Chapter 26: From Noon to Midnight

"Welcome to Gotham City my dear brother." Eros said gesturing to the shipping yards. "Welcome to a place filled with sinful desires and death."

"My kind of place ." Erebus replied looking at the humans loading crates. "Worthless bone bags." He snarled ready to snap his fingers and kill them.

"Not yet." Eros said stopping his brother. "It's not the right time."

Erebus growled.

"I something to satisfy my blood lust brother."

"Don't worry you will have plenty mortals to devour once father comes ."

"Yes . Dear old dad."

"Remember what he did to mortals the last time he came to this world?"

Erebus smiled.

"Yes. It was an exciting time." He said. "I wonder ho many graves the gravediggers will be filling up this time?"

"Including his own?"

"Of course. Father wants no survivors. This city will be stained with the blood of the worthless mortals that have defiled us ."

"What about the princess and her might steed?"

"Don't worry father as a special arrangement for those two . After all there are only human."

"Accept for the Amazon?"

"Everyone has weakness my dear brother."

Eros smiled.

"That winged horse is hers. Do you remember what we did to the other Pegasus?"

"Yes, poor thing had no chance."

"I know."

Erebus licked his lips at the sight of a dock worker.

"First we break the horse and then we break the man."

Inside the underground bunker near the train yard Diana opened her eyes and saw that Bruce was changed back into a human.

He was at the computer desk wearing a black shirt and looking over a few police files that contain the missing people that were found in the alleys of Gotham with flesh of their face sliced off. Most of the victims were male.

"Did you sleep well princess?" He asked without turning his hand. He was typing a few names on the search bar and then his eyes turned and looked the the file of Poison Ivy , the newest addition to Arkham.

"Very." Diana replied stretchering. "How about you? I mean I can see that you don't have a tail at the moment.

"I hardly sleep well princess." He replied looking at the medical history of Ivy's file . "It's one in the afternoon. I changed back into a human at noon while you were sleep."

He turned and looked at his the shredded armor lying on the cement floor.

"I want you to go back to the penthouse. I have a some things I need to look up. I won't be long."

"Understood."

Bruce went on the Gotham Weather website and looked to see if there was a moon.

"Another night as the winged horse." He sighed. "Great."

Two hours later, Bruce walked on the stairs of his summer penthouse wearing a dark blue bath robe. He entered the kitchen where Alfred and Diana were sitting at the island enjoying a conversation while sipping a glass of freshly made lemon aide to quench their thirst from the walking in a wall tempter that was outside.

He entered and looked at Diana who was dressing a light blue top and shorts.

"Princess?"

Diana turned her head and looked at the youthful billionaire .

"Bruce , I'm glad to see that you're finally up." Diana replied looking at his bathrobe. "I see that you are still dressed for another restful sleeping period."

The billionaire shook his head.

"No, I'm not going back to bed. I got all the sleep I need." He turned his head to the balcony glass doors and saw that the in ground pool that was cemented in on the roof south side of the roof was open. He needed to a swim to ease his mind for the events that were arising.

"Princess?" He asked . "Would you care to join me for a swim?"

Diana smirked.

"Alright ."

"Meet me at the pool when you're ready."

Bruce looked at Alfred.

"Alfred make some more drinks."

"Will do , Master Wayne."

Bruce turned and headed to the French glass doors.

Diana looked at Alfred.

"Alfred," She said . "I don't have a bathing suit."

"That's quite alright , Miss Prince." Alfred assured her. "Master Wayne always has spares in the guest bedroom in case a few of the supermodels he invites to this penthouse have no proper swim wear."

"Wow, I guess he's prepared for anything."

"Quite so , Miss Prince."

A few minutes later Alfred places a tray of lemon aide on a glass table and looks at his master sitting in a patio chair with just a pair of swimming trunks on while reading the Gotham Times.

"I wonder what is taking Miss Prince so long?" Alfred asked.

Bruce looked up from the newspaper.

"She's probably practicing some form of your combat training."

"How are you doing , sir ?" Alfred asked looking at his master. "I mean the fact that you're cursed to a winged creature from a Greek Myth has to be taking a toll on your body."

Bruce gave the old butler a glare.

"I really don't want to talk about the fact that I now live to live two different lives. One with wings and a long tail."

"I'm sure it won't last."

Bruce gave a distraught cackle.

" There's always surprise when evil is at play Alfred."

"I checked the weather channel and they stated that there is going to a moon tonight."

Bruce nodded.

"But I guess you already knew that?"

"Yes."

"Are you still going to go out tonight even through you will transform?"

The billionaire sighed.

"Yes."

"Sir , I know that I keep on telling you to know your limits but this is beyond Batman , you need to let someone else take care of Gotham for one night."

"No." Bruce said in firm voice. "I made a promise once that I would never forsake this city Alfred. So far I have kept my promise . I guess I will just have to end my nightly patrol before midnight."

Alfred shook his head in disagreement .

"It's your choice. I can't stop you," The butler said . "I can only warn you."

Just as Bruce was about to answer back to Alfred's comment he noticed Diana walking to the pool area wearing a white bikini . Her jet black hair was flowing down her back as she gave him a smile.

Alfred looked at his master.

"Very well, I will be indoors if you need me."

Bruce arose from the chair and jumped into the 80 degree water as Diana slowly made her way to the stone steps. He swam to where she stood his hair drench .

"Coming princess," He asked with a smirk.

Diana looked at the water.

"I haven't been in the water since we saved Arthur's wife Mira from the Black Manta."

"You're not afraid of getting wet are you princess?"

"How dare you think that?"

He playfully splashed water onto her legs.

"Hey , I wasn't ready!"

"Sure you are." Bruce leaned his head backwards and soaked his hair into the water. "Come on in princess," He said. "The water is perfect."

Diana gracefully dove in after him.

He wrapped his arms her her slender sleek waist and then did a dive bomb making her go under the water. She lifted herself from the water and gave him a glare of combat.

"You want to practice you're combat skills?" She asked pushing him down and then using his legs to flip him. "I play rough in the water."

Bruce splashed her in the face. "So do I princess."

She returned the favor and splashed him.

"Do you give up?"

Diana looked at saw that Bruce was not the there.

"Bruce?"

Two hands covered her eyes.

"You of all people should know I never give up."

Bruce was standing behind her. He spun her body around until both of them were face to face. He knew it was a perfect moment to make an impulsive move.

Diana prepared herself .

He crashed his lips onto hers and then pulled out and lifted himself onto the cement leaving Diana standing in the water breathless. She looked at the drenched billionaire who was sitting on a edge of a chair with his head pointing down.

"Bruce?" She asked pulling herself onto the cement and walked towards him. "Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine , princess. Why can't you accept that I have nothing wrong with me."

"Nothing?"

Diana crossed her arms.

"What I mean princess , I don't like it when people take pity onto me when there are far more most things out there that happen to good people everyday of the week."

She knew that was just a cover up. He was hurting inside she could see it in those dark hazel green eyes of his that he was hiding his pain and worries. But she also knew that Bruce Wayne was the type of man that held even within and let it consume him.

"Bruce , I know you too well. Please tell me what's going on?"

"What do you think?" He said in defense as he stood up and moved to the cement ledge. He placed his hand down on the smooth surface and looked out at the soon to be setting sun between the tall towers. "You don't understand how I feel princess and I don't think you would want to . My mind is not a nice place to be."

In saying that Bruce remembered the time when he hunting down Doctor Destiny in one of Lexcorps' warehouses. He was the only one that stayed up the whole night and tracked Johnny down . He kept his mind sharp and blocked the evil man's power by humming a radio commercial.

"You think that you can understand my feelings. No one can. I am a tortured soul Diana. I don;t want nothing in return but being trapped in the crossroads of this curse not knowing whether I will remain a human after this battle is over that is what is consuming me. Gotham needs the Batman." He looked down at the streets below. "It's a war zone down there princess, even through you can't see the evil in plain sight it's there waiting in the shadows." He sighed. "Without Batman many good people that I vowed to protect will get hurt or worse. That is a risk I will not take."

Bruce looked up at the sky and could see the form of the moon .

"We need to start preparing for battle and we can not let our emotions get the best of us not when there are so many lives at stake."

Diana nodded.

Bruce placed his hand on her shoulders.

"We've face many battles before princess. This one will not be so different ."

The sound of a siren wailed in the streets.

He looked at the sun setting.

"The city is calling me ."

"I know." Diana said. "I will remain here and practice my combat training. Just remember you only have until midnight ."

Bruce gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"You need to report back here a half an hour from the transformation."

"Don't remind me."

Sitting a perched was the white dove one of Eros's little spies looking at Diana and Bruce.

Bruce is in the bunker getting ready when Alfred came from the lift.

"I can see that you're planning to go out again."

"I don't have time for a lecture Alfred." Bruce said clipping his belt into place.

"I understand that , sir."

"Then what is the reason why you followed me from the penthouse?"

Alfred looked at his master.

"I promised you father and mother that I would never let anything happen to you , Master Wayne. I have kept that promise for years but I fear that this time..."

Bruce walked over and placed his hand on Alfred's shoulder.

"We've endure many battles old friend. But there is always the coming of dawn."

Alfred nodded as he watched Bruce pull on the cowl and transform into Batman.

"I trust that you know that midnight is your limit for the evening."

"I know." Batman said annoyed as he moved to the Batpod.

"I just wanted to make sure."

Batman slid his body onto the saddle of the bike and fired up the engine .

"Keep on eye on the incoming 911 calls ."

"What will I be looking for this time?"

"Abductions. Location that Narrows and the East Side."

"Gender?"

"Male and child."

Batman rolled the bike off the platform.

"Let me now if you find anything."

Alfred nodded.

It was a quiet night for once. Not much crime or patrols on the streets. As Batman was perched on a roof top ajecnt from the City Hall buildings. He looked at the time on the building' clock.

It read 11: 48 P.M.

Throughout his life Bruce Wayne under the cowl rarely used foul language, he would just growl but this was rare occasion . "Shit!" He said pressing a remote starter of the Batpod button on his belt.

In a dark alley way the Batpod fired up and sped out of the alley heading it his current location.

Batman rapidly jumped from one roof top to another , keeping his eyes focused on the moon light that was shining off the cement . He only had nine minutes left to get back to the penthouse before his tail and wings appeared.

The Batpod hauled to a stop in front a few random parked cars.

Batman jumped from the roof top and smacked his booted feet on the sidewalk , he raced to the bike and slid his body on the saddle and was just about to take off when he hear something that made cringe.

"Help!"

Bruce under the cowl rolled his eyes.

"Perfect . Just perfect."

He got off the bike and turned his head for the direction of the woman's scream.

Without any hesitation he bolted down the sidewalk and entered the dark alley where he was a tall man dressed in a hood flicking a switchblade in and out at a young blonde haired woman.

"Please Jake. I didn't mean it. Honest." The woman pleaded as she threw her purse down. "The money is there . All of it."

"That's not what I want Jessy."

The young woman was rubbing her wounded arm.

"I can't do that."

"Of course you can unless you want to see your dear sister cut up into a tiny pieces the size of bread crumbs scattered all over Gotham."

"Please. No."

"Then give me what I ask."

She nodded and started to unzip her top with a look of shame .

Batman had enough of this. He clenched his jaw and lunged at the hooded thug pushing him to the ground and then he twisted the man's arm and growled.

"Don't ever let me see you around this girl again. Unless you want to see my angry and you don't want to see my ugly side."

The thug nodded.

"OK!"

Batman released his grip on the man's arm and then looked at the woman.

"Get out of here!"

She nodded and ran down the alley way.

He could heard the church bells chiming in the distance meaning that it was the midnight hour.

"Not now!"

The Dark Knight removed his grapnel gun from it's hostler and fired the wire. He wrapped the wire in the middle of belt and pressed the button. In seconds he shot up to the roof top. He went on all fours and pulled off the cowl and the cape.

In moments he howled in pain as his body transformed , his bones twisting , body growing larger and wings forming from his side. A long black tail ripped through the Kevlar armor and soon his suit was becoming shreds lying on the cement . His hands formed into hard hoofs and face grew large and longer.

Within moments what was alluring the Dark Knight was a black Pegasus.

The winged horse stood on it's long legs and looked at the ground. He prepared himself for flight. This was going to be his first test flight that Bruce ever did while he was in horse form.

He turned his long neck and looked at his sharp edge wings and began to move them off the roof. Then he took a few steps back , his hoofs clicking against the cement and formed his massive body into a running stance.

"Here I thought I was prepared for anything?"