The Dark Knight Triumphs

IN GOTHAM

“Whoaaa...I’m loving this world already!” Thorax gleefully said. He flew all over the city during its usual business. He passed by its tall skyscrapers, large highways, the bridges, and many houses outside of Gotham. Never in his whole changeling life has he visited a world full of strange yet attractive wonders. The only thing concerning him were its inhabitants.

“This city looks great! I do wonder how these bipedal creatures will react to my presence though.” Thorax said. “Have they seen a changeling before?” With that, he flew down to see the humans.

Once he was on their level, he stood before several young bystanders who were texting on their phones. “Hi, there! I’m Thorax! Pleasure to meet you creatures!” he kindly introduced. “At least, Chrysalis isn’t here to see me not act like a changeling. She would’ve been infuriated.” he relieved in thought.

He waited their response to him. However, they paid no heed to him. They were still texting on their devices regardless of whoever was talking to them. Thorax raised his eyebrow in confusion. “Umm...hello? Strangers? I’m...uh...talking to you. Nice to meet you. What are your names?” he politely asked.

“What are those rectangular thingies they’re staring at? They look like...ehhh...I have no clue.” Thorax idly wondered.

After a few moments, they walked away from him without looking back to him as if he wasn’t there. Seeing them walk across the street, Thorax lowered his head in sadness. “(Sigh) Well...that didn’t work out. Let’s see if I can try somewhere else.” he said. He flew out to the road where there was heavy traffic. Cars and trucks were aggressively honking at each other during the long traffic jam.

Thorax saw those vehicles and put his hoof on his chin. “Hmmm, those look really interesting. I’ve never seen those things before. Are they animals? They’re sure making loud noises to each other, so they could be. Wait...” Thorax noticed a new detail. “Those things don’t have eyes or mouths. They have wide glass over their heads.”

He landed on a tanker truck and viewed the glass. “Hello? Are you all right, creature?” Thorax asked the truck. In reply, the truck honked right on his ears. “AHHHH!! Easy! Easy! I can’t understand what you’re saying!” he cried, closing his ears. Then he noticed the truck driver inside. The latter looked both shocked and appalled by the former’s nasty appearance. He got out of the vehicle and angrily faced the changeling.

“GET OFF!! GET OFF OF MY TRUCK!! I don’t want any of your darn business here, weirdo!! Get AWAY!!” the man screamed.

Thorax had looks of confusion and fear. “I’m so sorry, sir! I didn’t mean to hurt your animal!! Plus, this is my first time here in this city! Please, I mean no harm!” Thorax apologized.

“I don’t care!!’ I HATE PONIES!! Leave me alone!!” the truck driver screamed. He entered his truck, put his seatbelt back on, and drove off. Thorax was again bewildered by the behavior he’s been witnessing so far.

“I don’t understand. What are these creatures? Some of them are like those mean griffins I've heard a lot about. I just hope that I can at least meet nicer creatures in this city. Also, that guy has met ponies? Have ALL of them seen them?” Thorax wondered. Deciding to spare himself any more trouble, he flew back up to a skyscraper and sat on top.

So far, there hasn’t been any creature in Gotham that had friendly and respectful gestures to him. He didn’t understand why some of them were rude and disrespectful to even a common visitor. As he was reflecting on what happened so far, he was beginning to be regretful of even thinking of coming here in the first place. But what choice did he have really? “There’s got to be a comfortable area somewhere in this city. Isn’t there some creature who is kind and pleasant enough to hang around with?” he wondered.

“I wish Bane was here. At least he is a kind and compassionate friend whom I can rely on. But I can’t give up. I’ll just have to keep searching.” Thorax determined. He flew back out to the city to resume his adventure.

IN EQUESTRIA

Back at the cottage, Fluttershy left her home in the afternoon and walked toward the Everfree Forest. She had red eyes with a tear-stained face after days of crying and depression. As she was walking, she unnaturally disregarded any animal that warmly greeted her like the rest of them always have.

Angel gave her a bowl of carrots, but she ignored him and walked by him without saying a word. Angel put the bowl down and looked at her as she dejectedly walked away. He became sad and bounced off.

Harry the bear tried to cheer her up by giving her a big hug. After compassionately hugging her, he looked at her on the eyes to see any glimpse of appreciation and joy. To his disappointment, she felt no joy and no comfort. After he put her down, she continued her path to the forest. The birds looked up at him and chirped their concerned calls. He uttered a slight growl of worry for her.

Fluttershy’s mane was messy and all over her head. She even had the deadpan look on her face. By the time she got close to a tree, she angrily kicked it which scared the bids from their nests. She went to another tree and kicked that one as well. The squirrels fell from the tree branches and tried to re-gather the acorns that slipped from their grasp.

Once she reached to a third tree, she banged her head on its trunk repeatedly. The more she bashed her head on the trunk, the more sorrowful she felt and wildly cried again. Her tears sprang like a water fountain and drowned the ants that were underneath her.

(Sniffing) I hate myself now. My whole life...(choking in tears)...HAS BEEN A LIE!! I—I just...want to...AHHH!!!” she shrieked, throwing a rock on a fourth tree in rage. Suddenly, her bright color faded, and she turned to dark grey. Her cutie mark also disappeared.

The Element of Kindness lost all of its color and crumbled to pieces. Its fragments fell from the Tree of Harmony.