Gotc: -sobbing-

Ace: Mischief, I blame you for this. Why did your review have to be so long? Hrmmmm? Well? She's supposed to be working on college things, but instead she's re-read that review-

Gotc: -More sobbing- BEST. REVIEW. EVER!!!

Ace: You're just happy cuz someone willingly told you that you wasted two hours of their life.

Gotc: Duh. And for that, I shall launch into the next installment of this tale. SQUEAKY!

Squeaky: Squeak! (Only two? I've seen Ace with his face smashed in a refrigerator for longer than that. Oh yeah, if they wear colorful costumes, they're not ours. Jean jackets don't count.)

Gotc: Yes indeed. Now on with the fic, before I get caught doing something other than my intended assignment!

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Rise of the Guardian 2: Forbidden Memories

CHAPTER 10: Weep Not for the Past

Two days was long enough for anyone to be trapped inside. Batman had done it before, but that was only after a particularly nasty bout with one of the Scarecrow's newest toxins, and the first thief that had come at him with a knife paid dearly for his pent-up frustration. Come to think of it, he had red hair too…..

"It's been a few hours since J'onn reported in," Flash stated for the third time in twenty minutes

"J'onn and Hawkgirl will call us when there's something to report." Batman said shortly.

"What if something happened though?" Flash continued, "What if something happened to them, or Ace for that matter? I could just zip over there for a sec and get an update-"

"FLASH!" Batman snapped, "The Amazons know we're here, and just because we can't see them, doesn't mean they aren't watching every move we make. Fast as you may be, they've probably prepared for any attempt we would make to leave the ship."

"Yeah, but-"

"No," Batman growled, "The fact that we were even able to bring Ace onto Themyscira consisted of our deal that we wouldn't set foot on the island itself. It took us three hours of explaining to the guards that there was an emergency halfway across the globe for them to let the others off the island. Do you really think they're going to have any desire to let you on? "

Flash continued to pace at an annoyingly fast pace next to Batman, as he continued to scour the screen in front of him for any new clues as to the enemy that existed on the other side of a rapidly fading barrier. But like most things that were connected with Ace, his searches had come up fruitless. If there was one thing the Dark Knight did not like, it was not knowing. Knowing his opponent, knowing a way out, knowing how to fight back; Knowledge was his only way of staying alive in the hostile world in which he and the League lived. The fact that he knew very little about this unseen foe irritated and unnerved him. This was uncharted territory for both him and the League, and a small part of his mind couldn't help replaying Ace's words:

"Your job is to protect this planet from everything in the known universe; My job is to protect it from everything it has forgotten…"

Batman sighed inwardly, trying to force the words from his mind. He knew full well that sometimes, things that are forgotten could be far more dangerous than facing the unknown.

Sitting back in his seat, he rubbed his tired eyes through the fabric of his cowl. He cast a surreptitious glance to the seat across the aisle that had been vacant since she left the island 18 hours ago. That was about the same time Flash seemed to really start working on his already fraying nerves. He wasn't sure if it was her presence that kept him in check, or if Flash was simply being more annoying than usual.

"It's Flash," He told himself, "Diana has nothing to do with it."

"Sure, whatever helps you sleep better," Another part of him scoffed, "It's not like she could ever be that 'special someone'."

"There is nothing special about her. She is a valued friend and a respected colleague."

"She's beautiful, confident, intelligent. What more do you want from her?"

"Nothing. She's perfect in absolutely everyway."

"What makes you thing she doesn't think the same way about you?"

"She's a princess from an island of immortal Amazon warriors, and I'm a rich kid with issues."

"And she still keeps trying to get close to you."

For the first time, the Batman had no response to his own argument, even though the other half of his mind continued on.

"How long do you think she will wait? How long do you thing you may actually have? No one doubts you belong in the League, but don't kid yourself that you could ever survive even half of the abuse they can take. Sure you don't feel it now, you're young. But what about five, ten years down the road? Do you ever stop to think that maybe one day this could all come to a very abrupt end? And what will you have to show for your livelong 'quest'? Nightwing's moved on, Barbra has her own life, and Tim…. All you have to your name, is an empty house and Alfred. Do you truly believe that being happy, even for just a little while, would ruin your life? Would it really hurt to give her a chance?"

"Bruce Wayne would only hurt her."

"Bruce Wayne? Or you?"

With a frustrated growl, Batman wrenched himself out of his own thoughts and stared out the small window. He had to stop thinking about her , one way or another. Suddenly, there was a sudden flash of movement coming from somewhere just behind the tree line. For a moment, he dismissed it as paranoia, only for another flash to appear 30 meters to the right of the first.

"Flash," Batman said slowly, "Start walking towards the emergency hatch. Make it look like you're still just pacing."

"Why? What's going on?" Flash asked, stopping to glance out of Batman's window.

"Do what I told you!" Batman hissed angrily, sliding out of his chair and walking towards the front of the Javelin.

There was definitely movement in the trees ahead, and they were being discrete about it too. A quick glance over his shoulder confirmed Flash had actually listened and was ready to run if the situation arose. More movement drew his attention back to the trees, as something much bigger than a single warrior made its way through the thick foliage. Batman muttered a silent curse at how little he could see, when a loud 'twang' rang out. Batman's eyes widened, as he turned and bolted for the emergency hatch.

"Flash! Move now!" He bellowed.

It took a half a second before the hatch blew off the side of the Javelin, as a huge iron clad arrow erupted through the front of the ship. Glass exploded inward, barely missing Batman's head as he dove out the open hatch after Flash. Another arrow tore through the body of the Javelin, this one striking the fuel tank and permeating the air with the metallic smell of gas.

Batman had every intention of hitting the ground running, only to have two bodies slam into him and knock him back to the ground.

"Get me out of this thing!" He heard Flash's voice yell.

Batman's foot managed to connect with one of the Amazon Warriors that had attacked him. A quick scan found Flash pinned down under a heavy metal net, and a group of Amazons rushing towards him. He flicked two batarangs at his attackers, but it was hardly a deterrent.

"Put down your weapons," A commanding voice called out, "Or this one dies."

Batman looked for the source of the voice and found a lone Amazon with her spear pointed at the Scarlet Speedster's neck. A triumphant grin spread across her face, as Batman tried to glare her down to no avail.

"I wonder if his blood is as red as the cloth on his back?" She sneered, pressing the tip a little harder against Wally's neck.

"What do you want," Batman demanded, backing down slightly.

"Our Queen requests an audience with you and your friends," She said simply, "You can come with us quietly, or we could drag you both there, in pieces. It's your choice."

Batman let a growl escape his throat, but lowered his hands down to his sides. He tucked away the unspent projectile in his hand, while one finger brushed against a button on his belt. Less than a second later, two Amazons seized his hands and bound them tightly behind his back.

"BATS!" Flash yelled, "You're not just going to let them do this are you!?"

"We'll see what Hippolyta wants," Batman said calmly, as they led the two away, "Then we'll get out of this."

---

Even before the Temple came into sight, Batman could hear Ace bellowing at the top of his lungs. He had moved past English, and was currently spewing Atlantean at the Amazon Queen without restraint. It was some relief to know he had recovered, but the feeling quickly dissipated as he spied J'onn and Hawkgirl under heavy guard as well.

"You guys have any idea what's going on?" Flash mumbled to the other two.

"It involves Ace," Hawkgirl sighed, "I guess he destroyed some temple a while ago and Hippolyta's out for his blood."

"You sure it's not the other way around?" Flash asked, watching three more guards latch onto Ace to keep him from attacking the Queen.

"WHO WAS THE OTHER?!" An enraged roar cut in right on cue.

"You have been brought here to the Temple of Athena to be judged in the presence of the Goddess herself," Hippolyta stated, "Perhaps you have a few words of repentance?"

Ace let out a snarl and spit onto the marble floors of the temple hall, with a look of pure contempt.

"There isn't anything more your gods can possibly do to me."

Hippolyta's face contorted with rage, but before she had the opportunity to act on it, frantic shouting outside the temple cut through the tension. A burst of green light knocked the guards out of the way, as Superman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman came bursting into the temple halls.

"What took you so long?" Batman asked, as Diana used a forgotten spear to cut through his bonds.

"Sorry," She scoffed with a small grin, "But I guess even Superman can't hear a distress beacon while there's gunfire going off."

A rare smile crept along the Dark Knight's lips. He forgot that even immortal princesses had a sense of humor. There was a soft thump behind the two, as J'onn gently placed the last of the guards against one of pillars.

"I think we've outstayed our welcome," The Martian said, "We all should leave before any more conflict arises."

"I think someone forgot to give Ace the memo!" Lantern pointed out, running after the Atlantean.

In the confusion, Ace had managed to get loose from the guards holding him at bay, and had taken the opportunity to advance on Hippolyta. But the Queen was no helpless royal, and wasted no time in drawing her own blade to fend off the approaching threat. Even as skilled with a sword as she was, Ace managed to duck around every swipe and pass she made at him. As she lunged out at him, Ace sidestepped the blade's edge, and slapped the sword out of the Queen's hand. Free of it's burden, the same hand shot out to strike Ace in anyway she could, only to find herself locked in his iron grip.

The League was running to her aid, each afraid of what Ace would do after such a display of sheer anger. But no strike came, no retaliation. Instead, he spoke in a voice that was so weak and broken, it hardly sounded as if it belonged to the same person.

"Your highness…please…." He pleaded quietly, "I need to know…Who was the other?"

Ace dropped her arm and stepped away from Hippolyta, as the League managed to reach them. He no longer seemed like the callous monster that she remembered destroying her goddess's temple. In his place, was only a man so desperate for the answer to one question, he would defy the judgment of a God.

"It was a young woman," The Queen found herself saying, "She came to this place on a piece of driftwood barely clinging to life. Her only possessions, were a few scraps of a blue silken dress that survived the journey across the sea, and a silver bracelet on her right hand."

Ace looked as if he had been sucker punched in the stomach, his eyes wide and flicking back and forth trying to put together the new information.

"Is she…." Ace started, trying to find the words to form a sentence, "Is she still here? On this island?"

"Yes…" Hippolyta nodded hesitantly, "She is."

Ace stepped forward again and grabbed the queen, placing both hands on her shoulders. There was no trace of ill-intent in his voice, and no hint of malice in his eyes.

"You have to take me to her." Ace said, not truly asking.

"Ace," Diana said stepping forward, "I don't think-"

"Please!" Ace yelled, slightly hysterical, "I just…I need to see her!"

Hippolyta brushed Ace's hands off of her shoulders, and started to walk away from him. She looked back at the man behind her with careful scrutiny, before letting out a deep sigh.

"Follow me" She said quietly, "And I will take you to her."

----

The sea rolled onto the shore in nearly silent waves, and even the sun seemed to have dimmed out of solemn respect. Ace stood stolidly in front of a simple stone marker, while the rest of the League maintained a respectful distance away. He reached out and gently lifted the silver chain resting on top of the head stone and rolled it over and over in his hand. Suddenly it seemed like every line in his face had been magnified ten fold. Where there had been sharp cerulean eyes, two dull orbs sat sunken into their sockets. His hair hung in limp strands in his face, hardly fluttering even in the light breeze that rustled around them. Ace looked old.

He collapsed to his knees, as if someone had just cut out his legs from under him. He let his head fall against the stone, the chain still clutched tightly in his hand.

"There is no justice in this world…." A broken voice spoke, "You wanted to kill me Hippolyta? Do me a favor and stick that sword through my heart."

"Ace," Superman asked quietly, as if it was not his place to speak, "Who was she?"

There was a long silence, with only the faint sounds of the world around then to fill the empty space.

"Her name was Rinowa," Ace said hardly above a whisper, "And she was to be my wife."

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Gotc: Good yes? Maybe? A little? Well hopefully you enjoyed Batman's little Gollum moment this chappie, and keep an eye out for even more BMWW stuffage on the horizon!! Laters! (Don't for get those reviews!!)