Chapter 19

"You want to use the Tamaranean?" Barbra asked Dick as he walked down the corridor, keys in his hands. "I'm all for helping Jason, but this seems a little extreme."

"It does, and you're very just in your skepticism," Dick said as the two made it toward the door, with Artemis already standing there waiting. "But we're short on time and we need to move fast in order to stop Talia."

As Dick opened the door and walked inside the cell, Barbra stared at Artemis, trying the gage her reaction. The other heroine just closed her eyes and shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm as confused with this as you are Barb," Artemis said. "But Dick seems to be on to something. And as much as I hate to say it, when Dick is on to something, he usually has a plan."

Dick made his way over to Kori, who seemed almost as confused as Barbra over this whole matter. As Dick unhooked her restraints, she made no rapid movement to sock the superhero's lights out or blast her way out of her prison. She only moved to grip her wrists, which had been uncomfortable while restrained. As they walked out of the cell, they

"But M'gann already tried to delve into Jason's mind, and look how she ended up," Barbra said. "Even if we could go back inside, which we can't, what's the difference now."

"This time we'll be using a different method," a voice called from behind them. Turning around the group was met by a young woman dressed like se should be working on a Las Vegas strip show.

"Zatanna, why am I not surprised," Artemis said as she looked at Dick, who just playfully shrugged his shoulders. Zatanna smiled as she strolled up to Artemis and gave her a big hug, which was eagerly returned.

"Ugh, not that I'm unhappy to see you Zatanna, but why did Dick call you in?" Barabra asked.

"I can answer that," Dick said. "I witnessed M'gann struggling to gain control of Jason's mind. If a telekinetic doesn't have the power, then maybe a magician can help."

"So I was asked to perform the spell," Zatanna said. "If it can help bring Jason back, and help us find a weakness with the Shadows I say it's worth a go."

Dick and Artemis nodded in approval, and turned to look at Barbra. Seeing that everyone had their eyes on her, Barbra rubbed her face with her hand and let out an exasperated sigh.

"Alright, let's do it."

Zatanna sat indian-style on the ground between Jason and Dick and Kori, who also sat there on the floor. There was a loud muffling from Jason as his mouth had been covered with duck tape. He thrashed about in his chair wildly, threatening to tip it over. Kori watched her lover struggle with a horrified expression.

"Are you sure that this will cure him?" She asked Dick.

Dick stared at her, unsure of what to say. "I don't know", he said as Zatanna began her incantation, "but I promise, if there is a way, we'll find it."

"Dlem Dnim," Zatanna called out as her eyes glowed a bright yellow light. Suddenly the room faded into darkness, leaving only Dick and Kori. The darkness was shortlived as the walls grew lit with violent lights and blazing heat. The environment morphed into a vast and horrific cave, with large stalagmite and stalactite structures that almost took shapes of demonic and Kori found themselves on a stone bridge, which lead to a large spire tower.

"What is this place?" Kori asked. "It feels as if this realm emanates nothing but darkness and evil."

"I-I don't know," Dick said trying to get his bearings. "Th-this is new to me. But you're right it does feel like evil radiates from this place."

"That is right Boy Blunder," a voice called out from behind the duo. Turning around they saw the Joker, dressed in a ratty purple suit, which covered with rips and tears. His face paint was running, with spots of his natural skin color showing. His eyes looked more deranged than ever.

"Joker, what are you doing here?" Dick asked as he readied himself for a fighting stance.

"That poor boy wanted nothing more to than to get rid of me, but I seem to be like a cockroach," Joker said as he began to laugh. "We all seem to be like cockroaches."

Suddenly, all around Dick and Kori, numerous clones of the Joker appeared through the ground, each more gruesome than the rest. They charged at the duo and attacked them violently.

Dick defended himself from the blows, while Kori used her energy blast to tear through the clowns. However, they were quickly over run by the clowns, who quickly dog piled them.

In the prison cell, Zatanna was struggling to maintain her focus. The pressure of keeping the spell was proving to be more difficult. Sweat was beginning to drip down her face as her breath began to become ragged.

Back in the clown dog pile, Dick was struggling to avoid the constant barrage of blows as he was held down on the ground. As he was only able to hear that sick, sinister laughing, Dick was able to make another voice out.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos," A young feminine voice called out.

The weight was lifted off of Dick, who was now given his vision back. He stood up to see Kori, who was beginning to stand up again. The two looked around to see that the bridge was clown-free. But there was another presence there, a young raven-haired girl dressed in a white cloak. She looked no more than thirteen, and eyed the duo with a disinterested look in her eye.

"Young child, what are doing here?" Kori asked as she and Dick regained their footing.

The girl turned away and put her hood on, and began walking away. Without turning her head she said with a cold tone, "It's you who shouldn't be here. This place is not for mortals like you."

"Wait," Dick called to the girl. "We're looking for a friend of ours, he-"

"Is in the tower," the girl finished. "You best hurry if you want to save him, his mind won't much more."

And with that, the girl disappeared. Dick and Kori looked at each other and back towards the tower. Without further ado, they rushed towards the tower.

As the reached inside the entrance, they were met by a large room, which looked as if it took most of the tower's space. There was a glowing light that flashed through the room and seemed to emanate from the center of the room. Looking for the source, the saw that it was a large, ruby-looking gem, that was pulsating a red beam towards a spot below it. Underneath the gem's beam, was a young man strapped to the floor, screaming in agony as he was hit with the beam.

"Jason!" Kori called out as she recognized the scream. She flew next to him and tried to free his restraints, to no success. As Jason continued to howl, the beam continued hitting him, peeling his skin away as the seconds past. Kori looked to Dick, who was examining the gem, and said, "We have to do something. He can't take much more of this."

Dick looked around the room and saw that there were large stalagmites huddled together. "Hit those stalagmites with one of your energy blasts and hurl it towards the gem," He told Kori. "If we damage the gem, it might release him."

Kori followed the order without a second thought. She flew towards the stalagmites and hit the largest one with her energy blasts. Gripping on tight to the rock, she moved it towards the gem. When she was close enough she hurled it at the gem, which shattered with a large concussive blast. The blast was followed by a massive display of light which blinded both Kori and Dick.

As the light died down, the sound of restraints being clapped free. Dick looked back to where Jason was and saw that he was now standing in front of both him and Kori. However, the strength that Dick had seen in recent days was gone, and an exhausted look was replaced on Jason. The most noticeable change to Jason was his eyes as the dark, red gleam was gone. They had been returned to their natural blue coloring.

Jason's legs gave out on him and fell forward. Thankfully, Kori was there to catch him as before he hit the ground. "Jason," she whispered to him gently, though with restraint, "is it you?"

"I'm sorry," Jason heaved as he tried to catch his breath. He looked up to see Dick standing over him. "Dick, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Dick wanted to feel anger, to grab onto Jason's throat and squeeze the life out of him for all the pain that he had caused. But as he stood there, the hatred turned away and Dick wanted nothing more than to forgive his former friend. He softly put a hand on Jason's shoulder, giving the young man a surprise.

"It's okay Jason," he said, trying to reassure him. "You're safe now."

So that is chapter 19. Jason has now returned to normal (or has he?). I'm going to bring back Talia al Ghul and the Shadows and really focus on them in the next chapter cause I feel that I've never really given them enough depth. As always Fav/Comment/Follow the story, you guys have no idea how much motiviation it is to continue this story. Thank you guys!