The Magic of Friendship, Love, and Guns

No Pov. Night

Applejack carried the wounded Red Hood into the nearby hospital, immediately calling out for help. Multiple doctors and nurses rushed over and put Red Hood on a gurney. Rolling him into one of the hospital rooms

"What happened?" A mare wearing a white nurse outfit, a white color coat, and light pink mane asked

"We were trying to find a way to get him back home, but he got crushed under some debris." Twilight explained, her and Pinkie Pie helping Rainbow stand up. Also calling over a few nurses to help Rainbow Dash. They rolled Rainbow Dash in a gurney to a room next to Red Hood.

"Are the rest of you okay?" Asked one of the doctors. The others looked at each other, psychically they were fine but mentally... They didn't know. They shook their heads and were asked to wait in the lobby. The girls and Spike sat down and began to think on what they just witnessed, that mad clown, that poor young colt in red, and watching their loved ones be tortured and killed right before their very eyes

"Let's head back home... Rainbow Dash and Red Hood will need their rest, and... We need to take a break..." Twilight said, the images of her brother and parents from that nightmare still fresh in her mind. The others said nothing as they nodded, getting up and walking away from the hospital back home. Twilight holding Spike in her arms as Spike was still young, and seeing that much evil at such a young age would definitely leave a toll on his mind. Applejack went back to Sweet Apple Acres to meet her family again. Rarity went back to her boutique to see her dear little sister, Fluttershy invited Pinkie Pie back home with her since Pinkie didn't really have Family in Ponyvile, Pinkie Pie would get her pet Gummy as she went back to Fluttershy's home.

Applejack walked through the orchids of her family home with a somber look on her face, hearing the screams of her family, the sounds of laughter with each cruel act acted upon them, and the look of that colt from before. Alone... With that thing. Applejack opened the door to see her Granny Smith, an elderly pony with a light green coat and white grey hair, wearing a light red and orange dress and a white apron on, cooking. At the table was Big Mac and Applebloom, they all turned and ran up to greet their sister

"Heya Applejack!" Applebloom smiled happily at her older sister. Applejack let out a few tears as she then pulled both of her siblings into a tight hug, crying softly

"AJ?" Big Mac asked in concern as he looked down at his sister, holding her close as she cried

"What's wrong, Applejack?" Applebloom asked

"Applejack, what's got you so sad, dearie?" Granny Smith asked as she turned off the stove and walked over to her granddaughter, also hugging her as she was worried why Applejack was crying, since Applejack was pretty much a tough gal. Applejack said nothing as she just hugged her family. As if if she let go they would disappear.

Rarity opened the doors to her boutique and walked up the stairs, opening the door to her room and seeing Sweetie Belle laying on the bed eating cookies. Sweetie Belle looked at her big sister with confusion until she heard Rarity start to cry, getting a bit worried

"Rarity, why are you crying?" Sweetie Belle asked as she looked at Rarity. Rarity said nothing as she cried. holding her little sister closely as the memories of that monster plagued her mind. Seeing Sweetie Belle dead with a bloody smile on her face. Rarity never witnessed such evil and horror that she felt like if she let go of Sweetie Belle she would find herself back in that nightmare. Rarity stood up, still holding Sweetie Belle in her arms

"I love you so so much, Sweetie Belle." Rarity said softly as tears ran down her face, laying down on the bed with Sweetie Belle in her arms, ignoring the cookie crumbs on the sheets. Sweetie Belle wasn't tired but she could tell that Rarity needed her so she snuggled up in her arms. Rarity would hold her close the rest of the night until she would fall asleep

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy walked back towards Fluttershy's cottage, opening the front door and walking inside

"I-I-I'll go make us s-some tea..." Fluttershy said as she headed towards the kitchen, ignoring her fellow woodland creatures as she pulled out two tea cups and a pot to make tea. Her hands shaking here and there. When Fluttershy began pouring the tea into the cups her hands shook more and more, looking down at the tea and screaming as she saw the face of the mad clown from the temple. Dropping the pot as it shattered on impact on the ground, she knelt down and covered her mouth as tears formed in her eyes, the tea and shattered pot she could see the images of that poor colt from before be beaten over and over, and the smiling face of the clown. Pinkie Pie and the other Animals rushed over to Fluttershy as they all hugged her, Pinkie Pie holding Fluttershy tightly as she tried to put on a brave face but couldn't. That traumatizing experience was unlike anything they have ever seen before, what happened back in that temple was just pure evil. Both Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy cried as the face of that monster was burned into their minds.

Twilight and Spike opened the door to the house and closed it, heading upstairs in silent as they climbed into bed, Spike coming with her. After a few more seconds of silence they began to softly cry, holding on to each other. Both of them could still hear the sounds of their families screams, the sound of cold hard steel hitting against flesh, and the mad laughter of that monster. Let's just say that no one got that much sleep thay night.

MORNING. JASON POV

Ugh, my damn body feels like crap. I slowly opened my eyes to see i was in a hospital room, both my arms and one of my legs in casts, i could see my jacket and armor on a chair on the side but my helmet was still on. I grunted a bit as i moved my fingers a bit, they weren't broken but my arms definitely were. I looked over and saw a nurse with light pink hair walk in

"Oh, you're awake. Are you alright?" The nurse asked as she walked over to me

"Still alive, so I'm doing good." I told her

"Good. I must say i am impressed that you're awake so soon, and even more impressed at the fact that you're still..." The nurse said

"Alive? I get that a lot, I'm too tough to kill twice." I joked. The nurse looked at me confusingly at what i said "It's an inside joke, don't worry about it. Anyways, when can i leave?" I asked

"In a week most likely." The nurse told me

"Damnit." I groaned, i then remembered something

"Is Rainbow Dash okay? She's the chick with the Rainbow hair, can't miss her." I asked

"Rainbow Dash? Oh, yes. She is fine, she'll make a fast recovery." The nurse smiled

"Good." I said as i relaxed a bit

"Nice to see a friend care for the wellbeing of their friends." The nurse said happily

"We ain't friends." I said bluntly "And the others? Sparkle-butt and all them?"

"They're uh, they're fine. They didn't have any psychical injuries." The nurse said, a bit taken back by the name i said

"I see. Well that's good at least." I said as i closed my eyes, hearing the nurse scribble some things down before walking out and closing the door. I thought back to the temple and sighed "They need to know." I said as i then took a quick nap.

I later woke up and looked up at the clock, having slept from 9 in the morning to 12. I heard a knock at the door and saw the nurse walk in

"You have some visitors." She said as i saw Twilight, Rarity, and all them come in. Rainbow rolled in on a wheelchair

"Hey Red." Spike waved as he set a get well soon balloon on a chair next to me

"Sup." I said, waving at them a bit "You all holding up ok?" I asked them, they all nodded but i could tell by the way they looked, averted their eyes, and the tear marks on their faces that they were all lying. I sighed softly and then looked at Spike "Can you do me a favor?" I asked him

"Of course." Spike nodded

"Get a piece of paper and tell the Princesses to get here." I told him

"Uh... Sure, but why?" Spike asked as he took out a quail and a piece of paper

"I'll explain it soon, just tell them to come here." I said. Spike nodded and scribbled on the paper before using his flames to send it away

"Why do the princesses need to be here?" Twilight asked

"You'll see." I said. After waiting for some time a knock was heard and soon Princess Luna and Princess Celestia walked in wearing very beautiful dresses, Celestia wearing a white dress with golden designs on it. Luna wore a blue dress with some tiny gems on them that made it look like the night sky

"Oh my word, what happened?" Luna gasped as she saw my condition, rushing over to my side

"Jeez, Luna. You're acting as if I'm dying." I joked "But... There is something that you all need to know." I said softly. They all gathered around me. I grunted a bit as i started to remove my helmet, a bit hard with broken arms but not impossible. I removed my helmet and set it down, hearing them all gasp as they all now saw my face.

"Y-You're... Y-You're..." Rarity couldn't finish as she was too stunned

"My name is Jason Todd... And what you saw back in that temple... Was a glimpse of my past." I confessed. Luna and Celestia looked a bit confused but the others were all shocked to hear this. I looked at Luna and she looked at me, staring into her eyes... They were beautiful "Can you access my memories?" I asked her

"W-Well, Yes but... Thou trust me to enter your mind?" Luna asked me as she held my hand

"Trust is a strong word, but yeah... You and Celestia both should know more about the alien living among you all." I chuckled softly. Luna looked at her sister and then at the others before looking back at me and gently cupping my cheeks. I could feel her hand lightly brushing against my brand mark, letting her do this as i closed my eyes "Everypony, hold on to each other." Luna said as soon a bright light washed over me and then everything went dark.

NO POV. JASON'S MIND

The Princesses, mane 6, and Spike all found themselves standing on the sidewalk outside a pretty shabby house. Rainbow Dash looked down to see that she was fine

"Thou are in the mind, therefore you are fine." Luna explained as they looked around to find themselves in a very shady looking neighborhood. Rarity stepped back as she saw trash and other things on the ground and the street

"Where are we?" Rarity asked. They all soon turned around at the house and Twilight opened the small gate as they all walked towards the house. They all walked up to door and suddenly it opened, they walked in and heard two ponies arguing. They went to the kitchen to see two humans, one was an adult male with black hair and a fairly muscular build with some stubble on his face, and blue eyes. The other was an adult female with long red hair and white skin. She was very beautiful. Fluttershy looked down under the table to see a little colt with a little puppy by his side playing with toy cars

"Hello." Fluttershy smiled as she reached to touch the colt, but when she did everything froze as they all then heard Red Hood's voice

"Growing up i never really had much, most of the toys i had were either broken, tossed out, or hand me downs from people who felt sorry for us. But i was grateful for them, at least i had something to distract me from my parents bullshit. If they didn't spend so much money on drugs and beer then maybe they wouldn't argue as much." Red Hood's voice echoed as time went back to normal, the couple still arguing. Twilight looked at Fluttershy and then at the parents, walking up to them and touching the man, and like before time slowed down and Red Hood spoke once more "My old man. A troubled loser back in highschool, and an ass now. But i guess he wasn't so bad, after i was born he started to get clean, get a real job and tried to raise me as best he could. But in Gotham, kids only grow up to become criminals or end up dying before they even finish highschool." Red Hood said

"It seems that whenever we touch the ones in his memories he tells us who they are." Celestia said

"Then that must be..." Fluttershy and the others looked at the young colt under the table

"Jason..." Luna said sadly. Twilight then touched the woman

"My mom. She was at the top of her class at this fancy private school, what is it about the bad boys attracting the good girls? I don't know what my mom saw in my dad, but it must've been something if they stayed together for so long and kept me... She was good, whenever i would get scared she would always sing to me... It was like an angel." Red Hood said. Suddenly everything changed and they all found themselves standing in a dirty alleyway, they heard kids laughing and the sound of someone grunting in pain. They turned and saw a group of kids beating up... Jason

"Hey, leave him alone!" Rainbow said as she ran over and tried to grab one of the kids shoulders, but like last time everything froze

"The glorious future of Gotham." Red Hood said sarcastically "I remember getting picked on everyday at school, kids calling me a rat, trash, or the son of a whore. I hated it, but in Gotham you gotta be tough... Or you die." Red Hood said as the kids kept beating up the young Jason Todd. Suddenly the young Jason grabbed a brick and used it to bash it against one of the kids head, blood dripping from his head as he was knocked out. Jason then hit another kid in the face with it, breaking his nose as blood flooded forth his now broken nose. The last kid tried to run away but Jason threw the brick at his head, making him fall on the ground, crying in pain. Jason wiped away some blood from his lip as he picked up his dirty black bookbag and walked towards the kid. Kicking him over to lay on his back as Jason then got on top of him and began punching the boy in the face.

"Stop!" Fluttershy said as she ran over and grabbed Jason

"I guess it wasn't so bad, after all if i wasn't bullied then i wouldn't be able to stand up for myself. I guess i should thank them... But beating them to the ground felt so damn good." Red Hood said. Luna and the others gasped after witnessing all this, to live like this and do this everyday, even in childhood, was unimaginable. The surroundings changed again and they were standing in... A fair?

"Ooooh! This looks like fun!" Pinkie Pie smiled as she saw a ferris wheel, bumper cars, a petting zoo, and all sorts of food. Pinkie Pie looked around and then saw Jason and his family "Awwww." Pinkie Pie smiled as she saw Jason riding on his father's shoulders while they all ate cotton candy. The others looked and smiled as they saw Jason and his family being happy together. Applejack walked over and touched Jason's father

"My 8th birthday, i would never forget it. Mom and Dad scraped enough money to not only get tickets, but to buy me nearly anything i wanted. Me being the dumb kid i was obviously wanted to stuff my face with all sorts of food, but i made sure we all spent time together. I remember being so scared on the ferris wheel that i went the whole ride without opening my eyes. Hehe... I wish i could go back and tell them much they really mean to me, and tell them that i will be better... But that is a damn lie. I never wanted to be like my parents, yet i somehow became even worse... I'm sorry mom and dad... I hope you're both resting in peace." Red Hood said sadly. The girls and Spike all had a somber look on their faces when they heard this. The surroundings changed once more back to the house, it was dark and rainy, they saw men in blue uniforms taking Jason's father to a black and white carriage of some kind with red and blue lights flashing on top. Rarity touched Jason's father "Fate is one cruel bitch. This was just a few days after my birthday, looks like someone up above wanted to tear my family apart. I remember hearing my mom crying as my father was taken away. I stood there and could do nothing as my father was ripped away from my life... That was the last time i ever saw him, alive that is." Red Hood explained as the girls and Spike gasped

"Oh my goodness." Rarity said as she looked at the porch of the house to see the young Jason Todd holding a wooden baseball ball. Celestia walked over and touched his head

"It was now up to me to protect my mom and our home. I stopped going to school after that and did everything i could to get some money, using what my dad taught me and using it. Hustling, pickpocketing, scamming, and anything else really. But... I still couldn't save her..." Red Hood said, the others able to hear the sadness in his voice. Applejack pulled her hat over her face as she knew what it was like to lose family like that, and Celestia and Luna knew the same feeling

"I... I can't believe it..." Rainbow Dash said as she watched in sadness as Jason's father was taken away, hearing how a boy so young basically had to grow up without being a kid, and loosing a parent. Everything changed and they found themselves in a bathroom with Jason and his mother laying in the bathtub, but she looked very ill. They all rushed over and could hear Jason crying

"Mommy! Please wake up!" Jason cried as she shook his mother, but she didn't move. Her eyes were lifeless and her body pale. The girls and Spike all tried to hold back the tears as they saw this heartbreaking scene before. Luna knelt down and hugged the crying Jason Todd

"I couldn't save her, no matter what i said, no matter what i did, i couldn't save my own mother from herself. I failed them both... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Red Hood said, his voice breaking. The surroundings changed and they, once again, were in an alleyway. Spike turned around and gasped

"Holy molly." Spike said as he saw the coolest thing ever. The Batmobile! The others turned and were surprised to see this

"Whoa..." Rainbow Dash said. Spike looked and saw Jason wearing a white shirt and black shorts that had black stuff on his shirt, Jason was taking off the wheels of the carriage thing

"What do you think you're doing?" A deep voice asked. The girls turned and saw a very intimidating sight. They saw a very tall figure clad in black appear from the shadows, he looked like a giant bat. Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood in front of the Bat thing as they wanted to try and protect Jason, but Spike touched the bat guy

"The dark knight of Gotham. Batman. I knew that if i took the wheels off his ride i would be get paid very well, i was probably the bravest or dumbest kid on earth... Maybe both." Red Hood said. The "Batman" looked at Jason Todd as the boy dropped a tire iron after getting caught

"I only have one question." The Batman said, the girls were scared of what will happen next until they saw a smile form on Batman's face "You hungry?" Batman asked Jason. Twilight touched Jason

"After that night my whole life changed, from rags to sort of riches. Although i still wonder... Would my life be better if i didn't meet Batman that night?" Red Hood asked out loud. The scene changed and they looked around to be in some sort of museum where some men in white clothing with a question mark on them were stealing art. There stood a man in a green jumpsuit, a black question mark on his chest, black goggles with green lens, and a golden cane that was shaped in a question mark. Spike lit up as he saw this

"A supervillain! Awesome!" Spike exclaimed excitedly. The others laughed a bit at his excitement. Applejack was about to touch the supervillain until they heard glads shatter, looking up they saw the dark figure from before and a young colt wearing.... A red outfit with a yellow cape, green shoes, and green underwear, and an R on his chest. The mane 6 and Spike gasped as they saw this, looking similar to the colt from the temple

"Woohoo!" Jason, dressed as Robin, laughed as he jumped down on one of the henchmen "You guys having a party or what?" Jason then jumped off the henchman and did a split kick mid-air, kicking two more henchmen as he then threw some marbles. Making another henchmen trip and fall. Jason landed beside Batman "Guess our invite got lost." Jason smiled. Batman then knocked out a henchman without even looking

"It's over Riddler." Batman said

"Supervillain name!" Spike said excitedly as he then touched Jason

"From street rat to side kick of Batman. The second boy wonder, Robin. Putting on that suit made me feel like i can make my family proud, to make a change. Boy, was i wrong." Red Hood said. Suddenly one henchman came out and started shooting an auto crossbow at Batman and Robin, both vigilantes dodging the arrows. Jason ran up and punch the shooter, jumping on his shoulders and launching himself up, one henchman threw a rope around Jason's ankles but he pulled out a batarang and cut the rope before it tightened around his ankles. Jason then laned in front of the Riddler

"Riddle me this. What's green and purple but covered in red and yellow?" Jason asked, ducking under a swing from the Riddlers cane and then kicking the villain in the nuts. The Riddler groaned loudly as he fell down some steps, Jason them jumped down and landed on him "You, after i kick your sorry butt." Batman walked over to Jason and smiled, proud at his new partner. The girls and Spike smiled at this, until everything changed once more

"Don't move, or I'll-" A man shouted before getting cutt off. The girls and Spike looked to see a man in a white and blue shirt and jeans with a bandanna around his arm, and one of those things in his hands that Red Hood uses. They then saw... The same colt from the temple, everything finally clicked as the mane 6, Spike, and Luna realized that it truly was Jason.

"Or what? Shoot me?" Jason lunged forward and punched the thug in the face, breaking down the door as more thugs started shooting, the girls and Spike covered their ears from the loud sounds as they ducked, unable to really see what was going on. When the shooting stopped they walked in and saw Jason, but he didn't look like the happy, enthusiastic kid like before, he looked more... Angry, and seeing the heavily injured men lying on the floor Jason became more brutal. Celestia touched Jason's shoulder

"After seeing more and more criminal acts go by, and seeing the same criminals doing them again, I got real tired of playing nice. These monsters needed to know that their actions have consequences, that someone will not hold back on them when delivering Justice. Why couldn't you see that, Batman?" Red Hood said. The scene changed to Batman and Robin chasing down some men in orange jumpsuits and... Clown masks, all led by a man in a purple and yellow suit with a pale face, green hair, and a red smile on his face. The mane 6 and Spike all gasped and froze in place as they saw this. Celestia became worried after seeing her ponies get this fearful

"Twilight? Applejack?" Celestia called out to them as she saw them shake in fear. They all watched as Jason chased down the mad clown. The scene changed once more to Jason sitting down on a chair, unbound by anything, and his face badly injured. A black eye, a J branded on his face, and blood dripping down his nose. Celestia and Luna gasped as they saw this, the others saw worse but were still shocked. Suddenly large screens appeared of Jason's face

"Have you got something to say to the nice man?" The Joker asked, appearing next to a camera

"My name is Jason Todd." Jason said. The others could hear in his voice that he was... Broken. Scared. Celestia had never seen anypony, especially a child, who have been treated like this

"Who do you hate?" Joker asked

"Batman." Jason said, sounding angry yet sad at the same time

"Excellent. Of course you do." Joker said happily, then more screens appeared all around of Jason and the Joker "Did you get that, Bats? Kid's not yours anymore. He's mine. Mine mine mine. To do with as i wish." The Joker said gleefully as he looked at the camera, soon walking towards Jason "Hey. I never asked. What's the big secret? Who is the big bad bats? His name. Tell me!" Joker said as he stood bit in front of Jason, facing the camera

"Of course. It's-" Jason didn't finish as he was then shot in the chest by the Joker. The girls and Spike all yelped in fright and gasped in horror as they saw this happen

"Never could trust a tattletale." Joker said. Luna ran to Jason and touched him

"I waited for so long... But he never came. Instead he replaced me, abandoned me... That's when i stopped putting my faith in others. I wish that bullet had killed me." Red Hood said, rage boiling in his voice. Luna cried as she looked down at the injured Jason until the room changed. Now in a warehouse of sorts they heard Laughter, turning around to see the Joker beating Jason with a crowbar. Luna and Celestia gasped as they saw this, never seeing such cruelty done to somepony like this. The Joker then stopped and put the crowbar down

"Okay, I think that about wrap things up, champ. Finish your homework and be in bed by 9." The Joker said as he put on a coat and headed towards a door "Oh, and tell the big man i said... Hello." Joker started laughing madly as he then shut the door. Jason coughed up blood as he started to slowly crawl towards the door, grunting and groan with each movement, leaving a trail of blood on the floor. He reached the door and tried to open it, but it was locked. Rainbow Dash went over and touched him

"I was left behind. Abandoned. Thrown away like discarded trash. I was so scared... So alone. I prayed he would come but he didn't. He left me! I was... I was never apart of his family..." Red Hood said sadly as his voice cracked.

Jason looked over as he heard beeping, the others turned as well as their eyes went wide. They saw a bomb with a timer on it.

5

Luna ran over to Jason as Celestia used her magic to form a shield

4

Luna held on the Jason as she cried

3

Twilight and the others held on to each other

2

They all closed their eyes and prepared for the bomb to go off

1

"I'm s... Orry... Bruce..." Jason mumbled weakly as his eyes just... Accepted death

BOOM