Nightwing & Starling 2
Night of Owls
The family in front of the screens watched intently as the dark haired Ballet dancer did her first solo number. The song was some Emo rock band noise with a fast pace and lyrics that screamed about injustice. The music here was not what the family was focusing on. It was the beautiful ballet dancer hitting every beat with a kick of her leg, a flip, or a turn. Absolutely flawless. The crowd cheers as she leaves the stage. The picture on the screen changes to a hip hop duet with the same girl, and another young boy. It was a hip hop dance, showing off the girls acrobatics, and break dancing. The picture changes again, but this time it is not of the beautiful dancer. Instead it's Gotham's newest vigilante, the young Starling, as she flips into the air grabs a young boy from falling out of window, lands, and returns him to his mother. Her long black braid swinging ever present behind her. The family members looked towards each other, all giving approving nods. It had been decided. The head of the family takes a black leather bound book from the table beside him, and on a clean page writes the name Mary Grayson, then crosses out the name before her, Richard Grayson. Welcome to The Court of Owls our new Talon, Mary Grayson.
Happy birthday, Damian. Mary thought quietly as she sat in the chair of the Batcomputer. She looked at the time. Yes, Midnight. It was Damian's birthday, but he was too busy at the moment to notice. Busy having another screaming match with his father. It seemed the older the now 12 year old got the less and less Bruce could control him, though he had always had a hard time with that. Puberty, according to Jason anyway, was causing Damian to act wild and rebellious. Mary could honestly see it. Damian, if possible, had gotten even more brooding and Bruce was at his wits end. He couldn't deal with the boy, not now anyway. Damian had been sneaking out, missing patrol, skipping school. Things that Bruce had to deal with Dick doing at this age, Damian was now echoing, and Bruce has had enough.
The current argument was over the fact that Damian had skipped out on the first part of Patrol. Batman had a mission planned for them, and Robin not being there really messed up the plan. Still, the mission had to go on, and that was why Mary was sitting there watching this fight. Starling had taken his place on the mission, and things were going well until he came barging in thinking Batman had gone in alone, and had almost gotten all three of them killed. Boy, did Bruce let him have it when they had gotten back to the cave. Mary had to admit, she was a little upset, but when Damian had started yelling back at his father Mary had lost her anger. She hated it when they fought, mostly because of the tension afterwards. Most of the time, when they got like this Mary and her father would excuse themselves as soon as possible, or Dick would stop the fighting himself with a quick comment to Damian, but tonight Dick was not there.
"That's quite enough of that, Master Bruce, Master Damian." Alfred's timing had always been perfect. "Master Bruce, I do believe you have work that need to be done, and Master Damian you and Miss Mary have school in the morning. I suggest you both go and catch as many hours of sleep you have left." Not needing to be told twice Mary booked it up the stairs and out of the Batcave, but Damian and Bruce seemed to have gotten into a staring contest, neither one ready to give up. "Now." Alfred ordered. At the same time both Wayne's broke the harsh glare they were giving each other, and headed to their respective places.
Alfred sighed, If only they realized how alike they are, if only.
Alicia Royal stepped onto the Gotham Prep's campus. The school would have to do, for now anyway till she got what she wanted. The ten year old followed the man who had introduced himself to the young lady as the principle. Alicia smiled, this was going to be all too easy.
"Alright, that is everything you need to know about Gotham Prep, Miss Royal. You'll be shadowing a student for a week till you get the hang of things around here, is that fine with you?" The principal asked the young girl.
"Do you have any new students who could show me around, " Alicia asked shyly, "If it isn't too much trouble. I've never been in a school before I've always had private tutors, so excuse me if I'm a little nervous. A new student would help me feel more comfortable because they know what it's like to be new." The principle regarded the girl with pity. Poor little thing, probably doesn't have any friends her own age, the principle thought.
"No worries my dear, I'll see what I can do."
It turns out that the most recent entrance to the grade was over a year ago, she wasn't new anymore, but she would do.
When Mary Grayson was called to the office she sighed out loud. This was the fourth time this week. Every time that Damian snuck out, and skipped class they would call her out of class. Question her to death as to if she knew where he was, which she never did Damian wasn't an idiot he would never tell her even if she cared enough to ask. Where ever he was going she hoped it was worth the fights with his father. She really hoped Damian would grow out of this faze soon, because she was missing something important in class, and she refused to be behind.
"Alright, I can already tell you, that whatever idiotic thing, Damian has done or gone to I have no part in. So, can I just go to class?" Mary said as soon as she walked through the door.
"That's all well and fine, Miss Grayson, but we didn't call you here for that." Mary looked up in surprise to find another young girl her age sitting in the principle's office. Her hair was as pale as moonlight and her eyes were Hazel. When looking into her eyes Mary almost found herself drowning in them, as if they were sucking her in. She was a very pretty girl, but Mary wondered why she was in here if it wasn't because of Damian?
"I'm so sorry." Mary apologized. "I shouldn't have assumed something like that. What is it that you need?" Mary asked politely.
"This is Alicia Royal. She will be attending our school, and as asked if someone would let her shadow them for a few days so she can get a feel for the school. You don't mind, do you?" the principal asked. Mary looked the girl in her hazel eyes, and was agreeing before she even thought about it.
"Great!" Alicia smiled a big smile at her. "I can already tell we are going to be the best of friends"
Mary immediately smiled back, "We are going to be the best friends!" She answered quickly. Mary stopped. What? she thought to herself. She only just meet the girl and was proclaiming that they were going to be best friends. Mary didn't even get along with girls in general, she had more guy friends then she could count, but the only girl friends she had were from the studio. How can this girl already have Mary liking her? Mary brushed it off. The girl seemed nice enough, why not try to befriend her. Maybe her body recognized her wanting the girl as a friend.
"Good." The principal said. "You can take her to class now, Mary. Make sure everyone is nice to her."
"Oh, I don't think that will be a problem. Mary, will take great care of me, right?"
Mary found herself answering before she even thought about it, "Of course, I will take care of you. Don't worry we're going to be friends just like she said."
"See." Alicia said. "We should get going. Come along, Mary." And obediently Mary followed out behind the girl.
The whole day Mary found that she was rather fond of the new girl, Alicia. Alicia was always praising her, and telling her how amazing she was, and with each compliment came such an amazing feeling that whenever Alicia asked Mary to do something Mary would jump at the chance to do it. Alicia was such a good friend, she showed Mary how to put on make-up, and how to flat iron her hair, and all the things Mary thought to be frivolous, but now Mary wanted to do everything Alicia wanted to do. Mary was in a dream, and it was wonderful. Alicia was amazing, and Mary wanted to be just like her.
"You have such a wonderful face structure." Alicia commented. "If we were at my house with all of my make-up I could really show you how pretty you are with it. You are so beautiful, Mary." With the compliment came the high Mary had been craving.
"Thank you."
"You must come over after school." Alicia ordered. "I have to introduce you to my family." The cloud Mary had been floating on the whole day seemed to disappear at the mention of after school. Mary shook her head clearing the imaginary cobwebs from her mind. Why has the whole day seemed to be hazy like a dream you can't remember?
"I-I-I" Mary struggled to remember why Going to Alicia's house after school was such a bad idea.
"Mary!" Another voice called. Running up was Kevin Thompson. "You're coming home with me today, remember?" He said, and suddnely it all came back to her. It was friday. They had a competition tomorrow. Kevin's dad was driving them to Manhattan for the competition.
"Yes, I remember now." Mary said. "I can't believe I forgot. I'm sorry, Alicia, I can't come after all." Alicia frowned, not at all pleased that mary had a prior engagement. Mary found she didn't like it when Alicia frowned. It seemed odd on such an angelic face.
"That's fine for now." Alicia said displeasure dripping through her tone. "We can make plans when you come back." Alicia looked at her watch. "It seems that it's time for me to take my medicine. I will see you in class, Mary?" Asked as a question, but it sounded like an order to Kevin's ear.
"Of course, Alicia." Mary answered, and the blonde girl walked off.
"What the heck was that?" Kevin asked once they were alone. Mary gave him a confused look.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
"The whole, 'of course, Alicia.' thing" He said mimicking Mary's voice. "Come on, Riri. You've been glued to that new girl's hip since she walked in this morning." Mary glared at her best friend.
"Her name is Alicia!" She snapped. Kevin held his hands up in surrender.
"Sorry, I know. It's just weird. Mary, you came into class with this glassy look in your eyes, and introduced her like she was your long lost sister or something. Is everything alright? I'm not going to lie, I'm a little worried." Mary's glare faded at the young boy's concern.
"I'm fine, and I'm sorry I yelled at you. It's just that Alicia is really nice, and you should get to try to know her a little better." Mary said. She was oddly over protective of Alicia all of a sudden.
"Okay, I'll try for you, but I make no promises. Something about the girl just rubs me the wrong way." Kevin said.
"I think you're just being paranoid, but thank you for at least trying to be her friend." Mary smiled at him.
"Paranoia is good. It keeps you alert." Kevin said with a grin.
Mary groaned, "You sound like my grandpa." Kevin laughed.
"That's something Bruce Wayne has said?" He asked. "Just what kind of a man is he?"
"A very complicated one," Mary said with a sigh, "Let me tell this one time..." And the two walked down the hallway laughing at the stories they shared. With one look one could tell that Mary Grayson and Kevin Thompson were the closest of friends, and Alicia Royal who was watching the two intently frowned.
This boy is going to be a problem she thought to herself. Alicia didn't like sharing, but it didn't matter soon she would have Mary all to herself, and nobody would be able to stand in her way.
The next week Kevin had kept his promise and was trying to befriend Alicia, but it seemed she didn't want him to be her friend.
"Why are you even here, you flunky?" She said once Mary was not in their presence. Kevin glared at the girl.
"So, the snake in the grass shows it's true colors? I was wondering when you were going off of good behavior?" Okay, so he hadn't been trying that hard. "Where was Mary yesterday, she didn't come to practice." Kevin asked. "I'm guessing she was with you."
Alicia smiled a sly smile at him, "Of course she was. Jealous?"
Kevin laughed a sarcastic laugh, "Why would I be jealous of a two-bit ugly, bleach dyed wannabe. I just want to know what you want with Mary?" he said seriously.
"What I want with her?" Alicia feigned innocence. "Why, I want nothing more than her friendship. Is that so hard to believe?"
"Yes," Kevin answered bluntly "You can't be after her money, the powers may not be as rich as bruce Wayne, but you still have money. You can't be after social ties for the same reason, your family is as old as the Waynes, so answer me. What do you want Mary to do for you? It has to be something that only Mary can do alone." Kevin deduced.
"You know I don't understand why someone as great as Mary hangs out with some low stature, money grubbing, low life whose family got rich stealing from the original families of Gotham. It's a pity, someone of Mary's league shouldn't even be allowed anywhere near you scum. I mean look where the Thompsons are now, only one son who flunked the 6th grade, I mean how stupid can you get?"
"Hey!" Kevin screamed standing up catching the attention of everyone in the lunchroom. "You listen here, you rich manipulative, little bitch! Yeah, I may have flunked the 6th grade but I had my reasons. Also, leave Mary the hell alone, I don't know what exactly you want from her but if you hurt her I swear to god I will fucking kill you! And I don't need any grief from some girl, who thinks she knows me, about my family! Go to hell, Alicia Royal!" The sound of something hitting the floor brought Kevin out of his rage. Turning her found Mary standing there opened mouthed.
"Kevin?" She asked in disbelief
"Mary, It's not what you-"
"Oh, Mary he's been so mean to me the past few days," Alicia to Kevin's surprise now had tears streaming down her face as she cupped her face in her hands as she bawled into them. "I didn't know how to tell you because I knew how much you liked him, but he's been so horrible. See? You heard him right? He's been telling me mean things like that all week. Mary, I can't stand it anymore!" Alicia wailed.
Normally, Kevin might have applauded Alicia on her acting skills because right now she was so believable that he almost believed he had been bullying her for a week. Honestly, she was so good, she could win an oscar, but he was so pissed that he didn't realize her plan before. Alicia Royal had fucking baited him into a fight knowing Mary would walk in just at the right time, well wrong time for Kevin. Oh she was good, but kevin wasn't having any of this Mary would be pissed at him for a while but he'd rather that then let her fall into this girl's hands.
"You baited me!" Kevin screamed at the girl.
"Mary, he's trying to push everything on me! I haven't done anything wrong. I told you, that he was from a family of thieves, and murderers! You can't trust him!" That was the last straw. Kevin would have ignored the comment, but no one talks about his family like that. He wasn't going to take that from anyone, especially not this girl trying to steal Mary away from him. He raised his hand to slap the girl straight in her face but found it suddenly pulled behind him threatening to break.
"Don't you dare touch Alicia!" Mary said as she pulled back tighter on his arm. Kevin winced in pain.
"Mary, you have to listen to me-" But before he could finish she pushed him away, and he landed hard on the floor.
"I don't want to hear it." Mary growled as she looked down. "You hurt Alicia, Kevin! You promised to be nice to her, but you lied. Now, you'll stay away from Alicia." Mary kicked Kevin straight in the face hearing the satisfying crunch of his nose breaking. "And you'll stay away from me."
"What do you mean she broke Kevin's nose!" Dick yelled on the computer the screen. He was currently on video chat with Bruce. That didn't sound like Mary at all. She loved the boy to death. Dick had meet him once or twice, sweet kid, with a good heart, and watches out for Mary. Really, couldn't see why Mary would ever try to hurt him.
"I was surprised, as well, when I heard it. I thought she and that boy were close?" Bruce said.
"They are." Dick confirmed. "Since day one. Mary was always 'kevin this and kevin that'. She wouldn't hurt him."
"Unless he did something to her." Bruce said. "She was protecting a new student from him is what the school says, but still this seems very out of character for her to hit anyone outside of uniforms. She's very good at keeping the two separate when she can." Bruce mused. She had been acting odd lately, skipping Dance practice, acting spacey. Not her usual self.
Dick sighed, "Tell her she's off of patrols till I get back . Where is she now?" Dick asked.
"In her room, crying her eyes out. I don't think what she did really hit her until we got back to the manor. She says she barely even remembers doing it, that it's all kind of hazy, but that's normal in a fit of rage."
"True." Dick nodded in agreement. "Still, watch out for her, Bruce. I'll be back next week. Cass and I still have some work to be done here, when I get back I'll really look into this. Bruce only nodded as the screen went dark. Bruce had a bad feeling, and if there was one thing he learned after all these years is that to trust your gut. Bruce reached into his pocket, and pulled out his phone.
"Hello? Selena, yeah. I need you to look into something for me. Your usual fee, of course. Just keep your ear to the ground for something major. I know, Thank you." And Bruce hung up. Yes, something was happening deep within Gotham and he was going to find out what it was.
"Wait, Mary!" Alicia called out to the girl who continued to avoid the girl in the hallway. "Mary, please talk to me." Finally Mary turned around.
"What?" She asked angrily "Because of you I hurt Kevin! I don't know what you did, but I don't think we should be friends anymore, Alicia." Mary said. After thinking about it at home, Mary had wondered what had changed in her life to cause her to hurt Kevin. The only answer she could think of was Alicia. Everything was fine before she showed up, and then she came in between the two of them. Mary should have never let it happen. Kevin probably would never forgive her, and she wouldn't blame him if he hated her now. Only one thing was clear, Alicia was a big problem.
"I didn't do anything, Mary." Alicia said. "You kicked him all on your own. I wonder if he'll ever forgive you." Mary bite her lip. "But don't worry, Mary, I'm still here for you." Mary turned around and started walking away.
"Yeah, I'm going to pass." She said.
"Come one, Mary we were so good together. You were so perfect. Don't let this one little thing ruin our friendship."Mary could feel her mind getting hazier and hazier the more she talked to Alicia. "Don't be angry with me. Please, Let's be friends again."
"I won't be angry at you." Mary said words flowing out of her mouth as if she had forgotten yesterday's events. "We'll always be friends, Alicia." The words said as if they were rehearsed for a play. No real emotion behind them.
"Good. Let's walk to class together." Alicia ordered lightly with a smile.
"Of course, Alicia." Mary said that glassy look returning in her eyes as she followed the blonde girl down the hallway.
Around the corner watching careful was none other than Kevin, nose swollen but other than that he was relatively fine. Kevin had hoped to talk to Mary, get her out of Alicia's clutches. Mary was almost free, but it seemed she couldn't escape Alicia on her watched intently as Mary did everything that the girl asked her to, and seemed quite pleased and happy doing it. It was like Alicia had drugged Mary or something, kevin thought. Something was wrong, and Kevin knew he couldn't save fix it on his own.
Mary had skipped dance practice for the 6th time in a row to go to Alicia's house. Alicia's house was no where near the size of the manor, but still it was large. Alicia's family seemed to adore Mary, and treated her the same way that Alicia treated her compliments that gave Mary that slight high. The ones that made her want to do anything to please these people. They were so nice to her, and so sweet. She wished they were more people so when she got to Alicia's house she found it being set up for a grand party.
"Alicia, I see you brought Mary." Mrs. Royal said with a smile. Mrs. Royal was the definition of a trophy wife, long legs, blonde, and a pretty face. She looked a lot like Alicia, and they had similar personalities. Mary liked her. She liked all of the Royals actually from Mr. Royal to Alicia's younger brother, Roy. Mary loved all 6 Royals, they were good to her so in return she must be good to them.
"Hello, Mrs. Royal, What's going on? Are you setting up for a party?" Mary asked.
"Oh, yes we are." Mary was about to excuse herself to leave, but Mrs. Royal stopped her. "Honey, you must stay. You are so amazingly beautiful that we must introduce you to all of our friends. Don't worry about what you have to wear, you can borrow one of Alicia's dresses. Please stay, I insist."
Mary only blushed, and stuttered a thank you before running up the stairs after a grinning Alicia. Mrs. Royal smiled, Oh yes, Mary was perfect. She was sure of it.
The party had started a couple of hours after Alicia and Mary had gotten home from school. The whole party seemed to be infatuated with Mary, giving all sorts of praises and compliments, and Mary loved every minute of it. They were all so polite, and Mary's head was spinning. All she could remember were the smiles, the smiles that blurred together as the compliments came. Mary could feel her love for this crowd growing and growing as the hours went on, but Mary was missing something. She had to go home soon, she remembered. Curfew, yes her curfew! She needed to get home before curfew.
"Ali-Alicia," Mary could barely get the girls name out, "I-I Home, Leave-curfew." The words seemed to escape the ability to make functioning sentences, the chatter in the room grew making Mary dizzier. Curfew, Bruce would be upset if she missed Curfew.
"Leave?" Alicia asked as if the thought was outrageous. "Oh no, Mary, You can't leave just yet. Don't you love it here? You love it here, you want to to stay with us." Alicia said.
"I love it here. I want to stay with you." Mary echoed back. She completely forgot about her curfew that she was now sure to miss.
Alicia grinned, "Great, but there's only one way you can truly stay with us, Mary, is if you pledge your allegiance. Don't you feel good, don't you love it here? You can stay with us forever. If you don't pledge we can't stay with you. We love you so much, Mary. Do you want us to leave?"
Mary panicked. Leave? No, not an option. She couldn't leave. She didn't want to leave. She loved it here with everyone. If they left here, she could never feel so good again. The sweet bliss, would be gone from her forever.
"No!" Mary shouted. "Don't go. I'll do anything! Please don't leave." Mary begged. Alicia gave a sly cat-like smirk.
"Come with me." Alicia led Mary to the back room. The room was dark only lit by candles, and in the room stood people, people from the party though now they had on white mask covering their face. "Mary, has agreed to pledge." Alicia told the people in the room. They said nothing only watched as the Alicia pushed the girl into a sit in front of them. They watched her as if she were something to eat.
"Mary Grayson, You must pledge allegiance to us, to serve us, to please us, to follow us in all things forever. Mary Grayson do you take the pledge?" Mary was too far gone to turn back now. "Do you pledge yourself Court of Owls?" Mary said nothing looking towards Alicia for confirmation on what to do. Alicia nodded, and Mary accepted the goblet being handed to her. "Then, Mary Grayson, drink and become our new Talon." Mary didn't hesitate because with this she could stay with them. She could be forever with the court, they loved her as she loved them.
"Let us usher in a new age within Gotham City, The age of the Court. The return of the Court. The Death of Batman!" It was done. Mary Grayson would become the new Talon, and the Courts revenge against Batman has begun.
The change was almost instantaneous. Mary, in a day, had turned into Alicia with black hair. Mary traded in her trademark large green bow for a thick, white headband, and she had gotten horribly pale. Pale, as if she had not seen the sun ever in her life. Not only had Mary changed in physical appearance she changed in personality, as well. The few friends she did have she no longer spoke to, after three days Kevin had enough.
"Mary!" He grabbed the girl as she was walking down the hallway by herself. He pushed her into a corner away from prying eyes. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He asked. "I thought you were done with Alicia? You haven't been to practice and we have a competition this Saturday, Mary. Tell me what's wrong, please." Kevin begged. Mary glared at the young boy.
"You'll get me in trouble if you don't let me go." She said. She struggled in his hold but he only held on tighter.
"In trouble?" he echoed "with who?" Mary didn't answer him. "What is that little devil child doing to you, Riri? That's it I'm telling your dad, Damian, , somebody! That you've been acting weird, something is wrong with you. What is Alicia Royal doing to you?"
"Is that anyway to treat my friend, Kevin Thompson?" Alicia Royal said. In surprise Kevin let go of Mary, and she ran behind Alicia as if hiding from Kevin.
"I'm not going to ask this again, Royal pain in my ass, What are you doing to Mary?" Kevin hissed.
Alicia caressed Mary's face in her hands, "I've only perfected her. She's fine." Alicia then addressed Mary, "And you I thought I told you to stop talking to this filth."
"I-I-I'm sorry, Alicia. I was getting your books from your locker and he surprised me." Mary squeaked. It was out of character for her to act this timid. Kevin was disgusted at the sight of the Mary before. THis wasn't his Mary, his Mary never squeaked. Mary was too confident to be timid like that.
"I don't won't you're pitiful excuses! Why didn't you break away from him, and follow orders?"
"I-I-I couldn't" She stuttered. "I would have had to actually hurt him to do that, and my father said-"
"I don't care what your father said! I told you to do something and you better do it to the best of you ability! You act like such filth! I won't allow it!" Alicia raised her hand as if to slap Mary across the face. Mary closed her eyes bracing herself for the reprimand she had gotten so many times in the last couple of days, but it never came. Kevin just in time had stopped Alicia midway from striking Mary in the face.
"How dare you try to hit her." and in response he backhanded slapped Alicia the same way she was about to do Mary, but before he could tell the girl for the last time to leave him and Mary alone, Mary's hand made contact with his throat, hard. Kevin gasped for air while clutching his neck in pain. She had jabbed him in the neck. Mary had actually jabbed him in the neck. Kevin almost couldn't believe it. She seemed so scared of Alicia a minute ago, but was now protecting the girl who had almost slapped her. Kevin was sure this wasn't the first time this week that Alicia had reprimanded the girl this way. Mary didn't even like to play fight, let alone let anyone hit her. Something was wrong. Kevin was scared, really scared. This is worse than I thought, he thought to himself.
"Well, we'll see you in class, Thompson, that is when you can get a hold of yourself. Maybe you should go to the nurse for that cough." Alicia advised sarcastically. Kevin glared at her as she took Mary and walked away from him, but before they were out of earshot he heard Alicia whisper to Mary.
"Remember who you belong to, girl. You belong to the court, but most of all you belong to me." It was officially Kevin was sure that girl had done something to Mary. Something that normal people couldn't deal with. Kevin needed Batman, or maybe Nightwing, hell he would settle for Robin, but he had no way of contacting this masked men, so he went to the next best thing.
After class Damian Wayne was surprised to see Kevin Thompson standing by his locker in the third year's hallway. He was supposed to be in the first year hallway of the middle school section. Damian deemed Mary had brought him with her. She probably forgot her homework in his school bag again, or maybe she wanted his help after school, but oddly Mini Grayson was no where to be found.
"Thompson." Damian greeted. "If you're here Small Grayson must not be far away." but when Thompson looked up Damian knew something was wrong, and if Kevin Thompson had came to him that meant something was seriously wrong. Something was seriously wrong with Mary. "What happened to Mary?" Damian asked now invested in what Kevin had to tell him.
"I should have mentioned something earlier, but I didn't think it was this serious." Kevin looked around in a frantic paranoid way. He was scared, but the question was, of what? "Have you noticed Mary acting different?" Thompson asked. "She hasn't been coming to dance practice or hanging out with any of her usual friends." Kevin informed.
Damian raised a skeptical eyebrow, "So? She decided to change friends, and she grew out of ballet. Your point?" Though it was news to Damian that Mary wasn't going to dance practice like she said she was, she was probably just going through a phase.
"About two, maybe three weeks ago a new girl joined our class, and she's been glued to Mary's hip. Since This girl buddied up to her, Mary's been acting weird. Skipping dance, not talking to any of her old friends, breaking my nose." Damian gave him a surprised look. "I know, I know. She broke my nose like a week or two back. Anyway, the list goes on. Something is really wrong, with her. She's been letting Alicia hit her, and tell her what to do. She's like a puppet."
"Wait, What makes you think this new friend of Mary's is hitting her? She wouldn't let anyone hit her." Damian said.
"She did. Well, almost did. The girl Alicia Royal was going to slap her and Mary just closed her eyes to take the hit. Mary doesn't even like to play fight!" Thompson proclaimed. This was a lie. Damian knew that. Mary very much enjoyed fighting, but the whole secret identity thing meant keeping some talents locked away from public eyes, even if that eye was your best friend. "She's not right, this Alicia Royal. She watches Mary like Mary is a brand new toy she just has to break. I don't like it."
"Okay, but other than just talk to her what could I do?" Damian sighed. This honestly just sounded like school drama. "Unless you know something else?" Damian asked. He had to make sure this wasn't anything serious. He owed Dick that much.
"When they were leaving, I heard Alicia Royal whisper something into Mary's ear, and that's what really made me come here to talk to you. She said, that Mary belonged to her and to the court." There it was, and Damian froze. This wasn't good. Grayson wasn't coming back home till tonight, and the court? What Court? Damian prayed it wasn't the same court he was thinking about. "Beware The Court of Owls, that watches all the time, ruling Gotham from a shadow perch, behind granite and lime." Kevin Thompson started.
"They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed, speak not a whispered word of them or they'll send The Talon for your head." Damian finished. He eyed Kevin thompson carefully. Yes, it was The Court of Owls. "You are too smart for your own good. You've put yourself in danger by figuring this information out." Damian Grabbed the arm of the younger boy. "We need to get you out of here before they come for you." Kevin's arm suddenly went limp. Damian turned to find the knocked out one the ground. Damian carefully examined the boy's body and found a small dart embedded in his neck. Damian sniffed it. It was a sleeping agent. Damian was on high alert. The court was back. He hated fighting them. They had bad mouthed The league of Shadows, not that Damian supported them or anything, but even still he had lived more than half of his life there, and they had taught him most of what he knows, and they had to be great teachers, or at least half way competent in order to train him. Damian's hand slapped the back of his neck. He had stopped the dart, but not in enough time. It had nicked him just barely, but enough. He could feel sleep coming to him, and his vision started to grow fuzzy, but before he blackout a familiar voice walked up.
"We can't have him ruining Lady Alicia's plans. Tie them up properly then throw them into the harbor. They won't be any trouble to us that way. I can't have these two warning Wayne of his upcoming death. The element of surprise is major in our mission." It was Mary that stood before him. Her skin had grown even paler and her eyes were now an eerie gold.
"Mary,"Damian choked out before passing out. "Don't-"
"Sorry, but Lady Alicia's and The Court's orders. I would have spared the boy if he hadn't been causing such a fuss, now he's caused you an early death. I hope you enjoy drowning, Damian Wayne." She said curtly "Take them now. I know how he works. When he wakes up he'll be out of those ropes faster than you can kill him. Actually change those ropes to chains." Mary ordered. She smirked, a cruel smirk. It was time for a new age in Gotham. The time for the Bats has ended, and now the Owls shall rise again. It was glorious. Today will be the day, The Court of Owls returns on top.
"Selina!" Dick had called out in a hush voiced. He heard the shifting of movement and coming from the shadows was Catwoman herself.
"Dick?" She asked unsure. When she got a good look at him she ran to him. "Thank god." She cried. "We need to go now!" NIghtwing raised an eyebrow at her.
"What's going on, Selina?" Dick asked generally worried. He looked Selina over. She had obviously been in some kind of a fight. One of the ears of her cowl had been torn off, and her goggles cracked. She was also bleeding heavily from her head. She definitely had an concussion, luckily that was the only serious of injury. Her only other injuries being the deep cuts covering her skin.
"Bruce asked me to look into what was going on behind the scenes. It turned out to be a lot worse than I thought. It's The Court of Owls!" She said. Selina froze and Dick knew why. "You know for such highly praised assassins they sure should move a little more quietly."
"You'll have to excuse them," said a surprisingly young voice. "They're still in training. We had to take them out early, but don't worry. We've trained them to deal specifically with the bat problem this city has. Take them down."
Nightwing turned to see a young girl about Mary's age ordering the talons around her, "Richard John Grayson, son of John and Mary Grayson. You were supposed to be our next Talon, but that's fine. We've found a suitable substitute, and I must say, I've grown rather fond of her." Nightwing stared at her with wide eyes.
"What the hell are you talking about?" He growled.
"Oh don't worry, you'll be joining your daughter soon." The girl comforted. "She's on a special little mission for us, but when she's done with Bruce Wayne she'll come back to take care of you." With a flip of her pale hair, the girl began to walk away. "Oh, bring Grayson with us when you're done." She ordered. "You can leave the cat here to die. I don't care. " and she was gone.
Before she was even out of sight, the Talon began their attack. Dick threw Selina his comm, she was in no condition to fight. "Call Batman!" He yelled as he dodged a knife thrown at him. "Then get out of here! we're outnumbered, and you're too injured to keep fighting." Selina opened her mouth to say something, but Dick cut her off. "Until, you can stop the bleeding from your head, Don't you dare start fighting unless you really have to. Bruce would actually care some if you were to die."
"Fine." She snapped, not at all pleased. "I'll just stay here, and not help- DICK MOVE!" She screamed but in vain. As the knife embedded itself into Nightwing's left knee. He cried out in pain and fell to the ground as Selina quickly called Bruce on the comm before being taking down by a Talon that came up behind her frantic state. Another knife embedded itself into Nightwing's other knee as he tried to move toward his fallen friend.
"Don't worry, Grayson." Said one of the Talons. "Lady Alicia wants you alive. We'll take good care of you." They promptly kicked the vigilante in the face knocking him out.
Bruce wouldn't get there in time, not this time.
"Hey, wake up." Kevin Thompson heard a voice not so gently bringing him out of sleep. "Asshole, Jesus fucking Christ, I swear to God. I will kill you right now if you don't fucking wake up right now, Thompson." The voice was none other than Damian Wayne. Kevin opened his eyes to see they were not in school like he last remembered but someplace he didn't know, and he was chained back to back with probably his least favorite person. From the window he could see it was now night. What ever put him to sleep must have been extremely Oh... Now he remembered. He felt a sharp pain in his neck before sleep took him over, before that he was talking to Damian about- Oh shit, he thought to himself. They were certainly in some trouble if they were taken by who he thinks they were taken by.
"Where the hell are we?" Kevin asked.
Damian rolled his eyes, not that Kevin could see. "Of course you wouldn't notice the smell of the harbor. We're in a boathouse on the docks. How simple can you get?"
"Really?" Kevin asked completely outraged. "I really don't need this crap from you, too." Kevin sighed. "Okay, so we have been kidnapped by the most dangerous people in Gotham since the beginning of time." Damian snorted. He was the most dangerous person in Gotham, definitely not this old loons. "What are we going to do?"
"We'll have to escape." Damian said simply.
Kevin gave him a surprised look, "Escape?" he echoed. "How the hell are we supposed to escape? I don't know if you noticed but they are dealing with two kids here. There is no way we can escape before they throw us into the harbor." Damian paused before nodding his head and agreeing.
"You're right." He said. Kevin did a double take.
"Did you just admit I was right." Kevin laughed. Damian glared at the younger boy, or at least tried to from his position.
"Shut up, Thompson. I want you to listen very carefully. I assume that in about 3 minutes they will come and toss both of our asses into the harbor, and if you don't want to drown I suggest you shut up and listen." Damian said seriously, "As of the moment, I can't reach the lock pick in my back pocket.-"
"You have a lock pick on you?" Kevin cut Damian off.
"Didn't I say to shut the fuck up." Kevin grew silent. "When they pick us up to throw us in the harbor I'll be able to reach it." Kevin locked alarmed.
"It'll be too late by then!" He almost shouted, and was shushed by Damian.
"Not if you just listen to me. I should be able to pick the lock on these chains before you run out of air. All I need you to do is stay alive. Can you do that?" DAmian asked if he could he would look the younger boy in the eye, but being back to back Damian just hoped the seriousness of his tone reached him.
"I've never been a strong swimmer," Kevin sighed. "But I'll hold my breathe as long as I can. You better get us out of here, Wayne."
Damian snorted, "Please, the only reason that I haven't gotten us out of here yet is because they would come after us if we escaped, faking our deaths will be easier."
Kevin gave him a confused look, "I thought you said you couldn't reach your lock pick?"
"That too." Damian heard hushed voices, "Be quiet." He ordered. "Here they come." Smartly, Kevin choose to pretend to still be passed out while Damian glared at the entrance of two Talons mask absent from their faces. One was a male, African-American, Tall, well built. By the muscle tone on his body and stature Damian guessed he was a MMA fighter. The woman was of Asian descent. Her hair was in a long ponytail. She had to be gymnast from well was a gymnast, by her short height and all around toned body, but not toned enough to be a fighter. "Let me guess." Damian started. "You're going to tell us your plan, then throw us into the Harbor. How cliché. You obviously have know idea who you're dealing with. "
"I'll have you know that we do, Damian Wayne. We heard a lot about you from our trainer. We're going to be taking precautions to make sure you don't make it out of the harbor alive. " The male Talon said. From behind him, he pulled out some duct tape and proceeded to tape shut Damian mouth and nose. "I can't have you holding you breathe under there. I won't make the same mistakes countless of other have made." He then dragged the two young boys out of the bouting house and onto the dock.
"Our trainer was right,"Said the female Talon. "Killing The Waynes are fun." and she kicked Damian and Kevin into the Harbor.
Damian had to give Kevin Thompson some credit, when the cold water hit them he did not in fact panic like Damian had been expecting him to. Before the Talon had kicked them into the water the boy had taken a rather deep breathe was now holding as long as he could. Damian estimated he had about 2 minutes at most before Kevin passed out, one from lack of oxygen, and two from the water pressure raising as they sunk deeper and deeper into the water. Damian also had to recognize the tap on his mouth all so gave hims less time then he would normally have. On a good day Damian could hold his breathe for about ten, and that was with a good deep breathe before becoming submerged into the water. Today, he had about 5 minutes, three minutes longer than Kevin. Damian had work to do. Quickly, with his chained hands he took out his lock pick, and carefully began to unlock the lock. One stroke of luck, the lock had been a standard master lock, easy to break out of. He then moved the chains from around both himself and Kevin. Kevin had passed out. Damian had cursed to himself inside of his head, He was out of time. He then grabbed a hold of the boy and swam him to the surface of the water breaking through. Kevin needed CPR, and Damian was stuck in the middle of the Gotham Harbor with Duct tape still on his mouth and nose. He could feel his chest starting to hurt. He had about a minute to make it away from the docks the two talons were and get the duct tape from around his face before he suffocated to death. As if the gods had favored him in that moment, a small sand bar appeared. Damian thanked god as he started to swim toward the sand bar, struggling to keep Kevin's head above the water. When they reached the sand bar Damian did not hesitate to remove the tape not even wincing in the slightest as he felt the skin being ripped from his face, and immediately started to perform CPR on the younger boy. After a few seconds Kevin Thompson began coughing up the water he had swallowed.
"Totally thought I was a goner." Kevin said in between coughs. "Thanks for saving my life."
Damian stuck his nose high in the air, "Tt, please. I only saved you because Mary would never shut about the fact that I let you die. So, consider this a one time favor, Thompson."
"Whatever reason you did it for, thank you anyway. So, what do we do now?" Kevin questioned.
"You're going home, where it's safe. Me, I have some unfinished business with The Court of Owls."
When Bruce had gotten to the scene all he found was a severely injured Selina, and no sign whatsoever of Nightwing. Selina was not going to be waking up anytime soon in her condition leaving Batman still troubled as to who was the enemy this time, and hoped he was not too late figuring out.
Bruce sent Selina to leslie's clinic after being assured her injuries were not life threatening. She had a broken jaw, a black eye, and a stab wound to the abdomen, but Selina wasn't going to die. Bruce honestly couldn't even think about that anymore, because Dick Grayson was missing. He had tried contact him in, but nothing came up. Even the tracking device(which Dick didn't know existed) seemed to be out of commision. Bruce searched for hours, a number of his enemies could have been responsible for his missing state. It was no secret that the dark knight favored the boy. Kidnapping attempts happened from the moment Bruce had taken Dick in, and even though he was a fully grown man they still happened. Though, now it didn't seem as odd when Dick saved himself. Bruce had to think, the person who had taken him must have been an enemy of Batman, or known that Bruce Wayne was Batman. That had narrowed down the search some, but even after hours and the night grow longer Bruce had no choice but to call in the others. They would want to know.
The first to respond to the call was the young Starling, she into the Batcave on her motor bike, Starling uniform on.
"What happened?" She asked worriedly as she ran to Bruce. "What do you mean my dad is missing?"
Bruce looked the girl once over. Mary held her breath. Finally, he answered her question. "As soon as your dad came back I sent him to go find Selina, she's been MIA for the past several days."
"And..." Mary urged.
"Dick found her." Bruce answered putting his cowl back on. "But someone found them. By the time I got there Selina was injured, and Dick was gone." Mary gasped.
"But-but-but where is he now? Have you found him, Bruce? Please tell me you've found him." She begged.
Bruce raised an eyebrow at the girl, "I'll tell you as soon as you tell me what you've done with him." Mary froze. Then laughed. A hard long laugh.
"I knew there was no getting past you." She said as she wiped a tear from her eye. "When did you figure me out?" She asked with a coy little smirk.
"You overplayed your part. By now Mary would have demanded the information, and gone looking for Dick herself, not begging me to find him. She's very independent, but also she follows orders most of the time meaning right now she wouldn't be in uniform. She still grounded from her fight with Kevin Thompson. She wouldn't have put the mask back on till her father told her she could." Batman said returning his on confident smirk. "So, who are you really?"
"Oh, Trust me. I am Mary Grayson, but I have been reborn. I will be helper in the founding of a new Gotham, and you will be no more." She answered.
"New Gotham. What do you mean?" his gruff Batman voice had been turned on.
Mary snorted, "I mean-" but before she could finish out of nowhere a batarang flew towards Mary hitting her straight in the temple knocking the girl unconscious. Batman turned and glared at the person responsible.
"What are you doing? She was talking I could have gotten all the information out of her." He said to his son Damian Wayne. Tensions were still high between the two.
Damian snorted, "You underestimate her if you think that would have worked, besides I have enough information for you."
"Really? Because if you do go ahead and tell me where Dick is." Damian paled. "You didn't know he was taken because you didn't answer my call earlier. You don't listen, Damian. That's your problem. I can't have a partner who won't listen, or is having erratic behavior. I put up with with when you were younger but you are 12 now, not the violent 8 year old I brought to the cave 4 years ago." Damian glared back at his father.
"Why do you have to bring up everything I've done wrong when I make a small mistake! You're just waiting for me to go back to the League of Shadows, aren't you?!" Bruce stilled, and clenched his jaw. Damian sighed. Now he's done it. "I don't want to argue with you right now. We have bigger problems then whatever the hell is wrong between the two of us. Right now, we need tie Mary up, preferably in something or put her somewhere that could hold you for an indefinite amount of time. She knows all of our interrogation tricks, there was no way you could have intimidated her into talking. She knows you to well to be scared of you now." Bruce nodded slightly pleased that his son had enough sense to stop the ensuing argument. If it were him when he was younger they would be fighting till Bruce ordered him upstairs.
"Fine." Bruce conceded. "Put her in the quarantine medical Bay. She couldn't get out of there unless she were at the Batcomputer." Damian nodded scooped the young girl in his arms and deposited her into the area of Bruce's specifications. When she was properly locked down into the clear room Bruce turned to his son . "Who is behind all of this, and what does it have to do with Dick and Mary?" He asked Damian.
"It doesn't make sense until you know who's behind it all. It's The Court of Owls, I have reason to believe they planted someone into Mary's class, and are controlling her somehow. I think with a Hypnos Implant, but stronger. Everyone is noticing her strange behavior, fighting with her best friend, not going to dance practice, sneaking out of the manor(I know you've noticed. you just haven't said anything to her yet.) and etcetera."
"You think she's being controlled by The Court? That she's not doing this by her own free will." Damian shook his head.
"I have no doubt, but I believe I know how to stop it." Damian said. "I'm sure she needs to be in the person controlling her presence in order to continue being controlled, but she's away from that person now. If we are able to break her loyalty to that person while she's here, maybe the control over her will fail, and the real Mary will come back to us. I could be wrong, we're still not sure how to combat a Hypnos Implant, and I don't know what The Court of Owls is planning, but I know whatever it is they what to do with the Graysons can't be good."
"You're right, but we still don't know their complete plan. Though, from what Mary was saying earlier it seems to be similar to plan when we first faced them. Take back Gotham from us, and rule it from their shadowy perch. She says there is going to be new age." Bruce explained. Bruce would have continued if not for the small laughter coming from the locked up Mary grayson.
"You think The Court of Owls is behind all of this? Please, those old fools don't know that Gotham needs to be cleansed, they've been feeding off of the corruption for decades, on decades. It's time for someone to completely take Gotham under their wing and start a new regime. Long live The Red Queen."
Alicia Royal stood over the bodies of her fallen family.
"Alicia, Why?" Her father choked out before dying from the poison put in his dinner. With cold eyes Alicia started down at the man.
"Simple." she answered, "Because with all of this power you could do so much more than control Gotham from the underworld. It's time to step out into the light, and rule this city with an iron fist. With me ruling, it would be a Utopia, but you all were too foolish to see that. Don't worry, I hear there is a special place in hell for people like you. People who do nothing, and waste their time and resources." Alicia answered. "The time of the Court of Owls has ended, and the Red Queen's Regime shall rise from its ashes. What do you think about all of this, Richard Grayson?"
In the chair tied up at the Dinner table was Nightwing, looking as if he had seen a war. Domino mask was halfway ripped off his face, and a dark bruise was forming on his left cheekbone. He looked as if he had seen better days.
"Why did you kill them?" Was the first thing out of his mouth. "They were your family. You didn't have to kill them. You killed all of them from your mother to your baby brother, why?" He asked. He tried to look anywhere but the bodies on the floor. Next to him was the body of the young girl's two year old brother, and on the other side of Nightwing was the body of her elder sister.
"You should be happy they're gone. They meant to kill you today, Richard Grayson. I just saved your life." Alicia huffed.
"I'd rather be dead, if that meant bring back that little boy." Alicia gasped slightly offended at his words.
"Why? So he can grow up and try to kill you? I did this for you, Richard. You were nowhere in my original plans for my take over, but I had to fit you in. I need you alive...For now anyway. They wanted to kill you for betraying The Court. I don't know what about that you don't understand, they planned to replace you. After all, that was the original plan let a new talon take your place, and it was always intended that it would be a Grayson." Nightwing looked up at the girl with wide eyes.
" Then Mary..." he whispered.
"Don't worry, she won't be a Talon. Her natural talent and leadership skills should be put to better use than a simple Talon, but I do recognize that she would have made a great one."
"Why us?!' Nightwing cried out. "I left the circus, and Mary was never there. Why would you come back for us now?"
"Didn't I just say they were trying to kill you." Alicia said annoyance dripping in her tone. "And don't think the only recruiting place was Haly's circus. The Court would have come back for you eventually, but by the time they would have been able to get close enough to take to you, there was no way for you to be converted, you were much too old, and had Bruce Wayne's ideology drilled into your head, but Mary she is still young, easy for them to take and convert. She's still a clean slate... Well, clean enough for them to control her. The Court of Owls will never leave you alone, Richard Grayson. Everywhere you go you'll have to look over your shoulder unless you join me and my new Regime. Unlike The Court, unlike Batman I recognize how truly great you are, and with your help we can transform Gotham into a city that you can be proud of. What you say? Join me and you can finally live in peace." Alicia said.
"I think I'll take my chances." Nightwing said as he glared at the girl. "You are one crazy nine year old." he sneered.
"I like to think of myself as ambitious. It's fine you don't have to join me, but know when you stand against me you stand against your daughter, as well. "
"So, you're telling me that the Mary that is being held in the Batcave is actually being mind controlled by someone called the Red Queen? That's positively the most least creative name ever. What's the story behind this whole thing anyway?" Jason said looking at the girl
"Long story, we'll tell you later. Right now you're the one who needs to pull Mary out of this...Trance?" Damian said unsure of what word to exactly use for this situation. "Batman, and I are going to see if we can find the girl who did this. Meanwhile, you need to break Mary's faith in that girl, Alicia Royal. If not..."
"I get it. I get it. I know, but do you know how hardheaded this girl is?" Jason said as he watched Batman and Robin get into the batmobile.
"Not our problem, Hood." Batman answered starting up the batmobile. "You do your job, and we'll do ours. I don't care what it takes, you need to get Mary back to her normal self." Jason sighed.
"Whatever you say, big man. I'll do what I can." And the Dynamic duo drove off.
"I'll have you know that I am completely loyal to the Red Queen's Regime. Nothing you can do to me can ever stop me from getting back to Lady Alicia." Mary said from the other side of the thick clear plastic.
"First of all you need to know is that you are being manipulated by your Lady Alicia." Jason sat in the chair in front of but on the other side of the clear barrier. "What is affecting your mind is called Hypnos Implant. I'm sure this Alicia has been using it on you since you met her." Mary scoffed at her uncle.
"Please, I've read the file on the Hypnos Implant, and the affects of it would be too strong for a Hypnos Implant."
"Prolonged Exposure." Jason said with a wave of his hand. "I also think that they engineered it to be stronger than the normal implant." Mary rolled her eyes.
"I was going to give you a place in the Red Queen's Regime. I thought you out of everyone was worthy enough, I can see now that I was wrong." Mary said sitting down on the medical bed.
Jason laughed, "That was one half assed effort to try to get me to join your ranks. I could have sworn I trained you better than that." Jason said with a cocky grin.
"You did." Mary returned the grin with a smirk. "I just know not to try your own tricks on you. I'm not stupid, you know?"
"Oh, I know." Jason said. "Just like I know unless you get real proof of you being under the influence of a Hypnos implant, that there is no changing your mind."
"I'm glad we've come to an understanding-"
"But that doesn't mean I'm giving up. Not yet anyway." Jason said cutting her off.
"Royal Manor." Robin said as he eyed the very large mansion from the cliff side. "Who knew the Court of Owls head family lived 15 minutes from the Batcave? Tt, That definitely was not the smartest place to live."
"They've actually been living here for decades, almost as long as the Waynes." Batman answered as the crept closer to the mansion. "It was one of the few houses that wasn't destroyed during the earthquake a few years back. You know the plan from here." Batman said as the reached the manor. "Go, and try to follow orders." You could see Robin roll his eyes from underneath the domino mask as he climbed up to the roof. Batman shook his head. Of all the times that boy choose to be difficult. Then again, he had always been dreading the days of when Damian would hit puberty. Batman had thought Dick and jason had joked about how bad he would be, but know he was realizing that it was so much worse. Batman shook those thoughts out of his head and began to focus on the mission at hand.
There was no doubt in his mind that Alicia Royal and her Red Queen's Regime would be waiting for him. Out all of the things he had seen in his time as Batman, a nine year old homicidal, power-hungry psychopath is a first. That was why when he saw the bodies of the Royal family lying on the dining room floor Batman wasn't that surprised. He didn't even need to check pulse. It was obvious that the family was dead. They had been poisoned from the looks of it. The whole family was there from Adrian Royal, the Patriarch of the Royal family to little Roy Royal. The young toddler, who probably didn't have any idea what was going on in this family. The only person of the Royal family missing was the one who committed this atrocity, Alicia Royal. Batman knew from the sounds of things Alicia Royal was deadly, but she killed her entire family just to take the Talons from them, and cripple The Court Owls. Well, no one could say the girl wasn't ambitious. In order to make this kind of plan she must have been planning for months, years even. At only nine Alicia Royal, The Red Queen, had become more dangerous than a lot of his enemies. She was genius, and Bruce must take every precaution with her. She was unpredictable, and he was playing her game.
"Greetings. Batman." A young sweet voice called out when Batman turned the corner, it was Alicia Royal surrounded by what looked to be former Talons all dressed in her motif of red and white. "i'm glad you could finally make it. I have been dying to meet you. I was just telling Richard that."
Batman growled, "Where is he?" but instead of being intimidated by the man the girl laughed,
"In due time, I set all of this up just so I could meet you the least you could do is sit and have a cup of tea with me." She gestured to the seat next to her and the small table with a tea set on it.
"I Prefer standing if you will." Batman answered back.
"Pity, it's rose tea. My favorite." She said taking a sip.
"What's your ploy, Royal. Why kill your entire family, and take the Talons that were still in training. What was the point of all of this?" He asked her.
"All of it to meet you, Batman. I've heard so much about you since I was a child, and I wondered how could the Court hate such a smart and cunning man. If anything they should have asked to join their ranks, but the old hatred of the Waynes made sure that they would never do that. The Court of Owls was filled with fools who believe the old times when all of Gotham used to fear them will come back. Of the stronger believers were my Father and Mother. They thought if they took out everyone in the Bat-clan, then Gotham would fear them the most again, but they are wrong. I realized long ago, that we can't really kill the Batman. We can kill you, Bruce Wayne, and all of your little children following at your heels, but we can't kill The Batman. Do you know why?" Alicia asked rhetorically. "Because you are no longer an urban legend. You a symbol of hope, of Rebellion, of justice, and you can't kill a symbol. If we killed you and everyone involved in what you do, someone else would only step up wearing the same cowl fighting crime in the name of justice, and the cycle will repeat itself. I congratulate you. You have immortalized the image of The Batman. It will never go away because you have awaken the people of Gotham to the normal wrong state of things, you have washed their eyes of the haze that The Court created so long ago, and because you did that someone is going to always be trying to be just like you. Someone is going start where ever it is you leave off."
"You asked what I want from all of this." Alicia continued. "Well, it's simple. I want to rule. I want Power, and I am looking in far more bigger places than Gotham. I see far more bigger places the this country. In my dreams I see a perfect world under my Regime, and really only a few things stand in my way; You, your little friends on that spaceship high in the sky, and The Court. The Court doesn't see the bigger picture like I see it. I knew they would have to be dealt with sooner or later. They were the easiest to take out. No one sees betrayal when it's that close to you." Batman's jaw clenched. "Oh don't pout. I didn't kill the whole Court of Owls. Only my family, and a few others. I've crippled their entire organization. You should be thanking me. They'll be running around like headless chickens for next four years at least. I've also drained most of their finances. My point being The Court of Owls won't be coming back anytime soon. And now you are wondering what has become of poor Richard, and what my intentions for Mary are, correct?" She asked. "Well, The first the court was going to do tonight, in order to bring in a new age into Gotham, was kill him for being a traitor. They were going to make a big spectacle of it and everything, unmask him in front of everyone in the Square, and then execute him. Mary on the other had was chosen by the Court to take her father's place. Being so young, they could still easily manipulate her into becoming their loyal Talon."
"The Hypnos Implant you have." Batman said entering Alicia's monologue for the first time.
"Wasn't that hard to obtain." She finished for him. "As you can tell it is a lot stronger than the normal implant and all they needed was someone Mary's age to enter her school, and convince her to join us, with a little hypnos to confuse her judgement. I had been making these plans for years, I just need the perfect moment to play it all out, and the perfect right hand at my side. That's when the Court brought Mary and Richard Grayson back to my attention. I will be honest, I wanted Richard at first, but he would be harder to convince so I went with Mary. The hypnos implant making it all too easy. She didn't even realize what she was doing till it was too late. She's perfect to lead my Regime, and with her in time This world will be mine."
"So you admit to using the hypnos implant on Mary since the beginning." Batman said in order to clarify her story. Alicia impolitely rolled her eyes.
"Yes, I have. I just said that." Alicia groaned. Batman smirked.
"Good." He touched the ear piece of his cowl. "Hood, did you get all of that." he said into the comm inside his cowl.
"Loud and clear, Batman." Hood said in his ear. Batman had turned the volume up loud enough so Alicia Royal could hear. "Alicia Royal may want to run and hide because I don't think I've ever seen Mary this angry. Uh oh, She getting on her bike to head over there. That's probably not the best idea, I'm going to go stop her. In good news Mary is no longer under the control of the Red Queen's Regime. Thanks, Oracle, for the live cowl camera feed."
"No problem." She answered before going silent.
"It's over, Miss Royal." Batman said in a gruff tone.
"but-but-but- NO! YOU CAN'T!" Alicia screamed and for the first time that night sounding like her age. "You tricked me! Mary Grayson was mine! You can't have her back!"
"But we do." Batman said no mercy in his voice. "The thing about Hypnos implants are once a person is aware that they are being controlled by one the compulsion does not work anymore, and every thing you've made Mary think is now obsolete. Your first mistake was dealing with me. I know a thing or two about dealing with Psychopaths and one thing I have learned is that they love to brag about how amazing their plans, just like you did. I knew you would talk enough to free Mary from your control."
"I still have Richard Grayson, and if you ever want to see him again you'll let us go." she said trying to barter her freedom.
"I don't think so." Robin said. walking around the corner with Nightwing. "Before you even think about fighting us you should know. We did bring back up who are on standby outside of this manor. Also the police will be here in about." Robin checked his nonexistent watch "Five minutes. You could either give up now, or just prolong the inevitable for another 15 minutes. Go ahead, you know how much I love bringing Court scum to Arkham." He said punching his fist into his other hand. " Tt, and I hear you're due for a nice face rearranging. Make my day, Royal." Alicia Royal looked completely vexed. If looks could kill, Robin would be dead 100 times over by now, but Alicia Royal was smart. She knew her chances of winning were not in her favor.
"Fine, but I'll be out of Arkham before you can even blink, Batman, and I'll come back for the Graysons. They are too perfect for my Regime just to let them go." She motioned for the former Talons to surrender as she held out her hands to be handcuffed. "What is it that you always say about Arkham, Batman, it has a revolving door?" and she laughed, the kind of laugh that would send shivers up your spine.
The cops showed up not three minutes after Alicia Royal surrendered. When Gordon saw that a little nine year old girl was responsible for the murder of about 3 families including her own he only sighed, and said that he was far too old to be doing this sort of thing anymore, and that he needed to retire. Batman Robin, and Nightwing were all really surprised that for once a villain didn't decide to go to Arkham the hard way, but then again Alicia Royal wasn't their normal villain. It wasn't until ALicia Royal was in the squad car driving away, that Batman got a call confirming his suspicions.
"Batman!" Starling's voice rang through his head piece. "You have to stop her she planned all of this! She knew this was going to happen! She's going to-" but before Starling could finish the sound of an explosion boomed loud throughout the manor. All three vigilantes ran out to find the prisoner van and the squad car holding Alicia Royal and her former Talons, up in flames, and everyone that was arrested that night missing.
And for the first time in a long time, the Dark knight lost a chess match to the very clever Red Queen.
Back in the Batcave Mary was apologizing more than both Bruce and Damian could handle. She never stopped, making sure they knew how upset and sorry she was all of this happened.
"I understand if you want you want me to stop being Starling. I screwed up really bad. That was such a rookie mistake. I'm so sorry." She said. The girl wasn't crying, but from her tone it sounded like she was about to start.
"Stop." Bruce commanded. "No one said anything about you hanging up your Starling uniform."
"But I could have killed tonight!" She exclaimed.
"But you didn't. Alicia Royal came after you while you were supposed to be safe at school. You had no reason to think that she would be with the Court of Owls, or that she had her own agenda. She had you and a lot of other people fooled. I can't blame you for something you couldn't have prepared for. Now Dick falling for Poison Ivy's charm in the field again, I can blame him for. He knows her powers, and what she can do. You were blind-sided, and if I were in your position I probably wouldn't have fared much better."
Mary stared at him with wide eyes. "You mean it?" She asked.
"I do." He said with a nod. Out of nowhere Mary ran up and hugged the caped crusader knocking the wind out of him.
"Thank you, Grandpa." She said, and began to cry into his chest. Bruce after a moment returned the hug and smiled fondly at the young girl.
"Do you see that Alfred, he's hugging her." Dick whispered to the butler tending to his injuries.
"That I do Master Richard." Alfred answered.
"You know, he only started this hugging thing until after he got Jason. I got slaps instead of hugs, this is such bull crap."
"I am quite aware."
"Still, "Dick started, "It's nice to see how much Bruce has grown over the years. He's starting to let that nice man underneath the kevlar show."
Mary took a deep breath as she stood outside of her dance studio, a place she hadn't stepped foot in about 2 weeks. She blew off practices not to mention competitions, and she wasn't there all because of Alicia Royal's control over her. Now, Mary had to face the music. It was time for the punishment she deserved
"Tt, Are you going to go in or what?" Damian asked. Mary doesn't know why she brought him for the moral support, probably because everyone else was busy.
"I just need a minute, okay? This is a little nerve racking. I did ignore everything in my life for the past two weeks." She said biting her nails a bad habit she picked up from Stephanie.
"I don't understand you. You can kick Two-Face in his two face, but you can't face the people you love after you've made a mistake? That makes no sense. No matter what you do they'll accept you back with open arms." Damian said with a sigh.
"How do you know?"
"Because I've done far worse than you could ever do, and for some reason Father seems to let me stay." Mary blinked at the older boy. That almost sounded like guilt. In fact Mary was sure it was guilt. "Therefore these people should have the heart to accept you back, even after you did screw them over for competitions."
Mary sighed. "Alright, wait here. This is something I have to do alone." She told Damian. Mary walked up and pulled open the door. The wide eyes of the secretary, and then the glare as she walked past were not lost to her. In fact everyone who was in dance troop seemed to glare at her as she walked by. Mary could hear some mutters of "how dare she" and some "oh god why." but really they mostly stared at her as if she had come back from the dead. Mary kept her head high though. She was a performer and now she had to put on a performance.
"So the prodigal daughter makes her way back home," A voice called out. Kevin. Mary instantly recognized that voice. The last time she had heard it was when she had both him and Damian knocked out, tied up, and thrown into the Gotham Harbor. He didn't look all too pleased with her. In fact he had on his poker face making it hard for Mary to read the boy. He stared at her with a nonchalance as if he didn't care what Mary decided to do next, and that look hurt more than any of the glares thrown at her earlier.
"Kevin, I am so-"
"Save it." Kevin held up his hand in a stopping motion. "It's good to have you back, Riri." And he smiled at her. A genuine smile that let Mary know she was forgiven for everything she had done, and then he pulled her into a giant bone crushing hug. "Oh by the way, Michelle wants to see you now." Mary stilled in Kevin's arms.
"Oh God, she's going to kill me, isn't she?" Mary asked truly frightened.
"No more so than anybody else. Go on, you'll be surprised by what she has to say." He gestured to the room and Mary walked up to it, but before knocking she turned back to Kevin.
"Please go and tell Damian to head back to the Manor, I'll call someone when I need to be picked up. Also tell him I said thank you." She said before knocking and opening the door to the room, and meeting her dancing fate.
Kevin smiled at her. Mary was going to be staying with the Conservatory for a very long time, Michelle wasn't going to let such a talented girl slip out of her fingers, and neither was Kevin.
Final word count: 14,026(DA END IS NEIGH)
THIS CHAPTER RIGHT HERE! NEVER AGAIN WILL IT BE THIS LONG(unless we have another big arc like this) If this had hit 15000 I was going to cut it in half, because it's way too long. In other news... This chapter took so long because last two weeks have been Band Camp! Yup! and if you've ever been in the marching band then you know. I have no life but Marching band from now until about november after competition season. Meaning Updates are going to be coming even slower because school starts back up in August, as well. It's my Senior year of High school, and I've been dreading it like the plague.
Anyway, story stuffy. I will confirm that we will see Alicia Royal, and the Red Queen's Regime again. This is Mary's first villain that is her villain. not Nightwing's and not Batman's. She is also not the only villain Mary is going to have. I'm still debating whether or not she's going to be Mary's main nemesis. It's still between her and another character. Nightwing will be in the chapter more next chapter I swear along with the introduction of a new face, a hero around Mary's age who works with his mother... Guess who they are.
Also thanks to Victory Goddess and Shygirl for their reviews! As always they make me smile, and get me through a chapter!
Next chapter, Mischief Managed. (That's your only hint)
Love,
~Miyu K. July 28,2014