Queen of Illusion Part 8 and Epilogue PG13

[Batgirl]

Part 8- The Alpha of Omega

Disclaimer: Don't own any one but Mirage.

Recap: A mysterious lady is bored with life and Barbara's in an accident. (P1) Barbara has an unpleasant hospital stay. (P2) Barbara is home and can't get out. A visit to the cave is disastrous and the lady seeks out the Joker. (3/a) A new villain is born in Gotham. (3/b) Mirage has made her first strike leaving the Dynamic Duo clueless. (4/a) The Mirage has made her second strike and goes to the fair. (4/b) Robin finds himself in a hot spot. (5/a) Robin finally meets Mirage. (5/b) The trio lays in wait. Mirage experiences some difficulties reaching the orb. (6/a) Mirage gets the orb and Robin is kidnapped. (6/b) Robin awakes and Alfred leaves the manor to check on Barbara. (7/a) Alfred makes a startling revelation and Mirage lets Robin go... (7/b)

**********************************************

The corridors of Gotham City Hall were empty. A lone spotlight illuminated the dark passages. Underneath it a brilliant green sun blazed. A gentle breeze blew and a soft squeaking echoed through the halls. A hand shrouded in black slipped into the orb's sanctuary. The green sun was engulfed in darkness and like its mistress, slipped into the night. A white leaf fluttered to rest on the pillow that once was the throne of the final orb of flight. A gentle breeze passed through the halls, then all lay still once more.

********************************************

The three knights burst through the entrance of City Hall and froze. Before them lay the empty tomb of the lost treasure. The cock above them began to chime a quarter to twelve. Sirens blared outside and squad cars screeched to a halt. Batman looked out to the streets and sighed bitterly. Mirage had all five and there was nothing he could do about it. For the first time in a long while, the hard, bitter reality of defeat struck the Dark Knight. He hated it. In anger he turned to go.

"Batman wait" It was the voice of his youngest protegee, Robin. He shot a sideways glance at the boy who was staring straight ahead.

"What is it?"

"I dunno" The boy's eyes were fixated on a small piece of white that was just visible from their current position. Nightwing slipped among the shadows to it.

"It's a note" Nightwing replied as he picked it up.

"What's it say?" The knight thundered. Perhaps it was a clue...

"Greeting Knights, I assume that you have many questions for me. By the time you read this I will be on my way to the Iceberg Lounge. There I will hand the orbs over to my employer. A man you know well Batman..."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Robin asked curiously. Batman shot a harsh glare at the boy and Robin shrank back a bit.

"Let him finish and we might find out" He snarled irritably.

"Sorry"

"My meeting with him is at midnight tonight. That's when the exchange will take place" Nightwing read on, undaunted by the interruptions. The one who employs me is-"

"Who is it?!" Robin cried out anxiously.

"Who is it?!" Batman barked angrily. Nightwing fell silent a moment, turning pale.

"The Joker" He replied softly. All three knights were silent. This was bad. Anything that had to do with that clown meant trouble... and lots of it. "That's who he is"

"What?" Robin looked at him curiously.

"Last night, she said that he'd kill her if she talked! That's who he is! It's the Joker!" Nightwing explained quickly. The Joker wasn't one to be taken lightly.

"What else does it say?" Batman demanded, his mind racing.

"I know our meetings have been less then friendly, but I also know that he is a dangerous man. I know the only payment I will receive from him is blood... my blood. I am telling you all you need to know. Perhaps we will meet again? Signed Mirage" Nightwing finished and then looked up at his esteemed mentor. "Now what?"

"Nightwing, take the back alleys and side roads, anything to get you there. Robin you're with me" Batman replied firmly. He looked up to the unseen clock. "What time is it?"

"Five to twelve" Robin said quietly.

"Let's go. We haven't got much time" Batman thundered. As if to confirm him, the clock on City Hall began it's five minute warning.

********************************************

Mirage landed outside the doors of the Iceberg Lounge quietly. Her bike was a few blocks away. She glanced around nervously and checked the time. Three minutes to twelve. The lady took a nervous breath and tried not to think about what she was doing. She began to pace back and forth, hoping that by perhaps some miracle the knights would be early. Mirage began to go over her plan once again in her mind and tried to foresee the outcome. If they were early, the timing was off and she'd either die or get caught. If they were too late... A cold shudder ran down her spine. She didn't like to think about death, especially her own. A near by clock chimed the hour. Mirage jumped, completely taken aback by the noise. She took a deep breath and looked at the building before her. The woman could feel the eyes of Death watching her. Now was the time, there was no turning back. She could almost hear death whisper her name as she climbed the steps. A trembling hand reached for the door. Mirage remembered boasting to Nightwing that she feared nothing... but she did. She feared discovery. She feared death. And most of all... She feared the Joker.

**********************************************

"I told you she wouldn't show" Mr. Cobblepot said in his matter-of-fact tone. The Joker paced wildly in front of the man's desk. The meeting was in the "conference" room. While he was Mr. Cobblepot, a refined business owner on the outside, he was still the lowest of Gotham scum, the Penguin, on the inside.

"She'll be here... she promised!" The Joker snapped in a whiny tone.Penguin laughed in a loud, mocking laugh.

"Promise? And since when have you trusted a crook's promise?"

"This one's different. She's new and somewhat naive. Good for business" The Joker replied nervously. Penguin smiled sourly.

"We'll see. Are you sure she's naive? She's got five very pretty, very expensive trinkets and she knows where to get a good price for them. You mean to tell me that you aren't the least bit worried?" Penguin sneered in slight disbelief.

"Of course I'm nervous you pea brained flea bag!" Joker roared angrily. Harley and the three stooges, who happened to accompany him, flinched. They didn't like to see the Joker lose his temper. "But I have a plan if she skips out... I'll hunt her down like the dog she is and I'll- I'll-"

"You'll what?" A cold, feminine voice challenged. The newcomer caused everyone in the room to start. Penguin nearly fell out of his chair from the shock and the Joker whirled around. A figure emerged from the darkness.

"You came!" The Joker couldn't hide his delight.

"I promised, didn't I?" Sarcasm dripped on each word.

"Well... yes" The Joker said uneasily.

"I always keep my promises" Mirage said coolly. A brief silence filled the room. For once even the clown was quiet. Penguin eyed the mercenary.

"Who are you?" He asked with a hint of sarcasm. He never cared for newcomers.

"Mirage. Pleased to meet you Penguin. I've yet to be in the presence of a classier villain" She answered sweetly. The bird straightened up at first, as though shocked to be called his "other" name, then he let out a delighted chuckle. Perhaps the girl was smarter than they thought...

"Very pleased to meet you my dear. You're an absolute charmer" Penguin said gleefully. She was beautiful... but not his type. "Are you any good?"

"I outsmarted the Bat and his crew. You decide" Mirage replied smartly. Penguin chuckled again with delight. He liked this one. She had a fiery personality.

"Splendid. Absolutely splendid. I must say, I had my doubts but it's easy to see I was wrong" Penguin said in admiration. Joker cut in eagerly.

"Do you have them?"

"Of course" Mirage replied slyly. "Why else would I be here?"

"Good, good" The Joker cackled wildly. "Where are they?"

"Here" Mirage patted her pouch gently. Harley let out an excited giggle.

"Let's see them" Penguin said, the eagerness had crept into his voice too. He had heard about their beauty and was eager to see them in person. Mirage slid her hand into the bag and pulled out the second orb. The crimson orb shimmered in the soft light of the room.

"Look at it Puddin'! Ain't it purdy!" Harley squealed with delight. The three goons chuckled and Joker's eyes lit up with the light of discovery. Penguin nodded with approval. It was an awesome sight.

"Good show my dear, very good show. What's your price?" Penguin asked in his business mode. A mercenary this good was hard to find, and he was always open for a good deal. Mirage eyed the prospector curiously.

"I let my employer name the price and negotiate from there. Why do you ask?"

"Well, there are a few pretty items I've had my eye on and-" Penguin saw the Joker move his finger across his throat. Obviously, there was an alternative plan. He stopped a moment, knowing what it was. The bird sighed. It was such a waste of good talent... "Oh never mind... I was reminiscing about old times. You know how that goes, don't you?"

"I understand. With so much on the line one doesn't want to risk a downfall. I'm sure your customers would be devastated if this place had to close" Mirage said dryly. She didn't have to see what the Joker was doing to know what was coming. "I suppose you want to see the others"

"Yes, yes. Of course" Penguin said quickly. It was as if something else had suddenly crossed his mind. Mirage removed the first orb, which was a deep ocean blue. Then the third, a royal purple, the fourth, a glowing amber, and finally the fifth, which was a lush green. The lady placed them in order and stepped back to admire her handiwork. The room was silent.

"Incredible" Joker breathed quietly. "That money is as good as mine. Even Thorne couldn't have done better!"

"For all they're worth, you should jack the price up a little higher. It's a simple case of supply and demand. He's got the demand and you, dear Joker, have the supply. He'll give you whatever you ask" Mirage advised casually.

"Thorne will pay big, that's for sure" Joker mused giddily. Harley trotted up next to him and squealed in delight. "Just think Harley, we'll be rich!"

"I better pack these up. We don't want any unfortunate accidents to happen, do we?" Mirage asked flatly, although it had a bit of a sarcastic bit to it. All eyes were on the woman as she put the orbs into her pouch again.

"Harl, call Thorne. Tell him that I have the orbs and-"

"Pardon me but- I think you're forgetting something" Mirage hissed coolly. The clown looked at her curiously, an odd smile on his face.

"What's that?"

"I still have the orbs" Mirage said coldly. She didn't want to bring it up, but there was no way to avoid the subject of payment. So, since it couldn't be avoided, she might as well go down looking good. The Joker frowned.

"Oh... I see... You want your, um, payment" Joker replied flatly. He looked down and scratched his head. Mirage nodded. "Okay"

"You're not the only one who needs the money" Mirage growled firmly. He looked at Harley Quinn, who drew back and whispered something to the goons. They chuckled again and stared at her. She ignored them and kept on. "I want to know when I get paid"

"I can pay you now" The Joker looked up, a dangerous grin on his face. Mirage cringed inwardly and braced herself for what she knew came next.

"That's impossible. You won't have the money until Thorne pays you for the orbs"

"Well, I happened to do a little string pulling and came up with your payment" Joker replied, delight mounting in each word. The goons slowly began to mobilize. One took the door, the other two the window. The two mutts appeared out of no where and located themselves under the second window. If someone tried to use it they'd take them down quickly. Harley blocked off the emergency exit. Mirage glanced around nervously but held a poker face.

"What do you mean payment?"

"It's not polite or wise to raise your voice against me, Mirage. I'm in control here" The Joker growled intensely. A shadowy figure began to dissolve in the rooms shadows. Mirage caught her breath as she realized who it was... Death.

"Hey clown, I asked you a question" Mirage said boldly. It was time to get down to business, game time was over. Penguin turned his chair around.

"I just had these floors washed today. Do what you must. Just don't get blood on the tiles" Penguin said snidely. Mirage glared at the chair's back.

"You should give more respect to me" Joker hissed, enraged at her boldness.

"Should. Could. But won't" Mirage snapped back. The Joker clenched his fists.

"Then be that way. Pay her Harl" He growled angrily. Harley Quinn grinned and slipped a gun from one of the many hidden pockets. Mirage gulped softly. The apparition of death became more visible. A long, black robe, pale skin, glowing eyes. His short blond hair was spiked and partially covered by a hood. He held a long, oak walking stick in his hand. He didn't look happy to be there.

"You sure Puddin'?"

"So, this is what it all boils down to?" Mirage asked bitterly. Harley moved forward and Lar covered her former position. Joker leaned up against the desk and Penguin turned around. He had to see the execution. Mirage decided to play dumb. "You planned this all along. You were never going to pay me! You just used me as a puppet! I got the orbs, you get the cash. That's how it is, isn't it?"

"Of course. Did you honestly think I was going to pay you?" Joker sneered in delight. Mirage backed up a few steps until she reached the center of the room. The only way out was up, through the skylight. Mirage knew she'd never have time to get out her pen, and even if she did, there would be no way she could avoid every bullet. While the female clown wasn't known for being too smart, she was know for her shooting accuracy. Harley stopped several feet in front of her.

"I told you that I overlook things sometimes. I thought we had a deal. I actually decided to trust you" Mirage tried to think of other things to say. She had to buy some time. There was no way to make the sky light.

"That was your mistake. Never, ever trust any one in this business. Unfortunately you won't have a chance to learn from this experience" Joker laughed cruelly and a grin formed on Harley's face.

"Just say when Mr. J"

"You'll regret this Joker. I promise you that. You will regret this" Mirage growled fiercely. The Joker shook his head, the confident grin still on his face.

"I always keep my promises" Mirage replied coldly. Penguin chuckled softly. She still was a fighter to the last. He had to admit, he admired her.

"Well, I must say this had been fun but I'm afraid I have to call Thorne and arrange a meeting. It's been so nice working with you Mirage" Joker sneered cruelly. "But I must be going. Finish her Harl"

"Right away Mr. J" Harley chirped her key line and raised the gun. Mirage gulped visibly. Harley cocked the hammer back. Mirage stared at the gun. This wasn't quite the way she had always seen herself dying. Alone, surrounded by the enemy. A bitter smile crossed her face. She didn't even have a chance to say good bye to her father. Nonetheless, this was it, her final moment. Mirage took a breath and stepped back. The trigger slowly began to depress.

[Susie]

**begins to look around desperatly for the rest of then post** Where is it!?!?!?!?!?!?!

What a horrid place to leave off! I really would like to see the rest before I bite all my nails off.

[Panther]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*takes deep breath before pasing out*

Don't stop now! keep going - trust me, you've got a bunch of fans on the edge of thier seat - except me casue I knocked my chair over when I got to this cliffhanger. BTW - maybe you should rename this story 'Queen of Cliffhangers

gota go

[Batgirl]

A peal of thunder rocked the conference room and glass showered everywhere. Harley's finger froze in its tracks and every one looked up... just in time to see the Dark Knight, Boy Wonder, and Nightwing coming towards them. All three landed perfectly around Mirage and met the expressions of shock with narrowed eyes. A grin of triumph and relief crossed the Mistress's face. Her eyes wandered to the shadows, where her friend Death, had been waiting. He smiled at her and nodded with approval. For now she had been able to cheat him, but oddly enough, he didn't seem to mind. He took a step back and dissolved in a silvery cloud of mist. It took a moment for the Joker to realize what had just happened, then chaos broke loose and reigned freely.
Penguin lifted his jaw off the ground and sprang to the desktop, shouting angry and waving around his umbrella like it was a sword. Bud and Lou hunched over and began to growl fiercely. The gun slipped from Harley Quinn's hand and clattered to the ground, her jaw open from shock. The Joker fell over and began to crawl backwards. Mirage whirled around and prepared to take on the mutts. They crouched and sprang forward. Batman growled loudly and charged at Penguin. Lar, Cur, and Mo let out several wild whoops and stampeded towards the small group. Harley shook her head and cleared her mind, then she dropped to the ground to retrieve her gun. Robin thought quickly and interceded for Mirage. He smiled slyly, let out a war cry and charged the raging jaws of death that were hounding the Mistress. Lou flew off of the lady's back and sent Bud into the wall. Both landed and shook their heads. Then they turned on their new target: Robin. Mirage slipped next to Nightwing. He looked at her, the three stooges, and at her again. She smiled and nodded. They stepped forward and then sprang apart. Mirage completed a hand spring and went into a flying kick. Nightwing completed two front flips before a final spring and rolling into a ball.

"Get them you idiots!!!" An enraged Joker yelled at the top of his lungs.

"I've got a bone to pick with you Cobblepot" Batman snarled bitterly, while simultaneously avoiding the umbrella's sharp point.

"Say all you want- uh- you'll never be able to pin this one on me! My days in Arkhym are over!" Penguin snapped while jabbing at the elusive Bat once more.

"Watch out for those jaws Robin! They're killers!" Nightwing called over his shoulder while making contact with one of the goon's gut. He flipped backward and went into a defensive position.

"I already- OW!- knew THAT!" Robin yelped loudly as Lou's jaw clamped down on his leg. Robin scowled in disgust and brought both palms onto the back of the mutts head. Lou cried loudly and released.
Harley stood and stared at the wild scene before her. The Joker stumbled to his feet, his blood clearly above boiling point. His usually white face was now a fair shade of pink. How did he find them? He left no clues, he had behaved, there was no possible way to- The Joker thought a moment. Wait this was Batman, he didn't need a reason to find him, he just always... did. Harley cast a sideways glance at the clown. She visibly gulped.

"What do I do puddin'?" She wailed in distress. He scowled angrily at her.

"Whadya think you should do?!?!" Harley looked at him blankly. He sighed irritably and his expression went flat. "Don't just stand there! SHOOT 'EM!" Harley thought a moment. Joker growled impatiently. "Well???"

"Ok" Harley chirped brightly. Joker moaned and shook his head while rubbing his temples. She could be so incompetent sometimes... Harley looked around the room for a target. Her eyes locked on the only other female in the room and a dangerous grin slipped across her face. Nightwing was having a wonderful time distracting Lar and Cur, while Mirage pranced around Mo. A beam of light glistening off a piece of medal caught Nightwing's eye. He spun around and saw Harley slip from the shadows several feet away from Mirage, whose back happened to be turned at that moment. Mo chuckled menacingly and dropped back into the shadows. A look of confusion washed over the woman's face. There wasn't much time... Nightwing bolted towards the two women at full speed and quickly went into a series of graceful flips, barely touching the ground with each spring.
Mirage spun around and stepped back. Harley Quinn grinned wildly and snickered. She raised the gun to chest level and prepared to pull the trigger... A wall suddenly appeared before her and her target. Nightwing stared at Harley, eyes narrowed and filled with stubborn defiance, as if he was daring her to pull the trigger. Mirage glanced at him nervously. He had always been an acceptional knight, but his courage and loyalty to his duty at this particular moment truly impressed her. After all she had put him through, he was still willing to defend her- at the risk of losing his own life and he didn't even know her secret. Guess that's what being a hero is all about... Mirage thought with a bittersweet smile. Harley smiled dangerously, accepting the young knight's challenge. She pressed the trigger and the gun went off with a loud bang.
A yellow flag popped out of the gun's barrel with the word BANG in big, red letters. All three looked down for a moment in surprise. Mirage bit her lip and held in overwhelming urge to burst out laughing. Harley stared at it a moment, then looked up with wide, very worried eyes. Nightwing glared at her coldly and let out a very loud, intimidating growl. Harley grinned sheepishly and let out an uneasy chuckle.

"Heehee. Wrong gun..." She said weakly. WHAM. Nightwing slammed his fist across into her gut and sent her flying backwards. She hit the ground with a loud thud. Nightwing scowled bitterly at her and rubbed his fist. Mirage quickly wrapped her arms around his neck affectionately and leaned against his back. Nightwing didn't have time to react and his eyes widened for a moment. He briefly wondered if they had been set up.

"My hero" Mirage cooed softly into his ear. She gently pressed her lips against his cheek and released her grip, sliding back. He blushed deeply and grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I owe you one handsome"

Mo growled intensely, charging at them full speed. Mirage caught the hazard out of the corner of her eye and quickly followed it's path. He was headed straight for Nightwing, with only seconds to spare. Mirage bit her lip, her mind racing. A smile suddenly slipped across her face. She daintily slipped over a few feet and pulled Nightwing with her. Mo went thundering past, almost trampling Harley Quinn, and slammed face first into the wall. Nightwing snickered a the stooge's mistake.

"Consider your I.O.U paid" He quipped to her softly. Mirage smiled shyly and turned away. Cur and Lar had noticed their friend's plight and had finally chosen to come to his aid. Both rushed towards the knight and lady. Nightwing went back to his 'business' mode. "Here they come. Watch your back"

Nightwing lead the attack, diving into the two. They hit the floor in a turbulent mass of fists and punches. Mirage raised an eyebrow. She had always admired his persistence... She readied herself to join the dog fight when something else caught her eye. Harley was in the corner, near the exit closest to the kitchen doors, and frantically speaking to Mr. J. He looked pretty upset and surveyed the room. Then he signaled and both made a full retreat out the door. Mirage growled fiercely and looked around. Nightwing could hold his own, he had before and obviously didn't need the help now. Batman was having an all out brawl, which was rather amusing and, under different circumstances, would have been fun to watch. The last hope, Robin, was still tied up with Bud and Lou. If the Joker was going to be captured, Mirage would have to do it herself. Her eyes narrowed and Mirage bolted toward the kitchen, grabbing her pouch on the way out. There was no way that she'd let them get away that easily...

****************************************************

The Joker and Harley Quinn raced through the kitchen, barely avoiding some obstacles in their way. This was bad. This was really, really bad. The Bat had interrupted his meeting and he lost the goods and reward money to boot. Not to mention he now had a one way ticket back to Arkhym. His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed in anger. He couldn't figure it out. The Bat should never have found him. He had laid low and even been on 'good' behavior...

"Keep going Harley, there's still a chance we can- URGH!" A small loop secured itself around the Joker's ankle and he went down. Harley skidded to a stop near the entrance to the back alley and stared. Joker slammed into the ground hard and turned to see a very angry Mirage at the end of the rope that was now conveniently lassoed to his ankle. He whimpered softly and started clawing at the ground as he slowly moved backwards. "Harley! Pumpkin! Honeykins... DO SOMETHING!!!"

Harley thought it over a minute, trying to remember the last time he had covered her tail end in an escape. It was no surprise when she couldn't come up with one. Now it was pay back time. A slow smirk slipped across her face. "Sorry Mr. J, but like ya said, every man for himself! Or shall I say, every woman. Haha, see ya!"

"HARLEY!!!!!" An enraged Joker howled loudly. He watched as his girl made a mad dash through the exit and turned to face his current problem. He reached into his pocket and felt the hilt of a small boxing gun he carried 'just in case'. It looked like he'd finally have a chance to use it. He looked towards the exit and growled menacingly. The little brat... he'd take care of her later. "You'll pay for this!!!"

"If I were you, I wouldn't be worried about Harley Quinn at the moment" Mirage hissed coldly, now only several feet away. The Joker tried again to claw the floor, but all his efforts were in vain. He prepared to use his only available opinion. Mirage continued to reel in her catch. "I'm sure you two will have plenty of time to work it out... in Arkhym"

The Joker froze. That voice, that phrase... He turned and looked at her, as if for the first time. Something dawned on him. It was something Harley Quinn had mentioned earlier and something he found quite attractive. Her eyes. Those pretty blue eyes. He had seen them before. His eyes narrowed and he clenched his teeth. It couldn't be. At that moment, a shadow from the other room drifted through the doors. It cast Mirage into complete darkness... save only her eyes.
It was his shadow... and cast her in a perfect silhouette. A howl of rage escape his throat. Losing to him was hard enough, but to lose to her, that was unacceptable. The others would never let him live it down. He withdrew his weapon and fired. Mirage ducked to the side quickly, barely avoiding the red glove. She growled intensely. Joker pulled a small dagger from his pocket and lunged at her. She ducked behind a rack of stacked pans and faded into the darkness around them. Outside, the grinding of a stalled car could be heard. Mirage grinned and looked towards the exit. A little gum in the gas tank never hurt an escape... WHACK! The knife landed an inch away from her head and Mirage turned back to stare into the cold eyes of the Joker.
She gulped softly. Sweat poured down the lady's face as she waited for his next move. His breaths came in deep, heavy gasps and his eyes were smoldering with an intense fire. This was normally too close for comfort in her mind and at this moment it was waaaaay to close, especially when he was in this mood.

"You" He hissed, the word dripping with wrath. Mirage narrowed her eyes. It looked like her game really was over. She drew in an uneasy breath and indiscreetly felt around behind her. She needed help and she needed it now. "I can't even begin to describe how much pain you'll be in by the time I'm through with you"

"Really? I'm absolutely shaking" She sneered bitterly. The Joker drew back the knife. He smiled darkly and the room filled with a blood curdling laugh.

"You have no idea how much I'm going to enjoy this" He raised the knife and prepared to deliver the final blow. "Pity, such a waste of beauty and talent. You know they're really going to miss you"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that" Mirage smiled slyly and slammed a frying pan across the side of his head. The clown dropped to the ground and the dagger clattered to the tiles. Mirage kicked it and watched it spin into the wall at the opposite end of the room. His arrogance was always his downfall. She quickly hog tied and gagged the clown, then turned towards the door. There wasn't much time, but there was still work to be done. Even if it cost her her secret, she was going to finish the job.

*******************************************************

"Come on you stupid car! START!!!" Harley Quinn yelled desperately as she tried to start the engine for the umteenth time. Again the engine whined pitifully, sputtered, then finally died from too much stress. She moaned loudly. "Noooooooo!"

"There's gum in the gas tank"

"Oh thanks" Harley chirped brightly. Suddenly she looked up, realizing that she was supposed to be alone. She gulped. "Uh oh..."

"Guess today's not your lucky day" A voice replied coolly. Harley turned in time to see a pair of black boots coming her way. Her hand flew to the door handle and pulled. She let out a loud yelp as the boots made contact and she hit the now open door, rolling onto the street. Mirage somersaulted over the seat and landed in a crouch on the pavement, inches away from Harley Quinn. The clown whimpered and backed up nervously. Mirage glared at her coldly and slowly rose to her feet. "You know, that wasn't a very good idea"

"What wasn't a good idea?" Harley asked with a nervous giggle. Mirage started to move forward slowly and Harley continued to crawl backwards, only a little faster.

"First, double crossing me, then running. I really hate it when people decide to change their plans and they don't tell me" Mirage informed her enemy coldly.

Harley kept moving until her back hit the wall. A loud whimper escaped her lips and she glanced at the approaching figure with terror. Escape was a must. Mr. J wasn't too happy with her a the moment and when they got back to Arkhym... She really didn't want to think about that. Mirage stopped, several yards in front of her and stared her opponent down, her blue eyes lit with the fire of wrath. Harley stared into the fiery blue depths and trembled. It was then that the feeling of familiarity dawned on her. The eyes, those cursed blue eyes. She had seen them before. Many times in fact. She knew something wasn't right from the start. Anger began to seep through her veins. It would explain how Batman had found them... Harley felt her blood begin to boil. No one made a fool of her... no one. Not Batman, not the Joker, and most definitely not this brat.
Harley's eyes narrowed and a dangerous grin slipped across her face. Mirage eyed her enemy warily. Prior experience had taught her that the female clown was up to something. Harley carefully pulled a knife from the kitchen out of one of many hidden compartments. A rule of thumb was always carry an extra. She smirked at the figure before her.

"No... you don't understand. This is not a good idea for you" Mirage gave her an arrogant, unimpressed look. Harley slipped the knife into her palm.

"Oh? How so?"

"You see, I know something you don't" Harley positioned herself to move. Mirage gave a bitter laugh and folded her arms across her chest.

"And what's that?"

"Once you double cross someone you can never trust them again" Harley slowly moved to her feet. Mirage glared at her coldly and shifted weight. Harley was planning something... she could feel it.

"So how's that affect me?" Mirage asked nonchalantly. She brushed her nails against her vest, as if to show how unconcerned she was.

"So how's Bats gonna feel when he finds out his sweet little brat isn't on his side anymore?" Harley sneered with a dangerous smile. The smirk on Mirage's face faded and her eyes widened. Harley sprang forward as Mirage momentarily dropped her defenses. The knife came down in a swift arch and sliced across Mirage's chest. She stumbled back in shock and fell backwards, the pouch flying several feet away from her. Mirage emitted a loud cry as her head slammed against the open car door. Luckily she had put out her arm as a reflex to stop some damage. She slipped a hand to the area of impact and rubbed the sore spot. When Mirage removed her hand she let out a started gasp. Her snow white palm was now a deep crimson. Harley dove at her with the blade again. Mirage swore under her breath and slipped to her free side. Harley put out her hand and bounced off the side of her car, diving on top of the now wounded Mirage.
Mirage stuck out her wounded arm to try to push her enemy back. Harley started slashing furiously. Mirage took her free arm and slammed it into the side of Harley's face, causing the determined clown to lose her balance and fall to the side. Mirage saw her opening and swung a leg into Harley's gut, then brought her good arm down onto Harley's thick skull. Harley grabbed her knife and swatted back. Mirage swerved back did a hand spring using only her good arm. She curled into a ball and landed in a crouch on the roof. Harley charged and sprang into the air, the knife pointing dangerously at the already bruised oppenent. Mirage paused, waited, then quickly shot out her good arm and grabbed the knife bearing wrist. She rolled back and released. Harley let out a loud cry and flew over the lady's head. Harley slammed into the ground back first with a low grunt and Mirage smirked at her small victory. Then she flipped to the ground. She raced to her pouch and began to dig through it furiously. She had to stop the bleeding or she might not make it through the fight.
Harley moaned and rolled into a crouch. Her eyes narrowed and she sprang to the roof of the car. Mirage gulped and spun around. Harley grinned dangerously and dove at her enemy with the knife again at hand. The two stared at each other coldly. Harley reviewed the situation, clearly having the advantage. Mirage looked down to examine her pitiful state. Her left arm was bleeding from several wounds Harley had inflicted in her rage and the longest was from the first blow. A few scattered cuts littered her stomach, but those weren't that deep due to her arm receiving the brunt of the attack. Mirage slipped a hand to the back of her skull. The worst wound she had received was the small cut from the car door. It was still leaking, though not as bad as it had been before. Although the advantage held with the female clown, Mirage knew she could make an attack if she thought quick enough. Both attacks had flaws and strong points. Harley had the height, but Mirage had the speed. It was a matter of who would attack first.
Mirage grabbed her pouch and pulled it close, preparing to attack. As she slipped into a crouch, a strong wave of nausea and dizziness came over her, causing her to sway back a bit. Harley smiled cruelly. Blood loss made an opponent weak, and Mirage was now starting to feel it's affects. Mirage realized her only chance was to somehow bandage the wound and get the knife away from the clown. Mirage took a deep breath and then bolted forward. She sprang into three perfect hand springs using her good arm and then did a half twist, finishing in a curled back flip. She flew over the trunk, past Harley, landing several feet away from the car. Harley growled angrily and spun around. Mirage tossed the pouch to the side and slowly moved back, still in crouching position. Harley Quinn flipped to the ground, then charged full speed. Mirage dove forward and flipped past the clown. Harley skidded to a stop and turned. Mirage took her weight and flung it at the car, using the powerful motion to bank her off the car and into her oppenant.
Harley hit the ground and Mirage slid past her. Harley rolled to her feet and sprang into an ariel attack. Mirage waited patiently, then, at the last second rolled to her bad side. She yelped softly as her arm collided with the pavement. Harley slammed into the side of the Iceburg Lounge. The knife clattered to the ground. Mirage smiled and dove for it. Her hand slipped around and threw a leg into the recovering clown's gut. Mirage skillfully spun the blade to the tip then aimed. She brought her arm back in a graceful movement and flung it into a dumpster about a hundred yards away. Harley watched her last weapon fly and groaned. Hand to hand combat with this brat was never fun. Mirage turned and glared at her coldly.

"Are you going to give up or are you ready for more?" She hissed bitterly, a triumphant smile on her lips. Harley groaned loudly and glared back. A loud crashing sound filled the air and Cur flew from a now broken window into the alley. Mirage turned away for a mere second, and Harley took her chance. She sprang at her enemy. Mirage slammed into the wall back first and cried out in pain. Harley began to swipe her hand back and forth across the lady's face. Mirage cried out loudly and sent a knee flying into the female clown's gut. Harley cried out in pain.

"Don't you EVER give up?" She asked in disgust. Mirage inhaled deeply and then sent her good arm across Harley's face. Then she leaned against the wall and sent both legs into Harley's gut. Harley hit the car and belly flopped on the ground. She looked up bitterly.

"Funny... I was about to say the same about you" Mirage gasped hoarsely through ragged breaths. By now the blood loss had almost come to a complete stop but the effects had remained the same. Mirage was starting to feel a little lightheaded. Time was running out. Harley stumbled to her feet and charged a final time. Mirage calculated carefully, then sprang into a flip. As she landed, she heard a loud thud behind her. She turned halfway and glared coldly at the now unconcious clown. She slowly rose to her feet and walked over to her. A satisfied smirk crossed the lips of the victor. "You should listen more carefully the next time. Things aren't always as they seem"

*******************************************************

Robin finally was able to gain the upper hand with Bud and Lou, though it took him quite some time. He turned and decided to high tail it, with the mutts close behind. He hit a skid and jumped. They flew through the door and the hyenas crashed into a pile of dishes under a metal table. Robin grabbed a grate from a near by oven and slammed it between the table legs, creating a perfect cage. He snickered gleefully. He quickly reentered the office.
Mo was the last to take flying lessons, courtesy of Nightwing. Usually the three stooges weren't as persistent as they had been tonight. The younger Knight sighed in disgust and turned to his friend. Robin gave him a thumbs up, which caused him to laugh. Then they turned to the last battle. Batman grabbed the spinning umbrella of death and roared. Penguin started, falling back onto his chair. Batman whipped the tool across the room and glared bitterly at the bird.

"Good show Batman, now if you please. I must clean this place up. Don't want to look bad for the customers you know" Penguin sneered while dusting himself off. Batman gave a low growl and stormed towards the door. Robin looked at his mentor and trainer in shock.

"We're not bagging the bird?" Robin asked curiously.

"For what? Meeting with an old friend?" Penguin sneered with a grin. Nightwing clenched his teeth and curled his fingers into a tight ball. After a few moments he released the tension and sighed heavily.

"Let's go Robin. Our work here is over" Nightwing snapped dryly, while heading towards the door. "We already lost the Joker and Harley Quinn. I don't want to add insult to injury"

"So, why can't we take him?" Robin asked while following the two older knights. Batman shot the boy a perturbed glare and Tim winced. He hated that look.

"Because he technically didn't have anything to do with this and no matter how hard we look he's already covered his tracks. These days it doesn't matter what kind of transaction he makes, he'll always keep his feathers clean" Nightwing explained bitterly, a sour look on his face.

"He's right" Batman added gruffly. "It's useless to argue at this point. He'll have an alibi and have witnesses. He'd get off scott free"

"It's not fair" Robin muttered angrily. At that moment a thought occurred to him. "What's to stop him from complaining about his treatment tonight?"

A smile slowly slinked across Batman's face and the trio stopped for a moment. A similar grin slipped across Nightwing's face as he glanced at his former mentor. Robin stared blankly at the two, hoping that they would let him in on the joke. They started to move again.

"And say what? Joker was here tonight and was finishing up business with the latest pain in Gotham's side and then Batman showed up? Yea, that would sound real good" Nightwing said with a laugh.

"We're at an uneasy truce. We can't talk but neither can he. So we're even... Although I must say, I liked the sparring. It was almost like old-" Batman stopped in the middle of his sentence as he opened a door, stopping cold. Nightwing, wondering could possibly be so interesting, pushed past his mentor while Robin pushed open the other door. All three were staring at a table in the middle of the dining room. Outside the sirens drew near.
There, each tied up in a lovely black ribbon, were the Joker and Harley Quinn. Both were now conscious and were emitting loud, angry squeaks, which were distorted by the gags that covered their mouth. Joker was hog tied, laying on the table and Harley was tied up to the chair next to him. On a the table was a small note. It read: Greetings Knights, I thought you'd like the package I left. It's a wonderful center piece, don't you think? -Mirage. The Gotham PD burst onto the scene, late as usual. Jim found his way through the small crowd and located the knights. Although the Joker was now heading to his second home, the real prize of the night was no where to be found. Cobblepot was questioned, but no one knew where the orbs, or Mirage had vanished to. Batman sighed loudly as he and his boys headed home. He turned and looked at the night sky. The woman had escaped with the treasure, much like someone else he knew. He tried to avoid thinking about that one, but at a moment like this, he couldn't help himself. Selina would have been proud of this one.

[Susie]

I love the "Seline would have been proud line." I sure she would have been even prouder to know who it was.

I hope there's still another post. Although, I don't want the "Knights" to know who the Queen is, it would be cute if someone like Robin found out just becuase he's has such a connection with her.

Also, I think it would almost ruin it (just a bit mind you) if B-Man and N-Wing found out who she was just because I don't think they could forgive her. Well, maybe Dick could, but knowing Bruce I don't see that happening.

Anway it goes, this is still a terrific story.

[Batgirl]

Actually, there are two more posts after this. The conclusion (P8) and epilogue. And well, let me put it this way, the no one will figure it out in this story. :grins: Open to interpertation. Later.

[Susie]

So glad to hear that there's more posts...

"Not in this story" Ohhh, does that me...**dramtic pause**...sequel? **cheers** that would be great!

Anyway, can't wait for the next parts.

[Panther]

More posts? Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And wow! what a great post! I loved all the action - wonderful fight scene. Please post soon.

gotta go

[Daughterof_Evil]

That was excellent indeed! I loved the fight with Robin and the Babies, I think I was rolling on the floor in laughter, though it didn't seem too funny to him. Again, a great installation. I'm glad there's more to come!

[Batgirl]

Two shadows landed quietly on the sill of Jim Gordon's office. Jim worked silently on some paper work at his desk, with his back to the window. A gentle breeze fluttered through the room. Jim smiled and didn't bother to look up, he knew they were there. It had taken him years to get over the comings and goings of the Knights and every now and then he still wasn't immune from the shock of suddenly finding some one in the room with him.

"How's Gotham tonight?" Jim asked quietly. He glanced over his shoulder and saw two pairs of glowing eyes. The two came around the desk, but still remained covered by the shadows. Jim studied the two quickly noting that Robin was probably at home, wherever home was, and that Nightwing had accompanied him.

"Quiet" Batman rumbled gently. The figure next to him grinned slightly.

"For once" Nightwing threw in. Batman glanced at the younger knight for a moment then shook his head. Jim smiled. The boy always could find a way to get in a last word, a talent that had gotten him into some trouble when he was younger. But tonight the man's word's rang true, the eternally moving city seemed to sleep.A worried look crossed Jim's face.

"Any leads on the stolen goods?" He asked hopefully. Both knights cringed and Jim felt a large knot form in his stomach. That was never a good sign.

"Sorry Jim, but I'm afraid there was a clean trail last night. Whoever she was, she was very careful about not leaving any clues behind. There's no way to find her unless she wants to be found" Batman said solemnly. Jim sighed heavily and rubbed his temples. This was a problem. "Did the Joker or Harley Quinn say anything?"

"No, they were too busy fighting over what happened at the Iceburg Lounge. The only thing really pertaining to-" Jim paused a moment to recall her name. "Mirage, was that they both swore to get even with her. If I were her, I'd stay out of Gotham for a while" He replied, he was obviously disappointed. Nightwing glanced at Batman a moment and looked down. He felt guilty about letting his feelings get the best of him. "We'll be lucky to find her at all in any city. And I highly doubt that she'd be stupid enough to stay here"

"I agree" Batman said quietly. She had been much smarter then they had all taken her for up until now, and the chance of that letting up was near impossible. Nightwing looked away and sighed.

"I'm sorry Commissioner" He said softly. Jim looked at the young man in shock.

"For what?" Jim asked, bewildered by the knight's action.

"I let my feelings get in the way. Had I been more careful about keeping my guard up, we'd have the orbs and she'd be in custody now" Nightwing replied hotly, angry at himself for letting his guard down to a woman. Batman stared at the boy in shock. This is what he had been so depressed about the past twenty-four hours. He thought it was his fault. Jim glanced at Batman and decided to let the Dark Knight handle this one. After all, he had some experience in this kind of situation.

"It happens sometimes, you just need to let it go. I've had the same problem Nightwing, there's nothing you can do. You'll get her next time" Batman informed him gently. He knew what the young man was going through. The first time Selina had gotten away he had spent almost a week getting over the defeat. He promised that it would never happen again. That was a laugh.

"If there is a next time" Nightwing muttered dryly.

"There will be a next time. There always is. So if I were you I'd try to forget about it and-" A gentle knocking at the door interrupted Jim. He looked towards the sound curiously. "Come in"

"Hey Commish, I found this- oh, hi guys" Rene rushed into the office, holding a small black box. She seemed pretty excited about what was in it.

"What's that?" Nightwing asked curiously.

"Actually, I don't know. Well, not yet any way... It was at the front desk sir, they said that a lady dropped it off" Rene explained quickly. "There's note on top. It's from Mirage!"

"Mirage?" Batman repeated quietly.

"You read the card? You didn't even wait to see who is was for! Shame on you!" Nightwing gasped in mock surprise. Batman shot him a slightly cold look but said nothing. Nightwing smiled sheepishly.

"No, no, no. It was on the envelope, next to the little sign slash. See? It was addressed to... well, the name's covered but I thought I'd... well, here" She handed the box to Jim. He looked it over warily. "The uh... demolition squad scanned it and couldn't detect any dangerous contents. They said it's ok to open it" She informed him quickly, barely able to contain her excitement. Jim looked over the card. "Are you going to open it?"

"Actually... I'm not" Jim said calmly, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"WHAT?!?!?!"The two knights and detective stared at the man in shock.

"Well, I would open it if it was addressed to me..." The three examined the man's smiled and looked at each other in confusion. Jim chuckled softly and explained. "You see, it's addressed to Nightwing"

"Me?" He asked sheepishly. All eyes feel on the young knight. Batman glanced at his friend and raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth. He was clearly amused. This caused the young man to blush. Jim smiled warmly at the boy.

"Are you going to open it?" Jim asked gently. Nightwing scratched the back of neck and looked down shyly. Then he took a deep breath.

"I guess..." Nightwing muttered, his face still a little red. Jim slid the box to him and he fumbled it around while gently untying the ribbon. His trembling hands picked up the small card. He began to read it aloud. "To my dearest Nightwing, this shall be my final contact with the group. Gotham is a delightful city filled with some interesting characters. None more interesting then you. Strong, courageous and caring, you have truly proven yourself to be a knight and worthy of your position. Please give my best regards to Robin and tell him good bye. He's a wonderful boy, one that will someday grow into a man. Please, take good care of him for me. He has a tendency to bite off more then he can chew. In your mentor's case, well, tell him better luck next time. He must be furious. Tell him that I admire his skill and hope that perhaps we can meet on friendly terms another time. As for what's in the box, you will soon find out. I choose you to be the recipient because of all the knights, I favor you the most, this was to your victory. Though not your first, I felt that this should be yours. You have a bright future my love, guard your city well... I'll be watching. Time grows short and I must go. Perhaps one day I will return to Gotham. Good luck Detectives. Signed Mirage" Nightwing stared at the card in silence.

"Well open it already!" Rene yelped, hardly able to contain herself. Jim gave her a look of pure surprise and she blushed. Nightwing flinched and then began to rip the paper off. Inside was a semitranslucent black, shimmering cloth, shrouding several bumps. His gloved hand pushed it back gently.

"Wow" He muttered reverently. Inside five colored orbs shone brightly, showing off their beauty. A small rainbow burst from the box top and filled the dark room. The dim light caused it to shimmer, creating an almost mystical effect. All were in silent admiration. They, like their mistress, were incredible.

"It's a pity that each is separately owned. The full display would be stunning" Jim mused quietly. Rene was only able to nod.

"It'd be too easy to take" Batman rumbled softly, his eyes still glued to the gems.

"Yea, but Mirage has already proved that no matter what precautions are taken, if some one has their mind set, nothing can stop them" Nightwing replied quietly. Jim replaced the lids and gave a sigh of relief.

"That may be true, but at least I have the support of Gotham's guardians to find them" Jim said kindly. The two knights looked at each other and smiled. A thief like Mirage was rare. Batman and Jim started up a conversation and Rene left to attend to some unfinished business. Nightwing glanced around and then slipped quietly onto the ledge outside. He sat at the corner of the building, staring up into a sky filled with thousands of sparkling diamonds. His thoughts began to drift and finally settled on Mirage. He had never met a girl quite like her. She was really something. He began to wonder if she really did exist or if perhaps she was just an illusion created by his mind. The lady had appeared and then vanished,just like her name. Yet, she had seemed so familiar... Nightwing sighed heavily. Guess I'll never know ... he thought regretfully.
High above the roof top, under the same set of stars, a dark, hooded figure silently watched the young knight below. Her blue eyes sparkled like burning sapphires in the darkness. She sighed heavily and looked up.

"Farewell young knight... we'll meet again" Mirage whispered silently. She slipped her hood back to reveal a cowl. Barbara let the cloak slip over her shoulders. It swirled around her body gracefully and then settled gently. She looked down at it and sighed once more. This farewell was the hardest on her. Mirage had given her freedom, something she had loved, something that she didn't have as Batgirl. Yet she knew she belonged with the knights, and her heart in particular belonged to the one she had seen grow into a man. Barbara leaned over and cast a final glance at her friend. Mirage had also allowed her to get close to him, closer than Batgirl would probably get. Barbara shook her head and turned to go. Mirage was now only a legend, and one that no one would forget. Barbara started to walk towards the edge of the building and dissolved into the darkness, a trait that she had decided to keep. One thing was for sure, Barbara would never forget what she had learned from the Mistress of Illusion or how it felt to call the night her own...
A gentle wind blew through the empty streets of Gotham. It gingerly lifted the cloak off the ground and it sailed threw the air. From his position, Nightwing watched the sky. Something large and dark appeared out of thin air and landed on the street below. The knight swooped down to investigate. He approached cautiously and then slipped the cool cloth through his fingers. Nightwing turned to look where the lady had been. Mirage was gone, but at least now he knew she had been real, and not a deam conjured up by his wild imagination... something that he could and would remember her by.

[Batgirl]

"And our last bit of news tonight ends on a high note. The missing Five Orbs of Flight were supposedly returned last night by an unnamed source. However, Commissioner Gordon did inform us that it was the thief herself. How about that Rick? A thief returning the goods... That's a first"

"Yea Summer, you can say that again"

"All of Gotham is left wondering who this Mistress of Mystery is, and where this Queen of Illusion came from... But the real question is, where did she go? And will she ever return? It looks as if another of Gotham's infamous legends has faded into the night. This is Summer Gleason"

"And Rick Nelson reporting"

"Good Night Gotham" The face of the well known anchor disappeared from the screen as the night time programing kicked in. Upstairs the grandfather clock that guarded the entrance to the cave chimed eleven. Tim yawned loudly and sauntered up to the Batcomputer where someone was hard at work. Dick, still in his knightly attire minus the mask, leaned against the wall and gave a gentle sigh of contentment. Bruce stifled a yawn of his own and leaned against the panel.

"I'm glad that's over" Dick remarked, for the first time in the past week completely at ease. He slid up, stretched his tired limbs and then returned to the wall.

"Me... ugh, too" Tim muttered through yet another yawn. It was obvious that he was struggling to keep his eyes open but the stubborn kid wouldn't go to bed. Bruce studied the screen carefully, ready for a night's work.

"You're sure your up to this?" He asked thoughtfully.

"Oh yea"

"You're fine?"

"Never been better" Came the quick, almost sarcastic reply.

"Positive?"

"Absolutely"

"You don't need-"

"For the last time! I don't need time off! Would you stop? I'm a big girl now, I can take care of myself. Sheesh, with the way you all act you'd think I was a baby or something" Barbara said sourly. Bruce glanced down at the chair.

"Just checking" Bruce said with a small grin. Barbara shot him a glare and went back to typing. A loud thunk suddenly sounded through the cave. All eyes fell on Tim, who was now a small human pile on the floor. Tim popped his head up, eyes wide with shock, as he quickly scrambled to his feet.

"I'm ok" He said quickly. The cave erupted in hysterics, causing Tim to blush.

"You know, you should really go to bed if you're that tired" Barbara stuttered between laughs. Tim tipped his head to the side with a small grin.

"But that would be so simple!" The boy's reply caused a new round of laughter from the two younger knights while Bruce sighed in agitation.

"Too simple for you any way" Bruce muttered under his breath. Tim looked up at his mentor with his wide, curious eyes.

"Huh?"

"Nothing... So, what now?" Bruce asked, his voice dropping as the cowl slipped over his face, changing into Knight mode. A thousand watt grin lit up Dick's face.

"I'll take patrol... I kinda like the late shift" Dick replied as he slipped the cool mask over his eyes. He glanced over to the figure in the chair.

"Count me in" Barbara chimed brightly, all the while slipping her own cowl on.

"Alright! Time to-"

"And just where do you think you're going?" Batman cut in, eyeing the young boy with a slight suspicion. Tim gave him the old puppy dog eyes.

"With you" He replied, ever so sweetly.

"Uh ah"

"But-"

"You have school tomorrow"

"Aw, I never get to have any fun" Tim muttered in disappointment. Batgirl flashed an amused smile to Nightwing, who was quick to return it. She got up and started towards the bikes, Nightwing falling into step behind her.

"So... miss me?" She asked playfully. Nightwing grinned wickedly.

"Are you kidding? I didn't even know you were gone" Barbara glowered at him, sending her hand across the back of his head. Nightwing looked at her sheepishly. "Kidding... Yea, I missed"

"Oh sure" Batgirl quipped sarcastically. "That's really believable"

"I did!" He protested stubbornly.

"Oh yea, and tracking down a beautiful woman didn't distract you at all?" Nightwing was dead silent. She grinned. "Uh huh. Got ya"

"It's not like we kissed or anything" The cornered knight shrugged off his companions comment. Barbara snickered quietly. Yea sure. That would never happen.

"So... how did she get away?"

"I got caught under a statue at the museum"

"Of who?"

"No one..."

"You always were a sucker for a quick round house" Barbara mused softly. Dick looked at her a moment, a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. How did she... Unless... He shook his head. No... But the kiss... Barbara cringed and decided to distract him, giving him a playful punch- which caused him to stumble a bit. "You're a real push over, you know that?"

"I am not!" Nightwing countered, recovering from his small trip. He gently pushed her back, his deductive skills forgotten and that gnawing feeling of familiarity once again disappearing. She pushed back and before long the two were involved in a small mock fight. Batman was shooting the breeze with Tim at the moment, the two long faded from view.

"So what time do I pick you up tomorrow?"

"The usual" Tim replied nonchalantly. His mind was elsewhere at the moment. He finally posed the one question that had been bugging him since the orbs recovery. "Hey Bruce? What do ya think happened to her?"

"I honestly don't know" Bruce rumbled gently, his voice resounding off the walls of the cave. Alfred looked up from one of the many trophies in the trophy room that he happened to be cleaning. A small grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. If they only knew... Tim's voice drifted across the air.

"Do you think we'll ever see her again?" Alfred heard Bruce mutter something in reply but had turned his attention back to cleaning. He gave in and let a proud smile cross his face, if they only knew... The faithful friend and long time butler chuckled softly and muttered to himself:

"She is closer then you think young Master... I'm sure you will"

[Panther]

(snoty voice) Ahem. I believe the Cinderella Theif ALSO returned the stolen goods.

(normal voice) In the words of Batman - 'that was a laugh' (giggles). Great post!

Opps, I'd love to go own, but i gota get off line!

later

[Susie]

I really enjoyed this story and the ending was perfect. I didn't think that Barbara would be able to keep the orbs simply because, as she said, she's a Knight at heart. I do like how nightwing has some suspicion or at least a strange feeling.

Can't wait for those sequels!!! :)

[Daughterof_Evil]

Wow, what a perfect ending! But I still can't believe this story is over! The joke about Tim being "a small human pile on the floor" when he fell asleep was hilarious, and it showed just how unintentionally funny he can be. Bravo, Batgirl! That was one wild ride. Will another story follow, or are you on vacation from the writing process?

[Batgirl]

Oh yea.. big writer at heart. In fact, I'm working on the idea for the sequel currently. Panther, didn't I say Cinderella inspired Mirage? What else could you expect? And several other stories. Thanks for holding on so long. Glad you all enjoyed it.