~Narrator's POV~
I awoke to the feeling of a sudden, shocking pain in my chest. I screamed until the shocking was over. I looked around, panting deeply.
Suddenly, a deep male voice spoke, "Wake up, ladies. We have things to discuss."
I tried to look around, to find the source of the voice. But, there was barely any light where I was. As well as the fact that I was still suffering from the daze of the aftershock. I tried to move, but I noticed I was bound by cuffs and chains connected to my hands and hooves.
My name is Tabitha Skylar Smith, but my friends just call me Tali. I'm a Unicorn Eponian of 21 years old, younger sister of Commissioner Shemaus Smith, aunt of Faith Smith, and the protege of the ruler, and true goddess of my country; Princess Celestia.
Last thing I remember was arriving to Gotham with my friends, to hear a man's speech about a walled section of the city, being a place to hold Gotham's Most Wanted, since Arkham Asylum and Blackgate closed down.
The voice continued, "You all thought the Magic of Friendship would keep you safe, didn't you? Well it proved to be quite ineffective, didn't it?"
My ears twitched at the direction of the voice. Now that I could hear him clearly, he was coming from in front of me, just over my left shoulder.
"You six belong to me now. I have had a great interest in your kind, and the different powers you possess. When you come together and use these powers at their highest potential, an incredible energy is released." He finished.
'Six'? I'm not alone in here? The sound of soft sniffles came from my right and a raspy struggling voice from my left reached my ears.
"What do you want? Where am I? Who are you? Let me out of here!" A familiar raspy voice shouted.
That sounded like Robyn. She must have been the one snarling and struggling.
Robyn Dakota Ambrose is a Pegasus Eponian of 19. She's most recognized by her rainbow-themed mane and tail. A true tomboy with an eye for danger.
"Shut Arkham City down, Strange." An unfamiliar female voice spoke up in a raspy tone.
~ZAP~
Another wave of electricity hit my chest again, and me and the others with me screamed in pain.
The shocking stopped. The male chuckled, "You sound just like your father." Then spoke again, "I have studied you. I have learned everything about you. Your likes, your dislikes, your routines, and now I now posses the Elements of Harmony themselves."
I've never felt so nauseous in my life. Any more shocks and we've would've been cooked alive. My head was spinning from the aftershock. Who was doing this to me and the others in the room? Why was he doing this?
I didn't have to wait long to get my answers. Out of the darkness, a tall Caucasian human male walked in front of me. He was bald, but from his beard, I could tell it was grey, used to be brunette. Behind a pair of dark round glasses, I could see a pair of grey eyes staring at me. He also wore a lab coat, dark pants and shoes. Like some kind of mental doctor.
The doctor bent down to my level, so he could look me in the eyes, "I feel that thanks are in order, Miss. Smith. Had you not been such a loyal student to Celestia, I fear that you wouldn't have come to discover this power. Observing you will be quite a privilege when Protocol Ten is commenced."
I glared back at him without saying a word. I'm being smart and staying quiet, not stupid and open my mouth to say something smart back.
The doctor stood up straight again and left the dark room, through what sounded like a door. I was left alone in the darkness with whimpers and struggles in my ears. At least I wasn't alone.
The next thing I knew, the room lit up really brightly. I had to close my eyes in recoil. Following the lights was a doorbell chime and the doctors voice spoke again.
"You are mine, new inmates. Let me to introduce myself. I am Professor Hugo Strange. And I am in charge of the Arkham City Facility..."
As the doctor, Professor Strange, continued to talk, I was able to open my eyes and adjusted to the brightness of the room. I looked around and saw I was in a small dirty room. It looked like a room from one of Robyn's horror movie collection.
There were hooks and chains hanging from the ceiling, a dark stain on the ground that was probably from something I'd rather not know about, a TV set, and a mirror that was clean enough to see my reflection.
As I expected, my friends and I were cuffed and sitting on metal chairs. No wonder why the shocks were so strong.
My Pegasus friends had their wings bound, so they couldn't fly. And me and Rhianna had some sort of ring on our horns.
I looked over myself and noticed I had bruises and scapes all over my light mullberry fur. Even my clothes were muddy and a slight bit torn up. Most likely I was dragged here.
I wore a white collared shirt under a dark purple sweater-vest with a matching tie and dark blue pants. Formal, but comfortable.
My sapphire, pink and purple streaked mane was a bit fuzzy, due to the shocks and static still in the air. But, what you gonna do? I looked at the mirror, and noticed a bunch of identical chairs both sides of me. They all sat in a row of chairs.
I looked over and saw Faith and Rhianna on my right. On my left was Phillie, Abigail and Robyn. They looked as bad as I did. In between Faith and Rhianna was another Eponian glaring at the door. A Bat Eponian.
I could tell by the figure that she was female and around the age of 18. Her short, messy, pixie cut mane and spiky tail were a dark violet-indigo color. Her fur coat was a dark pastel green with a white blaze and underbelly. Dark green, bat-like wings with deep green membranes. Dark green hooves and nails. And sharp, eerie green eyes.
She wore a pair of black-framed glasses over her eyes. A white collared shirt under a pair of black formal overalls. I recognized the clothes as the same clothes the white Earth Eponian that was standing behind the dark-haired human man on the podium earlier today.
Are the Earth Eponian and this Bat Eponian the same person?
"T-t-t-Tali, w-what's going on?" Faith sobbed to me, "W-w-why are we here? What's going to happen to us?"
Faith Summers was a Pegasus Eponian that was 21 years old. But, she grew up in Chinatown in Metropolis. A well-known vet, since she has remarkable natural talents with animals.
Her fur coat is a very light yellow and her mane, feathers and tail are long and a light pink. Her mane and tail are so light, like the gentle breeze. Her eyes are a light opal blue. Like gems from the sea.
She wears a pale green tank top under a light green formal sweater and a pair of light blue pants. Along with a pink butterfly barrette in her mane, behind her left ear.
"I d-don't know, Faith." I answered with tears threatening to fall down my face.
"If I don't get answers soon, somepony will be in for the worst butt-kicking of their life!" Robyn fumed.
Aside from her rainbow mane, feathers and tail, Robyn's fur was a light cyan. Her eyes are cerise rose.
She wore something more casual, since formal isn't her thing. A black t-shirt under a sleeveless white hoodie with light blue trimmings and a rainbow bolt on her chest. Rainbow-themed arm warmers. Light blue 3/4 length combat pants.
Abigail must've been angry too. Cause she shouted loudly, "Yer darn right! There had better be a good explanation fer all this! May Celestia help them, if they don't!"
Abigail Jamie Appleseed, or Abbie or A.J, is an Earth Eponian from Sweet Apple Acres, just outside Metropolis. The second eldest by 24 years of age. She's your typical country girl with a large family that stretches across Equestria and the rest of the world.
Her fur coat was a light orange with freckles, due to being out in the sun most of the time. Her eyes are a sap green. And her mane and tail are a light blonde. Her mane is tied in a braid, while her tail is in a low ponytail.
She wore a setson hat over her head. A white t-shirt under a denim vest coat. Matching denim pants with a brown belt and brown biker gloves.
"Please let us go! Whoever you are! Please! You have the wrong girls!" Rhianna plead in desperation.
Rhianna Stone is a Unicorn Eponian, like myself. She's the eldest by 26 years. But she grew up in Metropolis as a famous fashion designer. She came to Gotham, to see if she can open a branch or get some inspiration.
Her fur coat is a very pale grey, almost white. Her eyes are a deep blue that blended with her lighter blue eye shadow. Her mane and tail were a deep purple and combed to a natural curl.
She wore a black tank top under a dark grey sweater. A silver chain necklace with a blue topaz pendant around her neck. And a light grey skirt that reached to her knees.
From what I can tell, the only one that didn't look nervous or scared was Phillie. She was actually giggling and smiling.
Philomena Diane Piper, or we just call her Phillie, is an Earth Eponian, like Abigail, but quite different. She's the same age as me, and was born and grew up in Gotham. So, she knows this place like the back of her hand.
Her fur coat was a light pink and her mane and tail were a darker shade. They were poofy and wild, like she was made of either bubblegum or cotton candy. Her eyes were a light blue.
She wore a white t-shirt with light blue sleeves and darker blue trimmings, under a pair of raspberry pink overalls with rolled up leggings.
"Wow! This place looks really, really, spooky! That man must be a pretty good prankster, if he went to all this trouble! Hee hee ha ha ha!" She giggled.
Suddenly, the commotion came to an abrupt end when an alarm rang. Three guards with rifles entered the room in a hustle.
"All of you better shut your mouths, if you don't want to be full of lead!" One of them yelled at us.
"Oh yeah? What will y-" Robyn retorted, but was immediately met with a the safe end of a rifle to her stomach.
Robyn leaned over with tears in her eyes, as she tried to catch her breath. Phillie's smile vanished and she started screaming.
Furious of what just happened, Abigail growled, "Oh, that ain't gonna fly at all!"
She lunged forward from her chair and viciously started biting and kicking the guard in the face and torso. The other two grabbed Abigail and threw her across the room, straight into Phillie and myself. Abbie hit her head on a metal part of Phillie's chair and went unconscious. Her rear hit Phillie and she flew out of the chair and onto the ground. Instinctively, she grabbed for me, and dragged me on the ground too.
"BACKUP! BACKUP! ESCAPE IN PROGRESS!" The guard yelled.
Two more guards entered the room, holding stun sticks or cattle rods. They went to pacify Phillie's 'escape attempt'. They zapped her and she was out cold.
I tried to get my hoofing, when I was grabbed by a guard, dragged out the door, and thrown outside, "Enjoy your visit to Arkham City!"
The force of the guard's throw forced my face to meet concrete. Multiple questions rushed in my head. How did I get here? Where exactly is here? Why were these people doing these things to me and my friends? Just then, Faith, the Bat Eponian and Rhianna landed on either side of me. Faith and Rhianna were sobbing uncontrollably.
Faith and Rhianna wiped their tears and we helped each other back to our hooves. We started walking as best we could toward the center of the new room they were in. The cuffs restricted movement and made it awkward to try and walk.
The room was full of humans in the typical orange prison outfits. Strongly indicates these men were all prisoners from either Blackgate or Arkham. They all looked like they could stir up a lot of trouble, which terrified me and my friends. To make things worse, every single ones' attention was on us.
Well, we did stick out like a sore thumb. Three Eponians within a prison facility which majored in humans. Inmates all over the room shouted sarcasm and profanity toward us as we made our way to the center.
The guards ordered them to be quiet, but the inmates started to get more aggressive. Then, a guard shot an inmate in the leg. The others cowered as the inmate screamed and went down. The guard who shot the inmate turned the barrel toward us.
"You three! Line A, MOVE!"
Faith, Rhianna and I complied immediately. Scurrying as fast as we were able to the line we were ordered to get into. We almost ran into the Bat Eponian and a human man in front of us.
He wore a dark blue, nearly black suit, he was about 6 foot 1 inch tall, he had thick, black hair, and his face was expressionless.
He turned slightly to look at us. I could've sworn I saw his face shift slightly to one of concern, before he turned forward again. He was the first one who didn't look terrifying or evil in this place. He looked like a protector.
Then I heard a guard ahead shouted, "You two, out of the way! Wayne! Get your ass up here!"
My eyes widen is recognition. Wayne? As in Bruce Wayne? Princess Celestia sent me to Gotham to interview this man. How did he get mixed up in a place like this?
The inmate in front of the Mr. Wayne turned around to face him. "Bruce Wayne? You're on my list...." He made his hand into a gun and pointed it at Mr. Wayne, "Bang!" He blew off the 'smoke' and chuckled, "Hehehe..."
The man stepped aside. Mr. Wayne walked forward and reached a metal detector, before being struck by the butt of a guard's gun. He went down to his knees, grabbing his face in pain. I winced, as I felt the impact.
The Bat Eponian ran forward in worry, "Father!" When she got close enough, the guard rammed the butt of his gun into her stomach. The Bat Eponian fell to her knees and struggled to breathe.
Wait. 'Father'? Her father is human. That means her mother must've been Eponian.
I turned my head away from the scene, to stop tears from threatening to fall, until I heard the all-too-familiar voice of Professor Strange, "Lower your weapons! Mr. Wayne and his 'bodyguard' will not be any trouble. Will you, Mr. Wayne?"
I looked back and saw Professor Strange looming over Mr. Wayne.
"The cuffs can stay on. We don't want to make things too easy, do we?" Strange instructed the guards.
Just then, one of the guards yanked Mr. Wayne and the Bat Eponian back to their feet and hooves and threw them into the next room. The room was filled with two other inmates. However, these inmates were in different outfits and looked almost as scared as my friends and I were.
Numerous thoughts ran through my mind again. Like I said before, last thing I remember before waking up in that previous room was attending Mr. Wayne's congress against Arkham City. Then everything else went blank.
Then memories started clearing in my mind. Cans of tear gas. Guards came rushing in. They surrounded me, my friends, Mr. Wayne and the Bat Eponian. Then something hit me at the back of the head.
I tried to think back, but Rhianna broke my concentration, "Tali! Tali! Please snap out of it! They want us to move up!"
I felt somepony shaking me from the shoulder, then something hit me square in the face.
My face met the ground with a thud which caused me to get a metallic taste in my mouth. I ran my hand over my muzzle and found blood. My nose was bleeding.
I scrambled back to my hooves, but I was struck again, and the weight of the cuffs caused me to collide with the ground. I braced myself from getting hit again, but Faith and Rhianna dragged me out of the guards reach.
"Leave her alone, you ruffian!" Rhianna yelled at the guard.
That made the guard mad. He walked up to us, eyes full of fury. He brought his leg up to deliver a swift kick, until Professor Strange spoke up
"Stand down, guard. They will learn to hold their tongues in time." The mad professor instructed.
The guard's foot stopped in mid-air, before he regained his composure. He took a few steps back, but he still had his gun pointed at me, Faith and Rhianna.
We turned towards Professor Strange. He had the cruelest smirk on his face. In his hands, he held a set of keys. He was planning to remove the cuffs?
As Rhianna, Faith and I approached him, the guards moved to restrain Rhianna like she was about to make a break for it. She was stiff as a board as they grabbed her. They dragged her toward Professor Strange and he released the bindings off her hands and hooves. But he kept the ring on her horn.
Once they were off, she was thrown into the same tiny room that Mr. Wayne and the Mutant were in. She landed on her face and lay there for a moment before the Bat Eponian made an attempt to help her up. She was too frightened to know if it was help, so she backed away as fast as she could.
Faith was next. The guards grabbed the quaking Pegasus Equestrian and dragged her to Professor Strange. He released her cuffs, but not the straps on her wings, and she was thrown into the room with Rhianna. Mr. Wayne tried to help her to her hooves this. Faith was petrified and made no attempt to move out of his way.
Once she realized that he was trying to help, she barely peeked out from behind her hands to see his face. He had a small look of concern on it as he helped the Pegasus Equestrian to her hooves.
It was my turn now. I moved forward but a guard blocked my path. I looked over his shoulder and saw the doors to the next room were closing. My eyes widen in horror as realization hit me like a comet. Professor Strange is separating us like twins!
Rhianna and Faith must've noticed it too. Tears streamed down their faces as they stared at each other.
"No! We need her to come with us!" Rhianna screamed, trying to reach out for me.
She tried to crawl out and take me with her. Faith was sobbing uncontrollably as I tried to fight my way past the guard, but he wouldn't budge. Rhianna would have been crushed, but the Bat Eponian grabbed her out of the way of the doors.
She was flailing, kicking, and screaming for her to release her, but the Bat Eponian's grip on her held.
The screams and cries stopped once the door shut. I couldn't believe what just happened before my own eyes. Phillie, Robyn, and Abigail weren't with me, and now I was separated from Faith and Rhianna.
I'm all alone...
~Rhianna Stone's POV~
The doors shut and my screams for Tali ceased. Now all I could do is cry and hyperventilate. I was that terrified. Faith wasn't feeling any better. The Bat Eponian released me. I stood still for a moment, before collapsing to the ground next to Faith. Faith and I both held each other like our lives depended on it, and we backed up to the door we just entered from.
Shivering and shaking, Faith and I looked to the opposite of the room. We only saw the other two inmates along with Mr. Wayne and the Bat Eponian. They both wore blue overalls with a hoodie underneath. Both male. Like they weren't inmates, but prisoners like us.
One of them was hugging the wall to the left. He looked catatonic. The other wore crooked glasses, and looked annoyed.
The one in glasses turned to look at Mr. Wayne, "Bruce Wayne? Hah! There I was reporting on your crummy press conference and now here we both are." He looked back at the door, "I guess that will teach you to get involved in politics..."
Then he looked at the Bat Eponian and spat, "Heh. Figured you'd be involved, Eleanor. Having history with most of the criminals. You belong in a place like this."
The Bat Eponian, Eleanor, stayed quiet. Mr. Wayne spoke to everyone in the room, "Listen to me carefully. When they open the door, do not panic. Stay close to me."
Faith looked at the man in the smashing suit. In her eyes I could see a hint of secure confidence. It was small, but noticeable.
The man in the glasses retorted, "You think I'm going to take advice from someone who has never even been in a fight?"
Just then, the opposite door hissed and opened. Mr. Wayne, Eleanor, Faith, the other prisoners and I were instantly hit with a gust of freezing cold air. We recoiled at the sudden drop in temperature. The only two that didn't flinch were Mr. Wayne and Eleanor.
"Stay calm. They're trying to scare us." Eleanor spoke up. I finally got to hear her voice. Raspy with an African-American accent, but had a melodic tone.
"I'm already scared..." Faith uttered under her breathe.
As the doors opened, the environment on the other side was much more shocking than I thought. It was a gauntlet of inmates in orange jumpsuits, and screaming. A chain-link fence held inmates on either side of them back. There must have been fifty of them in here. Each one of them was shouting random profanity. Most of which was aimed at Mr. Wayne.
"Hey Wayne! Whatcha do? Kill your butler?"
"I heard the Penguin's put a price on your head!"
"You're gonna be my bitch, Wayne!"
Faith and I followed Mr. Wayne's advice and slowly walked behind him. Paranoia was building up every step my hooves took. This place was dark, evil, cold and mysterious. Bright floodlights prevented us from seeing anything above the roofs. Not that we would be able to see anything anyway.
Eleanor seemed to have her attention to the roofs above us. Like she could see something. After a few seconds, she cleaned her glasses, looked again and shrugged her shoulders. Must've been a trick of the light.
Four inmates vaulted the top of the fence in front of us. Two of them went for the two men that were with us. The other two went for Mr. Wayne, Eleanor, Faith and myself.
Faith moved close behind Mr. Wayne. I braced myself and tried to look as tough as I could.
The inmate that ran up to me had a sadistic smile on his face. He brought up his fist, ready to punch me. I knew I was going to get hurt, so I closed my eyes and braced for impact. But, nothing happened.
I opened my eyes and saw my assailant unconscious on the ground. Mr. Wayne was standing over him, his attention to the other inmate.
The inmate lunged toward Mr. Wayne, full of rage. Mr. Wayne stood his ground and in one fluid motion, countered the assault, pinned him to the ground, and knocked him out cold.
I couldn't believe my eyes. By the looks of it, neither can Faith. This man is the International Billionaire Playboy. Owner and CEO of Wayne Enterprises. And he was able to fend off the two inmates, even restrained by cuffs. Who is this man?!
I noticed an inmate had taken down the catatonic man Faith, Mr. Wayne and I were with. He laid motionless on the ground. Seeing how Mr. Wayne was able to defeat those inmates, while restrained, gave me a wave of confidence. I ran up to the inmate and delivered a roundhouse kick to the face, just as he turned to me. The inmate was taken back by the strike, but recovered quickly.
"Oh you're dead, you little bitch!" He snarled at me.
I aimed to strike again, but the inmate caught my blow and slammed my face into the chain-link fence. He started punching and kicking me, while I was still pinned. I tried to look over to Faith and screamed for help.
To my surprise, Faith didn't come to my rescue. It was Eleanor. She caught one of the inmate's blows, threw him over her shoulder and knocked him out-cold.
Faith quickly ran over and helped me back to my hooves.
Mr. Wayne spoke up, "On your feet, Ryder!"
The man with glasses struggled to get his footing.
"I said, get up!" Mr. Wayne leaned over and picked him up.
The prison gate was opening, and Mr. Wayne was making his way out. Faith helped me as best she could. I was feeling so light-headed and dizzy, that my vision was flashing back and forth between black and clear as crystal. Even my ears were ringing.
~Faith Summers' POV~
I struggled to keep Rhianna on her hooves. She was drifting in and out of consciousness, and she was a little heavier than she looked. The Bat Eponian, Miss. Eleanor I think Mr. Ryder called her, helped me by putting Rhianna's other arm over her shoulders.
Just then, I saw an inmate came down in front of me, holding a lead pipe. He slowly made his way toward Mr. Wayne, looking for the most effective body part to hit.
"LOOK OUT!" I shouted.
But the inmate swung and hit Mr. Wayne right behind the kneecaps. Mr. Wayne dropped Mr. Ryder and went down.
Then a light, male voice spoke up from the other side, "Welcome to Hell, Brucey-boy!"
I looked over and saw five figures emerging from outside the gate. The one who spoke was a young-looking Earth Eponian stallion in a dark business suit, winter coat and a black umbrella. His fur coat was a dark grey. Mane and tail were black and his eyes were heterochromic. One was green and the other was blue.
The rest of the figures were humans.
The stallion looked over to me and Rhianna, "Aww, some lovely little ponies!" Then he pointed at us and barked, "Take 'em back to the museum!"
Two of the taller human henchmen walked towards me and Rhianna. I put Rhianna down in between myself and Miss. Eleanor, went down to my knees and put my hands over my head in surrender.
What was the point? I know what would happen. These men would've taken us away no matter how hard I fought back. Might as well surrender and think of something else.
Mr. Wayne was hit again and fell on his back. He looked to the young stallion as he stood over him.
The stallion readied himself to kick Mr. Wayne in the head, "Nighty-night!"
Just as the young stallion spoke, I felt something struck me in the side of the head. The other side of my head hit the ground and the world around me went black.
~Robyn Dakotah Ambrose's POV~
While the two guards forcefully removed Tali, Rhianna, the Mutant and Faith out of the room, I wheezed on the ground next to my unconscious friends. My midsection was in so much pain, it hurt just trying to breathe. I looked past the guards and noticed my other three friends face-down on the ground outside.
"T-Ta-li…" I wheezed out, but she didn't hear me.
Tears welled up in my eyes, as the door closed and the guards turned their attention to me
One of them spoke, "Did you think we would let you just mouth off to us like that?! Huh?! You better get a clue about shutting up when you're told, or we'll make you shut up forever! Got it?!"
I quickly nodded my head in agreement and fear.
The other three guards began reviving Phillie and Abbie from their out-cold states, while the first guard got me to stand on my hooves. Very slowly, I stood up from the chair. My midsection hurt, but thanks to the adrenaline rush, it didn't feel as bad as it did. Just wished it lasted longer.
The guard pushed me along toward the door. I turned and noticed Phillie was starting to come to. I went through the door and expected the worst. I opened my eyes and gasped in horror. Okay, this place has taken Hell to a whole new level.
Equestria is a peaceful and quiet utopia compared to Arkham City. Even Metropolis isn't this bad. When I was young, my parents and I moved to Metropolis to get some adventure. With super-villains like Lex Luthor, Metallo and Parasite, Metropolis is full of adventure.
But this? Now I know why signs and pilots warn the citizens to visit at their own risk. Gotham is a city of madness and instability. Not just by the appearance, but by the smell, the sounds, and even the people.
Psychos, killers, rapists, and murderers were spread all through the next room. A large group of inmates were standing along the far wall, while a few others were in two lines to my right. To my left was an extremely oversized iron door that was being guarded by two armed guards. That's most likely the entrance and exit of this place. Shame I can't fly, my wings are bound.
I stood frozen. I couldn't believe I was in this awful place. I can't even remember how or when I even got here. I remember Tali reporting that she had a mission from Princess Celestia about this city and she needed to interview a guy named 'Bruce Wayne'. The rest of us thought we could tag along and see what we could do since it was a week's trip to Gotham.
During a man's political speech about Arkham City needed to be taken down, there was fog and guards. Next thing I knew, black-out.
Phillie's surprise embrace cut off my train of thought, "Oh Kodie! What's going on?! This place isn't a prank! What's happening, what's happening, what's happening?!"
I returned the gesture the best I could, "I don't know, Phillie. I don't know! I want to go home too."
Phillie and I shared a momentary embrace before we were interrupted.
"Hey, you two! Get your asses moving! Line B! MOVE!" Shouted the guard behind us.
Phillie and I complied and started walking slowly towards the assigned line.
I knew we wouldn't be able to survive in this place for long on our own. There is strength is numbers. As the Spirit Representation of Loyalty, it's in my nature to let go of my own selfish desires, find my friends in this forsaken city and bring ourselves whole again. But, I have to try and keep Phillie as calm as possible. She's not the most stable when it comes to facing fear in this level. Even if Gotham is her home.
Speaking of friends, I just remembered one; Abbie!
I quickly turned around to see Abigail being led out of the previous room wearing what looked like the bottom part of a hockey mask. The guards were putting what looked like a glowing collar onto her. One of the guards finished putting it on, got down to eye level with her, and said something. I couldn't hear anything, because he was whispering. He then pushed a button on a remote and Abigail collapsed on the ground and shook like crazy. She looked like she was having a seizure.
The guard released the button and stood directly over her, "GOT IT?!" He yelled.
Then he picked her up and shoved her towards me and Phillie. She tripped and fell over again a few paces away. Phillie and I immediately ran to help our friend to her hooves. She had tears in her eyes, and was shaking like crazy. She got to her hooves and Phillie and I helped her walk as best we could.
"Why? Why are we here, ya'll? What in all of Equestria did we do to deserve this?" Abigail asked. Her voice sounded muffled behind the mask she wore, but I could make her words out.
"I don't know, AJ." I answered, then assured, "I hope with all my heart that this is just one big nightmare."
Abigail nodded, "Ah hope so too, Robyn. Ah don't see how anything this evil can ever exist. It's impossible."
For the briefest of moments, Phillie's face lit up. "Guys, look! It's Tali!"
Abigail and I followed where the bouncing pink Eponian was pointing. A familiar mulberry Unicorn Equestrian was standing alone in Line A. She was in the very front. Phillie, Abigail and I were behind few inmates in line B. She looked like she just saw her life flash before her violet eyes.
I felt an explosion of relief wash over me. It was Tali. She's alright!
"Tali! TALI!" I yelled, trying to get my friend's attention.
Tali spun and saw us. A smile grew on her face, "Girls! You're ok!"
My friends and I knew we couldn't cut in line. Doing that would earn us getting hit, shot, thrown back, or in Abbie's case shocked. So, all we could do is make sure Tali could see us.
Line B quickly shortened as the last of the inmates entered the small room ahead. Phillie, Abigail and I were finally next to Tali. Tears of happiness fell from our faces in the reunion. I know it was only about five minutes, since we've seen each other. But it felt like a hundred lifetimes.
"This place is a nightmare! They don't care about us one bit! Faith and Rhianna are gone! They already left through that door!" Tali informed us.
Our eyes widen in shock and horror. "Just Rhianna and Faith? By themselves?" I exclaimed.
Tali quickly shook her head, "Well, not exactly. There was this other human and a Mutant in line with us. I've never met him. I've never even heard of him, but everyone else here has."
"What was his name?" Phillie asked.
"I heard an inmate make him a threat. He said that he 'was on his list'. He called him Bruce Wayne." Tali answered.
Phillie, Abbie and I tilted our heads. 'Bruce Wayne'? Never heard of him...
Just then, the large door ahead opened, and the madman in the lab coat, Professor Strange if I heard from the tv set, was waiting there. Just like that, the happiness was gone with the snow and rain.
"Please, Miss Smith, if you could be so kind." Strange spoke up.
Tali shakily stepped forward. Strange released her cuffs, and she went inside the room. The next inmate in Line A stepped forward.
As Strange noticed who was next, he smiled. "Ah, you've arrived. Good."
The inmate had the same smile, as he followed Strange through another smaller door to the right. They vanished in the darkness of the small room. A moment later, Strange returned.
He turned his attention to the rest of us, "Miss Philomena Diane Piper? You're next, my dear."
Phillie hesitated, but then put on the most determined face she could. She walked over to Strange and he released her cuffs. She quickly pranced toward Tali and gave her a big hug. Tali returned the gesture, and then they both turned back to me and Abigail.
Abigail walked over to Strange, who gave her an amused look, "Well, well. It looks like you need to learn a lesson in respect, young lady. I do hope that you discover some very soon." He remarked.
Abigail didn't answer. She just gave him a long, cold glare. Phew. If looks could kill…
Her cuffs were released and she joined Tali and Phillie. I was left.
As Strange removed my cuffs, he gave me a stern look, "My Tyger forces have my express permission to use deadly force in Arkham City. If they see you try to escape over the wall, they can and will shoot you out of the air."
I raised a brow, "Oh yeah? What makes you think they can beat me? I'm the fastest flier in Equestria! I would love to see you try, Strange!"
I just realized what I said and immediately wished I never opened my mouth. Tali, Phillie, and Abigail turned away, waiting for the guard to beat me to a bloody pulp.
Strange just gave a light chuckle, "The temperature outside is below zero and continuing to drop. You will freeze as icy needles penetrate every square inch of your body, if you try to out fly them. You will die, and then your friends will die."
I furrowed my eyebrows and angrily glared at the mad doctor.
Strange continued, "I know you don't want the blood of your best friends on your hands. You represent the Element of Loyalty, do you not?"
I continued to glare as her cuffs were released. Without a word, I walked over to join my friends in the room, and then the door shut. Strange looked at us with an evil grin on his face. Then the door shut.
The gears and machinery whirred inside the room. Abigail, Tali, Phillie and I held each other's hands tightly.
"No matter what happens, we gotta stick together. It's our only chance of makin' it through this." Abigail assured.
Tali nodded in agreement, "Yes. We can't let this awful place get to us."
Phillie nodded, "Okie dokie lokie! We need to find Faith and Rhianna, and then find a way back home!"
"When those doors open, we run! Run to the closest hiding place we can find! If anyone chases us, then we keep running as fast as we can until they give up! Sound good?" I suggested.
Tali, Phillie and Abigail nodded uneasily.
As the machinery and gears stopped, the doors began to hiss. My friends and I stood in a row, waiting for the doors to open and waiting for the horrors outside. I'll admit, I was unbelievably nervous. I knew this wasn't just a simple dream or a prank gone wrong.
We were here, in Arkham City.
"We're all going to die in here."
