Time...

Eventually it'll take us all away...

Or at least...

Most of us.

BATMAN BEYOND REVISITED

EPISODE:

SPELLBOUND GHUL: PART 1

A few months went by after Inque's escape.

Not a single clue where she went off to.

I was prowling the city when I heard a pinging in my ears.

I sat on the edge of the roof I was standing on, looking at the polluted sky and pressed a button on the cowl's right ear.

"Yes, Dick?"

"It's Oracle. Dick is asleep."

"So, for once I don't have to hear his voice."

Oracle sighed. "Jake, you need to understand. Bruce was a father to Dick. The idea of someone replacing him as Batman... It'll take some time."

I sighed. "Fine. I'll play along."

"Thank you."

I blinked and looked over to the building across from me.

"Hold on, Barbs."

"Only Grayson can call me the that."

"Whatever, Barbs."

She groaned in disapproval.

I chuckled and jumped over to the other building.

I stumbled a bit, holding my head before continuing to chase after the red blur.

There was no denying the fact he knew I was chasing him.

"The real Batman wouldn't have tipped him off." said a familiar, grumpy voice.

Great, I thought. The king of bitchiness is awake.

Of course I didn't say it out loud. Not after just promising to give Dick some time to get used to the idea of a new Batman.

Instead of saying anything, I continued running.

And running.

And running.

At least thirty minutes passed as I went after him.

Guy was determined, I'll give him that.

I put my foot in front of me.

But it never touched the ground.

"VANCE!" I heard them both yell.

I screamed while I fell to the ground.

I hit the ground.

But I didn't die.

I fell about 30 feet and didn't die.

Why?

Then I noticed the world around me.

It was shifting.

Wobbly.

Colors kept changing.

I'd consider the idea I was drugged, but I didn't have anything to eat the past 2 days as part of my training.

I certainly couldn't get up in this state and my thoughts started to fade.

Dick and Oracle kept shouting my name, but I began to black out.

Hours, maybe days (I wasn't certain) later, I woke up.

I was unmasked.

I was sitting there in my every day black shirt and blue jeans.

"Hello, Batman." said a voice that sounded ancient, thousands of years old.

My vision was blurry, so I couldn't see who the voice belonged to.

"You won't see for the next hour. I don't want you to know where we are just yet, Jake Vance."

I groaned and tried to get up.

"Don't move." he threatened.

I laid back down.

"I want to make you an offer."

"I'll pass."

"Hear me out, Beyond."

Great.

Another jerk off calling me that.

Just what I wanted.

"Be my ally, Jake. It's not too late to leave your friends behind and join me."

"Why would I?"

"I plan to cleanse Gotham, Jake. The last Bat wouldn't do it. He didn't have what it takes. Not until his final moments, anyways. By then, though, it was too late."

"You mean killing, don't you?"

"How quick you catch on."

I could hear a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"I want you to join me before they corrupt you into defending criminals instead of taking them out."

"Wait... Now... Now I know who you are."

"You do? Then what's my name?"

"Ra's al Ghul. Your name is Ra's al Ghul."


AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know I said this would be one story made longer, but I felt I couldn't keep it going in just one part without dragging it on. So, I'm going to wait a few days before writing the next chapter. I have been giving out quite a few chapters quite quickly, so I'm going to give you guys a break for now and I'll get back to this in a day or two.