Chapter 2
A/N: Hey gang! Shadowslayer here with the next chapter of FMA: Return of the Joker. The story is coming along smoothly. Plus many references with be in this chapter to various things. Can you find them all? As a heads up, this chapter gets a little graphic and may not be for the soft hearted.
Mustang: Shadowslayer does not own FMA: Brotherhood or Batman.
The Elric brothers gazed at the man known as Scarecrow, he was a rather eerie person. If not creepier than Arkham itself, he belonged in here. "Scarecrow huh? It says on this clipboard that you're a patient here." Ed smirked as he glanced down at said clipboard. Scarecrow gave a deep chuckle, "That was many years ago, but those were the good days." He replied. "This place has been abandoned for quite sometime, since then I've made it my home. I've never felt like leaving all these years." He added. "Since you're in the talking mood, then perhaps you can answer a question for me." Ed replied as his eyes narrowed, "Who is the man who laughs?" Scarecrow seemed surprised by his question. "Why would you ever want to know?" He asked.
"So you do know who he is?" Ed smirked, Scarecrow lowered his head. "The Joker is his name." He answered as thunder rumbled. "The Joker?" Ed asked. Scarecrow nodded. "I wish I never had met that monster, I even collaborated with him a few times." He replied. "But why?" Al asked. "Back then I didn't care, to me everyone was a test subject. Slaughtered all in the name of science. But now I'm retired, my life of crime and experiments faded with my youth." Scarecrow answered, flashing his cane he was using to support himself. "Then perhaps you can help us." Ed suggested as him and Al approached him, realizing he was no longer a threat. "Last night an officer was murdered, probably by The Joker." Ed spoke, Scarecrow nodded. "I cant do much, but I can give you information on what your going up against, The Joker isn't the only one who's back." He replied. Ed and Al exchanged glances, "What do you mean?" Scarecrow turned and signaled the two to follow, the Elrics brothers followed Scarecrow deeper into the Asylum.
"A few days ago, he showed up...and he wasn't alone." Scarecrow replied. "Who was he with?" Ed asked. "The Joker isn't the only one back in town, "Bane, Harvey Dent, and Mr. Fries were just a few." He answered. "He asked if I want to join him in taking back his city." He added. "We've handled pretty tough enemies before." Ed replied. "You cant begin to imagine how dangerous they can be. Believe me I used to be among them." He responded, as they entered a lab. Ed and Al looked around at all the beakers and bubbling liquids. "Is this your lab?" Al asked. "Yes, this is where I used to conduct my horrid experiments, now all I use it for is to create medicines and serums to keep me alive." He replied as he retrieved a hand full of veils, he began placing them in a box. "This wouldnt be a bad place to conduct alchemy research." Ed commented as he scanned the room.
When he was done filling the box, he went over and handed it to Ed, who blinked a few times before he accepted the box. "What are these veils?" He asked opening it. "When I refused his offer, he proceeded to beat the hell out of me and break into my lab, he took the deadliest thing that I created. Fear gas. Claiming that if I couldn't join, then my gas was a better replacement." He replied. "Fear gas? I'm assuming that has something to do with scaring you?" Ed raised a brow, Scarecrow nodded. " Once inhaled, it turns everything around you into a hellish nightmare. In that box is some antidotes for not only my fear gas, but for The Joker's own deadly poison. If you inhale it, you burst into a fit of laughter, and die with a smile on your face." He replied. "Thanks, we'll put them to good use." Ed spoke. "Be careful, if you have any questions come back and see me." He nodded as him and Al turned to leave. "I'm glad you decided to help others Mr. Crane." Al turned before he left. He smirked behind his sack, "I've got a long way to go before I'm forgiven my boy. Even in his eyes." This caused the Elric Brothers to stop. "In the eyes of who?" They asked. But their surprise, Scarecrow was gone.
The rumbling of thunder got louder as Ed and Al exited the Asylum. "Now we're starting to piece the story together." Ed smirked. "I wonder who Mr. Crane was talking about back there." This caused Ed to shrug. "Who knows, theres a lot of weirdos around here." He answered as they passed by the gate. "Maybe theres someone who can help us out a little bit." Al suggested as they made their way back to head quarters. "I doubt it, no one whats to even utter Joker's name." Ed replied as he rested his hands behind his head. "There one person we havent talked to yet." Al added. "Lieutenant Hawkeye." Ed scratched his head. "What makes you think she would talk?" He asked. "Its only worth given it a try." Al answered as he looked up at the rain. "Alright, alright." Ed sighed as they continued walking.
Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye had been cleaning one of her many pistols as she heard a knock at the door. Rising from her seat, she went to answer. As she opened it, Ed and Al had been standing there, soaked from the downpour. "Ed? Al?" She blinked a few times. "What are you two doing here?" She asked. "Hey Lieutenant, we stopped and wanted to ask you about something." Ed replied, shivering a little. "Uh, sure...come on in." She answered, opening the door further for the duo to step through.
A hot cup of tea later, the three sat in the dining area as Riza continued working on one of her guns. "What did you guys wanted to ask?" She asked as she continued with her work. The Elric brothers exchanged glances for a moment, then turning to Riza. "What can you tell us about clowns?" Ed asked, this caused her to pause for a moment before continuing. "In this town, theyre never funny." She muttered. The next few moments were silent, save for the rain hitting the window. "You know about him, dont you?" Al asked quietly, Riza didnt answer. Only the sounds of tinkering metal were replied.
"You two..." She uttered, causing them to perk up. "Please leave this issue alone." She finished. "Aw cmon! First the Major and the Colonel and now you! Why arent any of you talking?" Ed demanded. "Because you both will die!" She snapped quickly, causing Ed to flinch. After a moment, she regained her calm expression before sighing. "You dont understand..." She muttered. "Please Lieutenant..." Al replied, causing her to glance at him. "We only want to know so we can find a way to stop him. Before he hurts anyone else." She answered with another sigh as she set her weapon down. "It was 15 years ago even before the Ishvalan War, Roy and I were just cadets back then. A monster walked the Earth..
15 years ago
Lightning flashed as thunder shook the sky, atop of the hill rested the recently closed Arkham Asylum. Once in awhile being comletely visible due to the flashes of lightning. Past the kicked open gate and up to the front steps, a young Roy Mustang hugged against the wall next to the door. Drawing his handgun and a flashlight. "Im coming for you Riza." He muttered as he kicked the door down to the Asylum, aiming his flashlight and weapon in the darkness. He found nothing.
Looking around, his attention was brought to the faint laughter echoing from the corridor. Mustang carefully and quietly made his way to the hallway, at the far end a light illuminated from one of the doorways. His eyes narrowed as he made his way there. Hugging against the wall again, he listened carefully. It sounded like a tv was on, along with the Joker letting out a fit of giggles every now and then. Mustang carefully peeked his head in the doorway, his eyes then went wide.
Sitting on the couch in front of a tv playing cartoons, was the Joker himself. Laughing to the antics of the cartoon and eating cereal. Next to him, was the bound and gagged Riza. Glaring at him and struggling lightly. "Watch this! Its my favorite part!" He exclaimed as he let out a fit of laughter, causing Riza to roll her eyes and continued struggling. "Gee, do you think you could take a break from cartoons and help me out here?" Harley grumbled as she was tinkering with wires and power boxes next to a large tube chamber. "Cant you see Im entertaining our guest Harley? Look there it is again!" Joker suddenly pointed at the tv and laughed hysterically.
"Freeze Joker!" Mustang suddenly whipped from around the corner, his point aimed at Joker. This only caused him to grin and clap his hands together excitingly. Riza let out a muffled surprise. "Harley! We've got company! Camaro came by for a visit!" He exclaimed. "Its Mustang." Roy gritted his teeth. "Let Riza go!" He demanded, keeping his gun pointed at the mad man. "And spoil all the fun and hard work Harley did?" He replied with a chuckle. "Not like you helped any!" Harley replied with a tink mark.
Amist the bickering, Riza reached into her back pocket. Retrieving a small folding knife as she began cutting away at the ropes. "Why did you kidnap Riza? And what the hell is that thing?" Mustang gestured to the large chamber. "Oh that? Thats a surprise! But since you've been a good boy Ill let you get in on the first inside scoop." He grinned, waving his hands to Harley. "Take it away dear!" He exclaimed as the lights grew dim, a spotlight fell on her as she suddenly pulled up a chalk board with blueprints to the machine drawn on it. Suddenly sporting a pair of reading glasses and a ruler. She began tapping on various points of the diagram. "What we have here is the Jokinator 5000." She began. "Lesson learnt, never let Harley pick out the names." Joker had leaned in and whispered to Mustang. Causing him to form a tick mark. "The subjest is placed inside the tube, once sealed. A very special variant of the Joker venom is released into the chamber, rendering the victim Jokerized. Like the one and only!" Harley exclaimed as a second spotlight fell upon the Joker, along with falling streamers and balloons as he held his arms in the air with a big grin.
"Youre insane, hand over Riza." Mustang demanded as he lifted his gun and aimed at Joker. Who suddenly grabbed her and held her close to him as he drew a switchblade, resting it on her neck. "Ah ah ah El Camino, one step further and there will be a clean up on aisle four." He grinned. "Its Mustang!" He exclaimed. Riza trembled as she glanced down at the knife. "Drop the gun boy." Joker ordered as he applied a little pressure to Riza's throat. "Alright alright!" Mustang complied as he set the gun on the ground and kicked it to the center of the room, keeping his glare. "Good lad, here Harley! Give Riza a tour of the chamber." Joker laughed as he pushed her into Harley. Who caught her. "Sure thing puddin!" She smiled. "No!" Mustang lunged forward, only to stop in his tracks as Joker suddenly drew a revolver from his jacket and pointed it at Mustang. Who gritted his teeth.
"Cmon blondie." Harley ordered as she pulled Riza, thats when she finally cut the last rope and caughed Harley in the cheek with a punch. Knocking her to the floor, rubbing her jaw for a moment as Riza ripped the tape from her mouth. Harley growled as she lunged after her. Joker and Mustang looked back at each other, Joker grinned as he suddenly pulled the trigger to the revolver. Only for a flag to shoot out with the word bang written on it. Mustangs eyes narrowed with a glare as the Joker waved it around slightly. "Couldnt resist." He replied before a fit of laughter was let loose.
Mustang gritted his teeth as he lunged after Joker, who jumped over him and ran for the door. As Mustang looked up to see Joker in the doorway. He let out a roadrunner honk before taking off. "Go get him! Ill handle Harley." Riza called before ducking from a swing with Harleys mallet. Nodding, Mustang took off in a pursuit for Joker. Riza returned her attention to Harley, who readied her mallet. "Lets dance blondie." She taunted.
Riza glared before charging for her, as Harley swung her mallet Riza slide on her knees and leaned back. Avoiding the attack. She spun her legs around for a sweep. It was performed successfully as Harley landed on her face with a grunt. As Riza reach for her, she rolled over on her back and kicked Riza in the chest. Causing her to stumble into the next room, Harley jumped to her feet and followed her.
The next room was in great disrepair, with what was left of the ceiling being held up by rotting wooden beams and ledges leading off into a deep plunge. As Riza was recovering from the kick, she was met with a right hook to the face followed by a knee to the stomache. Recoiling, Riza managed to deflect the next punch and returned with a punch of her own. Finishing with an elbow to the chin. Stumbling backwards, Harley brushed her lip to reveala small amount of blood. Eyes widening, she glared at Riza before letting out a battlecry and charging.
With little time to react to such a move, Harley tackled her to the ground. However Riza countered by pushing her feet into Harley's chest and monkey flipping her into one of the few rotting beams. Breaking it in half. As Riza jumped to her feet, she turned to see Harley struggling to get up. "I...I think my leg is broken..." She whined. As Riza began to approach her, the ceiling above Harley groaned and creaked. Suddenly, the ceiling began to topple. Along with debris that was above it right down on her. She cowered and screamed as the hundreds of pounds of rubble closed in on her. "Harley!" Riza exclaimed as she reached for her. But she was too late as Harley disappeared in a wall of dust.
Riza let out a string of coughs as she stumbled backwards. As the smoke cleared, Riza looked up only to go wide eyed and cover a gasp with her hand. There sticking out of a large pile of rubble was Harleys lifeless hand. "Oh god...what have I done?..." She uttered as she slowly collasped on her knees.
Elsewhere, Mustang slide into a room where Joker ducked in. The room was dark, and Mustang kept spinning around as he entered deeper. Keeping his guard up. "Where am I Mustang?" Jokers voice hummed throughout the darkness. "Im over here." He spoke, causing Mustang to turn sharply in a direction. Which earned him a deep rolling chuckle from the Joker. Silence feel as Mustang approached slowly. "Or, maybed Im behind you!" The Joker exclaimed, this caused Mustang to gasp and spin around quickly. Which resulted in him falling backwards. The Joker let out a shriek of laughter. "You shouldve seen the look on your face!" He exclaimed as he continued laughing. "Im through playing games Joker! Where are you!?" Mustang roared.
"Oh you sound just like him!" The Joker replied, his voice echoing off the darkness. "Im going to finish what he started." Mustang didnt recieve an reply. "Did I ever tell you one of my favorite jokes? It goes a little something like this." Joker began as Mustang stopped in the center of the room. "A Man goes to doctor one day. He says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Saying he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. So the doctor says, "Treatment is simple. A Great clown, Pagliacci, is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Then suddenly the lad bursts into tears. Crying, "But doctor..." Suddenly, the light flicked on. Mustangs jaw drops as his eyes widen.
Hanging around the room, are dozens of large portraits of victims subjected to the joker venom. With pale skin, yellow eyes, and a creepy stretched grin. Mustang trembled as he sank to his knees, his wide eyed gaze going to the floor. "I am Pagliacci!" The Joker suddenly bursted into a fit of laughter at his own joke. Mustangs lifted his head sharply as he began to hear laughter coming from the portraits. His eyes bounced between each one their eyes seemed to be staring down upon him. Jokers laugh began fading out as the other set of laughters got louder. "N-no! Make it stop!" Mustang screamed as he covered the sides of his head, clenching his eyes shut.
"The thing about insanity is, its like gravity...all you need is a little...push." Jokers voice entered into Mustangs ears. He spun around only for Joker to lunged at him, pinning him to the floor. Mustang looked up with terror in his eyes. "Now Mustang, lets see if we cant put a smile on that face." The joker laughed hysterically, opening a switchblade in his hand. Raising it up, Mustangs eyes searched franticall for options. They locked onto a piece of pipe laying near him, he began reaching out to it as Jokers knife slowly got closer. Mustang reached with all his might...until finally he wrapped his fingers around the steel pipe.
He swung the pipe into the side of jokers head as hard as he could, he howled in pain as he stumbled off of Mustang. As he continue to back up, Joker failed to see the exposed breaker box behind him. Mustang stood speechless as he watched Joker reach out to balance himself off of what he thought was a wall. But instead he stuck his hand straight into the wires of the box. Loud zapping sounds errupted as strands of electricity jumped from the panel to the joker. His eyes lit up with pain as he let out a blood curling scream, his green hair standing on end as his body rocked and twitched violently with lethal jolts of electricity. His scream continued as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. His skin starting to sizzle and burn. Until finally there was nothing left in the box. The Joker collasped onto the ground, his twisted expression facing Mustang as he fell to the ground in horror.
Riza rushed into the room, eyes searching as they widened at the horrific scene. "Oh my God...Roy!" She exclaimed as she saw him kneeling there motionless. She rushed over to him, wrapping her arms around him. Thats when he started to sob, grasping her tightly. As the two comforted each other, a dark pointy eared shadow casted over them. Causing them to look up. "Im sorry..." Roy sobbed to the shadow, it responded by kneeling next to him. Offering comfort of his own as he placed a hand on Mustangs shoulder.
Present Day
The Elric brothers stood at a lost for words, eds mouth being hung agape. Riza sat silent, having just finished her story. "I...I cant even begin to imagine what Mustang went through..." Al muttered. "Now you know the true danger of this lunatic." She replied, glancing away. "Ever since that night. neither one of us have been the same." She added. "Theres something else too," Ed muttered, causing her to turn to the brothers. "The Joker isnt the only one back, some of the criminals back in the day have returned." Al stated.
"H-how? Thats impossible...Most of them are dead or missing." Riza replied. "We dont know either, but we have to stop them. And the Joker." Ed replied as they headed for the door. "Wait! You cant! Youll get yourselves killed!" She exclaimed. Ed turned back to her with a smirk. "Dont worry, we can handle this nutcase." He answered. "And besides, if we dont stop him. He'll just keep killing innocent people." Al added. Riza stared at them for a moment, before finally sighing. "Please...be carefull..." Riza replied. "Dont worry, you know us." Ed chuckled as the pair closed the door behind them. Riza watched them leave nervously from her window ceal. Once they were out of sight, she returned to the table and began cleaning her gun again.
A/N: Chapter 2 is completed, did you find the references? As always leave a review and some feedback. Stay golden guys!