When the bill arrived at Pat's Diner, Batman reached for his utility belt, but Pat waved him off with a warm smile.

  "On the house, Batman! It's the least I can do for all you've done for our fair city!"

  Batman shook his head respectfully. "I thank you for this generous offer, Pat, but you are a businessman, and it's people like you who keep Gotham economically sound. Therefore, it is my duty as a citizen, a regur citizen, to support our fellow business establishments!"

  He pced the exact amount plus a generous tip on the table, tipping his cowl politely.

  As they walked toward the diner's exit, young Stevie hurried over with his usual enthusiastic smile.

  "See you next time, Batman! Take care of yourself!"

  "You too, my boy! Keep up the excellent work!" Batman replied warmly, giving the young man an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

  As Ultimate Bruce Wayne and Batman strolled through the evening streets of Gotham, Batman began to speak. "Well, chum, we might as well call in the third applicant, but before—"

  His words were interrupted by the sight of a crowd gathering outside St. Matthew's Cathedral. Well-dressed people were filing into the church, and festive decorations suggested a wedding was about to take pce.

  "Batman! Batman!" several citizens called out excitedly when they spotted the caped crusader. "You simply must come to the wedding! Everyone's invited!"

  "Well, I don't believe I know who the person getting married is," Batman replied courteously.

  "Oh, it doesn't matter!" an elderly woman in a flower-print dress excimed. "You're Batman! Of course you can come in, and your friend too!"

  Batman looked at Ultimate Bruce Wayne, who shrugged. "When in Gotham..."

  They walked into the simple but beautiful church ceremony, where Batman's trained eye immediately spotted a young man in a tuxedo looking absolutely distraught near the altar.

  "What's troubling you, citizen?" Batman asked, approaching the worried groom.

  "Batman! Thank goodness!" the young man excimed. "I'm about to get married—I've known her since we were in high school, and I want everything to go perfectly. But my best man just got sick at the st minute, and I don't know what I'm going to do!"

  The groom looked up at Batman with hopeful eyes. "Hey, how about you be my best man?"

  "Are you sure about that?" Batman asked, genuinely touched. "Well, of course you'd be a great best man to do it!"

  Batman accepted graciously, adjusting his cape with dignity.

  *As Batman becomes a hero in another way, saving the worried groom's wedding day by becoming his best man, little does he know that someone unexpected has a reason to protest the marriage of this happy couple!*

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne heard the same omnipresent voice and just raised his eyebrows, shaking his head.

  The ceremony proceeded beautifully. Batman stood proudly beside the nervous groom as the bride, radiant in her white dress, began walking down the aisle to the traditional wedding march. The congregation beamed with joy at the sight of Batman participating in such a wholesome community event.

  The minister, clearly delighted to have Gotham's greatest hero in attendance, spoke with extra enthusiasm. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of these two young people in holy matrimony." He paused dramatically. "If anyone has any objections to this wedding, speak now or forever hold your peace!"

  At that moment, the church doors burst open with a thunderous crash!

  "I OBJECT!" boomed a familiar voice as King Tut strutted into the church, resplendent in his golden pharaoh costume and followed by three henchmen dressed as ancient Egyptian guards.

  "King Tut!" Batman excimed, instinctively moving to shield the bride and groom. "You ancient vilin! How dare you disrupt this couple's wedding!"

  King Tut pointed dramatically at the bride with his golden scepter. "This fair maiden is clearly the reincarnation of the goddess Isis! She should be marrying me, since I am the reincarnation of the mighty King Tut! Observe her beauty, her grace—she is destined to be my queen!"

  "She's a twenty-five-year-old woman from Gotham City!" Batman protested. "She is not an ancient Egyptian goddess!"

  "Just because she looks young doesn't mean she's not Isis!" King Tut decred imperiously. "Just as I may appear to be a mild-mannered professor, I am truly the reincarnation of King Tut! I know my Isis when I see her, and if anyone should be marrying her, it should be me!"

  The wedding guests murmured nervously as King Tut's henchmen moved to block the exits.

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne thought quickly. "BC, call in the third Batman candidate and see how he handles this!"

  "Portal opening now, Mr. Wayne," BC responded.

  A shimmering dimensional gateway appeared near the altar, and through it stepped the third Batman candidate. But this Batman looked distinctly different—more colorful, more animated, and somehow... ftter than the others. His costume was bright and pristine, his cape perfectly symmetrical, and he moved with the fluid, exaggerated motions of cssic animation.

  "Never fear, citizens!" the cartoon Batman decred in a clear, heroic voice. "Batman is here to save the day!"

  King Tut whirled around, startled. "Another Batman? Impossible!"

  "King Tut, your reign of terror ends here!" the cartoon Batman announced, striking a perfect heroic pose. "These good people deserve to celebrate this joyous wedding in peace!"

  What followed was a textbook superhero battle. The cartoon Batman moved with impossible grace, dodging King Tut's scepter swings while delivering precisely calcuted punches that sent the vilin's henchmen spinning in perfect arcs. Sound effects seemed to materialize in the air around him—*POW!* *BAM!* *WHAM!*—as he systematically defeated each opponent.

  "Holy matrimony!" the cartoon Batman excimed as he tied up the st henchman with his utility belt rope.

  King Tut made one final desperate lunge, but the cartoon Batman simply stepped aside with balletic precision, causing the pharaoh to crash headfirst into a church pew.

  Just then, Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara burst through the doors with several officers.

  "Batman!" Commissioner Gordon called out. "We got reports of a disturbance!"

  The cartoon Batman walked up to him with perfect posture. "Yes, Commissioner. King Tut attempted to disrupt this wedding ceremony, but he has been defeated and is ready for transport to Gotham State Penitentiary."

  "Excellent work, Batman!" Gordon replied as the officers loaded the dazed King Tut and his henchmen into the patrol wagon.

  As the police departed, the older Batman approached his cartoon counterpart and extended his hand for a firm handshake.

  "Thank you for your assistance, fellow crime-fighter," Batman said warmly. "By the way, I like your costume, and you have a perfect heroic demeanor. I think of all the Batman candidates I've interviewed, you come closest to what I'm looking for. However, I would like to analyze all the information thoroughly. I'll be in touch."

  The cartoon Batman smiled heroically. "Thank you, Batman. I appreciate the consideration, and it was my pleasure to help these good citizens celebrate their special day!"

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne opened a portal, and the cartoon Batman stepped through with a cheerful wave, returning to his dimension.

  With King Tut defeated, the wedding ceremony resumed without further interruption. Batman proudly fulfilled his duties as best man, and the young couple was married to thunderous appuse from the grateful congregation.