What up party people! Hope you guys are doing okay. We're finally starting arc II, look forward to it. So many things will happen, some funny, some dramatic, just know that they will happen. And expect some new characters appearing in the story. Now let's get to it.

Chapter 10: Childhood Nightmare

Batman was looking at the feather he gotten from the crime scene of Schott's death. He placed it on a scanner before looking at the screen. As he waited for the results, Danny was sitting in the sick bay, his face being tended too.

"I told you, I'm fine," he said as the cotton was dabbed on his face. "It's just a scratch."

"Hold still," the one tending him said. Holding the cotton was Dahlia, dressed like a maid.

Ever since she learned how to talk, she said that she would be his maid. He tried to refuse, but she refused his refusal. So, she became his self-appointed maid, taking care of his every whim; she did his laundry, cooked his meals, cleaned his room, and tended to his injuries.

She also tried to clean him when he bathes, but Cassie quickly stops her whenever she tries, much to his relief.

Speaking of Cassie, she was standing on a few feet away, Cujo lying on her feet, glaring at Dahlia as Alfred poured tea into cups before handing one to Cassie.

"Any clues on the feather, Dad?" Danny asked as he accepted the tea from Alfred, nodding in thanks.

"It's from a Great Grey Owl," Batman said, looking at the screen. "There are only five left in the world, four are held in protective custody in Oregon and California."

"What about the last one?" Danny asked as Dahlia placed a bandage on his face.

"There's one here, in Gotham," Batman said, standing up from his chair.

"Where are we going?" Danny said as he attempted to stand up.

"We're not going anywhere," Batman said, stopping Danny. "I'm going alone. You stay here and rest."

"What!?" Danny exclaimed, walking towards Batman. "Why? Is this because I got knocked out? I can go!"

"I'm going alone," Batman said sternly, causing Danny to stop. Not waiting for a reply, Batman walked towards the Batmobile, getting on the driver's seat. The Batmobile sped out the cave. Danny turned his head to the ground, a frown on his face. Cujo whined at his feet, trying to make him feel better.

He turned when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Cassie, a worried look on her face. He looked at her before he took a deep breath, calming down.

"Young Master Danny," Alfred said, getting their attention. "Do not take offense on your father's behavior. He is simply worried."

"Then why didn't he ask for help?" Danny asked. "We could have helped him."

"Like I said, he is worried, for you," Alfred said. "Just give him time. He will ask for help when he is ready."

Danny looked at Alfred before nodding in understanding. Suddenly, Cassie tapped his shoulders, getting his attention. She was pointing at the computer, showing that there was a string of robberies in jewelry stores.

"You…me…handle it," she said as she put on her cowl.

"Sure, I could blow some steam," Danny said as he put on his mask. The two ran to their bikes, putting on their helmets and driving out of the cave, leaving Alfred and a pouting Dahlia.

"Well, let's get back to your training, Miss Dahlia," Alfred said to Dahlia.

"Okay," Dahlia nodded to Alfred.

Ever since she started living in the Wayne Manor, Alfred taught her how to talk, as well as being a maid, something she took in strive, since she wanted to be Danny's personal maid. She had a smug look on her face directed to Cassie as she served Danny, annoying the former assassin.

Dahlia soon paid attention as Alfred demonstrated how to make tea and how to pour it. Cujo just yawned and lied on the floor, deciding to take a nap before waiting for his master.

In Downtown Gotham, in a special aviary, Batman stealthily entered the building, calmly looking at his surroundings. Filled with exotic and endanger birds, charts about their special characteristics and environments, and pictures of the owner founder: Sebastian Clark.

He made his way to the owl sanctuary, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the security cameras. Batman finally made it to the owl sanctuary, easily opening the door, finding himself in an artificial forest.

Batman walked towards the center of the forest, going to a big, white tree. Resting on the branches was a Great Grey Owl, its large, yellow eyes looking at Batman. The Dark Knight narrowed his eyes, feeling a strike of fear in his heart.

When he was a child, bats weren't the only thing he was afraid of, owls also gave him fear. Those large, soulless eyes haunted him ever since he was a child, staring at him through his window at the dead of night, scaring him and giving him nightmares.

Batman quickly shook his head and looked around the area, using his lenses to try and find something odd about this place. He narrowed his eyes when he found nothing about the place, no hidden stairways, no fake walls, no trapdoors. He triple checked his surroundings but still found nothing.

"Nothing here," Batman muttered to himself as he exited the sanctuary. He then looked at the picture of Sebastian Clark. "Maybe I could try Sebastian Clark's home."

Through his gauntlet, he searched about the late Sebastian Clark, seeing that he died in his sleep. He lived at the outskirts of Gotham City, which became abandoned after the bank took everything.

Batman quickly exited the aviary, unaware that a presence was behind him, looking at him with tinted green lenses.

Meanwhile, in the other side of Gotham, Robin and Batgirl were hurrying their way towards the break in. Once they were a block away, the two activated autopilot and jumped off their bikes, grappling to the rooftops.

Rolling on the rooftop, the two ran towards the jewelry store, stopping just on the other side if the street. They both grabbed their binoculars, looking at the store to look for clues.

"You know, I never get why people like jewelry so much," Robin commented to Batgirl as they looked for the intruder.

"Priceless…and valuable…" Batgirl replied.

"But why? They're just crystalized carbon," Robin said. "The price of a ring here can buy you ten bags of coal, which is also carbon. You can even make some with methanol and heat it with a tungsten filament."

"Shiny…and pretty…" Batgirl replied.

"Oh, so they have the instincts like a magpie," Robin commented. "I'll never understand criminals. Found the thief!"

Batgirl turned to where he was looking and saw a figure running to the east. The two quickly gave chase, running after their thief. They noticed that the thief was surprisingly fast and nimble, running through the rooftops as if they belong to the sky rather than the ground.

"She…fast!" Batgirl commented, seeing that they weren't gaining any ground.

Robin saw that the thief was going right, so he pulled out an explosive batarang and threw it towards the rooftop the thief was going too. When the thief landed on the rooftop, they ran past the batarang, which exploded, sending the thief tumbling on the roof and dropping her bags of jewels, allowing the duo to catch up.

Once they caught up, they finally got a good look of their thief. It was a woman in her late twenties, with pale skin, white, shoulder-length hair, black make up on her face and abnormally long fingernails with black nail polish, wearing a black leather outfit with feathery wing-like ornaments on her shoulders and wears black thigh-high heeled leather boots.

"Margaret…Sorrow," Batgirl commented, surprised.

"The Magpie?" Robin said, also surprised. "I thought she was dead."

"My shinnies!" Magpie cried as she crawled to the jewels, quickly scooping them up in the sack. "My pretty shinnies!"

Suddenly, a batarang hit her hand, causing her to drop the jewels and glaring at the duo.

"Dead or not, you're not taking those jewels," Robin said as he and Batgirl stood ready.

"I will tear the ones who wants my shinnies!" Magpie exclaimed and charged.

Batgirl jumped to the side to dodge Magpie's claws while Robin blocked her attacks with his gauntlets, making sparks from every swipe she gave. Robin saw Batgirl positioned behind Magpie, crouching down. He started going to the offensive, pushing Magpie back.

Suddenly, when she felt Batgirl behind her, she stumbled a little, giving Robin the chance to kick her, making her fall hard on her back as she tumbled over Batgirl. Before she could stand back up, Batgirl jumped towards her and elbow dropped her on the chest, knocking her out.

"Is she alive?" Robin asked since that elbow drop looked brutal.

"She…very…durable," Batgirl replied as she grabbed a pair of bat-cuffs, cuffing the unconscious thief before hanging her on the edge of the roof for the cops, the bag of jewels tied next to her.

Content that she won't escape, the two left her to patrol the city, unaware that someone was watching them.

"So, where do you think we should go next?" Robin asked as they kept jumping from rooftop to rooftop.

"Fair…near…the pier," Batgirl suggested.

"Right, a lot of vulnerable would-be victims for those muggers out there," Robin agreed as they made their way to the pier. "Hey, what's it like going to a fair?"

"…It…is…okay," she replied. "Plenty…of…food…and…games."

"Oh," Robin said, going silent for a while. Being raised by assassins, he's never been to the fair before. He heard stories from Dick and Jason, but he never experienced the rides, games, and food.

Batgirl seemed to sense his troubles, looking at him as they ran towards the pier. Before she could say something, they finally reached the edge of the fair, where Robin saw an entire area filled with colorful tents and rides, watching as friends and families play games, enjoy the rides, and eat fair food.

"Heads up," Robin said as he pointed something on the docks. The two nodded at each other before jumping off the roof they were on.

On the docks, two thugs were beating up a man while two more fat thugs were holding another man by the arms as he struggled to get himself free.

"Leave him alone!" he exclaimed angrily as he tried to free himself.

"Shut up and watch your boyfriend get beaten!" the thugs holding him said with a sneer.

"Faggots like you should have stayed indoors," the thug with greasy hair said as he aggressively kicked the man on the head.

"Let's push him off the docks, see if faggots can swim," the other one with a mohawk said with a grin.

Smirking, the two thugs grabbed him and were about to throw him off, when a batarang hit one on the head, knocking him off his feet and letting the man go.

Before they could react, Batgirl appeared behind the two thugs holding the man, kicking them on the head, causing them to let go of him as she pushed the man behind her.

"What the hell!?" the thug said before Robin appeared behind him and kneed the back of his knee, making him fall to the ground.

"I know people get loose on the fair, but you punks are taking it too far," he said with a glare as he stood protectively in front of the beaten man.

"Stay out of it, bird shit!" the thug that got knocked down exclaimed angrily as he stood back up. "These faggots deserve to go to Hell!"

"Sounds like someone is a little insecure about their sexuality," Robin said in a taunting tone. "What? Jealous that two guys are happier than you?"

"Shut up!" the thug exclaimed as he rushed towards Robin, who ducked his sloppy punch and elbowed him hard on the gut, making him stumble back and falling on his back, holding his gut.

"I mean, there's a fair here and all you guys are doing is harassing a couple trying to enjoy their time?" Robin said as he dodged the punches of another thug. "I mean, if you guys are sexually confused, you could have experimented with each other."

The mohawk thug he was fighting growled and tried to punch Robin, who dodged and stuck his foot out, tripping the thug off the docks, falling into the water. When he tried to climb back up, Robin quickly cuffed him to a wooden post, trapping him.

Meanwhile, Batgirl was busy defending the couple from the last two thugs, jumping over them to dodge their attacks. With a grace turn in the air, Batgirl landed on her hands and did a perfect split that kicked the two thugs on the gut. She then flipped towards the thug on the right, landing on his head and sending him crashing face first before she jumped towards the other thug, smashing her knee to his face, knocking him out.

The guy Robin was fighting finally got his bearings back and saw his friends all beaten. Panicked, he quickly ran away from them as fast as he could, which didn't go unnoticed.

"Batgirl, stay here until the police arrive," Robin said. Batgirl nodded and tended to the beaten victim as Robin chased after the greasy thug.

Greasy hair ran as fast as he can, his breathing painfully labor as he ignored the pain in his gut. He quickly ran to a dark alley, leaning on a wall to catch his breath. Once he was sure they couldn't find him, he grew mad.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed angrily as he kicked a garbage can before he started beating his fists on a dumpster. "Stupid shitheads! Couldn't even kill a couple of faggots without being beaten by kids! Fuck! Fuck!"

Suddenly, he heard something in the alley. He growled before grabbing a beer bottle, breaking it to have a sharp weapon.

"Come on out, Robin!" he exclaimed angrily. "You think I'm scared of a kid in tights! You know, I heard rumors that Batman was gay with Robin! Guess you're the new boy toy!"

He walked deeper into the alley, intending to stab someone. Suddenly, he felt something hit his hand, causing him to drop the bottle. He looked and his eyes widened when he saw a blade through his hand, blood leaking from the wound.

"Aaaaagh!" he exclaimed as he attempted to pull the knife out, only to have two more hit him on the shoulders, making him fall to the ground, his back hitting the glass shards. He then heard footsteps, making him look up and saw, not Robin, but a man wearing a black armor with gold linings, black gauntlets with gold claws, black boots, a sword strapped on his back, and a black helmet that looked like an owl, the green lenses peering through his soul. "Who the fuck are you!?"

"Your executioner," he said as he lifted his right hand, a blade popping from his wrist.

"S-stay away from me, you freak!" he exclaimed in fear as he crawled away, leaving a blood trail. "Get back!"

When the man was in front of him, he aimed at his heart, intending to stab him. Suddenly, a birdarang hit his arm, making him stop. He looked up and saw Robin land on the dumpster before jumping towards him, a kick aimed at the assailant. He blocked it but was pushed back a few feet away from the injured thug.

"Not bad," the man said as he rubbed his arms. Even though it was armored, he could feel the impact. "You're strong for someone so young."

"Who are you?" Robin demanded with narrowed eyes.

Suddenly, greasy thug stood up and started running, ignoring the wounds he suffered. He didn't get far, as a bola suddenly wrapped around him, restraining him and making him fall on the sidewalk face first.

"Stay," Robin said to him, still looking at the stranger. "Now, who are you."

"A friend," the man said, the blade receding back in his gauntlet.

"Sorry, but I don't have any friends who're into killing," Robin said. "Family, sure, but not friends."

"I'm not your enemy, Robin," the man, not taking a defensive stance. "I want the same thing you want, to keep the city safe from danger."

"Look in the mirror, pal," Robin said. "You're the very definition of danger."

"And the Batman isn't?" the man said.

"He doesn't kill," Robin said.

"And that's why he won't succeed," the man said as he paced around Robin, who kept his eyes on him. "If he doesn't kill the problem, it'll only get bigger, and more people will suffer for it. It's such a simple solution, and yet he is too weak to do what needs to be done."

"You call it weakness, I call it strength," Robin said with a glare. "He has the power to kill anyone in this city, in this world, but he chooses not to, because he knows that once he becomes the monsters he fights, then he won't stop. That's why I admire him."

"You are wrong to admire him, Robin," the man said before he looked up. "We will meet again. And you will see that I am right."

Robin narrowed his eyes as the man walked backwards to the alley, disappearing into the shadows, the green lenses the last one to disappear into the darkness.

"And you can call me Talons," the voice echo.

Robin looked at the darkness, knowing that he wasn't there anymore. He narrowed his eyes before he grabbed greasy hair and dragged him back to the docks, where the police were waiting for them. He handed greasy hair to them before leaving with Batgirl.

"He…look…terrified," Batgirl said, noting greasy hair's injuries. "What…happened?"

"We need to go back to the cave," Robin said in a serious tone. Batgirl nodded before the two hopped back on their bikes and sped back to the cave.

Meanwhile, Batman was walking through the abandoned mansion of Sebastian Clark. It was dusty and full of cobwebs, the remaining furniture broken by rot, and the paintings all torn and faded. He stared at the painting of a white-haired old man wearing a black suit, a stern look on his face.

His eyes narrowed as he studied the picture. His lenses glowed, letting him see the structural integrity of the mansion. He noticed that, despite being old and abandoned, behind the walls were sophisticated wiring. He spotted the power source, so he threw a batarang at it. Once it penetrated the wall, the electricity suddenly stopped, and the painting slowly slide sideways, revealing a hidden entrance.

Narrowing his eyes, Batman thought about calling for backup before he stopped and walked towards the entrance. It was dark, long, and narrow, with the only source of light were the stairs and the only sounds were his footsteps. After what felt like a long time, he finally reached the bottom. The whole place was dark, except for the floor, showing a white line, showing that the only way was forward.

He continued walking, following the bright light, his footsteps echoing loudly. Suddenly, the ground below him opened up, making him fall into the darkness. Using his night vision, Batman managed to safely land in the darkness. As he stood up, a bright light temporarily blinded him due to his night vision. Once he's eyes adjusted, he found himself in a completely white maze, so bright that even his shadow couldn't be seen.

Batman narrowed his eyes as he started walking, holding on to the right wall to keep himself grounded. He walked from east to west, north to south, left to right, but he never saw any changes to his location, just a long, one-way corridor.

"I'm actually surprised you managed to find this place so soon," a voice said, echoing in the white maze. "You're more impressive than I heard."

"Who are you?" Batman demanded as he looked up, seeing nothing but the white ceiling.

"I'm sure you know who we are, Batman," the voice said. "After all, a man with your sense of paranoia should have stumbled upon us. We've been around before Gotham was even formed. We shaped Gotham from her shadow, we decide whether she rises or falls."

Batman's eyes narrowed as he kept walking at a much fast pace.

"What's this? Did I frighten you? So, even the scary big bat has something to be scared of," the voice said in a taunting manner. "Beware the Court of Owls, that watches all the time~."

Batman's eyes widened as he remembered those emotionless, yellow eyes staring at him through his childhood room.

"Ruling Gotham of a shadow perch, behind granite and lime~."

Batman's heart beat faster as he quickened his pace, feeling like something was behind him.

"They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed~."

Batman sprinted into a run, almost slamming on the walls of the maze as he made the turns.

"Speak not a whispered word of them, or they'll send the Talon for your head!"

Batman finally made it out of the maze, only for a figure to appear in front of him and attacked.

Twelve-year-old Bruce Wayne woke up in a start, sweating profusely and breathing heavily. He looked around in his dark room, looking scared. He looked out his window and saw a creature in the darkness, staring at him with terrifying yellow eyes.

He quickly hid under his covers, closing his eyes as tight as he could, feeling the gaze outside the window locked at him, as if waiting for him to come out.

"They're not real, they're not real, they're not real," he repeated fervently, almost as if reciting a prayer. Slowly, he pulled down the covers to look out the window.

Batman grunted as he stumbled back, quickly steadying himself. He looked in front of him and saw Talon walking towards him. Batman gritted his teeth before he charged. He threw punches, but Talon was easily dodging and blocking his sloppy attack.

"Is this all you've got?" Talon said in a taunting manner as he easily evaded Batman's frantic attacks. "I guess all that talk about your accomplishments were just that, all talk."

Talon pushed aside Batman's right straight and counter with a hook to the face, followed by a one-two to the gut before an uppercut that sent Batman flying. He rolled on the floor and landed on a crouch, breathing deeply and erratically, his heart beating against his chest.

"What…Who are you?" he demanded, trying to calm down.

"I am the Talon of the Court of Owls," Talon said as he walked towards Batman. "Your worst NIGHTMARE!"

Talon suddenly changed in front of Batman, becoming a shadowy monster with demented eyes and long claws, black feathers falling off from his body. Batman, out of panic, threw batarangs towards the monstrous Talon, but it flew through Talon. Soon, monstrous, bird-like figures surrounded Batman, trapping him. The figures stared at Batman with big, yellow, emotionless eyes that pierced through his very soul. Batman threw batarangs, but it did nothing to the figures, who edged closer towards him.

"Stay away!" Batman exclaimed as he wildly threw batarangs and punches. The figured then flapped their wings and burst into a thousand Gray Owls that descended upon him. He screamed as he wildly attacked the owls before he felt a heavy blow on his face, turning his world black.

Batcave…

Roars of the engine broke the silence of the Batcave. Robin and Batgirl drove from the entrance and quickly dismounted from their bikes. Robin quickly rushed to the computer and pulled off his mask. He connected the mask to the computer and went to check the recordings. Batgirl walked towards him, pulling her cowl down, looking at the screen in confusion.

"What…you…looking…for?" she asked as she saw Danny's confused expression.

"That can't be right…" Danny muttered as he kept rewinding the video. "I saw him right there."

He replayed the time he met Talon in the dark alley, but he saw nothing, he heard nothing, he just saw the greasy haired thug crawling away after getting hit by something invisible before Robin arrived and restrained him. It then showed Robin talking to himself until leaving the alley.

"There was someone there with me in the alley," Danny said as he checked his mask, seeing if it was damaged.

"Someone?" Cassie asked as Danny checked his mask.

"Someone named Talon," Danny replied as he saw that there wasn't anything wrong with his mask. "He was strong and brutal. He was about to kill Greasy over there if I didn't stop him."

"What…he…look…like?" Cassie asked.

"Hm…" Danny looked around and spotted some paper and a pen. He drew a simple version of Talon and showed it to Cassie. "It was this guy. Just imagine him bigger with green eyes."

"Never…seen…him…before," Cassie replied. "Will…ask…Barbara…for…info."

"I should tell Dad," Danny said as he went to contact Batman. "The Cave to Batman, come in Batman…Hello? Batman? Are you there?"

There was no reply, earning a worried look from Danny. He kept trying, but only got static. Cassie went to try and search for Batman's location. She couldn't find it, but she found the last know location, an old mansion near the outskirts of Gotham.

The two looked at each other before immediately put on their masks and went back to their bikes. A few minutes later, they spotted the mansion, and saw the Batmobile near it. The two stopped and went to check the vehicle, seeing that it was alright, but empty.

"Look, his footprints," Robin said noticing the prints heading towards the abandoned mansion. "If he's in there, he's been in there for a while. We should go inside."

"Yes…let's…go," Batgirl said with a nod.

Before the two could take a step, the mansion exploded. Startled, the two quickly jumped over the Batmobile, using it as a shield from the shockwave of the explosions. They felt some burned debris falling nearby. Slowly, the two peeked over the Batmobile to see the mansion destroyed, small fires burning around the wreckage.

"Dad!" Robin exclaimed as he and Batgirl jumped over the Batmobile and rushed towards the wreckage. The two of them started digging through the wreckage, praying that Batman wasn't under it.

"Robin!" Batgirl called as she dug something out. Robin looked and saw that on her hands was Batman's utility belt.

The two shared a worried look as they turned back to the damaged utility belt, the owner missing within the burning wreckage.

Damn! Bet you guys weren't expecting that? Just the second chapter of the second arc, and already Batman is missing! What the heck happened to Batman? I could tell you what happened to him, but that would be spoiling. And you guys are smart, so you can guess what happened to him. As for how he got captured, well, he has been captured before, and the Court of Owls are like centuries old, so they might be able to capture the Dark Knight.

So, relax as I figure out what happens next. Next chapter, missing hero. See you later!