Author's Note: Hey I'm back with another new story. This one came to me this afternoon as I was thinking about how in some instances whether canon or not; DC has allowed characters like Dick Grayson, Roy Harper, Donna Troy and others to take on the mantles of their mentors Batman, Green Arrow and Wonder Woman. Which got me to thinking. What if I did a story based on those concepts? Anyway this is my take on it kind of a prelude to the Titans Tommorrow storyline in the comics. Hope you guys like it. Let me know what you think.
Justice League: Resurrection.
Gone. They were all gone. After a catastrophic battle evil had finally won. The heroes of Earth were dead; their legacies came to an end all in an effort to protect mankind from the greatest evil. To everyone's horror their greatest threat was once one of their own. Superboy-Prime came from another world and was manipulated by his friend Alexander Luthor Jr. into destroying the Earth so that it may be reborn in their image. Many were slain trying to stop them, in the end Superman paid the ultimate sacrifice in stopping them so that the Earth may live. While many of his allies paid a similar price in protecting the populace with the old Justice League gone it was time for a new generation, their protégés to take on the mantles and continue their legacy to keep hope alive and for the human race to continue.
It was one of the darkest days in human history. For ten days now the world has been forced to say good-bye to not one superhero but many. It was for reasons like this they would have preferred the deaths of these heroes to remain a secret. But with the media having captured all of the grizzly carnage, that unfortunately wasn't the case. Last week the world say good-bye to the Man of Steel, today they were doing the same for the Dark Knight. For some time now there had been some debate over whether or not their identities should be revealed to the world. In the end they decided not to out of respect for the heroes and their families allowing them to weep in privacy. The week before a private ceremony was held at Wayne Manor with Bruce's casket lying in the parlor. It seemed rather ironic that the death of Bruce Wayne was overshadowed in the public eye by his alter ego. The Batman's funeral took place in Gotham City Cathedral, the city's largest church as small children passed by his casket carrying toys and action figures of the Dark Knight. Some of them placed their toys within the casket as solemn respect for their idol. Parents tried to remain strong infront of their children, but even they were broken when they saw the children mount toys next to Batman. Flowers of all sizes and varieties lines the cathedral along with various pictures and posters of the Caped Crusader from some of his adventures which even included some of the Dark Knight's spare uniforms encased in glass tubes for the public to see. It was said that Batman and Wonder Woman's services were to be held together, but it was deemed it was too hard for the public to see two superheroes lying side by side. For Gotham City had suffered enough in the loss of its Caped Crusader. Even some of the Dark Knight's former Rouges Gallery came to pay respects to the fallen hero. Among the first ones to visit was Harvey Dent, the villain known as Two-Face. Having been a former friend of his alter ego it was hard for him to see the Batman lying there. He reached into his pocket and placed his famed two-headed coin on Batman's chest with the scratched out face up.
"You were a great hero…and a respectable foe. I'm sorry for all the things I've done." he said and left without saying another word.
Other villains filed by and paid their last respects in various ways. Which led many to wonder if the Joker would show up, and if he did what would happen. Seeing that the Joker's goal in life was the destruction of Batman some started to wonder if he would bomb the cathedral in a mad rage or a last laugh? Tensions held high for a few moments until they finally saw him standing in the doorway. Everyone fell silent even the church music stopped abruptly as he made his way in, the Joker didn't seem like himself hands stuffed in his pockets and a wide brimmed hat covering part of his face. Patrons whispered amongst themselves as he walked past ignoring the crowds for the most part and finally came up to where his nemesis lay.
"So this is finally it huh Batsy? After all these years your finally gone, seems hard to believe though. I have to say Bats I never thought this day would actually come. Guess I'll have to find someone else to torment, I'm sure one of your little Bird Boys will be happy to fill in." he smiled and almost expected a response from him. As if he expected him to reach up and grab him by the throat.
"You know the one reason these people are still alive? It isn't because you saved them. It's because I finally had the chance to take you out." he sneered a gasp rang out amongst the crowd as he turned to face them.
"That's right I killed him! The one and only Joker! Ah ha ha ha ha ha! Looks like I got the last laugh after all Batsy!" he said turning back to the corpse.
In the crowd Dick Grayson was boiling over with rage, the former side kick grit his teeth and squeezed his knuckles till they turned white. He wasn't going to get away with this.
"Oh and Nightwing, Robin I know your hiding in the crowd somewhere. If you think you have what it takes, then come get me! I'll be waiting. Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" the Joker laughed and walked in an open legged style out the door.
By this time Dick's face was red and his knuckles were starting to crack under pressure. Later that evening the doors to Wayne Manor flew open as Dick stormed in and made his way to the Grandfather Clock and nearly tore it off the wall as he forced it open and made his way downstairs. Alfred chased after him trying to reason with him.
"Master Dick please." He said.
The lights came on as they entered the Batcave, walking up to a display case holding an experimental Batsuit he smashed the glass with his fist, reflections of his anger showcased as the shards of glass can tumbling down. Ignoring the injury to his hand Dick takes the black suit from the case and puts it on one piece at a time. With the basis of the suit on, he slipped on the gloves that had razor tipped gauntlets and buckled the yellow utility belt around his waist. As he stood before the monitors and held the cape and cowl in his hands, he looked solemnly at the iconic mask and sighed deeply.
"This one's for you Bruce." He said and draped the legendary cape around his shoulders and lowered the iconic mask over his face. His cape billowed as he stood in full gear Alfred put his hand on the young man's shoulder.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.
"It's what Bruce would have wanted. The world has had its fill of dead heroes, it's time for one of them to return." He told him.
"I understand Master Dick." The butler said.
"Tell Commissioner Gordon to light up the Batsignal." He said.
"As you wish." Alfred said and left his side.
"You really sure you want to do this?" Tim asked.
"I have to, if it's Batman the Joker wants then its Batman he's gonna get." He told him.
"I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into." He said.
"Yeah so do I." Dick said.
Over in Star City former college Roy Harper was going through a similar phase. With the death of his mentor and father figure Oliver Queen. Having shed his Arsenal identity, Roy has taken it upon himself to become the new Green Arrow. As he donned Ollie's old costume, his partner Mia the current Speedy looked back at him concerned.
"You sure you want to do this?" the blonde teenage girl asked.
"I have to show them old heroes don't just roll over and die. If there's any hope for this city, somebody has to take a stand. And that somebody is Me." he told her.
"Well why not let Conner take over? I mean he's already the Green Arrow!" she reasoned.
"Because…" he groaned in annoyance Mia could see he was still hurting from Ollie's passing. The archer turned his back as he answered.
"Because it's the only way I can make things right between me and Ollie." He said.
"Ever since I came under his roof, I never really felt welcome. Always treating me as a roommate instead of a son…we were never really that close. I made a lot of mistakes in my life…mistakes I don't think he ever really forgave me for. I need to become Green Arrow so he can…" he choked back the tears. Mia put down her bow and came over to his side and wrapped her hands around his wrist.
"I know Roy." She said resting her head against his arm.
"I just feel like I have to do this." he said.
"Well don't force yourself into something you don't think your ready for." She told him.
He sighed as he looked down at the girl that had become a little sister to him.
"Well what else is there?" he asked.
"Well I don't know if green's really your color. But if you think it'll honor Ollie then I'm behind you every step of the way. Just be sure it's what you want." She told him.
The new Green Arrow chuckled.
"When did you become so smart?" he joked.
"I didn't become an A student for nothing." She smiled, Roy exchanged the smile and ruffed her hair.
"Hey cut it out!" she fussed.
Deep beneath the ocean depths in the kingdome of Atlantis Garth the former Aqualad now Tempest had donned his own Aquaman costume. The costume was different from Arthur's it was orange in the chest and back with green long sleeves and an orange band making off the edge of his gloves, along with green pants and with orange stripes that went down the sides with black boots. Over on Themyscria, Donna Troy the former Wonder Girl and Troia had donned the armor of her sister Wonder Woman. And in Metropolis the former Superboy Conner Kent was in the middle of a ceremony being performed on him by his cousin Kara-Zor-El better known as Supergirl into becoming the new Superman with Lex Luthor watching from his office window. While in Keystone City a mysterous rift had opened in the middle of downtown and Bart Allen emerged from the Speed Force as the new Flash.
Back in Gotham City the Batsignal shown brightly in the night skies, on the streets below people look up in confusion and see the iconic symbol reflecting against the clouds. In his lair the Joker sat eating dinner when he looked and saw the Bat symbol nearly at eye level and spat out a chunk of food. He threw off his bib and raced out to the rooftop once he was there he saw the Batsignal shining brightly, definatly into the night air as if mocking him.
"Well that didnt take long." he muttered.
"Joker!" Grayson yelled.
The Clown Prince of Crime turned slowly to meet the black suited Batman standing there arms folded with one foot proped up against a ledge.
"You wanted to see me?" he said.
Back in Star City, Green Arrow faced off against the city's newest villain Onomatopoeia. Ono was a man dressed in black, literally from head to toe. In fact the only distenguishing marks on him was the two-ringed white target symbol on his otherwise featureless mask whose name means literally 'to describe a sound' turned and faced Roy who had an arrow pointed right at him. The criminal cocked his head to the side without uttering a sound. Back in Gotham Batman and the Joker square off.
"So you finally decided to show yourself, question is whose under the mask?" he asked in a mock tone.
"That's for me to know and you to find out." said Batman.
"Then I suppose there's only one other question left to answer. Do you have what it takes to tackle me?" he grinned.
"There's only one way to find out. Let's get it on!" he said.
Author's Note: Not a bad start dont you think? I think I nailed everyone's character about right I never really went that deep into Roy's character but from what I've read about his relationship with Ollie/Green Arrow I think I hit pretty close to home on that one. I hope you guys liked it. Let me know what you think. This should turn out to be a pretty cool story.
Please review,
Green Gallant.