Author's Note:
To those who nagged, commented, and kept reminding me of things left unfinished. This chapter is dedicated to all of you.
This is the original ending I had planned all those years ago.
Chapter 3
2053
Diana stood by Donna's beside, "No one could have expected it, Richard. You are not omniscient nor are you omnipotent."
He shook his head, "Bruce told me about the Jokerz, Diana. I should –."
She interrupted him by covering his mouth with her hand, "Richard Grayson, ifs and shoulds do not matter. What matters is that she is alive and will remain that way. And the Jokerz will eventually be caught."
"Now, we will be moving Donna to Themyscira shortly. I promise you, you will receive weekly updates as well as immediate notification if anything happens."
Dick nodded his thanks, his eyes still on the still form of his wife. "Take care of her, Diana. Of them."
"I will, Richard."
Dick stood in front of the display, his hand on the glass as he thought back through the years, remembering the first time he saw the costume in the mirror as he wore it … the colors just screaming 'shoot me'.
Then there was his costume as Nightwing … where the hell did Bruce find the 'Elvis' collar one?
His eyes wandered over Jason's costume, shaking his head sadly.
Tim's costume was pristine as he had retired years before his death in a pointless vehicular accident.
Stephanie … same accident.
His eyes halted on the Suit.
His expression changed, from downcast to determined and he opened the case.
Bruce made his way down the stairs to the Cave, an expression of surprise flickering across his face at the sight of the figure standing before the computer.
"What are you doing!"
"Some Jokerz just hit a small jewelry store. It's time to hit back."
With that, Dick pulled the cowl over his face, and the Batman started the Batmobile and took off through the cave system.
The Joker looked into the mirror, his demented smile on display as he opened a small jar and dabbed a cloth into it, then began rubbing it onto his face, turning the skin from a bone chilling white to the decidedly more natural looking skin color of the average person. After a few minutes of effort, with the white gone from his face, he activated a small device on a hairbrush and literally brushed the green out, his hair turning into a very dark bluish-black. Within a short time, a perfectly normal teenager looked back at him from the mirror.
"Well, Brucie boy, this is it. Reports are already showing up about a bat being seen in the city. Looks like the Bat is back," he thought to himself.
"It's time to have some fun."
With that final thought, Bruce Wayne II turned out the lights of the small room and left the warehouse.
-30-
End note:
This is it. The end of End of Nightwing. It's been fun. It's been irritating. And I come away from this with a greater appreciation of all those writers who manage to keep those chapters coming out with such regularity.