Justice League of Equestria: Gods and Monsters

Barda groaned as she woke up in a soft bed. "W-Where am I?" She asked no one in particular as she cleared her eyes. The first thing she noticed was that her armor was gone along with her weapon, the second thing she noticed that was that she was in a cell of some sort, the bars, walk, and even the floor were all made out of some sort of Crystal.

"What the.... where's my stuff?!" She screamed. "Ah'm not kidding! Where's my stuff?!"

"Kept away just to make sure you don't go nuts" A voice said to her.

"W-Who said that?!" Barda shouted as she started looking around, raising her fists in defense. "Ah'm warning you! I'm a New God! I've taken on-OW!" She winced as she felt a sharp pain shooting through her body. Kneeling down she felt her chest, remembering exactly where the death entity had struck her.

"A New God? Please don't flatter yourself." The voice said. "I mean seriously that's the kinda thing that gets you killed in here. Though if it's from one of the Amazons it isn't that bad to be honest. Marshmallow hell at it's finest."

Barda's ear twitched as she groaned in irritation. "What does that even mean?!" She asked as she pulled herself back onto her bed. "And who the hay are ya anyway l?!"

"I'm in the cell next to ya but uh.... you might not wanna look... I'm a bit um.... indecent at the moment." The voice said with a chuckle.

Barda blinked and-against her better judgment-looked... and her face went as red as a tomato as she quickly turned away. "OH SWEET MOTHER OF-"

"Aw come on! I'm still wearing some underwear!" The voice laughed. "And hey I DID warn you!"

The creature in the cell was a pale coated stallion with a brown mane, he was as tall as she was with quite a lean build. He possessed black, eel-like tattoos that ran across his back and along his arms, webbed hands and feet, a set of gills on his neck, and large fins coming out of his back that seemed to act as wings.

"That underwear barely qualifies as a loincloth... just... just ew..." Barda grimaced as she glared at the prisoner, focusing on his face rather than his body. "Just what are ya exactly? Ah've never seen an equine like ya... and what's with those fins?"

"Huh? OH! You mean my wings. Well see my Mom was a seapony and Pops was a Pegasus." The prisoner said to her with a chuckle. "So what's your story then, hm?"

"Ah..." She looked away for a moment, contemplating the events that lead up to her situation. "Ah had a fight with Mah sister..." She stated bluntly. "After our… disagreement, I teleported myself as far away as possible… I ended up here and passed out from my injuries..." She explained, after which she turned back to the crossbreed. "Ok then... question number two: where the heck am I?"

"You're in Themyscira; the Island of Crystal Ponies."

"Crystal..... what?" She asked. "Did y'all just say CRYSTAL ponies?"

The prisoner just smirked. "What? Is it that hard to believe?"

"Ah just... that seems so impossible!" She stated... before two ponies entered the prison, their coats in manes glistening like crystals in the light.

".... well, Ah'm just gonna shut up now." She said. She then saw that they were wearing armor that barely covered them. How embarrassing... don't they know that they could do so much better in battle if the armor was actualarmor?

"Alright you, start talking!" One of them stated as she pointed her sword at her. "Who are you and how did you get here?!"

"Mah name's Barda. Ah'm from a VERY distant world from this one." She said. "Ah'm one of the New Gods and Ah mean ya no harm. Ah actually teleported here by total accident."

The two stared at her for a few seconds before turning to each other. "She's either lying or she got hit on the head way too hard." One of them whispered.

"Wow, just how many toads did you lick to come up with THAT story?" The stallion asked, trying his hardest not to laugh. "Let me tell you this; pleading insanity isn't going to get you any early paroles."

"HOW DARE Y'ALL!" Bloom shouted as she grabbed the cell door and yanked it off and ripped it in two. "THAT PROOF ENOUGH FOR YA?! OR DO AH HAVE TO LITERALLY GO THROUGH ONE OF Y'ALL?!"

"How did she-"

"Take her down, NOW!" One of the guards shouted as they rushed her, swords drawn.

Barda just glared as she grabbed the two and slammed their heads together and threw them to the side. "That's just sad."

"Um... ok then..." The stallion blinked in surprise. "Well, as long as you're staging a breakout, mind letting me out to?" He asked hopefully.

"....fine just. Go find yer stuff and FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS PUT ON SOME REAL CLOTHES!" She shouted as she quickly ripped the doors off and looked away.

"Aw thanks sweet cheeks." The stallion said as he got out. "By the way? The name's Featherweight."

"Yeah, yeah. Just go get your clothes!" Barda snapped.

"Well I would, however knowing them they took my clothes to the armory, my only attire was my enhanced armor." Featherweight explained as he placed his hand on one of the pipes, sensing the water within. "And chances are that's where your stuff is too."

"Well... fine then." Barda said as she blushed. Seriously taking their armor was one thing, but barelygiving them anything to cover themselves with?! This was just savagery!

"Sweet! Now then..." He smirked, turning to the unconscious guards, he dragged the two into his cell and took their keys, locking them inside. "Let's go, I've been stuck in here long enough to know that they send new guards every five hours."

"Alright." Barda said as she followed the stallion. "So wait... what did y'all do to end up in there? Ah mean Ah understand me but how did you?"

"Let's just say I took a mission for my boss that landed me on the Queen's shit-list." He stated bluntly as they snuck out of the prison area.

The moment they got outside Barda was shocked to say the least, there was a tall, slender castle built from crystals of various hues resting on a set of arches, it was surrounded by buildings fashioned from the same material and

She almost felt like she was back on New Genesis… or an ancient version of it at least.

"You done gawking? We gotta go to the armory right now." Featherweight said as he grabbed her and tried to pull her along with him. Only realizing he couldn't so much as move her. "What the... mare how much do you weigh?"

Barda quickly snapped out of her daze and yanked her arm out of his grasp. "Watch it, sea-pony. Just because we have a temporary alliance doesn't mean you get to mouth off."

"Actually it does. I know my way around here and you don't," He said with a smile as he rushed off. "CATCH UP IF YOU CAN!"

"Oh for the love of-do you not know the meaning of stealth?!" She snapped as she quickly chased after him.

"IF YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING YOU'D SEE STEALTH AIN'T THE ISSUE HERE!" He shouted as he soon arrived at the armory. "Bingo.”

"Ok... now where's my armor...?" She mumbled to herself as they began searching. But as she kept searching she couldn't find anything that resembled her armor or weapons... which worried her. She couldn't help but fear what just happened. "Please... PLEASE tell me someone's not wearing it right now."

"Well, at least they kept MY armor here!" A new, slightly deeper voice called out.

Barda turned around to see Featherweight in his armor... and her jaw dropped.

Featherweight now wore black skin-tight armor, a disc-shaped helmet with two large red eyes, small tubes that connected from the back of the head to his shoulders. The hands of his suit were webbed and the suit also sported fins on each of his legs. And on his back were two identical handles what she assumed were blades.

"What ARE you?"

"In this armor, call me Black Manta."

"....that is a stupid name to call yourself." She said with the most deadpanned expression on her face.

"Oh come on! Mantas are one of the most deadly things in the oceans!"

"I've faced creatures in the depths of space much more menacing than whatever you based that armor on." Barda scoffed. "Seriously, that helmet looks ridiculous-WOAH!" She was immediately cut off as she ducked to the side, narrowly avoiding being impaled by a sword.

"Alright time to shine." Manta said as his eyes glowed and red lasers shot out. However the two were quickly reminded why they were called Crystal Ponies, as the moment Manta's lasers hit the two mares it immediately deflected off of their bodies and was sent right back at the two.

"AW NUTS-" Was all he got out before his lasers hit him and Barda head on. The two hit the walls and were nearly knocked out by the blasts.

"...nice one, genius..." Barda groaned as she slowly picked herself up, only to be kicked back down by one of the ponies.

"Stay down, intruder!" She snapped.

"Aw come on." She groaned as she looked up. "Ah really hate today."

"Well good to know New Gods, or whatever you are, hate Mondays too." Black Manta said as they were both lifted up... or at least they tried to with Barda.

Meanwhile at the watch tower, Twilight sat at the main computer with Fluttershy by her side. On the screen were a pictures of various scientists, such as Raymond Palmer, Moondancer, Professor Flim and Professor Flam, Dr. Fries, Dr. Crane, and several others.

"So you're saying you think somepony wanted Palmer to be kidnapped by Zazz?" Twilight asked as she continued to type.

"Definitely." Fluttershy said as she removed her mask. "Oh I'm glad Pinkie's asleep at this time of night. I don't need to wear that damn thing twentyfour-seven."

"I was personally starting to wonder if you ever washed that thing..." Twilight mumbled to herself before bringing up another picture of the now-deceased Zazz. "Who do you think would want him out of the way? And for what reason?"

"Could be a million reasons." Batmare said. "Could be one reason. Whoever it was they chose the wrong one to finish the job."

Suddenly several red lights started flashing as aerial map popped up, showcasing the location where a boom-tube seemed to be opening up.

The odd part was, it seemed to be coming from the middle of the ocean, and the signal was badly distorted.

"What in the....." Twilight said as she studied where the boom tube opened up. "That's.... that place isn't on any map we have."

Fluttershy arched a brow before pulling out a communicator. "AJ? We've picked some boom-tube activity. You busy right now?"

"Ah'm already heading there.... Ah know who popped up. Just tell me the coordinates." AJ replied over the communicator.

Back in Themyscira, the Guardponies walked into the throne room with their prisoners in tow, Manta (sans his mask) was thrown to the floor while Barda was shoved forward. "The prisoners, my Queen. We caught them trying to escape."

"Understood." The Queen said with a cold look in her opal eyes. She had a pale pink coat and a long, flowing mane that was two shades of magenta and dark purple.She wore a golden tiara, silver shoulder guards and arm bands, black leather gloves with deep blue highlights along the wrists, black chainmail under her armor that covered her arms, legs, and waist, a white cape attached to her shoulder guards, what appeared to be a metal skirt, a golden breastplate, and boots with similar properties.

"Now then... I would like to know what caused you to try and escape this island? The mare I mean. Not you Manta."

"Aw, and I thought you cared-OW!" Featherweight groaned as one of the guards hit him with the handle of her sword.

Barda simply glared at the Queen. "Oh I don't know, maybe it has something to do with the fact that you took my stuff and threw me in a cell the moment I got here!"

"We couldn't be sure of you being a threat to our people." She said calmly. "You must understand that our kind is secretive-"

"And paranoid! Look it was consensual okay? She got on me first!" Manta said with a smile.

"SILENCE! ONE OF US WOULD NEVER GIVE OURSELVES TO A BEAST LIKE YOU!" One of the guards shouted before hitting him in the head again.

Barda scowled at their rather aggressive treatment towards Featherweight. "While I can somewhat understand your methods. Your treatment towards us is more than questionable." She said as she glared at one of the guards that had struck Featherweight.

"Hm? Is that right?" The queen asked. "And what makes you say that? What makes you have any moral ground to say such a thing that's normal in our home?"

Barda held back a swear. "Well I don't know what he did to incur your wrath, but I doubt-"

"Mother, I wish to discuss-" A new voice called out, only to stop as soon as she entered the room upon witnessing the spectacle before her.

The mare wore a simple robe that covered up most of her body. Her coat was crystal pink and her curly mane was pink with light blue stripes.

The guards bowed and Featherweight smiled upon seeing her. "Hey Flurry! How's it-OW! WILL YOU STOP HITTING ME?!"

"Mother what's going on?!" The mare, Flurry, asked the Queen. "What is this?!"

"I am merely making sure she is not a threat." She explained before shooting a glare at the stallion that was being forced to kneel down. "And making sure this vile creature doesn't escape again."

"Mother I agreed to what happened! I keep telling you that!" She said before groaning. "It's like you don't even WANT to accept that I actually LIKE him!"

"Flurry, we can discuss this at a later date!" The Queen argued. "We have other matters to attend to at the moment-"

"Wait, you..." Barda gestured to Featherweight, who smiled cheekily. "...and her?" She finished, gesturing to Flurry, who simply gave Featherweight a coy smirk.

"IN ANY CASE!" The Queen shouted. "The point here is that you-" she pointed to Barda "-have invaded our domain unannounced! What are your plans and how did you find us?!"

"Ah'll tell you what Ah told the guards, Ah'm a New God from a distant world called New Genesis and Ah was teleported here by accident." She explained, however she was very doubtful that anyone would believe her at this point.

"Quite a story there." The queen said with a cold glare. "But there's only one way to truly decide if you're telling the truth." She then snapped her fingers. "BRING OUT THE LASSO!"

"Bring in the what now?" She asked as she saw one of the Crystal Ponies walk into the room with a glowing rope on a pillow, kneeling before her Queen as she took it.

"This lasso forces whomever is bound within it to speak truthfully to the wielder, no matter how strong their will." She explained as she approached her.

"Kinky~OW!" Featherweight cooed, only to get whacked upside the head again.

Flurry gave the guard a sharp glare. "Do that again and you'll be cleaning the entire armory for a week." She growled, prompting the guard to step back.

Ignoring the two, the Queen held up the rope. "If you have nothing to hide then you nothing to fear."

"Ah don't." She said with a brave voice. "So why don't ya use it now and get it over with?"

The Queen wrapped the rope around her arm, upon doing so the rope glowed brighter and Barda felt a rush of energy flow through her body, almost overtaking her will.

"First question: who are you?"

"Barda Bloom of the New Gods." Barda said with a steely look in her eyes.

"So that is true... next question. How and why did you end up here?"

"Ah came to this planet searching for my big sister, while Ah found her Ah also encountered the entity of death. Ah was forced to fight both of them and ended up sustaining several injuries. Ah teleported as far away from the two of them as Ah could and ended up here." She continued to explain, a small feeling of guilt making itself known in the back of her mind.

"And why is your sister here on this world? Why did she leave your world?" The Queen asked.

"Ah...Ah..." She stammered as she tried to hold back, but ultimately her will diminished. "She was going to get married to a Prince as a symbol of final peace between our two worlds, but our grandfather used her wedding to slaughter the planet's ruler and his council, killing her betrothed in the process." She stated, slowly feeling the weight of these memories and causing several feelings to surface, sadness, disgust, regret, and most of all... guilt.

"Holy shit." Featherweight said as he stared at her in shock. "I mean... WOW. That is COLD BLOODED right there. I may not like the Queen but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't stoop that low."

"You are correct.... but now this is curious.... WHY did you do this?" The Queen asked. Everyone's curiosity now open.

"Our planets; Apokolips and New Genesis, had been at war for centuries on end. When their Lord Darkseid came to us in an attempt to make peace with us via the marriage, mah grandfather; the Highfather, saw it as an opportunity to use the marriage as a ruse to gain control over Apokolips in his name." She explained, though inside she felt like she was dying.

"....and why are you here?" The Queen asked. The guards, Flurry, Featherweight almost numb to anymore shocking responses Barda could have left.

"Ah... Ah... had to get away... Ah just wanted my sister to come home... but she rejected me..."

"Gee, I wonder why?" Featherweight sarcastically remarked. Not even the guards reacted to this, simply glaring at her in disgust.

"P-please... A-Ah had no choice.... Ah just wanted mah sis back.... A-Ah was just followin' orders.... h-he said it'd make everything better." She said between tears.

The Queen scowled as she pulled the rope tighter. "Do you truly believe that? Do you honestly believe widowing your own sibling at her wedding was the only course of action?" She asked, her tone dangerously low. "If so, then you truly are deluded."

"AH WAS RAISED TO BE A WARRIOR!" She shouted at her. "AH WAS BORN TO FIGHT AGAINST THE VERY MEANING OF EVIL ITSELF! THE ONLY REGRET I HAD WAS WIDOWING MAH SIS! IF YOU KNEW WHAT HIS MONSTER OF A FATHER DID YOU WOULDN'T BLAME ME! YOU'D BE THANKING ME!"

The Queen gave her a cold glare before kneeing her in the gut with enough force to bring her to her knees. "You claim to be a warrior and yet you took the coward's way out. You say that you were born to fight evil itself, but evil comes in many forms... such as your grandfather." She stated as she removed the rope and walked around her. "I don't know how things work on your planet, but the differences between good and evil are as black and white as you believe them to be."

Barda just looks at the ground and started crying. "... kill me... j-just kill me... A-Ah'm so pathetic."

The Queen looked down at the mentally broken New God before turning away. "Take her back to her cell." She stated as she walked back to her throne.

To the Unicorn Guards and levitated her towards the exit. As they left the room the remaining guards gestured to Featherweight. "What about him?"

The Queen scoffed. “Put him back in his cell, I'm in no mood to deal with him right now."

"But Mom-" Flurry protested.

"No buts!" She snapped as Featherweight was dragged out of the room. Flurry scowled and stormed away.

As Barda was levitated back to the prison, a familiar figure watched from above...

".... what in blazes did mah sis get caught up in this time?"

On another part of the island, a Pegasus mare with a yellow coat and light orange mane flew towards the beach. She was dressed in golden armor, wore a similarly-colored tiara, and had a red cape flowing behind her.

She landed in front of a tombstone and placed a blue flower upon it. Honoring the brave soul who selflessly saved her life at the cost of his own. "Rest in peace, brave warrior..." She then kissed the head of the tombstone and felt the tears come to her eyes. "I promise... I promise you that your sacrifice will not be in vain."

"Aww, how sweet~" A soft, alluring voice called out. The Pegasus turned around and quickly drew her sword... only to immediately drop it as her eyes began to glow...

"Now, now, there's no need for that." Diamond Grace smirked as she approached the mare with Lashina behind her. "I'm sure with the right training you'll make a fine addition to my forces..." She gigged sinisterly as she snapped her fingers, forcing her to kneel before her. "...and you'll be the first of many..."