Becoming Nightshade

Maggie drifted in the void, her body weightless as the pain and chaos from moments ago faded into nothingness. There was no sound, no light—only an overwhelming sense of stillness. Her mind struggling to grasp where she was or how she had ended up here. Then, out of the darkness, a faint glow appeared. It grew brighter, forming the outline of a figure. The woman standing before her looked eerily familiar—her face was a near mirror of Maggie's, but older, with an otherworldly aura that made her seem both serene and intimidating.

"Who… are you?" Maggie asked, her voice trembling.

The figure smiled faintly, her eyes filled with a strange mixture of warmth and intensity.

"I am Lillyanna," she said, her voice smooth and familiar—the same voice that had guided Maggie against the Joker.

"You know me, even if you don't understand how."

 "How do I know you? What's happening? Where am I?"

Lillyanna stepped closer, her presence calming yet powerful.

"You are in the space between life and death, Maggie. A crossroads. You are here because you have a choice to make."

"A choice?" Maggie echoed, her voice cracking. "What choice?"

Lillyanna's expression softened, and she reached out a hand as if to comfort Maggie.

"The power within you—the shadows—they chose you. And now, you must decide what to do with them."

Maggie shook her head, stepping back.

"I don't want any of it. The shadows, the power… I just want to go home."

"Home," Lillyanna said softly, her gaze unwavering.

"The shadows will remain, whether you embrace them or not. They are part of you, Maggie. Denying them will not make them disappear."

Maggie's breathing quickened, her mind racing.

"What happens if I… embrace them?"

Lillyanna's smile faded slightly, her tone growing serious.

"If you embrace the shadows, you will gain the strength to protect those you love."

"And if I don't?" Maggie asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Lillyanna's expression turned somber, her piercing gaze softening slightly.

"If you choose not to embrace the shadows, then your time here is truly over. The Reaper will come to take you to the afterlife, as your life in the mortal world was cut short."

 "Cut short? By… the Joker?"

Lillyanna nodded, her tone gentle yet firm.

"Yes. The wounds he inflicted were too grave. Your body could not endure. If you do not accept the shadows, there is no going back."

Maggie's legs felt weak, and she sank to her knees in the void. The weight of Lillyanna's words bore down on her like a tidal wave.

"So… I'm dead?"

"Not... yet," Lillyanna said softly, kneeling to meet Maggie's eye level.

"You stand at the crossroads. The shadows offered you this chance, this liminal space to decide. But if you refuse them, your path to the afterlife will begin."

Maggie's mind raced with memories—her father, Alfred, Dick, Barbara, Jason, her friends from school. The thought of leaving them behind, of disappearing entirely, made her chest tighten further.

"It's not fair," she whispered, her voice cracking. "It's not fair."

Lillyanna reached out, her hand hovering just above Maggie's shoulder.

"Life and death are rarely fair, Maggie. But you have been given something most do not—a choice. What you do with it will shape everything that comes next."

Maggie knelt in the void, her hands trembling as she processed everything Lillyanna had told her. The weight of the choice pressed on her like a physical burden. Her thoughts raced, flickering through faces and memories: Bruce's quiet strength, Alfred's comforting presence, Barbara's laughter, and—most vividly—Jason. The thought of leaving them all behind felt unbearable, a pain far greater than anything she'd endured. She clenched her fists, looking up at Lillyanna with a mixture of fear and determination.

"I can't leave them. I won't. I accept the shadows."

Lillyanna's expression softened, a proud smile breaking across her face.

"Good," she said warmly. "You've made the right choice."

Maggie tilted her head, still unsure if she made the right choice. Lillyanna stepped closer; her movements graceful as she extended her hands toward Maggie. Her voice calm.

"We restart your heart."

"Restart my—what?" Maggie began, but before she could finish, Lillyanna placed her hands firmly on Maggie's chest.

"Clear!" Lillyanna shouted. Maggie flinched, her body jolting slightly in confusion.

"What are you—"

"Clear!" Lillyanna yelled again, this time with more force.

Maggie felt a shock reverberate through her entire being, a rush of energy that pulled her violently from the void. Maggie's eyes snapped open, her lungs dragging in a deep, desperate gasp of air. Blinding lights filled her vision, and muffled voices began to sharpen into clarity.

"She's alive!" one of the EMTs exclaimed, his face a mixture of shock and relief.

Another EMT hovered nearby, holding the defibrillator pads, equally stunned.

"Bag her and get her on the stretcher!"

The EMTs worked quickly, securing her onto a stretcher and continuing to monitor her vitals. Maggie's mind swirled with questions and lingering flashes of her time in the void, but one thought stood out above all: she had chosen to come back. For her family. For Jason. For herself.

Bruce sat in his study, a rare moment of quiet. The faint hum of the computer in the background was the only noise until his phone vibrated on the desk. He glanced at the screen—Commissioner Gordon.

He answered immediately. "Gordon?"

"Bruce," Gordon's voice was uncharacteristically strained, his tone a mix of urgency and distress.

"It's about Maggie… and Barbara."

Bruce frowned, his grip tightening on the phone.

"Maggie? There must be some mistake. She's still in England—her flight doesn't arrive until tomorrow."

There was a pause on the other end, then Gordon sighed heavily.

"Bruce… she came home early. She wanted to surprise you. But—" His voice caught for a moment before continuing, "The Joker attacked them. Both Maggie and Barbara are being rushed to Gotham General. Their injuries are… critical."

The words hit Bruce like a physical blow. For a moment, he couldn't speak, his mind reeling.

"Maggie…? The Joker?" His voice was low, almost disbelieving.

"She's alive, Bruce," Gordon said quickly, as if sensing his reaction.

"It was a miracle they were able to revive her. Barbara's stable, but Maggie… it's bad."

Bruce stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.

"I'm on my way."

"Bruce," Gordon said, his tone softening,

"I'll meet you there. Just… be prepared."

The call ended, leaving Bruce in stunned silence for a moment. He stared at the phone in his hand, his mind racing with questions and fury. He turned toward the door.

"Alfred!"

Within moments, Alfred appeared, his ever-composed demeanor giving way to concern when he saw Bruce's expression.

"Sir? Is something the matter?"

"Its Maggie...Get the car ready," Bruce said curtly, his voice tight.

"We're going to Gotham General."

Alfred nodded immediately, stepping toward the door but pausing as he glanced back.

"Should I notify Master Grayson and Master Todd? Pull them off patrol?"

Bruce hesitated, the usual clarity in his decisions clouded by the gravity of the situation. After a moment, he shook his head.

"Not yet. Let's get to the hospital first and assess the situation. I don't want them distracted."

Alfred inclined his head.

"Very well, sir. I'll have the car ready."

As Alfred left to prepare the vehicle, Bruce took a deep breath, his gaze falling on the framed photograph of Maggie on his desk. A silent promise to himself that he wouldn't let this go unanswered.