A/N:
dieagomarquezz-I just wanted to take a moment to express how much I enjoy your WonderBat story! The dynamic between Bruce and Diana, along with the intriguing plot, really pulls readers in. I'd love to bring this to life as a comic—do you think that would be something you'd be open to? I'd be thrilled to collaborate with you on this adaptation.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
JenniferJhone-I absolutely adore your story "Batman Wonder Woman Prophecy of the Night" and believe it would make a stunning comic. As a professional commission artist, I'd love to collaborate with you to adapt your work while staying true to your vision.
If this interests you, I'd be happy to discuss further and share examples of my work. You can reach me on Discord at jenniferjhone.
Looking forward to your thoughts!
Vinay-kox01-Hello!
I hope this message finds you in good health. I've recently come across your detailed work, "BatmanWonder Woman: Prophecy of the Night" and my goodness the world and the characters in it are hauntingly diverse. I believe your work is bursting with potential that could also be translated into a visually appealing comic, and I would be interested in working with you on this!
I'm an experienced commission artist so I frequently get hired to transform books into great comic works. So I've collaborated with many writers who want to preserve their story's vibe and concept but want their work rendered in more moving images as opposed to text. Off the top of my head, I have some ideas on how I can bring your characters and some key scenes to life within the panels of the book.
If you find yourself in agreement with me on this and of course if you want to, I can go into detail about the plans as well as the costs and how we would work together. Let's create something great that gets the heart of your story and presents it decently to even more people!
Can't wait to hear what you think!
Discord: graphic_gold
Twitter: VKox139175
Instagram: vinaykox1
Hope to hear from you soon!
Not gonna lie, all of these caught me off guard. I'm honored so many people want to bring my WonderBat story to life, but it's a bit add to ask for commissions on a story that isn't even close to completion.
Guest-
more more
Ask and ye shall recieve.
Essiter1987-
As a big fan of WonderBat (And, also whatever the name is for Seline and Bruce) I approve! Loved their relationship in Justice League, especially Unlimited. Though, as a slight rebuke to your A/N at the beginning I have recently listened to a brief, I guess one-shot, comic showing a Batman who saves Superman from becoming Injustice Supes and goes to prison for killing the Joker. In that comic there is a brief mention by Diana that Bruce is her husband in a timeskip featuring Supes and Lois daughter as Superwoman.
Is it the same as this story, no, but I felt it needed a mention.
Also, the best part of the fallout from Infinite Crisis is that DC came out and said that basically anything having to do with their characters is basically canon, including Fanfiction! On one hand, that means that this Batman can maybe actually have a happy ever after. On the other hand, RWBY/Justice League is also canon...
Anyway, fantastic first chapter to what is clearly going to be a great story! As a fan of your Old Man Jaune series, and a man who should really start reading the monolith that is King of Grimm, I'm looking forwards to this one.
I think it's called CatBat.
THE INJUSTICE COMIC WHAT-IF HAS WONDERBAT?! WHY WASN'T THAT MENTIONED MORE?! ALL THATS TALKED ABOUT IS HOW BRUCE SNAPPED JOKER'S NECK! YOU'RE MY HERO FOR THIS, DUDE!
I like RWBY/Justice League for one reason... KnightLight. I may hate the ship name FNDM gave them, but I LOVE Jaune's relationship with Jessica. Felt cheated when he wasn't in part 2 to be with her.
I REALLY need to remake OMJ. Lost some of my old work concerning it, and what I have up doesn't even scratch the surface of what it could have been, but KOG just took over, ya know?
Side note, I love your profile pic. I'm a bit of a simp for Jaune. He's my absolute favorite RWBY character (obviously).
At Blackgate Prison, the doors opened with the Warden and a team of guards waiting, the armed workers aiming their guns at the tied-up Cheetah... who was in Batman's arms.
"I can walk on my own, you know."
"You're far less of a threat like this," Batman said.
"Hm. Are you sure that's the excuse you want to go with," Cheetah asked as she gave Batman a seductive look. "Well, at least it's annoying Wonder Wench."
Batman glanced over to Wonder Woman. To anyone else, she'd look stoic, but Batman could tell she was indeed irritated. "Don't get used to me holding you, Minerva."
"Hm?" She then heard wheels and looked to see a dolly being brought out. "You've got to be kidding me," she went in annoyance, her tone giving Wonder Woman a small smile.
"Barbara Minerva," the Warden began as the villainess was being tied to the dolly. "You're wanted nationally for grand theft, murder, and espionage. Internationally, you're wanted for terrorism, attempted assassination, and now vandalism of precious historic landmarks. I must admit, Batman, you've brought us a lot of scum, but she might be one of the most valuable trophies you've brought us yet."
"Take a picture of me, Warden. It will last longer than my stay in this twig of a prison."
"Wouldn't be sure of that, kitten. Wayne Industries had the prison upgraded to hold meta-humans like you. Bruce Wayne was somehow able to get Superman himself to test it."
Cheetah smirked. "I'm not Superman. I'm the Cheetah, and I'm the last person you want to cage, zookeeper," she said before she was carted away.
The Warden turned toward the heroes. "Hope you don't mind us taking in one of yours, Wonder Woman."
"It's alright."
"Thanks for the help as always, Batman. Fair warning, though: Sionis's lawyers worked their magic again. Bitch's probably back at his officer thinking of either a new heist or a new way to kill you again."
"I'll deal with him when the time comes. Be safe, Warden." The Warden saluted Batman before walking away into the prison.
"I know you designed the new prison, but are you sure it can hold Minerva," Wonder Woman asked.
"I designed it to withstand nearly any situation. The only thing it wouldn't survive would be armageddon itself. Or Superman not holding anything back."
"I thought you had him test it for you."
"Holding. Nothing. Back."
"Oh. Well, thank you for Sicily, Batman."
"I'm not sure it's over," Batman said.
"It involves Veronica. She plays the long game. Of course, it isn't over."
"That isn't what I meant. Honestly, it felt almost too easy."
"Minerva broke one of your ribs."
"Just one. That's what worries me. She could have done far worse to me, yet it felt like she was holding back. And what Polyphemus said. Cale is working with someone."
"Who?"
"I don't have nearly enough information to make an educated guess. I highly doubt it's Ares."
"No. He hates me, but not to the point of releasing Typhon. He's terrified of the monster. Hades would never even dream of releasing him, and Circe isn't a fool. She wouldn't even attempt to control that creature. Sad to say, none of my enemies seem to be whom Veronica is working with."
"So it could be an entirely new foe?"
"I shudder to imagine it," Wonder Woman answered. "Who could possibly know of Typhon and wish for my downfall?"
Batman's intercom went off. "What is it, Oracle?"
'It's about your current case, Batman. I've gotten news involving Veronica Cale. She's here in Gotham.'
Batman glared. "Why would Cale be here?"
"What," Wonder Woman went.
'Officially, she's here for Bruce Wayne. She claims it's for business.'
"I've made no such appointments or meetings with Cale or Empire Enterprises. . . But this could work."
'Let me guess: Wayne Manor party?'
"I'll call Alfred to make the preparations. Oracle, help Alfred to make sure Veronica gets an invitation."
'Already on it. Have an occasion in mind for the gathering?'
Batman thought about it before he looked at Wonder Woman.
"Hm? What is it," she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oracle, send out a rumor: Let people think Bruce Wayne is dating Wonder Woman."
"NAH," Diana went.
"Then send out the fact that Wayne Industries is attempting to be one of Wonder Woman's sponsors. A financial ad to her favorite charities, base of operations, assistance to areas she deems necessary to save, etcetera."
"Is the dating part really necessary," Diana asked with a slight blush.
'You'd be surprised, Wonder Woman. Gotham's elite would flood the manor to see Bruce's supposed lover, let alone the legendary Wonder Woman. I'm sure a certain someone is BOUND to be there,' Barbara explained.
Wonder Woman looked down. "Veronica. Fine. Spread the rumor," she sighed.
'I'll be sure to apologize to Steve later,' Barbara said.
"Hm? What does Steve have to do with anything?"
'Aren't you two dating?'
"Dating? No. We don't have that kind of relationship. I admit, we ALMOST had such a bond, but certain circumstances changed that."
'Oooh. Uh, Batman, it might take at least three days for everything to come to fruition. Are you fine with that?'
"It might be better. Wonder Woman may be an international hero, but if she's seen flying around Gotham, it will lend credibility to Wayne Industries sponsoring her."
'And it would also help you out.'
"What are you implying?"
'Bruce, Dick is in Bludhaven, Jason is in Egypt, Tim is in Jump City, Kathy is in Paris, and Luke is working on a case in Africa. You're literally the only Bat in Gotham.'
"That's how it was in the beginning, Oracle."
'Alfred.'
"Mm."
'You have me, too. But you need to realize that not even you can handle protecting the city alone. Diana can help.'
"It's true, Bruce," Wonder Woman said as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
'And we get to see that theory pan out. I'm getting an alert that ACE Chemicals is being broken into by Scarecrow. Guess he needs more ingredients for his Fear Toxin again.'
"I'm on it."
'Fair warning: I see Bane there. And. . . who is that?'
"Someone of importance," Batman asked.
'I... I don't know. I've never seen them before. They're about as big as Bane, but I can't see their face. Be careful, Batman. I have a bad feeling about that guy.'
"Noted." Batman then hung up before he looked at Wonder Woman.
The two nodded at each other before Wonder Woman took to the sky while Batman grappled onto his Batwing, both flying to ACE Chemicals.
In front of ACE Chemicals, Scarecrow's goons were keeping watch. They were armed with machine guns, rifles, and a small amount of Fear Toxin in a grenade. It was mostly a last resort that the guards were honestly too nervous to use, but they still had it. Some were actually hoping they'd get to use it on the bat.
There were about ten keeping watch, most of them in pairs.
When one guy looked away from his partner, a black blur sped behind the thug, his partner vanishing. The man looked behind him and didn't see his partner, but they made sure they were in an area with no blind spots for them, meaning the only way they wouldn't be able to see another would be-
"Oh, shit," the thug went as he fumbled for his radio, only for darkness to envelop him. The man was gone in an instant.
One of the riflemen was on a scaffolding, looking at the other to see his fellow sniper. The man looked just fine, so he looked away. As soon as he did, the other rifleman vanished. The first one then felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked to see a woman's hand. "Wait, a lady's hand? . . . Ah, crap." The hand pinched the nerves in his shoulder, rendering him unconscious.
A guard walked toward the cliffside to check the perimeter, only seeing normal Gotham shipping boats and cruises passing by. He then reached for his radio. "Call in."
He waited. "Hey, call in!" No answer. "HEY! CALL IN!" He looked at his radio. "What the- It's busted?! Sonofa-" he smacked the radio. "What's wrong with this damn thing?!" He kept bashing it before he yelled in frustration and threw down the radio, crushing it beneath his boot. "Piece of crap!" He then turned around to see Batman. "Fu-" He was swallowed up by darkness before he could make any more noise.
A thug leaned against the wall when his partner walked up to him, also leaning on the wall. He took out a pack of cigarettes, his partner happily accepting it. They both took out their lighters and lit the cigarettes, taking a deep puff, and watching the smoke rise. The first guy looked at a crate and kicked the front off, showing a bottle of booze. He took it out and offered it to his partner, who gladly accepted the first sip.
However, his eye caught something on the bottle. A reflection. He immediately turned around and aimed his gun in the direction, the other guy putting the bottle away and taking aim with his partner.
"BANE'S CLAIM TO FAME," the guy called in the direction. No response. "BANE'S CLAIM TO FAME?!"
"BAT BREAKING!" The two thugs looked to see two more running toward them, all of them taking aim in the same direction as the first two.
"Think it's the Bat?"
"Who else? Get your grenades ready."
"You sure we should use this crap?"
"Who better to use it on then that freak? Just get ready to throw at the first moving shadow you see."
All four thugs got their grenades out.
Unfortunately, one of them went off.
"FUCK!"
The guards were all coughing as they tried to run away from the gas, one of them stepping on a Batarang without noticing it.
When two opened their eyes, they saw a terrifying bat demon roaring in front of them, while the other pair saw a woman whose flesh was melting off, blood streaming out of her as maggots crawled out of her body, the undead woman basically roaring at them as snakes and insects crawled out of her mouth and nostrils.
Before either pair of thugs could scream, they were both knocked out.
The final guard was a sniper, looking through his scope to check on his fellow guards. He didn't see any of them. He took out his radio. "Call in." . . . "Shit." He was about to adjust his radio to call Scarecrow when a hand shot out and crushed the radio.
Before he could react, the guard was thrown off his scaffold, barely having enough time to scream before he was tied up by a rope. He was then lifted, danging at a fatal height, before looking up to see Wonder Woman glaring at him.
"I am already aware of Scarecrow and Bane. Who is the third?"
The Lasso of Truth began to glow. "No idea. Honestly, I thought it was Croc, but something was off about this new guy. Kept his trench coat on the entire time. But those eyes. When he looked at me, I thought I was gonna shit myself. Big as Bane and just as scary. He might be new muscle brought in to take the Bat."
"You didn't see any facial features?"
"None! Just saw those eyes of his. That was enough for me to see. Those were the eyes of someone you don't wanna mess with, and I ain't about to piss off a guy who's literally in Bane's weight class.
"I see. Thank you for your assistance."
"At least don't make it hurt too much, alright, lady?"
"Fine." Wonder Woman then quickly chopped the man's neck, knocking him out instantly. She then flew over and placed him with the rest of the thugs, all of them tied by Batcuffs.
Batman then appeared behind Wonder Woman. "Not much information to go on," Batman said.
"It will have to be enough. At the very least, we know the criminals are as afraid of this new criminal as they are of Bane."
"And that is no small feat. Still, we'll handle them if we have to. Scarecrow is top priority."
"I've experienced that toxin of his before. I'd rather no one else suffer from it."
"That's what we're here to prevent, Wonder Woman," Batman said as the two heroes looked up at the old factory.
Inside the factory, Scarecrow contained certain chemicals, having basically a gothic rainbow of chemicals in containers. He checked each container, making sure he had the right amount of what he needed. "Seems to be enough. Are your men ready, Bane?"
Bane reached for his earpiece. He waited for a response. "No response. He's here."
"Quicker than I expected. I'll need to make it on the spot. Make sure he doesn't interrupt me," Scarecrow said as he crouched down to his containers, placing an empty one in front of the others, already filling it with the green chemicals.
"Come. You may assist me, but the Bat is mine to kill," Bane said as he began to stomp away. He then noticed that the large henchman wasn't moving. "Are you deaf? MOVE!" Bane then noticed something. The henchman was sniffing the air.
The large man then ripped out a nearby terminal and threw it toward the ceiling. It crashed, but not before forcing someone to reveal himself, Batman landing in front of Bane and the large man.
Bane chuckled. "I was hoping for this," Bane said as he cracked his knuckles.
A stomp was then heard and even felt as everyone looked at the trenchcoated thug, the man crouched down and ready to charge.
"Oye! What are you doing?! The Bat is mine!"
The thug's coat began to rip and tear.
Bane placed a heavy hand on the man's shoulder. "Stay. Down. Or else I'll turn you into Picadillo."
The man then roared. A roar that sounded like a bull.
He smacked Bane, sending the massive man flying away from him before charging at Batman.
The hero easily jumped over the charging lunatic before throwing an explosive Batarang at his back. It exploded point-blank as Batman landed.
He watched the smoke as red eyes glowed within. Then, out of the smoke roared another Greek Monster.
"The Minotaur," Batman went with a glare as he stood before the legendary beast.
Batman glared at the legendary monster as it prepared to charge at him. Batman knew he shouldn't let the monster rampage in the area. Enough damage could cause the entire facility to explode, killing everyone within. Not to mention how close they were to the harbor. The chemicals spilling into the ocean could cause unimaginable ecological damage, and Batman wasn't about to let that happen.
When the Minotaur roared and charged at Batman, he made sure to shoot the monster's arms with Remote Grapples, connecting them to the sturdy beams of the building, making sure none of them were vital support beams.
When the Minotaur got right into Batman's face, its eyes widened when it stopped in its tracks, looking up at what held it down. It looked down at Batman with a glare before it roared in rage and yanked the ropes, tearing the pillars off like they were twigs. It then caught the pillars and tried to swing them at Batman, the hero jumping out of the way of the monster's make-shift clubs.
Batman was now staring at a powerful Minotaur with two massive pillars for clubs, the beast roaring so loudly at him that the chemicals around them began to vibrate, causing a slight reaction in some of them that Batman noticed.
'If I don't get this monster out of here, it will cause a chemical reaction. I need to lead it out of here somehow.'
"¡TORO!"
It looked up, only to be tackled away by Bane, the massive villain smashing the two away from the chemicals before throwing the bull out of the building, the beast crashing into a storage container.
Bane walked out of the hole he made, injecting himself with more Venom to grow even bigger and stronger. "The Bat is MY prey, monstruo! Stay out of my way!"
Red eyes shined within the container before the Minotaur got out of the hole, not a scratch on him, before he roared with pure rage at Bane.
Bane smirked. "A Bull Fight is it," he asked as he cracked his knuckles and his neck before taking a stance. "It took a blade and trickery to kill you in your legend, beast. I will need neither to slay you. ¡VEN A MÍ, MONSTRUO! (COME AT ME, MONSTER!)"
The Minotaur roared as it charged at Bane, the mercenary roaring back as he charged.
Batman looked at the hole before looking toward Crane, the mad doctor still synthesizing his new Toxin. Batman walked over, preparing to stop him, when he heard a scream.
He looked toward it to hear the scream of agony a second time. "Bane," he went in concern.
"It sounds like the beast is killing him." Batman glared at Scarecrow. "What will you do, hero? Stop me and let Bane get murdered by a beast of legend, or go save that oaf and let me make the essence of your downfall?"
Scarecrow was then surprised when Batman lifted him and looked him in the eye.
"WHAT!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! WHY AREN'T YOU GOING TO SAVE BANE?!"
"Because I'm not the only one capable of saving him. I didn't come here alone."
"Heh. Not even you could stop the beast. What makes you think any of your Robins can," Crane asked with a dark chuckle.
"Who said it was one of them?"
Bane charged at the Minotaur with a reeled back fist, hoping to strike the creature with all his might. The Minotaur, however, used the pillar Batman stuck to it as its club. Bane was able to shatter the pillar with a single punch and endure the second strike, his body causing that pillar to crumble.
However, he couldn't avoid the beast's grab, the monster's grip iron tight around Bane's face.
Then, Bane's eyes widened as the creature bit into his shoulder, tearing out a chunk of his shoulder so violently that even Bane couldn't help but scream. He was also shocked. His body is durable enough to have bullets bounce off of him most of the time, yet this monster bit nearly to the bone like Bane's muscles were just marshmallows.
The creature then slammed Bane into the ground before throwing him toward an armored transport truck Crane planned on using to transport his gas. It was supposed to be durable enough for even Bane himself to have trouble so much as denting, but the Minotaur's throw made Bane nearly smash right through the thing.
Bane vomited blood before looking up to see the Minotaur already charging at him. Bane then screamed in pain as he was impaled by the beast, its horn stabbing through the armored truck as well. It then showed off its awesome strength by lifting Bane and the truck, not even looking like it was struggling, before it flung the two away.
Bane was now lying on the mangled truck, a hole in his gut, a chunk bitten out of his shoulder, and his vision blurring from the beatdown he had just received. "Is this the strength of a beast of legend? Increíble." Bane looked to see the monster stomping toward him, licking its lips as it actually smiled, a hungry look in its eyes.
"Was I delicious, ¿Minotauro? Fine. You have bested me in combat. Your strength is superior to mine. I am beaten. IF MY FLESH IS TO BE YOUR PRIZE, THEN FEAST! ¡LA VICTORIA ES TUYA, MONSTRUO! (VICTORY IS YOURS, MONSTER!)"
The minotaur roared as it lunged toward Bane, ready to eat the mercenary as he closed his eyes in acceptance.
However, Bane's eyes shot open in surprise when he heard the beast gag. He looked to see it being gagged by a golden rope. Before it could even try to grab at the rope, it was flung away, the creature slamming onto a getaway car.
Bane looked to see who had saved him and chuckled. "Never would I have believed you would save me, Mujer Maravilla (Wonder Woman)."
"I didn't expect to ever save you either, Bane. I suppose we both received a surprise. . . You're not a good man, Bane. You're cruel, vicious, and sadistic."
"Heh," Bane went as he laid back down on the truck.
"But you have conviction, drive, and even your own sense of honor. You truly are a Warrior. For that, at least, you have my respect."
Bane chuckled softly. "I am honored, Champion of the Amazons." Bane then fell unconscious, his wounds and blood loss finally taking its toll.
Wonder Woman then looked toward the Minotaur in time to smack the car it threw away. It roared in anger as it glared at her with absolute hatred.
"COME AT ME, MONSTER," Wonder Woman yelled.
The beast then charged at the hero, Diana charging in retaliation.
When she got close enough, she slid beneath the beast, tripping it to make it fall flat on its face. She then grabbed its tail and slammed it with enough force to make the area quake. Wonder Woman then jumped up and stomped on its face, jumping away before it could grab her.
The Minotaur then rolled onto all fours and lunged at Wonder Woman, hoping to impale her. Wonder Woman countered that tactic by grabbing the beast's horns and lifting it over her, trying to slam it again.
This time, however, the beast landed on its feet, surprising Wonder Woman long enough for it to lift her before punching her.
The creature was strong enough to send even the Amazon flying, the beauty slamming into a Shipping Container, the creature Shoulder Slamming her through the metal container.
The creature burst through the hole, trying to smash Diana, but she easily avoided the beast, jumping out of the way before lunging and punching it in the face with enough force to crack its skull.
The Minotaur stumbled back, dazed by the punch before trying to punch back. Wonder Woman performed a perfect counter punch, making the monster cough up blood before she kicked its leg, making it fall to one knee. Wonder Woman then landed an uppercut so powerful that it sounded like a thunderclap.
Her punch made the beast airborne, giving Wonder Woman the chance she needed to completely tie the beast up with her Lasso, slamming it to the ground.
While still bound with the golden rope, Wonder Woman stomped on the beast, the creature glaring at her as it struggled in vain.
"No creature is powerful enough to break out of the Lasso of Truth. Though you are a beast of rage, that doesn't exclude you from the gift of speech. I compel you to speak, beast!"
It groaned as the rope began to glow.
Wonder Woman's eyes widened in shock. "You're... resisting. Impossible." She then glared as she tightened the rope. "I compel you to speak!"
It groaned.
"I COMPEL YOU TO SPEAK!"
It snarled in response.
"CAN YOU SPEAK, MONSTER?!"
"I... CAAAAN," the Minotaur roared.
Wonder Woman tightened her grip when she felt the beast wriggle. "You were slain on the island of Crete. There is no way Hades would allow you to escape his realm, let alone you escape from Tartarus where monsters like you would reside. How are you in the World of Man?!" The Minotaur snarled at Diana. "ANSWER ME, BEAST!"
The Minotaur groaned. "By... Her... Grace."
Wonder Woman glared at the monster. "Not even Persephone herself could convince her husband to allow a prisoner of Tartarus to escape into the Living. Who is it that allowed you safe passage?"
"Her Grace... The Goddess... beyond Goddesses."
"Beyond? What madness are you speaking? There is no goddess greater than Hera!"
The monster smirked. "There is. You seem to have forgotten her, Amazon," the beast spoke clearly. "She is above Olympus. Rightfully feared, and she is here. She searches."
"Searches for what?" The Minotaur just smirked. "SEARCHES FOR WHAT, DAMN YOU?!"
The beast groaned. "Her... Champion. Her Champion... will bring about... the Fall of Olympus."
Wonder Woman's eyes widened. "Impossible."
"He will... lead the Black Army. We will... swarm the very land, forever covering the skies... in an eternal... night. The gods will fall... at the hands of the Champion. And then... She will... take her rightful throne... and rule until the end of time! SUCH IS PROPHECISED!"
Wonder Woman's eyes widened in anger. "YOU'RE MAD, MONSTER! THERE HAS BEEN NO ORACLE SINCE PYTHIA OF DELPHI! THERE CANNOT BE A PROPHECY!"
The beast chuckled.
Wonder Woman tightened the rope. "Who released you!?" He struggled to keep it's mouth shut. "WHO RELEASED YOU?!"
"T-The Goddess."
"FOR HERA'S SAKE, WHICH GODDESS, BEAST?!"
"N-N-NYAAAAAAA!" A dark liquid then spewed out of the monster's mouth.
"BY HESTIA," Diana yelled as she jumped away, yanking her rope back.
She watched in horror as the dark liquid covered the Minotaur, the monster rushing to its feet as it tried to yank the liquid off in vain. It was suffocating, not able to tear off the liquid by even a small margin. It then fell to its knees and looked toward Wonder Woman, reaching out to her.
She sensed it was actually begging for help.
Out of desperation, Wonder Woman reached out to grab the monster's hand, wanting to save it, only for the black liquid to smack her hand away, Diana looked to see her palm bleeding. She then looked back to see the Minotaur actually sinking into the black liquid as if it were a pool, the last remaining sight of the mighty monster being its hand twitching as it vanished into the dark. The liquid then vanished.
"What... what WAS that," Wonder Woman asked.
"If even you couldn't recognize whatever magic that was," a voice began, Wonder Woman looking to see Batman walk out while holding an unconscious Crane. "Then it must be something ancient. Most certainly powerful."
Wonder Woman looked at where the Minotaur vanished from. "I don't think I can leave Gotham for a while. Whatever sent the Minotaur here must still be in this city."
"Are you saying that because the Minotaur was here, along with that obviously activated trick?"
"Exactly. There is absolutely no reason for any god, goddess, or monster to come to Gotham. Someone is here, and they're looking for some kind of Champion."
"Champion. Polyphemus said that to me. That I'm the one his boss is looking for."
"WHAT?!"
"It's just speculation for now, Wonder Woman. No need to activate the worst-case protocol for now."
"Of course, you already have a plan," Wonder Woman says as he drops a cuffed Crane and walks over to Bane, pressing two fingers onto his neck. "It's weak but there. He can survive this," Batman said as he activated the video chat function of his gauntlets, seeing Alfred. "Alfred, send notice to GCPD that Crane and Bane are here, but Bane is in severe need of medical support. Make blood transfusion a top priority. He's lost too much."
'Very good, sir. Also, Master Hood has been trying to contact you. Says he has urgent information to give you after just returning from Egypt.'
"Red Hood is here? Fine. I'll contact him. Over and out."
"Be safe, sir." The call ended.
Batman then tried to call Red Hood, who answered on the first ring. "You had something to report?"
'Glad to be back home, old man,' Hood said sarcastically.
"No time for formalities, Red Hood. I was told you had something to report?"
'Yeah. You might not like it, though.'
"Do I ever?"
'Point taken. Still... I had to kill something.'
"Something?"
'Takin' this better than I thought. Anyway, yeah. Had to kill it. It's not human or one of Clayface's crazy creations. It's something new entirely. Looks like something out of a fantasy movie or something.'
"Descriptions?"
'Honestly, it looks like a massive bird of prey with a woman's head.'
"It can't be," Wonder Woman said. "Red Hood, can you show us the creature you've slain?"
Red Hood sighed heavily. 'Why yes, it is nice to see you again, Wonder Woman. Enjoying Gotham?'
"Uuh."
'Anyway, here's the... thing.' An image popped up.
"It really is," Wonder Woman began. "That's a Crete Harpy. What are they doing all the way in Gotham?"
'It doesn't stop there, everyone,' Oracle said. 'Red Hood, you alright?'
'At least someone asks. Anyway, yeah. Damn thing had sharp claws, though. Sliced through my armor. Could actually feel her claw graze my stomach.'
'You and Batman might have to deal with more. I've been getting nonstop eye-witness reports around the city. People claiming to see three-headed dogs, actual Chimeras... and a freakin' centaur.'
"What is this madness," Wonder Woman asked.
"We need to find out and soon before Gotham becomes a land of monsters," Batman said sternly.
Three days have passed since the battle with the Minotaur. During that time, neither Bruce nor Diana could solve the mystery of the Minotaur's goddess. They were too busy.
Even Wonder Woman was surprised by the brilliance and devastation Batman's foes were capable of. Penguin's twin assassins proved difficult for her, Black Mask's weapons nearly overwhelmed her, and Two-Face's madness made her feel pity.
But she saw how much of a hero Batman truly was, not hesitating for a second to run into buildings lit ablaze by Firefly to save the innocent, with her helping of course. There was something special about seeing Batman protecting innocents, from young children to feeble elders.
One of her most interesting experiences was when she helped Batman save Nora Fries from Stagg Industries, preventing them from blackmailing Mr. Freeze into working for the CEO. She found it satisfying to watch Stagg get hauled off to jail. She only wished she could help Freeze save his wife from her disease. Themysciran technology would simplify it, but Freeze would not be allowed to follow her, and he didn't trust anyone with his wife. Not even a hero.
Diana couldn't blame Victor. If anything, she commended him for his resolve.
But it wasn't all supervillains and rescues.
Sirens hypnotized unsuspecting innocents to feed on them in the maze that was the warehouse district. The Nemean Lion brought terror to the Gotham Zoo, the keepers not knowing it was a mythical beast at first until they saw the sheer size of the creature, easily twice the size of any average lion. Lamias kidnapped newborns from the Gotham Hospital, and the heroes tragically could not save all of the victims.
Indeed, Gotham was being filled with the monsters of Greek Lore, the beasts lurking in the shadows, becoming so great a threat that even the villains of Gotham faced them. Batman didn't hesitate to help Clayface when he faced the Hydra in his sewer layer, the two actually shaking hands at the end of the battle.
Just as well, Wonder Woman helped Killer Croc when he faced the Python in his swamp territory. It nearly cost Croc his life, but he still outwrestled the mighty serpent monster, a feat that Wonder Woman praised him for, but the villain ignored her and just walked away, wanting to be alone.
Yes, just the three days and nights alone were hectic enough to summon most of the Bat Family back to Gotham. Luke couldn't believe his own story when he said that he fought a flock of Harpies on his way back home, nor could Dick believe he actually road the Erymanthian Boar. It was evident that Gotham needed as much help as possible for now.
But now was the day of the party. Bruce tried to get status updates from Barbara about the outside situation, but she kept telling him to be Bruce Wayne instead of Batman tonight and let his family handle Gotham, which Diana agreed with. Nightwing, Batwing, Batwoman, Red Hood, and Red Robin had Gotham covered. Bruce Wayne needed to handle the party, especially with the "special guest" coming.
Yet, in his nice tuxedo, Bruce was at the Batcomputer, doing research on Greek Mythology, looking up various Greek Myths to find the weaknesses of the monsters to make fighting them easier. He was also researching the goddesses of Greece to try and discover which one is the mastermind.
He found that none of the goddesses were inherently good, but none of them were truly capable of such a fiasco, save for three that he found: Eris, Goddess of Discord; Nemesis, Goddess of Retribution; and Hecate, Goddess of Witchcraft.
Still, none of them seemed correct.
Eris was a goddess of chaos. As chaotic as things were, it was still... calculated. Batman almost felt like he was being tested.
Nemesis was the goddess of vengeance, and Bruce had PLENTY of enemies who would want revenge against him, but nothing sent his way seemed impossible to defeat, unlike something a goddess of revenge would send.
As for Hecate... Wonder Woman has already kicked her ass.
Bruce then tried to search for more goddesses until he remembered something important, Greek Mythology had beings older and stronger than the gods: the Titans and Primordials.
He then quickly typed that in and immediately saw someone who caught his eye.
"The Primordial Incarnation of the Night itself. The Goddess-"
"Bruce."
He looked back to see Diana, hands on her hips, wearing a drop-dead gorgeous dress that Alfred helped pick out for her.
"It is quite rude for the host to not show up to his own party. I understand times have changed dramatically since the age of the gods, but I assumed the host still offered hospitality to his guests."
"Sorry, Diana, but I had work to-"
"No buts," Diana said as she lifted Bruce with one hand. "I'm not the hostess of this party. It has to be the Head of the House who greets his guests, not one of his other guests nor his trusted confidant. At least think of it as helping Alfred."
Bruce sighed. "Fine."
"Wait one moment," Diana said as she patted Bruce down and fixed his tie. "The host must always look impeccable and presentable, lest he dishonor his own home."
"You're truly looking out for me, Diana," Bruce said with a chuckle.
"I feel that I must. You spend so much time as Batman that you seem to all but forget what it must be like to be Bruce Wayne. You're an amazing warrior and hero, Bruce, but we need you to be a great man right now," Diana said as her beautiful blue eyes looked into Bruce's own blue eyes.
"Understood."
"Good. Now..." She sighed. "Care to escort me," she said with mild embarrassment.
Bruce chuckled. "Right. The rumors of Bruce Wayne dating Wonder Woman spread like wildfire, didn't it?" He held out his hand as how bowed politely. "Diana Prince, would you give me the honor of escorting you to tonight's entertainment?"
Diana giggled with a roll of her eyes as she held out her hand. "If you would be so kind, my good sir."
Bruce took Diana's hand, kissed it, and let her wrap around his arm as they walked out of the Batcave.
The ballroom was already full of Gotham's elites, the businessmen and upper-class women already gossiping a storm.
All the talking almost ended immediately when Bruce Wayne entered with Wonder Woman herself holding onto his arm. The people immediately began to gossip about the two, some praising Bruce's luck and looks while others praised Diana's beauty.
Only two were out of the conversations.
The first was Veronica Cale, who was gritting her teeth at the sight of Wonder Woman. 'I swear, that woman is ALWAYS trying to show me up,' she thought angrily.
The other... was an absolutely gorgeous woman with the fairest of pale skin, basically shining at the first touch of moonlight, her black hair blending with the night sky, looking like such an ethereal beauty that even married couples stared at her beauty together.
The beauty then smiled when she laid her eyes on Bruce Wayne.
"Found you, My Champion."
OMAKE:
Mr. Freeze was checking the container holding Nora. "Thank you, Batman, Wonder Woman, I doubted both of you. I am sorry."
Wonder Woman looked up at the frozen wife of one of Batman's deadliest foes. "Are you able to save her?"
"I just need more time. Just a bit more research. One variable. Just one variable and I know I can save her. There HAS to be. I would sell my soul to save her."
"NO!" Batman and Freeze looked at Wonder Woman. "No. Never make such a deal. Trust me." She looked at Nora. "I... I might be able to save her."
"What?"
"Themyscira. We have technology. The Purple Healing Ray. It might be able to save her."
"Might? I cannot put my faith in 'might' Wonder Woman."
"Then put your faith in me. I'll take her to Themyscira and-"
"YOU WON'T TAKE MY WIFE ANYWHERE!" He took a deep breath to calm himself. "Not without me."
"Men are forbidden on Themyscira. Only a decree from the gods would allow such an exception. Batman is one of the few who has such a privilege."
"Then we are done here. I will save my wife on my own."
"Mr. Freeze, think of your wife. If there's a chance-"
"THINKING OF MY WIFE IS WHY I WILL NOT TAKE YOUR OFFER! LOOK AT ME, HERO! THIS! THIS DAMNED CRYOGENIC PRISON! THIS BODY THAT WILL BURN IN SO MUCH AS A COOL FALL DAY! I CAN'T EVEN FEEL THE WARMTH OF ANOTHER'S TOUCH! THIS DAMNED CURSE WAS PLACED ON ME BECAUSE I PLACED MY FAITH IN SOMEONE ELSE!"
Wonder Woman could tell that behind Freeze's helmet, he wanted to cry. Yet, due to his mutated body, he literally couldn't. That fact broke Diana's heart.
Freeze turned away and resumed checking his wife's condition. "I will not put my faith in anyone so easily, Wonder Woman. Not even Batman has my full trust. What makes you believe I would trust you just because you saved my wife? Leave me. I have such work to do."
Wonder Woman wanted to say something until Batman grabbed her shoulder, shaking his head. With her head down, she followed her temporary partner out of the hideout.
Outside the building, Wonder Woman turned back to look at the hidden lab. "Since I first came to the world of man, I've fought so much. Petty criminals, would-be dictators, angry gods, alien invasions, and power-hungry berserkers who wished to prove their superiority over me. Yet, after all this time, I have never met a man like that. All I saw in his eyes was love for his wife, yet disdain toward all others."
Batman looked at Wonder Woman before looking back at the hideout. "Nora Fries." Wonder Woman looked at Batman. "Before she married Victor Fries, she was one of the greatest dancers in all of Gotham. The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, she was the lead in all of them. One day, a humble scientist destined for great things shyly asked her for a simple date. A walk through an aquarium, a trip to Gotham's Observatory, finished with watching the sunset. It was the beginning for them. Not even a year later, Victor proposed to Nora, and they were soon married."
"Five years. Five years of blissful marriage. Nora was still a talented ballerina while Victor rose in the ranks of Goth Corp, quickly becoming Head Scientist. They had plans to start a proper family. They both believed they would be fine parents to a son or a daughter."
"But tragedy struck before they could even dream of their family. Nora was diagnosed with Huntington's Chorea."
"I've never heard of this," Wonder Woman said.
"It is an exceedingly rare disease that attacks the brain. It causes the victim to have uncontrollable dance-like movements due to... deterioration of the brain." Wonder Woman's eyes widened. "To combat this, Victor froze Nora and begged Goth Corp's CEO for a grant to research a cure for Nora's disease. Ferris Boyle granted it, but only because he was interested in Victor's cryogenic research. He noticed how Nora was unaging while frozen. Unchanging. Ready to be thawed out to be cured without being a day older from the time she was frozen. But Boyle saw another use for Fries's technology."
Wonder Woman thought about it before realization struck her. "Unaging. He saw it as a fountain of youth. He wanted to use Freeze's technology to obtain immortality."
"And Victor was none the wiser. He was so obsessed with curing his wife that he didn't see he was being used by Boyle. One day, Boyle and his guards rushed in to steal his equipment, thinking Victor was taking too long, even threatening to unplug Nora while she was still frozen in the container. Victor pulled one of the guard's guns on Boyle, but Boyle took advantage of Victor's good nature, kicking him into the chemicals that made Mr. Freeze."
"By the gods. Was this man punished?"
"He was. I found more than enough evidence that not only destroyed Goth Corp but had Boyle placed in jail. He's still in a cell to this day. And after all these years, I haven't found a cure for Nora's disease. Years upon years of research, and I'm no closer than he is."
"You've been trying to help him all this time," Wonder Woman asked.
"And as he said, I'm just missing one variable. Just one piece to finish the puzzle, and I can finally save Victor and Nora."
Wonder Woman looked down before looking at Batman with determined eyes. "Bruce, give me the data." Batman looked at Wonder Woman. "Trust me."
Later, Diana flew toward Themyscira and gave the saga to her friend and fellow Amazon, Alexa.
"Diana, this tale you give me... it's heartbreaking. This is the story of a man?"
"It is, sister."
"Then may Hera herself guide me. I have never heard of such a pure marriage or love so true. I will do all that I can to save this Nora Fries."
"Thank you, sister."
Moments passed.
"By the gods, no."
"What is it, Alexa."
"There is a way to cure her, but the flower needed is... it resides on the isle of Etna."
Diana glared. "Typhon."
"The beast is sealed, but his offspring have been trying to free him for years. Diana, it would take a battalion to face such a force. I doubt our sisters would go to retrieve a single flower."
"What does the flower look like?"
"Huh? Um, like this," Alexa said as she brought up an image.
"I thank you, sister," Diana said as she walked away.
"Wait, Diana, you're not truly planning on... Sister, that is madness! You will be facing an army alone!"
"With the blessings of Athena herself at my side. A man worthy of praise is waging war to save his wife. I will not fail him," Diana said with a burning look of determination flaring in her beautiful eyes.
She was ready.
Alexa was pacing back and forth until she heard something behind her. She looked to see who or what it was. Her eyes widened. "DIANA!"
"Is this the flower, sister," Diana panted, blood flowing down her right arm, the left side of her mouth, and near her right eye, looking like bloody tears. Her outfit was torn to shreds, with claw and bite marks all over her, the hero even holding a monster's horn in her hand that was obviously used as a makeshift spear.
Diana then fainted, Alexa catching her with tears in her eyes. "Sister," she went softly.
Diana's eyes opened to see the Purple Light. She sat up to see she was fully healed. When she heard heels, she looked to see Alexa standing over her, holding a vial containing a purple liquid.
"Is that-?"
"The extraction from the Typhon Rose you brought. It's true that flora is abundant on Mt Etna, but this particular rose can only be found within the mountain, given life by the rage and blood of Typhon himself. He's the reason this rose exists, which is why it's so potent a medicine."
Diana reached toward it, only for Alexa to hold it back. "What thoughts ail you, sister?"
"This is extremely rare, sister. Medicine more than worth presenting to the gods. Yet, you wish to bestow it upon a man?"
"Not to a man. A husband."
"What?"
"You didn't see him, Alexa. Those eyes. His words. His actions. For years, we Amazons have been preaching love and compassion, yet we are warriors first and foremost. Yes, we have saved many lives, but always through war and combat. Never through love. The man I went to get this medicine for... he was willing to commit heinous acts for his wife. Steal money, kill his foes, even sell his very soul in order to save her. His actions are inexcusable, yes, but how far are you willing to go to save she whom you love, sister?"
". . . I do not know. I pray to Hera I never learn. Sister, you described to me a man in a deep, dark curse. I beg of you, free him from his torment with this medicine."
Diana took the vial and hugged Alexa. "You are my heart, sister."
"And you are mine. Please, return sooner next time. And maybe speak with Her Majesty next time. I feel a bit awkward, speaking to the princess more than the queen has in the past few years."
Diana giggled. "That is a promise I cannot make, sister," she said as she flew up. "Farewell," Diana said as she flew away.
Alexa waved, watching Diana fly away. "I beg for your forgiveness, Your Majesty."
"There is nothing to forgive, Alexa," Hippolyta said as she walked out of the shadows, walking up next to Alexa. "Diana knew I would not give my blessing to this quest of hers. I can't help but feel she made the correct choice. Even after all these countless centuries... I still cannot see the good in man. Even Diana's description of the man she wishes to aid prevents me from assisting. A man willing to steal and kill? Why would I aid such a thing? But, a man willing to sell his very soul in order to save his beloved. . . I cannot deny such a resolve. And to reject Diana's aid due to lack of faith. . . My own actions would diminish my faith in myself as well. I pray to the gods that Diana's actions are for the greater good of all."
Later, Freeze was in his lab, looking into a beaker full of liquid when he turned to see Wonder Woman. She then held up the vial.
Moments later, Freeze was analyzing the liquid through a microscope, his eyes widening. Afterward, he and Wonder Woman were working together to synthesize it. Unfortunately, Freeze was moving too fast and dropped a component.
It was caught... by Batman.
With the three working together, Freeze thawed out Nora and injected her with the medicine.
Though he could not form tears anymore, Victor still wailed... out of pure joy as he hugged his cured wife, who hugged him back.
Later, Victor Fries... was back in Arkham, promising to serve his sentence as a form of redemption. It would be a far more tolerable fate, now that Nora could visit him, the two talking about the family they would make together after Victor was released... and cured.
In his below-zero cell, Freeze was already working on a cure for his own affliction, studying all he could to find a cure for his body's frosty mutation.
He had no idea he was being watched by Batman and Wonder Woman from a different Arkham building.
"Can he be cured," Wonder Woman asked.
"It's a molecular mutation, Diana. It will be difficult. Possibly even harder than curing Nora. . . But once he is released, he'll have all the time he needs while working for Wayne Industries."
Wonder Woman looked at Batman in shock. "Y-You're going to hire him?"
"He has a chance at redemption. I would be a fool to allow such an opportunity to escape his grasp. Victor has always been better than a life of crime. That man is capable of great things. I'll make sure he unleashes his full potential. Besides..." Batman looked down, Wonder Woman following his gaze.
They both watched Nora leave Arkham, a smile on her face after seeing her husband again.
"He has a family to get back to."
"Indeed. He does. . . May Hera bless the both of them."
"I suppose she must, given she's the Goddess of Marriage," Batman retorted.
"And this is one of the purest marriages I have ever laid eyes on. May they find the peace they deserve."
Nora stopped when she felt like she was being watched, looking up at the building roof to see no one there. Still, she smiled and mouthed out a quick thank you before walking away, looking forward to her future with her husband.