"...So, yeah." Batman said. "That's basically it. I've been the new Batman ever since, defending Neo-Gotham from whatever bad guy shows up that week. I could give you examples, if you want."

"I believe that will suffice." Celestia said. "However, there will be complications regarding the rest of the populace."

"How so?" Batman asked.

"They have a tendency to panic and overreact at times." Twilight said. "Mostly at the sight of anything strange or outlandish. It's a problem I'm trying to resolve."

"I see." Batman said, not entirely convinced judging by his voice. "So, what's the plan?"

"The plan is...we work with what we've got." said an old, yet experienced voice. The ponies looked around the room in curiosity and shock.

"Who was that?" Twilight asked.

"A Ghost?" Pinkie chimed in.

"No." the voice said again. "Kid, pull the radio out of the mask. There's a small switch on the left side. Hit it."

The ponies eyed Batman as he did so, setting a small device on the table. He flicked the switch, and the image of an elderly, yet still well-toned and built, appeared.

"When were you going to tell me the radio had a holo-projector?" Batman asked.

"I didn't think I'd need to." the man said. "My name is Bruce Wayne. I serve as his mentor, among other things."

"Are you a ghost?" Pinkie said, hopefully.

"No, though I appreciate the thought." Bruce replied. "What you are seeing is a holographic image of myself, projected through Batman's comms unit. Somehow, our two-way radio connection from my location in Neo-Gotham is still active. Meaning in simple terms, I can speak with Terry across dimensions."

"That's fascinating!" Twilight said. "Sorry, I get excited."

"It's fine." Bruce replied. "I've got a few ideas on how I can retrieve him, but for now Kid, go with the flow and keep your wits about you."

"You got it." Batman said. "So, what's the plan?"

"That, I leave to you." Bruce said. "Wayne out."

The hologram faded, and Batman replaced the comms unit in his mask. There was silence, until everyone heard the door open.

"Twilight? Are you home?" came the voice of three kids, from what Terry could tell. "It's time for our lessons, and you didn't answer the door."

"Drat! Girls, stay where you are!" Twilight said. "Sorry, I'll be right back!"

Twilight zipped out, and Batman eyed Rainbow, Rarity, and Applejack, who had groaned loudly.

"I take it you know those voices?" he asked.

"Yeah, our sisters." Applejack said. "They've been hunting for their Cutie Marks, and they asked Twilight to help. They must've picked today."

"Well, that was a bad idea." Batman said, standing up. "They a problem?"

"Not really." Rainbow said. "Though they can get a little hare-brained when it comes to their ideas for getting their Cutie Marks, they're fine."

"Well, that's a…" Batman said. At that moment, the three fillies came into the room and stopped dead in their tracks. Twilight stood to the side, rubbing the back of their head.

First, they looked at Celestia, who raised an eyebrow.

Then they looked at the Elements, who were silent.

Finally, they looked at Batman, who gave a casual wave. The fillies slowly looked at each other, then at Batman.

Then came the screams. It wasn't long before Twilight had snared them in a magical bubble to keep them quiet. Batman stood up with a start, but he was eased back down by Celestia.

"I told you three not to leave that room!" she admonished. "And what did you do?"

"We left…" the fillies said, shaking. "We're sorry."

"Good, but I hope nopony heard that screaming…" Twilight said. Just as she spoke, the ground began to shake and roll with hoofsteps.

"They heard it." Rainbow said, groaning. "Brace yourselves."

Batman looked out the window to see a large crowd running towards the palace, some armed with pitchforks and torches.

"You might want to sit down." Applejack said, noticing their guest was preparing to leave. "This could get messy."

"You're telling me." Batman replied. As the crowd stopped and waited, Twilight headed outside with a groan.

"I presume you heard the screaming?" she asked.

The populace nodded.

"And I also presume you brought pitchforks and torches to destroy whatever made three innocent fillies scream in terror?" she asked again.

Again, the populace nodded as one. Twilight gave a groan before she spoke.

"You can rest assured, the whole thing is under control." Twilight said. "The fillies in question may have been startled by the appearance of one of my guests. They screamed, and that brings us to now."

Twilight paced a few moments, before she sighed.

"I'm going to bring him out so you can meet him." she said. "However, before any of that happens, please dispense with the pitchforks and torches."

Two piles of pitchforks and torches soon appeared. Twilight stuck her head into the door, and sighed.

"This is either the best...or the worst decision I've ever made as a Princess." she said. "Care to introduce yourself?"

"Why not?" said a male voice. Batman walked out, and stood in front of the awestruck crowd.

"So, uh...any questions? Raise your hand...hoof...whatever works." he groaned.

Hooves were raised and the informal question/answer session began.

"Are you going to eat us?" one mare cried. Twilight smacked her hoof into her face, and was prepared to answer, but Batman was quicker.

"No." he said. "I eat a great many things, but ponies are not one of them. Uh, next?"

"What's your name?" came a voice.

"Batman." he said. "Next?"

"Are you a superhero?" said a mint-green unicorn..

"Actually, yes." Batman said. "I am a superhero. No superpowers, though."

As Batman continued the informal Question/Answer session, back in Neo-Gotham, Max Gibson and Dana Tan arrived at Bruce Wayne's manor, both very confused.

"I'm glad you could make it." Bruce said, opening the door. "Come on in."

"Bruce Wayne, right? You're Terry's boss?" Dana asked.

"In more ways than one." Bruce said. "Whatever you see, don't touch."

Bruce opened the door to the Batcave, and led the two astounded teens down into the area. Both of their eyes widened.

"You're…" Dana gasped.

"Was." Bruce said. "Terry took up the mantle."

"Wait, what?" Dana asked. "Terry's Batman?"

"Yes." Max said. "I figured it out a while ago. But, why are we, Mr. Wayne?"

"Terry's been pulled into an alternate reality." Bruce said. "I need your help pulling him out. I've got the necessary materials, but as you can see, I'm not built for hard labor."

Dana rubbed her arm, and nodded.

"What can we do?" she asked.

"I need you to rebuild a translocator." Bruce said. "I've retrieved the wreckage of one from Commissioner Gordon. You two are putting it back into working order. I'll monitor Terry from here."

"Where do we start?" Max asked. Bruce motioned to a table, where the remains of a ring-shaped device, along with crates of tools and mechanical parts, stood still.

"There." Bruce said. "I'll check in on Terry."

"Can I speak to him?" Dana asked.

"Later." Bruce said. "Get to work."

As Max gave her friend a reassuring hand to Dana's shoulder, the two began their work

Author's Note

Update!

Next time-Terry and Dana speak, and Batman gets the tour of Ponyville.