"Hey! I bet YOU lot couldn't do better considering the situation!" defends Fight, facing off the others.

"That's quite enough already! Good grief!" says Grumpy after a long brawl between the emotions. "Now let's just get someone out there! Sorry Sad, but you're too um… emotional to be let out."

"WAAAHAAAHAAA!" cries Sad in agreement.

"So it's just between the three of us right Grumps?" says Vain, twirling her hair.

"This is such a great opportunity to be really, really nasty!" gloats Mean with wicked laughter.

"Do you think it's wise to let HER go?" asks Shy wearily.

"She's just as bad as evil sometimes!" admits Happy.

"Hey! Come on girls!" says Fight. "Where is the sense of fair play? Besides! She only has one in three chances of actually being chosen!"

Grumpy frowns…

…

"So you're saying my power is unlimited?" says Evil, sitting on the dusty earth. Trigon floats in mid air. "Then why did I run out of energy when the guys were fighting you?"

"You did not yet know your full potential." says Trigon meditating. "You were limited by your own restrictions that you had put around yourself. Only using the energy that YOU believed you had, when you have so much more."

"Then I can show those creeps who's boss!" smiles Evil wickedly. "I'm unstoppable!"

"Not quite my young apprentice…" says Trigon. "They also draw upon your power, and they also have numbers against you. You will be overpowered as I have been."

"Ha! That's your opinion!" snarls Evil. "I'll rip out their…"

"What you need is a little helper along with you… a pet…" smiles Trigon with a wicked gleam in his eyes and teeth. "I can teach you to make a very fine monster to help you. With your power, I think it will turn out very viscous and scary indeed."

Evil is enticed at the mention of monster, viscous and scary. She is listening…

…

Headlines on the newspaper aren't that good for Bruce Wayne as he sits down for breakfast. Robin is nervous; last night's phone call didn't reassure him much about Starfire's safety. Alfred looks at his watch.

"The signal went off in another ten seconds this time yesterday." he says. "The radar is standing by."

"Thankyou Alfred." says Bruce and they wait for the disruption.

Once again the wave hits Gotham, causing all electrical equipment to suddenly fuzz. Airplanes were banned from Gotham, meaning many had to travel to and from other cities, even as far as Akron just to get a flight. Everywhere in the massive radius the beam shook, and even in metropolis, there was a small, but noticeable effect; everywhere but Wayne Manor…

"So it worked." smiled Dick.

"Did you ever doubt it?" says Bruce putting down his newspaper.

"I must say that signal shield you devised was quite ingenious sir." says Alfred.

"Thankyou. Did we get the message?"

"Printed here master Bruce." says Alfred and hands the piece of paper to him. Another riddle…

I am not, yet I decline. I refuse, I rebuke I know!

"No." says Robin thinking of the answer. "Pretty obvious."

Bruce looks at the other riddle from the day before…

"What can be read, yet have no words? What can speak yet never heard? It can pout us in dreadful shame; covering our cheerful smiles. A passionate screen for our white like tiles."

"Lips." he mumbles. "Lips and No… hardly much to work with so far…"

"Do you really think SHE will help us?" says Robin. "She hasn't always been that trustworthy."

"Like I said. It's my choice. As such, I will bear the punishment if anything should go wrong."

"I think it is best that we tune in to the news masters." says Alfred, switching on the television. The Penguin is on…

…

"My distressed citizens!" calls the Penguin from his podium. "I know how you must feel about the current mishaps that have been placed on our city due to the Riddler and the notorious Twoface. I was quite put out by it myself, believe it or not. The insult will not be put down!" he says, trying to get the audiences' trust. "Yesterday the efforts of the Batman, I must confess, were honourable and intelligent, evacuating the people out with little panic. I applaud him truly. I will not complain about the backed sewers as the result of the bomb, for no one was truly hurt and the mess has been cleaned (Fortunately); though it does bring to the point the distinct target of the Riddler, being the Batman himself." and he gains the ears of the people. "I say that if Batman has any private vendettas that he should retire! There is no place for people in society that endanger others for their own sakes. This is not YOUR city Batman, it is OUR city; the people of Gotham's city!" and the Penguin's thugs applaud. "Sort out your problems Mr. Bat. Do not drag us into your fights! Or else hang up your cape! You are not wanted!"

…

"Do you think he's for real?" scoffs Control Freak (CtrlF) from inside the TV. "He's behind all this or else I'm not a notorious criminal!"

"Let the Penguin have his fun. We have our own fish to fry!" says Mumbo, practicing his exploding card tricks. "Have we sent our message?" he says to Kitten.

"I handed it over to an officer, in disguise of course. I also pinched a good fifty bucks off him too!" she grins, holding up the money.

"Yoinks!" says Mod, snatching it away.

"Hey!"

"Just takin' me rent luv!" he says, hobbling back upstairs. "Good luck on your little tirade! Tally-ho!" he says and he shuts the door.

"Hey! Aren't you going to help us you twit?" says Mumbo but his voice is blocked out by the hammering, sawing and typing from upstairs. "What on earth is that relic up to?" he says, scratching his head.

"Don't worry! Everything's set up!" smiles Kitten.

…

"Steroids do sound considerably bad." says Starfire after hearing the facts from Cyborg. She looks a little sickened from the drug information handbook. "It bothers me why any person would want to inflict such damage upon them selves."

"Talking about that…" says Cyborg with a slight bit of annoyance (Also because he was starting to get fleas in his coat), "What were you thinking? Doing all that weight lifting and hanging from the ceiling? Do you even know why you're IN a wheelchair?" he yells frantically.

"Did Robin get worried again?"

Cyborg holds his head in his paws and weeps in a bit of hysteria.

"Wha… huh?" says Beastboy, waking up from a good night's sleep in the living room in his little garden pot. "What's for breakfast?" and he shakes his leaves.

"Good morning friend Beastboy." says Starfire. "Um… did you have pleasant night dreams?"

"Yeah! I had a really strange one where I…" and he looks around. "Waaiit! This isn't a dream!"

"There's a mirror beside you." says Cyborg. "But you might get shocked!"

"It can't be that… AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!"

Beastboy is now covered in green bark, right up around his face. He seemed to have grown a third 'arm' branch with a good bit of foliage. He had a solid trunk and deep roots that held fast to the earth. It was sort of like seeing a green faced guy in a tree costume.

"I hope this'll be over soon!" he moans. "Where's Raven?"

"She is still not herself usual." sighs Starfire shaking her head.

"That bad huh?"

"I was reading the paper, minding my own business…" says Cyborg, wriggling his nose. "When I hear a great big shout of 'HEY YOGI' and my honey waffle is snatched. She then laughs dementedly and runs upstairs! Figure that out?"

"She also called me 'wheels'." says Starfire, a bit upset.

"I hope she doesn't…"

"Well if it isn't the big vegetable himself?" smiles Mean Raven, chewing on an apple…

…

"I can feel something is growing!" says Grumpy, frowning more than usual. Suddenly the ground became a lot darker and the shadows stretched loner, the air was thicker and the sky was bleeding blackness (Which also means the author is putting in more effort at last to the descriptors!) "Trigon…"

"No." says Fight, also sensing the disturbance. "This one is different… It feels… familiar." and she tenses herself up. It felt, though you could not hear anything, like a piercing scream shouting out in the wilderness, far from hope and in despair.

"I'll be glad when I take my turn." says Vain, shuddering a little. There was something dreadful floating about the atmosphere. Even Happy had stopped smiling and Sad was silent in fear; Shy helping her best she could.

…

"That is it… feel the power in you… use it to bring forth your creation… mould it to your designs." says Trigon, pleased at the progress of his new apprentice.

Evil stood around a dark pit, suddenly illuminating itself in a glow of green and purple lights. The walls of the hole were quivering and throbbing, as if it was alive. Inside, where there was still darkness, cometh the creature, yet still only forming under the will of Evil.

"You shall be the Bane of those useless emotions…" says Evil, letting her power into the manifestation. "You shall draw out every weakness, all fear and every chink in their pathetic chain of 'friendship'; and with your strength you shall tear them apart…" her eyes flared up in hate. Trigon looked on pleased, folding his red arms. "Echelon! Lord of Fear! My greatest creation! Shadow Beast!" she smiles from cheek to cheek. Her insidious laughter shook the void to its molten core…

The emotions are wary…

…

"Sure you want to do this?" says Batman to Robin in the Bat cave. Robin is packing his stuff on the R-cycle with a little reluctance.

"Sorry Batman." says Robin regretfully. "But judging from the news and yesterday's phone call, I think I'm needed back there." and he checks his fuel gauge, avoiding eye contact with the Dark Knight.

"It is such a pity." says Alfred, packing a lunch. "It's been quite lonely place without you around; quite intolerable sometimes even."

"Sorry Alfred." says Robin, giving him a firm hand shake. "I'll be back soon. That's a promise."

"Good luck." says Batman in his dark manner.

"Same to you; you're going to need it." says Robin, strapping on his helmet. "If it's urgent, don't hesitate to call! You know the number!" and he rears up on his back wheels, revving up, and speeds out of the cave.

"I thought you'd try to stop him?" says Alfred, sweeping up the dust Robin made from his exit.

"I thought I was?" says the Batman. "I'll be in my room. I've got another dinner to fix up."

"Ah yes; Miss Kyle again; nice to see you getting on with life sir."

"What's that supposed to mean?" says Batman, raising an eyebrow.

The butler just smiles. "Maybe I'll tell you when you are older sir."

…

"Nice plan bird. But you're sure she'll take the bait?" says Twoface in his half snarl. He flips his coin and crosses his legs on the swivel chair. "And are you sure Batman will come?"

"You are right oh demented one. The plan does rely on a lot of assumptions."

"She WILL take the bait, and Batman will also be forced to take action!" says the Penguin at his office desk. "And I would sure like to know what you're playing at with your riddles? I thought I had the script…"

"But your riddles are so dry and bland you pompous windbag!" says Riddler, shaking his head. "My own enigmas I think will be much better for my calibre. Questioning the Batman is one of the greatest challenges I have ever faced! My great game! My purpose in life! My very own paradise!" and he starts to laugh in exhilaration.

"Just as long as they do what they're supposed to!" says Twoface, getting really agitated. "Another question; who are we going to kidnap for Bat bait?"

The Penguin puffs his cigar. "I have taken a great deal of thought about it, and believe the hostage must be influential, rich, popular and good hearted enough to spark public outrage; any suggestions?"

The Riddler grins and begins dancing on the spot. "I know the perfect victim! I have the perfect victim! I have the perfect victim! BRUCE WAYNE! That disgusting, do-Gooding founder of Wayne Enterprises!" he giggles, excitedly.

"Waughaha; just the clean handed citizen that Batman will dash off to the rescue; capital!" remarks the Penguin (Who had a personal dislike to Wayne) "That will show that big-headed billionaire who's boss!"

"I'll get my goons ready." says Twoface, locking his pistol. "Though I suppose you want him alive? Pity…"

"I think I'll tag along just in case you decide to get too trigger happy!" says the Riddler, fixing his cap. "Is our new partner going to be joining us?"

"He's just taking a back massage now." says The Penguin. "You must admit he had quite a ruffling to deal with."

"I'm surprised the lunatic even survived!" says Twoface. "He always seems to pop up everywhere he's not wanted." The door opens suddenly and Twoface almost jumps in surprise.

"Like now?" smiles the new member of the team up, walking in, in a lanky strut.

…

"What do you mean I'm named after my nose?" says Mumbo Jumbo on the walkie talkie. "It isn't that big is it?" and he presses his unusually long snoz.

"You have to believe it hose nose." laughs Girl Moth from a rooftop. "Just keep watching out for the Titans okay?"

"Fine!" and he grumbles. "I guess they call you Kitten because you eat rats!" mutters Mumbo, putting away the communicator. Unfortunately he forgot to turn the link off and a fist sized cacoon blast hits him on the back of the head.

…

"STOP THAT YOU… YOU… MEANIE!" cries Beastboy as Mean Raven continues to chew on some choice hams, beef, chicken and lamb. "This is so cruel!" he sobs.

Mean just smiles and belches.

Mary had a little lamb

It gambled round in hops

It ran upon the road one day

And ended up as chops!

And she rips another piece of lamb and chews with relish.

"AAAARRRRGGGHHH!" cries Beastboy, his leaves are shuddering. "That is SICK!"

"Now that's quite enough Rae!" says Cyborg, pointing his paw at her. "What the heck has gotten into you all of a sudden huh?"

"What the heck has gotten into you, you tubby Ted?" she grins, prodding his large waist line.

"Hey! It's not my fault Bears are like this! And stop calling me Ted!"

"Alright you paw thing! Ha!" and she takes another big mouthful of Chicken.

"Make her stop! Make her stooooop!" cries Beastboy. "MERCY!"

"This is very upsetting friend Raven!" says Starfire, getting a little angry at her friend. "What have you got to say for your behaviour?"

"What's it to you wheels?" she mocks.

"Please do not call me wheels!" says Starfire angrily.

"Ooohh! What's wrong? Is little Starry eyes going to cry again? Boo-hoo!" says Mean meanly.

"I will not cry…" says Starfire defiantly, sobbing.

"That's it! You're home bound until you gain some sense back Rae!" says Cyborg.

"Pff!" says mean, blowing her hair. "Like a talking tree, a teddy bear and a cry baby wheelie bin are going to stop me?"

"STOP CALING ME TED!"

"I do not cry all the time!" says Starfire bawling out, which just makes her cry some more.

"Starfire!" says Beastboy, trying to comfort her (Which is really difficult if you're buried in a pot). "I'm sure she didn't mean it! Didn't you Rae?"

"Did you friend Raven?" says Starfire hopefully.

"Of course I did you nine pins!" snaps Mean, chewing on some beef, making Beastboy rather pale. "Didn't you hear or is there too much bees wax in those Bear ears?"

"WAAAAAAAAAAH!" cries Starfire, and she zooms out of the mansion in a trail of salt water. Almost hitting the outside street lamp, she flies down the pavement at top speed.

"HEY STAR! WAIT! DANG! Oh man!" says Cyborg, running after her. "And I can't even drive a car in this state! How am I going to catch up with that champion racer? Robin's going to kill me, skin me and hang my head on the wall!"

A uni-cycle is thrown at him.

"Ha-ha Rae! Very funny!" he glares. But as Starfire goes out of hearing, he hops on grudgingly and goes on pursuit (Quite remarkably fast as well surprisingly).

"Well that takes care of them!" smiles Mean, enjoying the chaos. "Now what can we do here?" she glares at Beastboy. Beastboy quivers and hopes that all this is a really, really, really bad dream!

…

"Truly a magnificent creation!" smiles Trigon, almost bewildered at Evil's first attempt at monster spawning. "I am impressed! Such a creature I have not seen for many an age! So much power and hatred! Now we can finally bring the chaos as prophesized to the outer world!" and he laughs out long and loud.

"Who said anything about we?" smiles Evil, walking away.

"Do you think; even with your new pet, you can defeat all of them?" laughs Trigon. "You still need my help and guidance dark one."

"Ha! You couldn't even guide a mole! You just stay outta my way bozo!" snarls Evil. "I'll deal with you later! Be sure I will give you only the best torture when I'm finished mutilating my inferiors! So long… 'master'… HAHAHAHAHA!"

"You ingrate!" roars Trigon with eyes glowing and fists engulfing in flame. "Do you not know who you are dealing with? You DARE mock me? I will tear you apart!" and he throws a great blast of his most powerful manifestations.

"Good luck!" says Evil and a large shadow falls upon her, faster than light, and she is whisked off in the form of a dark shape speeding along the earth. She is long gone before Trigon's blast even comes down to create a massive dusty crater. Trigon is annoyed, but he knows she will be back. She was too over confidant. She would be back…

…

"She says she'll be prepared to meet the Batman again the same place they met last time." says Salina, sipping the wine. "I guess she was referring to after the Penguin's 'Celebration of Peace' parade. What do you think about all this?"

"It's a difficult situation." admits Bruce, staring outside the window. "I've always tried to help Batman as much as I could whenever I can. I don't really trust Catwoman."

"I… I think she could be for real this time." says Salina. "I mean, there's been a lot of killing so far. You know how she feels about that. She wouldn't join those murderers; it's not her nature."

"Even so… I think you should be careful next time she speaks to you. I'll contact Batman as soon as I can."

"Ah! So you do know where he is?" she smiles.

"I have my contacts." says Bruce, but he's preoccupied. "Alfred. What's that van down there?"

"It's the… err… equipment you ordered sir." says Alfred.

"Don't they usually come by the back?"

"New driver I believe sir. I'll go down and inform him." and the butler bows and heads down.

"I heard Richard came back for a while." says Salina. "Where does he go anyway? I thought you were like family to the poor kid?"

"He has his own path to follow. He has met some new friends. As long as he's happy, I can't stop him."

…

Alfred walks down to the door; opening it to be met with a large knockout blow from an oversized boxing glove on a spring. He slumps unconsciously to the floor.

"Knock, knock! I'm here!" smiles the Riddler. The small group of bandits giggles but keeps the noise down as they invade Wayne manor…

…

"I have a bad feeling about this…" thinks Robin on the road to Jump City. He can't stop thinking he's needed back in Gotham, but he sticks to his road.

…

"This is the Mumbo calling the Moth. Do you see what I survey?" says Mumbo over the radio.

"That's weird!" remarks Girl Moth as she looks down with her binoculars. There is Starfire racing in her wheelchair being followed by a bear on a unicycle. "Anyway, action stations magician!"

"Roger!"

…

The note that Kitten left for the Titans about the bargaining over Cyborg's appearance and the remote was still sitting on the door step, ignored by Mean who was busy teasing the immobile and defenceless Beastboy.

"Oh don't be such a sap!" she grins as she chews on some more apples. "It's not like they're yours."

"But don't you know what they are to me?" says Beastboy, feeling queasy by the revelation. "Fruit to a plant is like their reproductive organs! EEEEWWWW!"

"Wrong there twig!" she smiles. "Flowers are the birds and the bees stuff. Fruits are just the equivalent of still borne embryos." and she takes a large crunch.

"ARGH! THAT IS SICK TO THE…"

"Core?" she grins, licking her fingers.

"You are so mean!" wails Beastboy. He couldn't understand why she was acting like this. She had suddenly lost it all of a sudden, and he couldn't help thinking that somehow it was his entire fault.

"Hmm. My fingers are sticky! Get it? Stick… Sticky! Ha!" she slaps Beastboy on the back/trunk.

"Too… many… bad… puns… must… escape…" says Beastboy traumatized.

"Oh! So you want me to LEAF you alone? HAHAHAHAHA!"

"Just stop easing me okay!"

"Maybe I'll just move you outside for fresh air?" says Mean thoughtfully. "I hear they're having a dog parade soon."

"That sounds good." says Beastboy, a bit relieved. "I like dogs… HEY! WAIT A SEC!" as he realises what may happen to a tree in a dog show.

Mean doesn't answer back but leans against the wall in laughter. Beastboy blows a fuse.

"WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU RAVEN?" yells Beastboy. "DID I DO ANYTHING BAD TO YOU (Don't answer that). WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS? (Don't answer that either)YOU'RE ACTING LIKE SUCH A…a… a, A MAGGOT!"

"Yeah! I am such a parasite!" chuckles Mean.

"No! Really! Maggots!" cries out Beastboy alarmed. Sure enough, some maggots are crawling towards him, along with an assortment of caterpillars and other creepy crawlies, attracted by the new shoots of the 'plant'. "HELP!"

"This is hilarious!" laughs Mean as she watches the insects climb up the pot towards the defenceless, poor, immobile, friendly, nice and funny friend… she changed her look. He didn't deserve this. She had no right to do all that stuff to him. She felt something she had never had in the warped realms; guilt.

Beastboy was in serious panic as he looked upon the encroaching army. He looked pleadingly to Mean, and Mean wasn't quite sure what to do… she had never helped anyone before… but after looking at him, she decided now was a good a time as any to start…

…

"I am truly sorry for abandoning everyone." sobs Starfire, following behind Cyborg. "I was very inside hurt by comments of Raven." she sniffs.

Cyborg is panting with his long bear tongue. His feet ached from the long chase on the unicycle. He had a suspicion that there was a large blister on his bottom. "It's all sweet Star!" he smiles nervously. "Everything's fine. Dandy! Great!" he tries to comfort himself, despite the fact everything was falling apart under his reign.

"What are we going to do about friend Raven? What is Robin's advice?"

"Um… "Says Cyborg twitching. "He actually…"
"You still have mot informed him about all our complications?" she says shocked.

"Look! I ca handle this! Everything's just going to be alright."

"That's what you say!" smiles Kitten, landing in front of them.

"You!" says Starfire with eyes flared. Kitten returns the look. Lightning seems to emanate between them.

"And don't forget me!" says Mumbo, dropping in.

"And me!" says CtrlF. He is revealed under Mumbo's cloak, still in his television vortex. "Now give me my remote you oversized teddy and we'll give you your old metallic look back!"

"Even if I wanted to see you out of that prison, I couldn't 'because I don't have it!" says Cyborg. He squares off his stand and holds his uni-cycle ready. Mumbo points his wand at them.

"You didn't bring it?" says Kitten. "But I specifically said in the note…"

"Sorry! Haven't read the mail yet insect!"

"Oh that's just great!" mumbles CtrlF. Some tribbles rest upon his fat form.

"What do we do now?" sighs Mumbo.

"We have the numbers, and they don't look to top condition right now…" smiles Kitten. "Take 'em!"

Starfire sends a melee of starbolts and eye lasers which Kitten skilfully avoids. Mumbo blasts at her, but Cyborg throws the uni-cycle in the path of the blast to it is turned into a table. He runs up at Mumbo to whack away the wand in a roar, but he is faltered by a cacoon blast by Girl Moth who fires from the air. He falls to the ground in a sticky cacoon.

"It is time to hypothetically swat the human insectoids." says Starfire, and she clips one of Girl Moth's wings with a laser. Kitten screams but uses a grapple rope to stop her falling on the pavement.

Mumbo runs over and picks up his wand, but Starfire disables him with a starbolt to the bum. He is momentarily paralysed by the sensation. However, Starfire is soon also put out of commission as Kitten uses her laser whip to cause her wheelchair to roll and roll down hill.

"HELP" cries out Starfire, swiftly rolling backwards as gravity takes effect.

"STAR!" shouts Cyborg and he bursts his bonds in terrific strength. He defiantly bares the blow from the whip to wrap it around his paw. He yanks it from Kitten's grip and prepares to fight back.

"Stop right there!" says Mumbo, recovering a little. He points his wand at the bear.

"I wouldn't if I were you!" says Cyborg, and he quickly picks up the forgotten CtrlF from the floor. "Just stay back!"

"Blast him already hose nose!" shouts Kitten.

"What about me?" wails CtrlF?

"What are you waiting for? Blast him already!"

"HEY!"

"Do not fret my fat colleague. I am not that devious!" he says feeling his sore backside. "There is no cause of ALARM!" he shouts as he accidentally touches a sensitive sore. He accidentally lets off a blast that engulfs CtrlF and Cyborg in a cloud of blue smoke. After some coughing and spluttering, Cyborg in his normal state and CtrlF in his round magnificence emerge free from their 'prisons'.

"Yahey! And our stalwart adventurer returns to the third dimension!" says CtrlF gleefully. "It feels so good to be outta there!"

Cyborg cancels his victory dance by throwing him at Mumbo. Kitten tries to get the whip back, but Cyborg turns like a cloths line to swing her at the other two in a heap. He was going to arrest them when he remembered Starfire.

"Help!" yells Starfire in the middle of the steep hill. Her extra muscle helping her to fight gravity spectacularly, like salmon up a waterfall. Cyborg quickly leaps over to help her back up, but by the time he gets back, the trio of villains have made good of their escape.

The alien takes note of Cyborg's appearance. "Though our enemies have fled us, it is good to see you are normal back to friend Cyborg." smiles Starfire through her exhaustion. "That battle went not so bad. Do you think I have earned…?"

"You are not doing this again Star!"

…

"So when do you think we can meet up again?" says Bruce.

"I think you'll have plenty of time to reminisce when we take you for a little vacation!" says the Riddler.

Bruce and Salina get up to see the three super-villains with a good dozen masked muscle. The Riddler twirling his cane as usual. Twoface flipping his coin as usual and not the Penguin. For the Penguin had to remain a secret partner in order to appear in public. The third was another well known villain. Bruce is surprised to say the least.

"You!" Salina exclaims shocked.

There the villain stood. Newly joined to the team of villains after a long trek from his last demise, still a little under shape, and depleted in his regular inventory, but still a dangerous man. The hate filled eyes, the crimson lips, the pale white skin, the shocking green hair, the smile…

"Quiet right!" smiles the Joker (Surprised?). "I couldn't stay in recovery while my fellow cads had all the fun here! I was almost insulted that I wasn't part of this exquisite team up of minds!" he raps his bandaged fingers together and grimaces a little. "Now the party can really begin!" and he laughs in a spine chilling trio alongside his 'friends'.

"What d you want?" says Bruce. He is increasingly worried for Alfred. "If you could all leave the premises immediately, it would be much appreciated."

Riddler and Joker burst out laughing and Twoface smiles evilly. "Truss em up boys!" snarls the coin flipping psychopath and the twelve thugs rush in.

"I warned you." says Bruce and he and Salina get ready to fend them off.

The thugs leap over the sofa and the two defenders throw the small coffee table at them, knocking two over. Bruce dodges a punch from one to knock him back and over the arm chair. Salina kicks one in the groin and steps back with foot out to trip one over head first into the unlit, but still hot, fireplace in a shriek. She fights back to back with Bruce to hold off the attackers, but they are outmatched. These guys were heavyweights.

"Time to help our underlings I think." says The Riddler as the battle begins to turn. The three villains launch themselves into the fray.

"When did you learn to fight so well?" says Bruce to Salina and Salina to Bruce. They topple two thugs.

"You first." smiles Salina, doing a slice kick at the Joker.

"I train against Alfred." he muses. He shows the Riddler a good sample of his knuckles. "And you?"

"Well we do live in Gotham don't we?" and she grips on to Bruce as she swings both her feet into three of the thugs.

Twoface takes his turn but the two heroes launch a double offensive at the split persona, catching him on his left face and right side; being launched away by two fists in the middle, and he falls on the fallen couch. The two are separated when the thugs do a group charge. The targets dodge them so they hit the fireplace again in a messed pile. Salina faces the Joker while Bruce contends with the Riddler and Twoface.

"Feisty minx! And quite the looker too!" comments the Joker, evading Salina's moves by hastily backing off. "But business is business!" he smiles and he pulls out a giant hammer out of nowhere and takes a down swing. Salina moves just right out of the way and the hammer smashes the table in two. She sweats as he continues to swing the weapon madly in hysteria. Lamps and chairs shatter and are bowled all over the place. A bust of Isaac Newton is batted for a six across the room.

"I haven't this much time in AGES!" laughs the Harlequin of Hate. A book shelf is decimated.

"Salina!" shouts Bruce, but he is preoccupied. The Riddler was a pushover. Snatching his cane he bats him in the head with it and pushes him over the fallen sofa. Twoface was more enraged with aggression but still none the more effective. Bruce easily dodges his wide powerful blows, throwing the Riddler's cane at him to startle the fiend and lathers up a great kick to launch him across the polish marble tiles. He kicks a chair across the floor to topple over a thug rushing him.

"Maybe we shouldn't have opted for the fisty cuffs?" wails the Riddler. He moves out of the way of the hurricane of Bruce's punches.

As the thugs get up to attack Bruce (Not wanting to get in the way of the Joker) Salina takes on the clown as best she can. She finally manages to time the Joker's movements and sneaks in a karate chop to the shoulder, releasing his grip on the hammer. She uses a great push with her palm on his chin to send him flying upon the broken table.

Twoface watches the Riddler getting thrown by Bruce into the gang and the Joker being pummelled by Salina. He snarls and draws his gun. It was enough with games. He flips a coin and smiles wickedly. He takes aim and shoots his chance destined lead bullet.

"Fate." he snarls.

Salina falls to the ground; the bullet grazing her skull and the force knocking her out. The Joker laughs maniacally and kicks her across the floor, toppling a lamp.

"Salina!" shouts Bruce, and while distracted, he is piled upon by the thugs in a mountain of weight. The Riddler stands upon the heap holding and waving his cane up in victory, laughing along.

"Right! Let's get moving along." says Harvey Dent, putting away his gun. "We have a parade to prepare for!"

…

"So this is interesting!" remarks Cyborg, watching Mean watering Beastboy and putting in nutrient pellets. Her garden gloved hands were soiled and an array of garden tools lay ready.

"You should have seen her Cyborg!" says Beastboy smiling, enjoying the pampering. "I never saw someone squish so many bugs so fast! And the soil treatment is just great!" he grins happily. "Thanks a heap Rae! Sorry for calling you all that earlier!"

"Um… don't mention it…" she says, feeling weird. "I'm sorry too. To you guys as well." she says to Cyborg and Starfire. "I guess I was really stupid." she smiles a little.

"You seem to be recovering friend Raven I am very joyful!" says Starfire giving her a hug.

"Maybe things are finally getting better!" sighs Cyborg.

"I… I think I'll go to bed now." says Mean, still feeling awkward.

"Goodnight Rae!" calls Beastboy. "Thanks again for being such a great pal!"

"Um… no worries." she says to the smiling faces below and closes the door. Something wasn't right!

…

"Mean should be back soon at least!" says Shy, looking up at the sky. The entire void seemed to be turning dark, though it was never night. The stars were pitched out and all colours were fading, like some foul demon was sweeping away everything in shadow. The other emotions gather around Grumpy who puts up a blue flare, but even its light seems dull in the darkness.

"Things have definitely gotten out of hand." remarks Grumpy frowning. The last visible celestial light goes out, leaving only their small flare in the vast emptiness.

…

It took a while for Alfred to finally gain consciousness, but when he did, he quickly got Miss Kyle an ambulance. The place was a mess. Furniture smashed and many items stolen or vandalised. Master Bruce was missing in action… Then he made an urgent call.

"Yes Alfred?" says Robin on his R-cycle. He puts on auto-pilot.

"I'm afraid we need you back here urgently sir." says Alfred.

"What happened to your head?" says Robin, turning his bike around.

"Thankyou for your concern master Dick, but I will be quite fine. But I'm afraid I have some bad news. Master Bruce has been abducted. And I am reluctant to announce that the Joker has returned to Gotham."

Robin wasn't pleased…

…