Chapter 17:

Daphne dragged herself to the kitchen the next day. Even though she didn't do much, she was still tired. Bruce, Damian, and Alfred were there, discussing things. They stopped when they saw her. She forced a smile and greeted them.

"Would you like something to eat, Miss?" Alfred asked.

Daphne nodded, replying, "I'll get some myself. Thank you for asking."

Bruce stood up from his chair. He exited the kitchen, not even taking a glimpse at the girl. Daphne sighed, turning to Damian. He didn't say anything and kept on munching on his pancake. Daphne poured some tea into her cup, taking a seat beside him. Alfred was facing his back towards them, busying himself with the dishes.

"How is he?" she asked Damian.

"He is still recovering..." Damian replied calmly, muttering, "Don't take his reactions towards you too seriously..."

Daphne smiled. "I never do. I am indebted to him for taking care of me after all."

She went to the cabinet to get her cookie jar. She stood on her toes, struggling to reach for the jar. Her blouse was slightly flipped as she did. Damian faintly blushed when he saw a bit of her skin. Alfred finally grabbed it for her. A common problem for girls her height. She sat back down. She started to eat, pretending not to care about how Bruce had treated her. Damian glanced up at her every minute, wondering what to say. He wanted to give her the hairpin he had stolen but then again, he would like to keep it with him. Daphne didn't have the slightest idea that the boy took her hairpin after all.

"By the way, where is Master Dick?" she asked.

"Grayson had some business to take care of with Kane and Fox," Damian replied.

Daphne nodded, munching on her cookie. She decided to do some light stretches after that. Damian stayed in the kitchen with Alfred.

Looking around the manor, Daphne found that no one was there, so she went to the Batcave with some drinks for everyone. Even though Bruce didn't acknowledge her presence at all, he didn't give any mean remarks of her. She seemed to be making Damian calm at some point. She assumed that she could stay.

"You really should be resting. The summit's tomorrow," she heard Dick said.

"It's been a week, I'm fine," Bruce replied.

The girl went down the stairs to them. She handed a glass of juice for Dick and Damian. She stood beside Damian after that. Bruce was using his barbell.

"Like father, like son," Alfred remarked.

Daphne giggled. Damian turned to Alfred.

"All things considered, Master Bruce, you're in surprisingly good condition," the butler said, looking at him.

"She treated you…treated us like we were machines that she could just program. That's all we were to her," Damian said, looking away sadly.

Daphne held his arm. She gave out a small smile to him. He gazed into her eyes for mere seconds.

"After Bruce Wayne completes his hosting duty at the summit, we'll gather any leads we can to find her," Bruce spoke.

"Why wait? I'll call Kate and Luke and we'll…" Dick's words were interrupted by the sound of the barbell being put in its place.

Bruce stood up. "No. You shouldn't have involved them in the first place."

"Batwing pretty much involved himself," Dick explained.

"And Batwoman? Did she force you to reveal our secrets?" Bruce demanded, pointing at Daphne, "Did you ask her to come back too?"

Damian reacted a bit from his father's words about Daphne. He glanced up at her. Daphne refrained from showing any reaction to not worry the boy. Deep down, she was scared of the sternness in Bruce's voice. To her, it suddenly sounded a little off than the usual Bruce Wayne. She really had doubts that he was fine. Dick glared but he didn't say a word.

Alfred stood up for him, "You weren't here, sir. Master Dick made a judgment call, and I think it was the right one."

"Maybe so, but from here on, it's only family," Bruce said, going to the stairs.

"Kate's going through the hard drive we pulled from the convent," Dick spoke up.

"Fine, but when she's done, that's it…" he replied.

"But we have to…" Dick was again cut off.

"You're not Batman anymore, Dick!" Bruce shouted, glaring, "I call the shots around here."

He walked up the stairs and to the manor after that. Daphne pulled at Dick's arm. She was worried and he could see that. Damian finished his drinks and sighed.

"He's been through an extraordinary ordeal, Master Dick," Alfred said.

"Yeah? So have we," Dick replied.

"I'm really worried about him…" Daphne spoke up.

Damian turned to her. "He's fine," he insisted and she nodded to his words.

"I'm going to bed..." she announced, taking the two empty glasses with her.

Delphinium sat on a chair that has her name labeled at the back. She sighed, observing the earpiece in her hand. The man in front of her said that she should put it on, but she ignored him. Bannister came up the stage and gave a little speech. Delphinium observed her surroundings. Something was off in the atmosphere. She excused herself, saying that she needed to go to the bathroom. She took the earpiece with her. She tried calling her sister.

At that time, Daphne was out as Phoenix, along with Nightwing and Robin. They were meeting up with Batwoman and Batwing. Batwoman was telling them how her father attacked her just now.

"Dad doesn't even remember doing it. He was programmed," she stressed out.

Damian and Dick turned to look at each other. Daphne glanced up at Damian.

"But why?" the boy demanded.

"Somehow, they knew I had that drive," Batwoman explained.

"Just like how they knew about the vault at Wayne Enterprises. Bruce told them," Dick muttered.

"Not my father," Damian said sternly.

Batwoman said, "Talia had him in there for weeks, and he suddenly snaps out of it just because we show up?"

Damian stood up and replied, "No, you're wrong. He's fine."

Daphne pulled at his arm. "He's not actually fine. Please, listen to them first, Master Damian…"

He gazed at her, thinking. Daphne bit her lower lip, tightening her hold on his arm.

"She got to him…" Dick said, looking at Damian.

Damian locked his gaze with Dick's. "She's not finished, is she?"

"She's just getting started," Batwing appeared.

He opened up a screen with a list of names, saying "Found this on the hard drive."

Dick and Daphne ran through the names. Dick said, "There are vice-presidents on this list. Military and corporate leaders…"

Daphne pointed to a name or two, saying, "They're the vice-chancellors from some country… Delphinium's name is on it too!"

She jumped a bit, panic was in her tone. Damian held her shoulder to calm her. They kept on discussing.

"So why would Talia have this?" Batwing asked.

"What if Talia got to the men and women on that list, brainwashed them?" Dick suggested.

Batwing answered, "Then, that would place the League of Shadows' influence in every country."

"She'd control the world," Batwoman said, turning to Damian, "Oh my God, kid. Your mom's got game."

"The leaders are all at the summit, right?" Daphne asked Dick.

"Yes…along with Bruce Wayne…" Dick muttered.

Daphne's phone vibrated. All eyes were on her. She gave out a guilty grin and answered the call. Dick stood up for her, explaining that she would take her phone anywhere she goes in case Delphinium has an emergency.

"Hello…" she muttered.

"Daphne! This place is a mess. Everyone is like hypnotized or something," Delphinium whispered.

"Where are you?" Daphne asked, worried.

"In the toilet. Everyone who wears the earpiece is like in some kind of their own zone or something. The blue light on it suddenly turned red. I didn't wear it because I was fidgeting with it," the older sister explained.

"We're on our way there. See if you could find anyone who's not wearing it too…" the Phoenix said.

"Hey, can I use that?" Delphinium requested.

Daphne sighed. "Fine…but don't kill anybody. Find the source of the hypnotizing…that should be in the control room…"

She hung up. She turned back to them. "My sister is there and she told me that anyone who wears the earpiece given would be brainwashed. They're just about to start. Ummm…so, can I come too?"

All eyes turned to Damian, telling him that he should be the one calling the shots on her. Daphne turned to Damian too. The sight of her in the basement with him a week ago flashed into his mind. He put his hands on her shoulders.

"I want you to stay here…" he said to her.

"But, my sister is there!" Daphne insisted on going.

"She's Delphinium, she'll be fine," Damian said.

The girl asked, "Why won't you let me come?"

"Because I don't want anything to happen to you," the boy half shouted.

Daphne was stunned. She tried to look at Damian in his eyes. She could see that he was worried about Bruce. She didn't want to cause him trouble, so she backed away from them. She slowly nodded to his words. Dick decided that they should take the Batwing. Damian and Batwoman nodded. Daphne held the boy's hand.

"Please, be careful," she said, looking at him.

Damian turned to her. "I will," he replied.

They left her on the roof. She stared up at the sky, thinking hard. Suddenly, her phone rang. Mana had called her to inform that she and Tiara had readied a transportation for her to head to the summit.

"We're on our way to pick you up, Miss," the maid continued.

"Miss Delphinium had asked us to do this…" Tiara explained.

Soon, a helicopter came by the building she was on. She smiled to her two maids, waving towards them. They got the ladder for her to climb up. She boarded the helicopter.

"Thank you very much. Let's get going. The others are on their way," Daphne answered.

Delphinium hummed as she roamed the corridor at the summit alone. All of the guards were also wearing the earpiece, so they cannot notice her presence at all. She was liking it. She went back to her seat to see the large screen behind the stage showing a man wearing a hat. She caught sight of Alfred not far from the stage. She rushed up to him.

"Alfred, you're alright!" she exclaimed.

"Miss Delphinium? You're here?" Alfred muttered, getting up.

"Yes. I was invited by Mr. Wayne," Delphinium explained.

Alfred observed his surroundings. "Come, Miss. Let us go to the control room," he said to Delphinium.

The girl nodded. She flipped her hair before tying it up with her hairband. Then, she followed Alfred. She told him that they had to move quietly and cautiously because surveillance cameras were put everywhere. Alfred was amazed at her intelligence.

Meanwhile, Robin, Nightwing, Batwoman and Batwing had successfully entered the place. They were on their way to find the people but Batwing was taken by surprise by the enemy. Talia and Tusk made an appearance.

"We don't have time for this, Damian," Talia said, "Join us or die."

As she said that, Batman appeared beside her. "Father," Damian muttered.

Talia smirked as Batman jumped to attack them. Nightwing dodged. Batman kicked Batwoman. She fell into Tusk's holds. Damian targeted Tusk. Nightwing decided to fight Batman which leaves Talia with Batwoman. Daphne soon arrived at the scene. She told Mana and Tiara to find the dignitaries and see if they were okay. The two nodded. The orange haired started running around, searching for Damian. She got to the fighting scene.

"Master Damian…" she gasped, widening her eyes when she saw him fighting Tusk.

As that was happening, Delphinium was busying herself searching for the best route to get to the control room with Alfred. They got there in less than ten minutes. It was almost the end of the brainwashing.

"About time you get back," Kuttler muttered, thinking that it was Tusk or maybe Talia.

Alfred clicked at his gun and said, "Indeed."

He approached Kuttler. Delphinium looked around for something she could do to shut the system down. Alfred threatened to shoot Kuttler. The man punched him and the gun fell to the floor. Delphinium butted in and kicked his chin.

"Allow me, Miss..." Alfred said and got into position to punch Kuttler.

The twelve-year-old was amazed. Kuttler took out a knife but Alfred was good at dodging his stab. The butler punched him a few times. He landed on the controls behind him. His hands caused the system to explode…along with Tecth's head.

"Bloody hell…" he muttered, turning to Delphinium.

"That ought to put an end to this for good. Let's go see the dignitaries…" the girl said calmly.

"You are nothing like your sister…" Alfred remarked.

Looking down, she replied, "I didn't ask for it… I just... It doesn't matter. Let's just go!" She clenched her fists.

At the same time, Damian was again smashed onto the floor by Tusk. Daphne gritted her teeth angrily. She charged in to help. Damian shocked that she was in front of him, froze. She kicked Tusk in his jaw. He toppled backward. She swiped his legs to make him fall. He reacted fast and got up immediately. He grabbed her face, just like how he grabbed Damian's just now. He threw her towards the boy. Damian caught her. She was a bit dizzy. Tusk ran up to them. Damian and Daphne jumped out of the way. He slipped, causing him to fall.

"No!" Damian said, throwing a batarang attached with a rope.

The batarang wrapped around his leg. Daphne helped him pull the man up. She heard him muttered, "Justice, not vengeance." She glanced up at him and smiled. They failed to save Tusk.

"Damn," he said, snapping at Daphne, "Why are you here?"

"My maids got me here," she replied.

Batwing called Robin through their communicator. Daphne tilted her head in confusion as he stared.

"Follow me," he said, pulling at her hand and urging her to go with him.

They came to one of the thrusters' fuel room. Daphne watched as Damian fiddled on it to transfer its powers to the other two thrusters. After that, he turned to her.

"Stay here and stay out of trouble," he said.

"But, I have to find…" her words were interrupted.

Damian said sternly, "No. Stay here."

Daphne sighed. She nodded. She stood there and watched him disappear out of her sight. She looked at the hand he had just held. She knew he cared for her.

"Please, be safe…" she muttered.

"He really has his way with you," a familiar voice was heard.

Daphne turned around to see her sister. She rushed to hug her. Delphinium rubbed her head. Daphne was trembling as she hugged her. Her sister held her shoulders and forced her to face her.

"Listen, you have to follow Damian," she said.

"Why?" Daphne asked.

"You just have to," the sister said.

Daphne gazed into her sister's eyes. She obliged. She got out of the control room and headed straight to where she thought she could find him. She did find him, but when she got there, they were cornering Talia. Batman, Nightwing, Robin, Batwoman and Batwing. She stopped by the stairs to watch.

"It's over, mother," Damian said.

"Your grand plan has ended," Bruce stood up.

"How is it that I ever loved either of you?" Talia questioned.

Bruce replied, "I don't think you ever did."

"Oh, beloved, you have no idea," she scowled, "I have thought of little else for the last twelve years, but nothing. Not my passion, not the death of my father, not even our child could bring you to my side."

Daphne walked up to Damian. She slipped her right hand in his left one. He glanced up at her.

Talia continued, "I know now, I will never have you in this life. Perhaps in death." She took out a bomb.

"Get her!" Batwoman shouted.

They rushed up to her. She ran towards the glass window, threw her bomb and jumped off. An airship was already waiting for her underneath.

"She played us again," Dick said.

They stared at the airship. It suddenly fell into the ocean and blew up. Daphne widened her eyes. She looked away. Damian placed left hand on her head as comfort. Bruce placed his hand on his son's right shoulder. The girl glanced up at Damian.

Daphne placed the clothes and things she had brought into the bag. Staring down at it, she zipped it once she was ready. She sat on her bed, looking around.

"I will definitely miss this place," she muttered, sighing.

She took her bag and went to find Alfred. She found him in a room full of books. He was staring at something towards the glass window. Dick was there too.

"One can't help feeling bad. Despite her madness, she was his mother," she heard Alfred said.

She went up to them to look too. Dick was the first to notice the bag she was holding.

He asked, "Going back so soon?"

Daphne turned to him, forcing a smile. "Yes…I have some things to settle before going back to school."

"At least, stay for another night, Miss. I'm sure Master Damian and Master Bruce would like that," Alfred persuaded her.

The girl held the bag tighter, saying, "Thank you, Alfred, but I have to go home. I might feel attached to this place again."

"You should be. It used to be your home once," Dick remarked.

She forced a small smile and shook her head. "I have to go. Send my regards to them," she sighed.

She left the two, frozen at their places. She exited the manor and found that Delphinium was already waiting for her at the front gate. Tiara and Mana were there too. She smiled at her little sister.

"You didn't say goodbye to him?" she asked Daphne.

"I don't think I should…" Daphne sighed.

She got into the car. Tiara drove it away. Daphne touched her Phoenix hairpin. She looked out at the sky, thinking about Damian. Back at the manor, Damian was still devastated by his mother's death. He didn't feel like eating at all the whole day. He was at the counter in the kitchen, staring down at his food.

"Where's she?" he asked Alfred.

Alfred stopped doing the dishes. "She…went back home, Master Damian," he muttered.

"Without saying goodbye to me?" Damian questioned.

"Yes. She thinks that it is unnecessary, but I think she is just not ready to tell you anything," the butler explained.

Damian nodded, staring back at his food. He started eating his dinner, thinking hard about what he could do to see her again. He was a bit angry at her attitude, but also, a bit sad that she just left him that way. He had been a little too affectionate towards her. Did that scare her or something? Though, he still has a lot to say to her but didn't get the chance to.

And thatis how I end the third movie. Off to anotehr time interval. :)