Stranded

Disclaimer: Other than Kister Tunnell, AKA Vine Bite, I do not own any MLP:FiM or DC characters depicted in this story.

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DCUO/MLP:FiM Crossover

Stranded

Prologue

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Magical Realm - Shadowlands

Krister Tunnell, or Vine Bite as he was known to his allies and enemies, stared at the large portal through the jester's mask he wore. It was a means of returning to Earth, but a heavy price had been paid to open it. His mentor, Wonder Woman, had sacrificed herself so that he could return home. He turned to look at his mentor trapped in solid crystal, with torrents of power emanating from three crystalline shards surrounding her prison. She had told him to leave her, but he just could not honor her wishes.

Being the hero that he was, he just couldn’t leave a damsel in distress, especially one that had captured his heart. Freeing her would mean the portal would close, trapping both of them in the realm of magic known as the Shadowlands. However, if memory served him right, when they had destroyed

He began to focus the power of nature in his hands, the same power that had allowed him to have an affinity towards Earth's flora and fauna. It hadn't been long since he had acquired the ability to summon some plant life and transform into a few different animals. Although his powers were limited, they had bonus effect of healing himself and poisoning his enemies. However, he decided to use a different ability as his hands became enveloped by raw magical energy as he lunged at the nearest shards. It shattered as soon as his fists connected. He then pointed both palms to last two remaining shards shot them both with a beam of light.

Wonder Woman collapsed as her crystal prison released her and faded from existence. Krister ran to her, praying to the gods that she championed that she was unharmed. Disoriented from her short imprisonment, Krister helped her stand as she slowly recalled the recent events. Remembering the reason for her disorientation, she quickly looked for the portal to Earth. She relaxed when she saw it and turned to face her pupil.

Krister was worried during Wonder Woman's slightly panicked state, but was glad it had not lasted very long. When she had relaxed and turned to face him, he realized that he had been holding her close to him by her waist.

“By Hera, you would have sacrificed your life to save mine?” She asked him. “You are a warrior I am proud to have at my side.” Krister felt his face becoming hot from the close proximity and the complement. He thanked the gods that he had decided to wear a mask, even if it was from one of Joker's goons.

“Quickly, through the portal!” She continued as she gave a slight push on his chest, trying to create some distance between them. However, Krister not only continued to hold her, he brought her closer to him until their bodies touched and his arms wrapped around her in an embrace. He couldn't believe what he just did. It was like his body moved on its own. He wanted to look away, or even run and hide from embarrassment, but instead he just stared at his mentor, quietly waiting for an answer.

Wonder Woman was quite surprised by the new hero's actions, but she understood what was happening. This was not the first time that she had caught the eye of potential suitors, but this was the most forward anyone had been. Krister was about half a head shorter than her, and her breasts pressed up against his chest near his chin, but she found his masked face looking up at her. As unnerved as she was when he initially started wearing the mask when he had returned from Gotham, she had grown used to seeing it, and could no longer imagine him wearing anything else.

Now she had to turn away from him, unable to stand the masked gaze for a different reason. She could feel his hands start to tremble slightly and his gaze burn with the silent question. The deafening silence felt like an eternity for both of them, until Wonder Woman finally gave her answer.

“I'm sorry.” she quietly said, just enough for him to hear. His trembling stopped as he felt a slight pain in his chest. Krister had expected this and the relief he felt was a welcome feeling, but he didn't know it would hurt this much. He loosened his grip just enough that she could easily slip away from him.

“I'm sorry.” She repeated, as she looked down at him. “You have sacrificed so much, for so many, and I am unable to give you what you long for.” she continued. Every word felt like a needle being driven into his chest.

“I cannot be with you,” she said as she finally stepped away from him. Now all he wanted was to disappear. Every word she uttered hurt more than the last.

“However,” She suddenly said. “You have proven not only to me, but to the others as well, that you have the strength and ideals that makes you a true hero.” The pain stopped momentarily as her words confused him.

“It gives me great honor to invite you to be a full member of the Justice League of America.” She said with pride in her voice. “From thins point on, we will be working closely together.” At first confusion, then hope started to well up inside of him. He tried to ask if it meant he was being given a chance, but he was unable to make a sound. Wonder Woman knew what he wanted to say and gave him a heart warming smile.

“Given time, things can change, and what you seek will need that time to blossom.” Krister wanted to jump and scream for joy, but he held in his excitement. This was more than he expected, a chance to prove that he could be Mr. Right! However, there was also an uneasy feeling that now he was under a scrutinizing eye not only as a hero, but as a potential boyfriend.

“Now, we have delayed for to long,” She said with a tone that he had grown used to when she gave orders to him as well as other new heroes. “To the portal.” Before she could make her way to the portal, Krister quickly presented her with his arm. She smiled slightly at the small but thoughtful gesture and looped her arm around his.

As they made their way to the portal, they stopped for a second. They gave each other a quick glance, as if asking if the other was ready. Ready to resume their fight against Brainiac, and the new villains. For Krister, even after fighting his way here, holding off an invasion and stopping a goddess, this had been the most peace he had since becoming a hero. For the first time in a long time, he didn't have think about anyone else but himself. No distressed citizen, no evil plot to foil.

Passing through the portal meant becoming a hero once again. However, the thing that he was sure of the most was that he was more than willing to throw away any chance with the woman next to him if it meant he could save just one more person. Everything for truth and freedom.

Why?

Because he was hero, and nothing would ever change that. They gave each other a short nod, then both stepped through.

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Equestria - Ponyville

Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's most prized pupil, sighed at the current mess that littered her library. Almost every book had been knocked out of their places on the bookshelves. As much as the current state of her home annoyed her, she took it as a chance to do some reorganization that she has been planning. She watched as the culprit popped her head out of the middle of the pile.

“Are you alright, Derpy?” Twilight asked as soon as she recognized who it was.

“Oh hey, Twilight” The cross-eyed pony returned the greeting. “Sorry about the mess, but I don't know how I hit your house during my route!” The pegasus wiggled her way out of the pile and hovered over the pile of books. As soon as she freed herself, the pile started to shift around again and the resident baby dragon made his way out of the pile.

“Man, I never thought you would ever get off of me!” Spike said as he began to survey his home.

“Sorry Spike!” Derpy apologized, and she made her way towards the door. “I'd like to help but I still got to finish my route!”

“Oh it's fine, we can handle this.” Twilight replied. Just as Derpy was about to go through the door, somepony collided with her sending both of them into the pile of books. Before Twilight could check to make sure no pony was hurt, Rainbow Dash burst out from under the books.

“Twilight!” She screamed as she spotted her. “You gotta come quick! There's something strange is happening just outside of town!” Before Twilight could ask anything, Rainbow grabbed her and jetted off towards the object in question.

Left alone with the mess, Derpy looked over at Spike, who had began trying to clean up after being victim to a second accident from the second crash made by Rainbow Dash.

“Well Twilight's gone, you need any help?” Derpy asked the young dragon, who proceeded to insist that he could handle everything and she should just leave.

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Rainbow and Twilight landed near a large group of ponies that had already gathered to see the large anomaly outside of their town. From behind the crowd, Twilight could see the swirling mist and glowing runes. She knew it was magic, she could feel it. However, she still didn't know what it was, nor could she read any of the runes. As she continued to stare at the wall of swirling energy in front of the crowd, she was approached by the town Mayor.

“Twilight, do you know what this thing could be?” The Mayor asked.

“I don't know, but I know it's magical. I can feel it!” Twilight replied, not taking her eyes off the wall. “It could be a portal.” It was the best guess she could make at the moment.

“Did you hear that everypony?” The Mayor began to shout. “It might be a portal, so please keep your distance!” The crowd began to back away from the portal, with some deciding to run back home to shut all their windows and lock their doors. Rainbow rolled her eyes at the few that had started to run home.

“Oh come on!” She exclaimed. “There isn't even anything coming out!” Her statement fell on deaf ears as the fleeing ponies continued to run. Suddenly, the wall of energy began to pulsate until a bright flash blinded everyone still in the area. After a few seconds of blindness, they began to witness something coming out of the portal.

Everypony gasped as they saw a bipedal creature with odd looking clothing and what looked like a painted on face mask with a jesters cap. The creature seemed to stop in surprise, before it crouched low into what looked like aggressive posture. Many ponies took a step back in surprise, but instead of attacking them, it turned completely around and ran back towards the portal. The creature jumped at the portal, but as soon as he reached it, the portal disappeared.

The creature pushed itself up into a kneeling position and stayed silent and still. Nopony made any sudden movements or sounds as they all observed the creature. Twilight's curiosity slowly began to surface and she wanted to make her way towards the creature. However, before she even could begin, the creature reared its head back and gave a deafening scream. Everypony dropped to the ground and covered their ears.

Rainbow Dash was not enjoying this one bit. So she decided to shut the creature up the best way she knew how: a high-speed kick to the head.

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As Krister passed through the portal, he felt a strange wave of power ran through him. He dismissed it, but was surprised to find himself in an open field surrounded by small colorful horses. He dropped into a fighting stance, lowering his center of gravity with his arms stretched out behind him, ready to sling magical power in case these were a new type of beastaimorph Circe had sent in retaliation.

Suddenly, realization started to set in when he remembered that the woman he had escorted through the portal was not with him. He turned to the portal, hoping that it was still open. Unfortunately for him, it began to fade. He dove towards the portal, but instead of hitting the hard concrete floor of the Oblivion Bar or even the Shadowland's stone ground, he slid across the same grass field.

He just couldn't believe it, he was stranded in a land filled with color coded horses. He was now separated from his home, his friends, and the League. There was no way for him to create another one, hell; he didn't even have a hand in opening the last one. All he could do was wait, but for what? Until the League was able come to his rescue? Would they know how or where to look? Would they even try? With the war with Brainiac and the newly created villains he doubted they had the time and resources to do a search and rescue.

The more these questions and doubts ran through his mind, the deeper into depression he would fell. He just couldn't hold it in any longer. He gathered all the anger and sorrow he was feeling, and let out a mighty roar to the heavens as tears began to stain his mask. It wasn't long after that he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head and his entire world was engulfed into darkness.

TBC

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A/N:

I wanted to thank BlackRoseRaven from FF.net for a terrific job beta reading my story!