The Hard Goodbye

Season 6 episode 6 of Nightwing & Batgirl.
== Plot ==
The episode starts with Joker escaping from Arkham Asylum, while all the other criminals were asleep. He punched one of the guards doing rounds through the prison, then picked up the keys from him, and used it and got out of his cell. But it didn't come easy for him. The alarm rang. So he ran away quickly out the Asylum, then stole a car, and drove away. The police soon chased him. But he drove quickly and was able to lose the police chasing after him. After losing them, he now went to his hideout. There, he now plot his new sinister scheme. He asked his henchmen in his hideout to scatter throughout the city to search for his enemies who could potentially stop his plan. His henchmen reported that Nightwing, Batgirl, and Batman are nowhere to be found. 
"Hmm. Where could they be?", Joker wondered. He asked one of his henchmen to look for the heroes' locations on his hideout's supercomputer. Then, they found out that Batman is on a mission with the Justice League, while Nightwing and Batgirl are at Bludhaven, looks like they are patrolling crimes there. 
"Oh. So they all weren't around here in Gotham. Perfect. Now's my time to perform my most sinister act!", Joker exclaimed.
At Bludhaven, Nightwing and Batgirl are on patrol, investigating on a series of murders. The most common thing they noticed from all those murder cases was that they were all beaten down to death. They were still uncertain who the culprit was, so they continued patrolling around Bludhaven. Meanwhile, Batman and the Justice League are at Washington D.C. on a mission to stop the Secret Society's plans, whatever those are. Talia, on the other hand, paid a visit to her sister at the League of Shadows base. 
The scene now moves back to Gotham, at Joker's hideout. He asked his henchmen to go to the storage room to get something.
"Hey boys! Go to my storage room and bring out the thing that I've planned using years ago already.", Joker told them.
"What is it?", they asked.
"The time bomb!", Joker answered them, "For the past few years, I was just holding back. But now, this is the real deal! I'm gonna blow up Gotham Times Square, for anything it's worth!", he continued.
His henchmen were surprised of his new scheme. 
"What's the matter, boys? Scared of your precious city being destroyed? Don't worry, only Times Square will get blown up.", Joker told them.
"Oh. But you do know some of us live there, right?", one of his henchmen asked.
"I know. And I don't care! You should start looking for a new place to settle to. All you should think of right now, is getting the job done!", Joker answered them.
"Alright, boss", the henchmen answered. Now, they went to the storage room and looked for the boxes of time bombs Joker had long kept. Later, they found the box containing it and brought it to him. 
"These're quite heavy.", one of his henchmen said.
"Enough to blow up the entire Gotham Times Square.", Joker replied.
"Where did you get it anyway?", another asked.
"From an old friend.", Joker answered.
"So, did you steal it or buy it?", another asked.
"It doesn't matter now!", Joker answered, as he was annoyed of the constant questions.
"Now, I'm thinking of a way to announce the whole Gotham, of my return!", he said.
Meanwhile at Bludhaven, Nightwing and Batgirl finally found the culprit. It was Blockbuster. They met him at a dark alley. 
"So it's you, Blockbuster.", Nightwing said.
"Tell us, what are your motives this time?", Batgirl asked.
"I'm just making my presence felt around here.", Blockbuster said.
"That's ridiculous", Batgirl replied.
"Out of all cities, you chose this. You just made enemies with the wrong guys.", Nightwing told Blockbuster.
"Like I'm afraid of you.", Blockbuster replied. He attacked Nightwing and slammed his face on the ground. He also knocked Batgirl down. 
The scene moves to Washington, where the Justice League found Secret Society's base. 
"Whatever you're plotting Grodd, it ends now", Flash told Gorilla Grodd, leader of the Secret Society.
"Doesn't matter now. Team, attack them!", Gorilla Grodd told his allies, Clayface, Giganta, Killer Frost, Parasite, Shade, and Sinestro.
The Justice League and the Secret Society clashed.
The scene moves back to Gotham. Joker's henchmen just rampaged at Gotham Times Square. His henchmen riding cars, just fired guns anywhere. 
Jason Todd just got back to the Batcave. Alfred welcomed him, "Welcome back, Master Jason".
"Where's Batman?", Jason asked.
"He went on a mission with the Justice League", Alfred answered.
"What about Nightwing and Batgirl?", Jason asked next.
"They were patrolling crime at Bludhaven", Alfred answered.
"And mother's gone too?", Jason asked.
"Yes, master Todd. She paid a visit to her sister at the League of Shadows base.", Alfred answered.
"Oh, great. Now I have nothing to do here. I'm bored. I'm just gonna watch tv now.", Jason said.
"Perhaps you might be hungry now, master Jason. I'll prepare you some lunch.", Alfred said.
"Yes you may, Alfred. Thanks. You're the best.", Jason replied.
"You're welcome, master Todd.", Alfred responded.
Jason now turned off the tv to watch an action movie, but the show was interrupted by breaking news. The news said that "Joker has gone out of prison and is now rampaging Gotham Times Square. The Joker even broadcasted a bomb threat to the said place of interest.", Vicki Vale reported. Joker's bomb threat was even broadcasted. 
"Listen, citizens of Gotham! Did you miss me? Now I'm back. You missed my jokes? Well, I'm not here for them this time. I'm here, for my latest scheme! We're gonna bore a huge hole on the ground, and plant some bombs in it. So you all better leave this place now, or else you will all turn to ashes. ", Joker announced to Gotham Times Square, through the supercomputer on his hideout.
"No way!", Jason said.
"What an unfortunate time for him to cause chaos.", Alfred said.
"Thanks for the meal, Alfred. But I gotta go now.", Jason said.
"No, master Jason. I was reminded by Bruce and Talia to not let you go on missions alone.", Alfred told him.
"But, Gotham needs me. No one's around but me.", Jason replied.
"I'm sorry, master Jason. But I won't allow you. It's very dangerous out there. You know the Joker. He's not to be underestimated.", Alfred said.
"I know but, can I tell you something?", Jason asked, as Alfred went near Jason. Then he pulled out an ammonium spray and sprayed it on Alfred, knocking him unconscious. He brought Alfred's body on the couch. "Sorry, Alfred. But my city needs me. I hope you realize it.", he told the unconscious Alfred.
Now, Jason Todd suited up as Robin, and went outside the cave. He swung from building to building using his grappling gun. Few moments later, he was able to get to Gotham Times Square. He saw Joker's henchmen. They fired their guns at him, but he dodged those by hiding behind cars. Then, he knocked the guns off their hands by throwing Birdarangs at them. The henchmen now decided to battle him in combat but Robin was able to take them down easily. 
"Everyone, clear the area!", he told all the people around Times Square, loudly. The people did so. He saw the large drilling machine and went there then threw explosive Batarangs at it. The men operating the drilling machine fell down. He saw the large hole on the ground that was drilled. He jumped down there and found more of Joker's henchmen, who were operating the time bombs. He was able to take them down and stop the timer on the time bombs. Now, he asked Joker's men where Joker is. They told him the Joker's hideout is at The Hill. Joker saw everything that happened. He saw how his plan was ruined by Jason. 
"No! No! No! No! How could this happen?", Joker exclaimed, frustrated. Then, he thought of an idea. He told his henchmen to set up a trap. He figured Robin would be coming for him next. 
Back at Bludhaven, Nightwing and Batgirl continued their battle with Blockbuster, this time they were at a warehouse. They discovered Blockbuster's master plan this time. He abducted ordinary people of Bludhaven which he will then turn into his army of Blockbusters by injecting on them the serum he uses. 
"That's it? That's your master plan? We're not impressed", Nightwing taunted.
"It'll be impressive when you become part of them", Blockbuster replied.
"Not gonna happen.", Batgirl replied.
Now, Nightwing and Batgirl battled Blockbuster. His henchmen later came to help him, but Nightwing and Batgirl were able to take them down with ease. Now, they continued battling Blockbuster took the battle outside the warehouse. Later, they came across an appliance store, and from a tv, they saw news, reported by Vicki Vale, that Joker has escaped Arkham again and his men has recently rampaged Gotham Times Square, sending a bomb threat as well. The news also said Robin was able to come to the rescue and took down Joker's men singlehandedly. 
"Oh my goodness! We gotta help Jason.", Batgirl said.
"Yeah, right. Blockbuster, let's end this now!", Nightwing said.
Nightwing and Batgirl threw explosive Batarangs and Birdarangs at Blockbuster. Then, Nightwing knocked him down using his metal pole. Batgirl now placed an EMP mine on his neck, sending an electric shock throughout his entire body, knocking him unconscious. They now saved the abducted people from the warehouse. They thanked the two, and they said they gotta go. Later, police came and arrested Blockbuster and his men. 
Nightwing and Batgirl sent a distress call to Batman, who was still currently battling the Secret Society along with Justice League, this time at Blackhawk Island. 
"Batman! Joker is on the loose!", Nightwing told Batman.
"What now?", Batman replied.
"Come on, Bats. He just attempted to bomb Gotham Times Square, if not for Jason stopping his men. He must be going after the Joker now! We gotta go help him!", Batgirl explained.
"What? I told him to not engage in any missions while Talia and I are not around! I'm going to ask Alfred.", Batman said.
"You know him, he could be a little stubborn sometimes.", Nightwing replied.
"That's it! I gotta end this battle with Secret Society now!", Batman said.
He went back to helping Justice League battle Secret Society. Later, the Justice League were able to take down the villains. Nightwing and Batgirl now also headed to Gotham.
"I got to leave now. My child just put himself in danger.", Batman told the other Leaguers.
"Alright. Do what you must.", Wonder Woman said.
Now, Batman went to his Batplane back to Gotham. 
Meanwhile, Jason had already reached Joker's lair. Joker does not show himself.
"What's a kid like you doing in a dangerous place like my home?", Joker asked.
"I'm not going to let you kill any one else even more! Not as long I'm alive!", Jason answered.
The scene moves to the Batcave. Talia got back and was looking for Jason. But no one's responding. She was shocked to see that Jason wasn't there, and that Alfred was unconscious. Talia woke Alfred up. Later, Batman also got to the cave. 
"Bruce. Jason left.", Talia told Batman.
"What happened to Alfred?", Batman said.
Later, Alfred regains consciousness. He was shocked. His first words were, "Jason! He went after the Joker!".
"He must've sprayed ammonium on you causing you to go unconscious.", Talia said.
"Yes. That's exactly what he did.", Alfred replied. "I'm sorry.", he continued.
"It's not your fault, Alfred. We'll go get him.", Talia replied.
Back at Joker's hideout, Jason and Joker continued talking.
"You know, little boy. I like your spirit. But what you did, was unforgivable.", Joker told him.
"Same goes with you!", Jason replied.
"There's a price you gotta pay for ruining my plans.", Joker told him.
Suddenly, the lights turned off, and Jason was surrounded and taken down by Joker's henchmen. Later, Jason regained consciousness and found himself tied with a rope. He was shocked to see Joker in front of him. Jason struggles to break free, but he was too weak to reach for the gadgets in his utility belt. 
"Without the mask, you're just a poor, weak, and defenseless boy dragged into Batman's crusade on crime.", Joker told him. 
"While you! You are just a miserable man finding joy in others' suffering.", Jason Todd replied.
"You are one clever kid.", Joker told him. "And you know what I do to clever kids?", he asked. "I shut them up.", Joker answered himself, as he grabbed a crowbar and beat Jason Todd to death mercilessly using it. 
"Ah! Stop!", Jason's words, as the crowbar painfully struck him several times.
Meanwhile, Nightwing, Batgirl, Talia, and Batman spread throughout Gotham to search for Joker's new hideout. But later, Joker called them. He told them his exact location. 
"I just beat your sidekick mercilessly, Batman. He's still alive, though. But, I set a time bomb here and I'm about to leave this building. You only have 20 minutes to get here and save him.", Joker told them, as he laughed manically. He and his men now left their hideout.
"No! You're gonna pay for that!", Batman replied. Joker dropped the call.
Now, Batgirl and Nightwing got to the Nightmobile, while Batman and Talia rode the Batmobile. Nightwing and Batman drove at top speed. Later, they were able to reach the hideout. 
"Jason! I'm coming!", Batman said, as he used his grappling gun to swing and get to the hideout. Nightwing used his grappling gun as well, which hung on top of the building. Inside the hideout, the time bomb is down to 5 seconds. 
"Life is beautiful.", were Jason Todd's last words.
As Nightwing and Batman were about to use the rope to get inside the hideout, they were already late. The hideout exploded, sending them away flying. Talia and Batgirl saved them from falling to the ground hard. They were left speechless at what happened. Batman was down on his knees. Talia put her hands on his shoulders and looked down. Batgirl was in tears and Nightwing comforted her.
"I failed. I can't believe I failed.", Batman said.
"It's alright, Bruce. You tried.", Talia comforted him.
"He died a hero.", Nightwing said.
"Don't blame yourself, Batman.", Batgirl told him.
"I'm sorry, Jason.", Batman uttered. Batman now went to recover Jason Todd's dead body from the fires. He carried his body outside the hideout.
"I'm sorry we weren't around for you.", Batman told Jason's dead body.
"Sorry we didn't trust you enough", Talia said.
"There comes a time in a hero's life where he had to make decisions. The hard ones. This exact instance. He was faced with tough choices. This time, he definitely chose the right thing. We weren't around to save Gotham, so he took it upon himself. It just didn't end up well for him.", Nightwing said.
"You are right.", Talia said.
"He did actually save Gotham after all.", Batman realized.
"He was able to stop Joker's men from planting bombs at Times Square. And almost one step away from taking down Joker. So, yeah, he actually did.", Batgirl said.
"Anyone's a grown man until they had to face the Joker alone.", Nightwing added.
The scene moves to the Nightwing, Batgirl, Batman, Talia, and Alfred, mourning at Jason's grave.
Nightwing narrated, "This day marks the passing of a young hero. A significant part of the family. A young hero who risked his life for Gotham. But found himself on the wrong end of the rope. A young hero, who was willing to sacrifice his life for his city, even if it means going against others' orders." 
Batman followed, "He was a young man, who didn't have to prove himself, but did so anyways. A young man, who makes mistakes, not knowing one day, one of those would cost his life. And most importantly, he was a young man, who died a hero."
== Characters ==
=== Heroes: ===
* Nightwing
* Batgirl
* Batman
* Talia al Ghul-Batman's wife.
* Jason Todd/Robin-the second Robin; went to ultimately end the Joker but suffer death at his hands instead.
=== Justice League: ===
* Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman
* Bruce Wayne/Batman
* Diana/Wonder Woman
* Barry Allen/Flash
* Green Lantern (John Stewart)
* Shayera Hol/Hawkgirl-a Thanagarian and founding member of the League
* J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter-one of the last survivors of Mars; one of Justice League's heavy hitters.
==== Other: ====
* Alfred Pennyworth-Batman's butler.
* police
=== Villains: ===
* Blockbuster-a buff criminal who went on a crime scheme in Bludhaven.
* Joker-plotted to blow up Gotham Times Square.
=== Secret Society: ===
* Gorilla Grodd-leader of Secret Society.
* Basil Karlo/Clayface-a former actor turned serial killer.
* Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost-a psychopath with ice powers.
* Doris Zuel/Giganta-a size-shifting villain and frequent enemy of Wonder Woman.
* Rudy Jones/Parasite-an enemy of Superman with the power to absorb energy of living beings.
* Shade-a villain with darkness manipulation powers.
* Sinestro-greatest enemy of Green Lantern Corps.