Life is but a dream.

It was cold by the docks of Arkham City. The waves beat against the shore and a few boats that somehow still stayed afloat. The question how, was not answered but merely accepted as the little boat drifted to the middle of the docks, far away from any form of life.

Luna Fright stood at the edge waiting, with a man cowering by her side shaking in fear and cold.

She ignored him and his soft whimpers and continued to stare out at the little boat at the industrial district.

She sighed and stared up at the sky, wondering how long she would have to wait for her… friend to come.

"Row, row, row your boat… gently down the stream," she whispered as she swirled a shadow around her finger before she shot it out across the water.

"Merrily… merrily… merrily…." she sighed but became alert at the sound of moving feet, it sounded like a limp though… like someone was having trouble moving one of their feet.

She turned to the sound and grinned at the figure.

"Life is but a dream."

Edward and Jester raced through the streets, they knew they were lucky to be near the place in the first place.

Edward was running as fast as he could, he easily vaulted over any gates that got in his way, Jester struggled with a few of them, but she blamed the fact she was smaller then him, that's obviously why it was so hard for her to vault them.

"Eddie, wait up!" she shouted as they turned a corner and then she ran into the back of him.

"Gee, why the hell did you stop?!"

She came round the side of him and blinked at the sight in front of her.

Mist was sitting against the wall, a piece of glass in her hand, stained crimson and lying near her were bodies of inmates.

She looked up at them and both were shocked to see a bit of blood splattered on her face.

"Don't cut the necks…" she muttered. "It goes everywhere… and I really liked this jacket."

Jester grimaced at the sight before she rubbed the back of her head nervously. "Yeah… I know what you mean…"

"Mist are you okay?" Edward questioned.

Mist nodded her head. "Just annoyed that I've ruined this jacket, I really did love it you know…"

Edward sighed and helped her to her feet. "I'll buy you a new one, but we need to leave. Now."

Mist nodded her head in agreement before she grabbed it and screwed her eyes shut, gritting her teeth.

"Not now," she hissed as he fingers clawed at her scalp. "Get back in your box 'Sphinx' now is not the time for you to come out.. I did that and now look at what's happened!"

Jester frowned a the scene… what was going on? What was wrong with Mist?

She tapped Edward on the shoulder and raised an eyebrow in question.

He sighed and looked at the floor. "Split persona," was his only reply before he turned back to Mist and helped her to steady herself.

"Mist," he spoke to grab her attention. "Jester and I have some work to do… do you think you can come with us?"

Mist gave a nod before she straightened and pushed some hair out of her face. "Where are we going?"

"Joker."

"Boss J man, I bet he's missed me so much!" Jester squealed.

"The only thing he would of missed with you not there is a headache," Edward grit as he placed his arm around Mist's shoulder protectively. "I know this because I have now got a headache from listening to you for too long!"

"You have real big mood swings, ya know that Eddie?" Jester said with a smirk as she skipped ahead of them to avoid a whack to the head with Edward's cain.

"That girl drives me up the wall," Edward muttered as he and Mist followed after her.

It was a reasonably peaceful walk to Joker's territory but they had no idea how difficult it would be to actually get inside his territory, but a few words from Jester and they were in.

Edward frowned once they reached the docked area of the industrial district. He didn't like it here, hell no one did.

"I think I'll wait here," he muttered as Jester and Mist carried on.

"Suit yourself Eddie, don't blame me if you freeze!" Jester laughed as she ran off, with Mist following close behind.

Edward sighed and wondered back to the docks, staring out he noticed a little boat drifting in the water.

He yelped when his phone rang and he quickly pulled it out, answering it.

"Hello?"

"Dad…?"

"Enigma? How did you get this number? I encrypted it!"

"Not well enough."

Edward huffed and shifted in the cold air before he turned away from the docks.

"I presume you phone me for a reason?"

Yes, Dad… I'm… scared I just got an image from the docks and…"

"Enigma send it to me."

"Alright you should get it now."

Edward pulled the phone from his ear and clicked on the message.

The picture was blurred and out of focus because whoever it was had been running but Edward saw it, the thing that probably made Enigma's heart turn cold because it was making his own get a chill.

Against the blackness of the docks there was a grey figure running, with a slight limp it looked like, but that wasn't what caught Edward's attention. The glowing orange needles on the end of the figures fingers had his attention.

Edward narrowed his eyes.

It was impossible, no way could he still be alive.

"Enigma just settle down and make sure the doors are locked, understand?"

"Yes dad."

"Good."

He hung on and put the phone in his pocket before he went back to looking at the docks.

That's when he saw it, a figure, a slim, almost bony figure sitting on the boat staring directly at him.

"Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream…" came a whisper from the shadows, it was rasped and cold, hardly a whisper that would give you pleasant feelings.

Edward swallowed and span around looking at all the shadows, he swore one of them warped and twisted, but that was the least of his worries.

He was suddenly struck from behind and a needle was plunged into his neck.

His vision became blurred and it split in two as he tired to shake away the drugs effects, he stumbled and fell to his hands and knees.

"Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream," there was a light chuckle as he collapsed and slowly he turned to see his attacker and only saw the silhouette of a young girl before him, though this one was much taller then Jester. "Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily…. time for you to dream…" she whispered with a grin, showing the pointed teeth and mismatched eyes in the light.

"Luna…." Edward trailed as his sight became blurred and he slipped out of consciousness.

Jester kept on looking behind her shoulder at Mist, she wasn't sure why… but she didn't fully trust her, something about split personas she didn't like.

"So… part of you is really nice and the other part of you isn't?" Jester questioned as she skipped ahead of Mist.

Mist paused and glanced at her. "Well depending on who you are talking to they may agree or disagree with you."

Jester frowned at her statement… it didn't make sense… actually it was just confusing, well it was to her anyway.

They walked into the main building and Harley was waiting for them with Mister Hammer or at least that was what Jester thought his name was, she was never sure.

"Humbug!" Harley squealed as she came running over to her and caught her in a squeezing grip, making Jester cough a little as she fought to push the Harlequin off.

"I've missed you too Harley," Jester muttered as she finally managed to get Harley off her and rub her shoulders back into working.

"It's been so quite without ya' humbug!"

Jester doubted that.

"And Mister J… he's… he's not been h- himself.. as ya know and… and he missed you terribly!" Harley whispered as she wiped her tears away and smiled at them.

"Misty!" Harley cried in shock. "Whatta ya doing here?!"

"Umm well, Strange-."

"That no good sonofa- oh Misty your coats all wrecked! Come on, I'll get ya all cleaned up!"

"Oh no it's okay Harley I wouldn't-."

"Nonsense! Mister Hammer will take Jester to my puddin' and they can talk!"

Jester smirked as Mist was dragged away with Harley and she turned back to the one-armed giant known as Mister Hammer.

He walked over to the door and Jester followed after him as he walked through towards the main office.

This was… rightfully hers. She was a Sionis, not some street punk, she was… born into money… wasn't she?

"Hello kiddo!"

Jester stopped abruptly as the clown jumped in front of her, a grin on his face. He looked… remarkably well for a man that was meant to be dying.

"Hi Boss J man, sir," Jester said with a smile as she stared up at the lean figure of the clown prince of crime.

"So… what brings you back to our happy house?" laughed Joker as he walked over to the window staring down at the furnaces. "Surly you're not thinking of joining my merry band again? The horror!" he faked gasped before chuckling at her. "You're supposed to be sane!"

"It's overrated."

He giggled before straightening his bow tie. "I learnt that a long time ago. So," he span around and clapped his hands grinning. "I heard you've been working with Eddie!"

"Only for a bit Boss J man," Jester muttered as she shuffled her feet.

He giggled before he worked over to her. "You look nervous, I haven't foggiest why… I'm not going to hurt you…" he chuckled before smirking. "It's not Monday today."

"So, I shouldn't come around tomorrow… in fear of death right?"

"Now… now you're getting it!" he grinned at her before he picked up a knife and threw it at a bored where one of his men was strapped to it. "Now, you see this man Jester… he was going to leave for Waddles, ya know, Ozzy! I do hate it when my men want to turn on me like that, makes me feel hurt," he said in fake sadness before he picked up another knife and chucked it, the blade just skimming the man's face.

"I'm surprised he's still alive…"

Joker turned to look at the man and grinned. "By the looks of things, so is he!"

Jester wasn't surprised by this notion. Not in the slightest.

Joker picked up another blade and grinned. "Ah… this takes me back! Ya know something kid I used to work at a circus, a knife thrower! I was very good, got the blade to hit right next to my pop's head and it would never cut him!" he span around and threw the knife at the bored. "My pop… have I ever told you about him?"

Jester shook her head in response.

Joker cackled. "Well, my pop was always ready for a laugh, I'd hold the knife and announce to the audience 'Ladies and gentlemen, please don't try this at home, I'm a trained professional' then my dad always used to say 'I knew we should of given you piano lessons instead' always ready for a laugh was my dear old dad!" he threw the next knife and it landed in-between the man's legs.

Jester frowned. She knew it was possibly a lie but still the question bugged her if it was the truth, "Why'd ya' give it up?"

"Well… ya see one day… I missed," he said with a shrug as he threw the final knife and Jester winced as blood trickled down the bored to the floor. "I think he got the point," Joker giggled as he walked past Jester beckoning her.

The girl followed him into the darkness of the room, with only the light from the carnival lights there to let them see.

Various thugs were sprawled around the room in silly posses or they were dressed up in clown costumes pointing towards funhouse and furnaces.

"So… Riddles…. you've been working with him huh?"

Jester was silent. "I like giving Eddie a hand is all."

Joker giggled. "Of course! It's always good to be kind to our neighbours Jester, I'm so pleased you've kept your manners, it costs nothing… that's something that Bat brain doesn't get!"

"Bats hasn't been around much…" Jester muttered.

Joker chuckled. "Ah… but he will be! Bats just can't resist the parties I throw, he can't resist throwing the hired help either… but oh well, they're alive!"

Jester nodded. "You look well… considering the rumours I've heard."

Joker paused and turned to her. "Rumours are nasty little things…. I like to stomp them out. A good bullet to the head usually does the trick."

She didn't reply she was too wrapped up in her thoughts as they continued to walk. She was meant to be talking to Harley, not Joker.

She hoped Eddie was okay and didn't mind waiting in the code… she had a feeling he was going to be waiting there a while.

Lets hope he didn't freeze to death.

It was cold. Cold and dark… he was.. scared oh god, so scared… was.. was he here?

Edward's eyes darted around the room.

No, no he wasn't! He was safe… safe and sound… no one was here, just himself.

"Boy!"

No, no, no! He wasn't here! He… he couldn't be!

"Where are you hiding you little worm?!"

Not here… he wasn't here… he couldn't be…

"Come here right now!"

Edward whimpered and bowed his head as his body shook, beads of sweat dripped off his face as he curled up in the corner of darkness.

He was safe… his father… he he couldn't find him, he was safe in the darkness.

"Nigma!"

Edward's head snapped up and he stared into the darkness.

"I will find you Riddler! You can't hide! You're not smart enough too!"

It was Batman… no, no impossible, neither him or his father could be here!

"Boy!"

"Nigma!"

Edward cried and curled up.

They couldn't find him… they couldn't-

"There you are!"

Suddenly a bright light was shining over him like a halo and he stared up at the face of his father.

"Thought you could hide from me boy?"

"There is no escape, Nigma!"

Edward turned to see Batman behind him.

"Nashton!"

He turned to look behind him to see his gym teacher… what why was…

"Ten press ups ya useless waist of space! My own mother could do better then you!"

"Nashton!"

It was Brandon. The SWAT member from the GCPD.

"Where's that repost I called for you moron! Why would the GCPD even want someone like you! You do nothing but ruin this place!"

Edward tried to move but his fear had frozen him to his seat.

He heard the sound of heels and turned to see Kristen… Kristen Kringle from the annex that was years ago… why was..

She glared down at him. "You are so odd."

"Boy!"

"Riddler!"

"Nashton!"

"Nigma!"

Edward covered his ears and shut his eyes.

"You… you're not here, non of you are!"

"Boy! Stop lying to me!"

"It's over Riddler, you're done, a failure to this city."

"Can't even do one single press up, Nashton!? Why if you were my son, I'd of disowned you years ago!"

"You're a waist of space, Nashton! What the hell are you even doing here?"

"You are so odd."

Edward chocked on a sob and curled up on himself shaking. They weren't here, they couldn't be!

"Boy!"

"Riddler!"

"Nashton!"

"Nigma!"

Edward sobbed loudly. They weren't real… they weren't…

"What do you see Edward?"

Edward's head lifted at the earie voice that echoed out of the surrounding darkness.

"What do you see? Who do you see?"

It did little comfort to Edward and he cried once again.

"Who do you see Edward? Is it mummy or daddy? I bet it's daddy."

Help… he… he needed help… maybe… maybe he really was insane… maybe this was his mind giving in on him maybe…

"Boy!"

"Riddler!"

"Nashton!"

"Nigma!"

"Stupid!"

"Failure!"

"Disowned!"

"Waist of space!"

"Odd!"

"No…" Edward murmured and covered his ears. "No, stop it, stop it, stop it!"

"MORON!"

"NO!" Edward screamed. He wasn't.. he wasn't any of those things… he wasn't… he…

A note landed in front of him… no not a note… a certificate….

He read what it said and his heart sank.

Edward Nigma/Nashton. Certifiably INSANE.

"No…" Edward chocked. "No I'm not… I'm not insane I'm… I'm not…"

"Oh yes you are…" the voice came back. "Moron."

Edward curled up and closed his eyes, crying on the floor. He slowly began to whisper to himself comforting words but hateful ones would always become louder and dominate his hearing.

He whimpered as he hid his face from the faces of his past.

"Forlorn faces running from the cold regret, empty spaces something that I can't forget. All I wanted as to wish the past away, but time's the curliest ruler that we all obey…" he whispered to himself.

It was something his mother always used to sing to him… when he would come crawling to her after a beating from his father, it had just stuck with him over the years. "And I dream of goodbye, sinking seas, falling sky and I dream of goodbye no more tears wells run dry…"

"Row, row, row your boat gently down the the stream…" the voice hissed from the darkness making Edward's throat dry up and the song that was his last comfort disappeared. "Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily…. life is but a dream…."

When Jester was finally able to leave her Boss she found Mist at the docks she was pacing and looked worried.

"Mist whats up?"

"It's Edward, I… he wasn't here when I got here and he's not answering his phone."

Jester smirked. "That's just Eddie… he doesn't answer his phone."

"Does he just leave it in random places?" Mist hissed as she pulled his phone out and handed it to Jester.

The girl's eyes widened and she stared at the object, her blood running cold as she suddenly realised the cruel fact, which was Edward was in trouble!

They needed to save him!

"I looked through the phone and opened the last text message he got… it was a picture message," Mist explained before frowning. "Jester, look at the picture."

Jester fiddled with the phone before he mouth fell open in shock. "No.. no it can't be.. he's dead, I saw it with my own eyes!"

Mist narrowed her emerald ones at the young jade green before she snatched the phone of Jester and held it in front of her face. "Obviously, you're wrong."

Jester's eyes stared at the blurred picture, her eyes focussed on the glowing orange syringed fingers that only one person carried with them.

It was true. The rumours were all true.

Scarecrow was back.

T.B.C:

Note: Oh no! Jonny's got Eddie! :( I feel so sorry for him I do and I'm sorry if my Joker was terrible... I'm not very good at writing him at all... but I still hope you enjoyed this chapter :D