Chapter 24 : Times of Change
On a deck of a cargo freighter that was heading to the loading docks of Gotham , two figures stood standing next to each other. Both of them wearing black hooded cloaks.
"How much time do we have left Eros?"
"Two more sunsets." The god of of desire confirmed. "Then the real fun begins in this pitiful realm of men that I greatly find worthless. I tried to make the mortals have the sinful taste of desire but instead they defiled me."
He formed his hand into a fist.
"They will no the meaning of fear once he enters this world Erebus."
Erebus nodded.
"Indeed. Mortals are weak minded , selfish and indescribably ugly to my standards."
Eros grinned.
"For to long they let things get out of hand , making us become folklore in children's story books or placing our forms in glass cases to show off the likeness through artwork. The mortals have defiled all of us my dear brother . They turned us into attractions to loathe instead of being worshiped."
"Yes."
Erebus looked at the moonlight reflecting off the waves of the Atlantic ocean.
"What about Athena's star , that Amazon princess called Diana?"
"She will be dealt with."
Eros shook his head.
"I sense that you do not think our plan to end the princess will come through. Do you doubt me my brother ?'
"I never doubted you , Erebus nor forsake you. I have heard whispers from the sirens that a mortal has taken on the curse of Pegasus. He transformed into the winged creature five hours ago at the twelve hour of the night."
Erebus did a small cackle .
"What's so funny my bother?"
"That moral is a fool. He doesn't not know that one weakness of Pegasus."
"We do."
"Indeed Eros. I've dealt with many cursed mortals in my time . Do you remember when Athena cursed the weaver into being a giant spider because of her jealous towards the mortal's gift."
"Of course , but what does that have to do with this mortal ?"
"You not looking at the bigger picture my brother. The winged horse Pegasus spirit is untamed. No mortal can truly control the raging horse inside soon this mortal will become destructive and uncontrollable to the princess."
"Making the Amazon lose focus in battle."
" You of all gods should know that every mortal man has weakness when it comes to a woman."
Eros smiled.
"Harm the princess . Defeat the man."
"Now the mortal will change into a human tonight at the twelfth hour. Just like all the other ungrateful souls that took on this curse. He will be weak from the transformation ."
"What are you suggesting?"
"We need a little spy."
"I've got just the creature for the job."
Eros opened the palm of his hand and a inside was a small white dove.
"Of course it had to be the symbol of love."
He nodded.
Four in the morning was not an hour to get used too, perched on top of a stairwell eye looking down at the sidewalks and the traffic , Wonder Woman waited with her legs hanging down and fingers tapping the wooden railing. She hated waiting. Being a Amazon warrior was all about discipline , training and defense . It was not about waiting in the shadows for a sign of confrontations or struggle. This was Batman's style.
She remembered the night when both Batman and her had that unforgivable confrontation with the Greek witch Circe. Both of them were waiting on the roof top. She was still learning how to fit in with Batman's world at the time.
"Patience princess," Batman said was he was crouched down on the ledge looking at the dark shadows of the alley way across. His back was tense and lips formed in a straight line. The same expression that Wonder Woman was used to seeing during the times of their missions. She had never seen him smile , laugh or even shed a tear. Inside she knew that Batman was the type of man that kept his feelings locked good and tight within his soul.
Wonder Woman stood up and walked to move her booted feet around as she kept her eyes focused on the Dark Knight who was no sign that he was interested in her movement at the moment. She looked at the couples holding hands and kissing each on the cheeks on the cheek walks . She sighed.
"Don't you wish that you were down there?" She asked pointing her hand at the people walking the sidewalks. "Being a part of that life instead of spending your nights on crouched down on cement roof tops?"
Batman did not respond to her question.
"Does Bruce Wayne ever have fun is his life? Or does he just spend all the time in that cave of his?"
Batman turned his head and glared a soulless gaze at her.
"Why are you so interested in man's nightly activities? I thought your mother never told you about men?"
"My mother told me all I needed to know what your kind Bruce." She sighed. "I was talking about having fun with someone special perhaps a woman who is a good friend of yours. Do you and Selina have fun together ."
"Leave her out of this." Batman growled
"Oh so you still have deep feelings for her?" Wonder Woman asked. "I think Selina is a good warrior as well as a thief."
"Princess , I'm not in the mood of talking about this. We have to say focus on the mission."
Wonder Woman smiled. She was starting to get a rise out of the mysterious raspy Dark Knight.
"So what happened between you and her?"
Batman bit his tongue.
"Nothing. Selina and I are just good friends. We both went are separate ways and that is it."
"So why can't you ..." She paused in her words nervous to ask him what he thought about her.
"Why can't I what?"
"Go dancing with me?"
"Three things. Dating in the league always leads to trouble and not to mention confusion on the missions. I can't be worried about the person I care about when I am in battle. Second princess, you are a princess from immortal warriors that despise men and I am a rich kid with issues. Lots of issues. Third if my enemies found out that I had someone special in my life they would not rest until they got to me through her."
Diana grasped a stone gargoyle and crumbled it into pieces.
The sound of sirens woke Diana up from her memory lane.
"Here we go again,"
The truck was coming fast. Wonder Woman pushed the young girl out of the way and held out her hands. The driver had suffered a stroke.
"Great Hera," Wonder Woman said as she grasped the truck with both hands and stopped it from hitting the cement pole. She then settled the truck down way from the incoming traffic. Her eyes looked at the old man. She ripped open the door and grabbed the driver.
The woman whom she saved got onto her feet.
"Is he alright?" She asked Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman checked his pulse. "He's alive."
"I'll call 911."
"What do you think is wrong with him?" The heroine asked with concern.
"Judging by the color of his skin and drool on his chin. I assume he had a stroke."
She dialed for 911 on the cell phone.
"By the way thank you for saving my life."
Wonder Woman nodded.
"You're welcome little sister.
Diana's feet smacked on the cement of the penthouse terrace . She walked over to where the black winged horse was resting. His body was formed in a curling position.
She knelt down and placed her hand on his long forehead.
"I'm sorry Bruce. I never thought this would happen to you."
The winged creature began to stir.
He opened his eyes. "Princess,"
"Shhhh , go back to sleep."
"I've been sleeping all night." Bruce growled . "How was your night?"
"Boring. Hardly no action." Diana replied when in truth she saved a woman from getting run over from a out of control pick up truck.
"I should let you go back to sleep."
She arose.
"Princess,"
She turned.
" Do worry Bruce . It's going to be alright. You'll be human before you know it."
"Yeah right."
Bruce Wayne was in a deep slumber. He had never slept so many hours in his entire career as Batman. His body rested on the blanket that was spread across the cement of the trance .
Alfred walked out through the doors with a bowl of water in his hands.
He looked at his master shocked at the sight.
"Master Wayne?"
Bruce slowly opened his eyes and moaned. He squinted as the light of the sun reflected off the tall towards across from his position.
"Alfred," He said yawning.
"Master Wayne , I think..."
"What's wrong ?"
He yawned again.
"What time is it ?"
" Twelve in the afternoon."
"Twelve in the afternoon." Bruce replied. He paused. "Wait how come you can understand me? And how come a full a lot lighter?"
Alfred over to him and placed the bowl down.
"Look in the bowl."
Bruce looked in the bowl at his reflection and saw that he was a human. No were not signs of wings and a tail.
"How can this be?" He asked. "Why am I a human now?'
Alfred shrugged.
"It must be apart of the spell that I am under."
He arose and turned around to look at his reflection in the glass of the windows.
"I must of changed over night."
Alfred shook his head.
"No, I check on you this morning and you were still a black winged horse."
The billionaire crossed his arms.
"What time is it Alfred?'
Alfred looked at his watch.
"Twelve in the afternoon. On the dot."
"That explains it."
"Explains what , Master Wayne?'
"I must transform into Pegasus at midnight and then transform back into a human at twelve in the afternoon."
He looked at his face.
"The only question is will it last?"
After a quick shower to get rid of the stench of sweat. Bruce stood in front of the bathroom mirror and looked at his reflection. He placed his hand cold glass and took a long hard look at his body. It was hard for him knowing that he would change back into Pegasus once the moonlight touched his flesh and it did not matter where he was . This made him feel like a trapped prisoner and he hated being trapped.
He did a long deep sigh and endured the moment that he had, his hazel green eyes looked at his well portioned chest . At that moment he placed his left hand on left side where his heart was located and spoke in a sorrowful tone almost like he was sobbing .
"My heart is my weakness."
It that moment he thought of all the women he loved and shared passion with. The only one that truly had his heart was Diana. He loved her more than she would ever know. That was his secret that he did deep within the depths of his soul.
Two hours of later Bruce was sitting in the leather chair of his penthouse bedroom looking out at Gotham . The sun was beginning to set and deep down he was praying that there was not going to be no moon . He arose from the chair and walked over to the huge floor to ceiling window. He placed his hand on the cold glass and imagination himself dressed in his full armor , the cowl covering his sharp featured face. That was who he was inside . Batman was the real man under the mask of the billionaire playboy.
Alfred entered the room with a tray of tea.
"I prepared a little something to calm the nerves. You've been through a lot."
Bruce turned and looked at his butler.
"No I haven't Alfred."
'What ever do you mean sir ?" Alfred asked settling the tray on the table. " You are cursed to transform into a mythical creature and not to mention that you have a lot on your plate with this terrible evil that is arising."
"This there anything else you want to had."
Bruce was getting annoyed by his butler's lecture.
"Well , I must say it's good to finally talk to you again ."
"Likewise old friend."
Bruce walked to his butler. Alfred handed him a cup of tea.
"So how long do you have until the next transformation?"
Bruce turned his gaze back to the setting sun.
"It all depends if there is no moon."
"Moon?" Alfred asked with an arched eye brow.
"If the moonlight touches my flesh I become Pegasus or Vuxta." He explained. "If there is no moon than I remind human and maybe I can do some patrolling on the roof tops with Diana."
Alfred could tell that his young master was growing quiet fawn of the black haired princess , he knew from the very beginning or ever since Bruce laid eyes on the princess that there was a love connection between the two heroes.
"If you are looking for Miss Prince , she is in the guest bedroom. I heard she had quite the eventful night."
Bruce walked out from the bedroom and headed towards the guest bedroom.
"Where are you going now , Master Wayne?"
"To pay a princess a visit."
"She is sleeping."
"I know."
Alfred nodded.
"Very good."
Bruce slowly opened the door of the guest bedroom. It was the same room that Rachel Dawes and him shared their last moment together before she was taken from this world by the mass murdering clown and the mob. He silently stepped inside and closed the door behind.
The light from the sunset was making her sleek body glow. She looked like an untouchable treasure that no mortal hands would dare not touch.
Bruce looked down at her form and silently whispered. "You're beautiful."
He walked to the bed and placed his hand on her forehead.
Diana was beginning to stir.
He bent his head down and pressed his lips onto her head.
"Thank you princess," He said knowing that she was busy protecting the people of Gotham while he was in Pegasus form. "I don't know what I would do without you."
Diana opened her ocean blue eyes.
"Bruce?"
"Go back to sleep."
"Is this a dream ?" She asked looking at his body. "Why are you a human?'
" It's a part of the spell I'm under princess, I only change into Pegasus when the moon is out."
She smiled.
"So does this mean that you can come on patrol with me tonight?"
He shrugged.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I don't know. It all depends on the moon."
Diana sat up resting on back on the headboard.
"Do you think that there is going to be no moon night?"
"Hopefully."
She nodded.
"So when did you change back into your old self?"
"I don't remember I woke up and was shocked that I was human again."
He sat on the bed and moved in closer.
Diana moved closer to him as she prepared her lips.
At first Bruce wasn't going to kiss her but he changed his mind.
His lips crashed onto hers.
Diana closed her eyes and endured the moment .
Alfred entered the bedroom.
"Sir," He looked at the two lovers and smiled. "Never mind. It can wait."
Bruce's lips parted as he turned his head.
"What is it Alfred?'
"I checked the Gotham Weather channel ?"
"And?"
"There appears to be no moon tonight."
Bruce sighed in relief. He arose from the bed and walked away.
"Where are you going Bruce ?" Diana asked .
"Getting ready."
"For what?"
"I have work to do."
Diana knew that that phrase meant. It meant that he going to change into his armored costume and cowl. She looked at Alfred.
"He never takes a break does he Alfred?"
"Afraid not Miss Prince." Alfred replied. " He becomes Batman at every chance he can it."
She nodded in agreement.
One hour later Commissioner Jim Gordon was standing on the roof top of the MCU looked at the bolted down flood light. He looked at his watch.
"Where is he?" He questioned under his breath. "He's never been late before."
There was a sound of movement coming from behind. He turned around and saw that no one was there.
Gordon shook his head.
The floodlight switched off.
"Good evening Commissioner," A familiar voice said. "Sorry I'm late."
Gordon looked at Batman.
"I was wondering when you'd show?"
"I've been busy."
"I thought you said that you had a crisis that had to be dealt with away from Gotham?"
Batman nodded.
"Care to explain what you're doing here?"
"I found out the crisis is here ."
"Come again."
" There's something coming Jim , something that Gotham has never faced before."
"What?"
"I can't explain it right now. I need to and your men to prepare ."
"How much time to we have?"
"Not long."
Gordon understood.
Before the commissioner could get another word out Batman was crouched on the ledge ready to dive into the updraft of the wind.
"Well you let me now if anything new comes up?"
Batman turned his head.
"Yes."
He dove into the air and fired his grapnel gun. Gordon watched him sign above the streets.
He shook his head.
"Always has to be the one with the last word."