Chapter 14: More Than A Shadow

Authors Note: Thank you everyone who reads my story and reviews.

Tonycakes: Thank you for your support you helped me out a lot with my stories.

Vampireboy45: Thank you for your review I hope you like my next chapter.

JanEryEvanescence12: Thank you for your review and yes I do know how you feel about the suit. I just wanted a feeling of foreshadowing. Anyways I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

AgedZen-01: Yeah I hate that M rated banishment crap. To those who it may concern Fanfiction is about to ban M rated fanfics. You probably got the messages. Anyways do your part and keep that from happening. Agedzen thank you for your review and I hope this ending suites you.

Okay I hope everyone enjoys this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Batman.

Shadow and Cyrus's blades connected again creating sparks between the two. Cyrus charged up his Adonis power and swiped his sword down sending a sharp energy wave towards Shadow. He rolled out of the way as the energy sliced right through a metal crate that was behind him.

Shadow quickly pulled out a batarang and threw it at Cyrus aiming for his head. Before it could hit him he swiped his sword down cutting it in half. He was so focused on the batarang that he didn't see Shadow dive in and land a kick to his face.

Cyrus staggered back wiping the blood from his face as Shadow stood before him. Cyrus laughed as he pointed his sword at him.

"So what happens now?" He asked. "Are you going to kill me and then take our masters place as the head of the demon?"

"Hell no," Shadow scoffed. "I'm gonna kick your ass then I'm gonna end the league of shadows." He then raised an eyebrow at Cyrus. "Can I ask you something, what's your real goal? I know it isn't cleansing the world of evil." Cyrus started to laugh as he lowered his sword.

"Well it looks like you inherited your father's incredible deductive skills after all," Cyrus snickered sarcastically. "It's true I could care less about justice or peace. All I really want is for everyone to die."

Shadow's eyes widened as he stared at Cyrus. He didn't want to rule the world with an invisible hand or cleanse the world of evil and make it a better place. He wanted the world up in flames with everyone screaming.

"You see I haven't been around as long as Ra's but I know enough that the world is not a bright place." He explained. "I was an orphan I was born on the streets of Gotham. Day after day I was looked down upon by people who thought nothing of me." Shadow could see the depression in his eyes and sorrow in his voice. "No one cared about me, no one cared if I lived or died. Even Ra's didn't care about me."

Shadow went from being sad to being confused. He thought Ra's was his master and that he was loyal to him.

"But I thought you were loyal to Ra's, I thought he was like your father?" Shadow asked.

"Ha, like my father," Cyrus laughed. "Let me ask you something when you chased after us did you happen to stumble across Catwoman and your mother?" He asked which Shadow nodded slowly. "Well I fought Catwoman so who do you think attacked Talia, hmm?" Shadow's eyes widened in horror which made Cyrus smirk wider. "That's right Ra's didn't even hesitate to beat his own daughter within an inch of her life. You saw him he threatened his daughter to get Batman to join his cause, he killed Hugo Strange who worked so hard to create Arkham City and as you know kidnapped his grandson's girlfriend and nearly killed her just to get a hold of your power. What the hell would make me different from any other weapon he's created?"

He was absolutely right.

Ra's was a monster who could care less about one's happiness and life. As long as he got what he wanted he would throw his own family under the bus. Shadow's fighting stance dropped as he looked at Cyrus out of pity.

"Hell I just killed the man who kidnapped your future wife and beat your mother. You should be thanking me." He said his voice oozing out of his mouth like venom. "In fact Ally is safe now isn't she?" He said matter-o-factly. "And Ra's is dead so your goal is done you can just walk away and I'll make sure to leave you two alone."

Shadow would have been lying if he said he didn't at least consider the idea. He was right Ally was safe and Ra's was dead and with Cyrus around he would make sure he wouldn't use the Lazarus Pit so he would never come back. It all sounded so good he could take Ally far away and start a family and quit fighting a battle that neither he nor Batman would ever win. Evil exist and it has always existed since the dawn of time and it would never go away no matter how hard he fought.

But if he and Batman hell even the Justice League didn't fight as hard as they did the scum of this world would eat this world alive.

"Sorry, but I can't let you go through with your plan to destroy the world." Shadow said as he aimed his blade at Cyrus.

"Why, this world deserves to be purged and thanks to Ra's and Lex I now have the power to send all these useless fools to hell." Cyrus shouted.

"So you think of yourself as a savior then you are even crazier than Ra's." Shadow said as he held his sword up. "I will not let you use mine or Superman's powers to kill anyone."

"So be it!" Cyrus shouted.

Cyrus's veins flared blue as he fired an energy bolt at him. Shadow ducked away as he sprinted towards Cyrus. He swiped his sword up aiming for his head but Cyrus dodged it and only received a scratch. Blood poured down his neck as he inhaled through his nose and blew a stream of fire at Shadow. The flames hit Shadow but thanks to his suit he wasn't hurt. Cyrus let up as the left side of Shadow's suit was scorched.

"Huh, that's a new one." Shadow stated sarcastically.

"I spent some time practicing with your powers. I wanted to show that I was more powerful than you." He gloated. "I also learned a few new things in the process. For example."

He held his left hand out and pointed it at Shadow who stared at him confused. His curiosity was peaked when his black sword flew out of his hands and into Cyrus's hand. He twirled Ra's sword and Shadow's sword around a few times before holding them above his head and bringing them down firing two waves of energy at him. Shadow was almost hit when he fired his rocket boots and flew up in the air. He dropped back down onto the ground as Cyrus laughed.

"You don't deserve this power you don't even deserve to wear that suit." He grunted.

Before Shadow could make a witty comeback Cyrus used his enhanced speed to slam into Shadow knocking him back across the landing platform and on his back. He let out a groan as Cyrus climbed on top of Shadow and held Ra's sword to his throat. Shadow was quick enough to put his boot to his stomach and keep him away.

"Geez, I would have thought you would at least have some moves," Cyrus snickered. "The real Batman would have been a little more resourceful."

"How's this for resourceful!" Shadow shouted as his rocket boot fired up and burned Cyrus's stomach.

Cyrus flew off of Shadow as he screamed in pain. Cyrus landed next to the ledge and Shadow ran over and kicked his sword away from him and Ra's sword of the ledge of the landing pad. Shadow watched Ra's evil blade twirl into the darkness of the forest that surrounded the facility as he turned back to Cyrus.

"Is that all you got Cyrus?" Shadow antagonized.

His armor was still smoking as he staggered to his feet. He was chuckling as his face lit up from the Adonis formula.

"Nice suit." Cyrus snickered. "Much better than your fathers!" He then fired two bolts of electricity and hit Shadow in his chest stunning him. Unable to move Cyrus drew his kodachi sword and slowly walked over to him. "Goodbye Shadow." Cyrus said before he started sprinting towards Shadow. He raised his sword ready to kill him when he rolled out of the way and wrapped his arms around his neck.

Shadow then pulled out a syringe and stabbed it into Cyrus's neck. Cyrus let out a grunt as his veins started to dim down. Shadow kicked Cyrus away from him and kicked his sword away as well.

"Just like my father I kept some of that suppressant around just in case," Shadow said as he cracked his knuckles. "Now let's see how you do in an even fight."

"Heh, so be it." Cyrus snickered as he charged at Shadow.

He brought his fist towards his face but Shadow blocked and landed a kick to his stomach. Cyrus let out a grunt as he jump kicked Shadow's face and then swept his legs from beneath him. Shadow landed on the ground hard as Cyrus jumped up in the air and brought his boot down. Shadow quickly rolled out of the way as Cyrus's boot stomped on the ground. Shadow brought his feet up and tried to swipe his feet across his face but failed as Cyrus blocked every hit.

Shadow got his footing and tackled Cyrus landing his shoulder into his stomach causing the assassin to let out a grunt. The two fell to the floor as Shadow brought his fist down in Cyrus's face multiple times. Shadow started panting badly as his punches got slower and got up from the ground. Cyrus was covered in blood and bruises as he laid on the ground.

Shadow slowly walked away when he was suddenly went flying towards the facility and crashed into the labs. Shadow looked over to see a few Theodosia clones standing over him. He quickly got to his feet as they rushed over to him. Shadow brought his boot up and knocked one out as the other two tackled him to the ground.

He struggled against their strength as the one he thought he had knocked out stood over him. Her eyes glowed red and were aiming at his head. Shadow looked away and prepared for the beam to hit but after a minute nothing had happened. He looked over at the clones to see that they were wincing in pain by a light green glow as Batman walked over with a clump of kryptonite.

"Need a hand?" He asked with a hint of superiority.

"Yeah, I think I chipped a nail." He grumbled as he got up.

The two Batmen made short work of the clones and looked at one another. The real Batman looked like he had something to say when Shadow cut him off.

"Save it I know you were just concerned about me." Shadow grunted trying to keep his tough guy composer.

"Listen I know we have always had a strained relationship especially when you found out about you and me." Batman said. "But know this I always knew that you were better than Ra's and how you would never submit to his ways."

"Does that make me better than you?" Shadow grinned. Batman glared at him and shook his head.

"Not a chance in hell." He gloated.

"Ass." Shadow snickered.

Before he could say something else he was attacked from behind by Cyrus and pinned Shadow down on the ground.

"You cannot beat me!" Cyrus snarled. "I will kill you your father and send this world to hell!"

Shadow started to laugh as Cyrus held his blade against Shadow's throat.

"What's so damn funny?" Cyrus snapped.

"Self-destruct sequence in ten minutes." A computer voice said as a nearby computer came on counting down from ten minutes.

Cyrus's eyes widened as he slowly turned his head to the computer that was slowly counting down. He then looked back at Shadow who was smirking ear to ear.

"Yep, this whole facility and all your brainwashed clones are gonna go up in flames." Shadow snickered.

"B-But how?" Cyrus stuttered. "Everyone here was preoccupied with either the clones or my assassins. How did you hack into self-destruct system, in fact how the hell did you even find a self-destruct sequence!"

Shadow kicked Cyrus off of him and into a wall as he got to his feet he walked over to another computer and started pressing a few buttons.

"Does the phrase 'Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn' mean anything to you?" Shadow said as he clicked onto security footage of Ally hacking into the main computer. "Not so helpless when she doesn't have a blade held to her throat huh?" Shadow snickered.

Cyrus let out a roar of anger as he rushed over to Shadow. He swiped his sword down multiple times but Shadow blocked with his gauntlets and finally locked his blade with his gauntlets. The two stared into each other's eyes.

"I'm not about to let my plans be ruined by some dog who thinks he's Batman!" Cyrus screamed.

Batman who was still knocked down was finally getting up as he saw his son struggle with Ra's assassin. He was about to help him when he saw Shadow over power his opponent.

"I AM BATMAN!"

Shadow pulled his arms apart shattering his evil blade once and for all and proceeded to land multiple punches to his chest. He then finished Cyrus off with a final punch to his face leaving him fallen on the floor. As Shadow stood there in his Bat suit standing over the fallen swordsman surrounded by broken shards of his sword he felt a familiar feeling in his heart. He remembered how he had fallen before Batman on that fateful night on Arkham Asylum. He was weak, a coward hiding behind Ra's Al Ghul's hidden blade.

That wasn't true justice.

True justice was fighting evil head on and not submitting to the darkness. It was about hiding in the shadows leaving your enemies to cower in fear.

"No, your right Cyrus, I'm not Batman." Shadow admitted. "Not yet anyways."

Cyrus looked up and started chuckling as he turned to the clock which was now on three minutes.

"Looks like you're out of time Shadow," He snickered with a raspy voice. "You can leave but I don't think Ally will make it out in time."

Shadow didn't waste any time as he ran out of the of the computer room. Cyrus continued to laugh but stopped the second a dark bat shadow loomed over him. He looked up and started to panic as Batman glared down at him.

For the first time in his life Cyrus was afraid.

Shadow bolted down the halls as alarms went off and evacuation warnings were given. Shadow knew where Ally was and he was almost there.

"Jayden!"

He turned a corner and saw her standing in the center of the hallway. Shadow hopped in the air and ignited his boots flying down the hall. He scooped Ally in his arms as the two flew down the halls and towards a wall.

"What are you doing we're gonna crash?" Ally asked.

"No we're not." Shadow said in a calm tone.

Before they could hit the wall it had blown up and the two safely flew out of the facility. As they flew out they had past Batman's jet that had his weapons ready.

They both flew away from the facility as it finally blew up taking all of its evil with it. The explosion was big enough to destroy the facility but the impact also knocked Shadow and Ally down onto a nearby cliff.

Shadow stirred for a few minutes before finally getting to his feet. He looked up and his heart skipped a beat as he finally came face to face with his one true love.

"Jayden, you did it." She whispered. "Thank you."

The whole situation had taken its toll on her. Her skin was pale and her eyes were red but she always looked beautiful to him. He reached his hand up to her face and she willingly pushed her cheek into his hand. She breathed a sigh of relief as she looked up into his eyes but then frowned.

"What is it?" Shadow panicked as she placed her hands on his mask. She grabbed the edges and pulled it over his head revealing his pale skin and black hair. If she was gonna be with anyone right now it was going to be with Jayden not Shadow.

"That's better." She sighed as the two stared into each other's eyes.

Jayden's face fell as he was on the verge of crying.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen." He said in a quiet voice.

"Shh," She said placing her finger on his lips. "None of this was your fault and I don't care about Ra's or Cyrus. Just you."

The two stared into each other's eyes one last time before Jayden finally leaned in and kissed her. Her soft lips felt like feathers against his and her taste filled his soul with happiness. Neither one of them wanted this moment to end but Jayden wanted to take her home. Faraway from this wasteland away from Gotham and just spend the rest of his life with her.

The two lovers broke away as Ally rested her head on his chest. Jayden rested his head down on her head and smelled her fiery red hair. The two just stood there holding each other for dear life not caring about anything else.

Jayden and Ally were together again and nothing could ever break them apart.