been sending the Leaders of the Outsiders to break him as although he is dead he still feels pain in this realm. Magus admits that after decades of torture he is about to break he asks Laurel that upon her revival that she finds the Totem and destroys it if she can before revealing its location to her. Laurel asks how he knows she will be revived and why she must destroy the totem before she is resurrected by Black Siren. ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">Oliver is later contacted by Tatsu and goes to meet her with Rene. Tatsu greets Oliver but he asks her why she is with the Outsider, Tatsu explains that after she gave the Lotus to Nyssa which she used to cure Thea of the Lazarus Pit's Bloodlust she was expelled from the Crescent Order as her duty was to protect it. Eventually, Tatsu was found by the Outsiders more specifically the Sword Clan because they took notice of her skills as a samurai. Joining their ranks, Tatsu improved her sword fighting skills even further and eventually challenged the former Leader of the Sword Clan. Tatsu explains that leadership of one of the Outsider's clan is earned through combat which all leaders must accept or forfeit their right to leadership, Tatsu defeated her predecessor and he ask for quick death which as a samurai she understood and granted. Oliver brings up Maseo saying that joining the League of Assassins was something that changed him into something he wasn't and doesn't want the same for Tatsu. Tatsu explains that this is not the case and that she truly believes in the Outsider's cause which will prevent another mother from losing her child or a wife from killing her husband. Eventually Oliver returns to bunker where Shiva, Butcher, Tatsu, Golgotha, and Komodo have arrived holding everyone hostage. It is revealed that Tatsu put a tracker on Oliver leading him to their location, Shiva demands that Oliver release Kodiak or she will kill everyone in the cave. Oliver reluctantly agrees. But eventually, Oliver reluctantly agrees releasing Kodiak. As the Outsiders leave, Thea brings Laurel out of her hypnosis.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">Laurel awakens and the Team chases after the Outsiders leading to a battle royale between the two groups. Oliver enters an archery battle against Komodo. Thea, Rory, Curtis, and Rene battle Kodiak, Golgotha, and Butcher. Laurel chases after Shiva and Tatsu, where Tatsu escapes to secure the Outsiders transport. Laurel then fights Shiva and Shiva learns that through Laurel’s body language that she has regained all of the fighting skills that Shiva taught her revealing; Laurel then realizes that her improved fighting skills since her resurrection were from Shiva's lessons rather than from Black Siren’s memories. Although, Laurel lasts far better against Shiva than her previous fight but is still defeated by her; Laurel then uses her Canary Cry on Shiva but Shiva reveals that she is wearing sonic dampener technology. Securing transportation, the Outsiders escape. Laurel then later explains what the Outsiders want in the Totem and that she knows where it is.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Heading to Japan, where Magus buried the Totem, the Team finds out that Magus buried himself with the Totem in an ancient ritual long forgotten. The totem resembling an arrow is reached for by Oliver and Laurel explains that the arrow is actually a sheath to contain the real totem; Oliver then breaks the arrow in half and finds a small and bright jade stone. Wondering how such an instrument could bring enlightenment, Oliver grabs the Totem but suddenly experience a huge flash of images and events that flow through his mind greatly shocking him and making him collapse. After Oliver is awakened by Laurel, he then orders the Team to retreat as he knows that Outsiders have followed them. Because of the images Oliver saw, Team Arrow is able to evade the Outsiders and their clans with minimal effort and escape Japan. Arriving in the Arrow cave, Curtis analyzes the Totem but is unable to understand it through scientific means. Laurel wanting to understand what the Outsiders want with Totem and what Oliver saw, touches the it and experiences the same sensation that Oliver saw. Laurel then realizes that Totem allows people to witness the future or according to Curtis a series of potential outcomes and futures. The team then starts speculating what the Outsiders could do with the Totem, with Curtis coming to the only conclusion of using it to create a justice system based off of predictive justice. The team is then put into conflict over using the Totem to prevent crimes and tragedies before they occur. Laurel wants to destroy it because she promised Magus and because despite what the Totem can do she believes that he did the right thing hiding it from the world. Curtis is also against the Totem and even makes a reference to the film, Minority Report as his reason. John while seeing the Totem as completely insane sees it like soldier an intelligence device that is defined by its user but is adamant against giving it to a group of people like the Outsiders. Rory believes they should use the Totem and mentions that if they had it beforehand they could have stopped something like Havenrock from being destroyed. Rene says the same thing about his wife being gun down by her drug dealer, he also notes how many lives could be saved from scum like that if the government had something like this totem. Thea also states she could have used this to prevent Slave from killing her mother and even prevent Laurel from ever dying.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Oliver is conflicted over what to do with the Totem, thinking about all the choices that he has made and knows that he didn't make all the right decisions even though he always tried to do what he thought was right at the time. Oliver and Laurel eventually talk, arguing over the benefits and the disadvantages of the Totem. Ultimately, Oliver comes to the realization that even though the Totem could solve a lot of problems it does not offer people the chance to change and be better; the same chance that he used to become the better person he is today. He ultimately agrees with Laurel to find a way to destroy the Totem. Eventually the Outsiders contact Team Arrow where they mention that it is difficult for them to find them because of them moving to various safe houses in Star City. Shiva then gives them an ultimatum: either give them the Totem or Star City will suffer.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">In the following days, the Outsiders and their clans begin to systematically destroy Star City's infrastructure and economy; by kidnapping various Figures of who are in charge of keeping Star City in order. This eventually causes civil unrest in the citizens and remaining public figures to vocally speak out against the vigilantes as the Outsiders have blamed them for why they had to kidnap the city's officials. The team struggles with city's unrest trying to keep order but eventually Oliver and John manage to help fund the city's collapsing economy by using the resources of John’s company and Oliver offering shelter with the Community center. However, this is only a temporary solution that will not last long. Shiva eventually contacts Team Arrow, proposes a trade the hostages for the Totem. When the city on the verge of economic collapse and even the citizens of Star City attacking the vigilantes trying to save them. Oliver agrees to the trade.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">The team and the Outsiders and their clans meet in a forest, outside the edge of Star City. The team brings up the Outsiders plans, as they know what they intend to use the Totem for. Shiva explains that the world is in chaos and the Totem is the key to bring order to the world. Oliver argues that it takes away a person's right to become better, something that Tatsu explains does not always happen in life as many people just continue to make the same mistakes over and over again; something that she will not allow to exist again in the world that her son will be reborn in. The team shocked, Laurel asks what Tatsu means. Shiva explains that in various types of myths about entrances to the afterlife on Earthly plains and that the Outsiders found it: The Gateway to the Afterlife. Shiva explains that with the Totem they can unlock further secrets about the Gateway, which they intend to use to bring back the warrior they have been training in the afterlife as means to bring about world change. Reluctantly, Oliver gives the Totem to the Outsiders and they reveal the location of the hostages. After making sure that the hostages are secure, Oliver tells Curtis to activate their plan; revealing that Curtis laced the Totem with explosive nano-technology causing the Totem to be destroyed in the Outsiders hands. Realizing that they have been duped, Shiva declares vengeance on Team Arrow for destroying the Outsiders vision and damning the world to continue to endure such chaos.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">The Outsiders and their clans continue to attack Team Arrow and relentlessly pursuing them eventually driving them out of Star City. With Rene, Curtis, and Thea all injured, Laurel and Oliver eventually talk and Laurel learns about how Tatsu became a member of the Outsiders by becoming the leader after defeating the previous one. Laurel later contacts Tatsu to meet her private to discuss a surrender, Tatsu anger at Team Arrow for taking away the chance for her to be with her son and husband again but also for allowing the world to continue to such madness fights Laurel. Laurel eventually defeats Tatsu and mentions that she is sorry but states that the Outsiders are not the best people to decide how to use the Totem as it is clear to her that although they were born to rid the world of corruption they themselves have become corrupted. Laurel also mentions that they path to a better world is never easy and that there are no shortcuts to it. As Tatsu clams down, she asks Laurel what she wants. Laurel asks how Shiva became the Leader of the Outsiders, Tatsu mentions that every six years the members of the Outsiders enter a battle royal were the sole victor becomes the Leader of the Outsiders but not in charge of the other’s Outsider’s clans. Laurel and Tatsu part ways. Eventually the Outsider find Team Arrow recuperating, where Shiva fights both Oliver and Laurel at once defeating both of the them but just before she is about to deliver the final blow. Laurel formally challenges Shiva for Leadership of the Fist Clan and her position as an Outsider.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Laurel argues that because she was trained by Shiva in the afterlife to become a member of the Outsider’s armies: she has the right to challenge Shiva for leadership which Shiva must accept or forfeit her position; Shiva accepts. However, Golgotha wanting Team Arrow to pay for stopping their goal of a new world order challenges this. Shiva feeling disrespected and going against their traditions battles Golgotha breaking his spear and kills him by using her signature technique the Leopard Blow; a death touch technique that kill some by hitting their heart to cause an arrhythmia that stops the heart. Shiva and the Outsiders depart, allowing Laurel to have one week to recover from any injuries and make any final arrangements in the event of her death. Team Arrow and Oliver argue of Laurel’s decision citing as a suicide, but Laurel reveals that if she should defeat Shiva she will not only no longer be leader of the Fist Clan but no longer leader of the Outsiders as they will have to wait another six years before deciding their leader. Making the Team realize there is no way out of this, Laurel says her goodbyes to the Team, her mother, her sister, William, and Oliver. Laurel then spends her the rest of the week training and studying Shiva’s move to improve her chances. As deadline reaches its’ end, Team Arrow arrives in the Outsiders base: The Pamir Mountains.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Oliver still trying to talk Laurel out fighting Shiva and instead offering himself to fight her instead. Laurel says that is impossible because he was never a member of any of the Outsider’s clans, she also asks him to just once believe in her as she has always believed in him. Facing Shiva, she fits Laurel with a sonic dampener collar preventing her from using her powers as the Outsiders must fight each other with traditional weapons. As battle begins, Laurel and Shiva fight on equal footing with Shiva noticing that Laurel extensively studied her fighting style and moves. Changing things up, Shiva eventually gains the upperhand and starts to severely beat Laurel bloody. Still standing, Laurel endures the assault but manages to land a several solid blows to Shiva as well particularly her fracturing her ribs causing her to slow down. Shiva angry breaks Laurel’s left wrist and and eventually beats Laurel down causing her to collapse, as she gets up Shiva knocks Laurel down a second time this time on her back. Praising her former student of her skill and for a thrilling battle, Shiva then grants her honorable death. Using the Leopard Blow on Laurel, seemingly killing her. With Team Arrow, the Outsiders, and their clans looking on; with the Team Arrow mourning Laurel and Oliver collapsing in grief. As Shiva stands over Laurel she turns her back when suddenly Laurel awakens, shocking everyone, using the surprise to her advantage Laurel attacks Shiva whose guard is weakened because of her rips and dropped briefly because of Laurel’s apparent death is beaten to the ground by Laurel who repeatedly ground and pounds Shiva with her left elbow and right hand before finishing her with the Leopard Blow herself which she learned from Shiva in the afterlife apparently killing Shiva. As Laurel collapses from exhaustion, Tatsu checks Shiva’s pulse and declares her legally dead and names Laurel the new leader and Outsider of the Fist Clan. With that done, Laurel then uses a defibrillator that she brought to jump start Shiva’s heart bring her back to life. Shiva then begins to strangle Laurel but is stopped by Tatsu who holds her katana to Shiva’s throat saying that Laurel is the newest Outsider and Shiva’s leader now. Shiva dumbfounded asks Laurel how she defeated her and survived the Leopard Blow, Laurel struggling to get up with Oliver holding her up tells her it does not matter. She then declares herself as the new leader of the Fist Clan that Shiva is to be banished from Clan and that should any others try to endanger the Star City or Team Arrow they will be enemies of the Fist Clan. Komodo, Kodiak, and the Butcher reply they could take on a single clan Tatsu replies that her Sword Clan stands with the Fist. Rather than risk destroying themselves through infighting, the three accept Laurel as an Outsider and agree to banish Shiva. Shiva leaves in shame swearing that Laurel will pay for all that she took from her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:.5in1.0in1.5in2.0in2.5in3.0in3.5in4.0in4.5in5.0in5.5in6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">While recovering, Oliver ask Laurel how she beat Shiva and survive the Leopard Blow; she states that the Totem showed her how. When Laurel first touched the Totem it showed her various possible outcomes of her fighting Shiva and being defeated and killing each time, however, each version showed her lasting longer each time eventually coming to the conclusion where if she could survive the Leopard Blow that at the moment of her victory Shiva’s guard would be down allowing Laurel a chance to beat her. Laurel replies that since then she has been performing exercises and substances that strengthen her heart: she states that she needed to cheat to beat Shiva as she doesn’t think anyone could beat her in a straight fight. As Oliver talks to Laurel about going back to Star City, Laurel reluctantly tells Oliver that she isn’t going home. Laurel tells Oliver that for long time it was difficult for her to live in the shadows with everyone knowing her identity as the Black Canary and with all the radically changes that happened while she was dead; she says that she thought it would eventually pass but it hasn’t and that she was fooling herself into thinking she could go back to her old life with so many restrictions on it now. She tells Oliver that she needs to time away from Star City and from him in order to figure out how to make a new life for herself and rediscover who she is. Oliver, although sad understands Laurel predicament, he apologizes to her for revealing her identity to everyone stating that he should have been aware of the possibility that she might be resurrected someday. Laurel replies that there is no way he could have known that and tells him not to blame himself for this, as Oliver fighting to uphold and preserve everything that she did with her life is most loving thing he every did for her; they kiss goodbye telling each other that no matter who Laurel discovers who she is Oliver will always love her and she will always be in love with him. Team Arrow then leaves the Pamir Mountains.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">The season ends with newfound changes coming to the members of the team. William asks Oliver to let him go to private school outside Star City, which Oliver reluctantly allows. Curtis who has reunited with his ex-husband, Paul, is now expecting to adopt a child. Thea decides to open up new businesses, including an art gallery for Rory and is metal sculptures which have become very popular in Star City. Rene, having to many close calls finally decides to retire as Wild Dog and becomes a full time father to Zoe, ultimately accepting John’s offer to work at his security firm. Oliver continues his role as Green Arrow, while also working on a “secret project” for himself and Laurel when she returns eventually. Laurel herself is now training with and leading the Fist, in order to come back into the light.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">So, like I said even though I am done with Arrow I felt I needed to finish this story. I now the story focus a little too much on Laurel's character but after all that has been done to her character I felt it was justified; additionally some characters I just have trouble writing such as John, Curtis, or Rene. Additionally, I now that focusing on magic in a show that is at its best a street-level superhero show but with these elements are needed to tackle interesting questions about the show like in Season 5: Besides the afterlife existence in the Arrowverse would be interesting to explore and the idea determinism vs free will with the Totem. Additionally introducing Shiva as a main antagonist is something alot of fans of Arrow have wanted myself including and having her connected to Laurel as an rival enemy/mentor is something key in Black Canary's actual history; also I am a huge fan of Jeff Lemire's Outsiders War storyline.