02. Birth of a Hero
Summary: What awaits the young man? One night, and his life is changed forever.
KRAKKA-BOOM!
A lightening strike lit up the sky, striking down a tree in the far distance as the green, red and gold clad teenager hurried up the stairs leading to the Oracle's temple. More ruins and cave, than an actual temple, it was called that because of reverence for the being that resided there. Although the town folk did not actually worship the Oracle, they did respect him/her/it, and yet, no one had actually seen the all-knowing Oracle. Making an appearance soon after the end of the Great Beast, the Oracle was a spirit entity that seemed to spread through out the world, and even though initially people feared and distrusted him, slowly but surely the tide had turned in his favor. The fact that never in the thirteen years since his appearance had the Oracle asked for any kind of sacrifice, payment or return for his words of wisdom, also put things in his favor.
That being said, it was not everyone that the Oracle appeared or even spoke to. Wherever sanctuaries for him had been setup, a single person of the Oracle's choosing was the only one that was allowed to approach and talk to him. In the town of Haven, it had been Jack Drake, the bravest of the brave, a soldier of the Great Beast War, who received the honor being the Oracle's mouth to the peoples. That was until four years ago, when involved in a fall, Jack lost the use of his leg for three months. When the Oracle's call came, Tim stepped forth to represent his father. Till this day, neither the boy nor his father knew how the Oracle knew about his injuries. What the way, whatever the reason, the Oracle deigned to speak to the boy. Since that day, young Tim Drake a.k.a. Robin as his father had been called before him, took up the mantle of being the Oracle's representative in the town of Haven.
Such mystic was the Oracle's power that even with torrential rain pelting around him, Tim Drake was dry as the sand in the desert; his torch burning just as strongly, as the boy progressed towards the Oracle's lair.
----
"Wise one? S-Sire…?" The boy called out as he stepped into the usually dark cave. Right in front of him, in the middle of the drab surroundings, blazed a fire of an eerie green color, a head of the same hue floating up from it.
"I have dreamt of a Broken Green Chain that saves the world," the head's, Oracle's voice boomed against the cave walls. "Don't suppose you know anything about it…?"
"No." Tim numbly shook his head. Planting his torch in a holder, he stepped forth. Ever after four years the sight of the floating head never ceased to amaze him, or send a shiver down his spine. Magic was to feared, magic was to be revered, and for the teenager, none magic was stronger, more powerful than the Oracle's.
"Pity. It could be important." The head spoke from its earlier question. "So, tell me…." It asked as if just realizing something. "Why are you here?"
"Wha…" Tim's mouth fell open. "You….You summoned me, sire. I am Robin sire. Timothy Drake, son of Goodman Jack Drake of Haven."
"Ahh. Haven," the head nodded in confirmation. "An oasis of peace in a world ripped apart. Do you know your history boy?" It demanded. "Do you know of the Beast?"
"Only what my father told me sire…about the Battle of The High Peaks." Tim's eyes were wide in awe and maybe even the barest bit of fear, after all, it was not natural for a green colored head to be floating in the air, over fire. Just the green head was enough to rattle him, or anyone else for that matter, the rest of it was overkill.
"Good, good," once again the head 'nodded'. "Then you know the world was once a different place. Border and boundaries meant little to peoples who lived in harmony. The coming of the Beast changed everything."
"Look at this," as if by magic, a map appeared in front of Tim. "Look now at this lonely world. The people are scattered like islands. There is no longer trust between them. The Beast was defeated, but his hunger lingers on."
As Tim watched, the Oracle began to explain the map and the various markings on it.
"In the west, Queen Diana and her Amazon warriors have retreated behind the water stockade that their gods created for them. Bitter and resentful, the now Queen's mother, Queen Hippolyta, withdrew from the rest of the world an especially the men she blamed. Their Amazonia, their Themiscyra, the one they call paradise, is a mystic land, one where only a few men dare…if any. Who knows the state of affairs in Amazonia today? No one. Hippolyta had made a decree that any male entering Themiscyra would immediately forfeit his life…and although rumors are there, that, the new Queen is lenient and just…even towards men, none of the Amazons concern themselves with the matters of the world."
"Northeast of us," the mystically created hand moved to another part of the map. "The 'Three Men' have forgotten that evil exists since Despero the Conqueror was overthrown. Their Cit of the Center grows fat on trade, without even an army for times of trouble."
All of this, this vast world outside the limits of Haven was new to the young teenaged adventurer, new, intriguing and…. highly exciting.
"Kryptonia's glory has faded," the hand pointed towards a rather large, plain patch of land in the north. "The foundling King Kal'El weakens more everyday, as do its boundaries. The rebel, Lex Luthor and his armies have broken through and taken over large parts of the kingdom and even as we speak, bay at the gates of the capital city, Metropolis. It won't be long now before the reign of the just Kal'El ends and that of the tyrant Luthor begins."
"The Hawkmen…those few who survived, have disappeared into exile….no man knows where. Gallant, brave and strong, they too have lost interest in the matters of the world…and any hope. In the far north…."
"Pardon sire…" all this was getting too much for the small town boy, besides, he already knew most of this…by heart. "Surely I am not here to learn what I already know…?"
"Silence!" The Oracle's voice boomed in the cave. "Just like your father, eh? Impatient…or was it Impertinent?"
"In the far north lies the Gotham plateau," the head resumed as if nothing had happened. "A place of ghosts and a lorded over by its insane ruler, that…" The fact that the head grew silent was intimation enough for Tim that whatever the Oracle said next, wasn't going to be something good.
---
"Late last night I had a vision," not good words to start with. "Monsters and black-eyed goblins, spewed forth from the depths. Haven was destroyed by Fang and by Fire, a maniacal laughter sounding through the night, a green haze falling all over."
'Haven!' Tim was up in an instant. "When will this happen, sire? I must warn them. I…."
"Too late, boy." A whoosh and a scene appeared in the fire…one of burning, slaughter, plunder….all in Haven. "It is happening NOW!"
"M-Mother, Father," Horrified eyes widened and filled up with tears. "Ariana! NO…!"
"I must go to them…Ahh!" THUMP! The green, gold and red clad teenager leapt towards the door, only to felled by a vine wrapping itself around his leg and pulling him down.
"Fool!" The head bellowed again. "Would you hasten to your own death?"
"Let me go! LET ME GO!" The young boy's cries and his pulling had no affect on the Oracle or on the vine. "Please….I can save them…."
"It is too late for them," the Oracle almost showed emotion, even it were for the barest of an instant. "Stop your blubbering!" Just like that, the emotion was gone. "Time is short. The Evil has returned. The Beast lives again." The name of the Beast seemed to have some effect on the wallowing teenager. "It is your task to warn the World. Tell them…to find victory; they must unite here, on the plains of World's End!"
"M-Me…?"
"Yes, YOU!" With a yank, invisible hands pulled Tim up into a standing position. "It will not be easy. Many will not believe you. Many will not listen…"
"Then how…?"
"To help you on your way, I give you this…"
As Tim watched, with a light shimmer a chest appeared before him. "Open it," at the Oracle's command he flipped open the cover, noting how the Oracle's insignia was on the top. Inside lay something familiar, a suit of red, green and yellow.
"This is no ordinary suit," the Oracle seemed to read his thoughts. "It is a suit of armor, one created specifically for you and your quest. Take it out and wear it…"
Numbed from the scene of Haven and dumbstruck into silence, Tim quickly changed, discarding his old, silk and cotton suit in favor of the new one, one made of a material that he did not know about. Finished as far as he was concerned, he held up the last two pieces of clothing, if that is what you could call them….a mask and a cape.
"Put them on," the Oracle commanded. When he was done, the head spoke again. "This suit of armor is made from Kevlar, the strongest, toughest material ever made. Weighing a tenth of the normal metal armor, it is ten times as strong and a hundred times as flexible." The strength Tim did not know about, but the flexibility…it felt like a second skin.
"The cape is made of a mystic cloth." It seemed like any normal cape to Tim…well, maybe except for its color. While black on the outer side, it was yellow on the inside, just like his belt and the 'R' on the left side of his chest.
"What does it do?" Curiosity got the better of him. 'And what do they do?' He stared at the various weapons and gadgets lying at the bottom of the chest.
---
"Come here," the head spoke again and without even waiting for a response, its hand reached forth and grabbed the boy's head, effectively muting him….and also the scream that tore from the boy's mouth as he felt a million needles sink into his brain. It all lasted for but a second, after which….
"It helps me glide…." Tim gave the answer to his own question. With a single touch, the Oracle imparted all the knowledge and skills that the young man would need to use his armor and weaponry in his quest. "….and hide." True enough, as he wrapped the cape around himself, the shadows seemed to gravitate towards the otherwise colorful and lively costume.
'The mask!'
Bringing it up to his face, Tim placed the miniscule mask over his eyes. Although offering very little protection from the elements as such, the mask in itself held hidden surprises, ones that would show itself when the time and situation were appropriately demanding.
Yet, there remained a certain hesitation in the boy's mind…after all; he was just a boy, not even a man. How could he succeed where others had…?
"You are the son of a hero, Tim Drake. You too will become a hero…
….or by the Void, you will die trying! …Robin."
'Robin,' that was the last word Tim heard as the Oracle's head and its voice faded into nothingness, taking the now empty chest and Tim's old clothes with it.
----
'Robin.' That is what his father called him….
…..and that was who he would be now.
Note: While many of the dialogues and the base plot are inspired from the Elseworlds story, 'Riddle of the Beast,' the actual story will work out quite different. For example, the whole costume thing…my idea. Also, have tried to keep the city/kingdom/peoples names same as the normal ones, so as not to get too confusing.
Please review…..got just two for the first chapter. :Whiny face: