Chapter 20

The Queen's Heart

"Diana,"

Hippolyta walked over to where Diana stood.

"Mother," Diana said with a shock tone in her voice. "What are you doing back in Gotham?"

"I have come to aide you my daughter with Bruce."

Diana arched an eyebrow. She crossed her arms. Never in her life as she heard her mother say that she would help out a mortal man. Her mother was one of the fierce warriors in her time before the Great War. The muses said once that Hippolyta even took down the Herpes the wing creatures of the underworld.

"You are going to help me with Bruce?" Diana asked with confusion in her ocean blue eyes. "Why the sudden change of heart mother?"

"Diana," Hippolyta said with a firm voice that was gentle. "I have misjudged Bruce Wayne, I thought he was just a normal man that just wanted thing for you. But I was wrong to past that judgment. He truly is a warrior and one braves men I have met. I am willing to offer my help to nurse him when the hour of the dead comes upon us"

The hour of the dead was three in the morning. Hippolyta referred to that because of time Hades released the forgotten souls of the underworld, the fallen heroes that died in battle.

"How much time to we have?" Diana asked.

The queen could sense that her only child was worried. "My sun and stars I know that you have worry written on your heart. But do not let his bring down your hope. There are trials in life that we all must overcome so we can have our victories."

Diana wrapped her arms around her mother. She hadn't done this in such a long time since her banishment from the island. Even thought the she didn't see eye to eye with her mother she still loved her as a daughter.

"We've never faced anything like this before mother. I was the one that was cursed to be a creature not him. Bruce saved me that night using his wits and wisdom. What if I can't save him mother?"

"Diana, listen to the words that you are saying. You sound like a weak little woman from this world. I raised you to be strong no matter what you face. Bruce knows what he must endure."

She nodded.

"You're right I have to be strong for him." She looked at the dark storm clouds moving closer. "And for the souls of Gotham City."

Bruce Wayne was slumped in the leather chair of the penthouse apartment's living room looking out at the Gotham City; he sat there with a bare chest and jeans on. His hair was drenched with sweat as he could feel the hour was coming.

Alfred entered the room with a tray of tea.

"I prepared a little something to calm the nerves."

There was nothing.

Alfred settled the tray on the table next to the chair and looked at his youthful master who had an expression of worry etched in his sharp features.

"Very well, I shall be in the kitchen if you need me."

"Alfred?"

"Yes, Master Wayne."

The young billionaire turned and looked at his old butler.

"I never thought it would be this way. I wanted to just to be normal human being without powers. Now I am forced to become a winged creature. How can I be Batman when I won't even be man … This is madness. I hate magic. On the night when Circe turned Diana into a pig I thought I was going to be the one. But when I opened my eyes and saw the chubby form that used to be the woman I love, I knew that I wasn't strong enough to endure that fate." He sighed with deep despair in his tone. "Now I'm the one that will be a prisoner trapped inside a creature's body."

Bruce lifted up the cowl from the ground and took a good long look at it. "I want to a human." He threw the cowl to the ground out of his anger.

Alfred bent down and picked up the cowl. Deep down he was worried for Bruce . They have never faced anything that this metamorphism that happening . But he knew that no matter what inside the mighty Pegasus would be his master that was something to magic spell could take away.

"Sir,"

The butler handed his master the cowl. "No matter what happens I will stand by your side until this curse has served it's purpose. You are has precious to me as your own parents. I swore to them that I will always be there to protect you ."

He placed his hand on Bruce's shoulder.

"Be strong , Master Wayne."

Bruce narrowed his eyes to the cowl.

"But I'm not going to be a human Alfred. I'm going to be a horse. Why would you still want to be my butler if I'm not even a human."

"Master Wayne yes I am your faithful butler I have endure many nights of mending your scars so many that I have lost count. But I am also your friend and friends never give up on each other."

Bruce looked at his Rolex.

"It's almost time ."

"Than we shall face this together like all the other battles we have endure over the years."

"We've had many old friend."

"Indeed , Master Wayne." Alfred gave him a small smile. "But we have always pulled through."

Bruce rose from the chair and walked over to the window.

"I will still be Gotham's protector no matter what form I become. I will never leave this city unprotected. There are good people here Alfred , people the deserve to have their faith rewarded when the dawn comes."

He felt a sharp pain in his sides and fell to knees wrapping his hands around his stomach.

"Sir,"

Alfred knelt down beside him.

"It's time Alfred."

In the realm of chaos Eris was sitting on her throne playing with a human skull when Aphrodite appeared.

"Well what is it this time thy sister?" The goddess of Chaos hissed. "Come to make another offer ."

"No my sordid sister. Everything is ready."

"The moral named Bruce Wayne?"

"The curse in flowing through him . It's only a matter of time before he takes the form of Pegasus."

"I can see him now fighting a fever. He's not weak thy sister. Strong blood flows through his veins. The blood of heroes."

"That is why I chose him Eris."

"Excellent choice . He will make such a fine Pegasus than the other mortals that have failed to endure the curse."

"How much time shall I give him to be a human ?"

Eris looked at Bruce's form in the red bowl on her throne.

"Midnight . For that is the witching hour."

Diana and her mother Hippolyta were sitting beside the billionaire as he was lying on the master bedrooms bed . He was getting weaker and fighting a high fever that was making his throat burn from the inside.

"Bruce look at me." Diana said holding his hand. "Look at me."

Bruce turned his head as sweat was pouring out of him.

"Diana," He said wincing in pain.

His body was trembling as Hippoltya dabbed a cold cloth on his forehead.

"Mother ," Diana said. "Is he?"

Hippolyta placed on her hand on the billionaires cheek. "Bruce , listen to be you need to fight this fever."

Bruce nodded.

"Mother , how much time does he have before he transforms in Pegasus?"

Hippolyta looked at the rising sun through the huge windows of the bedroom.

"The fever has to run it's course. The spirit of Pegasus wants out."

"How much time?"

"Midnight is what Athena told me . His first transformation is midnight."

"Why is it always midnight?" Diana asked.

Hippolyta shrugged.

"Diana I want you to help Alfred prepare more cloths. I will stay here with Bruce."

Diana nodded.

Hippolyta waited for her daughter to leave and placed her hand on his forehead feeling his temperature.

Bruce was beginning to have chills as his eyes flickered.

"Stay with me Bruce Wayne," She said . " You're strong."

She looked into his hazel green eyes and saw all the pain .

"What ever happened to you that made you put on that mask to hide this beautiful soul?"

The billionaire coughed.

"A painful memory and a promise."

"What promise?"

He placed his hand over his chest showing the queen that it was his heart.

"I promise to my parents." He coughed .

"Diana told me that you lost your parents when you were young?'

He nodded.

"I lost my mother as well when I was little , she was taken from me without mercy for rouge solider of war "

"Is that why you hate men so much?"

"That man was my father. I killed her on the eve of your birthday . I hid in the temple with my sister." Hippolyta knew that the conversation they were having was helping Bruce ease through the pain of the transformation. " I thought my father was good man but I was wrong."

"The world is full of good men your highness. My father was good man that cared for the people of this city. He had dreams to improve the foundations that his dreams became lost when the bullet entered his chest."

He tried to sit up but he was too weak.

"There are heroes everyday your highness . All different ages that rise up and face the storms that enter through the streets of Gotham City. I'm not a hero . I am just man that has a dream for Gotham."

Hippoltya was surprised . She was getting to know to the real man that was under the cowl of the Bat.

He was the man she wanted your daughter to be with. She could see that now.

"Bruce I want to ask you something?"

The billionaire nodded. "Alright?"

"The reason why you sang for Circe to free my daughter was because ..."

"I love Diana but I'm afraid I might lose her to the cold hands of my enemies just like I lost my cherished friend Rachel Dawes. I was tricked given the wrong address and saved the wrong person that everyone in Gotham believe in ."

"I know that deep down you want to have a normal life ."

"There is no such thing as a normal life."

Hippoltya arose as Diana entered the bedroom.

"How is he?" The princess asked looking at the man she was in love with.

"He needs you. I have done all I can for now my daughter."

"Wait your leaving?"

"Yes , I am needed back on the island ."

"But?"

"Hush, I will know when you need me my sun and stars. Right now this man needs you."

Diana nodded.

"Diana I need to know something ? Do you love him?"

"Yes I love him mother."

"Than you have my approval."

Diana smiled.

After the queen left Diana laid beside Bruce placing her hand on his chest.

"Princess," The billionaire said.

"I'm here Bruce."

He ran his clammy hand through her jet black hair as she moved in closer and rested her head on his chest.

"We will find away to bring you back to normal."

He shook his head.

"The gods chose me Diana and I will endure this curse until we have the victory."

She pressed her lips against his.

Bruce closed his eyes and felt her body heat against his. It was comforting until he pulled his lips away from her and closed his eyes. She ran her hand through his drench hair.

"I won't let anything happen to you my Dark Knight."

Diana kissed him on the forehead.

"Be strong Bruce."