Laurel Lance (Earth-18)

## Laurel Lance-Halliwell

* Civilian
* Black Canary

**Dinah Laurel Lance** (born November 15, 2336), she is known simply as **Laurel Lance**, she is known by her married names simply known as **Laurel Lance-Halliwell** or **Dinah Laurel Lance-Halliwell** is a female Human who is a citizen of Star City and was one of its most beloved public servants. Laurel is the oldest daughter of Quentin and Dinah Lance (after whom she was named) and the older sister of Sara Lance, and the ex-fiancé of longtime friend Oliver Queen. The ex-girlfriend of Tommy Merlyn and she is the wife of Typhuss James Halliwell, she was a lawyer who held the position of assistant district attorney until she was promoted to District Attorney. However, after the death of her sister she was inspired to take up vigilantism and received training from Ted Grant, and later by her close friend and her sister's former lover, Nyssa al Ghul.

She eventually joined Team Arrow and became known as the **Black Canary**, the second Canary of her beloved city.

## Biography

### Early life

Laurel was born on November 15, 2336 to Quentin and Dinah Lance in Star City and had a younger sister, Sara. As children, Laurel and Sara would play and dress up together. In one instance, they pretended to be grown-up versions of themselves with Laurel as a SCIS officer and Sara as a doctor. The two would also race to climb to the top of a particular tree, in which Laurel was implied to have always let Sara win, because she knew her little sister was a sore loser. When she was young, Laurel met and befriended Oliver Queen and Tommy Merlyn, and the three of them grew up together as lifelong best friends. She also became close with Oliver's younger sister, Thea.

Growing up, Laurel was always studious and responsible, in stark contrast with Sara's rebellious nature. From an early age, she was very close with her father, sharing Quentin's drive of administering justice and making the world a better place.

In Laurel's senior year of high school, she became the student body president with help from Oliver and Tommy, who handed out gift baskets to the voters.

Laurel planned to attend Star City University after high school, but was struggling to figure out what she wanted to study in college. Meanwhile, Quentin asked her to keep an eye on Sara due to the latter's suspicious behavior. The next day, Laurel tried to walk home with her sister but Sara rejected her offer of help. Later, Sara came home with a black eye, which revealed she was being bullied. Quentin scolded Laurel for not being there for her sister, citing that they should always look out for those who couldn't protect themselves, and began giving her and Sara self-defense lessons. Later as Laurel and Sara were walking home from school, Sara's bullies cornered them, but the sisters worked together to fend them off and they never bothered Sara again. Afterwards, Laurel took her father's words to heart and decided to study pre-law at Star City University, aspiring to become a lawyer to help people.

Laurel was attending one of Tommy's private college parties when Sara snuck into the event so she could spend time with Oliver. Their father and the SCIS later arrived to shut down the party, resulting in Sara getting grounded. She would come to believe it was Laurel who tipped off their father to sabotage the former's chances with Oliver, due to apparently having known about Sara's crush on him. However, it remains unclear as to whether or not Laurel actually did this. One month after Tommy's party, Laurel and Oliver began dating and fell in love, despite his reputation as a "frat boy". Their relationship was approved by Oliver's family, with Moira Queen in particular admiring the influence Laurel had on her son.

Two years later, while applying to law schools, Laurel broached the topic of her and Oliver getting a place of their own. She cited that they had been dating even longer than their friends, Ray and Jean, who were already moving in together. Oliver seemingly agreed, only to become suffocated and try to run away from the responsibility by cheating on her. Laurel remained unaware of this as she began apartment hunting for herself and Oliver while planning their future together, hoping to one day become "Mrs. Laurel Queen". While Sara was visiting from college, Laurel excitedly detailed her aspirations. However, Sara expressed wariness and tried to talk to Laurel about the possibility that Oliver might not be ready to settle down, given his reputation. Angered by her sister's apparent lack of support, Laurel refused to listen and the two got into a heated argument.

When Oliver was about to board the *Queen's Gambit* with his father, Laurel came to the docks to see him off and gave Oliver a picture of herself for him to look at during his trip. Possibly with Sara's previous warning in mind, Laurel wondered if she scared Oliver with her proposal of moving in together, but he (falsely) assured Laurel that she didn't and everything was fine before bidding her farewell. A few days later, Laurel and her father saw on the news that the *Queen’s Gambit* was lost at sea, much to their horror. Shortly after, Moira revealed that Sara was on the yacht as well when it went down, and Laurel realized Oliver had been cheating on her with her sister.

#### A fractured family and venture into law

Devastated by Oliver and Sara's betrayal, Laurel found herself unable to mourn for her sister due to her mutual grief and anger, ultimately becoming emotionally numb to the pain. Over the next five years following her sister's death, Laurel's parents divorced, with her mother moving to Central City while her father threw himself into his job and became an alcoholic, leaving Laurel to pick Quentin up from bars and bail him out of trouble. Laurel later went to law school, where she buried herself in her studies and distanced herself from the Queen family, becoming cynical and closed off for a period of time. At law school, Laurel met and befriended Joanna de la Vega.

In early 2374, Laurel received an unknown call on her communicator while at school. However, no one apparently answered when she picked up, much to her confusion (unaware that it was actually Oliver calling from Lian Yu). The call was abruptly cut and Laurel dismissed it.

At some point in law school, Laurel made it to the final mock trials in Moot Court and asked her father to come watch, which Quentin initially agreed to. At Moot Court, Laurel was the defense attorney for a suspect who was wrongfully arrested for and accused of a murder that was carried out with his stolen gun. She waited for her father but he didn't show, leaving her disappointed. Laurel proceeded as the defense and eventually won the case. Afterwards, Quentin apologized for not coming, explaining how he finally apprehended a serial killer known as "The Night-Stalker", but Laurel was still upset.

By February 2375 during her final year of law school, Laurel accepted a job offer at Weathersby Posner, a prestigious corporate firm in San Francisco. One afternoon, she was notified by Quentin's desk sergeant that he didn't show up at work. After finding him in a bar, Laurel paid for her father's drinks and took him home. That night, she attended Tommy's birthday party at the Merlyn mansion, where the two caught up before encountering Thea, whose new party-girl lifestyle concerned them. The event was broken up by the SCIS when a drug dealer was found dead. After Quentin arrived at the scene, he lashed out at Thea and Tommy, also berating Laurel for continuing to associate with Oliver's crowd, much to her anger.

As Laurel took her father inside and scolded him for his outburst, Quentin then revealed his dissent with her new job; he pointed out that Laurel wanted to become a lawyer to help people and at Weathersby Posner, she would just be “helping fat cats get fatter”. The next day, after some thinking, Laurel turned down Weathersby Posner's offer and instead accepted a job at City Necessary Resources Initiative (CNRI), a legal aid office in the Glades. Tommy approached Laurel as she was leaving CNRI that evening to check up on her. He invited Laurel to get dinner and drinks, which she accepted.

Soon after, Laurel and Tommy began a casual affair. Tommy secretly desired a real relationship while Laurel seemingly considered them a "lapse”. Laurel graduated from law school and began working at CNRI alongside Joanna. She eventually ended her affair with Tommy, but he remained in love with her. At CNRI, Laurel embarked on a mission to take down the corruption in Starling City through the legal system. Through her job, Laurel became acquainted with Detective McKenna Hall due to their encounters at the courthouse.

#### Meeting Typhuss and Marriage

In March 2375, Laurel meets Typhuss James Halliwell at a bar and a few months later they start to date. Two months later in May of that year Laurel and Typhuss get married, Laurel takes his family name and becomes Laurel Lance-Halliwell.

#### Oliver Queen returns from the dead

At CNRI, Laurel was heading a case against Adam Hunt with Joanna. She saw a news report that Oliver had survived the sinking of the *Queen's Gambit*, much to her shock, but Sara did not, prompting Laurel to angrily turn off the screen. The next day, Oliver stopped by CNRI to apologize to her, but Laurel refused to accept his apology and blamed Oliver for Sara's death, declaring he should've perished in the accident instead. Later though, Laurel attended Oliver's welcome back party to apologize for being too harsh with him. Comforted that her sister didn't suffer, Laurel assured Oliver that she is here for him if he needs to talk about what happened on the island. However, Oliver lied that the island did not change him and advised Laurel to stay away from him, otherwise he will just end up hurting her again. Upset, Laurel claimed that the island did change Oliver as he is more honest now before walking out. The next night, Laurel and Joanna were elated upon learning that all the money Hunt stole was somehow returned to its rightful owners.

Laurel and Joanna represented Emily Nocenti against Martin Somers, who murdered Emily's father, an honest man. They ran into Oliver again at the courthouse where his death in absentia was being revoked, leading to another bitter moment between him and Laurel. The next day, Quentin placed Laurel under SCIS protection due to her prosecution of Somers, which she begrudgingly agreed to. That night, as Laurel was working at her apartment, she was visited by Oliver, who apologized for pushing her away again and brought ice cream for the two to eat together. They began to reconnect as Laurel gave Oliver advice in getting his family to reconcile his new self with the one they wanted him to be.

Suddenly, Laurel's apartment was attacked by the Chinese Triad at Somers' behest, despite the SCIS protection. Oliver protected Laurel while his bodyguard, John Diggle, fended the assassins off. Afterwards, Quentin tried to get her to drop the case, but Laurel refused to abandon Emily, citing that she is doing the same job as her father - using the law to help the city. After the Hood helped arrest Somers, Laurel and her father made up. Laurel began to consider the vigilante a hero for what he did, though Quentin vehemently believed otherwise.

Laurel was taken by Joanna to Max Fuller's club, Poison, to loosen up. There, Oliver and Tommy got into a brawl with Max and were beaten up by his men. Laurel intervened and quickly took down Max, coercing him to let them go. Thea revealed to Oliver that Laurel and Tommy had a physical relationship while he was on the island, which he tried to talk to Laurel about it. Laurel however coldly brushed Oliver off, stating that she and Tommy didn't need his forgiveness or his blessing, and left Poison. Later at the courthouse, Laurel and Tommy talked about what happened. Laurel realized Oliver somehow already knew about her and Tommy's affair since he didn't react when Thea told him.

After the attack on the[Unidac Industries auction, Laurel went to check on Oliver at the Queen Mansion, only to find he'd disappeared. When Oliver arrived home, Laurel scolded him for his continued selfishness, pointing out that his family deserves better. The next night after returning home from work, Laurel realized someone had broken into her apartment so she grabbed her gun and confronted the intruder, only to come face to face with The Hood. The vigilante asked Laurel to defend Peter Declan, revealing he was wrongfully sentenced to death for murdering his wife, Camille. After speaking with Peter at Iron Heights Prison, Laurel grew to believe in his innocence and agreed to take up his case.

After obtaining the case files from her father, Laurel learned Camille intended to testify about her employer, Jason Brodeur's, toxic waste dumping and reported it to The Hood. He eventually provided Laurel with Camille's file of evidence against Brodeur, but it wasn't enough for her to stay Peter's execution. She then went to meet with Peter at Iron Heights, where they were suddenly caught in the middle of a prison riot orchestrated by Brodeur's bodyguard, the real murderer of Camille. Laurel was attacked and nearly strangled by an inmate, but The Hood intervened and started beating the man to death until she stopped him. Horrified by his violence during the confrontation, Laurel came to agree with her father that The Hood was a remorseless killer. The next day, she watched as an exonerated Peter reunited with his daughter.

After Quentin arrested Oliver under suspicion of being The Hood, Moira Queen asked Laurel on her son's behalf to defend him. While expressing her sympathies, Laurel was initially against representing a client she had been romantically involved with, but later changed her mind, hoping to get through her father. Laurel was still cold to Oliver in court, sarcastically affirming his innocence on the basis that he would never want to actively make a difference like The Hood. After Oliver's hearing, Laurel and Quentin argued about how Oliver is not the vigilante, nor to blame for Sara's death or her mother leaving them afterwards. During Oliver's polygraph, Oliver revealed his scars were from being tortured and his belief of killing Sara, shocking and saddening Laurel.

During Oliver's prison-themed party in the Queen Mansion, Laurel talked with him in private, revealing how her family fell apart after Sara's death. Laurel admitted that she hated Oliver for a long time, but was so busy thinking about her family that she did not stop to consider his; she now knows that happened to him on the island was more that he deserved. With Laurel's encouragement, Oliver reluctantly showed her his scars. However, Laurel suddenly pulled away and rushed out, distressed. The next day after Oliver was cleared of all charges, Laurel visited him, questioning his polygraph results. Oliver admitted to Laurel that he did want to be seen as "damaged". Laurel realized that she and Oliver still had feelings for each other, but made it clear that nothing could ever happen between them again, because she was married and loved her husband.

When CNRI lost their biggest donor, Stagg Industries, Tommy suggested having Merlyn Global Group throw a fundraiser for them. Laurel was initially suspicious of Tommy's motives, but considering that CNRI needed the money desperately, she went along with it. After seeing Tommy caring for a drunk Thea at the benefit, she told him he is nice.

After Joanna's brother, Danny de la Vega, died suspiciously in a fire, Laurel asked her father for help. He refused on the grounds that the death was not suspicious, but she stole his phone to contact The Hood. She asked for help investigating Danny's death and they worked together, discovering that Danny's murderer was Garfield Lynns a firefighter believed to have been killed in the Nodell Towers fire. Lynns attacked a fundraiser being held for the fire department and Laurel was briefly trapped inside with Tommy. After Lynns' death, Joanna took a sabbatical from CNRI. Quentin seemingly let Laurel hold onto The Hood's phone, as she would find better use for it. However, he was actually planning to use Laurel as bait to capture The Hood.

Laurel found out from her coworker, Anastasia, that Cyrus Vanch, who CNRI was prosecuting, had been released from prison and asked The Hood for help in finding new evidence against him. When he had something to offer, he called her and Laurel left a date with Typhuss to meet him on a rooftop. However, their discussion was interrupted by an SCIS task force, as Quentin tracked Laurel's communicator to capture The Hood. Laurel and Quentin had an argument, with Quentin furious with his daughter for contacting The Hood while Laurel was angry for being set her up and placed in danger. Typhuss also became upset with Laurel upon learning of her work with the vigilante. The next night, Laurel was kidnapped from her apartment by Cyrus, who used her as bait to draw out The Hood. After Quentin and The Hood rescued her, Laurel remained angry with her father for his actions, asking that he stay away from her until she can trust him again. The Hood then ended their partnership, feeling it put Laurel in danger. Shortly after, Laurel and Typhuss made up.

Laurel held a birthday party for Tommy at her apartment, with Oliver and McKenna Hall in attendance. She tried to support Tommy when his father unexpectedly showed up and later encouraged him to attend a humanitarian ceremony honoring Malcolm. Afterwards, as Laurel went to meet Tommy at the hospital when Malcolm was shot, she received a surprise visit from her mother, Dinah, telling her that Sara might still be alive.

Laurel invited her father to breakfast at Big Belly Burger, not telling him that Dinah would also be attending. She encouraged her father to hear out her mother's theory of Sara surviving the sinking of the Queen's Gambit to, at the very least, convince Dinah that Sara was really dead. Laurel also attended Verdant's grand opening with Typhuss, where she questioned him on his failure to show up at the breakfast with her parents.

Upon seeing Quentin getting caught up in her mother's investigation, Laurel contacted a friend of hers from law school who worked at the Chinese Embassy to locate the girl in a photo Dinah found, whom the latter believed was Sara. Laurel realized the girl was actually a resident of Starling City named Jenn, whom she introduced to her parents, proving Sara's death. Dinah's confession that she left Starling City after Sara's death out of guilt for not stopping her from getting on the *Queen's Gambit* with Oliver eventually allowed Laurel to reconcile with her mother. As Dinah returned to Central City, Laurel asked her mother to keep in touch. Meanwhile, Laurel also became frustrated when Typhuss began to keep secrets from her.

Laurel tried to help a family who were cheated out of their life savings by Edward Rasmus, but the couple was murdered by an assassin. Laurel took in their orphaned son, Taylor Moore, making herself a target when the assassin went to tie up loose ends. After the assassin tried to kill them at Laurel's apartment, she, Typhuss, and Taylor temporarily stayed at the Queen Mansion. While there, Laurel and Moira briefly reflected on the former's past with Oliver. Later, Oliver comforted Laurel, which Typhuss saw and misconstrued, though he did not say anything at the time. That night, the assassin was killed by Oliver, allowing Laurel and Typhuss were safe to go home. Once Taylor's grandparents had been reached, he was released into their care.

The next day, Laurel visited Oliver at the Queen Mansion, worried he was getting scared again because he left while she was asleep. Oliver assured her that wasn't the case, telling Laurel that she has always seen the best in him and the island brought out the person that she always saw. Before leaving, he warned her to stay out of the Glades that night. However, when Moira revealed in a press conference of her role in the Undertaking occurring that night, Laurel went to CNRI with Joanna and her coworkers to try and save valuable files for her clients. As she worked, Laurel's father called her, urging her to get out. When the earthquake started, Laurel tried to leave CNRI but was trapped under a falling beam when the building began to collapse. Tommy arrived and lifted the beam, allowing Laurel to escape and saving her life. Laurel met with her father, Typhuss and Joanna outside, but Tommy was tragically killed when the building caved in. Quentin prevented Laurel from trying to get back to Tommy and she cried out his name in despair before breaking down in tears. After the earthquake, Laurel found Tommy's body in the rubble of CNRI and witnessed the Hood walking away.

At Tommy's funeral, Laurel gave his eulogy in Oliver's absence, emphasizing that Tommy was so much more than a billionaire playboy and how much she came to love him. Oliver visited her after the funeral, believing that he failed Tommy. Laurel insisted he shouldn't blame himself for Tommy's death but Oliver stated she would blame him too if aware of "the truth". A week later, Oliver and Laurel, seeking comfort in one another, sorted through some old photos of their and Tommy's childhood. Laurel reflected how the three of them were always a great team and suggested she and Oliver could work together to try and save the city, hopeful about the future. The next day, Laurel found a letter from Oliver in her apartment along with the picture of herself she had given him over five years prior. In the letter, Oliver assured Laurel that she is a hero who will help the city recover and he would only hold her back from doing so, which is why he's going away for a while. Oliver told Laurel to never doubt his love for her and that she has always been the best of himself. Laurel was heartbroken and began crying.

#### Recovering from Tommy's death

Five months after the Undertaking and CNRI's destruction, Laurel became an assistant district attorney. She was present Mayor Altman's Earthquake Relief Fund with her boss, ADA Adam Donner. The event was attacked by the Hoods, who killed Altman. One of the members threatened Donner, but Laurel managed to take him down. Immediately after, one of them pointed a gun at her before she could do anything else. Her father, demoted to officer rank, tried to ask her questions about the attack but his boss intervened. Oliver arrived and they talked about how she regretted sleeping with him, feeling that she cheated on Tommy. Later, Laurel met Oliver again at Tommy's grave. They agreed on being friends and she told Oliver how she was going to help the District attorney take down the Hood, still unaware that the Hood and Oliver were one-and-the same.

Laurel made plans to catch and arrest the Arrow, determined to bring him to justice. When he went to talk to her, she revealed that she was also angry because it looked like he had the opportunity to save Tommy life, but did not, the Arrow later went to talk to her again, but an SCPD S.W.A.T. team surrounded him, with Laurel revealing that she had set a trap for the vigilante.

The Canary rescued the Arrow from Laurel and the police. When Quentin angered the serial killer he was hunting down, the Dollmaker, the man targeted Laurel, kidnapping her and attempting to kill her while Quentin watched. The Arrow arrived just in time to save Laurel's life and the Canary killed the Dollmaker. Laurel realized her misplaced guilt over Tommy's death was aimed at the wrong individual and that she really blamed herself.

Laurel was having a hard time from recent events, and began drinking heavily and taking anti-depressants, almost getting arrested for a DUI. Both Oliver and Quentin attempted to get through to her but failed, the Canary, revealed to be Laurel's younger sister Sara, was seen watching over Laurel.

Laurel was put on Moira's prosecution and was able to convince the DA to offer Moira a plea bargain - life in prison as opposed to the death penalty (in case she was declared guilty). Oliver took Laurel out for dinner in order to protect her from some assassins pursuing her sister, Sara, after arriving home, Laurel suddenly tried to kiss Oliver, who gently refused and made it clear that he just wanted to be there for her as a friend, not reignite their romance. Laurel tearfully wondered why everyone in her life whom she loved seemed to end up running away from her. Laurel then noticed that her apartment door was open and when Oliver investigated, he found a knife, which he hid from her. After Oliver left, Laurel took some anti-depressants.

Laurel was appointed lead prosecutor in the Moira's case to replace ADA Donner, who had been poisoned with Vertigo, While reviewing the case notes, she discovered Donner's "trump card" (that Moira had an affair with Malcolm) disturbed by what she found, Laurel tried to convince Moira to protect her family by not taking the witness stand, warning that she was obligated to prosecute the case to the best of her ability and would be forced to present Donner's evidence in court if Moira testified. However, Moira still decided to testify and Laurel had to reveal the affair, making a strong case for a guilty verdict. When she encountered Oliver immediately after mercilessly cross-examining Moira, Laurel tried to avoid him, distraught and guilt-ridden over her actions in court.

Thea and Sin Simone sought Laurel's help regarding Max Stanton's disappearance and death. Laurel discovered that the blood drive Max donated blood to required a psych test, which was unusual but not illegal, and explained that she could not help Sin further.

Laurel began investigating mayoral candidate Sebastian Blood, whom she found suspicious, she questioned him about his past and his connection to Cyrus Gold, asking her father to help her get more information on Sebastian, in the course of her investigation, Laurel discovered the name of Maya Resik, Sebastian's aunt who was confined in a psychiatric institution, she visited Maya at St. Walker's Hospital, where Maya revealed that she was not Sebastian's aunt, who actually his mother. Maya told Laurel that Sebastian murdered his father and had her committed to hide his crime.

Laurel later got a call from St. Walker's Hospital, learning Maya had passed away, suspecting that Sebastian murdered Maya to cover up his murder of his father, Laurel asked Donner to help her investigate the case but he refused, not believing Laurel due to Maya's mental state and the lack of evidence about Sebastian murdering his father, Laurel then sought help from the Arrow, who helped her search for the files at the city archives which would prove Sebastian's guilt, though they were successful, the files had already been removed, Laurel went home and discovered that her apartment had been searched by Officer Daily, who discovered her anti-depressants weren't prescribed to her. Laurel was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

Laurel believed Sebastian framed her, but Quentin refused to trust her judgement since she stole his prescription drugs, Oliver helped Laurel clean up her apartment after bailing her out, suddenly, Brother Blood ambushed them and kidnapped Laurel, Laurel was taken to the Starling Cannery, with Brother Blood taunting her, she vowed he would pay but Brother Blood claimed she knew nothing, the Arrow showed up and engaged the man in combat, Brother Blood was about to shoot the Arrow, but Laurel picked up his previous gun, shooting and killing Blood before he could do so, when the Arrow removed the man's mask, it turned out to be Daily. Daily's charges against Laurel were dropped but she was fired by Donner for her substance abuse.

#### Following in her sister's footsteps

##### Sara's death

Five months after Deathstroke's defeat, Laurel was assigned to prosecute Vincent Steelgrave after he was apprehended and delivered to the SCIS by the Arrow. Once Laurel presented the evidence gathered by the Arrow, Steelgrave accepted the guilty plea for 15 to 20 years in prison. Laurel met Oliver in front of Starling City Courthouse as Steelgrave was being transported to prison to tell him about her success. When Oliver wondered why she had invited him there, Laurel led him to a speech her father was giving nearby. The two listened as Captain Lance announced that the Star City SCIS Department had disbanded the task force charged with capturing the Arrow, acknowledging the vigilante as a hero for stopping The Siege.

Laurel's father was hospitalized that night after a failed attempt to capture Werner Zytle with the Arrow. Laurel visited her father at the hospital in the morning and berated him for still going out in the field despite his health problems. When asked why he kept pushing himself, Lance told Laurel that being a cop was the only life that he knew and stated he did not know what he was otherwise. Laurel pointed out that he was also her father, and she needed him.

That night, Laurel met up Sara, who had just arrived in Star City, at a rooftop. The two sisters warmly embraced each other, and Sara asked Laurel how their father was. When Laurel answered that seeing Sara would help him, Sara asked her not to tell Quentin she was still here. Laurel was called to backstop the interrogation of Zytle at the SCIS station by her boss. As Laurel was leaving, Sara suddenly fell down from the rooftop, having been shot in the chest with three black arrows. Laurel rushed to her sister's side and hugged Sara while crying. Not knowing where else to take her body, Laurel brought Sara to the Arrowcave. Oliver, Roy, and Felicity found a distraught Laurel in the morning, covered in Sara's blood. Oliver comforted Laurel as she broke down.

Later that day at Verdant, Oliver promised Laurel he would find Sara's killer. Laurel expressed how when she had thought Sara died aboard the *Queen's Gambit*, all she could do was scream with rage but this time, she wanted to help catch the killer. Oliver objected, stating she should take care of herself and her father, prompting Laurel to point out that telling her father about Sara's death before they caught her murderer would kill him. Laurel left, saying a bar was the last place she should be. When Diggle found a mercenary archer, Simon Lacroix/Komodo, by going through A.R.G.U.S.'s database, the Arrow followed Komodo as the mercenary was trying to kill a man named Erlich Kelso. Laurel watched the fight between the Arrow and Komodo on street cameras from the Arrowcave with Felicity, and was furious when Komodo escaped.

Laurel went to the hospital Kelso was held under protective custody and lied her way through the police officers at his door using her ADA credentials. Laurel harshly questioned Kelso, even torturing him, until he revealed that he and a couple other businessmen were working on a deal to build a pipeline in Qurac for Amertek Industries. Before Kelso could say more, he was killed by Komodo, who shot an arrow through his heart from the building across. Quentin arrived at the hospital, worried about Laurel, and confronted her about the lie she told his officers. Laurel stated she needed to talk to him, to which her father asked her to go home and let the police handle it. Despite seemingly agreeing, Laurel contacted Felicity to meet her at Verdant so she could tell Team Arrow about what she learned from Kelso.﻿﻿

Using Laurel's intel, Felicity discovered an Amertek board member named Tom Weston had authorized the payments and theorized Komodo was paid to stop the deal. The team determined his next target would be Weston, who was attending Ray Palmer's Star City Pledge event. When Laurel tried to go after Komodo, Oliver argued she would be killed and assured her he would catch Komodo this time. Unwilling to stay behind, Laurel took a gun and went after Komodo anyway. She caught up to them just as the Arrow subdued Komodo. Seeing her with the gun, the Arrow tried to talk her out of her revenge, warning her this wouldn't bring Sara back, but Laurel refused to listen, angrily declaring she was doing this for her sister. Komodo denied having killed Sara, but was unable to convince Laurel as she pulled the trigger, only to discover the Arrow had removed the bullets.﻿

Back at Verdant, Oliver told Laurel Komodo's alibi of being in Blüdhaven at the time of Sara's murder had checked out. He explained it would take time to capture Sara's killer since the trail had run cold and urged Laurel to talk to her father about her death. Following Oliver's advice, Laurel went to the precinct to talk to her father, but she was unable to tell him the truth when Quentin's medication reminder alarm went off. She sidestepped by apologizing for lying to him the day before. That night, Laurel and Team Arrow put Sara to rest in her old grave from when she was presumed dead after the *Queen's Gambit* accident. Back at her apartment, Laurel sat by herself with Sara's black leather jacket, mourning her sister.

##### Training with Wildcat

A week later, Laurel was assigned the case of a break-in allegedly perpetrated by Tom Bronson. She went to the Wildcat Gym to question Bronson's fighting teacher Ted Grant. When he was told that witnesses had placed Bronson at the scene the previous night, Grant claimed Bronson was with him at the time, causing Laurel to angrily accuse Grant of perjury. Despite admitting to nothing, Grant answered that some people in Star City were dealt bad hands and that he was willing to lie to keep a good kid who made a mistake. Seeing Laurel's rage, Grant invited her to train in his gym in order to work off her rage.

In her next AA meeting, Laurel confessed she was feeling rage over something she couldn't say and admitted to not knowing what to do with it. She then listened to a woman named Erica Vendel share being beaten by her alcoholic boyfriend. After the meeting, Laurel revealed to her father that Erica had been telling similar stories every month and the abuse is getting worse, stating that her boyfriend, Michael Ancona, had eight assault charges against him. However, Quentin knew that the police acting on Erica's confession would defeat the purpose of the anonymity of AA. Deciding to take justice into her own hands, Laurel followed Michael and assaulted him with a baseball bat while wearing a ski mask and her sister's jacket. Laurel managed to get in a few hits at first, but was soon overwhelmed and severely beaten. She was subsequently taken to the hospital and visited by her worried father, who pleaded Laurel to never do something like that again. Laurel promised, admitting she made a mistake.

Breaking her promise, Laurel went to Verdant to speak with Oliver. She told him about her injuries and asked Oliver to train her so she could get justice outside of a courtroom. Oliver flatly refused, saying Sara would never forgive him for it. Undeterred by Oliver's response, Laurel returned to Ted Grant, who agreed to train her at his gym.

After she left the Wildcat Gym, Laurel went to the cemetery to visit her sister's grave and encountered Nyssa al Ghul, who had also come to pay her respects. Nyssa offered Laurel her and her father's condolences, but Laurel angrily retorted that she did not want their consolation. As Nyssa was leaving, Laurel claimed that her sister wouldn't have died if she never met Nyssa. Nyssa pointed out that she had found Sara alone and starving on Lian Yu, and had loved and protected her since. Upon seeing Sara's jacket on Laurel, Nyssa stated that Laurel was not fit to wear it before leaving the cemetery.

The next morning, Laurel was contacted by Oliver and told before her death, Sara had asked her father for information about something named "Jansen." Heading to the precinct, Laurel questioned Captain Lance about what Sara had asked about. Her father explained that Sara had been in Starling, but asked him not to tell Laurel, and that he had given her the last known address of Ken Zhi Jansen. Seeing Nyssa walk into the precinct, Laurel went to confront her. Nyssa figured out Laurel had not told her father about Sara's death, and although believing he had the right to avenger his daughter, she did not reveal it to Quentin because Laurel asked her not to. Quentin gave Laurel Jansen's address, and she went to wait in the Arrow's headquarters as the Arrow, Green Arrow, Arsenal, Nyssa, and Diggle went to investigate the address.

When they returned, Oliver revealed to Laurel that Malcolm Merlyn was alive, and Sara had been tasked to find him. Upon learning that Oliver had tagged Malcolm with a tracer arrow when he had a clean shot at him, Laurel demanded to know what he would do when he found him. She wanted Oliver to kill Malcolm, but Oliver adamantly refused, causing Laurel to storm out. Outside, Nyssa caught up to Laurel and promised that they would find Malcolm, and she would kill him.

When Nyssa kidnapped Thea to set a trap for Merlyn the next night, Oliver asked Laurel's help in tracking them down. Laurel did not find anything specific to Nyssa or Thea, but she discovered the smoke signal Nyssa was using to send Malcolm a message on city cameras. Laurel went back to the Arrowcave and gave the location to Oliver so he could rescue his sister. After Thea was saved, Oliver returned with Nyssa and told Laurel Malcolm had not killed Sara. When Laurel asked Oliver if he was sure, he told her he would not let Malcolm leave otherwise. Nyssa visited Laurel while she was training at the gym, and admitted she had now proven to be worthy to wear Sara's jacket.

When the cyber-terrorist group, Brother Eye, took control of Starling City, Laurel was called into the police department to act as the District attorney since the DA was visiting his niece at Coast City. Rioters gathered in front of the Star City National Bank after Brother Eye threatened to reset the balances of every accounts to zero in Starling City's banks. Trying to make sure no one got hurt during the protest, Laurel pushed the boundaries of her authority and sent an emergency service unit to the bank, but the riot squad only served to exacerbate the situation. Before the protest turned violent, the Arrow and Arsenal interfered and dispersed the crowd by using tear gas on them. Quentin was furious when he learned Laurel had gone behind his back and escalated the situation. After calming down, Quentin asked Laurel to talk about whatever was hurting her, but she refused to say anything about Sara's death. Quentin accepted her refusal, but urged Laurel to at least talk to someone else, expressing how much secrets hurt. Laurel took her father's advice the next morning and confided in Ted about her sister's murder. Ted stated he now knew how to teach her and promised to help Laurel deal with her anger. Ted asked which color uniform she would like, to which Laurel responded, "Black. Definitely black."

Laurel kept training with Ted, who also started to use grappling against her during the boxing sparring. After the training they decided to have dinner together. When they returned a body was strung up in the gym and The Arrow confronted Ted. Laurel came in between and said Ted could not have done it as he was with her after closing the gym. She talked with her father who questioned her relationship with her trainer. She left the gym and walked straight past Carrie Cutter, who was observing the crime scene. Talking with Oliver she said Ted was innocent and had lots of (former) criminals in his gym who might want to send a message. Oliver questioned that she trained with him after he refused to learn her to fight, and told her she had to watch out with Ted. Laurel learned about the body in Ted his hideout and that he was a former Vigilante. She identified the victim as a former magician assistant. Ted told them that both are related to a hotel where a drug dealer got killed before he stopped being a vigilante. Oliver asked Laurel if Ted was aware why she was training and that she wanted to follow in Sara her footsteps. Laurel claimed she can handle it, to which Oliver stated she plays a dangerous game.

Laurel later learned that Oliver had Ted arrested after they found the real killer. Roy confessed to Laurel he probably killed Sara while he was still suffering from the Mirakuru. Laurel asked why and he said he remembered doing it. However, Laurel was confused as Felicity pointed out the DNA did not match with Roy's. Oliver said she needed to focus on Ted right now. Laurel talked with Ted while he was in custody. Ted told her about his former partner, Isaac Stanzler, who helped him during his days as a vigilante. The both of them chased criminals in a way to make the glades safer. He told her Isaac was the one who killed the drug dealer. He said he told Isaac to flee the city to avoid revenge from the drug dealer his gang.

Ted got released from prison and he and Laurel talked after which Isaac ambushed and captured them. He forced Laurel to drive them away in their car. He accused Ted of leaving him when he need them the most. As they talked Laurel called Team Arrow. Oliver and Roy gave chase and Laurel used the distraction to toss Isaac out of the car as he tried to shoot Roy. However, the car crashed and Oliver and Diggle had to drag Laurel and Ted out of the burning vehicle.

In the hospital, Oliver told Laurel he did not want to train her in order to protect her and that he always would look out for her. He also revealed Roy did not kill Sara as he actually remembered killing a SCIS officer with an arrow during his Mirakuru-induced rage. Laurel later talked with Ted and said that his training made her do the right things. She said she wanted him to help her become a vigilante.

Around Christmas, Laurel and Typhuss visited Sara's grave. Thea approached Laurel and Typhuss, wondering why they were there. They revealed that Sara had died and urged Thea not to tell Quentin because of his heart condition. At the SCIS station, Laurel and Quentin received a surprise visit from Dinah. As she and her mother went out for coffee, Laurel confessed to Dinah about Sara's death. Laurel and her mother visited Sara's grave, where Laurel promised to avenge sister's death and convinced Dinah to keep this a secret from Quentin until she accomplished her mission.

##### Becoming Black Canary

Laurel prosecuted Jermaine Fisher, denying him bail for shooting a SCIS officer. She reported to Diggle, Roy, and Felicity concerning a member of mob boss Danny Brickwell's gang, whom she identified as Jose Anton. Laurel learned that Oliver had left to fight Ra's al Ghul. Upon learning of Oliver's supposed death from Malcolm and not being able to convict Brick's thugs, Laurel took on the mantle of Black Canary, donning a leather suit and her sister's mask. She took out two of Brick's thugs in a fight.

Laurel began protecting The Glades, where she stopped a woman from being assaulted by one of Brick's men. Later, she helped Roy save the city's kidnapped Aldermen. Laurel participated in the fight to reclaim The Glades from Brick, alongside Ted, Roy, Typhuss, Diggle, and hundreds of the denizens of The Glades. During the battle, Laurel helped Ted after he was pummeled by Brick.

Laurel continued to fight crime as Black Canary against Oliver's wishes. She was present during Werner Zytle/Count Vertigo's escape from custody and stopped a Vertigo-influenced guard from shooting more civilians. Laurel tracked Count Vertigo down but during the subsequent fight, she was injected with a lethal dose of the modified drug and began to hallucinate her greatest fear - her sister, Sara, denouncing Laurel as a fraud, addict, and unworthy of "replacing" her. Laurel attempted to fight back, but was defeated by Count Vertigo. She began to suffer from the overdose, but Oliver arrived in time to bring Laurel to the Arrowcave for treatment. There, Laurel hallucinated Felicity as Sara, who asked why she had to die in order for her sister to take on her mantle. Laurel tried to apologize before being sedated.

When Laurel recovered, she confided in Felicity about her hallucinations, believing she would never be worthy of following in Sara's footsteps. Felicity agreed, pointing out that Sara wore her mask to hide her demons just as much as she wanted to help people, but added that Laurel has a light inside her that Sara never had. Felicity encouraged Laurel to use that as her driving force behind Black Canary instead of trying to be like her sister.

Reinvigorated, Laurel joined Oliver on the second attempt to catch Count Vertigo. During the fight, Count Vertigo set fire to the building in an attempt to cover his escape. While the Arrow saved the scientists inside, Black Canary went after Count Vertigo. She was once again injected with Vertigo and started hallucinating another fight with Sara, as well as Quentin, who was furious about his ignorance over his daughter's death. However, Black Canary managed to overcome the effects of the drug, stating she was done running from her sister's death, and defeated Count Vertigo. Laurel then saw a vision of Sara smiling proudly at her (which was really Oliver). Back at the Arrowcave, Oliver accepted Laurel as a member of Team Arrow.

Afterwards, Laurel visited her father, who revealed he knows she is Black Canary. Laurel finally confessed Sara's death and her reasons for keeping him in the dark. Quentin was shocked by the revelation, and Laurel comforted him as he cried.

Laurel found Quentin bringing flowers to Sara's grave. She revealed Dinah already knew about Sara's death, further angering her father. Quentin was upset that Laurel was a vigilante too, but Laurel brought up their conversation five years ago regarding her initial decision to take a job at Weathersby Posner, pointing out that her father always knew she was going to live a life helping people. When Quentin called Laurel out over lying to him about his daughter, she suggested they go to an AA meeting together. However, Quentin refused to go to the same one as her and walked off after handing her a bottle of alcohol. Laurel dumped the alcohol out.

Laurel learned from Thea that Malcolm forced her to kill Sara by drugging her with Vitura. Ultimately though, Laurel didn't hold Thea responsible for her sister's death and tried to dissuade her from following Malcolm. Later, Laurel visited Oliver and deliberately caught him in a lie about Sara's killer. They had an argument over Oliver keeping it a secret from her, which then steered towards Malcolm as Oliver tried to explain that he needed Malcolm to protect his family. Still angry, Laurel ignored Oliver and tried to go after Malcolm herself to avenge Sara. During the confrontation, Malcolm easily overpowered Laurel until Nyssa and the League arrived (having been tipped off by Thea) and successfully captured him. Nyssa assured Laurel that she could rest knowing that Sara's death was avenged.

Oliver found out that the League took Malcolm and became angry with Laurel, who defended her actions for Thea and Sara's sakes. When Oliver planned to rescue Malcolm, Laurel was among those who disagreed. After Oliver failed in the rescue attempt and left with Diggle for Nanda Parbat, Laurel and Nyssa discussed the circumstances. Laurel admitted that having Malcolm to hate felt like she still had a piece of Sara to hold on to and worried she would lose it following his death. Laurel then asked Nyssa if she remembers Sara's laugh, having trouble doing so herself. Nyssa reminisced how she fell in love with Sara after hearing her laugh for the first time.

After Oliver and Diggle returned from Nanda Parbat, everyone was surprised and confused when he released Nyssa. Laurel then visited Thea and the two talked about everything that's recently happened to her. Laurel later went to talk to her father at the SCIS station. Quentin tells Laurel that he'll always love her, but doesn't think he can ever forgive her for lying to him about Sara's death for so long. Suddenly, Michael Amar/Murmur and his crew arrived and attacked the station. Laurel and her father hid behind his desk, with Quentin ordering her to get out while he provided cover fire. As Laurel ran, she encountered Nyssa, who joined in the fight along with Team Arrow. Together, they all managed to capture Murmur and take down his crew. After leaving the precinct, Laurel found Nyssa waiting for her outside in an alley. Laurel asked Nyssa if she would like to talk some more about Sara over dinner. Nyssa agreed and offered Laurel further training, which she accepted.

Laurel attended Diggle's wedding to Lyla Michaels. Later, she and the rest of Team Arrow found about the Arrow being accused of committing multiple murders. The team comes up with a plan to stakeout the possible targets who Ra's al Ghul and his assassins appeared to be going after. When Ray Palmer tries to bring forth information to the SCIS that Oliver is the Arrow, Laurel succeeds at blocking him, causing Ray to decide to take matters into his own hands, though he eventually realized Oliver was innocent. Laurel later attended a meeting with Felicity, Ray, Quentin, Typhuss and Mayor Celia Castle. Celia was suddenly shot and killed with an arrow by an imposter posing as The Arrow.

During the attack, Laurel took cover and managed to survive. Afterwards, she tried to convince her father to trust her that the Arrow is being framed. Quentin wanted Laurel to tell him the Arrow's true identity, but she refused. Laurel and Team Arrow then headed to a building which the League had been using as a staging ground after Nyssa gives them the information. There, Laurel and Team Arrow battled a group of assassins led by Maseo Yamashiro. Ra's then showed up and demanded that the Arrow succeed him as Ra's. Just then, SCIS shuttles arrived overhead but Team Arrow managed to escape with help from Diggle, who was positioned above with a sniper rifle. In the process, Nyssa helped Laurel when she was cornered by her father. Back at the Arrowcave, Quentin demanded that the Arrow turn himself in. Laurel met with her father and accused him of doing this because of Sara. Laurel, Felicity, Typhuss and Roy tried to come up with a plan to free Oliver. After Oliver handed himself over to the SCIS and was placed in custody, Laurel arranged for the team to have 10 minutes with him in an interrogation room. Oliver revealed his goal pushing for a deal where the team would get immunity if he went to prison. Back at the Arrowcave, Laurel and the team worked to figure out their next move.

After Roy was arrested after claiming to be The Arrow, Laurel returned to the SCIS and presented her father with a notice from the District Attorney's office for Oliver's release. She questioned her father on his actions of prosecuting Oliver. When Oliver asked her why she did it, Laurel claimed it was because she wanted to avoid having both Oliver and Roy in prison.

Laurel approached her father about some witness statements for a case and met Joe West and Cisco Ramon. Laurel pulled Cisco aside and told him she knew Barry Allen was the Flash since she was the Black Canary. Cisco was excited at the revelation, claiming to be a "fan" of hers. Laurel asked Cisco to upgrade to Sara's sonic device, which he agreed to. Later on, Cisco presented Laurel with a choker that had an amplified sonic scream and suggested she call it the Canary Cry. As thanks, Laurel gave Cisco a folder containing a picture of him posing with the Black Canary. Laurel warned Cisco that if anyone found out about the picture, she would kill him, which he originally thought was a joke.

Laurel went after a criminal who managed to overpower over her, though with help from Nyssa, she was able to apprehend him. Laurel then treated Nyssa to burgers, fries, and black & white milkshakes for dinner. Nyssa thanked Laurel for being her friend. Laurel confessed that Oliver had accepted Ra's' offer to lead the League which enraged Nyssa, causing her to storm out. Laurel eventually tracked her down and apologized for not telling her the truth sooner. Nyssa revealed that Oliver will now hunt her down and kill her for her betrayal against the League. The duo went to Palmer Technologies and informed Felicity and Diggle about the situation. Laurel, Diggle, Typhuss and Felicity decided to help Nyssa after she left to face Oliver on her own. Laurel, Typhuss and Diggle saved Nyssa from Oliver, who then left the scene. Laurel found Nyssa again at her safehouse tending to her injuries. Laurel persisted in trying to help her, stating that while Oliver changed, Nyssa can as well.

When Lyla had been kidnapped by Oliver in exchange for Nyssa, Laurel defended Nyssa from Diggle, who wanted to make the trade. She then tried to dissuade Nyssa from handing herself over to the League. Later Laurel and the team arrived at an unknown location where the exchange would occur. The exchange was made, but a massive battle broke out after Lyla took retrieved guns from Felicity and shot some of the assassins. Despite their best efforts, the team was overpowered and Oliver captured Nyssa. Back at Palmer Technologies, Laurel and the team admitted that they lost Oliver to Ra's al Ghul and now must reassemble all of their efforts without him.

Sometime later, Laurel, Typhuss and Diggle chased a criminal back to his gang. While they defeated the thugs, Diggle, who was still angry over Oliver kidnapping Lyla, began to heavily beat up one of the thugs until Felicity calmed him down. Back at John's apartment, the four discussed John's actions. When Laurel brought up Oliver's transformation, Felicity claimed it was not the Oliver she knew. Later Laurel, Felicity, Typhuss and Diggle were called to a meeting by Merlyn, who attempted to reveal to them that Oliver was actually undercover and has been working with him. When the four refused to believe him, Malcolm brought out an old friend of Oliver's, Tatsu Yamashiro. Tatsu revealed that Ra's al Ghul intended to unleash the Alpha-Omega virus, the same virus that killed her son, on Star City. Malcolm arranged for them to be flown to Nanda Parbat. Back at Palmer Technologies, Laurel, Diggle, Typhuss and Felicity scanned the data and determined that Malcolm may have actually been telling the truth, though Felicity is still reluctant to trust Malcolm. Laurel, Typhuss and Diggle were about to take off with Malcolm when Felicity arrived, having changed her mind, deciding to come with them to stop Ra's al Ghul. When the trio arrived, they were confronted by numerous assassins and a large scale fight ensued. When the virus was about to be launched in a shuttle, Ray arrived and destroyed it, at the cost of damaging his A.T.O.M Exosuit. The group was then surrounded and taken prisoner. While in a cell, Oliver arrived and dropped a sample of the Alpha-Omega virus in their cell, seemingly killing them.

Eventually, the group woke up, with Malcolm revealing that he inoculated them from the virus using a skin graft, saving their lives. Laurel and the group were rescued by The Flash, who assured them that Oliver still needs them before leaving. Arriving back in Star City at Palmer Technologies, Laurel and the group were confronted by Oliver and Nyssa. Diggle angrily punched Oliver in the face for kidnapping Lyla. Ray suggested that they all give Oliver, Felicity, Typhuss and Diggle a moment.

Laurel arrived at the SCIS to inform her father about the Outbreak. When he dismissed her claims, Laurel quickly realized that he is drinking again, despite Quentin's claims that he can handle it. Proclaiming that they're both alcoholics, Laurel told Quentin he can continue blaming her and Oliver for what happened with Sara, but falling off the wagon is on him. Now though, he has a choice to make: keep being an angry drunk or make both of his daughters proud by becoming sober and helping Team Arrow save the city. Laurel and Team Arrow scouted different positions around the city for the virus, quickly learning that Ra's was using his own men to carry it. With Nyssa's help, Laurel managed to take down and defeat numerous assassins while Oliver killed Ra al Ghul and Ray dispersed the cure, saving the city and preventing The Outbreak.

Afterwards at Palmer Technologies, Oliver revealed he is retiring from being a hero to start a new life with Felicity, entrusting Laurel, Diggle, Thea, Typhuss and Ray to protect Star City in his absence.

#### Ghosts

Five months after Oliver and Felicity left the city, Laurel and Team Arrow began to deal with an army of trained soldiers nicknamed by the media as the "Ghosts". The group targeted and killed Star City's leadership committee, though Laurel managed to save her father. Afterwards, Laurel, Typhuss and Thea decided to travel to Ivy Town to persuade Oliver and Felicity to come back to Star City, despite Diggle's objections. After Oliver decided to return to Team Arrow permanently as "Green Arrow", Laurel and the rest of the team learned that the leader of the Ghosts is Damien Darhk. Laurel also learned from Diggle the circumstances of his brother, Andy Diggle's, death and that the Ghosts are actually affiliated with H.I.V.E.. Unbeknownst to Laurel, her father is being blackmailed by Damien to work for him under the threat of killing her should he refuse.

Laurel and Team Arrow stopped the Ghosts' attack on a water treatment plant. Later, she advised against talking to her father about their investigation into the attack on Jessica Danforth. During a stakeout, she tried to talk to Diggle about his grim demeanor as of late. Diggle revealed to her about H.I.V.E.'s possible connection to Andy's murder. Laurel urged him to tell the others due to her bad experience with keeping her sister's murder from her father. Felicity informed the team that their attacker was Lonnie Machin. When Thea lost control of herself during an argument with Oliver and pinned him down, Laurel, Typhuss and Diggle pulled her off Oliver and later questioned him about Thea's condition. Laurel and the team then went after Machin, who had captured Jessica's daughter, Madison. When Madison was injured in the rescue, Laurel, Typhuss and Diggle rushed her to safety.

#### Resurrecting Sara

After Thea began to suffer from the side-effects of the Lazarus Pit, Laurel learned the circumstances of her injuries from Ra's al Ghul, which practically killed her and that Oliver had used the Lazarus Pit to heal Thea from the brink of death. Laurel, Typhuss and Thea later decided to travel to Nanda Parbat under the guise of a spa weekend in hopes for finding a solution for Thea's bloodlust and so Laurel could have a chance to bring Sara back from the dead. The three dug up Sara's body from her grave to bring with them on the trip.

Meeting with Malcolm and Nyssa, Laurel demanded that Malcolm to bring Sara back. However, Malcolm refuses, explaining that the Lazarus Pit has never been used to resurrect a dead individual and even if it worked, Sara would be completely different. Privately meeting with Nyssa, Laurel proclaimed her surprise that Nyssa agreed with Malcolm's decision. Nyssa pointed out that Laurel is doing this out of grief and if Sara was brought back, it wouldn't be the same Sara who they loved. Ultimately, to appease Thea, Malcolm agreed to use the Lazarus Pit on Sara.

During the ceremony, Laurel, Typhuss and Thea lowered Sara's body into the Lazarus Pit. Initially appearing unsuccessful, the pit's magic successfully revived her, although in a feral, animalistic state. Although overjoyed to have her sister back, Laurel is advised by Malcolm to prepare for the worst. Later, Laurel learns that Nyssa had destroyed the Lazarus Pit in retaliation for her lover being resurrected in such a horrific state. Before being taken away, Nyssa warned Laurel that although Sara's death was on Malcolm's hands, the consequences of her resurrection are on her.

Upon returning to Star City, Laurel kept Sara chained up in her apartment building's basement, confident her sister would return to her normal self in a few days. Keeping her sister's state a secret from the rest of Team Arrow, Laurel introduced a newly-resurrected Sara to their father, shocking and terrifying him. Laurel tried to get through to her sister by showing her photos of their family, but Sara suddenly attempted to strangle Laurel until Quentin intervened. Upon gaining information about the circumstances of Sara's resurrection from Damien, Quentin decided to kill Sara to put her to rest. However, Laurel convinced him not to.

Later, Sara escaped from her chains and began to go on a killing spree. When Sara attacked a nightclub, Laurel tried to restrain her but Sara escaped once Oliver arrived. Oliver confronted Laurel over her secret visit to Nanda Parbat and messing with forces she doesn't understand. When Thea was hospitalized after being attacked by Sara, Laurel went to check on her. There, Laurel and Oliver had an argument and Oliver scolded Laurel about how her actions endangered his sister and many innocent people. Laurel apologized for putting Thea in danger but stated that Oliver has never seen her as an equal since she became Black Canary due to the secrets he kept from her, such as the truth about Sara's murder and Thea's experience with the Lazarus Pit. She wished Oliver would care about her family, just as she has always loved and cared for his.

After capturing Sara at Verdant, Laurel reluctantly decided to put her sister out of her misery but Oliver revealed a way to save her. He contacted John Constantine, who explained that Sara needs a restitution - the return of her soul to her body. Laurel, Oliver, and Constantine headed to another realm to retrieve Sara's soul from the Lazarus Pit. The mission was successful, and Laurel and Quentin were reunited with Sara. Laurel took Sara to stay in her apartment. Sara revealed her memories are scattered, but she remembers falling to her death and Laurel crying over her body. Moved to tears, Laurel apologized to her sister for putting her through this. Laurel later met with Oliver for his mayoral press conference, where she thanked him for helping her sister and apologized for what she said at the hospital. Oliver also apologized, admitting he hadn't always been the best friend to her but would like to try again.

Laurel, Quentin, and Dinah are glad to have Sara back. Later at the Arrowcave, Oliver and Felicity briefed Laurel on Ray's survival and imprisonment. Laurel and Team Arrow then stole a quantum manifold from Kord Industries but faced unexpected resistance from upgraded security. Sara started brutally beating a guard until Laurel's voice calmed her down. The team later regrouped and devised their plan to save Ray, who was being held captive by H.I.V.E. in the Latin Building. Laurel joined Thea, Typhuss and Sara in an assault on the Ghosts but witnessed Sara give into her bloodlust by killing one of the Ghosts. The team managed to recover Ray and escape. Afterwards, Sara confided in Thea, Typhuss and Laurel about her struggle with her bloodlust, deciding to leave the city. They tried to convince her to stay, but Sara insisted on figuring things out for herself. Accepting her decision, Laurel embraced Sara and the two reaffirmed their sisterly love.

Laurel accompanied the team in fighting off a Ghost attack on an armored shuttle from Star City Bank. However, the Ghosts were successful in destroying the money. Laurel later accompanied the team in breaking into Wolfman Biologics. At a gala for the SCIS, Laurel talked to Diggle about their shared experience with resurrected siblings and urged him to use this chance as an opportunity to heal. After Ray tracked H.I.V.E. to the Muller Psychiatric Center, the team attacked the asylum, looking for Andy. Laurel and Ray were able to extract Andy.

## Equipment

* **Pistol:** Laurel is very proficient in using guns. She keeps one holstered on her left leg though rarely uses it, only in times of emergencies.
* **Black Canary suit:** Laurel wears a black leather suit while fighting crime as Black Canary. The suit was a modified version of the one used by her late sister. She doesn't wear a black mask and used to wear the blonde wig prior to abandoning it to hide her identity from her enemies.
* **Tactical tonfas:** Laurel later used a tactical tonfa or side-handle baton, like the one used by police officers. She is able to wield this weapon proficiently while fighting enemies including League of Assassins members. After, five months, she has adopted a second tonfa when facing Hive, to help her deal with multiple skilled opponents.
* **Canary Cry:** An updated version of the sonic device that both Sara and Laurel used. This device was made by Cisco Ramon as a favor to Laurel.

## Behind the scenes

* Laurel Lance (Earth-18) is portrayed by American actress Angelina Jolie instead of Katie Cassidy like in *Arrow*. This is used to make Earth-18 Laurel's appearance look different then her Earth-1 doppelgänger, Laurel Lance.
* This version of Laurel is married before the return of Oliver Queen to Star City.
* Earth-18 Laurel's Black Canary suit dosen't have a mask unlike her Earth-1 doppelgänger, Earth-18 Laurel doesn't wear a mask.

**Earth: 1 • 2 • **18** • 63 • 180 • 893 • AU**