Batman slammed his fist into the steering wheel. He didn't have long to find Gordon and stop Joker. Batman wasn't sure if it was being filmed live or not, but he couldn't take that risk and headed right to Joker's old hideout. If he needed a stage to do thing, the old comedy club was the best place to start. And this time, it was really against the clock.

"Time is running out Batman." Joker looked over at Gordon and his smile went wider. "Isn't this exciting folks? Batman is nowhere to be seen and Gordon here only has a few minutes left in him before he's Commissioner Hotdog."

Joker was laughing hard, but when the lights went out and the camera stopped rolling. He instantly changed his happy mood into a fowl one.

"I guess that means Batman found where we were, hmm, how annoying." The power came back on; the Commissioner was no longer there. "Oh well folks, looks like the annual cook-off has been cancelled due to a plague of bats. Tune in next year." Joker kicked the camera and ran for the exit. He didn't make it that far before Batman landed in front of him.

"Moe, Lar and Cur. Get him!" he paused. "I guess you've already taken care of them bats? Oh well, I guess it's time for me to leave." He said as he pulled out a whoopie cushion. Batman did hesitate. Smashing Joker in the face and pinning him to the floor with his boot.

"It's over Joker. " Batman picked him put by the collar and slammed him into the wall. "You're going back to Arkham Asylum."

Batman was exhausted. He dropped Joker back at Arkham Asylum and Commissioner Gordon was taken to the Gotham General with minor burns. Batman would go visit him in the hospital later, but right now, he needed to find the man behind the plan. Riddler would obviously be hiding somewhere different. He had used the World's Fair Exposition once before, who said he wouldn't use it again.

The Riddler was there, waiting patiently for Batman. He had all of his monitors set to different news stations. It was all over the news. This brought a smile to Riddler's face.

"Give it up Riddler. I've been playing your game all night. Using a previous hideout and having everyone in your plan use an old hideout was old hat, sloppy and unoriginal."

"AH, but Batman that was all part of the plan, having everyone use an old hideout and how easily you found me. It's because I wanted you too." Riddler taunted. He stood up and held out his hands. "Arrest me. That's why you're here."

The night was over and Batman could finally hang up his cape and get a couple of hours of shut eye. He drove back to the cave at a relatively relaxed speed. He was thinking about the food Alfred might make up for him and a nice hot bath.

But when he pulled up to the cave entrance and drove in, he instantly knew something was wrong. The cave was covered in green question marks and nearly all of Batman's equipment was broken and all over the place. The costume cases had been broken into and all the costumes were gone. All his spare supplies were all gone and his boat and plane were in pieces. Someone had done a number on this place.

"Alfred? ALFRED?" he called. No reply.

"Voice activation Recognized, playing recording."

"Is this thing on?" The Riddler adjusted the camera "Hello Batman, or should I say Bruce Wayne? Before you get all angry, I Edward Nigma, the World's Greatest Detective did figure out your identity. Let's get right to the point. I have your precious butler. Save him, if you can." The recording ended.

Riddler was whistling while in the interview room at the GCPD building. He had finally committed the best crime Gotham had ever seen. He'd destroyed Batman's cave and had take the most precious person to him.

Batman slammed the door open and sat down cross from Riddler.

"Where is he?"

"Isn't that the riddle of the night Dark Knight, you want me to tell you where he is, I sent him off I know not where."

Batman knew Riddler didn't lie. Knowing he wasn't going to get anymore out of him and not interested in listening to more riddles, he left, in search of Alfred.

"So, when you think Batman's like going to get her Spud?" said one of the goons.

"Shut up about the Bat and keep an eye on the old man. Riddler wasn't us to keep him here until Batman show's his pointy ears and when he does, fill the old man full o' lead."

"Oh right, Full of lead, Got it."

Alfred was tied to a chair and gagged. The funny thing was, there were not in a secret hideout. They were in fact, in Bruce Wayne's living room. Riddler told them to hold him there, seeming it would be the last place Batman would think to look.

"Man, can't believe Riddler doesn't want us searching the joint looking got things to steal, Wayne's loaded. Steal from him; you'd be set for life."

"Just shut up man and keep an eye out. I don't want to piss off the Riddler." They both went back to circling the room and looking out the windows.

There were no hideouts left from Riddler to hide Alfred. Batman decided to check the last place he'd think to look, the mansion.

The lights were on inside the mansion and it was obvious that someone was there. Batman climbed up onto the roof and climbed in through one of the windows on an upper level of the mansion. They had invaded his house. But knowing Riddler was well as he did, he had not told his hired goons his secret identity.

"Hey, Spud, you there man? I think someone is here with us. Spud"

"He's not going to answer you, none of them are." The goon turned around to see moving closer to him. He then dropped his gun and put his hands up.

"See, I'm surrendering, I don't want any trouble. Don't hurt me." Batman picked the guy up by the collar and shook him around a bit.

"I can't promise that." He then punched the guy out cold. Leaving the guy with the rest of the knocked out goons in a heap by the front door, he walked over to Alfred and untied him.

"I'm sorry sir. They came to the door and overpowered me. Will not happen again Sir"

"There is no need to apologies Alfred. This was Riddler's plan all along. To prove to me that he'd figured out my secret identity."

"But how did he manage that Sir?"

"The one time he saw me during the day at the bank."

Alfred stood there stunned. He did not know what to day, Batman and Riddler had been fighting for years, and Riddler only recently found out who the Batman was.

"Out again master Bruce?" Alfred asked as Batman pulled the leaver on the clock and opened the secret passage to the cave.

"I still have unfinished business."

Edward was in a squad car on route to Arkham Asylum. He sat with a smile on his face. Thinking that Batman would have failed to Alfred and he'd be dead, under his own roof, Bruce Wayne's mansion, or Batman's mansion.

As they pulled up to the main door of the asylum Edward looked out the window and saw Batman standing next to Dr Arkham. His heart sank. He was pushed out of the car and he struggled against his cuff and got as close as he could to Batman.

"How did you manage to save the Butler Batman?" He paused "Tell me!" he demanded but Batman just stood with his arms folded and a sadistic smile on his face.

"No."

"But you must tell me. How did you do it?" Edward was practically hysterical.

"Come on inside Edward, let's get you settled in." Dr Arkham said with a yawn, again having to greet the fifth patient for the night.

"No." He struggled against the two orderlies that had taken hold of one of Edward's arms. "I want Bruce Wayne to tell me how he did it. Bruce Wayne is Batman." The guards started to drag Edward towards the main entrance and he turned his head to look back. "Bruce Wayne is Batman."

"Is he? Well, in that case I'm married to the Queen of England" One of the orderlies said to Edward. Not interested in his ramblings.

"But he is." Edward said still resisting.

"Just the inane ramblings of a madman, Batman..." Dr Arkham said as he turned to look at Batman, but he wasn't there.

From inside the asylum Edward could still be heard screaming at the top of his lungs

"BRUCE WAYNE IS BATMAN!"

Fin.

Thank you to Everyone that read this all the way through. Sorry if you didn't like it and if you know any way to make this better, just drop a message or something.

Hope you liked it.

I do not own anything from DC comics or Batman the Animated Series.

I wish I did :'(