//------------------------------// // Prologue: A Surprise Visit // Story: A Fearful Joke // by TheClownPrinceofCrime //------------------------------// The moon was shining high in the blood red sky while all the streets in Gotham were busy as usual. Only this time, it would be more than usual; flocks of people were gathering together at a special event not far from Wayne Enterprises. Just right in front of the Gotham Museum, there stood a platform where several individuals were getting ready to present before a large number of people. A middle-aged man in a grey suit grabbed the microphone and lightly tapped it. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! Tonight is a night of discovery that none of y’all shall ever forget!” After the people cheered in excitement, he continued speaking, “It is with immense pleasure that I present to you a unique exhibit that is not like any other exhibit you’ve seen before.” He motioned to two people next to him to show them the object. “I present to you...the Scepter of Healing!” he shouted proudly once they removed the cloth covering it. People stared at the scepter in awe. “Originally created in Japan during the ancient times, this lustrous relic was used to dispel fear, disease, and illness. Over the centuries however, it soon lost its power and outlived its usefulness. Thus, it has been left forgotten and abandoned. But thanks to our brilliant explorers, it has been re-discovered! And with the help of billionaire Bruce Wayne, who is here with us, we can fund this beautiful treasure for the good of Gotham City!” The people clapped their hands after he finished while Bruce simply stood there smiling. Barbara Gordon was also there with him. “Is it possible that the Scepter of Healing could restore its so-called power to heal people again?” a news reporter asked. “Only time will tell. For now, we shall add this rarity among the other exhibits. I know for a certainty that future generations shall learn of this relic and be benefited by it!” the museum manager replied. “And so will I!” a sinister voice called out. At that moment, gunfire blared everywhere. People started to scream and run as multiple gunmen approached the platform, aiming their weapons at the manager. As they focused their attention on the fear-stricken manager, Bruce and Barbara silently slipped away after nodding to each other. Once the man held his hands up, the infamous Clown Prince of Crime approached him with his signature evil smile on his face. He jumped in front of him and playfully grabbed his chin. “Knock, knock!” “Uh...(gulps)...hi?” the manager nervously grinned, shaking. The Joker then scowled at him. “You’re supposed to say ‘Who’s there?’! Such an uncultured swine.” He instantly sprayed joker gas at him before the victim could say anything. After coughing violently, he began to laugh uncontrollably. Joker casually kicked him off the stage. “Well, that was an awkward greeting. Oh, Harley! We hit the jackpot!” The said jester backflipped over to the stage while squealing in excitement. “We did it, Mistah J! We finally have the scepter! Now we can do whatever we want with it!” Suddenly, Joker grabbed Harley’s fools cap which forcefully pulled her to him. “Nah, ah, ah, kiddo, we wouldn’t want to start the party without our newest playmate, remember? No peeking at the birthday present,” sang Joker, wagging his finger. Then he pushed her head away. “Yes, puddin’. Sorry about that,” Harley apologized, nervously smiling. Without warning, two batarangs struck at the podium which caught Joker’s attention. He saw Batman and Batgirl descending upon them with their grappling hooks. Joker then smiled brightly. “Oh, goodie! Just when things get spicier as always! Send my biggest fans my warm greetings, boys! HAHAHAHAHA!!!” Following his order, his goons opened fire on the bat-heroes. However, both of them jumped out of the way and used their capes to block the bullets. Batman punched one goon on the jaw before he sucker-punched the other; Batgirl grabbed the third goon and threw him against two more thugs, knocking them unconscious. Batman dodged a punch from the last thug and then punched him several times until he fell down unconscious as well. Seeing his henchmen defeated, he grabbed the Scepter of Healing and signaled his own helicopter to pick them up. “Well, I would love to kiss and make up with you, Batsy, but I have a rendezvous to attend to. Toodles!” he waved. Just as the helicopter arrived and lowered its ladder, Joker and Harley climbed up aboard and then went their way. “What does Joker want with the scepter anyway?” Batgirl asked. “We are about to find out,” Batman replied. He shot his grappling hook at the chopper’s tail, pulling him toward it. Batgirl followed along as she did likewise. A few minutes later, Joker’s helicopter hovered over an abandoned warehouse. The moment Joker lowered the ladder and stepped out, Batman tackled him and ended up falling down through the roof of the warehouse. Meanwhile, Batgirl loosened her grappling hook and jumped down through the broken roof. Joker groaned as he got up from the floor. “You really know how to make a clown happy, don’t you? Hehehehehe! Here, let me give you a hand!” As Batman was getting back up, Joker shocked him on the back with a joy buzzer. “AHHHH!” Batman yelled. Then Joker kicked him across the room where a table full of chemicals was stationed. Before Batman could get back up, he was struck by a figure wearing a trench coat, cowboy hat, and a noose around his neck. “Feeling dizzy yet, Batman?” Batman looked up and saw Scarecrow staring at him with soulless eyes and exposed teeth. “Crane.” “Look what I got, bag head! Looks like the Tooth Fairy has been good to us! Hahahahaha!” Joker wheezed. “Wait, what?! You and Scarecrow are actually working together?” Batgirl asked, flabbergasted. “Precisely, my dear,” Scarecrow replied, holding his small staff. “You see, the scepter wasn’t just capable of dispelling fear. It was also able to disperse it. Of course, that uncomfortable detail didn’t sit well with the scientists who re-discovered it years ago. So they hid the truth and claimed it was only able to do healing and nothing else.” Scarecrow scoffed at the mere thought of it. “It’s amazing how fear can blind people. It’s why I love it. Without fear, there is no power.” “Save the monologue, Crane. We’re taking you both in. It ends now,” growled Batman. “Wanna bet?” Joker mischievously grinned, holding the scepter. Batgirl suddenly jumped on Joker and grabbed hold of the object. “Get off me, you little brat!” Joker growled. Both fighters were then in a tug-of-war situation as they were struggling to retrieve it from the other. Meanwhile, Batman threw a batarang towards Scarecrow who swatted it away with his staff. Then the Dark Knight punched the villain on the stomach several times until the latter struck his stomach with his staff, earning him a groan of pain. Once he sees Joker and Batgirl pulling the scepter from opposite ends, he runs to them and joins Joker to pull it from the heroine. Little did the three of them know that a hidden small button was on one of the emeralds of the scepter. Batgirl unknowingly pressed it, causing the trinket to glow brightly. The brightness caught their attention. “What the...?” “Huh? What is this?” “Whoa!!” “Batgirl, NO!” Batman shouted. But it was already too late. The brightness shook the room until it exploded into nothingness. Once all the noise died down, Batman was left alone with Batgirl, Joker, and Scarecrow mysteriously gone. This left the Batman surprised. “Ughhh...oh my...huh? What the heck? Am I dreaming or something?” Joker wondered. Scarecrow likewise opened his eyes and saw that they were on top of a green hill under the bright sun. He looked left and right and realized they were no longer in Gotham. “What manner of trickery is this? Where did that scepter bring us to?!” Scarecrow indignantly asked. “What are those creatures over there?” Joker noticed, pointing at the distant locals. Both villains saw the multi-colored ponies in a town just below the hill they were standing on. “Hmm, it appears we are in a different universe. But how is that possible? Legends never once spoke about the scepter being an inter-dimensional instrument as well,” Scarecrow reasoned. As Joker was thinking about the predicament they found themselves in, his confused frown then turned into a sadistic smile. He looked back at his associate. “Crane, old boy, I have a lightbulb in my brain! We have just discovered....our new playground.”