Unamusement Mile

"We've all been inoculate against Scarecrow's fear gas. It should last for a couple of hours," Batman said over the comm link, as he and Robin raced toward Arkham in the batmobile. Arsenal, The Red Hood and his Arkham Knights already had the island surrounded, covertly of course, and Nightwing was making his way there via his Wing Glider.

"Right, so Hood, have you seen any sign of Scarecrow or his thugs?" Robin asked, typing away on his wrist-mounted computer.

"No. Nothing yet. But when I get my hands on him-"

"No killing," Batman interrupted. Hood snorted in response.

"Yeah, yeah. Relax old man, you'll give yourself an aneurysm." Nightwing snickered in amusement, and everyone could hear it over the link. Arsenal laughed.

"I can hear him scowling!" The archer said.

"Focus. Oracle, anything on Crane?" Batman asked.

"No. Nothing. But-wait. My eye in the sky has picked up some movement toward Arkham Island. They're most definitely not staff vehicles or GCPD," Oracle replied.

"Gotcha. My Arkham Knights stand at the ready," Hood replied. Nightwing dropped down beside him and Batman and Robin arrived moments later. Sure enough, the vehicles approached Arkham came to a stop, and Scarecrow's Nightmares jumped out, armed to the teeth and wearing gas masks.

The Arkham Knights came out of the shadows for a surprise attack, and surprised the Nightmares were. Batman glanced over at Hood who sighed deeply and shook his head.

"They're using non-lethal ammo! Get off my ass!" Hood growled, jumping into combat. Nightwing followed, but stopped before Batman first.

"You could try a little trust. He and Arsenal both are trying to clean up their act," Nightwing snapped, before he followed after him. Batman watched him go for a few moments before he too lept into combat with Robin by his side. Arsenal loosed arrows from a distance, polyurethane foam arrows and taser arrows to incapacitate Scarecrow's men.

Between the combined might of Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Red Hood, Arsenal, and The Arkham Knights, Scarecrow's Nightmares stood no chance. Soon, they had all been incapacitated and rounded up.

"No sign of Scarecrow?" Batman asked Oracle.

"None."

Batman glared at the Nightmares. One of them was still conscious, so he grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and swung him through the air, up over his head and slammed him on the ground.

"Scarecrow! Where is he?!" Batman growled. The man shouted in pain, followed by a whimper at Batman's questioning.

"Pfft. You call that an interrogation? That's not how you get information," Hood said flatly, approaching Batman. He waved the man off and said "out of the way. I'll show you how it;s done." Batman glanced over at him, then at Nightwing. So he gave a little trust and stepped aside.

"I don't condone the Red Hood's tactics," Batman said evenly, eyes narrowing "so if I were you, I'd talk." Hood chuckled in amusement and grabbed the man by the throat and hauled him to his feet. He punched the man in the gut.

"Talk."

"No."

"I was hoping you'd say that," Hood said with a laugh. He tripped the man, kicking at his feet, then wrapped his arm around his throat and put him in a choke hold.

"Talk or I'll snap your neck! Tap out any time you feel like flapping those gums!" Hood growled in his ear.

"Hood, that's-" Batman growled, but the man tapped Hood's arm and Hood let him go. The man gasped for breath and collapsed to his hands and knees. Hood pulled out a gun and fired a round beside his head.

"That was a warning shot. Now fuckin' talk," Hood snarled.

"Okay!" the man yelped, turning to look at his torturer.

"He found an underground tunnel beneath Arkham! He's-" an explosion sounded in the distance. Everyone turned their attention to the main building of the Asylum and the thug took the distraction as an opportunity to escape. Batman, without looking, clothes lined the man, taking him out.

The five of them raced to the scene to find that a huge portion of the wall had been exploded and some of the inmates were escaping.

"You know what to do!" Batman called and naturally, the five of them got to work.

The five of them returned to the cave after having mostly cleaned up the mess at Arkham. Operative word being mostly. Some of the inmates were still on the loose but they currently had no way to track them.

"This isn't over yet. Scarecrow escaped with several inmates for what purpose, we don't know," Bruce said evenly. They'd previously attempted to find out who was missing, but the Asylum's records were destroyed during the escape. It would be nearly impossible to tell who was missing. Though after tonight, Bruce build his own database on Arkham's inmates for just such an occasion, should it occur again in the future.

"So then the question is still 'who did he spring from Arkham and why?'" Roy said smoothly and and Jason standing beside each other with their arms crossed. Dick snickered in amusement.

"What's so funny?" they both asked in unison, exchanging a glance.

"You two! You're so alike, all serious and pouty," Dick teased. Tim giggled from behind him.

"Yeah, no kidding. You guys are practiocally married." Roy laughed and shook his head, grabbing Dick and pushing him and Jason together.

"Oh no, these two are going to be the married couple soon, mark my words."

"Roy!' Dick squeaked, face flushed. Jason snorted.

"As if. No offense Dickie, but can you really picture me as the married type? Me? Settling down, having kids of some crap."

"I think you'd be a good dad though," Dick put in. Jason blushed a bit and shook his head.

"Pfft. As if."

"I've got something," came Oracle's voice over the batcomputer. She popped up on the screen, typing away on her computer.

"Scarecrow was spotted at...Amusement Mile?"

The five of them exchanged glances at the revelation. What could Scarecrow possibly want at that old abandoned theme park?

"Amusement Mile," Bruce repeated under his breath, eyes narrowing, deep in thought. Jason was glaring at the screen, glaring at the pictures of Amusement Mile. Anger started to well up inside him as the memories came back. Dick watched him with sorrowful eyes, and he could see a trace of fear there too. It was understandable, considering what the Joker had done to him. But that fear could play into Scarecrow's hands. And yet, he knew he wouldn't be able to convince Jason to stay behind...

"Let's go then. Scarecrow is overdue for an ass kicking," Jason said lowly, glare still on his face. Bruce looked up at him with a concerned expression.

"Jason, are you sure? That's Amusement Mile-"

"I know. The Joker's home base. So what? He's dead, I'll be fine. Relax," Jason said evenly, a hint of annoyance in his tone. Nobody looked convinced but Jason was glad they opted not to push the issue.

"Alright then, let's go," Bruce said evenly.

Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Arsenal and Red Hood all arrived at Amusement Mile. It was late and night and looked ominous and almost eerie as ever. Oracle kept in contact from the Clock Tower, and Red Hood called for his Knights to surround the place.

Amusement Mile had been abandoned decades ago, but after the Joker took up residence here, no one dared try to re-open it. The people of Gotham could be quite superstitious and as such, it was believed that the Joker had 'tainted' the place. Considering how many people he killed, how much evil he had committed, honestly, even the non-superstitious might be dissuaded from going anywhere near it.

But here they were, on the hunt for Scarecrow. This was, ironically, the perfect place for someone like Scarecrow to make his home base; with how eerie it appeared and the dark reputation attached to it, it was a perfect fit. Unfortunately for Scarecrow, none of them were unnerved I the least by the place.

"Keep your wits about you. Robin, with me. Nightwing, Red Hood, and Arsenal, split up and search the place," Batman ordered. The five vigilantes split up and began their search of Amusement Mile. No sooner had they split up, that a loud squeal echoed through the night, indicating an intercom had been activated.

"Welcome my mortal enemies. Scarecrow, at your service. And I'd like to welcome you all to your ends. I have a special surprise in store for all of you," Scarecrow's voice called, followed by a dark laugh. The intercom clicked off again and once more, the park fell silent.

Batman and Robin moved stealthily across Amusement Mile. Robin has his staff at the ready, the both of them on high alert.

"Keep your wits about you, Robin. We're not alone," Batman whispered, eyes narrowing.

"That's right. You're not, Batman," came Scarecrow's voice. Batman and Robin spun around, and Robin was tackled by Killer Croc.

"And now it's just me and you, Batman. Tonight, you become a myth, and I will become a legend! Feared throughout all of Gotham!" Scarecrow taunted, lunging in at Batman.

Nightwing looked around the abandoned theme park, having found an old circus tent. It was a miracle it was still standing, but what really bothered him was the fact that he felt like he was being watched.

"Whose there?!" Nightwing shouted, drawing his escrima sticks, heaving heard the sounds of footsteps around him.

"Got a score to settle with you, Nightwing," Blockbuster growled as he landed in front of Nightwing with a crash. Nightwing's eyes went wide in horror as he stumbled backward.

"N-no...it's not possible! You're dead!" Nightwing stammered. Blockbuster laughed and lunged at Nightwing, punching him hard and sending him flying backwards. Nightwing fired his grappling gun to the trapeze platform above to recover.

"I got better," Blockbuster replied.

Arsenal drew his bow and nocked an arrow, moving through isles of long abandoned booths of the amusement park, ready to attack at any moment. He could sense someone else was nearby, that he was being watched.

"Well, well, well, aren't you a handsome one," came a woman's voice. Arsenal growled and looked toward the source to find a woman with long black hair, garbed in green with dual sai and a white mask, resembling a cat's head with red stripes and a wide grin.

"Cheshire."

"So you've heard of me? I'm flattered."

"I do my homework."

"Let's just see how well," Cheshire replied, as she dived off of the roof of one of the booths and attacked Arsenal. Arsenal jumped back to avoid the attack and fired a arrow, which she deflected with a sai.

"What're you doing here?! What do the Shadows want?" Arsenal asked. Cheshire laughed in amusement as she lunged forward for another attack.

"The Shadiws have nothing to do with it. This is personal. Just wanted to see my favorite archer," Cheshire said sweetly as Arsenal ducked another attack.

"When I heard about Scarecrow's little game, I simply couldn't resist!"

Red Hood entered the fun house, which was a bad idea based on every horror movie he'd ever seen, but then again, he was a bit smarter than the idiots in Hollywood.

"Come out Scarecrow, and face me like a man," Hood growled.

"Face you? Like a man? Pretty bold words from someone hiding behind a mask," Scarecrow's voice called over the intercom. Another laugh sounded, followed by another comment from the Scarecrow "of course, I don't need you to take your mask off to see your fears."

Red Hood heard an all-too-familiar giggle in the dark. He flinched, eyes widening.

"No way it's him. It's just a trick. Scarecrow's mind games," Hood muttered to himself. He shook his head and continued forward. He heard footsteps in the darkness around him and drew both his guns, prepared for a fight.

"Whoever is there, come out now!" Hood growled.

"As you wish, little birdie!" came a voice that made Jason's blood run cold. A light flicked on and standing in it, was the Joker. The demented clown raised his head, a sadistic grin on his face.

"No. No! You're dead!" Jason shouted angrily, and fearfully. The Joker cackled and shook his head.

"Me? Dead? Oh, I remember now! You fell for the ol' fake Joker gag! That's a good one, isn't it?" The Joker asked with a sick grin. He drew a bloody crowbar from his jacket and took a step toward Hood.

"You've been a naughty boy. I suppose I'll have to teach you some manners!" The Joker cackled.

Note: Finally back! My computer's been down for the last four or five days. And I had to kind of wing this chapter, because I forgot what I was going to do with it over the last few days. So...kind of writer's blocked on this one as a result. x_x Anywho, enjoy. ^^