HALLO! Hasn't been three months since my last update for once! XD this is highly inspired by the Batman Metal series and has resolved a question for myself and many others. I mean, I don't have a number yet, but I thought it was a good idea. Just note there's no placement timeline wise yet for this, mostly because I haven't a clue where to place it. In my mind, the events of Metal, if they crossed with the DNBverse, would take place after Terry's in the suit, and that little granddaughter in Bruce's mental prison would be real. You can thank the youtuber who reads and summarizes comics for all my information, and I'm loving it! X3

Anywho, enjoy the quick fic!

My Earth

For once in his many busy days and hours, Bruce Wayne managed to take a few minutes to himself and strolled through his gardens. Now the Wayne Manor Gardens are not terribly impressive by millionaire or billionaire standards, but it was still rather unique. Every plant had a practical use along with being decorative, and there was a short hedge maze to entertain guests near the mostly ignored ballroom exit. Alfred arranged for gardeners to take care of most of it, but the herb garden was his alone so no one ruined his supplies. Bruce rarely explored them after his horticulture lessons nearly two decades ago in fear of screwing something up, and his children were scared out of everything but the maze and grassy yards after Jason destroyed one of Alfred's favorite rose bushes. In general, they were all more likely to visit the surrounding woods than the gardens, making it quite a quiet place to walk.

And trouble only started when things were quiet.

A bright golden light blazed in his sight just as he was clearing one section of the maze. Instantly he fell into a fighting stance, ready to take on whatever appeared. It took him a moment to register the light's form, and with that came more confusion than understanding.

Why was there a glowing ankh in his garden?

"Bruce Wayne," echoed a voice from the scene, "the Lords of Order have need of you."

Bruce raised an eyebrow, trying to figure out which fighting style he should use to defend himself and deciding whether to be blunt or crafty in his response to a disembodied voice. "And who are these 'Lords of Order' that I should obey them?"

"You would defy your benefactors?"

"I would defy anyone who won't show their face when asking for help." Mentally he prayed he didn't just anger some friend of Diana's or one of those 'New Gods' Clark ran into a time or two. He really wished they could just debate over one deity and whether he was real or not, but life didn't work that way for him.

There was a small pause, then the ankh faded away, revealing a rumor B had yet to confirm until that very moment. Gold and blue, a caped man in a helmet floated just over one of the hedges, ensuring him the high ground. Bruce could barely make out blue eyes under that mask, but he seemed human enough. "So," he started, getting into a more comfortable stance that seemed less menacing, "the mysterious Doctor Fate has finally made an appearance. Should I be flattered you're paying me a visit? Or worried?"

"This is not a joke, Bruce Wayne. Formally Batman."

Those blue eyes narrowed on the former vigilante, summoning a more intimidating stance from said man. Bruce did not like people knowing who he was without knowing something about the other person they didn't want getting out. Doctor Fate was a member of the Justice Society back in the day, but no one had any extra information about him. DNA samples burned up before they could be tested and his allies weren't talking about IDs, especially after disbanding. Only a few Leaguers had connections to the JSA and each played it close to the chest.

"You have me at a disadvantage," Bruce stated simply, making small talk as he gathered his thoughts. "I only know you by reputation, and yet you know my other name as if we were close friends. And you ask for a favor?"

"I ask for nothing," Fate stated simply. "It is the Lords of Fate who wish to use you to bring balance to the multiverse."

"Multiverse..." Bruce couldn't help but doubt what he was talking about. Multiverse theory was a wonderful plot device, quite entertaining, but there was no evidence to the contrary. Still, this man was said to be more powerful than the rest of the JSA and was floating over his hedges. He should at least humor him. "And how do I bring balance to the 'multiverse'?"

"Continue to deny Batbados and be ready for his minions."

"Batbados..." First a legend rumored to still be alive starts floating over his hedges, then 'confirmation' of the multiverse, and now Batbados, a cult belief gone haywire, was real? "I still do not understand where you're coming from."

The man before him must have sighed under his helmet because the next thing he got was a lecture. "Batbados is a creature of chaos, and a powerful one at that. He created a multiverse separate from infinite others, mirroring and degrading another set long created. Many, of not all, are nightmares none would wish to live within. This world, this peaceful Earth you live in, is one of his. The only one he hasn't corrupted beyond all reason. It is so insignificant he hadn't touched or looked upon it since it's creation.

"Until now." Fate seemed to take a breath before going on. "Batbados is gathering Batmen of other universes to attack another universe, one prospering beyond others, and one he did not create. He will try to corrupt our world, change it into something sinister and terrifying, but the Lords of Order will not have it. They enjoy the peace and order being created here, and the love of moments rather than the lust for power and control. They wish for this world to continue, and use their powers to shield this one from Batbados.

"Yet his minions may be able to find their way through the barriers and try to corrupt it from within." Fate extended a hand, palm facing upwards, and the air above it began to glow. "They will attempt to either convince you to join them or kill you, just to appease their master. You must deny them and return them to their worlds."

"How?" Though it sounded quite insane, Bruce couldn't help but to believe him a little. It never hurt to be cautious about matters, especially when you had next to no information.

Fate extended a glowing hand towards him, opening his fist slowly. When the light dimmed, a simple sliver of metal, about the size of a golf pencil, presented itself. "This ore has the ability to send beings back to their universe with a single strike. It protects and grounds it's wielder from those who wish to remove them as well. It occurs naturally within each universe but is difficult to find and produce."

"And that's where I come in."

The mage nodded. "You have the resources to find and refine Nth Metal, turn it into weapons capable of sending the invaders away." He closed his hand, a light flashing in it, as he continued to talk. Bruce could feel a new weight in his pocket and one hand entered it to ensure he was given the strange metal. "Though it exists in abundance on Thanagar, Hawkman is unable to provide any more than this sample for you. The rest is in your hands, Dark Knight."

Bruce nodded to himself slowly, fingering the thing in his pocket. Nth metal. Hawkman. Batbados. Multiverse theory. It sounded a little more than insane, but then again his closest friends were aliens, space cops, and a woman born from clay. It was just another Thursday for him. "I'll do what I can."

"And you can do much." With that, the glowing ankh again started to form behind him, announcing his departure. "Do not let Batbados win within you, for you are the key to keeping him at bay. Continue with those you cherish and none should suffer in our world. The fate of our universe is in your hands."

Doctor Fate disappeared into the light and it faded from view, leaving him alone in the garden maze again. "No pressure, right?"

Shaking his head, Bruce took out the sample he was left with and attempted to process things correctly. A great demonic evil wanted to take apart their world. Other forces were protecting them, even though they were the evil's creation. To stop the evil from winning, he had to gather as much of this metal as he could find, make weapons, and reject or slice any minions of that big bad, sending them home to their worlds. No one had to die and it wasn't near as complicated as the man's appearance made him think it was.

"Hardly enough to analyze," he muttered to himself as he started out of the maze. Even if the concept was simple, Bruce just didn't have that much Nth metal to do anything with! And what if the new threat's minions used his children as leverage? They'd have to be armed as well, but in a way they wouldn't appear threatening. "Barely suitable for a key...chain..."

Immediately his brain started working, calling a smirk to the surface. He gripped the metal firmly in his hand and stuffed it in his pocket, plans for Christmas coming together nicely. He needed a unique stocking stuffer. Would be a little telling, but the kids would get a kick out of it. Nth metal would stretch pretty far if put in the right shape.

The Bat would protect them all, even from their 'creator', Batbados.

A/N: XD yes, the DNBverse is a negative multiverse creation! Think about it. Each alternate batman is projecting a fear Bruce has and what he does when he has to confront it/endure it. So it makes sense that in one, when he takes Dick in, he quits being Batman because he's scared of what will happen if he dies. The result isn't Bruce tuning evil though, which makes the Lords of Order happy and so, since the other worlds are going to hell anyway, they focus on preserving this one. Nth metal seems to be a big part of things, and seems to be able to 'kill' the negative multiverse characters, so arming the batclan with it, just a little, should be good. The kids all get these Batarang keychains (something I came up with years ago in a pict) and they can use it anytime they need to defend themselves.

Still don't know what number the world would be, but if by some random chance the DNBverse ends up becoming a cannon, it will come from the negative multiverse and be preserved because of the Lords of Order.

Also want to remind people I have a youtube channel by the same name (Glimare is usually me) so check it out once in a while. Did a Justice League review last month so heckle that a bit. Also completed the Ultra Sun Pokedex this morning! X3 2nd time I've finished one! Trying to get a Palkia and Darkrai via trade though and that's nigh impossible. So hard trying to get legit legendaries. *pouts* ah well.

Now back to other things! I'll try to update other titles and this one more this year, and I'm moving yet again, back to warmer weather. yay me! Laters