Cherry let out a small groan as she collapsed onto her huge bed that she shared with Thor and Lionel.

"I don't care what those women at the grocery store say," Thor glared. "You are a great mom."

"You think so?" Cherry asked. "I'm exhausted."

"Tut, tut..." Thor wagged his finger before he grabbed her right foot.

"Yaugh!" Cherry yelped as she almost slipped from that.

Thor smiled as he massaged her foot. Cherry tried to protest, though she grunted and let out a very relaxed-sounding moan.

"I call left!" Lionel replied as he took the left foot and began massaging it as well.

"Gah!" Cherry yelped before she looked relaxed again. "Oh, you guys... Are you trying to butter me up for something?"

"No, that was last week when we pretended you were popcorn." Thor smirked.

"Oh! Sh-... Shh!" Cherry shushed with a chuckle.

"We just thought you looked tense." Thor said to her.

"So we figured we'd take some stress off you!" Lionel added.

"I guess I'm just worried about the kids," Cherry sighed a bit. "What are we gonna do with this Dark Knight business and making sure that they're all okay?"

"Hey, we'll make sure they're okay!" Lionel replied. "And make sure the city stays safe!" But somehow, he felt like things were about to get much more complicated.

"I sure hope so," Cherry said softly. "Sometimes it feels like it's getting harder."

"Regardless, you are a great mother," Thor advised. "Even my uncle thinks you're a pretty good mother too."

"Bruce did too after the first time I got pregnant while Aunt Selina helped me out with getting adjusted since it felt scary the first time we were about to start our family." Cherry said with a low sigh.

"And he was right." Lionel replied.

Just then, they got a text from Max's phone:

"Hey, bosses;

Apparently mine and Carrie's training starts tomorrow; Bats sez it'll be weeks before we're ready for direct contact... He's detailed the plan out, but if we stray in any way? We get canned. Feel free to tag along tomorrow, if you want.

XOXO, Max"

"Hmm... What do we do?" Cherry paused thoughtfully.

"I reckon we could supervise, just in case," suggested Thor. "It'd make for some nifty on-the-job training."

"Did you just say 'reckon'?" Cherry asked.

"Let me have this or else I'll numb your tongue again." Thor smirked.

"Gah! No! Jeez!" Cherry cried out.

"Heheheh," Thor chuckled. "I stole that from Uncle Dearest~"

"All right, we'll supervise," Cherry sighed a bit. "I just hope I don't get overworked with the stress. That used to happen to Dick a lot."

"Fair enough, and we'll try to handle most of the workload so that doesn't happen." Lionel replied.

"Good? Good... Good... Good..." Cherry said as she nodded with her boys.

"Good night!" The three said together as they felt secure now with more ground to cover. And so, they dozed off, preparing for another night of fierce crime-fighting.

The kids all seemed to sleep okay, though Felicity still thought about what to do with Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos other than apologizing before she left that night out her window as she decided to sit on the roof to look at the moon with a bit of a sigh. "I'm so sorry of being mad with and total scum... Where's my happy ending?" she said with a sigh to herself.

Eventually, the following morning came around, and LJ decided to accompany Felicity on her way to the sidewalk where Mal and her friends usually hung out.

"Thanks for coming with me," Felicity said to LJ. "I know it'll take a lot to get forgiveness, but it's best to get it out as soon as possible."

"There's the older sister I know and love," LJ replied. "I'm sure Mom, Dad, and Uncle will appreciate this too."

Felicity gave a small smile before they came to a stop.

"Whoa, Carlos, you look crashed," Jay said. "Your mom make you stay up to make sure no one takes her fur coats again?"

Carlos yawned heavily with a nod. "I swear, she'd probably treat a dog better than me sometimes..." he then mumbled out.

LJ cleared his throat to get their attention. When they glanced over to him, he spoke up. "I have someone with me who'd like to apologize for the stupid move she pulled." he explained before he stepped aside to let Felicity take center stage.

Felicity walked over a bit. "Um... Hey, guys..." she smiled sheepishly. "Some party, huh?"

The four glared a bit while crossing their arms a bit, even Evie and she was the sweetest one out of all of them.

"I'm sorry about my performance at that party," Felicity sighed as she bowed her head. "I guess I wasn't really sure how to act... Especially since I've never been to school before until I started high school."

"...You didn't go to elementary or middle school?" Mal asked.

"When I was a little girl, I was shopping with my mother, then I lost her in the Mall," Felicity sighed. "I got really scared and got lost in the crowd... I was terrified and I've been afraid of crowds ever since. So, I haven't been to school before I became a freshman."

"Plus she was buzzed off her butt at the party," LJ added. "And have we ever known anybody to act rationally while under the influence?"

"Hm... Yeah... Especially those PSAs at school." Mal remarked.

"Don't drink and drive... Don't drink until you're older... Blah, blah, blah..." The four friends recited together, a bit dully.

"I am very sorry for what happened," Felicity told her new friends. "I'll do whatever it takes, just as long as you can forgive me and become my friends again."

"...Well, alright..." Mal replied. "We'll give you another shot. Just this once."

"Ah, excellent!" Felicity cheered.

"But that's it," Jay glared. "If you do something stupid like that again or make fun of my hair, we will not be responsible for our actions."

"Erm... Understood..." Felicity said nervously.

"Glad we got that settled," Carlos replied. "So... What now?"

"Maybe we could have some chocolate frosted milkshakes?" Felicity suggested. "Ya know, hang out before we have to go back to school?"

"...Sure, okay." replied the others in agreement.

Felicity gave two thumb's up at LJ. LJ smiled as he gave a thumb's up back to her.

"Hopefully this is worth it," Carlos said to Felicity. "I really like ya, Felicity. Uh... But not in that way, uh, like how a brother loves a sister."

"Sure, I understand," Felicity replied. "I feel the same way about you, Carlos."

The others smiled about that. It was definitely a heartfelt sentiment.

"I think I met the girl of my dreams at your party though..." Carlos smiled bashfully. "...Hopefully, she consents."

"Oh? Anybody I know?" Felicity asked.

"...Probably the Headmistress's daughter?" Carlos replied.

"Oh... You mean Jane?" Felicity asked. "I think she's more shy than I am. I don't know anything about her other than who her mother is."

"Well, you two seem nice for one another," Evie replied. "Maybe you'll get another chance to talk to her."

Carlos looked bashful.

"Chicks, huh?" Jay smirked at Carlos. "I could help ya out there. I'm a chick magnet myself."

Mal rolled her eyes a bit from that.

"I'll try to help out," Felicity said. "That's what friends do."

"Thanks, Felicity." Carlos smiled from that.

"At least you guys got that cleared up." LJ smiled.

"Looks like it." Felicity said.

"I'm still watching you, but yeah..." Mal replied. "I'm still mad at the person who let me down for the first time in my life."

"Oh, it couldn't be that bad to hold a grudge over," Felicity said. "Maybe I could help you?"

"I doubt it..." Mal said, a bit coldly as she walked off briefly to think.

"I'm sorry... Did I say something wrong?" Felicity asked.

"It's not your fault," Evie sighed softly as she knew why Mal was bummed out. "H-Her father left her and her mother after she was born."

"Oh..." Felicity replied. "W-Well... If it's alright, you could spend some time at my house... Hopefully this time, without a crazy party."

The others looked to each other.

"Shouldn't you ask the adults first?" LJ asked.

"It's just a little visit." Felicity defended.

"I guess I could let my mom know beforehand," Mal replied. "Y'know... So she doesn't wonder where I am."

"You seem to have issues with your mother." Felicity remarked.

"It's complicated..." Mal let out a small groan. "It's fine though. Don't worry about me."

"...Well, we're friends... I feel like I should..." Felicity said softly.

"It's nothing, really," Mal replied. "...But thanks for the concern, I appreciate it. Besides... Those milkshakes aren't gonna get themselves; let's move it."

Felicity looked a bit soft before they soon walked off together.

"Have fun, Sis." LJ said as he watched the teenagers go.

"I'm sure everything's gonna work out just fine now." Felicity smiled warmly.

LJ gave a nod, and he headed back to the Fudo house, whistling all the way.

Later that evening, Batman was driving through the street on his Batcycle, with Carrie and Max in the sidecar, both disguised as Mutant punks. Bat-Mite, Voltage, and Catwoman II were each flying overhead, disguises ready just in case, as they headed to the Beet St. Arcade, the site of their first battle with the Mutant gangsters. Speaking of which, two of said gangsters were hanging out at the arcade.

"That Batman... He nasty. Tossed Spike right through th' sign!" said one with a shirt that said 'My Name is ROB'.

"Yeah... I figure that real coo', Rob," replied another with a shirt labeled 'My name is DON'. "Leader peg Batman."

Catwoman II shushed the others as they were close by that time.

"Leader say that, but Leader in a cell, Don." Rob told him.

"Leader don't ship out no cell." Don replied.

Max and Carrie took that time to walk down the way together which caught the two guys' attention right away.

"Eyes slideways." Rob smirked a bit to his buddy.

"Oh, chicken legs," Don replied. "In colors."

"Chicken legs, lickin' chegs..." grinned Rob.

"Chegs kinda my nasty, Rob." said Don as Rob seized Carrie by the arm.

"Chegs billy... Chegs pre-school mutant!" he replied as Carrie jerked her arm back.

"Leader take your face for touchin' me, Spud," Carrie told him.

"Yeah, right... Yo leader's squeeze, I figure," said Rob.

"Yeah? You really mutants, I figure." Max remarked.

"We mutants! We slicer-dicers!" Rob protested firmly.

"Sure you are, that's why you at the pipe," Max smirked. "Whatever. I don't shiv."

"Ah-hah..." chuckled Don. "She don't shiv."

"I don't shiv neither." Carrie said as she tried to fit in with Max.

"What pipe?" Rob asked. "What you billy about?"

"Ears only, Spud," Carrie replied as he seemed to look confused. "As in members."

"We Mutants," Rob said. "What pipe?"

"The pipe. West River and 40," Carrie explained. "Attendance. As in mandatory."

"Yeah, sure, I knew about the pipe." Rob then said.

"Sure you did," Max scoffed as she left with Carrie. "Didn't hear it from us, Spud."

"Real coo', Rob," remarked Don.

"Shut up and c'mon." replied Rob, as the both of them ran off, leaving the two teenagers to smirk with glee at how well the plan worked. And so, they went around, telling other members of the Mutant gang about this little rendezvous at "the pipe", so as to assure their attendance.

Finally, the both of them regrouped in an alley with Batman and the others.

"Where to?" asked Carrie.

"Take the cycle back to the cave," replied Batman. "You're all done for tonight."

"How do you know it worked?" asked Max, before she and the others all glanced up to a tall building, with the Bat-Signal being projected off its surface.

"Looks like it's time for other commitments." Catwoman II said.

"It's never over," Voltage remarked. "Not even when the fat lady sings."

They soon came to the top of the building together to meet up with Gordon who was there, waiting for them as they looked to see what was going on.

"There must be thousands of them," Gordon collected. "Why? Why there?"

"Because I want them there." Batman replied.

"It'll take an army to surround them," Gordon retorted. "I could call in the National Guard." he then offered.

"No. You can't arrest and hold them all," Batman told him. "The only way to finish this is to defeat them. Humiliate them. I'm counting on you, Jim. One last time."

Gordon just turned to Batman and gave a silent nod. The final showdown between the Batman and the Mutant Leader was underway at last.

"This is it, guys," Catwoman II told the guys. "This could be the ultimate moment of Batman's career."

"How do ya feel?" Voltage asked her.

"A little scared, but I'm sure he'll be alright," Catwoman II said. "He's always been the stronger one... Especially with that moment with the team-up with Batman and Power Girl after Lex Luthor became President of the United States."

"Yeah, that was wild." Bat-Mite nodded.

"Even more than that time with Constantine?" Voltage asked.

"Probably even more than that," Catwoman II replied. "Also that time with the Teen Titans. It's pretty huge."

"Might as well get to work." Bat-Mite replied.

A little while later, Gordon came back into the police station. "Thompson, you're relieved." he told the guard on watch.

The mutant leader flashed a toothy grin. "You come to say hello, old man?" he asked.

"No," replied Gordon firmly. "I came to say goodbye."

The mutant leader glared with a bit of a growl as he watched the old man leave. Gordan shut the doors behind him as the lights shut out on that. Also from that, the prison cell doors opened which let the mutant leader come out as he tried to get to the double doors, but they seemed to be stuck. He then saw the vents and decided to use that as his get-away.

Voltage used some special magic to keep an eye on the mutant leader at that.

"Now?" Batman asked.

"Just a little bit longer... Aaaand... He's close to the sewers..." Voltage reported. "I'd say go now, Mr. Dark Knight."

Batman nodded and then lunged at the mutant leader, tackling him into a large mud pit.

"BATMAN!" roared the leader as he got to his feet. "Face me, fool! I kill you! I show you who rules Gotham City!"

Like a phantom emerging from the murky depths, Batman got to his feet. "Okay, boy..." he replied. "...Show me."

The mutant leader came to throw a punch at Batman, only for him to catch the fist before he struck him back in the face as a fight broke out between the two of them.

"Two men enter, one man leaves." Voltage told Catwoman II and Bat-Mite as he used his magic to make a screen appear so that they could watch the fight from the sewers.

"Just like a Mad Max flick... More specifically, 'Beyond Thunderdome'." Bat-Mite added as the mutants watched.

"You see, Don?" asked Rob. "Batman, he nasty."

"Hope Rob don't say balls nasty," replied Don.

"Balls nasty,"

"Shh!"

Fortunately, unlike the previous fight, Batman seemed to be getting the upper hand and giving the Mutant Leader a major-league run for his money. "You WEAK, old man!" he taunted, trying to throw him off his game. "You're slow!"

"True, but we're all slow when we're thigh-high deep in mud," replied Batman. The hulking brute lunged to tackle the Dark Knight, but he dodged out of the way before he could land; in a fit of rage, the ugly mook tried to claw Batman's face off, but ended up getting bat-smacked in the head, throwing off his balance somehow.

"And you're not too bright." added the Caped Crusader before he kicked him in the face, punched him in the gut, and then punched him across the face.

It seemed like every time the Mutant Leader tried to counterattack, Batman always thought three steps ahead of him.

"What was that?" The mutant leader smirked as he seemed unhit. At first.

"Just the right kind of cut above the eyes," Batman replied as the mutant leader soon saw blood drawing from his head. "The kind that bleeds." he then said as he took that time to whack him down at the mud.

The mud splashed onto the two mutants who were together as they watched the fight.

"Ah. You see, Don?" Rob smirked. "Batman nasty."

"Shh." Someone shushed them.

"Leader's bogging." Rob then told Don.

"Leader billy berserk, Rob," Don replied. "He peg Batman, you see."

"Shh." Someone shushed them again.

"Ugh... Those two are giving me a migraine." Catwoman II groaned.

Bat-Mite handed her a bottle of water and some aspirin before twitching his nose. Suddenly, Rob and Don both fell over, their heads sporting massive lumps. Behind them laid a wooden club, which had now split in half.

"Taken care of." Bat-Mite replied as he turned back to watch the struggle.

The mutant leader threw a flaming barrel at Batman, which nicked him in the shoulder; seeing his opportunity, he attacked with a barrage of kicks, but Batman dodged each attempt. He then leapt up, clasped his hands together and brought them down on the leader's head. He wasn't giving him an inch of ground to cover, so he kept on dishing it out at the mutant leader, even giving him a bloody nose in the process. Blood dripped into the mud as the mutant leader yelled out from immense pain. He didn't let that stop him though as Batman wasted no time with fighting back and even kicked away his opponent, making him splash in the mud. The others watched closely as there were some high stakes for them.

The mutant leader got back up as Batman avoided his hits only to hit back and not miss. "That a tickle?" he growled a bit from the next hit.

"That was a nerve bundle in your deltoid," Batman told him sharply. "Might not hurt, but you won't be moving that arm for a while."

"I think he just gave that guy a dead arm." Catwoman II said to the boys.

"Yowza..." Bat-Mite exclaimed in surprise.

The leader touched his now-limp appendage, then lunged at Batman and began smacking him around with his right arm, right before he kneed him in the chin, making the trio wince. Then he finally punched him into the mud.

"This could be it, folks..." Voltage announced like a newscaster as the mutant leader picked up Batman and laughed in his face.

"You finished, old man!" The Mutant Leader bellowed before Batman head-butted him in the face and knocked him away.

"You don't get it, son; this isn't a mudhole," The Dark Knight spoke before he blocked a punch, then beat the leader around twice before tackling him to the ground. "It's an operating table..." he grabbed the leader by his right arm. "...And I'm the surgeon." he finished as he tugged on the arm, breaking it. The mutant leader could only scream in pain as Batman took the time to whale on him, as well as breaking his legs.

The three winced a bit, but they didn't feel bad of course. The mutants also winced a bit from the heavy leg crack they heard and saw which made some of them turn away. Batman whacked the leader's face a bit with his heavy fists as the others watched what the final outcome would be, but it didn't look very good for their leader. The leader's face was all bloodied up as he seemed to lay still from that as the others came to surround Batman as he sat on top of their leader.

"I think the King is dead." Catwoman II told the boys.

"Good riddance to bad rubbish, then," Bat-Mite replied. "Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy."

There was soon new word throughout the news as Felicity had milkshakes with her friends as promised.

"The Sons of Batman, huh?" Jay asked. "I thought he already had a son... And maybe a daughter?"

"That's not what that means," Mal replied. "If anything, they sound like followers."

"Yeah, like they're inspired by him." added Evie.

"Oh... I knew that..." Jay said.

"Suuure ya did..." Carlos replied. "Like how you knew about Mr. Deley's surprise pop quiz in Science."

Jay gave a growl with a roll of his eyes from that.

"Well... At least most of those Mutant creeps are rounded up and in jail," stated Felicity. "So we should be a little bit safer than we used to be."

"For the most part, yeah..." Carlos said.

"I'm not scared of them, but I guess we could all keep an eye on each other." Mal remarked.

"That's what friends do," Felicity replied. "Plus, I'm sure Batman and his helpers will be a great asset to keep us all safe."

Everyone agreed on that as they continued eating/drinking their respective orders.