Chapter 5-The Shadow Falls

It was mid-day when Nightwing awoke after the chopper landed to find that they were in a very windy, snowy, and secluded mountain area away from prying eyes of even the Justice League. Slowly Nightwing rose to his feet as his robotic guards watched his movements very carefully for any sudden and unwanted movements. Nice place. What's the rent in staying here?" said Nightwing as he now saw that Slade was two feet away from him as the chopper door was already opened for them to depart the vehicle.

"Good you're awake. That tranquilizer you were hit with had enough of a sedative kick in it to put down multiple angry adult elephants for four day, but you've been asleep for less then half a day on the trip over here. It's interesting how you have just awakened now just when we have arrived at our destination. It's interesting to say the least," said Slade who ignored Nightwing's remark as they left the attack chopper with their escort, which was now reinforced by Slade's own robot army as part of being extra careful in case Nightwing decided to go back on the deal.

They entered the mountain fortress with little problems as they walked passed several villains Nightwing new in the passed including the Hive 5. "HAHAHA! Look at this pit sniffing junky here. He's been caught by the Brotherhood and now he's going to be their personal chew toy," said Gizmo causing Nightwing to stop as they all laughed at him.

"Be careful who youlaugh at Gizmo or else you'll find yourself on the receiving end of their never ending wrath," said Nightwing as he turned to face the Hive 5 and called forth his dark shadow powers as his mask and his eyes beneath it turned red.

Gizmo's laughing was cut short when he found himself being swallowed up by a shadow portal beneath him. The portal had shadow like tentacles come out of it and pulling him in as he tried to use his jet pack to get away. "AH! Let me go! AHHHHHHH!" screamed Gizmo as everyone else including Slade were all silent as they saw Gizmo get pulled into the shadow portal Nightwing created and then see it close before them.

"Anyone else want to make acrack at me? Good because if you do that's your fate when you do. Spread the word will you," said Nightwing after a glare from Slade released Gizmo from his dark prison and was now pale and shaking like he had been in the Antarctic.

"Make...make it...stop. Nothing...but...darkness...everywhere. All...around...consuming. No...light...in...sight. So...so cold," said Gizmo whose voice was filled with terror.

By that time Nightwing and Slade were around the corner with their armed escort in tow while the remaining Hive 5 watched over their comrade in arms with worry. "You can't do that to everyone here that does something like that Nightwing. Brain may get angry with you and do something as a form of retaliation against such hostilities," said Slade as a word of warning.

"Would you have done the same thing if you were in my position?" said Nightwing as they headed straight down hall and took a left.

"Since you and I are so very much alike Nightwing I think you already know the answer, but to humor you I probably would have to say yes to your question. In all honesty my boy I never liked it when people laughed at my expense though I imagine no one does. I probably would have done something like that if not worse to the idiot genius of a boy you showed a world full of darkness and shadow to" said Slade as they stopped at a door and the one eyed man punched in several numbers before the door opened.

They both entered with half the robot escort while the other half remained outside in case things went wrong and a second wave of robots would have to be sent in. The room Nightwing and Slade area was all white with fluorescent lights and bright light bulbs all around nearly preventing any shadows from possibly appearing. "What room is this?" said Nightwing looking around seeing a white table in the center, a giant white super computer, and white camera's on each corner of the room and in-between.

""This room isused for multiple things so get used to it because as of right now this is where you eat, sleep, and...where you will be experimented on," said Slade seeing Nightwing's face now filled with shock as the boys body went into a fighting stance as a clear sign he refused.

"Experimented on? What in the dark regions of your sick and twisted mind did you think I would ever agree to such things?" said Nightwing who called on his shadow powers to further enhance his fighting creating an aura of dark energy.

The robots in the room were half the Brotherhood's and half Slade's, but when they had sensed the danger coming from Nightwing they moved in to engage it. Slade however, commanded them to stop with a motion of his hand and they obeyed instantly. "I knew you wouldn't Nightwing, but you forget I hold those people in the complex in my hands now with a push of a button morning, noon, and night of every day. This detonator is also long ranged Nightwing and as I explained before to you earlier with a push of a button the apartment you were staying at will be destroyed instantly. I may have promised to remove the bombs, but only after youhad beenrestrained properly. What I meant when I said that was that you would be on the table, in restraints, and would have THIS put onyour head," said Slade over to the super computer that had a white helmet looking device on it.

"Let me guess Slade. That disrupts my communication with my Shadowkahn preventing me from summoning them to help me in my need of assistance," said Nightwing in a know it all voice as he got out of his fighting stance knowing he was trapped.

"Very good Nightwing you got 95 of that correct. However, the 5 you missed is also just as important because this helmet also prevents you from using your shadow powers within your body to a degree. In other words Nightwing your speed, strength, and agility will all be that of a normal human and not of a shadow prince," said Slade who then motioned Nightwing to get on the table and for the robots un the room to leave.

Nightwing reluctantly got on the flat white table and the metal braces cupped his wrists and ankles tightly, but not enough to cut off circulation to them. "You can't hold me like this forever Slade and you know it. When you let your guard down you and the other members of the Brotherhood of Evil are going to wish you were still small time people in the criminal underworld," said Nightwing threateningly as could feel his anger growing steadily.

Slade smiled beneath the mask pleased at the young boy's threats, his skills, and how much Nightwing had grown. He then place the white helmet on the Nightwing's head and activated it disrupting Nightwing's power over shadow. "As much as I enjoy your threats Nightwing you couldn't be more wrong about me and the Brotherhood paying for this. You see when were done with you we will have you as an ally and a loyal enforcer of our will. All we need is time and we plenty of it," said Slade as he took an electric blade from a nearby counter and activated it.

"I'll never break or scream for you no matter what you do to me Slade," said Nightwing as he spit on Slade's armored in defiance.

"I know that my former apprentice and I was hoping you would say that because that makes destroying your will all the sweeter. Brace yourself this is going to hurt...a lot," said Slade as he drove the blade into Nightwing rib cage.

(10 days later Titans Tower)

(A/N: 10 day may seem weak forNightwing, but you don't know what Slade does to him during that time. Covered in later chapters just so you know. Don't forget to review!)

Raven awoke from her meditation with force again after hearing a mental scream echoing from within her Nevermore landscape that was not her own. It had been a male voice that had howled like a giant animal in pain though muffled in the beginning she knew shortly after it cleared up that she immediately knew who it was that had been screaming in pain. "Nightwing's in trouble," said Raven out loud before she flew to the common room to find Starfire trying to get Beast Boy to eat some of her 'pudding of sadness' as she called it.

"Raven would you like to try my 'pudding of sadness' I know you'll love it since I mixed it with fresh mold found under the sink," said Starfire cheerfully.

If Raven wasn't so worried about Nightwing at the moment she would have turned green in the face and puked right then and their in front of everyone. "Starfire we've got some problems worse then your pudding. I was just in meditation and heard Nightwing scream in pain through the bond we share. Whatever is going on with him he's in pain and he's hurting from something that would kill anyone weaker," said Raven knowing the topic of Nightwing would peak their interest since she eventually told them that he had changed his name from Robin to Nightwing.

Starfire at that moment dropped her bowl of pudding at the sound of Nightwing and scream being used in the same sentence. "What? Where is he? We must find him and...," it was all Starfire could say before Raven shook her head.

"Star I felt his scream through the bond I have with him, buts that's all. I don't know where he is or what is happening to him, but I do know he's hurting on all fronts. We may have to ask the Justice League for help on this one," said Raven whose voice was full of worry and concern.

"Are you sure? I mean doesn't that make us seem incompetent or something?" said Beast Boy who was a little nervous calling for the big guns to help them.

"No. Nightwing told me he had gone to see Fate, which means Fate reported his findings to Superman and the other founders of the League, including Batman," said Raven.

"Why don't we all go see those guys up in the Watchtower and find if they can find out more about Nightwing?" said Cyborg putting in his two cents.

The others agreed and Raven teleported them all to the Watchtower since she had been their on multiple occasions to deliver reports before. When Nightwing had been away and couldn't do it himself she was the one who did since the others were in her mind still too immature to do themselves. When they appeared in the Watchtower several eyes had met there's and they knew that such an entrance was not normal. Ignoring the probing eyes that now stared at them as they walked passed Raven led them to a room where the seven original founding members were. 'I hope this all goes well,' thought Raven hopefully as she was surprised as the group got closer to the now opening doors to the room.

As it was all seven members had just finished talking about business in aiding a poor third word country in-between Europe and Asia. When Raven approached them the "original seven" knew something was wrong in concerns to Nightwing. "The Teen Titans in Jump City what are you guys doing here?" said Flash trying to lighten the dark mood before whatever was wrong hit the fan.

"It's about Nightwing. I suspect he maybe in trouble from something that happened in my meditation just a few moments ago," said Raven.

"We suspected something as well when Fate contacted us during the meeting we just had and said that something devastating had just happened involving Nightwing. He couldn't tell what though because it was muffled by something and he couldn't lock down where exactly it was coming from becasue it was an echo of some sort," said Green Lantern calmly.

"Then why are you doing anything? Nightwing could be severely wounded, or he could be being tortured, and/or brainwashed," said Beast Boy who was getting hysterical at his point and everyone knew it.

"Calm down green bean we have Fate and several others who are spell casters watching the situation carefully on the whole situation," said Flash trying to ease their minds.

At that moment the red alert came meaning all superheroes were to head to the main area of the tower to see the situation was before mobilizing. All screens were filled with a horrible site as swarm after swarm of Shadowkahn were causing havoc all over Jump City, Gotham City, and Metropolis. What shocked the Titans and the seven founder of the League was that the commander of this army was none other then Nightwing in Jump City. He had glowing red eye and a bo-staff in his right hand as he threw an explosive disc at an incoming cop car. The disks explosive impact caused damage on the right of the vehicle sending the vehicle flying passed him and into a wall. What shocked the Titans and mostly Raven even more was that they saw Nightwing was smiling showing his demon fanged teeth. "We have to get down their and stop him," said Raven as she used her magic to engulf them all and went down to the planet.

(Jump City)

People fled by the dozens if not hundreds as the authorities were taken down by the Shadowkahn under Nightwing's command. "Remember Nightwing this is a field test of your powers and how far you can take them to your still growing limit. Make me proud my apprentice," said Slade in an ear piece with his insignia in it, but was covered by Nightwing's now long black hair.

"Yes...my master," said Nightwing as a rent a cop tried to become hero and fired his weapon at Nightwing getting in several shots in the chest area making him reel back a step.

"Take that you freak!" said the rent a cop with a smile only to see it fade as the wounds in Nightwing's chest closed spitting out the bullets as the master of the shadows looked at the cop with anger in his eyes.

"That wasn't smart," said Nightwing as he took his now extended bo-staff and struck the rent a cop several times before doing a spin kick to the man face sending him flying into a nearby window.

"NIGHTWING!" said a voice from behind Nightwing that he recognized as Raven's who he cold tell was shocked and surprised to see him doing this.

"Hello Raven and my dear sweet friends. If you're here now then that means that its only a matter of time before the Justice League heroes come down to show up," said a now taller, demon sounding, newly developed muscled Nightwing as he turned to face them.

"They will be, but will be the ones who get first crack at you," said Cyborg as he readied his sonic cannon and fired it at Nightwing sending him back several feet.

'It appears you're in a bind my boy. To fight your friends once more and serving Slade as his apprentice again. It seems history is repeating itself,' said Shadogun in Nightwing's mind though Nightwing didn't respond to his ancestors words.

Nightwing just cricked his neck twice as he stared at Cyborg for a moment and just he just smiled at him. "I'm only going to say this once my old friends. Turn back now while you can. Don't make me destroy all of you," said Nightwing who in a second was there and the next was in front of Cyborg and threw a several bow-staff attacks and then a very damaging punch to the gut of the half robot half mans face.

Beast Boy moved in next turning into a T-Rex and tried to bite off the muscled upper half of Nightwing's body. However, Nightwing unexpectedly put his bow-staff in-between the jaws of the green beast and kicked him in the side of his head sending him into a solid building wall. "Nightwing please stop or I will be force to fight you," said Starfire as she hoped as last time with her dear friend he would listen to her and surrender.

"Does that go the same for you too...Raven?" said Nightwing as the two girls were on either side of him ready to fight as did he.

"I'm afraid so Nightwing. I hoped you wouldn't become what you once fought, but I guess I was hoping too much," said Raven hoping (ironically) that Nightwing would be shaken with guilt by her words.

No such luck as Nightwing just smile at her now with his fangs baring at her and his eyes glowing or rather pulsing red as he looked to his left, then to his right. "Unless you want kill me through father time I suggest you come and attack me otherwise...I will," said a hungry sounding Nightwing as he attacked Starfire first by running in her direction and leaped into the air to meet her face to face.

Before Starfire could react out of either shock, fear, and/or both Nightwing did a vicious horizontal spin kick to Starfire's skull. The blow sent her falling to the pavement rather hard creating a massive crater in the ground. 'I guess I have to stop him,' thought Raven as the two now faced each other before she covered him her energy and threw him into a nearby van, then into a station wagon, and then into a concrete pillar for add measure.

For a moment Nightwing's body went limp and for a moment Raven thought of him once more as a friend and rushed over to him to see if he was all right. She placed a hand on his muscled shoulder and if she wasn't so worried about him she probably would have blushed from feeling the muscles he had recently acquired. Suddenly to her complete surprise Nightwing grabbed her wrist, raised his head to look at her shocked face and eyes, and reversed the position only with Raven pinned against the concrete wall with her feet dangling from the ground. "You let your guard Rae. That's not like you to do that at all...unless," said Nightwing out loud in a thoughtful voice as he moved his free hand move some hair out of face.

"Let me go or I'll...hmp!" said Raven, but was interrupted when Nightwing as before when he was still Robin kissed her on lips with more passion then the first and though Raven would admit to anyone, but she truly enjoyed itwith every fiber of her being.

When Nightwing's lips disconnected from her lips his red masked eyes met her still shocked ones before me he moved closer to her again only along the lines of her ear. "Now you owe me two kisses Raven. Maybe I should try for three?" said Nightwing then he whispered three little words as he let her go.

'What is he doing?' thought Raven who would have blushed from him being so close if she didn't think of him as a threat at the moment.

"Raven...I'm sorry," said Nightwing in a soft, gentle sounding voice and then he stepped back as she now slid down to the ground in surprise as his words sent hundreds of ripples through her body.

"Nightwing..." said Raven, but was cut off by a barrage of green energy blast and a green energy wall surrounding Raven to protect her.

After the smoke cleared Green Lantern was floating next to her with is ring aimed at a still standing Nightwing who was amazingly unaffected by the blasts. "I think its getting crowded around here so I'll take my leave. Raven...you owe me. Don't forget that," said Nightwing as two Shadowkahn appeared before him and they vanished below in a vortex of shadows that appeared below him.

Green Lantern looked at Raven to see if she was alright since she had hurt him the most even though he was still standing. "What did he mean by that?" said John Stewart of the Green Lantern's to Raven who was slowly getting up from the ground pulling her hood over her eyes.

"Nothing. Besides it seems you have bigger things to worry about and I have to take care of my friends," said Raven as she picked up her friends with her magic and teleported away back to the tower.

Nightwing was on the roof with his two Shadowkahn as he stared at the devitalizing and nearly unspeakable disaster he had help create with his loyal shadows. "Nightwing call back all your Shadowkahn we have all the data we need. You did rather well for the trial run...congratulations," said Slade through the ear piece connected to Nightwing's right ear.

"Already taken care of master I just need another minute or two since I did summon an equivalent of a small army in each city to cause havoc in," said Nightwing as his shadows heard his command and the heroes in each city that had been fighting them were instantly baffled as they vanished into portals of shadows or through smoke grenades till only the two by Nightwing's side were left.

"Good. Head to the roof on the other side of town your current location is compromised and they'll be moving in on it in less then 2 minutes," said Slade and Nightwing nodded and understood what Slade wanted.

"This will be a test of endurance against the heroes of the Justice League," said Nightwing as Superman, Captain Atom, and Green Arrow appeared on the roof surrounding him.

"Shows over kid your little fun has ended just surrender so we can end this quickly," said Green Arrow as he quickly readied an energy net arrow at the once hero now turned villain.

"Wrong archer boy this is only...the beginning," said Nightwing as he and his only two Shadowkahn ran at Green Arrow, leaped over him before he could react, and made it to the next roof still running with the heroes on his tail.

(A/N: Next chapter: Nightwing VS Justice League & Nightwing VS Batman.)