A/N I stopped writing this for a couple months, so halfway through this chapter, the tense changes from narrative to past. I apologize for any confusion it leads to.

Batman

Arc 1

Beginnings

Chapter 2

Bruce stared out the window as the plane came in for it's landing. Having inherited millions of dollars from his diseased parents, he was unused to such discomfort, but the single propeller engined plane was the only way to reach the remote village. Once the plane had rolled to a stop, Bruce climbed out of it. Looking around at what was best described as nothing, he smoothed his suit, and begin walking towards the small group of huts roughly two hundred yards from the landing strip.

Upon reaching the village, Bruce starts down the dirt path, walking through the filthy streets as children play along the side of the rode, and merchants market their goods at the obvious foreigner. Eventually, he arrived at a small makeshift building, the only sturdy looking structure in to whole village. He enters and finds himself inside of a filthy pub. Approaching the bar, he sits down on one of the worn stools.

"What will it be?" The bartender asks in rough English.

"I'm looking for a guide to lead me to the temple."

The bartender eyed him for a moment, before turning to a teenage boy sleeping in a chair behind the bar. Kicking the chair to wake the boy, he spoke in a language Bruce didn't understand. The two spoke like this back and forth for a minute or two before the bartender turned back to Bruce.

"He will take you. Twenty dollars. Pay now."

Bruce put the money down on the bar, and the youth made for the exit of the bar, Bruce following him. Once outside, they started down a path that lead towards the mountains. Bruce followed the teen through the village for some time, until the boy stopped. Bruce looked past him, at the group of young adults that blocked their path. One of them, their leader perhaps, spoke to the boy. Once again, Bruce didn't understand a word. It must have been a threat, because the boy ran past Bruce, heading back for the bar. Bruce began to back up, when two of the thugs lashed out and grabbed him. He struck at one of them, but it didn't take long for their friends to join in. Bruce felt a blow to a stomach, and keeled over as they drug him into a nearby alley.

Bruce was thrown onto the ground. He struggled to his hands and knees, as his attackers spoke to each other in their native language. One of them noticed him getting up, and ran up to him, kicking him in the gut and sending him back to the dirty ground.

"You're American" His attacker said in broken english, kneeling down next to him. "American's are rich, why don't you just give us your money, and we'll let you be on your way."

Bruce knew that he had now choice. His pride would never let him give in to a couple thugs, no matter what race. He grabbed a handful of dirty and threw it at his harasser's face. The young adult recoiled, and Bruce scrambled to his feet, even as the rest of the thugs once again encircled him. They approached him menacingly, when their leader spoke in their native language. Bruce still couldn't understand them, but the panic in his voice was obvious. Bruce looked up, past the attackers, towards the main street, and saw a young man standing their.

The thugs stepped to their leaders side, Bruce momentarily forgotten, as the gang turned their attention to this new comer. They spoke words, Bruce clearly heard the word Shaolin. Was this man one of the monks he had come seeking? The thugs approached the monk threatening, but the monk seem unaffected by this act of hostility.

One of the thugs stepped forward, and swung at the monk, who easily dodged the attack. The monk quickly grabbed the youths arm, and twisted it, sending the thug to the ground. Seeing this, most of the thugs fled past Bruce. Only the leader remained now. He drew a small switchblade and lunged at the monk. The monk easily side stepped the lunge, and swatted the blade out of his hand. The thug swung a back hand, but the monk grabbed it, and landed a kick, two? Bruce wasn't able to keep track of the blinding speed. The monk easily threw the thug to the ground, where he remained, unconscious. The monk looked at Bruce.

"I've come here seeking guidance from your temple." Bruce said, still feeling weak from his struggle.

The monk eyed Bruce for a moment, and then beckoned at Bruce, turning back towards the street, and returning to whatever task he had originally come to the village to perform. Bruce eagerly followed him, and took another major step towards his ultimate destiny.