The Commissioner waited on the rooftop near the old Bat signal, where they had planned their rendezvous. As usual, Batman seemed to appear out of nowhere.

"I have information on the other killer, the one with the flowers," said Gordon.

"Is it someone you've seen before?"

"No, but I know it's a white woman, late thirties, short brown hair, green eyes, about 5'10". She goes by the alias 'Mother'"

"Anything on where they're hiding?"

"Not yet. I was hoping you could help with that."

"I'll keep an eye out."

"Will I be seeing you in the sky tonight?"

"Actually, I have plans for tonight."

Gordon should've known not to turn his back on Batman, even for a moment. When he looked back, Batman was gone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Bruce Wayne charity event for the Gotham City Children's Hospital. We encourage all you folks at home to call in and donate to the kids who are depending on your generosity for research and treatment, and to help their families stay close by so they can get better as soon as possible," said the woman to the camera.

Crowds of Gotham's wealthiest filed into the banquet hall. They drank the best champagne money could buy, at tables with white tablecloths and glittering centerpieces. A grand crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. The rich flooded in with their gowns and jewels, suits and polished shoes.

"Good evening," said Mayor Garcia, standing at a microphone before the guests. "Thank you all for coming. And I'd like us all to give a special thanks to Mr. Bruce Wayne for sponsoring this event tonight." They all gave a round of applause. "We ask all of you at home to please donate to Gotham City Children's Hospital. The number on your screen can help you save children's lives."

BANG!

Ladies screamed. Men ducked for cover. Fearful eyes searched all around for the source of the gunshot.

"So sorry to interrupt," said Ruby under her mask. "You all look like you're having a great time here tonight, well were having a great time." Ruby entered the banquet hall with her boys behind her. "Allow me to introduce myself. I call myself 'Mother.' And I'm sure you all know my two boys here."

"What do you want with us?" asked the Mayor. "We're trying to raise money for charity. Can't you people just leave us alone for one night?"

"How many drinks did it take to make you so bold?" Ruby asked the mayor. "And just FYI, no one try to escape because we have this place surrounded."

"We don't give in to terrorists threats."

"Terrorists? Why, no one here is a terrorist. I'm straightening these two boys out, you see. We came only to help."

"How would you help us?"

"No, it's not you we're here for. It's the kids. We're all here for the same purpose. No—I take that back. We all should be here to help the sick kids at Gotham Children's Hospital." She walked around to a man sitting at a table in very expensive-looking clothes. She took out her knife and motioned for Jack to bring the cameraman to her

"And what is your name, sir?"

The man only stared at her fearfully.

So, Ruby took her knife and stabbed it into the table.

With a flinch he said, "James Smith."

"And did you come here to raise money for sick children, Mr. Smith?"

"Yes, yes, we all did." He was shaking terribly now.

"Then tell me, exactly how much money did you donate, Mr. Smith? And don't lie." She pointed a gun at his head.

"Ten thousand dollars."

"Did you know, Mr. Smith, that the cost for the hospital to operate for a single day is 1.4 million dollars?"

"No"

"Now tell us, Mr. Smith, what is your annual salary?"

Mr. Smith began to sweat. "Eighteen million dollars."

"Hmm, okay. And is this your wife, Mr. Smith?" she asked, gesturing towards the woman sitting next to him.

"You leave my wife alone."

"Relax, Mr. Smith. I would never harm your lovely wife. That's a beautiful necklace she's wearing. Was that a gift you gave her?"

"Yes. It was an anniversary present."

"How sweet. And how much did that necklace cost, Mr. Smith?"

He gulped. "Sixteen thousand dollars."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that mean you spent more money on a piece of jewelry than you gave to the hospital? And those are very nice cufflinks you're wearing, Mr. Smith. I'd estimate they're worth about four thousand dollars. So that means you've spent double the amount of money on luxuries for yourself than you did for sick children. This, people of Gotham, is the injustice we came eliminate. We came to balance the scales of power, and set things right."

"Can't you just leave us alone? What do you want with us?"

"I want you to give all the cash you have on you to Gotham City Children's Hospital."

"But I—"

"I want you to look into that camera and tell those sick kids that they won't get their medicine because you'd rather spend your money on presents for yourself."

Mr. Smith got out his wallet and painfully set out what amounted to be about nine hundred dollars.

"Everyone, get your wallets out!" shouted Ruby. She ripped away Mrs. Smith's necklace and Mr. Smith's cufflinks and stuffed them in her bag. Jack and Jonathan then proceeded to demand money and valuables from the rich at gunpoint. Ruby couldn't help but laugh.

"You with the camera, turn that thing towards me," she said to a cameraman.

He followed her orders, seeing the gun in her hand.

"To anyone who may want to make an enemy out of me: don't." She spoke to the whole of Gotham City now. "I dare you to try and stop us. I dare you to try and take this money away from children who need and deserve it more than anyone else. This is what it's come to now— the rich and powerful must be forced down from their pedestals for the common people to get a share of the wealth. Gotham City, I am ashamed of you." And with that final note, she used her magic to make every camera burst.

Ruby and her boys loaded the money and jewels into several bags. "Don't look so glum," she said to the millionaires, "You're saving children's lives today."

And then, all the lights went dark. Ruby heard the sound of breaking glass. She reached into her bag and pulled out her yellow powder. She took a handful and threw it to the ground. She then lit a match and threw on the pile of powder. The powder erupted in bright yellow flames, but gave off no heat.

Ruby looked up to see none other than the Batman himself… who had Jonathan in a chokehold.

"Let him go now," she demanded in a stern voice.

"Return what you stole from these people," Batman relied.

"You're not very clever, are you?" She pointed her gun at the nearest millionaire.

Batman was forced to release Jonathan. Jack burst out laughing. He looked as if he might just fly right off the ground, he was so excited.

"These are good people," Batman said, "They've earned every cent of money they own."

"Your pathetic attempts at persuasion are boring me. Boys, it's time to go."

"Sorry, Mommy Dearest. This is just too much fun to leave," said Jack. He then swung a fist at Batman. Batman responded by punching Jack in the face.

Jack laughed and said, "I've missed you too!"

"Stop!" Ruby shouted at Jack. "Parere!" And she put him under her spell again.

She could almost see Jack fighting against the spell, but her magic was too strong. Batman came for another swing, but Ruby took her other powder and threw it in his face, leaving him in a dizzy, stumbling state.

"Boys, we're leaving." And they did, with bags of cash and jewelry that would later be brought to Gotham City Children's Hospital. However, they didn't know they were taking with them a tracking device in the shape of a bat.

Thank you for reading!