Robin: Betrayal # 4

As they made their way to converge with the others in Nanda Parbat, Robin, Wonder Girl, and the Flash, tried to put the thoughts of what they had to do out of their minds. Killing one of their best friends was something they didn’t really want to deal with.

“We’re almost there.” Robin called back, not turning from the controls. "But wait… there’s something wrong…”

“What?” Wonder Girl asked. “It looks fine to me.”

“That’s just it, Cassie.” Flash said grimly. “You aren’t supposed to be able to see it, not from here anyway.”

“And let me guess, something bad is making it stand out, right?”

“Bingo! We have a winner!”

“This is serious, you two.” Robin interjected. “Raven’s power must have, somehow, seeped into Nanda Parbat.”

“I know it’s serious, Tim, but someone has to lighten the mood.” Flash replied. “But yeah, this looks pretty bad. I thought nothing evil could get into Nanda Parbat, though.”

“I thought so, too.”

“Awww f*#%!” Deadman said, still possessing Hawkman’s body.

After entering the inner-sanctum, the group had found more than they bargained for. Rama Kushna lay on the ground in a human shell.

At first, no one knew it was her, then, Deadman told the rest of them that, even in a human shell, her aura was unmistakable.

“Well, this is just fantastic.” Flash said, rubbing his temples. “We come to this place for help and now we have to find a way to save a goddess? Stop the world, I want to get off!”

“Easy, Wallace.” Starfire cautioned. “Stay alert. We could be attacked at any moment.”

“Not at any moment.” Batman said gruffly. “Now.”

As soon as the words left his mouth a large, swirling vortex appeared in front of them.

“Everybody, out to the main courtyard, now!” Batman yelled.

“Wally, duck!” Robin shouted, throwing an explosive dart towards his friend.

As he ducked, the dart flew over him and hit a demon just a few feet away, exploding on impact, sending bits of blood and ash everywhere.

“Aww man! You got demon-blood all over me, Tim!”

“Quit whining and take these things down!”

“Robin, look out!” Starfire yelled, firing an energy bolt in his direction.

He ducked just in time for the bolt to miss him and hit the demon behind him. He used his cape to shield himself from the blood splatters.

“Thanks, Star!” He said, pulling out his bo-staff.

Now it’s my turn.

“Hawkman, keep these peons off our butts while we deal with the big guy!”

“I don’t take orders from kids.” Hawkman responded, splitting a demons skull with his axe.

“Batman left me in charge, Carter.” Robin said, using his bo to vault over a demon. “Unless you want to explain to him later why you disobeyed my orders, I suggest you do as I say.” He swept the demon’s legs out from under it and drove his bo, as hard as he could, through the monster’s chest.

Hawkman didn’t say another word. He did as he was told.

When in doubt, play the ‘Batman’s a badass’ card, He thought, with a smile.

“Cassie, you hit ‘em high, I’ll hit ‘em low.” He ordered. “Wally, cover us and hit him wherever you can. Kory, fry him!”

“Can do, Tim” Wally called back.

“We’re with you, Robin.” Starfire replied.

“Let’s take him down.” Robin said with determination.

Wally was already there, causing Nihon more than a little annoyance.

Robin threw two explosive darts at Nihon. Nihon shrugged off the explosion as if it were nothing.

“You cannot win, mortals!”

“Hey, Wally! Why is it that ancient demons always seem to have the cheesiest dialogue?”

“Not sure, buddy. Maybe we should asks Bats, He seems to know everything about everything.”

“Hope he didn’t hear you say that.”

“Me too.” Wally chuckled.

Nihon fought them fiercely, their blows doing nothing to harm him.

Tentacles, lashed out at each of them, trying to pull them in closer for the kill.

Robin used his bo to knocked them away, while Starfire blasted them and Wally vibrated through them. Wonder Girl simply flew out of his reach, going in for a punch whenever she got the chance.

“Wally, have you tried vibrating through him?” Robin asked, Backflipping to avoid another tentacle sweep.

“Yeah, it’s no good. For some reason, I can’t. It’s like he’s got a barrier around his body. I can vibrate through the tentacles, but nothing else.”

“Figures. Cassie, see a weakness yet?”

“Nothing yet.”

“Star, anything on your end?” He asked.

“Nothing here either.” She replied

“Keep looking! This thing has to have a weak point!”

Nihon let out a deep, guttural laugh. “I have no weaknesses, fools! I am almighty Nihon, my master’s destroyer.”

“We’ll see, Nihon.” Robin replied coldly.

Raven must’ve sent Nihon here to stop us from getting the emerald. That’s the only reason she’d hit this place. No, you idiot! Raven didn’t do this, it was Trigon! Trigon’s the cause of all this. Don’t stop believing in her, she needs us now, more than ever! His own thoughts angered him. He rushed Nihon without thinking.

The demon wrapped a tentacle around Robin, lifting him off the ground.

“No, Tim!” Starfire, screamed.

Nihon used her distraction as an opening and grabbed her as well.

“Hang on guys!” Wally said.

“Hold it, Wally!” Robin replied. “That’s just what he wants! Keep doing what you’re doing. Star and I can still hold our own!”

“You sure, Tim?” Wonder Girl asked.

“I’m positive! Just keep looking for a weak point!.”

Blades began sprouting from the tips of some of the tentacles, stabbing at Robin and Starfire.

Each time they knocked them away, they came back more fiercly.

If this keeps up, Star and I won’t last much longer. I can’t get to my belt, because this bastard has me constricted at the waist… think, Tim, think!

Out of nowhere, a thin, black, rod flew down from the sky, striking one of the demon’s eyes. Nihon screamed in agony, letting Robin and Starfire fall to the ground.

Robin looked up to the high wall, Nightwing was perched on top. He gave Tim a smile and a quick salute then jumped down toward the fight.

“Thought you said you knew when to listen to the doctor, Dick!” Robin yelled across the courtyard.

“Yup, I said I knew when, but I didn’t say I would.” He grinned.

“Either way, I’m glad you’re here, bro.”

“Looks like I have impeccable timing too, don’t I?”

“Dick,goodtoseeya” Wally said, jutting by.

“You, too, Wally. Okay, Tim, what do we have here? Besides an ugly-as-hell demon, I mean?”

“We’ve got Rama Kushna in the middle of the courtyard over there in a human shell until we destroy Nihon here so she can take her place back as goddess… At least, I assume she’ll be able to get her true form back…. Haven’t really thought that part through.”

“You’ll learn. Wait… did you say, middle of the courtyard?”

“Yeah, right there.” He said pointing to Rama Kushna, still lying there, unmoving.

“Ah, hell!” Nightwing said, taking off towards her.

Robin started after Nightwing, but another tentacle caught him by the ankle and pulled him back to Nihon.

“Wally, a little help here!” Robin said loudly.

Before he knew it, Flash had a hand on his shoulder.

“This is going to feel weird, Tim. Brace yourself.” Flash told him.

He concentrated, vibrating both of their molecules, allowing Robin to slip free of Nihon’s grip.

“Thanks, Wally. As you were.”

He made a brief turn, looking back in Nightwing’s direction. He’d gotten Rama Kushna out of the center of the courtyard and next to Batman, where they were discussing something. After a second, Batman rushed towards them.

“Whoah! Guys, get this thing offa me!” Wally yelled.

Everyone turned to look. One of the tentacles had Flash by the head and was jerking him around.

“Now would be good!” He yelled again.

“Vibrate you’re molecules, Wally!” Wonder Girl said, delivering a strong punch to the demon’s body.

“Don’t you think I’ve tried that?” He responded. “For some reason it’s not working anymore. Whoa!”

Nihon slammed him into the ground.

Batman pulled out a batarang and threw it at the tentacle that had Flash in its grasp. As it made contact, the freezing solution inside was released, turning part of the tentacle into solid ice.

Robin was already at Nihon’s side, ready and waiting. He slammed his bo into the ice, breaking the tentacle off.

“Gaaaaahhhh! You mortals have wounded me for the last time!” Nihon screamed in rage.

“Batman, freeze him again!” Wonder Girl said, landing on the ground next to him. “Finish this now!”

Batman remained stoic.

“No good. Nihon’s body adapts to protect him from anything that can harm him. That’s why Wally couldn’t vibrate through the tentacle.”

“Then, how can we beat it?” Robin asked.

“We hold out until Nightwing gets what he needs.”

“What does he need?”

“Zatanna will be sending something that will do the trick. That’s why Dick moved Rama Kushna. Two objects can’t occupy the same space, and Zatanna will be transporting the item to the middle of the courtyard.”

“Why not just call her and tell her to send it somewhere else?”

“Because Dick doesn’t have a communicator on him and he didn’t have time to ask me to call her.”

Before he could respond to Batman’s apparent sarcasm, he felt a chill run down his spine. Magic always seemed to do that to him, for some reason.

He turned around; a spear was driven into the ground. Nightwing jerked it from the ground and ran towards Robin and the others.

“Dick, what good do you think a spear is going to do against this guy when nothing else has stopped it?”

“This isn’t just a spear, Tim.” Dick replied, halting next to Robin. “This is the Spear of Longinus…or the Spear of Destiny, or whatever the hell you wanna call it.”

“I’ve heard of it before” Robin said. “It’s supposedly the spear that…”

“Right.”

“You think it’ll work?”

“It’s the spear that drew Christ’s blood, Tim. If this can’t stop a demon, then I don’t know what can. Of course, the tricky part is going to be getting close enough to use it.”

“That’s not a problem.” Batman said, taking the spear from Nightwing. “I’ll handle it.”

He turned toward Nihon, still fighting off Flash, Wonder Girl and Starfire.

“Tim, I need you to keep the tentacles off of me.”

“No prob.”

“Dick, look after Rama Kushna.”

“Alright.” Nightwing smiled. “You two go have fun. I’ve already saved the day once, now it’s your turn.”

Robin readied his bo and waited for Batman to move.

Batman charged forward, spear in hand, strait for Nihon.

As they came closer, tentacles attacked them fiercely.

“Fools! You will not destroy me! Nothing can harm me!”

“If that’s the case, then why are you fighting us so hard?” Batman replied, ducking to avoid a tentacle.

Robin knocked it away with his bo.

Robin smiled.

He’s scared. He knows what the spear is, and it’s scaring the crap out of him. Time to drive it home!

Robin fought harder, pushing the tentacles, further and further away. Finally, after they had gotten close enough, Batman bolted ahead.

“Everybody back, now!” He yelled.

He leapt forward crashing into the demon fiercely, driving the spear into its chest.

“NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”

Nihon’s last words still hung in the air as his body exploded, followed by a flare of brilliant light.

Robin looked back to where Rama Kushna’s body had been; it was floating limply toward them. As it reached the source of the light, it disappeared. A moment later, they heard a voice, then the goddess appeared before them.

You have all done well, She said. My thanks to you for destroying Nihon and restoring me.

“They did good, didn’t they, Rama?” Deadman said, walking up behind Batman.

Apparently, since the source of the corruption had been destroyed, Deadman was now solid while in Nanda Parbat.

I know why you have come.

Hawkman landed next to Robin.

“Where have you been? We haven’t seen you, or those demons you were supposed to be holding off, for a long time.” Robin asked.

“I forced them all to the edge of the city and held them there. Your orders were to hold them off, and I did.” Hawkman replied, crossing his arms.

Right, forgot he’s a total hard-ass.

Rama Kushna continued.

You have come for the emerald. Place the diamond and sapphire on there respective pedestals and we will begin.

Batman placed the Sapphire of Night on one side of the courtyard while Robin placed the Diamond of Dawn on the other. They returned to the center of the courtyard, joining the rest of the group.

Excellent. Now, which one of you will go?

“Which one? What do you mean by that?” Wonder Girl asked. “I thought we were just supposed to get the emerald.”

The Emerald of Twilight is not something to merely obtain, child. It must be earned. Now, which one of you will face the trials?

Everyone looked at each other with questioning eyes.

“Batman should go.” Robin said.

That is impossible, I’m afraid. Bruce Wayne has already endured the trials.

“She’s right, Tim, it was part of my early training. I can’t go back.”

“Then what do we do?” Robin asked.

“You go, Tim” Nightwing said.

“Are you crazy? I’m not ready for this!”

“You’re more ready than you think, bro. I would offer to go, but I’m still not at the top of my game, so it would be a suicide-run for me.”

“Dick’s right.” Batman agreed. “You’re ready; I know, I trained you.”

Robin looked at Nightwing, then to Batman, then back to Nightwing again.

I can’t do this...I don’t have much of a choice! Damn!

“Okay, I’ll do it.” He said, finally.

Very well, young one. A portal opened directly in front of them. Enter. But be warned: do not let yourself be led astray. Follow your head, not your heart.

Bearing Rama Kushna’s cryptic words in mind, Robin stepped through the portal.

As he disappeared from sight, worry set in.

“Do you think he will be okay?” Star fire asked.

“He’ll be fine.” Batman replied.

“Yeah, Kory, don’t worry.” Nightwing agreed.

Batman began walking away.

“Make yourselves at home,” He called over his shoulder. “We’re going to be here awhile.”

Uneasily, everyone dispersed, their concern apparent.

You’d better come back soon, kid. Nightwing thought to himself. We don’t have any time to waste. I swear, Trigon; you’ll pay for destroying my city, you bastard.