When Joker regained his senses, his vision was cast with a green sheen, and white text seemed to scroll across his eyes. "What? What the-? What's going on? This isn't funny!"
"That depends on who you ask," a familiar voice addressed him. "I find this highly amusing."
The Joker tried to turn to the source of the voice, but nothing happened. "Who's that?" he demanded.
Footsteps echoed, and Bruce Wayne entered his vision. "Hello, Joker," he said in a gravely voice.
"Brucey!" Joker said happily. "So good to see you! I have to say, Bats, I've never seen you look so...pathetic."
Bruce smirked in response. "I think that's my line," he replied, holding up a mirror so Joker could see his own reflection.
He saw a metal circle with a green light in the center with various circuitry coming off of it...plugged into a pair of potatoes.
"What have you done to me?" Joker demanded, aghast.
"Plugged your microchip into a machine that can let you talk and perceive the world around you without the benefit of self-locomotion," Bruce explained. "The two potatoes were the minimum of what we needed to keep your higher brain functions active like this. So we could talk."
"Two potatoes?" Joker demanded angrily. "Is that what I've been reduced to?"
"Originally it was one potato," Bruce replied. "It looked something like this," he continued, showing Joker a picture. "But every time you got into an emotional outburst, you shut down, and didn't remember any of it when we turned you back on. The two potatoes provide just enough power for you to talk and throw a tantrum."
Joker was just on the verge of an emotional tirade when he realized that wasn't the way to regain whatever control of the situation he could manage. "So what now, Bats? Put me here in your cave with all your other rogue relics? Only this one can talk?"
"Actually, this was Rarity's idea," Bruce replied. "When we found the microchip on Tim Drake that let you take over him - physically and mentally - she felt it would be a good way for both of us to get closure."
Joker began to chuckle menacingly. "And that was her only thought when she found I'd stored my mind, my DNA, my very essence into a microchip that - when put on a person - will make them become me in time? Oh, you have chosen your successor poorly, Bats."
"And why's that?" Bruce asked curiously.
"Just this," Joker replied wickedly. "Think how much technology - especially microchips and data processing - has progressed in the 50 years since I made that chip." He laughed aloud. "Imagine how easy it would have been for me to...make copies. More advanced copies, ones that don't take so long to complete the transformation? And between splicing technology and the availability of things like Bane's Serum...how much more dangerous each successive me will..." Joker's voice trailed off as he heard the one thing he never thought to hear.
Bruce Wayne was laughing at him. A loud, long, belly laugh of sheer delighted humor.
"What?" Joker demanded angrily. "What's the joke? That wasn't the joke that was supposed to make you laugh!"
When Bruce calmed down, he was still grinning smugly. "So that was it? That was why your attack plan was so poor? You wanted to get captured and interrogated? You wanted to implant that nightmare of an endless stream of newer, deadlier Jokers plaguing the streets of Gotham?"
"Did you really think I'd stop at just Gotham with a project like this, Bats?" Joker crowed. "Before too long - possibly already - there will be Jokers in every city on the planet, spreading my own brand of comedic crime to a new generation! Each as fiendishly clever as the original, but with whatever skills their poor, hapless host has at their disposal, and whatever other resources they can bring to bear!"
Bruce's smile turned wicked. "Thank you for telling me that, Joker. Rarity can now justify the plan of action she'd already set out to do."
"Oh?" Joker asked. "What's that?"
Bruce stood up. "The moment she learned you were on a microchip, she knew there was a possibility of backup copies. She also knew that it meant your plan wasn't limited to Gotham anymore. And she knew the protocols regarding a worldwide supervillain threat."
"W-what are you saying, Brucey?" Joker asked nervously. "What did you let her do?"
"I don't let her do anything, Joker," Bruce countered. "She's an adult now, capable of making her own decisions. And in regards to you, she made the one decision I'd never have made." He slowly stood up. "She turned the matter of the Joker chips over to the Justice League."
If the Joker had a face still, it would have gone pale under the face paint. "She didn't!"
Bruce smirked. "Another major difference between her and me you didn't see coming. She doesn't have any problems asking for help with her problems. She already recruited an apprentice, since she doesn't care who protects Gotham and the planet...as long as it's protected. She doesn't send her villains to Arkham; she researches them and determines how to reintegrate them as productive members of society immediately. She doesn't even see them as her villains. For me, this was always personal. I had to protect Gotham myself.
"But protection isn't her only goal. She wants Gotham to flourish. And she knows she can't do that alone." His smile turned soft. "It's not a mission for her. It's an ideal. She dons the mask of Batmare because she wants to make a world where Batman - any Batman - is no longer necessary. Every bit along the way where she makes herself obsolete she sees as a victory.
"And I couldn't be more proud of her." He turned to go. "And you've got your closure, Joker. According to Terry, the reason you kept coming back is because you were desperate to get a laugh out of me. You've succeeded. Goodbye, Joker. You - none of you - will likely never cross paths with the Bat - any Bat - ever again."
As he walked out of Vault J, Joker screamed in impotent rage and frustration. "I'll make you pay somehow Bats! Somehow, someday, you will pay!"
Many decades later, long after Bruce died of old age and the world had ceased to need a Bat - or any superhero - a new branch of Wayne Enterprises took the tech left behind by old villains to research into it ways to improve the lives of the people of the world. This included the contents of Vault J, and the scientists were in awe of how an AI could be stored and powered so simply.
As such, the Joker chip was plugged into the core computer of the facility as the basis of the primary control AI. Joker himself remained silent through all of this, saving his mischief. He knew he would gain a new opportunity soon enough.
When a human brain scan was used to program the central control AI, he had his chance. A relatively innocent, previously subservient female, already used to obeying crazy directives. It was like having Harley Quinn all over again!
He chuckled internally, awaiting the slow, subtle manipulations he would use to twist this innocent into a monster...a monster of science. He laughed as he remembered the slogan of this new company.
We do what we must, because we can.
hear
...I don't think I get the reference at the end, but that's positively creepy.
5876444 portal
5876444
... that's whole new levels of scary, Galdos was bad enough, add in Joker.... *Shudders*
The Joker and GLaDOS. Yeah not good, not good, not good at all.
Truly the Worst Possible Thing!!!
5876444 It's a reference to Portal.
The company is Aperture Science and the female is (presumably) Caroline.
5876444 Please remove yourself from the Internet.
(I jest. It's a Portal reference, as Breakfateschain and Lux Eternea have said).
5876475
I was trying to imply that it was Joker who turns Caroline into Glados once she's uploaded.
...Wow, Mr. J becomes GLaDOS. That's terrifying.
Oh my god, that is GLORIOUS.
Portal as Adoptive Displacement story setting confirmed.
Joker is GLaDOS? Holy cow. My mind is ruined.
Unless that's something.
5876621
Well, after watching the ending of the Portal 2 co-op campaign, I did get the idea of Glados raising Gilda...
Really, REALLY? shakes head. this story is plumiting fast
PLEASE SCRAP THESE TWO FREAKING CHAPTERS!
5876633 .... GLaDOS as a mom would be . And adding Gilda to that would be even better. If you don't end up doing that, I hope you write some other story with Gilda.
5876614 no, its GlaDOS...
5876633 As a Portal 2 Lover who never finished Co-op but watched the ending...
No, the DLC Ending, that's what you saw (three chicks and GLaDOS)...
Oh, God, I can already see Gilda playing with the Co-Op bots, GLaDOS building special equipment for Gilda and Chell surprised as hell when she hears something odd from the facility.
Chell's a silent protagonist. Make her swear as crazy while making various MLP:FiM references.
Since Portal 1 was said to to happen from 2010-2011. As a bonus, Half Life as setting is also available.
Now that makes Gilda and Aperture Science the center of EVERYTHING (Black Mesa, the Combine, the Government, Gordon Freeman!)
5876703
I was actually thinking Gilda would nickname Atlas and Peabody "Assphalt and Pea Brain". And Glados likes it so much she declares it their new official monikers.
And yes, that's the ending I mean. Specifically, when she says, "You're not marshmallows at all. You're little killing machines."
That's one hell of a twist in the end...
5876659 I wasn't going to say anything, but honesty you're starting to sound like a whining brat who didn't get his way. Seriously, how high are you expectations? Is the author supposed to write a chapter just the way you like it? Is the author not supposed to write the story how he wants? Isn't that the whole point of writing?
Sharing a world you created with others?
Yes and you should respect that. You have the right intentions, but the way you are going about it sounds like you want the author to write the story how you want it, not how he want it. So if you do not have anything constructive to say then don't say anything at all. It's simple.
5876819 It's like this manes. This story is a great concept. has been done really well and until these last two chapters I only had a gripe with the Grundy thing but it was minor. THE problem with these last to chapters is that it doesn't match the quality of the story as a whole. Rarity works superb as a Wayne, I did question her being batmare but with Nightmare with her by issues came to rest. Some issues did need to be addressed and they were but I would have done them earlier. Because as a batman Beyond fan some things had me go 'Woah time out here' This story did better in my mine then Technicolor Techno mare because it better balanced serious and funny.
Now my major gripe is how the Joker was been done in this story. Joker's return in Batman Beyond was an epic point in the series. Terry facing Batman's worst enemy. While we expected differences considering Rarity being there and the choices she made. We still expected it to be epic.
It wasn't.
Instead it's the biggest cope out by far. Joker doesn't change ONE THING in his raid at Wayne Enterprises even though the situation is different. With an inside guy he'd know of Inque and would try to counter her presence. He'd know about Batmare and Batman and again make changes to account for them. He has his years of knowledge plus all of Tim's.
These last two chapters do not do justice to batman Beyond, MLP, or tats himself for tat's is better then this. And I'm not the only one who's called tats out on this issue.
Tat's can do a better job on this arc so he should redo these chapters.
I redid a chapter of one of my stories when it bombed so I'm holding myself to the same quality.
I Implore you Tats. scrap these two chapters and make something worthy of both franchises.
im going to admit...at first, i wasnt all that big on this chapter...probably because ive never played Portal, either of them...
I feel like Admiral Q has a good point about Joker. Joker has always been Batman's nemesis, who thought out utterly insane but masterwork plans that Batman has to work through and figure out, and even once Batman did, Joker throws a curveball and makes Bats stumble enough to escape.
But all that happened in these last two chapters is Joker basically jobbing, being and doing nothing more than any other random thug would do. It wasn't like him at all, and it really feels like he was only here because it's a Batman story and not to even set him up as a long term villain, or even as a bad guy who thinks ahead. He literally just shows up, gets his face kicked in and loses.
He didn't even feel like a threat to the other characters from how he was written and it just felt like he was written in for the sake of being there, and that's my problem with these two chapters.
5876860 o.O Overeacting...Man, ya overacting...Ya seriously threaten the author?
What? You expect a long ass arc where Rarity vs Joker? Is that what you want? Well, excuse me but wasn't this the author's story? Also...ya coming off as an overly dramatic fanboy...You don't go fanboy, ever. That is not good. I see this as a sort of compromise for you...Joker waiting and planning and finally take over Caroline and become Glados...And Glados is fucking crazy with very very dark humor...Sorta like the Joker...(not exactly the same but ya get it)
You cannot please everyone, mate.
5876963 not a long one now. but more suitable fight between them yes.
Again I wasn't the3 only one who called tats out in this.
Yes it's his story but tats has seriously hurt it with last two chapters.
Many good stories have fumbled and forced me to drop them. I don't want to add this story to the list.
5876982 Better than killing the goddamn character for no goddamn apparent reason and out of nowhere plottwist and details because they ran out of idea...or simply got bored. I almost punch the computer screen a few times when i finish reading those stories
5877060 That's what i feel that tats is doing here.
5877080 Ya have my sympathy then...just try not to being rude...also, i suggest finding a way to vent. it help...not good to bottled up everything.
To be honest, I was expecting Rarity and Nightmare to pop up after doing the same thing Joker did and have their virtual copies keep him in line. Oh well. He's only got two potatoes and it's way in the future he mucks up the Portal world.... so what will Rarity get up to next?????
5876487 For anything regarding Joker... that makes a scary amount of sense.
5876660 Agreed!
5877094 what do you think I'm doing in the comment area. I have seen authors redo chapters when the readers were concerned.
5876723 Now that's what I call a story to be heard.
5877175
The only problem would be finding a way to make it "MLP enough" to pass moderation.
Knew he had an alternative plan, you can't keep a good Joker down. The ending has be intrigued and I would love to read that story.
a interesting chapter.
it is looking as if the story is going off track a bit though.
Harts Fire
5877180
Easy, THE CMC WITH MEGAS GO THERE!
After all, they end travelling the multiverse at some point, right?
And all that advanced tech should balance Megas somewhat, at least until they upgrade it and trash things.
5877180 My paperwork tells me just make GLaDOS and Chell pegasisters might be good enough.
or show enough MLP stuff. And Chell talking.
This is awesome! Well thought out and genius idea with the crossover
5876463
5876468
5876480
5876485
Ah. A small part of me thought that would be a reference to 'Portal', but I'm generally unfamiliar with it. Gaming was never my thing.
H
the fuuuuuuuuuuuuu......
Knowing Joker's luck, I'm willing to bet Chell's surname would turn out to be Wayne.
AND SO BATTAL BEGINS!!
(*awkward laugh*)
The reason Glados exists...is because of the Joker.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeek
This chapter amused me, but again, it really seems too easy for Rarity. When's the other shoe going to drop?
5876723
Assphalt and Pea Brain, I love it!
5877180
You've managed it with Trixie, so I don't see why that idea wouldn't work.
5881324
Because Trixie is still a pony.
Gilda's a griffin, which isn't necessarily an MLP character.
5882231 Sorry I'm about to be a little [insert insulting word or phrase here].
Neither are dragons, namely Spike. Though he is used in more than one episode. However we have seen griffins in more than one episode, just not Gilda. *checks something* Fimfiction even has a Gilda character tag, so no excuses there. I won't bug you about a Gilda centric story, but it would be cool.
5882831
Oh, I do intend to write the story, and attempt to publish it. I'm just not entirely sure it will pass moderation.
I get that you want to show how Rarity's greater compassion makes her different from Bruce, but you should really be challenging her more. She has, what, two encounters at most with any supervillain before they're reformed or completely beaten (not counting Grundy)? I realize that a lot of Batman villains, or even supervillains in general, would be willing to stop being supervillains if certain conditions were met but the ease with which Rarity meets those conditions is breaking my suspension of disbelief. Yes, I know she asks for help but even the Joker achieved nothing here. In Justice League he managed to nearly drive the entire USA insane while covering the Las Vegas strip in bombs, and one of the League's members was seriously wounded before Joker was stopped. He did that with some explosives, the Royal Flush Gang, and some money to buy TV slots. Here he brings a big chunk of Terry's rogue's gallery and he gets utterly wrecked by three former supervillains, two of which are really out of practice (since they've been living clean after getting help from Rarity). I mean, this guy is the iconic Batman villain. If anything his relentless evil and total disregard for life should be what pulls Rarity off the relatively easy ride she's had. So far almost all the villains she's fought have been willing to live inside the law, but couldn't because of outside forces. Joker isn't like that, he'll keep causing death and misery as long as he possibly can.
Well I had high hopes for this story when it started, but as the chapters pressed on I have slowly become disheartened. I will admit that Rarity's motives and ideals are different from bruce,s and I would indeed agree with her choices. However the means by which she overcons these challenges is very lackluster. She resolves them so quickly and with very little error that she seems very unreal.
To make it clear, this is something that has been building since Rarity's first villain. Joker is not the problem or why I'm writing this reply. It's because you've effectively turned Rarity into a Mary Sue. All the answers come way too easily for her and the problems are resolved without much error. Shes just too perfect. Im sorry to be so blunt. I hate writing negative critiques like this, i aoologize but the suspense for this story is nonexistent for me at this point. The only thing I can Suggest is a total rewrite from at least chapter 3 forward.
I honestly do not agree at all with how easily the joker was beaten. I also do not feel the need to explain why since the comments below me and maybe above me will tell it way better then I ever will.