Don't mind me trying to incorporate the phrase 'happily ever after' at the end of all of these.
I have no regrets-

Sitting in a cell, Jason has a lot to think about. Like:
1) What he is going to tell the king and queen what he was doing in their garden (...that one might be more difficult. Cass was with him, the only princess of Gotham. Oh dear-)
2) Figure out how to get the hell out of here (might be less difficult-probably).

Jason was fine aside from those two obstacles.

***********
Cassandra on the other hand was terrified for his safety and her parents staring her down does not help what so ever.

"Who is he?" Selina asks her daughter while Bruce gazes intently as Cassandra squirms in her chair. Her father's glare is intimidating no matter who is the receiving end of it...

"His name is Jason," Cassandra explains quietly.

"Is that all you know?" Cassandra nods to her mother's question, trying not to cry.

"Cass how irresponsible! You barely know this boy," Selina states sternly.

"We have been corresponding for two months. I... I asked him to come here to stop this. For Damian's sake mother! I... I didn't mean for Jason to get in trouble," She admits.

Selina blinks down at her daughter and seems a little proud at the initiative she took. Cassandra stands up.

"May I take my leave?" She questions and after a moment, Bruce nods to his wife.

"Yes, you can leave love." Selina says giving her daughter a kiss on the forehead. The door closes and Selina sighs, sitting on the king and queen's ornate bed that has been used for centuries.

"Bruce... is there something you're not telling me?" Selina asks after a moment-noting how quiet he was during her scolding.

"He's a Jester," Selina's eyes widen when Bruce says this.

"Oh dear."

***********

"Cass!" The princess sighs.

"What is it now!" She demands as she passes her two older brothers in the hall.

"Are you alright? You never snap at anyone." Richard says concerned. The only princess of Gotham sighs, balling her hands into fists.

"No, I am not alright! Nothing is ALL RIGHT!" She shouts at them and they begin to argue.

***********

Queen Selina came out a few minutes later and looks at her children heartbroken. When they finally look up, her throat becomes dry and she swallows to compose herself.

"We are going to begin trial for the boy. I want all of you to be present," She leaves and her children follow.

***********

Jason is brought to the throne room in chains. There are six thrones in the room, one for each member of the royal family (there was only one that was unoccupied, for the youngest prince of Gotham, Damian).

He spots Cass first. He wants to apologize, possibly ask her if she knows the truth about him-if not he would tell her, whether or not she's upset with him, she had the right to know- just anything! But he can't...

Not when her father stares down at him intimidatingly like a hawk. Besides, he knows who Jason truly is. A Jester. A spy. A liar. A son-

Son. He thinks about his mother. Is she alright? Is she safe? Did she succumb to the effects of the virus?! If there is a god out there, Jason is certainly praying!

"I know who you are. But I want you to tell us. So Jason, what are you?"

***********

"I am a Jester," he see Cass' eyes (and her brothers' widen in shock), "A member of the Kingdom of Jesters. But I can't help who I am, King Bruce. I am not your enemy. My king is," Jason explains, the last part said bitterly.

"And why were you in the garden with my daughter?" Bruce asks suspicious, but before Princess Cassandra or Jason can answer, a lowly servant with nervous, fiddling hands walks into the room.

"A-apologies, King Bruce. But there's a woman outside who wishes to speak with you," the servant explains looking at the floor. King Bruce turns to his queen and Selina nods in approval.

"Send her in." The servant nods and quickly rushes out the door.

***********

A woman in a red cloak with black accents enters the court. Her eyes are blue, her hair blonde in magnificent curls, and with the brightest shade of red on her lips. Cass stares intently at the woman. She knows her... she might even remember her.

"I have come to prove the innocence of my servant." The woman says, removing the hood from her hair and Selina gasps and the dreaded name comes on her lips before it can be stopped, "Queen Harleen."

"Yes, it is I. And I am here, as I said, to prove Jason's innocence." She explains, gesturing to him with a slender hand and red painted nails as Jason looks at her with an expression of awe and confusion as to why she would help him, even with the relationship they had, (Harleen had a fondness for him-the son she never had-they became good friends) because you didn't help people in the Kingdom of Jesters... everyone is out for themselves-no exceptions.

"How?" Selina asks skeptically.

"Because he did not cause this sickness upon your son. I did." She explains, her eyes flicking to Cassandra's.

They were shocked in silence and with a sudden whip of courage, Selina stands up from her throne, face red with anger, and speaks to Harleen crossly.

"My son is dying because of you!" She shouts and Harleen glares at her, not intimidated at all (she was thief long before she was a queen).

"I did only what my husband asked! And, like you I assume, Queen Selina I am loyal to my husband! No matter how much I loathe or despise him. I did not want to do it, but..." She begins a coughing fit and green veins appear on her face as the royal family looks on concerned.

Harleen looks up at them, her eyes becoming saddened and remorseful as she whispers, "I didn't have a choice... no one denies the king." Selina sits down quietly.

"Well do you have a cure?!" Selina asks impatiently and Harleen sighs.

"That's why I came here. I want to show you how bad things really are."

***********

The very next day, Queen Selina, Queen Harleen, Jason, Princess Cassandra, Prince Tim, Prince Richard and Dr. Leslie arrive in the Kingdom of Jesters concealed by cloaks.

They go to the peasant side of the kingdom and Selina stares in horrified awe. The people have green veins on their arms and faces, some have white skin and green hair, others begin to have red lips and in the distance: the laughter of the 'untouchables' is heard. As they pause at an abandoned alley, Harleen stops Queen Selina.

"We do not go there, they are untouchables. They are lost and will infect those they touch." Harleen explains, holding Selina's arm, as their maniacal laughter continues like a chant. Dr. Leslie focuses on the pipes and turns to her audience.

"Queen Harleen, how is 'the Virus' normally spread?" Harleen shakes her head sadly.

"We do not know, but many believe it comes from the pipes. But when their hair becomes green, faces white with black eyes and red lips and that... horrifying laugh... they can spread it to others." She explains, looking at the night sky in a daze.

"You think that's the reason?" Selina asks the doctor who nods at the other Queen.

"Yes. I'd like to take some samples from the pipes. Where do they lead?" Harleen hesitates and Jason answers for her.

"They come from the castle." He explains and Harleen swallows.

"My husband ordered... for his citizens to be infected... for me to be infected... so he can raise an army." Harleen explains in a hushed whisper and she is clearly scared.

"It's alright, Queen Harleen. If I can sample the fluids then we might be able to find a cure." Dr. Leslie assures her and Harleen stares at her with a determined gaze.

"Good."

***********

Before they leave, Cassandra lingers and Jason stays with her as she looks at the citizens in despair.

"This is terrible!" She says aloud and Jason nods.

"Yeah... it's bad."

"Do you have anyone who has been inflicted?" Cassandra asks turning to him. He hesitates and then nods, his eyes welling up with tears.

"My mother. She's dying, as are all of these people. Not in the sense of actually dying, but... we consider it to be the same. When they become 'untouchable' they are shells of their former selves." He explains as he blinks back his tears. Cassandra simply nods and they begin to walk away.

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright, it's not your fault. But while we're here, I'm sorry Cass. For making you take so many risks." Cassandra chuckles with a small smile.

"Jason, I invited you to the royal garden... if anyone is taking risks, it was you." She explains and, when she isn't looking, he smiles.

As they walk out of the gates, she asks him a question that has been burning in the back of her mind.

"Jason?"

"Hm?"

"What is your relationship with Queen Harleen like?"

***********

In a matter of weeks, Dr. Leslie found a cure for the Virus. She cured Prince Damian first and all his siblings and the servants and citizens were overjoyed to see the young prince again. Next she did the Jesters, including Shelia, Jason's mother and finally, Queen Harleen. King Joker was overthrown and the corrupt soldiers in his ranks were stripped of their titles by the new ruler: Queen Harleen.

The Jesters and the Knights of Gotham formed a new alliance now that their kingdoms were saved.

And of course, Princess Cassandra's ladies in waiting Barbara and Stephanie got into relationships with Cass's older brothers, Prince Richard and Prince Tim, respectively.

Last of all Shelia finally got to meet the mystery woman Jason had been writing to all this time and the couple continue to grow closer and closer each day.

And they lived happily ever after.

Author's Notes

Phew!
It's finished-I doubted I would get it done, but I finally finished this!!

Be sure to check out the other parts and the epilogue.

Thanks!
BatgirlGeek❤️