Chapter 18
A New Find
The evening air in Gotham City was hot and humid. Diana found herself walking on the sidewalks. She needed to find some action. Her body was growing restless.
There was a faint smell of smoke in the air. She could hear the sounds of the fire trucks zooming through the streets heading to the blaze. At first Diana thought it was just a normal building fire but something was prompting her heart giving a warning that someone was in danger. Her mother told her once that a true warrior must go to face the arising danger.
"You were given these powers by the gods to fight all forms of evil my daughter."
Those were the words her mother spoke when Diana decided to leave her home and discover what man's world had to offer.
Without any hesitation Diana ran down a narrow dark alley way to transform into her armor. She performed a few spins, turning her body around as the armor appeared on her flesh. A golden tiara rested on her forehead with a red star in the middle. Dark blue jeans were covering her sleek legs and a red top that covered her breast appeared. A golden belt wrapped around her slender waist. Attached on the left side of her belt was the Lasso of Truth.
Wonder Woman flew to the blazing apartment building. The red and orange flames were lighting up the sky. Diana knew that she had to act fast. "The will to act," Something that Bruce taught her when he trained with her in the Watchtower.
She crashed through a broken window. Inside the flames engulfed everything, thick smoke was making it hard for her to have clear vision. She had to really on her Amazon training.
"Hello," She called out through the smoke that was pushing onto her lungs. "Is anyone in here?"
A faint sound of a small whimper made her turn around. There was a closer on the other side of the room. The doors were closed. Wonder Woman walked over and opened the doors. Her ocean blue eyes gazed a small form that was curled up in a corner with a blanket covering its body. Diana knew that it was child. She lifted up the blanket and looked at the blonde haired little girl that looked to be around six years old. Ash was stained onto her cheeks. There were a few cuts on her forehead.
"Don't be afraid little sister." Wonder Woman with a comforting gentle voice tone. "I'm not going to hurt you." She could hear the support beams underneath them starting to give out. "I need to get you away from this danger."
Wonder Woman scooped up the girl in her arms and flew out of the window of which she entered. The building gave out; the walls were crumbling down as they landed on the sidewalk across the street. The child had her arms wrapped around the heroine as Diana looked down and smiled.
"You safe little sister," She said looking at the coward of people standing by the massive fire trucks. She had a bad feeling that the child's parents didn't make it out in time. But deep down she couldn't let this small girl go. Diana knew that her new little friend would end up on the streets without proper guidance.
"I'm sorry little sister."
Wonder Woman bent her knees and settled the child on the ground.
"Mommy is not coming back is she?"
"I'm afraid not."
The girl's green eyes began to fill with tears. As if all innocence was pouring out of her.
Wonder Woman placed her hand on the child's shoulder.
"I'm going to find someone that will take care of you little sister." She wrapped her arms around the girl. "I promise you I will never let anything happen to you my sister."
Inside Diana's hotel room the child was sitting on the bed eating a bowl of fruit from room service. When a woman dressed in white walked in, her blonde hair was flowing down her back. At first the child that she was starring at an angel.
"Diana," Queen Hippolyta said in a firm voice. "You said that this is an urgent matter?"
Diana nodded.
"Indeed mother. It does not concern me." She looked at the girl. "But the child.
Hippolyta shifted her dark blue eyes at the girl.
"She was the only survivor mother. I knew that you will guide her through the dark days."
The queen crossed her arms.
"What is her name?"
"That's the problem she won't speak to me. I think she's in shock from the fire."
"She looks healthy and needs to have proper nutrients to build strong bones."
The queen sighed and then looked back at her daughter. "I will take her to Themyscira , were she will have a home, be trained as an Amazon and serve a purpose for our justice." She walked over to the bed and looked into the child's eyes. "Come little one,"
The child looked at Diana.
"It's OK." The princess assured. "She's my mother. You're going to live with her."
"Diana, I heard about how Aphrodite let you off the hook."
"Yes but Bruce is still going to be her victim. I need to save him for her curse mother."
"I understand that my sun and stars. But Athena has told me that this curse Bruce will endure is a lesson that he was overcome."
"But?"
Hippolyta lifted her hand.
"Don't worry he's getting to be alright."
"How can you say that?" Diana asked as Hippolyta lifted up the child in her hands and headed for the doorway. "Mother I sense you are not telling me the whole truth."
The queen turned and stared directly on her daughter.
"The mortals curse will help you defeat the new threat that is arising. He will be your ally my daughter."
"So he's not going to transform into one of Aphrodite's pets?"
"No. He's going something greater."
"What?" Diana asked.
"A creature that fears nothing and is a symbol of wisdom, you might of heard of this magnificent beast in the scrolls of temple and seen its image in the stars. For it was the gods that created him by the blood of Medusa and give him wings to soar to the heavens"
"Pegasus," Diana said shocked. "He's going to this decades winged horse of justice."
Hippolyta walked over to her only child and placed her hand on Diana's cheek. "Don't worry my sun and stars. The same Bruce Wayne that you love will be the greatest ally to you when fighting …."
"Who mother?"
"I can't speak its name. All you need to know is that Bruce Wayne will be alright. He only transforms when evil is present." She handed Diana a small cloth bag. "Take these and give them to him when he is wounded. It will restore his health."
The queen gave Diana a kiss on the cheek.
"If you need me ... I will be there for you."
"Thank you mother for helping me and for taking care of my little friend,"
Diana looked at the child.
"She is very brave."
"Just like you, my daughter."
Bruce Wayne wearing sunglasses was walking on the stairs of his summer penthouse when he noticed Alfred was entertaining a guest.
"Tommy," Bruce said with small phony smile showing that he perfectly fine. "What brings you uptown?"
Thomas Elliot looked at his charming childhood friend. "Bruce, I need to talk with you."
"OK, then let's talk."
"Not here."
Bruce gave his friend a dumbfounded look arching an eyebrow. He had known Tommy to be a very private person especially with his feelings. After his mother died for an accident Thomas was never one for showing emotions. This made the billionaire playboy very leery almost if he could sense that there was another person living inside the 33 year old.
"How about the trance?" Bruce asked looking at Alfred. "Alfred will you prepare two glasses of lemon aide."
"Lemon aide? Oh wait I forget you don't think."
Bruce led his friend to the glass French doors and they sat at a patio table.
"So tell me what's with big secret?"
"It's Rose. She's gone."
With his analytical mind the billionaire peered at his friend's skin color. It seemed to be returning back to its normal flesh tone. "How have you been feeling?" He asked.
"Better. Rose made me some herbal tea last night and the vomiting stopped. I should be able to go back to work in the tomorrow." Thomas looked at Bruce's color it seemed to be the hue of vanilla pudding. "What do you look like death warm over Bruce? Too many late nights partying?"
"I'm just fighting a summer cold."
"Here I thought the Prince of Gotham doesn't get sick."
Bruce gave Thomas a glare similar to his cold bat glare.
"I get sick Tommy. I just don't like it when people take pity on me. So why did Rose leave?"
"She had to move her work elsewhere. And here I thought she was the one ."
"Let me tell you something about woman, they are the most dangerous creatures on the face of the earth. They are so unpredictable with their emotions." Bruce explained thinking about his lovers of the past Talia al Ghul and Selina Kyle. "One minute you think that you have them right where you want them but then you say the wrong word." He remembered when Selina threw him off the roof top of Wayne Tower after he said that he couldn't be with her because of his rules. She was thrown back by the comment and out of her fury tossed him over. "That's when she can turn on you."
Alfred walked out carrying a tray of two tall glasses of lemonade with a bowl of chips. He placed the tray down and handed his master a glass while listening to the conversation between the two men.
"So I guess Alfred knows all about your relationship downfalls?"
"Indeed, Master Wayne is one for breaking hearts." Alfred answered looking at his young master.
Bruce smirked as he felt a tight pull in his neck.
"What about this new girl in your life Bruce do you think she will become another victim of a broken heart?" Thomas asking looking at him. "I mean you have plenty of women in your life. What was that one that you spent a lot of time with? That cute little assistant DA Roxie…
"Rachel." Bruce replied with a slight growl. "Her name was Rachel Dawes."
"That's right. What happened to between you two?"
"She died."
Bruce rose and walked over to the railing .Mention Rachel name was bringing back flashbacks of the night when the Joker and Sal Marnoi's mob kidnapped both her and Dent and placed them into two separate warehouses. It was a mocking of chance for Batman has he raced through the traffic trying to control his emotions. When he arrived at the warehouse, kicked down the door and saw Dent dripping in oil his heart broke into pieces knowing that he failed to save the woman he loved. That was why he was so enclosed with his emotions towards Diana; he didn't want to lose her like he lost Rachel. That was a risk he wasn't going to take. Not after seeing Rachel's charred body in the body bag while he stood there frozen as the firefighters washed the area to clear the reminding flames. All that was left to remind him was Dent's lucky coin. It was symbol of life and death.
"I'm sorry Bruce. I didn't know."
Commissioner Jim Gordon was waiting outside a cell door of Arkham Asylum's newest addition was Poison Ivy . He looked through the door wind and saw the young red haired woman sitting on the bed with a potted rose in her hands.
"How is she doing?"
Batman appeared from the shadows.
"She hasn't said much. But I did find out her real name. Pamela Lillian Isley ."
He handed the Dark Knight the case file. "She is a toxicologist and specialist in plant toxins. That's all we know at the moment. She won't talk."
"She'll talk to me."
Batman swiped the key card of the cell door and walked inside closing the door behind.
Gordon stood at the door keeping a close eye on things.
"Ivy," Batman rasped.
Pamela looked up and smiled. "Hello there handsome, you look terrible. Not feeling well."
"Thanks to you,"
"What can I say I find pain and suffering amusing, Batman?"
"You have information."
"It depends what you are seeking. If it is about the murders let's just say they had it coming. If it's about the vial you gulped down then I will tell you on one condition Batman."
"What?"
"You tell Gordon and his men to bring me my babies. They needed my care."
Batman looked at the plant that was on the floor. He quickly picked it up.
"What are you doing?" Pamela gasped. "Leave my baby alone."
"Tell me what you know what Aphrodite or this plant has seen its last day."
"You wouldn't"
Batman lifted his hand higher. "Watch me!"
Pamela's heart was racing. "Fine tall dark and handsome. I'll tell you. Aphrodite sent me to give potion that will turn you into what I whispered in your ear. She said to me that it's something that will help out what is to come in the next few days. An unknown evil that craves blood."
Batman rolled his eyes. "I don't have time for games."
"I assure you this is no game. You will change when the time comes. In fact I am guessing you are already feeling the effects. The sore joints, neck pain and an upset stomach, it's that what you're feeling?"
He clenched his teeth and placed the plant on the floor.
"If this is joke Ivy…"
She laughed.
"When I said that you will be nothing I may have been lying,"
He gave her a cold glare with his eyes and then left the cell.
Gordon was by the door. He was listening to the whole conversation.
"What was all that about?" Gordon asked. "I heard something about a potion she gave you."
"It's nothing. She's delusional."
Batman walked down the hallway passing the Scarecrow and all the other monsters that were locked away. He wasn't worried about the potion that was running through his blood stream. He didn't let things let that bother him when there was work to be done.
Bruce Wayne returned to the penthouse, he entered the guest bedroom. Diana was standing by the window looking out the window she was dressed in her armor. He walked towards her wearing just a pair of black jeans and was shirtless.
"Alfred told me that you returned." He said to the Amazon warrior. "He also said that you saved a child's life last night."
Diana nodded.
"Her parents died in the fire. So I ask my mother to take her back to the island."
He moved behind her brushing the hair off her shoulders as he kissed her neck.
"That is not the reason why I came back Bruce?"
"Then what is?"
"I have come to warn you about what the gods are planning to do with you."
"I know."
Diana gave a surprised look. "You know that you are going to be cursed?"
He nodded.
"Yes Ivy told me the form of which I am going to change into. A horse,"
"Not just any horse Bruce, you're going to become the mighty winged horse that was created by the gods and given to son of Zeus. The mighty untamed, Pegasus."
"Pegasus?" He asked with his hazel green eyes wide. "You mean that Ivy was telling the truth
"Listen, you're going to human as well but when you are needed you will change."
Bruce walked closer to the window and stared at his reflection.
"Why do all these things happen to me?"
"I'm sorry Bruce. But the gods need you."
"I don't want to be this Diana. I want to be a human not this winged creature that is a servant to the gods." He paused. "Batman is needed in Gotham without him this city would fall apart." With a sigh he looked at her. "I can't abandon my city princess. Not when there are people counting on me to protect them. But I just I have no choice since I already of the potion in my veins."
Diana placed her hand on his cheek.
"I won't let anything happen to you Bruce when you are Pegasus. I promise you that."
He nodded.
"So how much time to I have before my first transformation?"
"I don't know."
"Great." He huffed. "You just can't win can you princess. If it isn't one thing it's another."
Diana placed both of her hands on his cheek and kissed him.
"I promise Bruce I will find a way out of this for you. For us."
Bruce nodded and walked away.
"Bruce, being a Pegasus is an honor by the gods."
"Not when you are forced."
Diana watched him leave the room and then she turned to look back at the city.
"Hera, give me strength."