A Knight's Tale II Chapter 1, a batman the animated series fanfic

digi-gal-rox: first chapter up for A Knights Tale II. hope you enjoy it!

CHAPTER 1

"Team one, head in!" James ordered. But before anyone movements could be made, the building blew up, throwing every- one back. Barbara looked up in horror, tears falling from her face.
"No..." she breathed. "Dick! Mary!" she cried out, trying to make her way to the debris.
"Barbara!" James cried out, pulling his daughter back, holding onto her tightly.
"No!" she cried. James could feel tears falling from his face as he rocked his daughter side to side. "No... Daddy, they... he... they can't be gone. They just can't be!"
"Everything will be alright," he said softly, not believing his own words. "God, I hope everything will be alright."
"I never got to tell him." she fell to her knees, "I never got to tell him... No... No..."

Barbara Gordon woke up with a jerk, panting heavily. She looked to the side, only to see an empty place, that remain cold. How long had it been since her husband and daughter were proclaimed dead? Tim... the Titans and the League... all of them. Sighing heavily, she climbed out of bed. Grabbing her robe, she slowly made her way to the living room. The empty house seemed a lot larger now, without them. She stopped short, at a family picture. Everyone was there. Her father, her husband, her daughter, Tim and Bruce. She hugged herself tightly, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall from her face. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to look away, only to notice that the answering machine was blinking. She knew who it was. Ben. Wanting to be trained. To become the Bat. She shook her head. She already vowed that no one else would die because of this. She looked out at the sky that was once red. It was now replaced with a dark black sky. Making her way to the kitchen, a familiar figure stood in the shadow. She gave a small gasp, before shaking her head slightly. The figure was gone. Groaning to herself, she wondered why her mind was playing tricks on her again. Was it that 'he' wanted her to go back out there? She couldn't could she? Not after the promise she made herself.

"Home sweet home," Ben Walker muttered, setting the bags on the counter. His mother, Annabelle Walker shook her head slightly, starring out at the darkened city. Ever since the explosion, nothing had been the same since. The villians of Gotham had now ruled over Gotham, somewhat. It was now similar to their neighbour, Bludhaven, with the police force now corrupted. And very few good soldiers remained. The former Commissioner James Gordon had retired months before, some partly due to the death of his son-in-law and grand-daughter. Like most, he led a normal life. He remarried, and recently his new wife Sarah Parker gave birth to his son. One in which he named after his deceased son-in-law. The aging woman closed her eyes, before turning to face the kitchen. Ben was already packing things into the cabinets, silently. Was this what their world had now turned into? A world of fear?

"What is this?" Barbara asked slowly, as her father placed an arm over his daughter's shoulder. A.D.A Sam Young smiled grimly.
"Mrs. Grayson," he said softly, "This is your husbands will." Barbara shook her head violently.
"Barbara, honey..." James murmured. Hesitantly, Sam leaned in, taking the file. "Sam... can you read it please?" the lawyer nodded, skim reading the paper as the father comforted his daughter.
"He's left everything to you, Mrs. Grayson." Sam finally spoke. Barbara faced her father, tears now spilling from her eyes. "I..."
"It's O.K Sam." she finally spoke. "It's a matter of time, that I have to accept that he's gone. As is my daughter." Sam's eyes fell, unsure what to say. "Is there anything else?" she added bravely. He shook his head.
"Nothing, but there is a letter." he handed her the envelope. "Addressed personally to you, with a message. Open it when it's time."
"What does he mean by that?" James wondered. Barbara starred at the letter and smiled, hugging it slightly. "Honey?"
"I understand." she murmured.

The man violently coughed, as he slowly sat up. He studied his surroundings carefully, before climbing out of the lumpy bed. He didn't know where he was. He could hear the talk of children's voices ehoeing down the hall.
"You've awaken." a female voice greeted him. He turned around surprised, to see a young blonde woman holding a jug of water, a smile on her face. He noticed that he didn't have his shirt on. Quickly grabbing the quilt, his awkwardly covered himself.
"Where am I?" he asked. "What happened?"
"An associate of mine brought you here. He found you unconcious in the wreckage. I nursed you back." Not letting his guard down, the man sat at the foot of the bed.
"Where are my... clothes."
"They were burnt." she responded, before pointing a pile of clothes, "My associate brought those over. You can put them on. I'm Nicky by the way. Nicky Westshore."
"Danny. Danny Mika."

"With the death of the League, the new leading members have sworn to continue with their duties, and protect our world." Snapper Car reported, standing in front of the new Justice League Tower, situated at Metropilis. "With their new founding base here on earth, new chairman, Stone, has stated that they had always wanted to be closer to the people...-"
"- 'They are gone, but not forgotten...' Our heroes maybe gone. But we will never forget them. With the new tower now situated at Metropilis, the people and heroes can now live together, without the fear that had been placed, not so long ago...-"

Barbara Gordon hesitantly, stepped into Wayne Enterprice, Ben Walker beside her. The young man looked up, in awe.
"Mrs. Grayson!" Lucius Fox greeted her.
"Just call me Barbara, Mr. Fox." she smiled.
"Than you must call me Lucius." he responded.
"Deal," she grinned, "This is Ben Walker, Bruce's son."
"Bruce's.. son?!" Lucius's eyes widened in shock, "I never knew he had a son!"
"No one did." Barbara responded. "Ben, this is Lucius Fox. The new owner of Wayne Enterprices."
"Nice to meet you." Ben said, straightening himself.
"It still partly yours, Barbara." Lucius chuckled.
"Even so, you're the man running it." she responded. "Ben here, would like to work here now, I believe." the younger man nodded.
"I want to know about the world Mr. Wayne has built."
"That's no problem." Lucius smiled, "It will be yours one day, afterall you are his son."

Danny stared out the window, that over looked Bludhaven. He had to head back. They were waiting for him. Starring at the golden band on his finger, his features soften.
"You're married?" Danny turned around, to see Nicky at the door. He nodded.
"Yeah." he responded. "Right now, she's confused. Maybe afraid. The world thinks I'm dead."
"But what would the world think if they ever saw you again?"
"Right now, I'm more worried about her."
"You must love her, very much."
"More than you think." he murmured, "More than you think."

"Dick..." she murmured, starring at the remains of the burnt building. "Mary..." she knelt to the floor. The sky was now ember, as sirens could be heard. Sighing heavily, she entered her father's apartment again, hugging herself tightly. She was debating. Debating weather or not to fight once again. She starred at the costume that lay on the sofa. Cape, cowl and all. She looked up, to see the familiar figure from before. He starred at her. "What do you want from me?!" she demanded. He just starred, before disappearing. She fell to the floor, clinging to the necklace Dick had given her, the night on their wedding. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Maybe," she murmured, "But not as Batgirl." she opened her eyes again, grabbing her old costume, she packed it up, along with her bag. She knew where she had to go. A safe house she had helpped built many years before. "As someone else."

"Look out!" she shouted. Turning around surprised, the man could only look on in horror as the gun rose to his head,
"Hi-ya!" she had tackled him to the ground. "You O.K?" the man could only numbly nod.
"I-I-I-I th-th-th-think s-s-s-so." he stammered, obviously scarred out of his wits. The woman quickly tied up the man, before rising, showing her full self. "B-b-b-black C-c-c-canary!" the blonde woman smiled, folding her arms.
"Glad things turned out alright here." the man dumbly nodded. "Spread the word. We're here to stay."

digi-gal-rox: that's it for now. happy readings!