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Gotham City, April 25th, 11:50 P.M.

All of Gotham was still feeling the effects of what was considered the Joker’s greatest act of crime and corruption ever. Parts of the city still burned or were still shaken from the grand plan the Clown Prince of Crime committed. Even Arkham Asylum, the institute developed to handle the city’s criminal minds, had been destroyed as the first of many parts in Joker’s grand play. It had put the GCPD along with Batman and his allies, like the Birds of Prey and the Batwoman, through more than they had ever witnessed.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Zooming through the streets Selina Kyle, the once retired thief and sometimes hero Catwoman, sped through all obstacles on a motorcycle to reach Ace Chemicals. Joker’s schemes had forced her and most of her friends and family back into action all to quell the masses of escaped criminals and lunatics from Arkham. She along with the rest of Batman’s allies had been spread out all to deal with different threats in different parts of the city. It turned out it was what Joker wanted all along as Batman was forced to face him alone in what was supposed to be one grand final battle to decide the fate of Gotham City. By the time Selina had realized she feared she was too late but needed to be there regardless. She needed to be with her husband in this dark and terrible time, needing to know that he would make it out in the end like he always did.

As she rode along the still chaotic streets her coms went off, the voice of Oracle/Barbara Gordon saying “Selina? Are you there?”

“I don’t have time to talk, Barb.” She responded. “What I do need is the fastest route to Ace Chemicals now!”

“Already tracking your bike’s movements. I’m making sure all the traffic lights aren’t against you. But Selina, there’s something you should know.”

“I already figured it out. Joker wanted Bruce to himself. That’s why I’m heading there now.”

“You’re not the only one who did.” Oracle has said with a somber tone. “His coms have been down all night. I didn’t know where else to look. Someone else did though.”

Upon hearing it Selina, starting to realize, asked “Barbara. Where’s Helena?”

“Last reading I’d gotten from her was ten minutes from Ace Chemicals. And that was fifteen minutes ago.” As she could tell Selina’s attention was far gone from what she was saying, the last thing Oracle managed was “I’m sending backup with you! Just hold on Se-”

She silenced her communicator without hesitation. No words were said. Selina put as much gas into speeding through Gotham’s streets as possible now knowing that more than just her husband was in danger. Her daughter was now getting wrapped up with the Joker, the one psychopath in Gotham that she and Bruce never wanted her to deal with EVER. She needed to hurry. She needed to be there!

Selina’s travel was soon accompanied by the apparent backup Oracle had called. Nightwing, whom she knew was Dick Grayson, the first Robin, rode up next to her on his own motor bike. He looked and nodded to her, indicating he was with her on finding and saving Batman and her daughter, before Selina, giving a stiff nod back, only put more throttle into her bike to move ahead.

They could both see it now. Ace Chemical was just outside the city, and thanks to Oracle’s manipulation the lights were with them to give them a straight and onward path to the area. The closer they came the better they could see that they were not the first to arrive as several red and blue lights flashed in front of Ace Chemicals. When they finally arrived they saw that indeed the police had arrived; a small barricade already set up in front of the only entrance into the plant and around the parked Batmobile.

Selina stopped and parked her bike before insisting “Out of my way. I need to get in there!”

Harvey Bullock, along with the current police commissioner Maggie Sawyer, stood in her way as he said “Whoa there, lady. No one gets in and no one looking like a clown is getting out. Aside from the bat-dressed ones.”

“You don’t understand!” she insisted just as Nightwing joined her.

“C’mon, Bullock.” Nightwing now added. “We both know how this goes.”

“Not tonight, kid. Orders are orders.” He pointed.

Looking to Sawyer now Selina asked with a violent tone “What’s your problem, Sawyer? You don’t expect me to just sit by and wait while he’s in there.”

“Not my orders.” She replied, shaking her head.

Just as Nightwing asked whose orders they were they both heard someone answer “Mine.” Looking to see someone who had emerged from one of the police cars.

Mayor Jim Gordon stepped out and approached the two heroes, using a cane to support himself, as he said “No one goes in there. A personal favor from a friend.”

Knowing who it was Selina walked up to him and whispered “Dammit, Jim! You’re really going to listen to him? You know how he is, especially when it comes to the Joker.”

“It’s more than just rivalry, Selina.” Gordon responded. Pointing to the city he continued “Look at it. Gotham went through hell and back, more than anything Joker’s ever tried before. This isn’t just another hostile takeover or some grand joke he’s trying to prove to the world. This is personal. This is…final.” Looking back to them he asked “Did you forget what today is?”

Nightwing answered “Hard not to.” He sighed and added “No wonder Batman wasn’t staying as in touch tonight.”

Selina then insisted “I’m not standing around and waiting!”

“And I’m not risking anymore lives tonight. Not even yours.” Gordon insisted. “No telling what sort of trap Joker might-”

The shock of the sound had struck all of them before anything else. The sudden boom and a burst of color and light in the raining night had made most of them shielded their faces, ears or even entire bodies. The great boom had brought an unwanted and horrible attention to all of them before they looked to see their fears come true: Ace Chemicals was destroyed in a grand explosion with no chance that anyone inside survived.

Selina tried to run for the burning debris, stopped by Sawyer and several others while shouting “No! NO! NOOOOO!”

Nightwing stood their stunned and horrified. Probably like Selina so many thoughts of how this could have been stopped or changed went through his mind. But what also went through was how if they’d gone in like they intended they would have died as well. All part of Joker’s sick scheme that was stopped thanks to Gordon’s forethought.

“My god…” Bullock finally managed. “Is he…? Are they…?”

Selina screamed and fell to her knees, smacking the ground while raging tears cried “How could you, Jim? How could you? My baby…. My baby girl….”

Despite the injury to his leg Gordon managed to fall to a knee and hugged Selina from behind while insisting “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry….”

A moment passed before one of the officers had pointed “Look!”

Everyone turned and saw as a large, shadowed figure came towards the group from nearby. As it came closer and closer they realized it was not one but two figures, a smaller one supporting a larger one over their shoulders. Even closer they came with the lights of the inferno and the police cars everyone could now see as Batman was being helped by the Huntress, the second to take the name and showing to be a girl no older than 12 years old.

As they came closer to the group both Huntress and Batman looked beaten and tired, going through their own little trials of hell themselves. She was using her staff to support herself better while one of Batman’s arms was around her shoulders as she carried him further and further. At the sight of the police, along with Selina and Nightwing, coming their way the Huntress finally collapsed onto her knees while Batman rolled off of her and landed on his back.

Selina embraced her daughter tightly, saying “Thank you. Thank you.” To whatever powers above.

Nightwing had hurried over to Batman before seeing a wound on his stomach, blood spilling out as he said “My god! Are you alright?”

Batman coughed as he tried to keep pressure on the wound while saying “Several stab wounds…. Bleeding internal….”

“Just hold still.” Nightwing insisted. “Gordon! Get a medic down here now!”

Realizing how badly wounded he was Selina hurried over to Batman’s side while saying “Bruce, look at me! It’s going to be alright. Just hold on.”

He coughed again before answering “No…. This is it….”

“No it’s not! You stubborn bastard, you’re not dying like this!” she insisted, holding his hand. “You hear me? You’re not dying like this!”

“Even if they get here…. *cough* Losing too much blood already… Won’t be enough…”

“No. No. No. Don’t talk like that. Stop being so damn morbid.” Selina kept insisting as several officers were now around them. “I’m not letting you do this, understand? I’m not! You got to keep going. You never stopped before! For God’s sake, you can’t leave all this behind.”

“I’m sorry….Selina….”

As her mother began to cry Huntress moved over and, kneeling next to Batman, whimpered “No, dad. No…. I’m supposed to save you.”

Looking to her he smiled “You already did…. I’m so proud of you, Helena….”

They could tell from his voice. Everyone could. This was it. Even Gordon and Sawyer were trying to hold back how heartbreaking this moment was for them yet it wasn’t easy. To see a man who did so much good for the city dying like this seemed more cruelty than punishment.

With what strength he had left Batman tried to remove his cowl but his hands were weak from the loss of blood. Huntress stopped him before doing as her father wished, taking his cowl off carefully until the man underneath was revealed.

“Bruce Wayne?” Bullock asked aloud. “He’s….?”

“No. He’s not.” Gordon insisted. “He’s Batman.”

The way Gordon had said it was enough clarification to Bullock. Even if they knew who he was they would never tell. The one gift earned by the hero of Gotham City who had saved their lives several times. Even the rest of the officers, including Commissioner Sawyer, seemed to all silently agree.

With her father’s identity revealed, and her mother’s already known, the Huntress removed her mask as well. Helena Wayne was revealed yet it mattered less than anything right now. All she cared about was seeing her father dying in front of her eyes and there was nothing she could do. Tears rolled down as she caught her breaths and hiccupped.

Seeing the look on his daughter’s face made Bruce reach up. He gentled touched her cheek and his thumb wiped away the last tear that rolled down her cheek. It was all so similar to that night. The night that changed his life forever. He could feel there wasn’t much time and all that went through his mind was how he would not be able to see his daughter’s life like his father before. He knew the only comforting words that would be able to save her tonight, the same his father had given him with his dying breath.

“Helena…. Don’t be afraid….. Don’t be af….”

His hand dropped away from her face. The look of horror on his daughter’s face fell away as he looked up the sky. The rain was finally stopping. The clouds were starting to part. He could see the one last glint of a star breaking through the darkened night. It was the last great comfort he ever needed.

“Dick?” Oracle called over the coms. “Dick? Is he…?”

“He’s…he’s gone, Barbara. He’s gone….”

From her hideout in the Clock Tower Barbara was shocked to the point of sadness. She covered her mouth to not let Nightwing hear her cries but he could tell. No sounds were needed.

Watching Bruce Wayne’s wife and daughter grieve over the fallen hero made Gordon uncomfortably nostalgic. The day his daughter was crippled by the same maniac who nearly brought this city down. So many fellow officers dead while he was on duty. So many other heroes mourned for their sacrifice to this city. He always knew Gotham City as a hard place to live but these years had proven how hard it truly was.

Out of respect Gordon removed his hat. Bullock followed his example before all of the other officers did so as well. Sawyer gave a small prayer, even if she never believed in the stuff, as her only real act of sympathy she could give right now.

The ones in front of the remains of Ace Chemicals were not the only ones to see the death of the Batman. In the distance Damien Wayne, the now matured leader of the League of Shadows, had been drawn back to Gotham when the Joker’s grand plan was enacted. While he was no true fan of his father Damien intended to see that this city his father protected was saved this night; if only so that he could have the honor of bringing it down later.

Upon seeing his father’s death Damien had finally shown a piece of sympathy long overdue. He bowed his head in respect and silently apologized for everything he’d ever done.

The time for mourning had to wait. Damien raised his head in determination. Someone had to pay for this. If he had survived Damien intended to find the Joker and he would have the diseased clown face the justice the League of Shadows would insight, several times over if he lived long enough.

**********

The Joker’s body was never found but he did not die in the explosion. History seemed to repeat as the Joker managed to escape Ace Chemicals through the same pipelines that had emptied him out into the river all those years ago. He had even washed up on the same shore far from anyone’s sight and anyone’s knowledge.

The Joker was not untouched by the grand battle he had with Batman in Ace Chemicals however. Pulling himself from the water’s current the Joker’s one arm was wounded to the point of useless, two Batarangs punctured into his forearm and shoulder. A third had been lodged into his right eye, the blood still dripping from the punctured socket.

“Ah the old familiar places.” The Joker chuckled as he managed to beach himself on the shore. Feeling where the Batarang hit his eye he commented “Kid’s got good aim. Like her Bat-Daddy. Maybe I’ll take out one of hers to make us even. Hehehe.” He groaned as he managed to pick himself up while saying “First things first. I think I need a nice long bath and a massage. Wonder if…?”

He stopped when he realized he wasn’t alone. Someone had come out from the nearby brush at the waterfront and stood in his path. He was confused at first before they stepped into the light to make themselves known, a bit of relief coming over Joker’s face.

“Oh! Harley. There you are.” He smiled as he started to walk towards her. “Good that you’re here. Save me a phone call. Come on we-” He stopped when she stepped forward, a gun drawn in her hand before cocking it to make sure he knew it was loaded. “Something I said?” She didn’t answer but looked at him with a cold, hating glare. “Come now, Harley dear. This is silly. Even for me.”

“You left me to die…” she coldly replied, her voice not her usual ‘Harley-self’ he was used to.

“Now don’t make it sound so ugly, Harley. I had a schedule to keep. Besides if I knew you wouldn’t have made it I-”

“I almost didn’t.” she cut him off. “I could have died but someone saved me. Ivy saved me. She gave her life to save me.”

“The plant lady died?” Joker asked. “Hehe. Well who knows? Maybe they’ll fertilize her remains and then she’ll come back as something nice you can keep in the garden.”

The gun was now pointed right at his forehead as she hissed “She was my friend, Mistah J! I…I loved her. She loved me! And you killed her!”

“Technically I think the fire did that but-”

She cut him off against she jabbed the gun against his head “No more jokes! No more fires. No more plans. No more people crying. No more friends dying for me. No more, Mistah J. No. More!”

For a moment the Joker thought she would shoot yet Harley’s hand trembled. Seeing it and having been in this situation with her before he calmed, the most serious of faces he could make coming over.

“Come now, Harley. How many times have we done this? And how many times have you ever really done it? I think the fact I’m still here proves it. You can lose as many friends as you want, you can be left for dead in a gutter for weeks, you can even have a bomb stuck in your neck and be forced to go on wild adventures with a bunch of rejects, but you still always come back to me. We both know you’d never shoot me.” The Joker held his hand up opened and said “Give me the gun, Harley.” She didn’t respond or move, tears starting to brim in her eyes. “Give it to me.”

His words seemed to hit her harder than anything he’d ever done to her. Slowly and still trembling the gun dropped away before she handed it to the Joker. The look on her face seemed to make the impression she hated herself for not doing it, not that Joker seemed to mind or care as he was glad he had the gun now.

“That’s my girl.” He smiled. He reached up, rubbing her cheek with his knuckles. “My dear Harley. Sweet, sweet Harley.” His tender touch soon changed into a painful backhand across her face, making her drop to the ground. “Don’t ever point a gun at me again!” he harshly insisted. As she still laid on the ground he then thought aloud “You know, Harley, I had a lot of time to think this night over. Now that Batsy might be gone I think it’s time I take things in a new direction.” He then pointed the gun at her and added “And that new direction starts without you! Maybe I’ll find a new one.”

The Joker pulled the trigger with the barrel still pointed at her head. It clicked and fired only for no bullets to fly out. Instead a little “BANG” flag popped out, surprising the Joker. Just then he could hear another unwanted sound: Harley was giggling. She looked up at him, her makeup smeared from her tears and the smack she’d taken to the face but she was now laughing gleefully as if some greater justice had just been handed.

“You right, Mistah J. I never could shoot you.” She began as she stood, still giggling. “That’s why I didn’t load the gun. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t planning to make you pay tonight.”

Harley gave a sharp whistle before coming out from the bushes behind her were two growling animals. At first the Joker thought they were dogs but as they came further out into the open they were in fact the pet hyenas Bud and Lou. They growled and snapped at him while Harley stood there seeing the growing fear on the Joker’s face.

“Who’s laughing now, Puddin?” she smirked before giving one final whistle.

Bud and Lou pounced on the Joker, jaws biting and tearing into him. The psychotic clown tried to laugh it off, his final grand gleeful cackle to the world, but it quickly turned into horrid screams as he was torn to pieces.

The whole time Harley watched. She never winced. Never turned away. She barely even blinked. She wanted to make sure her pets got every last bit of him, right down to the bone. No sneaky escapes or miraculous last minute salvation. The Joker died tonight just like the Batman.

But only one would live on....