Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC Danika and any alterations to the original storyline plot her added presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
Daughter Of Batman Chapter 6
The following day Danika and Damian arose before even the house was fully awake and when the sun was barely peeking over the horizon.
Their bodies are well used to getting up so early after years of having it being strictly drilled into them, but today there's another purpose behind this morning call.
Thanks to the tour Alfred provided them the previous evening Danika knows exactly where to acquire the materials they need to perform a funeral ritual for their grandfather. After the attack on the temple the entire League of Assassins had to evacuate out from that location fast so the siblings haven't had a chance to properly grieve for him yet.
Now they can, but that doesn't mean they want any uninvited witnesses to what they are doing here.
As soon as everything is gathered together Danika and Damian head to the edges of the cliffs on the Wayne estate. On the way Danka gathers some radiant wildflowers to use later on in the final part of the ritual.
With Damian standing over her Danika performs the funeral rites while saying a traditional chant that is, also, a prayer.
.
That which belong to the air
Has returned to the east
The Wheel turns
And Spring is over
That which belongs to fire
Has returned to the South
The Wheel turns
And Summer has flown
That which belongs to Water
Has returned to the West
The Wheel turns
And Autumn passes
That which belongs to Earth
Has returned to the North
The Wheel turns
The Winter has ended
That which belongs to the Spirit
Has returned to the Old Ones
The Wheel turns
The Cauldron awaits
That which belongs to Fellowship and Love
That which belongs to the Circle remains with us
The Wheel turns
As light is the day
So our Grandfather has passed into the night
Nothing is final
And we who remain behind know that one day
We will once again share the bread and wine with our Grandfather
Oh Blessed Spirit
We bid you farewell
For you await a new destiny
.
As soon as Danika extinguishes the ceremonial candles she releases the small flowers she has held in her palm. This allows the wind to gently carry them away signifying Ra's al Ghuls passing into the next life.
Damian stonily watched all this, but his eyes revealed his grief.
From inside Wayne Manors luxurious kitchen Alfred looks on with a solemn expression. He'd seen the whole thing and has more compassion for both siblings now after witnessing brother and sister grieve so deeply although it'll take far longer to warm up to Damian because of the boy's ignorant and disagreeable attitude.
From then on until Bruce decided to make an appearance in the kitchen the twins remained outside. Damian practicing his swordsmanship with a katana he found in Wayne Manor while Danika was tending to some neglected plants in the garden directly outside the kitchen windows.
"I've got to get down to the office. How are Damian and Danika," said Bruce, taking a bite out of some toast.
"See for yourself," said Alfred, nodding out the window.
Bruce then sees what Alfred has been talking about.
Damian really is going at it in the garden swiping and stabbing at the different hedges trimmed to appear like actual animals with expert skill.
"He's been at it since 5:00 this morning. I hope you don't mind, sir. The sword is your grandfather's. The one on the wall plaque." said Alfred. "Also, Sir, not too long ago the children held a sort of ceremony in honor of their late grandfather Ra's al Ghul."
"Really," said Bruce.
Nodding, Alfred said "The twins were too far away for me to hear what was spoken, but paying their respects to him took a heavy toll on both of them."
Bruce releases a low hum and turns his attention back to Damian an unreadable expression covering his face. Despite the fact that he and Ra's al Ghul were enemy's even he wouldn't have denied the man a proper send off no matter how psychotic.
Damien then decapitates a hedge right in front of them.
"I think we might be able to skip the gardener this month," said Alfred.
"Well he was trained by the League of Assassins," defended Bruce.
"I myself am rooting for the shrubbery," said Alfred.
"He has talent," said Bruce, smiling, impressed with his sons skill. "By the way where is Danika?"
Setting some utensils in the dishwasher for a rinse, Alfred said "Last time I saw Danika she was admiring the rosebushes."
Alfred is correct. That's where she is.
Careful to mind her brothers position so she doesn't get in the Danika is kneeling beside a flowerbed of chrysanthemums and sniffing some roses on the other end. Suddenly her attention is drawn to something that shuffles the branches from underneath.
Lying on her stomach to get a better look Danika holds out her hand, gently coaxing whatever is hiding there out from cover.
It's a baby robin.
Normally chicks this young wouldn't venture from their nest, but Bruce assumes that this one must've accidentally fallen. Danika picks up the bird and raises her palm smiling at the bird as it chirps at her. Here gaze then turns sad as she takes note the little one has a wing set at an odd angle. It must've become dislocated after it plummeted from the nest.
Danika can fix that right in a jiff.
Danika then places a soothing hand over the baby robin's back, closing her eyes. The moment she opens them again they morph into a golden glow.
.
Flower gleam and glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring back what once was mine
Heal what has been hurt
Change the fates design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine
What once was mine
.
To Bruce's amazement the baby robin was chirping and hopping happily up and down in her palm after Danika removed the hand covering it with the wing now totally healed.
Standing behind Bruce, eyes wide, Alfred said "Incredible."
"I've never heard of anything like this before," said Bruce. "This isn't a brand of magic I'm familiar with."
Things are about to get even more unsettling following this next bit.
Danika soon locates the robin's nest where the chick's parents are starting to get irritated with a human messing with their baby. Not wanting to agitate them further Danika sets the baby on the ground giving it a few delicate pushes in the correct direction so its parents can properly pick up the baby. The baby was halfway there and one of the adult robin's appeared ready to retrieve the little one when it happened.
Out of nowhere a cat reveals itself launching from the underbrush and tackles the baby robin. This all occurs so fast that Danika had no time to react and try to save the baby. The deed was done all in the blink of an eye leaving the robin chick now deceased in seconds.
Danika barely heard the distressed calls from the adult robins up top. She couldn't take away her eyes from the stray feline and what it just did.
More than satisfied with its prize the cat turned around to leave with breakfast dangling limp and lifeless from its mouth.
The cat doesn't get far until Danika struck.
The stay cat doesn't even make it three feet.
Eyes narrowed into slits filled with a blazing fire Danika snaps her hair around the cat in a tight cocoon. The stray cat yowls in protest releasing its meal as it squirms around in Danika's hold in order to break free. Danika doesn't allow it this chance.
.
Wither and decay
End this destiny
Break these earthly chains
And set the spirit free
.
Every second that passes the stay cat's energy is being drained. The cats yowls turn into squeaks and whimpers as it now lays there whining. Danika repeats the enchantment over and over until the cat is nothing more than an unmoving, decrypt, and empty corpse.
Damian having seen stuff similar this before remains unaffected. But the same case can't be spoken for Bruce and Alfred.
Alfred is horrified by the darker side of Danika's proclaimed magic where previously he was in awe of her lighter persona.
Bruce is expressionless, but the grip he has on the windowsill seen to those looking for it reveals how it caught him off guard.
Talia hadn't told any falsehoods when she warned Bruce about Danika's abilities and what they're capable of doing. Bruce isn't blind. He knows what he's just witnessed is just a fraction of what Danika can probably do.
At this point in time Bruce doesn't know what to think. It's far to early to pass judgment on either of these children especially since they're his blood.
Few things scare Bruce especially as Batman, but this…this can be added to the list for sure.
Authors Note:
Glad each and every one of you had a Merry Christmas, my friends! Here is your belated present for the holiday! Glad you can enjoy it as I have writing it. And, let's not forget, have a Happy New Year!
Hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
I've been meaning to get back to this one for a while and only now I've managed to find time and inspiration for it. I'm very satisfied and happy about it.
In case any of you are curious the chant you see here is from a Wiccan Ritual in the show Charmed on the episode that hosts Prue's funeral. I recently bought he limited edition Charmed Book of Shadows where the chant is in and that is where inspiration struck for it. I think it became integrated really well given the circumstances, don't you?
I recently put up some other works I've put out at titled Secret Of Bristol Cove, Predators Redemption, A Revolutionary Romance, Fantine Tezla: Hot Wheels Acceleracers, Magic And the Brave Little Toaster 1, Lavinia: Princess Of Edelweiss, Rorschach's Legend, Watchmen Meets Avengers: The Newest Defender, The 8th Loser, Naomi Poldark: Mistress Of Nampara, Serenity: End Guardian To The Moors, Dido Cruger: Power Rangers SPD, and Nuala: The White Lioness. I highly recommend them. ;D
By the way Rorschach's Legend and Watchmen Meets Avengers: The Newest Defender are the newest additions to my profile. If you're a fan of Watchmen and the new series on HBO coming up soon then I recommend that you check it out. Since it was just recently uploaded I really would enjoy hearing other peoples thoughts on the subject matter so far. So feel free to do so if you have the time.
I have other grand news! I was a patron at New York Comic Con! Ah! I'd been dying to go for years and now I had the opportunity. The Jokers from Impractical Jokers have been here along with Tom Hiddleston and so many others. Over those few days I actually got my picture taken with a couple of other actors/actresses and some really great panels. It really is so exciting there. This is an opportunity of a lifetime so there's no way in hell that I was going to waste a single second of it. No one ever should with something like this. Ever! ;D
For future preferences I highly recommend that you all keep an eye out for when tickets for New York Comic Con are available for purchase again for next year. This is a huge event and you should jump on it whenever you have the chance.
