"Enjoying yourself Batman?" asks Robin, waving to some pedestrians.
"I can't believe you convinced me to do this."
"It's important we get to know the people of Gotham and that they get to know us. What's a better time for that then the fair?"
"The middle of the night when nobody's around to see us?"
"Oh, you kidder! Come on; enjoy the lights, the atmosphere! If you're good, I'll buy you a corndog."
"Let's just get this over with."
They continue to walk through the crowd, passing awestruck children holding out paper napkins and pens. Robin stops to sign a few while Batman remains coolly indifferent. As they draw closer to the center of the fair, they hear a faint but alluring sound.
"Where's that coming from?" asks Robin.
"The center of the fair I suppose. Are we almost done here? I feel claustrophobic."
"Yeah, yeah, let's just check it out," responds Robin, following the music. Sighing, Batman ambles through the thickening crowd. He struggles to the front of throng where Robin stands.
"Come on, we should get going before-" he stops when he sees what the crowd is transfixed on. A girl of seventeen or eighteen years old stands on the street holding a guitar. She begins to sing and walks towards an older man holding his wife's hand.
"Hey sir, could you spare some change I need to get out of here.
Need a ride, I gotta fly if I'm ever gonna reach this big world's ears.
Ma'am, you look lovely, would you help with my song?
All I want is for the people of our green earth to get along, so
Spread the word and spread the love, could you spare a few cents for me?
All I need's a moment of your time and a buck or two to get me started
Will you listen to my sooong?
If you feel it, sing alooong
And help me on my way
Today."
She begins to walk around, balancing a hat in the crook of her arm while simultaneously playing the guitar. Everyone she passes places a few dollar bills into the ball cap.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" asks Robin, swaying slightly.
"Surprisingly yes. A little too beautiful though, don't you think?" Robin was too busy searching for his wallet. As she sees the two of them, she starts singing again.
"Evening Mr. Batman, how does it go?
Could you find it in your heart to let me know?
Have I been doing well? Am I alright?
Or am I just another busker on a Saturday night?"
"No, you sound lovely, miss. Um-" somehow, he found himself reaching for a pouch of money on his belt. Robin was already emptying his into her hat. Shaking his head vigorously, Batman cleared the fogginess that had crept into his mind. Understanding sank into him as he rushed forward before becoming spellbound once more and knocked the guitar to the ground and spilling the money on the cobblestones.
"Hey, what's the big deal?" asks the girl, upset. She goes to collect her earnings off of the ground only to be stopped a Batman-sized boot.
"This money will be returned to these patrons."
"Why? I earned it, I'm keeping it." He takes the fifty dollar bill from her hand and waves it in front of her face.
"You're good, but not that good," he turns to the confused crowd, "all of your money will be returned momentarily." Robin hurries over.
"What happened, Batman? I feel hazy."
"I believe this little busker learned the ways of our friend the Music Meister."
"Who?" ask the two in unison. Batman motions for Robin to continue to pick up the money off the ground as the crowd begins to disperse. He takes the girl to the side.
"What's your name?"
"My name's Meg."
"Last name?"
"I don't have one."
"Where are your parents, Meg?"
"I don't have those either. They abandoned me when I was ten so I started to travel and sing on the streets to get food and stuff. I'm saving up for a new sleeping bag." She pointed towards a small backpack alongside a ragged blanket.
"Where'd you get the guitar?"
"A lady gave it to me. Now would you mind telling me what's going on?"
"Have you ever heard of a man called the Music Meister?"
"No. what kind of name is that?"
"Not important. Anyways, he has the ability to hypnotize people to do his bidding and nearly took over the world."
"Okay, that's cool and all but-"
"No Meg, not cool. Several people were almost killed."
"Yeah, like I said, cool and all, but what's it got to do with me?"
"You have the power to do the same, to influence people to do whatever you want."
"What? No, I could never do that!"
"Hey, Batman?" calls Robin, approaching quickly, "There's a little over six-hundred dollars here."
"I just thought I was appealing to their better nature. I was controlling them?"
"I'm afraid so Meg. We're going to have to appeal to a council to find out what to do. Robin, would you return the money to the people?"
"Fine. See you later." Meg gathers her things, including her guitar, broken at the neck.
"I'm sorry Meg, I'm sorry you've been burdened with this."
"I could still use it to do good things, you know? Make bad guys into good guys, stop bank robberies and all that jazz."
"That's for the council to decide. But I promise, I won't let anything happen that shouldn't." he gives a rare smile that she fights to return, though a tear rolls down her cheek.
