GOTHAM KNIGHT

By FAH3

This part of Gotham City was old and decaying like a festering corpse that had been left out in a body farm. Wayne Enterprises had been in the process of buying as much of the properties here so they could restore some of the more historical sections while also making it the new heart of the business section of the gothic metropolis. Right now, the building Batman, Supergirl, and Batgirl were standing on wasn't that far from Cobblepot Manor. The manor wasn't as large or extravagant as Wayne Manor, but it still screamed of prestige from a bygone age. It was no secret that the Cobblepots were one of the founding families that had a hand in making Gotham City what it once was, but the family had lost the manor after Oswald's father lost a good chunk of the family fortune. The Waynes were currently trying to buy the old mansion so they could turn it into something that would benefit the city. Something like a rehabilitation center, a museum, or maybe even an orphanage.

The Penguin wasn't going to give up his home without a fight. It was a constant tug of war battle when it came to trying to buy the property which left the old Manor looking as rundown and broken as everything else around it. The fact that Joe Chill would be hiding not too far from here meant that Chill had a large set of brass ones on him or he was just stupid. It didn't matter right now. Only the mission mattered.

"Are you okay?" Lara asked him.

"I'm fine." Batman growled.

"You want me to take point in case he's armed?" she asked.

"No, I've got this. I want both of you here for overwatch in case he calls for help or makes a break for it. Is that understood?" he asked them.

"Clear as crystal." Batgirl said.

Batman soon leapt off the roof and down the side of the building while the two sisters stayed behind.

"Don't you think one of us should follow him? Just in case." Lara asked her sister.

"I'm not going." Batgirl said.

"Chicken shit." Lara muttered.

"Why aren't you going then?"

"Reasons." Lara said.

There weren't any obvious signs of traps or alarms as he entered the run down apartment. Some modifications had been made, but not a lot. There weren't any visible modern day electronics or alterations that he could initially see. There wouldn't be any point to even try and check since the building hadn't had any power for years now. No one would be able to use hardly anything unless they had their own separate power source like a generator. That meant this was more than likely a temporary safe house rather than a base of operations. He began his search of the apartment carefully and paid special attention for anything out of place. There were holes in the dry wall from years of neglect, the carpets were well used but didn't show as much sign of age as everything else. The walls were also bare with noticeable areas where pictures had once hung and keeping a certain amount of grime from forming. Nothing stood out.

Before he could continue to search the apartment, he heard something. It was the sound of floorboards creaking outside in the hallway. Someone was coming. Ducking into a corner, Batman just stood and waited. The footsteps came to a stop right outside the apartment's front door that was followed by silence for a few moments. The lock then began to the knob began to turn and then the deadbolt before the door began to open. The person that entered wore clothes that one would find at the goodwill or a thrift store. The slacks he wore were a dark brown and faded while he wore a a navy blue suit jacket. From what little light there was, the Dark Knight could easily make the outline of a holster under his right arm. As the door closed behind him, Batman began to approach him from behind.

"Joe? Joe, you still here?" the man asked.

"He's gone. He was smart, unlike you." Batman growled as the man gasped in fear.

The man spun around as he let out a small scream. He reached for his right side, but yelled in pain as a small batarang sank into the top of his hand. He cradled the hand as he began to back away quickly from the caped vigilante as fast as he could.

"S-stay away from me! Stay away! I've got rights!" the man shouted as he continued to back away. As he took another step, he found himself tumbling backwards through a closed window and onto the fire escape outside. The rusted metal fire escape shuddered and creaked as the old bolts struggled to keep itself latched onto the old building's side. The man tried to pull himself away even further, but felt pain throbbing in his leg. He looked down and saw a large piece of glass jutting from his leg with a generous amount of blood already starting to make a slowly growing red stain around the wound.

"You have rights, all right." Batman said as he stepped out onto the escape with the man. "You're also bleeding to death. Right now, I'm you're only hope of you have in getting to a hospital in time. So you have a choice. Either tell me what I want to know or lay here and die in a pool of your own blood. What's it going to be?" he asked him.

YAMANUCHI, JAPAN

It was still early in the morning as Ron sat by the window and watched the sun rise over the horizon. The sky was painted with various colors and shades of gold, pink, and hues of purple as the sun began to bring light to the world again. Ron glanced from the window for a moment as he looked back to the bed and saw the beautiful naked redhead that was still asleep. They were two weeks into their relationship and it had been good. However a part of him had been feeling guilty with all the physical activity he and Andrea had been doing; and he didn't mean the sparing in both the courtyard and dojo. He felt guilty because his mind was wondering back to memories of his relationship with Kim. For the longest time, he thought this was something he and Kim would experience together. A part of him wished that he could have experienced this with Kim, but it just wasn't meant to be. A small smile appeared on his face as he thought back to when things seemed so much simpler. Especially when he was with Kim's family. The tweebs, Mr. Dr. P and Mrs. Dr. P. That was when something in his mind began to click. It was something that nagged at him every so often. Now, with everything quiet, the nagging was louder and caused him to think.

Ever since he had met Andrea, she had been helping him in many ways. With his combat, his mental discipline, and filling the hole Kim had left to a certain degree. In fact, there were many things about Andrea that not only reminded him of Kim, but mirrored her almost exactly. Andrea's attitude, her personality, the way she moved, even in the way she fought. It was just like KP. As he continued to think about how much the two women had in common, his mind realized something else that he hadn't seen. Dr. Anne Possible's full name before she was married was Andrea Beaumont. When they met Dr. Thomas Wayne in Gotham all those years ago, he told them that he and Mrs. Dr. P had gone to medical school together. Here Ron was at a secret ninja school in Japan and he meets someone that is not only similar to KP in so many ways, but also has the same name as her mother? It didn't add up.

"You okay, Ron?"

Ron looked at the bed and saw that Andrea was now awake and sitting up. As she did so, she kept the sheet from falling below her collar bone. Even after they had become intimate, she still had some sense of modesty. Again, it was another trait she and Kim had in common.

"I'm just thinking." Ron said as he tried to figure out what to do with this new found realization.

"About how I kicked your ass again?" she asked with a smirk. Ron just took a deep breath as he looked at her.

"What was your family like?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Just making conversation." Ron said.

"It was nice. Mom passed away when I was still a kid, but daddy did his best to make sure I had everything I needed. It wasn't perfect, but we were happy. What about you?" she asked him.

"I guess you could say that I had two sets of parents. My mom and dad always had to travel because of their jobs, but I always knew that they loved me. You could see it in their eyes that it hurt them every time they had to break the news that they weren't going to be there for a school event or a birthday. That made all the time we had together even more special." Ron said and paused for a moment.

"But I always had the Possibles. Whatever my parents couldn't give me; the Possibles did their best to pick up the slack." Ron said as he looked down for a moment and looked back up. "Andrea, what's your real name?"

"What do you mean?"

"KP's mother. Everyone called her Anne, but her name was Andrea. Andrea Beaumont."

Andrea stiffened slightly and bit her lower lip for a moment before looking at Ron again.

"How long have you known?"

"I just figured it out. Maybe some part of me knew before hand, but I just didn't want to admit it. Or I was too blind to see it." Ron said as he kept looking at her. "I have so many questions for you, but I don't know which to ask first."

"Then you'll want to talk to Yori."

"Yori?"

"Trust me, Ron. She has the answers you want. I was just sent here to help guide you in the right direction. To make sure you were ready." Andrea said.

"Ready? Ready for what? I just found out you've lied to me about everything."

"Not all of it. I'm like you. I lost my sister, not my father, to the filth of this world and looked for guidance. While you went to Master Sensei, I went to someone else. He can help you Ron, and he's anxious to meet you. He can help you find what you need."

"Who are you talking about?" Ron asked.

"His name is Ra's Al Ghul." Yori said as she entered the room. "You've accomplished your task, so you can leave now." Yori said as she looked at Andrea.

Andrea promptly stood and bowed in respect to Yori and then to Ron. Andrea quickly gathered her things and left the room, leaving the two friends alone.

"Yori. what's going on?" Ron asked her.

"The first step in your journey to find what you want." Yori said and saw the confused look on Ron's face.

"By sending a Kim knock off to punch my V-card?" Ron asked her. "Yori, please. No cryptic words, no riddles, just straight answers. What in the hell is going on?" he asked her.

"What is going on is this. For too long, you and countless others have become lost seeking justice. Because of this, one organization was created to bring true justice. They are known as the League of Shadows. They are the ones that are willing to do what it takes in order to bring peace and order."

"The League of Shadows?" Ron asked her as he became slightly confused from what he was hearing.

"They work in the dark in order to serve the light, Ron-san. My family has been a part of them for several generations. They sent me here in order to begin my training."

"So you're part of this group?"

"Not yet. When they think I am ready, it will be my choice if I want to be a member of the league or not. But the organization's leader, Ra's Al Ghul, has taken notice of you Ron. Like Kim and myself, he sees potential in you. But your turmoil and rage have caused you to become lost. You needed a calming force to guide and bring you balance, and it was clear that force was Kim."

"So they sent Andrea?"

"He did. You and I may not like it, but it looks as if Andrea was indeed able to help you. It isn't perfect, but your rage has calmed enough to set you on the path you seek."

"What path do I seek?"

"To bring justice to your family." Yori said as she stood and removed a folded piece of paper. "This is a map to where the League of Shadows is located. The choice is yours, but Ra's will be waiting for you there." She said as she handed him the paper. Ron stood and reluctantly took it, but Yori wouldn't let go. "I just wish I had been able to help you." She said in a low voice.

Ron pulled her close and wrapped her in his arms, giving her a gentle but firm hug. He knew that Yori had feelings for him for a while now. Because of her respect for him, and his respect for her, she never acted on those feelings. That didn't stop her from being a shoulder he needed. "You have been helping me by just being my friend.." He said as he let her go. "Look after Hannah until I get back." He said.

"It would be my honor."

THE BATCAVE

"I'm guessing he talked." Oracle said as she scanned the phone Batman had brought back with him.

"He didn't know much. Chill has been stocking up on merchandise for a big sale. Our guy was going to his boss to get details on where to take another shipment of weapons they're expecting, but it looked like Chill hadn't been there for some time. Have you found anything?" Ron asked as he slid the cowl backwards and shook his sweat soaked hair.

"Not really. It's a burner phone, so there's nothing we can use on here. It looks like it's new and has only received two calls."

"The calls are probably from burner phones as well. Keep the phone turned on. If someone calls, we can trace it."

"I thought dad already had the guy you roughed up in jail."

"Gordon's keeping him in a private cell and holding off on the paperwork. The only people that know he's in custody are the people your father trusts the most. If we're lucky, Chill doesn't know he's down one man." Ron said.

"If you say. Just don't get your hopes up, boss." Barbara said as she glanced at Ron. "No offence, but you look like crap. A nap might do you some good." Barbara said as she sniffed. "Not to mention a shower. You smell like a pair of socks a skunk wore for several days and left in a gym locker for a couple of years."

"Thank you for that Miss Tact." Ron said. "You may be right, though. Let me know if you find anything." He said as he headed down to the chamber where he kept several of his suits.

As he entered the chamber, he removed the suit and placed it in the station where it belonged. Each case that housed one of his uniforms were kept sealed and would clean the suit so it would be ready the next time he needed it. When Wade had the cave rebuilt, he went all out to make it better than ever. With the suit sealed off and sank into the floor to be cleaned, he began to walk to the built in shower. He noticed how he was dragging his feet while fatigue started to set in. Oracle was right, he needed to rest. Despite being warm and comforting, he made the shower quick before toweling off. He put on a pair of boxers and a t-shirt and made his way up the stairs and into the study of the manor above. As he exited the clock, he was surprised to see Lara sitting in the large chair that was positioned in front of the fireplace. The fireplace was cold, but a small reading lamp beside the chair was on and giving the girl the light she needed in order to read.

"I thought you would be in bed by now." Ron said to his youngest daughter.

"Couldn't sleep. That, and the dipstick snores." Lara said, looking up from her book.

"It runs in the family." Ron said.

"Which side?"

"Both."

"Crap." Lara said as she returned to her book.

"What are you reading?"

"Your Senior Yearbook." Lara said as she showed him a picture of he and Kim together on the football field. Kim was in her cheerleading uniform and smiling while Ron wore a football uniform. It was the years he went from being the team's mascot to an actual football player and had scored numerous touchdowns.

"It's a little unreal to see you smiling."

"I smile." Ron protested, sitting in the chair opposite from Lara.

"Not like this." Lara pointed out.

"Things were – different then." Ron said.

"No kidding." Lara said. "Dad, were you going to let that guy bleed to death?"

"Lara, you already know the answer to that."

"I know. I hope." She said. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole dual identity thing you and the others have got going. I see you right now and I can hardly believe it's the same person out there busting heads and tearing around in that tank of yours."

"It's not a tank."

"It's got armor, can turn a normal car into a pancake, and guns that can take down a small bridge. It's a tank." She said.

As Ron scooted himself forward to talk to his daughter, he noticed her movement. It looked like she was partially trying to back further into the chair she was sitting in.

"Lara, are you scared of being around me?" Ron asked her.

"You promise not to get mad at me?"

"I promise."

"Then – yeah. I do get scared around you sometimes." Lara said and quickly looked at the book. "Now you're mad at me."

"I'm not mad. It isn't the first time I've heard this either."

"From Mom?"

"I've heard it from your mother, from Dick, Wade, Hannah, not to mention several members of the League. What I'm doing is – complicated."

"Not to mention a little bit nuts."

"I never said it wasn't. In order to do it, I have to be scary. I try not to bring it home with me, it just doesn't always work."

"Are you doing this because of what happened to Grandma and Grandpa?" Lara asked.

"It was at first. Then something happened that made me want to fight for everyone else."

"What was it?"

"I think that's a story for another time when you're older." Ron said.

"Hey. You know I'm,"

"Technically, you're only one year old." Ron said, causing Lara to remain silent. "When I think you can handle it, I tell you what happened to me. For now, let's go to bed." Ron said.

"Okay. Can I take this with me if I still can't sleep?" Lara asked as she held up the yearbook and turned off the reading lamp.

"Just be careful with it." Ron said.

"Okay. Night, Dad." Lara said as she left the study and went back to her room.

Ron sighed as he sunk into the chair. He should get up and head to his own room, but his body wouldn't let him. The ache and fatigue was keeping him from moving, and it looked as if he was probably going to be sleeping in the chair that night. His eyelids were getting heavier as let himself lean into the soft cushions and his head begun to lull to one side. Ever since the black mercy had jogged his memory from that awful night, he light there was a strange battle inside of him. In his mind, he kept debating what he was going to do when he found Chill. His brain and his heart kept saying he was going to bust him and bring him in by the scruff of his neck. Yet another part of his soul was telling him that he would beat the man within an inch of his rotten life and then strangle him until his neck snapped like dry spaghetti. He couldn't do that. He wouldn't do that. If he let himself cross that line he had made, then he would be no better than Chill. He also knew it wouldn't stop at him. Every time he would go out into the night, he'd find another face to take his wrath out on and then another. In his mind the debate continued over and over again. For a moment, it felt like his mind and his soul were actually arguing with each other. It was like they were two different entities that were fighting for dominance. In fact, he swore that they even had voices. And the voice that was fighting for revenge had a voice like it came from the grave itself. Almost as if it were a menacing ghost or spirit that was trying to possess him.

"Boss? Boss, are you awake?" Oracle's voice asked rather loudly.

Ron's eyes bolted open as he sat up in the chair. Oracle's voice was coming from a watch that was strapped to his left wrist, a new prototype that his company had in the works. According to the time, he had only been asleep for an hour. At least an hour's worth of sleep was better than none.

"I'm here Oracle. What is it?" he asked as he let out a yawn that threatened to dislocate his jaw.

"We just got something on the burner phone. You might want to get down here."

"I'm on my way." Ron said and quickly made his way through the door hidden in the grandfather clock and jogged down the steps two at a time. In no time, he was standing beside Oracle as she looked at the data on the main monitor. "What is it?"

"The phone got a message from another burner. I was able to trace it, and it's coming from the army base on the other side of Gotham City. It came from the office building."

"Haven't several combat weapons gone missing from there recently?"

"Good memory. The GCPD busted a few crooks that had enough firepower to take down a couple of armored trucks. The numbers on some of the weapons lead back to guns that are supposedly accounted for. They tried to find out where they got the hardware, but they wouldn't talk."

"That means the supplier is on the inside; probably high ranking officers. How many are stationed in Gotham?"

"A few. Out of all of them, this one sticks out." Oracle said as she brought up the picture and file of a high ranking colonial. He sported the typical army haircut while his face looked grim and his eyes were as cold as steel. It only took Ron a few moments to glance at the details in the file before he saw what Oracle was talking about.

"I'm heading there now." Ron said.

"You want me to contact Kim?"

"It's late, even for her. I'll handle this myself." Ron said.

"Just don't go overboard." Barbara said and noticed the look Ron was giving her. "You're a nice guy, Ron. I just don't want you to do something drastic."

"Barbara," Ron said as he face softened. "Nice men don't have any rules; that's why they're nice men."

"What does that mean?" Barbara asked, partially fearing the response he would give her.

"It means that when I find Chill, he's going to find out why I have so many."

TIBET

Six months had passed but it seemed like it had been longer. Thanks to Yori and her connections with alumni from the school, he was able to secure transit from Japan and make his way to the sanctum of the League of Shadows. The trek had been brutal and almost unbearable as he had to look for clues to the League's location and push his mind more and more in order to figure out where to go. After a month of searching, he finally had made his ways into the mountains of Tibet and stumbled upon the League's stronghold. The building was large, ornate, and almost looked more like a holy temple than the home of a group of vigilantes. Once here, he was surprised to be greeted by none other than Andrea. She explained that in order to gain an audience with Ra's Al Ghul, he would have to prove that he was worthy of his attention. In order to do that, he needed to prove that he was worthy to be apart of the League by "auditioning" as she called it. That meant he had to fight Andrea and survive.

From that moment, everything about her had changed. She had been holding back her true skill the whole time she had been in Japan and beat the ever living snot out of Ron. She had broken several of his ribs, dislocated his shoulder, broke his nose, two black eyes, and came close to fracturing one of his orbits. Somehow, Ron still fought back and didn't back down. He was able to beat her when he found a gap in her stance and had managed to land a kick to her ankle, a swift and hard blow to her temple, and direct kick to her diaphragm and a chop to the collar bone. When she stood back up, almost as bruised and bleeding as he was, she simply bowed and smiled. That night, his training began.

She was serious all the time and wouldn't let up. Everything she and the other members of the League pushed him to his limits and beyond. It wasn't just in the art of hiding in plain sight or fighting, they also trained his mind to see what wasn't there and connect the dots. Everything Ron did was full emersion into their methods and studies. In five months time, he was able to not only take on Andrea but many others as well. Every part of him was now a skilled warrior as his senses were on constant alert. In order to rest, he learned how to take micro naps when he could. So now, here Ron sat in meditation and waited patiently. He was sitting out on a small deck outside of the building with his shirt removed as he sat in the lotus position. The chill of both the wind and snow bit at his skin, but he was doing everything he could to ignore it. Like they had trained him to do, he let his mind focus so the environment around him wouldn't become a distraction. So far, it was working. That's when he heard the footsteps approaching. He listened to them without moving and smiled. The way the person moved and the weight against the floorboards told him exactly who it was.

"You can come in, Andrea." Ron said aloud.

"I've lost count at how many times I've told you that Andrea isn't my real name." the young woman said as she entered.

"I know, Sandra." Ron said, emphasizing her real name. "But to me, you'll always be Andrea." He said as he noticed she was dressed in black with a kitana sword attached to her belt. "Is it time for another lesson?"

"No. It is time for your final test." She told him.

"Who will be testing me this time? I thought I had beaten all the masters." Ron said as he easily remembered the frustration on several elder League members' faces.

"Ra's Al Ghul himself will be administering this." Andrea said, causing Ron to look up. "You've finally proven yourself worthy to have an audience with him."

"Great." Ron said.

"I thought you'd be more excited."

"Just a few things have been on my mind."

"Anything you want to talk about?"

"I'm sure its nothing."

"Ron, if you need to say something then just say it." she said.

"I've been asking the same question over and over but no one gives me a straight answer. What does the league do to bring justice?"

"Whatever it takes." Sandra said as her stature became stiffer than usual. "You better hurry. You don't want to keep Ra's waiting." She said as she abruptly turned and left.

Ron continued to dress and ready himself, remembering the metal gauntlets he had earned from passing one of his earlier tests. As he slipped them over his forearms, Ron couldn't help but feel that the league was not what it appeared to be. His suspicions had grown the more he learned and trained with the League but hopped it was nothing. It wouldn't have been the first time he had seen danger everywhere when he learned about risk assessment from his father when he was still in high school. Ron shook off for now as he finished dressing and met a waiting Sandra out in the hall. Once he saw here, she motioned for him to follow.

Ron knew the entire building well and knew exactly and had developed a pretty decent map inside his head. In the center of the building was a rather large room where the students gathered to learn from time to time. It was also where the higher ranking members would often meet as well. He didn't know what they discussed, but he had overheard them every so often when they were having a heated debate or argument. That was when the uneasiness had truly started was when he had heard their voices during on of their meetings. The tones of the master's voices alone had unsettled him enough for him to debate whether or not he should leave. This also made him think of his lover that was escorting him and how she had lied to get close to him back in Japan. Like then, it didn't add up. He just prayed that when he met Ra's Al Ghul, he would finally get some answers.

"Through here." Sandra said as they entered the large room.

Every time he entered the large meeting hall, he was dazzled by what he saw. The entire room had to have been at least three stories tall with stunning red pillars with gold basses supporting the massive domed roof overhead. The roof itself was covered in finely detailed murals that depicted epic events through out history. The floor was made of marbled mosaics that were so polished and seamless that Ron felt he was walking on a mirror. Large windows that stretched several feet high overlooked the mountainside while the walls have detailed carvings of various creatures in Tibetan mythology. In the room were also at least a dozen people that were dressed in ninja garb from head to foot as they stood along the room's entrance. In front of a large window at the end of the room was an ornate chair of wood and gold with a fairly large man sitting in it. The man had no hair and was of obvious Eastern ancestry as he stood to his feet.

"Approach him and he will begin your test." Sandra said to him.

Ron began to approach as he kept a close and watchful eye on the room and the people that stood in two lines along the wall. Something was off about them, but he couldn't see what yet. Ever since he began training here, his eye for detail had grown as well as his intuition. He then turned to the man who stood ahead of him as he wore a green tunic and a simple pair of pants and sandals. Ron made sure to look at him carefully and didn't take his eyes off of him as he came to a stop two feet from in front of him.

"You have come far, young Stoppable." The man said. "Your final test will prove if you are worthy to be a member of the League of Shadows. To do so, your will must be as strong and unbendable as the mountains themselves. Are you ready?" the man asked.

"I am, but I was told that Ra's Al Ghul would be giving me my test." Ron said and saw the bewildered look on the man's face as well as a small twitch.

"I am Ra's Al Ghul."

"No, you're not." Ron stated.

"You have never seen my face until now. How do you know I am not Ra's Al Ghul?" the man demanded.

"You're too stiff and ready for a fight. The same stance a soldier would take while waiting for an order from his commanding officer. Your face twitched when I called your bluff. A true leader of so many would know and have long accepted that things never go according to plan and gained a certain level of patience."

"That proves nothing." The man firmly stated.

"True, but there's also something else I've noticed. Everyone talks about Ra's Al Ghul like a fellow soldier or a friend. From everything I've heard and seen, it's led me to believe that Ra's Al Ghul wouldn't just stand aside and watch a fight unfold. He's someone who stands and fights alongside his men. Someone like that wouldn't stand over them like a noble that thinks they're better than everyone else. Which means the real Ra's Al Ghul is one of these ninjas."

That's when the ninja to Ronald's right began to slowly clap as he stood out from the formation. He approached Stoppable with confidence as the large man in front of the chair stiffened and took a deep bow. The ninja removed his mask to reveal a man in his seventies with salt and pepper hair and a white mustache goatee. A broad smile spread across his face as he stopped in front of Ron.

"Very impressive. I've lost count at how many times initiates have often believed that Ubue is the head of the League of Shadows. I am Ra's Al Ghul." He said. "I noticed you had been eying me when you came in. May I ask why?"

"There are six people to the left and six to the right. You made it thirteen, making yourself stand out. I'm guessing you were trying to give me a clue." Ron said.

"Actually, it was a slight mistake on my part. No one is perfect." Ra's said as he removed his gloves and tucked them into his belt.

"This can't be my final test. It's too easy." Ron said.

"No, it isn't. Your final test awaits you below. All of you are dismissed for now." Ra's said as the ninjas took a deep bow and left. As they left, the large man and Andrea took their place at either side of the ornate chair as Ra's walked to it. He grasped what looked to be a strange creature at the top of the chair and pulled it backwards, seeing it open to reveal a simple button. As soon as he pressed it, the floor vibrated slightly before a large circular section began to slide down in pieces and create a spiral staircase. "Walk with me, Stoppable. We have much to discuss."

Ron followed Ra's, Andrea, and the large man down the stair case as various lights illuminated the staircase the lead into a deep underground cavern.

"You have come a long way since Yori informed us of your arrival at Yamanuchi. I would have thought the training of your mind would have taken longer given your previous laid back nature."

"What can I say? I was motivated." Ron said.

"Indeed. How much do you know about our organization, Stoppable?"

"Only what Sandra has told me."

"Allow me to further your education. The League of Shadows has existed since the time of the Crusades; when Richard the Lion Heart waged war against the Muslim Turks in a vain effort to reclaim Jerusalem. During that time, men slaughtered innocents in droves in the name of their God, their King, or whatever else they believed in. The survivors of those atrocities chose to fight back in order to restore a since of order in a time of chaos. Ever since then, the league has adopted the methods and techniques from cultures all over the world in order to do what was needed to restore the balance."

"You're starting to sound more and more like vigilantes." Ron said.

"That's how many have seen us through the centuries, but that is not what the League is. We raise ourselves from the ashes of our despair to be something more. When you are a man, you are mortal, can be killed, and then forgotten. We have learned that if you forge yourself into an ideal or a symbol; then you become something more. This has been my belief since I founded the league."

"Founded? You just said,"

"What I am about to show you will help you understand." Ra's said as they approached the bottom of the stairs.

They soon entered a large underground cave that was unusually warm. As the lights illuminated the massive cavern, Ron saw a large pit that was filled almost to the brim with a strange green liquid as steam rose from it. This was the obvious reason why the chamber was heated and incredibly humid.

"What is this?" Ron asked.

"This is what I call a Lazarus pit. It is a rare liquid that is secreted by the very Earth itself in only certain locations. Normally, the heat from a thermal vent would allow the liquid's true potential to be made flesh. Here, we've had to rely on other various heating methods such as natural gas."

"What does it do?" Ron asked as he looked at the large pool of green liquid.

"I'll give you a hint. It is most commonly known as the fountain of youth." Ra's said and noticed Ron's confused and questioning look. "It sounds ludicrous, but I assure it is true. The Lazarus pit restores youth, eliminates disease, heals wounds, and can raise the dead if brought to the pit in time or the damage is not significant. It is what has allowed me to live all this time." Ra's said as handed his sword to Sandra before removing his shirt and handed it to his servant, Ubue.

"What you're saying isn't possible."

"It is my young pupil. I have lived for so many centuries that I have even forgotten the name I was given when I was born. It has allowed me to guide the League and its true potential for countless generations."

"What does this have to do with my final test?" Ron asked as he became more and more confused. Ra's closed his eyes and took a slow deep breath before looking at Ron again with reluctance in his eyes.

"There are certain side effects to using the pit. There is a brief onset of madness for whoever baths in it. One can easily be returned to their senses with a slight use of force. However, I have noticed over the decades that my prolonged exposure has affected my mind in other ways. I fear that one day; what will emerge from the pit will be something that I no longer recognize. It has made me realize that soon, I must allow myself to die and leave the League to a worthy successor." Ra's said. "Out of all my pupils, you are the one that shows the most promise. Your final test is to kill me in battle and become the new head of the League of Shadows."

"What?" Ron asked, shocked at what he heard. "I can't kill!"

"This is a test that every member of the League has had to pass. To prove their commitment to our cause, they have had to eliminate a target. If you have any hope of leaving this cavern alive, you will have to kill me and become the demon's head."

"No." Ron protested. "There are other ways, other methods." Ron objected.

"I see Master Sensei has passed his own ideals onto you, Stoppable. You must face facts. In order to restore the balance, there must be certain sacrifices."

"I'm not going to let my soul be one of them! If I kill, I'll be no better than the man that killed my parents or the bastards that let him walk free!"

"Stoppable, this is your destiny." Ra's said as he walked backwards to the edge of the pit and allowed himself to fall backwards.

AUTHOR'S NOTE(S): Thanks to everyone who pointed out my mistake with Andrea's name. By doing so, you helped inspire me to write this chapter into what it is. Thank you.