Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2002 19:01:13 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight 47 Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Scary!! People actually get a glimpse into my mind!!! Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox. Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros. X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. Harry Potter, Hogwarts, and all related characters created by J.K. Rowling. Copyright Scholastic Press, Inc. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life, you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this. I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with. Part of his background is mine. I do hope that you enjoy it!!! Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks. jmsotc@yahoo.com Chapter 47 Return to Madness Exhaustedly I approached the Council of Watchers base of operations. I had traveled all night and finally arrived at my destination. The sun was rising in the distance kissing a new day good morning. I reached the door and it opened, in front of me stood young Harry Potter. His eyes widened in disbelief. I smiled at him and collapsed. I woke up in my room having no idea what time it was or how I even got here. I looked around noticing the sun was well into the afternoon. I stretched and climbed out of bed. I still felt tired, but not what I had been. After all I'd been through I could have probably slept for a week. After showering, I dressed and went downstairs. The lounge was empty to my surprise, so I looked around. Sounds from the outside caught my attention and I went through the back. In the yard around a white outside table sat Queen Hyppolyta, Quenting, Jayce and Albus. Harry was off in the distance enjoying the nature. "Good afternoon," Quentin greeted. "Thank the goddess you are alive," Hyppolyta said. "We believed you perished in the explosion." "No. My mutation protected me, although it has been affected, possibly permanently." "You are not as strong as you were?" Jayce asked. "No. I'm back to my normal power, if not a bit weaker. Although my powers do kick in pretty easily when my emotions are running high. "I'm glad to see everyone else is alive. I trust things we well outside." "They did," Hyppolyta answered. "The spell was a great success. Macai was trapped in his book and the remaining vampire of his army scattered like sheep from the wolf." "Where is the book now?" I asked. "Safe," Quentin replied. "That is all you need to care about." "It was a great battle," Jayce continued. "And thankfully for us, Excalibur showed up to help us battle the demons." "Speaking of Excalibur, I should return the sword to them." "You will have a chance tomorrow night. We are holding a victory celebration. It is not every day that an apocalypse is averted." "Unless of course one lives on a hellmouth," Quentin replied with a smile. "How is Harry?" I asked looking at him standing by a tree. "He seems a bit distracted," Albus answered. "I'm not sure why." "I think I may know. If you will excuse me." I walked away from the group and headed toward Harry who was leaning up against a tree. As I neared, I felt my mutation go into affect. I could sense what Harry was feeling. My molecules could feel whatever molecules his axons and dendrites were firing and reading. He was upset about something. Was it my return so unexpectedly as if the dead had come to life? Or was it the battle with Macai and his vampires? I had no idea what Harry had gone through in the past so anything was possible. "Hi, Harry," I said with a smile as I approached. Harry turned to me. "Hi, Eric." "How are you doing?" "Okay," he replied and turned back to the pond. "Something's bothering you." It was more of a statement than a question. "What is it?" "Nothing." "You can't lie to me, Harry. I can sense you are upset. And it is okay to be upset. Not everyone feels fine about everything. No one is brave all the time." "But, everyone will think I'm a coward. 'Harry Potter, the boy who lived, is a coward.' I'd rather not get that reputation, thank you." "Because you are afraid of something? You shouldn't be upset by that. We all are afraid of things in life. That is what makes life challenging." "I doubt you are afraid. You've been dead twice. You are a mutant and you wear a costume that makes others afraid of you." "Ah, but I am afraid, Harry. I have great fears that would take control of me if I let them." "Like what?" "Like never seeing Lance again. The whole time I was in England, which was about three months, I had a fear I would never see Lance. Well, the times I remembered Lance. But the point is that I was afraid I would never see someone I loved so very much again. That is a great fear. The fear of never being loved so much." "I suppose," Harry replied as he sat down. I sat down next to him in the grass. "What is it that you are afraid of? I told you one thing I was afraid of. It is only fair you tell me." "Well, I was really afraid during the spell. I didn't know what to expect from an immortal demon. I thought he would kill us all. Then I saw the vampires, and I had never seen a vampire before. After that the explosion and you not coming out...well, I thought we would slowly dwindle in numbers." "Those are all fears that are valid. I was afraid, too. I thought Macai would be the one being to keep me from Lance. He couldn't be stopped by me. I had no control over what happened to me. If it hadn't been for you and Professor Dumbledore doing the spell, Macai would still be free." "But you were the one who weakened him. Professor Dumbledore and I couldn't complete the spell without you weakening Macai." "I wasn't able to weaken Macai on my own. He was beating me in the fight. It was only when I realized I had God's love on my side that I was able to face off with an immortal demon toe-to-toe and come out victorious. I would have died had it not been for God's power. I was afraid, though. "People can be brave and still be afraid. In most cases, it is dealing with fear that makes someone brave. I had to do that when I realized my sexual orientation. Many of my thoughts and beliefs were challenged when I realized something in my life was different and I had no power to change it. Was I a sinner and going to hell or did God not exist and the Bible a lie? In my mind it had to be one way or another. "In one hand, there was a Divine Being who loved and cared about me. But something that I was inside would prevent me from ever seeing this loving Being. On the other hand, I was okay now, but where was that great love. Where would I spend eternity after I died? In my mind it was a one way or another situation. I couldn't have part of each. I became very afraid and shut down for a while. I lived as though it was my last day on earth and my next step would take me into eternity. "But, as I went through all of this, I fasted and prayed and talked with God. God was made very real to me. Once I accepted I couldn't change who I am, I still prayed and God was still there. Just by God being just as real to me then as before, I knew that God did not have a problem with my sexual orientation. If it was so wrong, why would God continue to be real to me?" "God wouldn't," Harry answered. "Exactly. But since God was still so close, I knew I wasn't sinning and I wasn't an evil person. I was merely different from so many believers. Different doesn't always mean bad. It just means new ideas, new thoughts and opinions, a new perspective and new feelings on any given subject. It can be a very good thing. "But I had to work with my fear and work through my fear to come to a place where I could accept me just as I am and love and be who I was meant to be. You can do the same." "I don't think so," Harry said shaking his head and looking away from me. "Why not?" "I'm not meant to be a great hero like you." "Heroism is not something someone is ascribed to. Nor is it a word that I use to define myself. I do whatever I can to the best of my abilities. Sometimes I fail. Sometimes I succeed. I let others believe me to be whatever they will. "You already have a reputation of defeating a very powerful, evil wizard. It wasn't something you planned on doing. It just happened. Now you have a reputation and people who want to be associated with your reputation. Many have elevated you to a certain height that you don't ascribe yourself to. That is something they need to deal with. All you need to do is live your life the best way you know how doing what's right in your heart. History and humanity will be the ones to put whatever label they want. It is not a fear you should bother yourself with. "You are going to be okay, Harry, even with your fears. Because what fears come in your life will be the ones that help shape and mold you into the wonderful person I know you will be." Harry looked back at me with a tear in his eye. "Thanks, Eric." It was all I could do to keep from crying, too. "You're welcome." Harry leaned over and gave me a big hug. I held him for a few minutes as he sobbed and cried and made a life choice. He truly was going to be alright. After we settled our hearts and quieted our minds, we stood up and walked back to the patio where the three adults were talking quietly. "Where's Quentin?" I asked. "He had an urgent message from the Queen," Jayce replied. "I hope nothing is wrong." The door opened and Quentin exited with a rather grave look on his face. "What is it?" I asked. "Jervis Tech has escaped from prison." "Jervis who?" Harry asked. "The Mad Hatter," I replied. "Do the bobbies have any idea where he may have gone?" "No, but they are certain he will be going after the royal family. "I'll suit up and head over," I answered. "You should really get something to eat first," Jayce replied. "The Mad Hatter would be insane to try something during the day." "Especially with the guards increased already. At night it would be more advantageous for him to attack." "Then I will go tonight." As the sunset, I pulled on my Bat-suit, hoping it would be the last time for me in this country. As much as this trip had been interesting, I really needed to get home. I wanted to go home. I needed the rest and I needed Lance. I walked down the stairs to be met by Jayce. "As far as the country knows, Batman is dead," Jayce replied. "It might be a good idea to stay to the shadows and not let anyone see you, including the Princes. It would distract the young men and you if you had to take time explaining your resurrection." "Don't worry, Jayce. I plan on finishing this quick." Harry came running to the foyer in his bathrobe and bare feet. "Good luck," he said giving me a hug. "And don't let the fear control you." "I won't, Harry." I turned and left the castle. As I walked to the edge of the mountain the castle rested on, I looked out to the city below. It was a city just like Los Angeles, just like Orlando, and tonight it needed a protector. Tonight, it needed Batman. I pulled up my grappling gun and shot a line to a tree below. Then, jumping off the ledge, I swung down through the woods toward downtown London and my face-off with madness. To Be Continued...