Hellooo everybody, sorry it's been awhile. BUT, this chapter kicks butt! At least, the characters in it do. XD I had too much fun writing it, as I always do. Hope you all enjoy it... and, of course, SHOUT OUTS!

anne's creations...I love your profile picture 3 Gawgeous!

pagliasamantha...because you are so awesome! :D :D :D Triple the smiles, triple the awesome...

Alrighty... enjoy as chapter twelve unfolds in the madness that is The Devil's Waltz...

...

Chapter Twelve: The Black Swan (pt. 2)

She crept out of the sewers, each step light as a feather. Her new eyesight was so keen and clear, she found herself running just to see more. Croc had really done something for her, or to her rather. His words to her rang through her mind, "It's permanent, duck... you pay the clown a visit for me... and I give you an unlimited supply of the serum..." Something about seeing the Joker again intrigued her. What would he think of what had happened to her? Would he even remember her? She had, after all, left him laughing over her stepmother's mutilated corpse. She had been so frail the last time he'd seen her, yet he knew just how frail minded she was. Anna was determined to prove him wrong, she'd prove him wrong as her true identity – The Black Swan. She felt little Anna disappear inside herself, everything had changed, everything was different.

Suddenly, she saw a black limo creeping down the dark streets of Gotham. Not just any limo, but the limo she'd spent with the Joker not too long ago. She even recognized the mask the driver wore, that silly clown mask. Smirking, she ran in front of the limo as if to challenge the driver. She stood in front of the lights to make her presence known, the driver began to speed towards her. Running down the right side of the vehicle, she dug her claws into the side of it and jumped on the roof. Breaking the passenger window, The Swan crawled inside the still moving limousine. She stuck her claws into the thug passenger. Throwing him out the window, she took his seat. The driver did a double take. She saw the fear in his eyes. Slinking over to the other seat, she straddled the driver. She stared past the mask, as if into his very soul.

"I can't see!" He tried to look past her, swerving all over the road. "Are you crazy, lady?!" The thug driver screamed, still trying to focus on the road.

She grabbed him by the collar as the limo came to a screeching halt, "Listen, you're going to take me to see that Joker boss of yours." Tilting her head to the left she continued, "Or... you might end up a little snack for Doc Croc in the sewers..."

"N-n-no!" He shouted, there was no way he wanted things to end like that, "I-I'll take you! I promise!"

Slinking back into the passenger's seat, her voice struck fear into his heart, "Quickly." She demanded. As quick and cautious as he could, he took them to the Joker's new hideout.

…...

Batman scoured the streets of Gotham. Something seemed to be awry. The Joker had taken Anna three times now, with no real reason. Then again, that's just the way he was. What could she possibly have to offer him? Perhaps it was just to cause problems for Batman. But if that were the case, Batman's identity would be revealed as Bruce. Did the Joker know? He couldn't. If he had, Batman supposed Joker would have shown up in his home, probably in the cave laughing as he destroyed everything.

A figure then caught Batman's eye. Slender, blonde and threatening, he watched her.

"Lucius." He said.

"Haven't heard from you in awhile." Lucius commented.

"Yeah, about that... I think I've found the little crown thief." He stared her down, watching as she scratched the limo and soon after jumped through the window.

"What's that got to do with any—" Lucius was cut short.

"I get the feeling there's a bigger problem on our hands." Batman's concern was apparent, "Whoever this woman is, she's managed to steal a crown and just now hi-jacked one of the Joker's vehicles."

"I got some news for you, Bruce." His voice sounded heavy, "Charles Crock was found dead. Poison in his system. He also seemed to have fallen out of his apartment window."

"Charles Crock?" He thought out loud, "That was Nola's squeeze on the side. Hmm..."

"How's Anna?" Lucius got to the point.

"Just checked in with Alfred, he said he checked up on her. Only thing out of place is she was taking a shower at an odd time." He explained, "Lucius, she has nothing to do with any of these crimes. The Joker's jerked her around enough to traumatize ten people. Not to mention, he brutally murdered who she thought was her mother right in front of her."

"I didn't mean it like that!" Lucius became defensive, "I just wondered if she knows what's been going on..."

"She has no idea who her real mother is. Obtaining her original birth records would be impossible. Only Kevin Dawes knew where her real birth certificate was." He thought for a few moments more and began to pursue the limousine, "Speaking of Kevin... I'm not sure if she's heard yet..."

Lucius sighed, "Poor kid. I'd take her out somewhere and break it to her gently. Don't let the media be the one to tell it to her."

"Already ahead of you." He replied, "I'm planning on taking her out tomorrow... just her and I. Lucius, I've got to go. That limo just might give me some answers I'm looking for... I'll be in touch."

Batman flew off into the night, in hot pursuit of the limo.

…...

The Joker schemed. He schemed in his hideout, yet another abandoned building on the older side of Gotham. This wasn't any normal night, no, this was the night. The night when he'd broadcast to the entire city that he was there again. An old building in the middle of nowhere, coupled with the freshly deceased corpse of one of the chiefs of the GCPD sitting behind him, an IV sticking into his arm. Everything was perfect. All he had to do was press the button to start recording. He also had made sure that this little pre-recorded film would make it onto all stations on television the next day.

"Good day, people of Gotham." He greeted with sarcasm, "I apologize for my friend here," he gestured back to the dead chief, "He seems to be taking a little... dirt nap." Giving the camera a more criminal look, he paced the room and threatened, "This is a continuation of my series of social experiments... if all the so-called 'criminals' aren't released by tonight at midnight, the blood at the-"

Before he could finish, someone knocked the camera to the floor. It skidded across the ground, still facing where the Joker stood. The Black Swan stood before the Joker at last. Gripping him by his tie, she pulled him towards her. Their lips met in an instant. Their kiss was long and full of angst. Immediately after, she kneed him in the stomach. He laughed through the pain, doubling over. The Swan walked over to the camera. Various crackles and snaps ripped through the air as her foot stomped on the camera.

"Aww..." She picked her foot up and looked underneath it, "Oops... hee hee."

The Joker got back up, heaving for air slightly. His grin stayed ever present on his face.

"What'd you do that for?" He asked, looking her over.

She stared back at him as she walked over to one of the walls. Standing casually on one leg, she leaned against the hard wall watching the Joker's every move, "Ohh, you've got another one..."

"Quite a strange bird, aren't y..." It hit him, "ANNA! BANANA!" He seemed devious and thrilled all at the same time.

"I prefer The Black Swan. I'll settle for The Swan, if you'd like." She demanded.

Ignoring her comment he went on, "You look great! Lovely crown... and is that a new outfit?" He looked her up and down, then folding his hands and looking upwards, "Oh, if only your mother could see you now!"

Scratching her claws into the wall, she seemed irritated, "If only Charlie hadn't splattered on the ground."

"So that WAS you! Wonderful work, if I do say so myself!" The pain in his stomach had finally calmed down.

"Thanks." She stated flatly, her calculating eyes flicked over to the dead body, "Planning on sabotaging blood at the hospital, are you?"

"You've got quite the eye there, little nightingale! What gave it away? My ol' pal over there?" He gestured at the corpse of the chief of police.

"That, and the cue cards you have set up over there." She nodded in the direction of them leaning on the wall.

"Ohh! Those old things..." He acted as if it were nothing.

"Funny," She walked over closely to him, circling him for a moment, then stopping behind him, "They look new to me..." Wrapping her arms over the top of his shoulders and leaning her head into the right side of his neck, her claws preened at his greasy hair ever so gently.

"So what brings you to my humble little abode, dovetail?" He changed the subject quickly.

"Crockie sent me to grab a little chemical jar you seemed to have stolen from him." She explained, flicking a piece of lint from his hair.

"Ohh! Riiight..." He thought a moment, and then smiled cheerfully, "It's right there." He pointed to the jar sitting on the table oh-too-conveniently.

"Hm..." She stared at it, analyzing it, her claws twitched faster in his hair, "I'll be taking that." She stopped preening his head and walked briskly over to grab the jar, packing it away.

"Uhh, everything okay, boss?" A smaller thug came into the room.

"Of course it is! Just having a little chat with The Black Swan here..." The Joker acted innocently.

"I'll be taking this as well." She said, conking the thug unconscious. She slung him over her shoulder and walked towards the window to make her exit.

"Sooo..." He pulled out one of his many Joker cards, twiddling it in his fingers, "Any plans for tomorrow eve-ning?"

"Why, you have something in mind?" She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh, you know, just wouldn't want you to miss the show." He shrugged his shoulders and arms, seeming to accidentally drop his card.

She smirked, as if to say she knew something he did not, "Haven't you heard? I have front-row seats." With that, she dropped the thug outside the window, following closely after him.

The Joker laughed to himself, and reached for his pocket where he'd been keeping the real chemical jar. It had been all too easy for him to dupe her. He'd been keeping it in his left coat pocket all that time. He reached into the pocket, pulling out a black feather. Blinking a few times, he stared at it, and then abruptly began laughing uncontrollably.

…..

Back within the depths of the sewers, the Black Swan crept back to the Croc's lair, thug and jar in hand.

"Crockie..." She called for him.

The shadow she'd been terrified of the last time she came to visit, now strangely calmed her. The beast rose out of the water once again.

"I thought I picked up your scent, little duck." His eyes glared and so happened to notice the thug on her shoulder, "Aww, you shouldn't have!"

"Thought you might need a midnight snack." She handed over the unconscious thug. His large hand engulfed the thug's body. She then quickly turned away, preparing to hear the crunch of human flesh and bone.

Noticing her discomfort, he said, "Don't worry. I'll save this one for later." He grinned, baring his beastly teeth, "Follow me, little duck."

She followed him back to his lair, ready to receive what she'd set out to earn for herself – the serum. Croc sat the thug down and went over to his strange looking lab, grabbing two medium sized jars containing a bluish-type liquid. He handed them both to her, "As promised. Two drops in each eye, effect lasts for about 6 hours. Should last you a couple months. You start running low, come back with a snack."

She accepted them gratefully, "Perfect. And, about those... enhancements you mentioned last time?"

He expected as much from her, "Yeah, yeah." He turned suddenly, and started rummaging through the many vials and jars on his desk. "Ah, here it is." He stated as he picked up a small cup. The Black Swan tensed visibly as he turned back towards her. He smirked, "Don't worry. No surprises this time. Drink this." He handed her the cup full of gray, gritty liquid.

She did as he instructed and drank. It tasted like paste and concrete with a hint of hot tar. She sneered at the cup after she was finished, holding back the incredible urge to gag, "So, what does this do for me?"

He smiled, perhaps recalling when he'd first concocted the mixture, "Strength, speed, the usual stuff."

"You make it sound like every criminal on the block has had some of this." She presumed.

He chuckled, "Yeah, but they only get a quarter of the dose. Most can't even keep that down. Threw in an extra little kick for ya too, little duck."

"Oh?" She smiled back at him.

He nodded. "You should notice a sharp increase in reflexes and balance."

"Awww, you shouldn't have!" She remembered the other reason for her visit, "Oh! I almost forgot," She pulled out the fake jar, "Your chemical jar." She went to set it down and pull out the real jar, but noticed Croc was sniffing the air.

"Hold on, little duck..." He sniffed a few times more, "We're not alone."

As if on cue, a loud bang sounded, followed by a round object spewing smoke that landed in between them. "Stand back, duck!" Croc growled. Just then, another bang sounded. The Swan took note of where the flash of light that accompanied the sound came from. The Croc snarled angrily, and she quickly looked over to him. She could barely make out through the smoke that he was entangled in a net. She ran over to defend to him. Just then, she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. She reacted immediately, dodging the punch aimed for her head and smashing the fake jar on the back of her assailant's head. Keeping on the offensive, she then kicked him in the face, disorienting him. With a final slash across his chest with her claws, she ran over to Croc. After slicing him free of his net, the smoke began to fade. She looked around keenly for the attacker, but he was nowhere to be found. She then looked up at the Croc, who was sniffing the air.

"He's gone. Took my snack with him too." He then punched a hole in the brick wall.

"Who was it?" She asked, checking to make sure her jars were still there.

"My best guess?" He took no time to think about it, "The Bat. I've never encountered him before... until now, that is."

"Hmm..." She thought about it. Had it been Bruce? She couldn't see through all of the smoke, so perhaps it was another of the Joker's henchmen, off to retrieve the one she'd taken along with her. "How'd he find us?"

"Not sure. Maybe he followed you, maybe he's been watching me. You never know. Either way, I have to relocate." He looked down at the ground and noticed the smashed jar, and the liquid spilled all over. "Seems like you smashed the jar I sent you to get." He stated angrily.

The Black Swan smirked and briskly pulled out another jar, "Even I could smell that that jar was a fake, Crockie. Here's the real one." She handed over the real jar.

"Hah!" He barked. "You're full of tricks, aren't ya, little duck?" He placed the jar on his desk.

"I'd best be getting my little gifts back home..." She grabbed her serums, "Where will I be able to find you?"

"Not sure." He thought a moment, "Guess I'll head to the west side of town. Just come down over there, call me and I'll find ya. I've always got your scent, duck."

She smirked, heading for the exit, "See ya around, Crockie baby."

The Black Swan could not have been more thrilled to have accomplished her mission. She could keep her eyesight and still look like Anna, not to mention the extra little power-ups along the way. The Swan headed back home, back to Wayne Manor.

…..

On a rooftop, several stories high, Batman slapped the thug awake. The thug panicked, realizing he had been tied up.

"B-B-B-Batman!" He blubbered.

"Where's the Joker?" He growled, inches away from his face.

"We were about to move to a different place!" He explained.

"Where?" Batman continued to interrogate.

"I-I dunno! He didn't say!" The thug continued to blubber.

"I plucked you out of the sewers and there was a woman and a beast there... who were they?"

"What?! The sewers?!" He was in shock, "Th-that's Killer Croc's turf!"

"Hm..." Batman stepped away from the thug for a moment, "Lucius, did you hear that?"

"So there is a serial killer in the sewers." Lucius confirmed.

"More like a beast. Get me all the info on him you can. Also, I heard him mention to the woman that was with him about some jar of chemicals. They were making some sort of deal."

"I'm on it. You work on finding out about that woman with him." Lucius reminded him.

"Right." He turned back to the thug, ready to interrogate him some more. The thug was attempting to crawl away. He stopped instantly after realizing Batman had all eyes on him.

"Listen," Batman continued, gripping him by the shirt, "There was a woman with Croc, who was she? What's her name? Tell me everything you know, now."

"Uhh..." He dithered for a few moments, trying to get over the fact that he got caught trying to get away, "I dunno, she... she came to see the boss and knocked me out cold. Guess I was almost Croc food." He shuddered at the thought.

"Her name, what was it?" Batman was growing impatient.

"Her name... aaauugh... oh... man, it was... the boss said it was..." He reached back for his memory, "Oh!" He finally remembered, "The Black Swan."

"Hm." Batman picked him up and dropped him off at the police station's front door. He flew off into the night, back to Wayne Manor.

"Lucius," He said, "Get me everything you can on The Black Swan."

END CHAPTER TWELVE