I must apologize for any misspelling or grammar mistakes.
An Old Sorrow A New Hope
Chapter:11 The End Of An Era
Today was Azalea last day in Gotham. She would never forget her time with her father and grandfather. I mean how many people can say. I been on patrol with Batman and Nightwing. She was going to miss being in Gotham. Sure it may smell like raw sewage but she had family that she loved hear. But she also misses her mother.
She was out alone on her last night in Gotham Batman have deemed ready to handle the area with the lowest crime rate. And nothing was happening and she was getting bored.
All this time hearing how dangerous the Joker is. HA! If you ask me the Joker is a joke. His sorry ass is so scared of Batman he won't even come out of his hole.
You better watch your mouth or Mr. J will be mad.
Azalea quickly turned to see who had snuck up on her. And had to keep herself from laughing. Who are you? Jester girl are something.
The name is Harley Quinn. And Mr. J wants me to bring you to him.
Who wants me and for what reason?
Didn't you hear me. I said Mr. J as in the Joker.
Then you should have brought an army. Said Nightmare a sadistic smile starting to run across her face. I finally get to have some fun she thought.
You don't get it sugar you're coming with me whether you like it or not. Said Harley while pulling out a small silver canister. No come on if you know what's good for you.
Azalea used her powers to take the canister from Harley and then crush it into a pea sized ball.
Hay that's mine.
Not anymore you pathetic excuse of a villain. She then used her powers to grab her by the ankles and roughly snatch her into the air and pull her face to face.
Harley gave a victory cry and sprayed Azalea in the face with some of the Joker's laughing gas. Now you're in for it you'll laugh until you pass out. The gas cleared and Harley saw the little girl standing there with the same smile on her face.
That might have worked if I were human. Said Nightmare sadly for you I'm not.
Harley looked at the small girl and saw her uniform change colors. From black with misty red gloves and boots to fiery red. If your not human then what are you?
I'm the nightmare that haunts the dark recesses of your mind. And you just made me angry. Nightmare put the palm of her left hand on Herley's forehead. And started to look at her memories from the very first momnet she met the Joker. After she had what she wanted she removed her hand.
What did you do to me?
I took the Joker's location from your mind. Now I have to punish you for making me angry. After a moment of thought she said yes that will do. She used her powers to cast a spell. If you get within ten feet of the Joker you'll feel as if your body is being ripped apart. You'll never to be able to hold the man you love again.
A look of horror came upon Harley's face. No you can't do that. Batman would never do something like that.
I'm not Batman you stupid woman. I'm Nightmare. She raised her left hand and hit Harley on the right side of her face knocking her then called Batman.
Nightmare to Batman.
Batman here. What do you need?
I've got Harley Quinn here. Someone should pick her up before I take things to far.
Are you alright?
Yes I'm fine. I also know where the Joker is hiding.
Stay there I'll be there in a moment.
After Batman got there and took Harley to Arkham Asylum he took Nightmare back to the Batcave. What happened?
I was watching the street for any crime like you taught me. When the jester came up from behind me. She told me that the Joker wanted to see me. I told her she should have brought an army. After a brief struggle I subdued her and looked at her memories so I could find the Joker. Then I cast a spell on her making it where she could never get within ten feet of the Joker again. Then I knocked her out and called you.
What happens if she goes within ten feet of the Joker.
She will feel as if her body is being ripped apart.
What you did is torture.
Do you know how the Joker got her to follow him in the first place?
What's that got to do with torturing her?
I saw her memories. He injected her with something the first time they met. I don't know what but it made her fall in love with him. What I did isn't torture. I gave her life back. The pain will override the drug then she will remember herself not what the Joker has made of her.
I see. Then you did her a great kindness it may hurt but it will end. When will the spell end?
When she no longer sees the Joker as her only reason to live the spell will end.
Where is the Joker?
He's at Ace chemicals plant. In a room that he sealed off from the rest of the plant. There are three men watching the door. And another seventy-five inside the plant not including the Joker before you reach the door. And an alarm that goes off if any of the doors or windows are opened from the outside.
It seems he's upgraded his security.
There is a way in but you won't like it.
What way would that be?
I teleport us into the plant and open a window. My uniform will hide me until I let you in. Then we sneak into the sealed off section and take the Joker down.
Your right I don't like it. The Joker is a dangerous enemy.
None of his little toys will work on me because of my demon blood.
How do you know?
Harley tried to use some gas on me. But my demon blood counteracted it. The acid he likes to use won't burn me because my demon blood will burn it before it can harm me. And I already know every trap he has set up thanks to Harley's memories.
The Bat-Wave flashed with an incoming call from Commissioner Gordon. Batman answered the call. Commis-.
He was cut off by the Joker. Well well Bats it looks like you have something that belongs to me.
And what would that be.
Why Harley Of course I want her back. And if I don't get her back the good Commissioner won't be havening a good night. So you will bring her to me within two hours. The Joker ended the call before Batman could answer.
Where are you going? Asked Nightmare.
To go rescue the Commissioner.
I got a better plan.
And what would that be?
Let's give him what he wants. Nightmare used her powers to cast a spell that transformed herself into a perfect replica of Harley Quinn. Well what do you think Bats? Pretty good huh?
Let's go. We're running out of time. But first I'll have to tie you up.
The Batmobile reached Ace chemicals plant in under half an hour. Joker I have Harley where's the Commissioner. The door opened.
The Commissioner was dragged out by a guy that kind of looked like lucky only his suit was different. Nightmare had to shuffle through Harley's memories to find his name. Happy that's his name.
Happy threw the Commissioner at Batman's feet. The boss says to take him and go.
Batman picked up the Commissioner and put him in the Batmobile then he hared Nightmare's voice in his mind. Don't worry Batman just be ready. Ok he thought I'll leave it up to you then.
Batman scanned the Commissioner for bugs. When he found none he called Nightwing.
Don't talk we don't have the time. Just do as I say. Get to the Ace chemicals plant and wait for the don't be seen. I'll explain the situation when I join you. Batman drove toward the east end police station when the Commissioner asked. How could you hand him what he wants?
I didn't. The person you saw wasn't Harley Quinn.
For a moment the Commissioner looked dumbfounded. Then who is it?
Her name is Nightmare.
That doesn't answer my question. Who is this person.
This doesn't leave the Batmobile. Can you agree to that?
Yes I can. You know that I would never hold anything against you.
Batman reached up to his hood and pulled it off revealing the face of Bruce Wayne. She my granddaughter.
The Commissioner was shocked to find out that Bruce Wayne was the Batman. Then Bruce's words reached him. Wait how old is she?
She's ten.
How on earth could you send a ten year old little girl in there alone with that maniac?
First that ten year old little girl is possibly the only person who could defeat Superman without breaking a sweat. Second I'm more worried about what's she going to do to the Joker.
How could a little girl defeat Superman?
Her father is human. Her mother is an Azarathian. Her mother father was the lord of that realm when her mother killed him all of his power went to her first born which was Nightmare. She's faster then the Flash and stronger then Superman and she obviously use magic. If the Joker manages to make her angry it won't turn out well for him. She may decide to send him to her mother's home realm which as I understand is where the tales of hell came from.
So she's one quarter demon?
Yes. Said Bruce as he pulled up to the police station. Now I've got to go and keep her from killing the Joker.
Nightwing stood outside of the Ace chemicals plant waiting for Batman. He knew by the men standing outside of the door that the Joker was here. Batman could handle the Joker by himself. So why does he need me here? As if in an answer to his thoughts Batman appeared to his left.
What's going on?
Earlier tonight Nightmare fought Harley Quinn and defeated her. When the Joker learned that Harley was in custody he adopted the Commissioner and demanded that I give Harley back to him. Nightmare was there when the Joker made his demanded and cast a spell to make herself appear as Harley and took her place.
So Azalea is in there with that psychopath? How could you of all people let her go in there? You know what he's capable of.
She has Harley's memories she knows how to act like her. And none of his gas or acid will work on her because of her demon blood. I'm more worried about what she's going to do to the Joker. She holds him responsible for planning to kidnap Koriandr. Frankly I fell sorry for him.
And why is that?
You know where Raven is. You Know what Azalea is. She could give him a thousand years of unimaginable torture in the span of just a few seconds.
Nightwing flinched as the memories of what she did to Lucky came back to him. Your right she can take care of herself. But we have to stop her from going to far. What are we waiting for? Let's get in there and get this over with.
We have to wait for her signal.
And what is the signal?
We'll know it when it happens.
Nightmare recognize the clown from her dream. The purple suit the green hair and the psychopathic smile. Her anger instantly shot up the nanites just managing to hold it at bay. Happy who was still with her said. Mr. Joker Harley is back sir.
I can see that you buffoon. Now leave us we have things to discuss.
Happy left the room and the Joker walked over to Nightmare. My dear Harley I hope they didn't harm you to much.
Not at all Mr. J.
Good now what did you think of the Bats new toy. Then slapped her on the ass and turned away from her.
How dear you touch me without my permission you pathetic excuse of a clown.
The Joker turned around to see that in Harley's place stood the little girl that Lucky had described. Well now what do we have here?
Your worst fucking nightmare.
A little girl such as yourself should watch her mouth. Then the Joker pulled out a water gun that had acid in it.
Nightmare didn't give him the chance to use the toy. She used her powers to take the toy from him and throw it into the wall behind her.
Just then Happy came back in and saw the little girl. Hay ge-.
Happy never had the chance to finish his sentence. He was thrown through the wall that was behind the Joker he landed on the street. The Joker watched him fall. Oooooh your a violent one the Joker turned around to face the girl only to find her in his face. She grabbed him by his wrist and threw him into a wall. The Joker looked at the small girl and then noticed that the water gun she had taken was sitting next to him. He picked it and hid it under him. Nightmare slowly walked over to the Joker.
You know I'm going to enjoy tearing you to pieces. She bent over to pick him up. The Joker squirted her in the face with the water gun and laughed.
I hate it when people think they've won.
The Joker looked at her to see the acid was running down her face as it were water. What in the hell are you? Asked the Joker with a voice that was trembling in fear.
My people have gone by many names. We've been called gods, fallen angels but you may know us as demons. Seeing the look on his face she said. Yes the demon that rule over hell. But we don't refer to it as such. We call our home Azarath. Though from the descriptions of my mother hell is very much like Azarath. I wouldn't really know for I haven't been to either place. The Joker watched as she vanished from sight only to reappear just inches in front of him. Before he could react she wrapped her hands around his throat. Ordinarily I would kill you with my powers. But I wish to fell your life slip away. To watch as the light of life leaves your eyes. The Joker for the first time in his life wished Batman would show up.
Nightwing and Batman where waiting for the signal when they hard a loud crash come from the top floor of the plant. Batman saw someone falling. He used his grappling gun to get to the falling person in time. Once he had saved the person he realized that it was Happy. Nightwing joined him.
Was that the signal?
Let's go find out. Said Batman using his grappling gun to get to window that Happy had fallen out of. Nightwing followed with his own grappling gun. They reached the broken window at the same time. When they came to a stop they both realized that it wasn't a window but a concrete wall that Happy went through. They both stepped through the hole in the wall at the same time. They saw Nightmare choking the Joker. His hands on her wrist and his legs flailing trying to free himself.
Nightmare stop you'll kill him. Said Nightwing.
That's the idea. He deserves to die for what he has done. For what he was planning to do to my little brother or sister.
He's not worth the blood that would be on your hands. Said Batman.
The hell he's not. It'll be my pleasure to have his blood on my hands.
Azalea please don't do this. Please don't become like him. Said Nightwing.
A single tear rolled down her right cheek. She loosened her hold on the Joker's throat. She stood up and faced them. Nightwing could see that she was on the verge of tears. Please don't hate me she said. Nightwing ran over to her and wrapped her in his arms.
I could never hate you.
The Joker was coughing when Batman walked over to him. The Joker looked up at him.
Please take me to Arkham or anywhere I'll be safe from her. Please don't let me be taken to hell by that demon.
You want to go back to Arkham.
Yes and I'll never escape again if you promise that she won't come anywhere near me.
What did you do to him? Asked Nightwing.
While I was choking him I used my powers to show him Azarath. I told him that what awaited him when he died. That he would be tortured to death only to be reborn to die in unimaginable pain. He felt every thing that he saw.
What did he do to deserve that?
He planed to use my little sister as a sexual plaything. And he planed to make my little brother a copy of himself.
We should get out of hear. Said Batman. I'll take the Joker to Arkham you two should go home and get some sleep.
They all left for there destinations. Richard and Azalea left for Richard and Koriandr's apartment. Today had been trying and they where looking forward to a good night's sleep.