So, I'm back! I've been thinking about doing this story for a long while now. Well, at least after I saw The Dark Knight for the 5th time. It's an alternate ending to the movie so to speak, with everything changing, and here's a spoiler if you didn't see the movie, when the Joker has Batman pinned down and says "And here we....go." That's where my story begins. The first few chapters will be in character chapters about what happened and how everything changed. Then after that, it shows the aftermath of it, but not from one specific characters point of view. I don't wanna give to much away, so on with the show!

"People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do?"

"Endure, Master Wayne. You could be, the outcast..."

Those words keep ringing in my head. I told Alfred I couldn't endure this. I should've turned myself in that day, shouldn't of let Harvey pose as the Batman. Rachel would still be here, still with me. Harvey wouldn't be the way he is, he'd be the hero of the city, the one it needed, not the half of a monster he is now. The Joker... he'd be where he belongs; a padded cell with no windows and his only companion a rock hard mattress and a straight jacket. And all those people on the boats, they'd still be here right now. They wouldn't all be floating at the bottom of the river. At least, what's left of them wouldn't be. And me... I would've been a different man. Someone not plagued by the deaths of hundreds of people on his conscience. Yes, it made me give up Batman forever, but at what cost? Hundreds of peoples lives? Rachel? Harveys sanity? Gordons family? They didn't deserve what happened to them. And it's all because of me. It's all my fault. Just like my parents. They died because of me as well. I've lost everything...

"Master Wayne?"

"Sorry Alfred... I was just thinking."

"About what Sir?"

About everything that could've been, all the people who would still be here had it not been for me. "Nothing important. Probably what I'm gonna wear for this party thing tonight." What a lie. I couldn't give a shit what I wore. The only people who care are the press, always looking for a story, no matter how ridiculous it is. I would just wear a black suit, red tie. Same as every other time.

"So you've decided to attend I take it?" He said with a bit of hope in his voice. I suppose it's not unwarranted. I mean, ever since the ferrys, I haven't shown my face in public. I know he was worried about me. The man's the closest thing I had to a father, my second father. And if I didn't have him, I'd be lost. I'd have handed myself over to the mob instead of the police.

"Well, I kinda have to. It is the reopening of Wayne Manor after all."

"Right you are Sir. After all, you did say it was your fathers house, not yours." He would never let me forget that as long as I lived.

"And now it's mine. You're never going to let me forget saying that are you?"

"Never." He let out a slight chuckle with that.

"Didn't think so." It felt good to let one out after so long without doing it.

"Well, let's head in master Wayne, the party starts soon."

"Yeah, I guess we should."

As we were walking back into new Wayne Manor, Alfred, who always knew when something was wrong, asked me, "What were you really thinking abut out there Sir?"

Him asing that shouldn't have surprised me, but damn, did i ever. "What do you mean Alfred?"

"You can't honestly stand here and say that for an hour, you were standing out here thinking about a bloody suit. You're probably just gonna wear the usual black suit and red tie." Wow, he's good.

"I was just thinking about how-" We got inside and what was on the news stopped me dead in my tracks.

"BREAKING NEWS. I'm Mike Engel for Gotham Tonight with breaking news. The Joker has sent out a message to all of Gotham City, murdering former lawyer and Wayne Enterprise employee Coleman Reese on camera and warning Gotham that if The Batman does not return by the end of the night, he will destroy the newly rebuilt Wayne Manor, where several high profile members of society are scheduled to be, with rumors of Bruce Wayne making his grand reappearance after months of seclusion. Jerry do we have the tape? We go it? Well roll it. Be warned, what we are about to show you may be disturbing."

And there he was. That murdering psychopath was still around. His face still a scarred mess behind that awful white, red, and black makeup. He was sitting at a mock desk, with the flag of Gotham behind him, only it was a complete mess, with "Ha Ha Ha!" scribbled all over it. His disgusting green hair was combed back in an attempt to look dignified, yet only made it look worse. His purple coat was button up, the tie poorly straightened. But I didn't expect any less from this son of a bitch.

"Attention my children of Gotham, I come before you today to ask a simple favor of you. Ever since my little 'social experiment' went off exactly as I had hoped, Batman hasn't shown us his mug. Where did he go? I know you're out there somewhere Batman, I know you're seeing this. Weren't we having fun? You really need to lighten up a bit Batty, it's only a couple hundred people. Well, I mean, there is the whole business with Commissioner Gordons wife and children. And let's not forget about all those riots, psh. Everyone's lost their mind! I knew that when they saw what Harvey did, their spirits would just break into little tiny shards. They got a good look at the real Harvey Dent, and I guess didn't like what they saw. Have you seen him lately Bat? He's a mess, an even bigger one then me! I must say, I'm fond of my work."

He was getting distracted at how much enjoyment he was taking at mentioning what he did to Harvey. What a maniac.

"But I digress Gotham, I have gotten sidetracked. My point in this is, if the Batman does not return to fight my 'dastardly' deeds, then that newly rebuilt Wayne Manor up there, and all your precious little politicians, especially you Mayor Garcia, since you got threw my grip last time, will be blown sky high. I realized I started out small the last time. But now, I'm starting right at the top. You hear me Batman? Would you come out of your hiding, or have the blood of even more people on your hands? Especially Bruce Wayne himself. How would it feel to have the Prince of Gothams blood to your name? Psht, Prince of Gotham. He may be this citys prince, but I think I deserve a nickname, don't you?"

He got up out of his chair, and walked off camera. You could hear a struggle going on, and after a few seconds, he returned, with Coleman tightly in his grip.

"Yeah, I think you do think I need one. You gave me some after all, what were they again?" Coleman wouldn't talk. "C'mon Coleman, the city's waiting. Answer me." Still no response. Joker reared his hand back and punched Coleman square across the face, all while yelling "ANSWER ME!!"

"The Harlequin of Hate, The Ace of Knaves! Just let me go, please!" Coleman was begging, but it wouldn't get him anywhere.

"Hmmm... I think I would like to be called... The Clown Prince of Crime! It's perfect, don't you think Reesey?" Before Coleman could answer, Joker pulled out a pistol and splattered his brain all over the Jokers flag of Gotham. Then the bastard has the nerve to sit back down, and wipe off pieces of Coleman from his jacket. He took a more serious tone when he started up again. "You see Gotham, I needed to prove I was willing to do whatever I need to do to get what I want. Give me back my equal Gotham. And if you don't, you'll see why it's such a funny world we live in. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

I grabbed the nearest object, a vase full of flowers, and threw it right at his laughing face. It destroyed the screen, as expected. What was I going to do? I could never go back to being Batman, I couldn't. Too many people died because of it. But if I didn't, even more people would die because of me.

"What are we going to do now Sir?" He sounded worried again. He had every right to be. He knew what Joker was capable of, and how he truly was a man of his word. Every last foul fucking word that crossed that mutilated fucking face of his!

"Cancel the party. Call everyone who was coming and tell them to stay as far away from here as possible. When that's done, get out of here as fast as you can."

"What about you? Are you actually going to...you know."

"...No. I'll be right behind you. I can't go back to that Alfred, I never can. To many people are dead, some half dead, because of Batman. That's what I was thinking about outside. I always do."

"Aye Sir. I understand."

And there you have it! I think I did a fairly good job of capturing the Joker, but as always, review and let me know! I could use the constructive criticism right now haha. Next chapter I'm thinking is gonna be from Harveys perspective. Don't know when that's gonna go up though, since I gotta figure it out first. See you soon though!