Chapter 12 is here! I had some writers block, but now I am back on track (at least for this chapter ;D). My second story, the Bet, the Regret, and the Speedo is also up, so I would REALLY appreciate it if you guys read it. Anyway, on with the show!

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Chapter 12

Batman walked into the dark building, the surroundings covered in shadows. He followed a lone, long hallway. He got a tip that the Joker was there from the street, and he came to the said location as fast as he could. He needed to stop the Joker before he got those girls. What seemed like hours, the Dark Knight finally reached the end of the hallway. He reached for the door, and pushed it open, walking inside as he did it. He was now in a large room; he didn't really see anything because it was engulfed in darkness, but he could tell it was big. He didn't see anyone, or hear any movement. The Caped Crusader started to get a little impatient.

"Joker!!!" he called out into the shadows. "Joker, where are you?!"

It didn't take long before a reply came in the form of laughter. A very familiar, high pitched laughter. The Joker then emerged from the shadows and smiled his genuine smile, with a darker look in his eyes though.

"Batsy, what a surprise! If I had suspected company, I would've cleaned the house better." He said in mock surprise, followed by maniacal giggling.

"Enough games, Joker. I am taking you in. This time I will personally see to it that you will stay locked up in Arkham so you will never hurt the girls."

Even Batman didn't even suspect the full blown insane laughter that escaped the Clown Prince of Crime's lips. What the devil is he laughing at now? Bruce questioned.

The Joker stopped laughing. "Before I hurt the girls? Ha! Joke's on you Bats."

"What are you talking about, Joker?"

"See, Batman. Why would I have to go hurt the girls now if I already have them in my possession?"

Batman's heart started to race when he said that. He couldn't have had them, he just couldn't.

"What?" Batman asked, a little quieter than he expected it to be. Batman was afraid for the girls. In the short time he has known them, he realized they were really great kids, and he didn't want anything to happen to them, especially by this monster.

"I already have the brats with me, and did what I intended to do with them, too." The madman grinned. The fear and worry in Batman's slits for eyes became more apparent.

That's impossible! I just left the mansion about an hour ago. He couldn't have possibly…… Bruce didn't get to finish his thoughts, for the clown continued.

"Oh they struggled bravely at first, but all too soon they succumbed to the madness."

"No…." Batman struggled out in a whisper. He didn't.......he wouldn't do something that....sick...would he?

"Oh yes. Would you like to meet them now? They are such little treasures now that I educated them to behave." The Joker then turned behind him and whistled.

A figure began to arise from the shadows, when in the light, Batman could see the features. The figure appeared to be about 5'6, and wore a jester's costume similar to Harley's, but the colors were purple and green. Beneath the domino mask, Batman could see big bulging eyes with little black pupils. Based off the shape and height of the figure, Batman deduced that the clown was…..Mara.

No…………...

Mara walked next to the Joker, with a grin as big and similar as his. "Now this one is named Jester. She was a difficult child to teach, but eventually she got the hang of it."

Batman tried to find something in her eyes, but only saw…..nothing. What did he do to her to make her eyes go from a charming funniness to nothing?

"Now last, but not least, my final apprentice." The Mogul of Mountebanks motioned towards the same side of darkness Mara had came out from. Batman saw another figure come out of the pitch blackness. This one was slightly shorter than Mara, about 5'5, but what made Batman gasp was the features. The girl had short green hair, with now white skin. She had the same suit the Joker wore, but instead of pants, she wore a purple skirt, with black dress shoes and white socks that reached her knees. And instead of the blue bowtie around her neck, it was in her hair like a headband. The worst part of it was the grin. With that huge, red smile, she looked almost like a young female version of the Joker. And since Mara came out first, the clown girl that now stood more in front of the Joker had to be…….

Nicole…no…..NO NO NO NO!!!!!

"This one here," the clown put his hands on her shoulders, "was definitely a challenging little girl. But it didn't take that long until she found the funny side of life. Isn't that right, Jokette?" He smiled insanely.

Nicole's reply was laughter. Hollow, disturbing laughter. Her eyes showed no emotion, even to go with that big smile of hers. They were as empty as her laughter. Mara started to laugh the same way too, and the Joker smiled one of his most disturbing and angering smiles yet to Batman. Batman's reaction was complete shock mixed with horror, and it was clearly visible even with his mask on. But this shock quickly turned into anger. Pure, undeniable anger.

Batman roared furiously and charged at Joker, slamming him into the wall. "You will pay for this Joker. You've gone too far!!!" This made the Harlequin of Hate chuckle darkly. "Not likely, Batman. You could never kill me, even if you wanted to. And this time, the last laugh is mine." The Joker pulled out a joy buzzer, and placed it on Batman's chest. It electrified him with excruciating shocks, making him let go of Joker and flying backwards on his back. The Joker then walked over to Batman, grabbing a weird black and orange looking gun from seemingly out of nowhere, and pointed it at Batman, who was still on the ground.

"You've lost, Bats. These kids are mine now. You failed them, even when you said you would protect them no matter what……Bruce."

Batman's eyes widened. "What? You didn't think I wouldn't try to get as much information out of them as possible, did you? Heh heh, how does it feel to know that you couldn't even save two kids from me, Brucey? You must feel like such a failure, don't you?" The Joker giggled darkly. He was about to pull the trigger, but then stopped. He turned behind him and threw the gun to Nicole.

"Here you go kiddo. Deliver Batsy's punch line." Nicole walked up to Batman, the Joker backing up next to Mara. Nicole pointed the gun at Batman, laughing that emotionless laugh. Mara's laughter could be heard too, along with Joker's chuckles. She pulled the trigger, a BANG! flag popping out.

"Nicole……don't do this." Batman pleaded, trying to reach the young girl he started to get to know. The funny yet when she wanted to be, mature young girl who depended on him.

Ceasing her laughter, Nicole replied in a weaker and hollower version of her normal voice, "You should've saved us, Bruce. You said you would protect us. You failed us."

"I didn't know he.......I'm sorry Nicole."

"Goodbye.....failure."

Before Bruce could say anything else in reply, Nicole pulled the trigger once more.

A loud shot was made.

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Bruce awoke with a start in his bed, his face dripping in sweat. He looked around his surroundings and saw he was in his room, not a dark unknown building. A dream, it had all been a dream. No. A nightmare. But it seemed so real…….

Bruce's face untensed a bit, and he looked at the clock on the table next to him. It read 5:30. He got back from an unsuccessful search for the Joker at around a quarter to 4 am. He got up from his bed and went into the bathroom. He washed his face and when he came out, he decided, after witnessing that horrible nightmare, to check on the young teenagers. He walked out of his room slowly. Like i did in the dream. Bruce shook those thoughts away. It didn't take too long before he reached Mara's room. He opened the door and peaked in. He saw Mara peacefully sleeping, not a big grin or jester's hat in sight. Just her frame moving up and down with her breathing, with a gentle snore.

He smiled as he closed the door gently and walked over to Nicole's bedroom next door. He creaked opened the door and walked over to her bedside, seeing as she was faced the other way from the door. He saw her sleeping just as peacefully as the other girl, no evil smiles or green hair or anything. He both sighed and smiled, thankful that nightmare was just a nightmare. He looked at her sleepong form and remeber what the Joker made her into; a little monster that looked so much like him. He remembered her words.

"You should have saved us Bruce. You failed us."

Bruce shook his head to clear those thoughts away. He looked at the real Nicole, still sleeping. He put his hand gently on her head. "I promise I will not fail you, Nicole. You or Mara. I swear it."

He then walked out the bedroom door, closing it softly as he did. He walked back to his bedroom and lay in his bed, putting back the covers on him. He didn't want to sleep, but he knew even Batman had to sleep for energy. He put his head on his pillow and started to ponder things, but all too soon he drifted into sleep. This time, without nightmares.

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So? What did you all think? I know the nightmare was a lot like Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker flashback, but I couldn't resist putting that in there. Please review by clicking the blue words on the bottom. Thank you.