The Bat

The stallion standing guard outside the back entrance to the bank looked around, his eyes shifting left and right as he nervously took another peek to the sky before his friend could notice. The guard wiped his eye brow and let out a small and shaky breath, his friend taking notice and scoffing in annoyance at his friend’s nervousness.

“Oh come on man, we’ve done this before! What do you think is going to happen? We’re completely fine! My boy made sure the cops have their attention to the other side of town if things go south, a’ight?” The stallion said, punching his partner lightly on the shoulder and chuckling, shifting the toothpick in his mouth with his teeth and leaning against the wall.

His partner swallowed a lump that was growing in his throat, his breathing becoming shakier as he tried to form words.

“Come on man! Stop being such a filly! What is it?” His partner said, trying to hide his annoyance but failing miserably.

“I-I’m keep-keeping m-my ey-eyes out.... F-For th-the B-B-Bat......” His partner said, lifting his hoof up and adjusting his hat rested firmly on his head, covering his mane.

“The Bat-Oh, come on! What we heard last night was bull, okay? Party Favor just fell from the walkway!” The other stallion said, rolling his eyes.

The Bat had only been in Trotham for almost a year and there were probably millions of rumors surrounding it. The stories of a giant, bat like creature running around Trotham had begun growing tiresome. Some of the rumors of the Bat were starting to sound ridiculous. A regular pony that was able to lift concrete off himself? A pony that could stand on its hind legs? A pony that, while on its hind legs, stood at over 10 feet tall? And the most ridiculous of all has to be the rumor that the Bat drinks pony blood.

“Th-That ain’t what I-I heard man... That ain’t wh-what I heard a-at all....” His partner said, backing up closer to the door and towards the safety of the light, “I-I heard the Bat got him and sucked his blood....”

The other stallion opened his mouth to say something, but as he did the back door to the bank flew open, knocking the other stallion forward and back to the darkness.

“Okay! Let’s go, now!” A stallion said, holding two duffel bags, lumpy from all the money inside.

The three stallions began taking off, turning to enter an alleyway and make their way to the rooftops, but they stopped once one of their partners started shaking crazily while on the ladder.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” The stallion carrying the duffel bags quietly shouted down to his quivering partner.

“I-I don’t think w-we should go up to t-the roo-rooftops m-man.... Th-The Bat m-might be up there....” The stallion said, causing his other partners to both scoff and roll their eyes.

“The Bat. Ain’t. Real!” His other partner said, taking his toothpick out with his magic and throwing it down to the shaking stallion, who made a short, shrill scream upon feeling the toothpick come in contact with his skin.

“Stop crying and come on! Now! Or you ain’t getting your cut of the money!” His other partner with the duffle bags said, continuing to scale up the ladder to the top.

The quivering stallion began thinking as both his partners abandoned him at the bottom of the ladder, his mind racing as he imagined both scenarios. He could go with them and possibly have all his limbs shattered by the Bat, with his blood being sucked from his body, or he could leave and go home. Maybe the Bat wouldn’t come after him then.

The stallion swallowed another lump that was forming in his throat, looking back up to his partners as they had gotten to the top, making the stallion’s fear and paranoia get even worse as he began climbing the ladder desperately after his friends.

Once he had reached the top of the ladder he saw his two friends sitting down, one counting out the many bits they had just scored from the bank while the other practically drooled over the sight of the pile of gold bits.

“Woah....” The stallion said, his fear and paranoia going away almost instantly upon the sight of the bits they had collected.

“Yeah, right? We definitely scored it big tonight boys. I figure there's gotta be at least a mil and a half here, easy!” The stallion counting said, laughing.

The other stallion wiped his mouth and chuckled, reaching into his pocket, taking out another toothpick which he placed in between his teeth as he laid back against a nearby air conditioner. “Yup boys, we’re definitely getting out of this trash of a city. Where would you guys like to vacation to? Maretropolis?”

“Maretropolis?” The stallion counting said, “Why would I want to go there? It’s full of pussies!”

“Alright,” The previously frightened stallion said, “What about Canterlot? Or Ponyville?”

“Both are full of pussies, but at least Canterlot and Ponyville have something worthwhile in each of them.” The stallion biting on a toothpick said, adjusting his hat with his magic to cover his eyes as he sighed.

“What the hell could be worthwhile in Ponyville?” The stallion counting said.

“Ponyville’s own Apple family has the best cider this side of Equus at this time of year.” His friend replied, chuckling slightly.

“Oh yeah! That Apple family’s famous apple cider! Man, my mouth waters just thinking about that stuff man!” Their previously frightened friend said.

“It’ll be a quick job. Easy, clean, done. Even easier with one of them missing. We’ll go in at the dead of ni-What was that?” The stallion with the toothpick shot up as soon as he heard soft pattering sounds coming from an unknown area. It seemed to have come from all directions, so it was impossible for him to make out exactly where it had come from.

“Yeah, I heard it too.”

Their friend began quivering again, it getting so bad they could see his flushed face go from its normal dirty brown color to a color of pure white that made him look like the Equestrian famous fashionista pony known as Rarity. “Th-The-The-The B-B-B-Bat........”

Both of his friends scoffed, but neither of them could deny they didn’t feel even a bit of fear.

“I-It’s not the Bat, man!” The stallion counting said, moving away from the money and to the edge of the building, looking up at taller buildings, down to the alley way, and anywhere else that he could see.

“Anything there?”

“No, I’m not seeing anything.” The stallion said, turning back, only to scream in fear as his body is thrown over the edge by something from behind.

The stallions screamed in fear upon seeing their comrade disappear over the edge of the building, both of them backing up shakily.

“I-It’s the Bat, man!!!” The most frightened said, his friend shaking so hard he couldn’t disagree with his friend.

The thought of the Bat coming and smashing their faces into the concrete below was enough to make their friend shake like there was an earthquake.

The one at the edge turned to his friend, but couldn’t get an word out before his friend screamed in terror, his body disappearing into the shadows of the night, leaving him all alone against the monster in the dark.

He quickly took out his small handgun from their duffel bag, grabbing the handgun swivel as well and struggling to place it on his back, the gun falling multiple times as he tried to place it on the swivel. Once he had succeeded he aimed it towards the shadows, firing off a round as he heard the sound of pattering from the shadows behind him.

“W-WHERE ARE YOU????” He shouted, backing away from his spot.

He had no time to react as he heard one word, one word uttered in a low, deep and clearly modified voice that would send chills down the spine of the most hardened criminal, the one word, ‘Here’ before his vision was obscured by pitch black darkness as he felt his hooves leave the ground.

His eyes opened and he groaned, his vision slowly returning as he regained consciousness only to see himself hanging upside down with the rest of his friends on a street lamp, surrounded by several ponies and Town Guards, all looking up at them and muttering to themselves.

The cave was dark, damp, and filled with the soft screeching of bats that were sleeping peacefully on the roof of the cave.

Amidst the group of sleeping bats a single bat woke, stretching its wings far and letting out a soft screech before it began climbing along the ceiling, passing by it’s sleeping companions, making its way to a slightly darker part of the cave before its eyes were assaulted by a bright light emanating from the other side of a doorway that had opened, a dark and tall silhouette on the other side of the doorway.

The bats on the roof screeched loudly at the bright light, all of them flipping over and flying deeper into the cave to escape the bright light as the silhouette walked on its two hind legs as it entered the cave, walking underneath the bats as they flew from the light, the intruder not bothered by the flying creatures above.

The intruder made its way to a large screen in a larger room, the screen above a large board of wide, hoof sized buttons that the intruder immediately began pushing when it arrived, taking the helmet off of it’s head and revealing its sweat drenched brown mane.

An elderly earth pony walked to the intruder, a small plate with a bowl rested on the elderly pony’s back, the bowl filled with a yellow liquid, steaming as the elderly pony rested the bowl on a nearby table.

“Do you have any injuries, master Mane?” The elderly pony asked.

“Huh? Uh, no, Duke. I’m fine.” The pony said.

“Well, Master Cobalt, if you need anything you know where to find me.” Duke said, nodding to Cobalt.

“Of course Duke.”

“Oh, and Master Mane? Do not forget you are expected to attend a party tomorrow.” Duke Bristle said, Cobalt occupied by the screen as he continued searching through the records of criminals, marking down all that he had captured that night.

“Of course Duke, I remember. How could I forget?” Cobalt said, not taking his eyes off the screen, much to Duke’s displeasure.

“Well I think it’d be a great thing for you to do if you were to arrive at the party early, taking a little time off of your nightly routines?”

“You know I can’t afford any more time than I have to Duk-”

“If you can’t do this for yourself, then do this for them, sir.” Duke said, walking out of the cave. Duke knew Cobalt well enough that the one thing he said, just him saying the word ‘them’ was enough to get Cobalt thinking, and Duke knew it.

As Duke left Cobalt leaned back, falling onto a chair he had often sat on during long times in the cave, and began remembering many years ago. Many years back before he became the watchful eye. The protector of Trotham. The Bat. The Dark Knight.

Young Cobalt Mane was just like any young colt, one looking for his place in the world. One who was looking for what he was meant to do with his life. But he soon found his answer in his father’s business. His father was a stallion who had raised his son with a love for ponykind.

Cobalt had adopted his father’s love for all ponykind, looking up to his father and watching, awe inspired, at how much his father loved all. He shared that trait with Princess Celestia, both of them having an immense love for the ponies of Equestria.

Cobalt could remember how large a friendship Cobalt’s father had with Princess Celestia, both of them meeting up as often as they could for tea and general chat.

Cobalt’s mother was a big fighter in the war against the abuse of Trotham’s children, sharing that same quality with Princess Celestia. She showed Cobalt as much love as a parent should show to her child, his father as well.

Both of them had raised Cobalt to believe in the good of ponies, raised him to love all of ponykind and to be a beacon of light to the ponies of Equestria. Cobalt often thought about what his parents would think of him now. A creature of the night, one who stalks the darkness and attacks the criminals of the city in the name of vengeance for his parents’ murder by an unknown criminal. A pony that could literally have been any criminal in all of Trotham.

Cobalt sighed deeply, letting out a breath he didn’t even notice he was holding in and shifting himself in his chair as his eyes traveled across the room, watching the group of bats soaring through the cave, desperately looking for another dark place to hide in.

Duke always got Cobalt to think about his parents, it was a surefire way Duke had to get Cobalt into public affairs, and now was no different. Duke often tried subtle ways to talk Cobalt out of his nightly rounds, scouring the rooftops in search for criminals, but Cobalt would always shoot him down.

Duke cared for Cobalt, he knew this, they both were the only family either of them had, but Duke would never be able to fully support Cobalt’s decision to combat crime each and every night, leaving Cobalt to a destructive lifestyle. What sane family member would support such a decision?

Cobalt groaned as he thought about the celebration tomorrow, being surrounded by rich nobles who thought they were the greatest thing to walk upon Equestrian soil after Celestia and Luna themselves.

There were only ever a hoofful of ponies at any of those parties truly worth knowing. And of course, on occasion, a certain mare from Ponyville.

Cobalt had met her before when he was a young colt, but the two of them never really clicked due to her always having her face shoved in books one goal that was too important to her, not letting any friends in, while Cobalt tried to be friends with the mare. When he had heard of her new status he couldn’t quite believe what he was being told. But, then again, ponies do change. He’d surely changed since his days as a young colt. So the two of them never spoke much, the last time being before he left Equestria to train.

And with that, Cobalt made his way up and began removing his suit. He placed the suit on the larger pony sized mannequin, staring intently at the bat emblem rested upon the suit’s chest, taking a while before snapping from his trance and exiting the caves and turning off the lights, much to the the bat’s delight. He then took the elevator up to his manor, where he’d travel through the hollow and empty halls until he came to his equally empty room to lay upon his bed and get some rest for tomorrow’s celebration.

He made his way to the kitchen for the first stop and started the sink, plugging it and dipping his tail in once it was full, washing off the black paint into the water, revealing its natural brown color. He sighed and ran a hoof through his mane, the same shade of light brown as his tail and fur, before he turned to the main room of the manor.

He yawned softly as he made his way to the manor’s steps, taking him upstairs as he climbed them, something he had noticed since he had become the Bat was that every voyage up the stairs of his manor seemed to take longer than the previous one.

When he reached his room Cobalt laid down on the bed with a soft groan, the soft and fluffy bed unable to fully comfort the stallion. He had already gotten much too used to the hard, wooden beds he had always slept on during his training.

Cobalt looked onto the crowd of ponies, seeing each of them raise their glasses and cheer at the somewhat joyous times that had befallen Equestria now. He would shrug the celebrations off, but he had a reputation as Cobalt Mane to keep up. His persona as the self-centered, playcolt, philanthropist needed to stay safe, so he mingled among the guests, drinking apple cider that he would lie was champange, laughing with the crowd, and putting on a smile for them all to see as they waited for the guest of honor to take the stage and make a speech.

Just as Cobalt began chatting with the pompous Blueblood the lights dimmed slightly, then went back to signify that the guest of honor was about to take the stage.

As Cobalt’s gaze turned his gaze to the stage as everypony there smiled at what they saw, while Cobalt maintained his composure, but was still highly curious at what he was seeing standing next to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, with Cadence and Shining Armor in the background. Shining Armor was notably, and strangely, still armored, making Cobalt wonder if they had suspicions of trouble arriving tonight.

Cobalt turned his attention back to Twilight, looking up at her horn, and then her wings. Or lack of, as both her horn and her wings were clearly missing, her horn reduced to a mere mark on her forehead and her wings just gone completely. Her face was bright and her lips formed a soft smile as she looked upon the crowd, but Cobalt couldn’t help but notice that Twilight’s eyes showed something different. Something that could be related to fear, exhaustion and anger.

She gave the crowd a little speech, thanking everypony for coming, and for their support for her in this time.

Twilight finished her speech and asked for questions, which there was sure to be an abundance of with what she had been through. A brown haired mare shot her arm up as high as she could without standing on her hind legs, Cobalt recognizing her instantly as the newsmare from Gotham who had interviewed him the day he had returned to Trotham from his training.

She asked Twilight about the new appearance in Equestria, and Twilight took a moment to respond, almost as though she were struggling to think of an answer.

“..... I am Iron Mare.” Twilight said after a short moment of stuttering.

The press began swarming Twilight as soon as she said that, all of them raising their microphones and getting their notepads out in a frantic attempt to get any information out of her.

Cobalt was somewhat taken back by this revelation, looking upon the lavender pony as she kept her eyes to the back of the room, smiling with a hint of a smug expression on her face. Twilight did have the money and the machinery capable to build a suit such as the one that the Iron Mare uses, and she did have the motivation, seeing as how the Iron Mare had been attacking groups of the Four Rings, up until recently.

Several minutes passed, feeing like hours, and the press finally died down and stopped their assault of questions on Twilight, allowing her teacher to finally take the stage and clear her throat.

“We all hope that you enjoy the party, if you wish to speak to Twilight, my sister or I, we shall be to the side, having a discussion with Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor, and his wife.” Celestia said, catching Cobalt’s attention.

Celestia stepped down from the stage and trotted to the side of the room, where her sister, Twilight, Shining Armor and his wife waited.

“So, what’s this about, Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked her teacher.

“My sister and I would like to tell Shining Armor that we are stationing him somewhere different than Canterlot.” Luna answered.

“Somewhere different? Where?” Twilight asked.

“A city that Shining Armor should be all too familiar with.” Celestia responded.

Shining’s eyes grew with his realization, “Wait… Do you mean… Trotham?” He asked.

The two princesses simply nodded in response.

“It’s been almost 20 years, why would you send me back there?” He then asked. The name of Trotham was feared throughout Equestria, as it had always been associated with crime, evil, and psychopaths of all kinds.

“The city is in desperate need of your help, Shining.” Luna replied, “crime runs rampant, gangs are now taking their violent meetings to broad daylight, and now with these rumors of a giant bat creature living in the city, the citizens need a good guard member to help them through this time.”

Shining stood in silence for a moment, remembering his past in the city, struggling with the corrupt guard who planted evidence as often as they could also make evidence disappear. Trying his hardest to get through to the citizens too scared to speak about whatever they had seen.

He had left the city when Celestia had promoted him to the Captain of the Royal Guard, he thought he was done with that corrupt and rotten city, but it seemed as though the city wasn’t done with him.

“We have booked passage on the train for you to head straight to Trotham first thing tomorrow. Good luck Shining, but be thankful for one thing, you won’t be doing this alone.” Celestia said.

Shining knew she had meant Cobalt Mane, the playstallion billionaire who calls Trotham his home. It was a strange day for Shining when Cobalt had returned to Trotham after several years of his disappearance. He had just figured Cobalt grew tired of the dark city, and had moved somewhere sunnier, but then there he was, smiles and all living in Trotham.

“Alright, I understand, Princess Celestia.” Shining replied.

The princesses nodded and turned, walking away to speak to the Council member, Fluer, who had an immensely irritated look on her face.

“Don’t worry, love. I’m sure the city can’t be worse than how it was.” Cadence said, placing her hoof on her husband’s shoulder.

“I left that city a week after a Cobalt’s parents were murdered in a dark alley. And now its had nearly 20 years to fester and rot even more. I appreciate it sweetie, but I’m afraid the city may be worse.” Shining replied.

“Well if there’s any member of the Royal Guard who can help the city, it’s you, big brother.” Twilight said, smiling.

Shining nodded and smiled back, and his sister went off to enjoy the rest of the party.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Shining Armor.” Shining heard a voice he knew all to well, and turned to see just who he thought it was, Cobalt Mane.

“Cobalt! You’re here?” Shining said.

“Well of course, why wouldn’t I be? The return of Twilight Sparkle is a momentous occasion. I’m surprised more ponies hadn’t come.” Cobalt replied, smiling warmly and holding his hoof out.

Shining raised his own hoof and bumped it into Cobalt’s, smiling back.

“And this must be your wife, Princess Cadence.” Cobalt then said, turning to Cadence and raising his hoof again.

“Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you, Cobalt.” Cadence said, bumping her hoof into Cobalt’s as well.

“The feeling is mutual. So Shining, you seem troubled. Is something the matter?”

“Oh, well... The Princesses have moved me, I’m to leave Canterlot tomorrow to be stationed at Trotham.” Shining replied, leaving his thoughts behind for a moment.

“Well, allow me to be the first one to welcome you to my humble city.” Cobalt said, lifting his drink slightly as a toast to Shining.

“A ‘humble’ city? Are you sure we’re talking about the same city here?” Shining said.

“Trotham has it’s problems, yes. But it is still a great city. Do not let the murky exterior delude you from this.” Cobalt replied, already used to the negative comments about his city.

“Well I hope you’re right Cobalt, I really do.” Shining said, still not fully sure if he believes Cobalt’s words or not.

“Ahhh! There he is! Cobalt Mane! The playstallion of Equestria, and the Son of Trotham!” Cobalt instantly recognized the voice, and he could feel his blood begin to boil and his body beginning to tense up.

He turned and he was right, seeing a stallion of brown fur, black mane, and green eyes trotting towards him. His mane was made into a wavy style to the left, and his eyes were focused on Cobalt alone, as if Shining Armor and Cadence weren’t even there. His white suit held a rose next to his heart, and he wore a wide grin.

“Romano Stallionis.” Cobalt said, turning to the stallion.

“It’s good to see you here, Cobalt. Then we can both join everypoony else in rejoicing over Twilight Sparkle’s joyous return to Equestria.” Romano said, raising his hoof towards Cobalt.

“Yes, it is good that Twilight was able to return safely. Well, as safe as she can be with her new career choice.” Cobalt said, leaving his hooves planted firmly onto the ground.

“Hmph, I expected better manners from the child of the Mane’s.” Romano said, lowering his hoof and turning to Shining, “so, I see you’re distraught. What’s bothering you?”

“Oh, nothing much. It’s just that Princess Celestia and Luna are moving me back to Trotham after nearly 20 years.” Shining replied.

“Trotham?! Well that’s good, we could use more guard. If you ever need anything, then just know that you can always count on me to help you out.” Romano said, smiling and holding his hoof out.

“Thank you, Romano.” Shining said, smiling back and bumping his hoof against Romano’s.

Romano took one last look to Cobalt, smiling still, and then trotted away. Cobalt kept his soft smile, but his eyes continued glaring towards Romano, his eyes trained on him as he walked away.

“What are you planning, Romano?” Cobalt wondered.

Shining hugged his wife tightly as the train opened its doors, passengers from all over Equestria stepping off.

“I wish I could go with you, Shining. But the Crystal Empire needs me. I’ll make sure to write everyday, and you write back too, okay?” Cadence said, hugging her husband tighter.

“Yes, love, of course I will.” Shining said, finding it harder to breath as Cadence tightened her embrace.

Cadence released her hold on him and gently pressed her lips against his, giving him a kiss goodbye before he went off towards the train.

The train ride to Trotham was long, and Shining could swear that the closer he got to Trotham the darker the colors of the world got. The clouds grew in numbers, allowing less sunlight through, and the train ride seemed to feel bumpier. Most everybody had gotten off the train at previous stops, leaving Shining alone with just himself and a young filly with her mother. The filly was playing with her toy plane, while her mother looked out the window, her body tensing up as they got closer to the city.

The train screeched to a stop as it arrived at the Trotham train station, and a whole group of people quickly gathered onto the train, pushing Shining out of the way, nearly causing him to become trapped in the train as it went to its next stop.

Shining quickly looked around and immediately wished he had been transferred somewhere else. There was countless wrappers, papers, cups and food containers all over the floor, sometimes they were empty. He counted at least 4 rats running around as he stepped off, and about 2 ponies dressed in torn up clothing sleeping on the benches, hugging themselves tightly to conserve warmth.

“Ugh... This is the Trotham that I’m glad I escaped...” He thought to himself, and he started feeling his pockets, getting a sneaking suspicion something may not be there.

When he was finished he grabbed his bag and continued outside of the train station, there he could see the city. It was a city that one would mistake for an honest city, one full of hardworking ponies. But the truth was that anypony would try to swindle a homeless mare struggling to feed her children any day of the week.

Shining saw an automatic carriage pull up to him, and stop, the door opening to reveal a stallion in police attire at the driver’s seat. “Get in.” He simply said, chewing on his hayburger still.

Shining put his stuff in the back seat and climbed into the passenger side, the car already half way down the road before Shining had the opportunity to shut the door.

“So, they finally decided to push you back into our own little corner of Tartarus, did they?” The officer said, driving through traffic, turning his police siren on as he drove. The cop went at a quick speed, going faster whenever he saw a single yellow light in his path.

“U-Uh... Yeah. I didn’t expect them to put me back here... It’s been almost 20 years.” Shining replied, holding onto the chicken strap with dear life as the cop made a sharp turn.

“Well hopefully you know that the city hasn’t been quiet without ya. It’s gotten a lot more exciting. Especially with that giant freak running around at night.” The cop said, taking a bite from his hayburger.

“Ugh... But that thing’s just a myth, right? It’s just a legend.” Shining replied.

“No, no, it’s real alright. Me and my partner found it once, just sitting on a gargoyle on the rooftop of a building we chased it through. It’s fast, giant, and damn creepy.” The cop said, “and the commander of our station, the stallion you replaced, was working on getting him captured at all costs.”

“Well... I just hope I can-WHOA!” Shining lunged forward as the car screeched to a stop.

“Well looks like we’re here. Now get out, I gotta head on over to the burger joint and get me some more hayburgers.” The cop said, finishing his last piece of his hayburger.

Shining tried to calm his heartbeat down as he grabbed his luggage, pulling it out of the carriage and onto the ground, where he looked up to see the familiar sight of the TCGD, still with barely any cops leaving unless it was simply to visit the coffee shop next door.

The smell of the city hadn’t gotten any better, nor did the sick look of it all. Shining sighed deeply and took a step forward, hearing a sick squish under his hoof and sighed again, moving his hoof away to see a hayburger under him, the condiments from the inside covering the bottom of his hoof. “... Faust dammit.”