Hello everyone!
First off, I want to apologize for the delay in getting this chapter out. I've been busy studying for my exams, which are tomorrow (wish me luck!).
Now, onto the chapter itself. As some of you might have noticed from Sara's actions in the previous chapter, I've decided to make a slight shift in the story's direction. I wanted to make the relationships feel more realistic and grounded. Thea, having been heartbroken in her past life, is navigating romance in this new life, and it's only natural that she wouldn't get it perfect on the first try. Mistakes and missteps are part of the journey, after all.
With that in mind, Sara will not be the main love interest. Instead, the story will explore a different relationship that feels more organic to Thea's growth and experiences. I hope you'll stick with me as we dive into this new dynamic!
Thank you all for your patience and support. Now, let's get back to the drama!
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The morning sun cast a golden glow over Star City's harbor, where the Queen's Gambit sat docked, its sleek white hull gleaming against the blue water. The yacht was a symbol of the Queen family's wealth and power, but today, it was also the stage for a series of decisions that would change their lives forever.
The early morning light cast long shadows over the dock as Oliver and Sara approached from a side gate, far from the main entrance where the Queen family would soon gather. Oliver carried a duffel bag slung over his shoulder, while Sara followed closely behind, her hood pulled up to obscure her face. The air was cool and quiet, the only sound the gentle lapping of water against the dock.
Oliver glanced over his shoulder, his voice low. "You sure about this, Sara? Once we're on that yacht, there's no turning back."
Sara smirked, her tone teasing. "Since when do you worry about consequences, Oliver? I thought you lived for this kind of thing."
Oliver chuckled, though his expression was serious. "Yeah, well, this is different. If my dad finds out I snuck you onboard, he's going to lose it. And Thea…" He trailed off, his voice softening. "She's already upset with you. This isn't going to help."
Sara's smile faded, and she looked away, her gaze fixed on the yacht ahead. "I know. But I can't keep running from this, Oliver. I need to figure things out, and this trip… it's my chance to do that."
Oliver studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But if this blows up in our faces, I'm blaming you."
Sara rolled her eyes. "Noted. Now let's go before someone sees us."
They moved quickly, staying in the shadows as they approached the yacht. Oliver led the way, his movements confident as he climbed aboard and reached back to help Sara. She took his hand, her grip firm as she stepped onto the deck.
Once onboard, Oliver gestured toward a door leading below deck. "There's a storage room down there. You can hide out until we're far enough from shore. Just… try not to make too much noise, okay?"
Sara raised an eyebrow, her tone playful. "What, you don't trust me to behave?"
Oliver grinned. "Not even a little."
Sara laughed softly, but her expression quickly turned serious. "Oliver… thanks for doing this. I know it's a risk."
Oliver shrugged, his tone casual. "What are friends for? Besides, it's not like I've never taken a risk before."
Sara nodded and turned, disappearing below deck. Oliver watched her go, his mind racing as he prepared to face his family and the consequences of his decision.
The Queen family gathered at the dock, along with Laurel Lance, to bid farewell to Robert and Oliver. The air was thick with unspoken tension, especially for Thea, who stood slightly apart from the group, her arms crossed as she stared out at the water. Her thoughts were elsewhere, weighed down by a crushing guilt. She *knew* what was going to happen. The bomb Malcolm Merlyn had planted on the yacht would explode somewhere in the middle of the China Sea. Robert and Oliver would be set adrift along with the captain, and Robert would be forced to kill the captain—and himself—to give Oliver a chance to survive. Oliver would then be stranded on Lian Yu, a place that would break him and remake him into someone else entirely.
But she couldn't do anything about it. The world needed the Green Arrow, and there was no way Oliver would become that hero without enduring the horrors of Lian Yu. Thea's hands clenched into fists at her sides as she fought the urge to warn them, to stop this from happening. But she stayed silent, her heart heavy with the knowledge that some things were inevitable.
Moira hugged Robert tightly, her voice soft but firm. "Be careful, Robert. And keep an eye on Oliver. You know how he gets."
Robert chuckled, kissing her forehead. "Don't worry, Moira. I'll bring him back in one piece. This trip will be good for him—teach him some responsibility."
Oliver rolled his eyes, leaning against the railing of the dock. "Yeah, yeah. Responsibility, legacy, blah blah blah. I get it, Dad."
Thea stepped forward, hugging Oliver tightly. "Don't do anything stupid, okay? And call me when you get there."
Oliver grinned, ruffling her hair. "Relax, Speedy. I'll be fine. You just take care of Mom while I'm gone."
Thea forced a smile, but her eyes betrayed her unease. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Laurel approached Oliver, her expression a mix of affection and frustration. "Try not to get into too much trouble, Ollie. And maybe think about what we talked about, okay?"
Oliver nodded, though his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "I will. Promise."
As the Queen's Gambit began to pull away from the dock, Thea stood on the shore, watching the yacht grow smaller in the distance. Her heart ached with a mix of anger and longing. She hadn't spoken to Sara in weeks, not since their kiss and the way Sara had pulled away. The rejection still stung, and Thea had thrown herself into work to avoid thinking about it.
But as she turned to leave, something caught her eye. Through one of the yacht's windows, she saw a familiar figure—Sara. And she wasn't alone. Oliver was there too, his arm slung casually around Sara's shoulders. They were laughing, their faces close together, and then… they kissed.
Thea's breath hitched, and her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Anger surged through her, hot and sharp, as the reality of what she was seeing sank in. Sara was on the yacht. With Oliver. And they were… together.
"You've got to be kidding me," Thea muttered under her breath, her voice low and trembling with fury. "After everything, this is what you do?"
She wanted to scream, to call out to them, to demand an explanation. But the yacht was already too far away, and all she could do was stand there, her heart pounding in her chest as the anger burned through her.
"Fine," she whispered, her voice cold and bitter. "If this is how it's going to be, then go, get stranded on Lian yu. See if I care."
But even as she said the words, she knew they were a lie. She cared. She cared too much. And that was the problem.
Meanwhile the Queen's Gambit sailed smoothly through the dark waters of the China Sea, the moon casting a silvery glow over the deck. Oliver stood at the railing, staring out at the endless expanse of water. The night was quiet, the only sounds the gentle hum of the yacht's engine and the soft lapping of waves against the hull.
Robert stepped out onto the deck, a glass of scotch in hand. He joined Oliver at the railing, his expression thoughtful. "You've been quiet all evening," he said, breaking the silence. "Something on your mind?"
Oliver shrugged, his tone casual. "Just thinking. About the trip, the company… everything."
Robert nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "It's a lot to take in, I know. But this is your legacy, Oliver. One day, all of this will be yours. You need to be ready."
Oliver glanced at his father, a flicker of frustration in his eyes. "I get it, Dad. Responsibility, legacy, blah blah blah. You've been drilling it into me for years."
Robert chuckled, clapping Oliver on the shoulder. "And I'll keep drilling it into you until it sticks. You're a Queen, Oliver. That means something."
Before Oliver could respond, a deafening *boom* shook the yacht. The force of the explosion sent both men stumbling, the glass slipping from Robert's hand and shattering on the deck. Flames erupted from below, lighting up the night sky in a fiery orange glow.
"What the hell was that?" Oliver shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
Robert's face was pale, his eyes wide with shock. "I don't know, but we need to get to the lifeboats. Now!"
The yacht tilted violently as another explosion rocked the hull, sending debris flying in all directions. Oliver grabbed onto the railing to steady himself, his heart pounding in his chest. "Sara!" he shouted, panic creeping into his voice. "Sara, where are you?"
Sara emerged from below deck, her face streaked with soot and her hair disheveled. "Oliver! What's happening?"
"No time to explain!" Robert barked, grabbing Sara's arm and pulling her toward the lifeboats. "We need to move!"
The three of them stumbled across the deck, the heat from the flames growing more intense with every passing second. The yacht was coming apart, the once-pristine vessel now a burning wreck.
As they reached the lifeboats, another explosion tore through the yacht, sending a shockwave that knocked them off their feet. Oliver hit the deck hard, his ears ringing as he struggled to push himself up. "Dad! Sara!"
Robert was already on his feet, helping Sara up. "Oliver, get to the lifeboat! Now!"
Oliver scrambled to his feet, his heart racing as he followed his father and Sara. But before they could reach the lifeboat, the yacht lurched violently, tilting dangerously to one side. The force of it sent Sara tumbling toward the edge of the deck.
"Sara!" Oliver shouted, lunging forward to grab her hand. He caught her just in time, pulling her back onto the deck.
"Oliver, we need to go!" Robert yelled, his voice strained with urgency.
But before they could move, another explosion rocked the yacht, this one even more powerful than the last. The force of it sent Oliver and Sara flying, their grip on each other breaking as they were thrown into the icy water below.
Oliver surfaced, gasping for air, his heart pounding in his chest. "Sara!" he shouted, his voice hoarse. "Sara, where are you?"
The water was dark and choppy, the flames from the yacht casting an eerie glow over the surface. Oliver treaded water, his eyes scanning the waves for any sign of her. "Sara!"
There was no response, only the sound of the waves and the distant crackle of burning debris. Oliver's chest tightened with fear and guilt. He had no idea where Sara was—or if she was even still alive.
"Oliver!" a voice called out, cutting through the chaos. Oliver turned to see Robert and the ship captain in a lifeboat, rowing toward him.
"Dad!" Oliver shouted, relief flooding through him. "Sara's gone! We have to find her!"
Robert reached out, grabbing Oliver's arm and pulling him into the lifeboat. "We will, son. But we need to get out of here first. The yacht's going to sink, and we can't help Sara if we're dead."
Oliver hesitated, his eyes scanning the water for any sign of Sara. But the flames and debris made it impossible to see more than a few feet in any direction. Reluctantly, he climbed into the lifeboat, his heart heavy with guilt and fear.
As they rowed away from the burning wreckage, Oliver kept his eyes on the water, hoping against hope that Sara would surface. But the ocean was vast and unforgiving, and as the flames from the Queen's Gambit faded into the distance, Oliver couldn't shake the feeling that he had failed her.
"We'll find her," Robert said, his voice firm despite the fear in his eyes. "We'll find her, Oliver. I promise."
But as the lifeboat drifted further into the darkness, Oliver couldn't help but wonder if that was a promise his father could keep.
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**Author's Note:**
And there we have it—the beginning of the end for the Queen's Gambit, and the start of Oliver's harrowing journey. This chapter marks a turning point not just for Oliver, but for Thea and Sara as well. Thea's anger and heartbreak, Oliver's guilt and determination, and Sara's disappearance all set the stage for the challenges ahead.
Now, I have a question for you all: Would you like me to cover Thea's s five years when Oliver is on Lian Yu in detail (cause there's really not much I can write about it), or would you prefer a time skip to when he returns to Star City? Let me know your thoughts in the comments—I'd love to hear your preferences!
Thank you all for sticking with me through this chapter, especially with the delays due to my exams. Your support means a lot to me, and I can't wait to share what's next.