Batman was needed but his heart was elsewhere. Usually the taste of justice was more than enough motivation to get his job done but lately a new fish had flown into his sea of thoughts. Her face alone had taken over and unfortunately for Batman he didn't want to focus anything else. Bruce had met her and been with her talked to her. That's more than Batman had a chance to do. That's who she really wants he thought further shaking his head in confusion. How can they be that much different?

It was moments before she had left did she look into the sky what had she been looking at? This also happened when he had first had seen her. She was staring at the sky. Her eyes lit blue with happiness. Something he would never be able to forget.

Before he knew it he was at the spot were he had located the Riddler. He was last seen at an abandoned science lab on the west end of Gotham. He just has to focus he demanded of himself . Nigma had important information that concerns the safety of his princess. It was no time to play now.

The bat mobile stopped on the side of the building. Unluckily for Batman the cover of night was against him nor was it time to waste. Brute force and straight to the point wasn't against his nature thou.

Riddler was up to his old tricks. Batman walked into the building and saw that the Nigma was where in plain sight. He walked a little further only the light from the door lit the rugged halls. Suddenly which wasn't a surprise to Bruce the door slammed shut and he didn't even flinch just sign at the familiar gesture to ruffle his feathers. There was a static sound and a blinking light coming from a TV in the other room.

Batman of course went into the room. It was the dinning area; there is a long table and a small TV in the middle and only one chair. Bruce went over to the table. He found a place setting elegantly set with three forks one side of three plates and four on the other all different sizes. Right above it was a glass and a card that read Please make your self at home. Signed '?' The TV static stopped and Riddler's face showed on the TV screen. "Well if it isn't the Dark Knight, to WHAT do I owe this pleasure? No matter. Please sit then you will see WHOSE coming to dinner."

"I don't have time for this Nigma!"

Bats grew more and more impatient but he knew he couldn't do anything to help the situation. He did that was asked and sat. As he did two candles lit themselves and lit the room. And a door in the back the room opened wheeling in a serving cart, again on it's own. The cart stopped in front of Bruce and a silver platter of top had a steamed octopus on top with baked salmon. Bruce was uninterested he scoot the platter away. He heard a scuff from near by. He pushed the cart over and found The Riddler.

Batman eyes narrowed at the Riddler as he proceeds to pull him to his feet by the green collar of his button up shirt. Batman only stared at him not talking. Edward smiles died down when Batman stood. "I told you everything I know." Riddler pleaded. "Hey there Bats riddle me this HOW is it that I am here and on the screen?" He snickered nervously.

Batman was running out of patience in a swift move Riddler was jammed to the wall being held a few inches from the grown.

"I wager you did not like my game. Care to cut a deal?" Riddler asked shrugging his shoulders. Hoping Batman agreed.

"Not today Nigma. You're coming with me." Bruce said simply.

"Surely there's a way out of this."

"Explain this NOW!" he demanded still holding him against the wall.

"Will you let me go if I do?" he asked with a awkward grin.

"I will consider it…" Batman grimed.

"Fine then." Riddler said satisfied. He did his best to push from the wall to the Batman's ear as he whispered. "Riddle me this, 7 places 7 forks and 7 kings 1 enemy that will always have a leg up in the competition. Thou the sevens are lucky she a woman scorned death."

"You better start making sense Nigma."

"Or what Dark Knight. I don't think that was our deal. You see Bats I have bested you once again. I am free to go as we agreed. "

"I said I'd consider it." Batman corrected. "Now, Riddle me this Nigma How many questions can you ask underwater?"

…

Ariel was devastated not only was it her happiest moments to see him but he was being held captive.

"Alright Ariel quit whining and tell us what is really going on." Adella was on a rampage and Ariel wasn't sure she could talk her way out of this one.

"I I might have gone to the surface…"

Just as the words left her lips each one of her sisters gasped and was appalled. Not to mention someone had over heard it all. "What did you say?!" grimly and slightly holding back his growl their father enters the chamber where all the girls were. His intentions were to check on Ariel but hearing such deceit was more than he could stand.

"Daddy I-"

"THAT IS FORBIDDON! YOU KNOW THIS!" He yelled. Each of Ariel's sisters swam in a different direction to hide. Not even Attina has ever seen him so angry since mom died, she thought. "WHY?!" he barked.

Ariel was beyond terrified and tears. "Daddy I-"

"Ariel?" Attina called. "Is he why you have been visiting top?"

Ariel only looked at her sister in alarm but that only told it all. There was no use lying now. "Yes…" the sisters gasped once more. And Triton only grew more angry.

"Who is he?" he groused gripping to his now lit trident.

"I don't know…" Ariel mumbled.

"Ariel just tell him no harm should come to someone you love right father?"

"Attina…" He warned.

"Father look at her, If you hurt him there will no longer be any faith in your sanity." Queen Attina knew her fathers past and all that happened with her mother. Her mother had told her before she died but was sworn to secrecy. Without using this information against him she only what was wise to say. "Your daughters have grown scared of you do you want to lose them all. No one should be afraid to love."

"Attina enough." Ariel spoke. "It's true what I say I don't know who he is only that he passes my heart every night. I am drawn to him like my dark hair to the moon. I know that loving him is wrong father. But I- I can't" her cries overwhelmed her into to harsh sobs. She rushed to Tritons chest and wept more. "I- I f- fear he is g- gone." She managed to say between hiccups.

"Ariel…" he sighed. "I have behaved badly." He sat beside his youngest daughter remembering the moments he dreaded such arrangements of conversation. Attina and the others sat at his side and were shocked at how well this had turned out since he'd first entered their chamber. He set their father's tail and mourned for their dear sister sad heart. "I must tell you all something." It was then he had gotten all the girls attention. "Your mother and I were not always happy in fact we were very much in love…" they all smiled. "But with someone else." He admitted slowly.

"You did not love mom?" Adella asked.

"Oh but I did I loved your mother very much. She healed me from a broken heart. And in return I had hoped to give her all she had ever hope for in a marriage, as her husband and a father to my girls. I was the best I could be but I never forgot my love. And it's certain now that she hasn't forgotten me either. My father wronged her and her family. And thou he thought he was doing what's best. He passed judgment quite too quickly." He sighed.

"Did you ever go back to her, father?" Aquata asked.

"Why not now?" asked Adrinna.

"It's so sad." Whined Arista.

"Girls it's not so simple." He sighed again. He looked at each and every on of them and shook his head.

"Who is she, dad?"

"Her name is…" he said. It was almost too painful. He knew exactly how this was going to end. "Her name is Ursula…"

"The sea witch?!" They all bellowed.