This is just the prologue to an epic tale of truth and strength:
"Gotham City will soon lose its hold on Batman. It seems that the collar around Batman's neck is getting tighter. He will want to break free from his owners and retaliate.", said a hiss from the dark.
Another hiss replied, "Sir, what do you mean by retaliate?"
"Gotham is starting to become too comfortable with the idea of a masked protector. They are telling him what to do, now. Batman is starting to become their pet. Their dog. Once we talk some sense into him, he will lash out!"
"Sir, do you honestly think he will listen?"
The first voice chuckled. The echo of his laughter began to rumble throughout the underground sewers they were hiding in. Then, the first voice answered, "Bats weren't meant to be caged, Reuben. I will use anything to my advantage: his identity, his reputation, his-"
Reuben interrupted, "His family?"
"Yes. I will use anything I can get my hands around."
Bruce Wayne was asleep in his mansion. He was sweating from head to toe even though he had already thrown the sheets off of his bed. The rain was smacking relentlessly against the bedroom window. Thunder woke Bruce up from a terrible nightmare. He looked to his right and saw the sheets on the floor, and then felt his arms and neck. Bruce wiped the sweat from off of him. Alfred's footsteps could be heard walking past his bedroom door.
Bruce yelled over the rain, "Alfred! Can you come in here?" Alfred opened the door, then stood under the doorway. Bruce asked, "Why are you up so late?"
"Just needed a little midnight snack. Bruce, why are you up so late?"
Bruce sat on the side of his bed. His back was facing Alfred. Bruce looked out of the window at the pouring rain. "It was a nightmare, that's all."
"What was this nightmare about?" asked Alfred while coming around the bed to see Bruce's face.
"It was…um…about Mom and Dad, Alfred. I was praying beside their bodies right after they died. We were in the middle of complete darkness. Then, I started to cry."
"That wasn't a nightmare, sir. It was a memory."
TWO DAYS LATER
It was a bleak morning over Gotham. The smog looked as thick as it smelled. There was a deathly silence over the city. Yet, from out of the thick smog, a few sirens could be heard, and then lights could be seen. Policemen were in the middle of a big chase! Flying past taxies and other cars, the police were headed towards downtown Gotham in a hurry. The were looking for a devious villain who had (literally) resurfaced: Waylon Jones, also known as, Killer Croc.
Over Commissioner Gordon's police scanner, he got a report from his new lieutenant, "Croc was seen going underground in the southern section of the Park Row district. All personnel report to Park Row. Check all the manholes and grid maps of the sewer systems, over and out."