Title: Justice Legion: Riddle of the Beast

Author: BatmanWolverine
Fandom(s): DC (JLA, Elseworlds)
Genre: Romance, Drama, Action
Pairing/Characters: BMWW and others.
Rating: PG15

Summary: Read the 'Elseworlds' story of the same name sometime ago. This is my take on it, but as always, one with a BMWW twist to it. First effort at Elseworlds.

Warnings (and Spoilers): JLA: Riddle of the Beast (Elseworlds), others

Disclaimer: I don't own Batman, Wonder Woman or any of the other character Justice League characters. All owned by DC. Any OCs are my own creation and are free for anyone to use, just give me a shout out first.

01. Prologue: The Call

The Wide Men used to say that when God made the World, it was so beautiful that even HE could never surpass it. So he retired, and the rest if creation remained Unborn.

In all the dark void, the world was alone.

The wise one are dead now, perished when The Beast's odious tentacles spread across this living sparkling gem and soured it with Evil. Friends fought with friend; families were thrown asunder; lovers parted, never to reunite. Inspired by Chaos, the world's own darklings arose like shadows to prey on all that was good and decent.

After a year and a day, the reign of evil was overthrown. The Beast was defeated. He died in the Abyss.

Or so the world believes….

-----

Fifteen years have passed since the war with the Beast. Despite and maybe due to its relative isolation, the cliff-top town of Haven flourished and yet remained innocent.

Unaware of the coming darkness and the danger it brings, two children sat playing on the lush green grass. Engrossed in their game and in each other, they did not notice the dark form swooping down from the clear blue sky.

"You fell into my trap, Timmy!" The raven-haired girl grinned at her partner's move. A single rose adorned her hair, its affect only adding to her blossoming beauty. "That's another game you lose!"

"I don't think so Ariana," the boy wiggled his eyebrows at her, his eyes mirroring his mischievous smile. "Not if I do this…." he said, making a couple of quick out of turn moves to get his piece to safety.

"You're Cheating!" Ariana cried out, her voice carrying no anger, but only a teasing blame.

"I have to…," the red and clad teenager admitted. "Or you always beat me!"

"You know the punishment for cheats…," the girl warned as she pounced onto her friend, her sudden move toppling all pieces over. However, the game and its pieces were the farthest in this mind as she pushed the boy over, climbed over him and fiercely began tickling his sides.

"S-Stop it! HA HA HA!" Tim pleaded, his uncontrollable laughter not allowing him to find enough support to stop her himself. "Please...HA HA….please Ariana…p-p-pleeezzz…HA HA!"

"Promise not to cheat?" Ariana demanded, slightly slowing down her assault.

"P….HA HA….pro-promi---sss." Even as he gasped those words, Tim found the support he was looking for, and in one swoop, reached and pulled Ariana to him, their lips mashing against each other. For a second there, they stayed like that, neither quite certain what was happening.

"Oh," was all Tim could say as they finally broke away, Ariana's deep blue eyes widely staring at him, her one hand coming up to touch her suddenly sensitive lips. Although they liked each other, they still hadn't gone much far with each other. Their only kisses had been on their cheeks and even those were light and hesitant. Both had blushed red when it first happened, but compared to just now, that seemed like a walk in the park.

"I-uh…I…." Ariana scrambled to find her words, her mind in turmoil. For a second there an old thought rose within her. 'Let a boy kiss you on the lips and you become pregnant.' That was the story that her granny had hold her, one that she had believed since many years, but not anymore. Recently she learned from her mother that kissing did not give you babies. Babies came from something else. What it was, her mother did not tell her, saying that she was too young for it. Ever since then she had tried her hand at this kissing a boy, a very special boy….her boy, just as she was his girl. Tim Drake, or just Timmy to her, was not only her best friend, but he also was her boy friend. He was the boy she wanted to marry and one day, have babies with….just two babies, one like him and one like her.

"Wanna do it again?" Tim asked hopefully.

Not trusting herself to speak Ariana dumbly nodded her answer. Leaning down slowly this time, her eyes locked with his, she let her lips join with his. Both of them had parted their lips, as they had seen the adults do when they kissed. What to do next they did not know, instead they stayed like that for a few more seconds, until….

"ROBIN! Come here."

-----

"Father!" Tim 'Robin' gasped. In their surprise and the subsequent panic at being caught, the bumbling teenagers knocked their heads against each other.

"OW!" Ariana cried out, rubbing her hand against her aching forehead. Looking around they found that there was no one there and that voice had come from the house a few meters away.

"Sorry," Tim apologized as he straightened his hair. Somewhere during their kiss, Ariana's hand had found its way there, giving him a ruffled, unkempt look.

Within seconds, they were up and had fixed themselves, both sporting a rosy glow.

"Come with me," Tim said. Without even waiting for an answer, he took Ariana's hand and started leading her towards his house.

----

"Where have you been boy?" Jack Drake called out, seeing his son and his girl come down the slope.

"Just playing," Tim held up his folded game-board, its pieces clinking in the pouch at his waist.

"Eh! Come quick. I have work for you."

Thinking that maybe it was something to do with his father's work, Tim scratched the back of his head as he asked, "What? Need something taken to the shop?"

"Not that," Jack shook his head, as he held up a piece of paper. "A message bird just came. The Oracle has summoned you. Go to him now."

"Aww! Dad," Tim huffed as he gestured towards his friend. "Ariana and I are playing…! Besides, it'll be dark soon…." he offered as an excuse. "…and there's a storm brewing. Can't I wait till morning? I'll go then. Promise. Its not even a school day."

"Nothing doing kid," Jack shook his head. "You can take a torch, but don't forget to…."

"Yeah yeah, I know. Don't forget to wear my stupid Robin suit." Tim sighed and apologetically looked at Ariana. They had been having such a great time together, especially that kissing thing. That was something he'd want to do again…soon.

"Wash your mouth out, boy!" Jack scolded his son. "That suit is not stupid. I got it made after mine," he gestured towards his own clothing. Although same as Tim's green and red, his was full pants as compared to Tim's half. It was also more expensive looking; with an ornate feather effect vest. Its collar had gold engraving on it, just as did the gloves and knee-high boots. Tim's suit was just like his father's, except the 'R' insignia, which in his father's case was on the center of the belt buckle, while in his it was on the band of the green colored bag he used to carry.

The tale of the suit and its colors was a long and oft heard one. It was a reward from one of the noble kings who had fought to vanquish the Beast. For his valor, the king had given the then teenaged Jack Drake, a lowly soldier, a suit just like the one that his sons had worn. Since that day, whenever he left his house, Jack Drake wore only green, red and yellow. As time passed, he used the gold that the king had rewarded him to set up his own business and had done quite well for himself. He had a nice spacious house, one of the biggest in the town, a beautiful 'dutiful' wife and a healthy and most of the time, obedient son. Watching Tim now with the young girl, he allowed himself to dream of a time when the next generation of green, red and yellow clad Drakes would come.

----

"I know father," Tim nodded his head, mentally repeating the 'suit' story by rote. "You don't have to keep reminding me."

"Hmm," Jack nodded. "Now hurry up before you get late."

"I'll stay with your mum till you return…" Ariana whispered pointing to the inside of the house. "…safe journey!" Spying an eye on Jack, she quickly leaned forward and planted a kiss on Tim's cheek.

"Thanks," Tim blushed as he returned the favor. "I'll be back as soon as I can….maybe even tonight. If I'm lucky."

"Okay, see you then."

Note: This is a Elseworlds story, one that I am adapting from DC one. In case, you have read it, good for you. As you might have already noticed there are some changes and even though they are not major….yet, the story will soon takeoff on its own.

However, if you are among those who have no idea what this is about, think about Justice League meets Lord of the Rings….but no character crossover.

Please review and let me know if I should continue or not!