Hello everybody! My name is TwilightArchangel and I have been retired as a fanfic writer for years now. However, I decided to make a comeback to see if I still have the skill to pull this off. I hope you enjoy the Prologue of this new story series!

This fanfiction is set three years after Season 1 and two years before Season 2. It will tell the transition of Robin into Nightwing. Also, as you'll see, I added elements that are not from the Young Justice universe, but that can very well exist in it. Damian Wayne, for example. This is a prologue, so it is a start...

This story will also draw elements from The CW's Arrow show. Don't worry, no need to see the show to understand this. After all, we're not talking about Oliver Queen in this, we're talking about Dick Grayson!

So, without further bla bla bla... enjoy!

The Grayson Chronicles, Part I

The Deathstroke Contract

Prologue: The Terminator & The Demon

Nanda Parbat.

The place where nightmares were born, the place where darkness was a constant presence. The sun set in that place, and instead of a new dawn, there were only Shadows. And demons. A very interesting combination, a very volatile and dangerous mix. There were few men who were stupid or brave enough to violate such a sacred and damned place, yet there were men who were willing to do anything to escalate in the ladder of power and control. The world needed order and evolution, but in order to have that, there must be sacrifices. And sacrifices as such must be executed by brilliant minds, minds that needed underlings to perform against the Darkness. Because Light and Dark would always be in conflict, but there was a new Light who wanted to make things different.

And Slade Wilson had noticed that.

It had been a long while since the mercenary, one of the most dangerous men in the planet, had been looking for something. He was missing a piece in his chess game. But what could a man such as Slade Wilson be missing? He had everything, money, resources, men. But there was something else that was not there, and that was… an apprentice.

He had been looking for an apprentice, a protégé, for so long. He had searched to the edges of the planet to find the one that would carry on his legacy. Who wouldn't want that? A man like Slade Wilson needed to leave his power in someone… much like the Demon's Head was striving to. That's what had brought the man to a place like Nanda Parbat. He needed to speak to a man who called himself Ra's Al Ghul, he needed some information. He had found the one, but he needed to reach him.

And Ra's Al Ghul was the perfect man to get the missing pieces of data he needed.

It had been three years since the Light, a criminal organization, had been stopped by the Team. Slade Wilson had been impressed. The Light, led by Vandal Savage, had taken control of the entire Justice League and for a little over 24 hours, they had in their control the most powerful team. However, there was another Team that was underestimated by Savage.

With skill and intelligence, the Team liberated the Justice League from the Light's control and Savage had finally retreated. No one knew that, but Slade Wilson had his contacts… he researched that incident with great interest. The Team, being a covert operations taskforce, was little known among the villains of the world. But now, they had Slade's attention. They certainly had earned it.

For the last three years, Slade had researched the Team thoroughly, He had spies everywhere, and he certainly had found the information he had required. His spies had gathered intel on the Team with great success. And upon review, Slade had found his future protégé amongst them. Of all the Team members, there were a couple who had earned his respect. Like Artemis, daughter of Sportsmaster. Her background was perfect, but she lacked strategic mind. Yet, Slade wasn't after her, after all.

No, it was Robin who had delighted Slade the most.

He was perfect, strategic mind, acrobatic and fighting skills, master hacker, analytic and driven. Young Robin was the perfect candidate to become his heir. Slade had done his best to research the boy, and every day that passed made him want to get the boy and just start the re-education. But he knew he had to be careful. After all, Batman's protégé wasn't going to walk with him and just agree to become an assassin.

He had to be coerced.

That's why, after so long, Slade had decided to pay a visit to one of the Light's members… and the leader of the League of Shadows. Slade wanted a man-to-man talk with Ra's al Ghul. And he was going to get it…

It was a good night in Nanda Parbat.

The Light's new scheme was taking shape, even if it took years in the making. Everything was going well, however, Ra's al Ghul was aware that there was something odd in him. The Detective, as he would often call Batman, still refused to join his League and become his heir. Yes, it was most frustrating. But still, it was something to hope for. He had a powerful tool against Batman, a possible heir.

"What are you thinking on, Grandfather?" asked young Damian as he served his grandfather a drink.

Damian was a very interesting character that would shape the future one day, Ra's made sure of it. He had trained the boy to become an assassin, and if the Batman didn't want to join him, then his son would lead the League of Shadows to the future. Although just a seven year old boy, Damian was so intelligent and so skilled, he was amazed the boy had become such a weapon at such a young age.

"The future, Damian, the future…" replied Ra's al Ghul as he started his drink. He gulped, enjoying the savor of the wine on his tongue, running down his throat. It filled him.

Suddenly, the lights turned off and the windows were shattered with a loud noise of destruction. Ra's stood up and grabbed his sword, ready to fight. He was surprised, to have an invader in his royal precinct. Not everybody could just overcome his security and invade his home. It needed training, and a great sense of bravery.

Or stupidity.

Damian ran to the edge of the bed and got a sword from underneath it. He unsheathed it and jumped acrobatically to join his grandfather. Whoever this invader was, he was going to be a challenge. Damien longed to fight side by side to his grandfather, made him feel proud. He was so going to enjoy killing anyone who tried to breach through the security of Nanda Parbat's Headquarters.

A smoke bomb made its way through the room, and filled it with, well, smoke.

"Be prepared, Damian," said Ra's as he tried to see through the smoke. As it began to clear, he saw a man standing at the end of the window. He had a military uniform, and looked to be in his forties. He had a patch on his right eye, and he was holding a sword in his right hand and a gun on his left hand.

As the smoke cleared out, the man stepped forward, alerting Damian and the Demon's Head.

"I have not come to fight, Ra's al Ghul…" said the man with a smirk, as he moved his sword. "I just came for a talk…"

"Do I kill him, Grandfather?" asked Damian as he prepared himself to attack the intruder.

Ra's, with all his centurial wisdom, saw no ill-intention from the man for now. Besides, if somebody had been clever enough to bypass his security, he could very well listen to what he had to say before he killed him. "No, Damian. Let's hear what this man has to say, then we kill him…"

The man smirked. "Training assassins from the cradle I see, interesting. No wonder your League of Shadows is so powerful… and feared."

"But not you," replied Ra's al Ghul as he eyed his visitor.

"I've learned from fear…I've seen it, embraced it. Darkness dwells within me as well as you. I have seen it…so I do not fear the shadows. Sometimes I am the shadows," replied the man as he put his sword away. "Now, can we talk?"

Ra's lowered his guard a little bit and turned to his grandson. "Damian, go see your mother and ask her how come my security was so inept in keeping this intruder away."

Damian wasn't convinced. "But Grandfather…"

"Do it, Damian, this man deserves his chance to talk…I'll then decide whether he lives or dies," said Ra's al Ghul, walking towards the intruder.

"Yes, Grandfather," said Damian and bowed before leaving, eyeing the intruder with both curiosity and a driving impulse to kill him.

Finally, Ra's and Slade were alone.

"So, state your name and your purpose," demanded Ra's as the smoke finished clearing.

"My name is Slade Wilson, and I bet you've heard about me," said Slade with a smirk.

"Indeed I have, you have quite a reputation," said Ra's al Ghul as he eyed the man with curiosity. "How could you bypass my security?"

"They're well trained, but your men lack…conviction. It was easy to take them down once I knew where to hit them," said Slade, still sporting that smirk that said that he had the upper hand.

"Interesting, I'll see their efforts are improved," said Ra's as he walked towards the table next to the door and prepared himself another drink. "So, Slade, why do I owe the honor of your visit?"

Slade shifted a little bit. "I've come because you have information I require. I decided to ask nicely."

"Proceed", said Ra's simply.

"I know you know Batman's secret identity. I wish you could share that piece of information with me," said Slade, knowing it wouldn't be that easy.

Ra's al Ghul chuckled. "You really do have brains and courage, but you are naïve. Why should I relinquish to you Batman's identity? Just because you ask?"

Slade frowned. "No, but I've been watching you. I've been… studying you. I know that you work with the Light. And I have information that I could "accidentally" slip to the Justice League, I bet they would be very interested in knowing what you're up to…"

"Blackmail," said Ra's with an amused grin. "Not bad, but you could do better. I can just kill you right now and be over with this issue. Yet, knowing your reputation, I am certain of two things: You'd never sell the Light's secrets, they will suit you in the long run… and if you are seeking Batman's identity, it is because you plan to do something that can be of interest to me. Now, you have five minutes, give it or take, to state your plans before I impale you with my sword…"

Slade scoffed. "I would like to see you try…"

"You're arrogance can be your death," said Ra's al Ghul as he prepared himself to attack. "You have four minutes and a half…"

Slade, knowing it was useless to fight Ra's al Ghul, decided that the best course of action was going to be to talk. "I have no business with the Bat. But his boy…he interests me. I want Robin. I want to forge him into a weapon, an assaying, introduce him to the world of killing. I want an heir to my empire… and he's perfect. But if I want him, I need to reach him, and for that… I need to know his name…"

Ra's al Ghul watched him with interest, arching an eyebrow. "So it seems you do have ambitions, like me. You know, trying to kill you for attempting to blackmail me is a very tentative option. But you just convinced me, so I'll let this trespass and attempt to coerce me slide."

The mercenary smiled, "So, I guess I made a good case."

"You have," said Ra's as he stepped forward. "You have. I would certainly have a better chance getting to Batman if his protégé is out of the way. And if his boy is corrupted… well, you make it easy for the Light to destroy the Team, and easier for me to do my…negotiation's… with Batman."

"I knew you'd be fond of the idea," said Slade with a smile. "You are indeed a wise man and an intelligent being. So, I bet you and your friends in the Light are busy so I won't take more of your time. Just tell me Batman's true name, and I'll… put good use to that information."

Ra's al Ghul smiled. "I know you will, you may be a mercenary but there must be honor in your heart. I know you won't use Batman's identity to jeopardize anything…am I right?"

"Yes, that secret is safe with me," said Slade as he put his gun away. "I know the consequences of getting to your bad side…"

"Good," said the master assassin as he looked at Slade's eye. "Now go, I have things to do as you well mentioned. Batman's true name is Bruce Wayne, a famous name in the business world. And the boy you seek, his Robin, is his ward… Richard Grayson. I'm interested in what you'll do now…"

"Now, I consolidate my empire…" said Slade as he turned back and prepared to leave.

"Remember Slade, no one must know Batman's true name… if you let this secret slip, I'll make sure you pay for the deed," said Ra's al Ghul with a threatening voice.

"I won't get in the way of the Light," said Slade and prepared to jump, but before that, he put on a mask. Half orange, half black. "And please, call me Deathstroke…"

With that, he was gone.

And Ra's al Ghul was smiling, knowing he just made a clever move.