The Tournament of Men

By superninja

A JLA Elseworlds fantasy, Animated Series style.

All characters belong to Warner Bros./DC Comics. This story is not intended for profit.

***

They wished the Green Lanterns goodbye at the road to Lexumberg.

Kyle waived goodbye fondly, doing his best to evade the accusatory stares of the Bat Man and imagining that the beautiful stranger was smiling back at him through her mask.

"Best of luck in the tournament mi'lady!" Kyle yelled after her when they were in the distance.

Hal clapped the younger man on the shoulder. "I love you, Kyle. But you're not going to make it as a monk."

***

Unlike the previous roads they had traversed, this one was riddled with travelers. This highway was like a procession. The rich and the poor, the young and the old, walked side by side on their way to whatever glories they might find at its end. Caravans bearing goods from faraway places for sale at market, families who had put their most precious belongings on pack animals making a grand vacation of the Tournament.

Any regrets?" Diana asked, as the forest faded into the distance.

She was filled with excitement and apprehension, buoyed by the fruits of her lessons with Bat Man that she could indeed convincingly come off as a man.

"My charger was the best in the kingdom," Bat Man answered. "She'll come back to me."

"My poor, empty flask," O'Brien said, drawing out the item from his pocket. "And worse, my empty pockets," he added, jangling his money pouch.

She didn't even bother to look at the two before she answered, "My lasso."

"By this time, it's left to the forest, or in Alexander's possession," Bat Man replied.

Diana sighed, thinking of her mother, of her home. Their beautiful island so secluded from this world. As the Green Lantern Order had been. Tasting the richness of the Order had made her melancholy for the first time since coming to Man's world. She thought back to Hal's words to her before they had left the forest.

"There is a war coming," he said gravely. "All creatures of magic will have to stand united, or be destroyed. We must find a way to make peace between us."

"Lex is fascinated with magical objects," Bat Man said, interrupting her thoughts. "Just as I said before, he uses magic to destroy magic in his kingdom."

Diana made her way to one side as a knight clad in heavy golden armor on a thick charger pushed past her through the line of people.

"Make way," he said, a gruff air of haughtiness about his voice. "Make way!"

"If he's found Lord Doomsday, your lasso is here," Bat Man whispered.

But Diana was no longer paying attention to his words. Her eyes had fallen on the crest of the Great Octopus glinting in the light on the knight's shield. She remembered the stories as a girl that it's giant tentacles spread over the ocean floor across the entire world. The braided hair, down the back of his helmet, bounced against his ornate armor as he kept his horse at a steady trot.

"Orin," she said beneath her breath, as she watched the procession that trailed after him. "Orin!"

A wide berth had been given to the company, and people hissed and threw objects as the men in golden armor passed, their skin as bright as a turquoise stone. Soldiers who unflinchingly took the insults lapped upon them.

"You know him?" Bat Man said, more of a statement than a question.

Diana and Bat Man both stopped as they watched the Atlanteans pass, registering the obvious prejudice of the crowd around them. A carriage trailed at the end, and Diana saw the brief form of Mera, the Queen of Atlantis peer out of the curtains within towards the crowd and sigh.

"Go back where you came from, beasts!" one man shouted, as he threw a rock against the carriage. Mera jumped back in surprise, her breath escaping in a piercing sound like that of a creature gasping for air.

The procession stopped. The man sitting next to the driver at the front of the carriage stood, cloaked in a purple robe. He extended his arm, brandishing a gleaming trident. He was smaller than the rest of the company, but his defiant posture more than made up for it.

Orin had charged back on his horse, pushing the crowd backward with cries of fear. He looked to the man with the trident. He pointed towards the offender who had attacked the carriage. Orin drove his horse close to him, as the man tried to escape into the crowd. But they would have none of it, and pushed him back out into the open to face the King of Atlantis.

He pointed his gold-tipped spear down at the man, his blue-within-blue eyes shimmering with anger, his golden beard covering the deadly grimace that was taught across his copper skin.

"Do that again, and 'beast' will not be a worthy description for the lashing I will give you, wretch."

The man fell to his knees in terror as Orin turned back towards the highway.

"Half-breed!" a woman yelled after him, when he was at a safe distance.

Diana drew forward, as Bat Man held her at bay.

The crowd began to loudly renew their insults as the man with the trident took his seat. Orin set his jaw and the procession moved on.

Diana jerked her arm free from Bat Man. He stared after the carriage as it passed. "They have no idea the trouble they seek coming here."

***

O'Brien, oblivious to the Atlanteans, nodded his eyebrows at a group of local maidens passing by.

One of the young women caught his eye, waving over to him and drawing him away from his fellows. The lovely girl curtseyed before him, and rose to twirl a lock of her blonde hair, batting her eyes at the clown.

"And what does a lady such as yourself seek in Lexumburg? I am a master of many arts. I have braved the Great Forest," he said theatrically. "Fought the Royal Flush Gang and faced incredible odds to compete in the Tournament of Champions."

O'Brien was a very skilled pickpocket. And everyone who has ever picked a pocket knows that one pickpocket knows another. So it was no surprise that O'Brien, despite being distracted by such a lovely creature, was completely aware of the younger man attempting to steal his money pouch.

"Hey!" O'Brien yelled out at the youth, and watched him duck with imaginable speed into the crowd. He bounced over heads and swerved around bodies, but he couldn't keep up with the criminal.

Chasing him through the masses was wearing him down. But luckily Bat Man and Diana had managed to coral him near one of the merchant stands that were lining the highway.

"Give me my pouch back, you sorry excuse for a thief!" O'Brien yelled.

The thin young man, his rough strawberry hair pouring over his brow, simply grinned and tossed the money pouch in the air as O'Brien lunged for it.

Ducking between his splayed legs, the youth jumped over the clown's back and snatched his purse again, heading out with laughter back into the crowd.

***

The young man and woman sat at a row of tables lined up outside of a makeshift tavern along the road.

"The fastest man alive!" he said, holding the pouch aloft.

They had left the trio they had robbed in the distance, and the youth now poured the contents onto the table as the girl watched him, her face held up by her hands and elbows.

"What's the score?" she asked, looking down at the lint and stuffed rabbit's foot on the table and then looking over at the other who was holding the pouch aloft with a blank stare.

He shook it again, and they both watched as a single coin fell atop the table and began circling until it lay to rest between the two of them with a hollow ringing.

She stared back at him with scorn.

"I'll do better next time, Dinah," he said pleadingly.

"What does speed matter when you only steal from beggars, Flash?"

He sighed, and slumped into his seat.

"Nevermind," Dinah said, realizing he was on the verge of one of his "moods". "At least this will buy us something to eat for now."

She was about to grab the coin when it was impaled against the table by the tip of a sword.

Shaking, they both stood to see one of the travelers (the one with the dark armor) grasping the hilt of his sword as it pinned any chance they had of a meal.

"That was a neat trick," said the man coldly.

"Sir," Flash began, "We meant no harm. We're only poor peasants�"

"Who steal from OTHER POOR PEASANTS!"

They looked over at the spindly man they had stolen from, who was being held back by the other man in a mask.

The clown looked over at Dinah and pointed his finger at her.

"And you! YOU�" he calmly stepped forward and bowed before her. "Nice to see you again mi'lady."

Dinah groaned and sat back down on the bench.

"Please sir," Flash said, looking up at the knight. "We have barely enough to eat as it is, with the taxes and all."

Bat Man refused to reply, as the young girl's hot temper began to boil.

"So are you going to turn us in, or what?!" Dinah asked, crossing her arms and setting her jaw.

Bat Man's lip began to curl, stopping when his masked companion placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I intend to fight in the Tournament of Champions," the masked one spoke. "I am in need of attendants that are capable."

"Really?" Flash asked, sitting back up in his seat.

Dinah looked skeptical, until the warrior pulled a pouch from behind his robe and flashed a few gold coins.

"Are they real?" Dinah asked, breathless.

The masked fighter quickly snatched it back.

"Yes. And they are yours if you offer your services."

He offered his hand to Dinah. "I am Dyanisos of Themyscria."

Dinah took the hand and shook it. "I am Dinah of Lexumberg. My family lives just off Canary Street. We don't have much, but if you need a place to stay for the evening, you can rest there."

***

The shanty at the end of town was a pile of wood held in place by mud and straw. But Diana was grateful for a place to spend the night, and Dinah's family was very hospitable, even in their meager surroundings.

At Diana's suggestion, the trio had cautiously evaded the circumstances of their meeting Dinah and "Flash", as he liked to call himself.

Her family offered up their guests everything they had, and Diana felt greedy taking their pittance when she had a pocket full of gold. Even Bat Man who had been so quick to anger before refused the stale bread and broth they offered them.

"Dinah," she said, pulling the girl aside. "Let's go to the marketplace."

Dinah looked over at her mother and father always taught not to take advantage of strangers (at least in their presence). But she knew Dyanisos would not have it otherwise when she glanced back into his masked eyes.

"I am going to the market," Diana said, "And I would like your daughter to accompany me, as I am unfamiliar with this city."

"Very well," her father answered in reply, and eyed the other two strangers as Diana and Dinah marched outside.

"My father won't want you to pay. Everyone in the market knows me." Dinah raised her head high. "And we don't sell our services to Lord Lex," she said with a huff, crossing her arms. "I may be a thief, but I have principles, you know."

"I am not a servant of Alexander," Diana said, walking off into the crowd, "And if they have trouble with you, they will find more trouble with me."

Dinah trailed after her shoving her way forcefully through the mass off people coming towards them.

Diana watched her push through the crowd, a small girl, while Diana was given a wide berth because of her covered face and her stance. She admired the young woman's determination.

"Hey, HEY!" Dinah said, out of breath, finally walking with Diana. "Okay. So you're not a servant of Luthor. I believe you. But it will look that way to commoners like myself."

"Maybe you should not worry so much about what others think..?"

Music ran through the air stopping their discussion. Like a windsong, it drew Diana towards the source.

The tent was simple, with several intricately carved instruments laid before her.

The man stopped his melody, holding up a finger over the last hole of his instrument, a lovely flute covered with geometric carvings that appeared to have no rhyme or reason to them.

"How may I serve you?"

Dinah just blinked at him.

"What was that tune you were playing?" Diana asked.

"Introductions first," he said sweetly. "I am the Piper of Lexumberg."

Diana narrowed her eyes, looking over his instrument, his casual but comfortable smile and his figure swathed in forest green from head to toe. Too trusting to be trusted, she thought.

"I'm Din�" the young girl started, as Diana clamped a hand over her mouth.

"No names."

The man's smile broadened at this.

"You'd better be careful around here," he leaned forward, talking under his breath. "People around here know how to deal with your kind."

"And what are 'my kind'?" Diana asked coldly. She stood to her full height and leaned over the man, making him step backwards, his eyes bulging.

The Piper had already given his game away, but remained stalwartly silent. Dinah looked dazed, glancing back and forth between the two of them.

Inside she smiled. So, the Bat Man's tricks did work.

"To start, I will purchase your flute," Diana said, placing her money pouch on the dealing table and placing her hands against either side of it.

"One of these?" he said, stretching his arm out over his merchandise.

"No," she said sharply. "The one in your hand, charlatan. If I had been so foolish to give you my name, then one of the others might be suitable."

The man sniffed, and stared her down. Dinah's face was in a twist trying to figure out what exactly why the hell Dyanisos was so obsessed with buying a flute when they came to the market to buy food!

"I have a better idea," he said, turning towards his tent after covertly inspecting their surroundings.

"Come inside."

***

Dinah's parents sat quietly at the opposite end of the small room, stiff as a pair of boards, their hands crossed neatly across their laps. They were trying to divide their time watching Bat Man polish his sword and O'Brien juggle the empty water jugs that he had grabbed from their shelves. Their eyes kept on falling on Bat Man.

"Don't take your eyes away, fellow travelers," O'Brien said with an enthusiastic air. "Where there were three, now there are two!" he said triumphantly as he continued to juggle the remaining jugs as the third, which he tried to secure to a hook behind his belt, came crashing to the floor.

Dinah's parents jumped, as the pottery shattered against the ground.

"Enough," Bat Man said, coming over to O'Brien. "Go play in the street, and don't swindle anyone," he said, pointing towards the door.

The clown stuck out his tongue when Bat Man had turned and loped outside.

Bat Man quietly went back to cleaning his weapons, as Dinah's father stood, wiping sweat from his brow, and stammered, "Y-You're the Bat Man?"

"Yes," he growled.

His wife clutched at him as her husband took a step nearer to him. "I've heard of you."

Batman remained silent.

The man looked back at his wife once more, her eyes pleading to him, and stepped closer. Then he moved quickly and shut the door to their home. Bat Man's gaze followed him carefully as he walked around him.

"I knew your father," the man said, tears coming to his eyes. "I know who you are."

Bat Man continued polishing his weapons. "Then you don't know me at all. And I have no tolerance for liars."

"I told you it was but a wive's tale," the woman said with a look of utter relief. "He's been talking about this for years," she said to Bat Man, "And I tell him to stop, but he refuses. Even after all the suffering it has caused us."

"Lord Wayne," the man said looking over at Bat Man. "You're the son of Lord Wayne."

Bat Man stopped his movements.

"I was a vassal on Lord Wayne's land," the other man quickly continued. "He was a kind and generous Lord. The month he died, I came to him earlier to report my harvest, and I heard whisperings in his counting room. It was your mother and father arguing."

"Stop this nonsense!" his wife yelled at him, and put her head in her hands and began crying. "We'll end up in Alexander's gallows. Think of our daughter."

Bat Man looked at the crying woman, his past coming back to haunt him. "Go on."

"I am an honest man, so I didn't want to listen. But your mother cried so loudly, just as my wife does," he said, tears beginning to break across his cheeks as he pointed towards his wife. "She wanted to leave, to protect you. To protect their child, but your father wouldn't hide," he continued, burying his face in his hands. "He was an honest man."

A sound like a hammer pounded against the front door.

"Hide," Dinah's father said. "They're coming for you."