The Last Bat

NO POV.

A luxurious carriage pulled up in front of a large skyscraper and came to a halt. Soon the carriage was bombarded with dozens and dozens of reports all clamoring with questions after questions. The doors opened and stepped out two large minotaurs wearing black suits and glasses, pushing the reporters back. Following behind them stepped out Lit Fuse Senior, dressed in a red suit vest with a black tie neatly tucked inside his vest. Dozens of camera flashes go off at his face as reporters asked hundreds of questions.

"Mr. Fuse, what do you have to say about the allegations being held against you?"

"Do you have anything to say about the recent incident involving a container that has been seen with your company?"

"What are your thoughts on the rampant bodies appearing all over the city?"

"Is it true that this vigilante is after you?"

"Has the vigilante sent you any messages?"

Fuse's bodyguards shoved the reporters back while escorting Fuse towards the door of the building, but before he stepped in he stopped and turned around.

"I have built this company from the ground up before I even finished highschool, I have clawed my way up the ladder to success and I refuse to allow my good name and the names of my family be tarnished by these horrid accusations. Ponies see me and my family as a easy ticket to money, I shall NOT give in to these worthless threats and false tears of these ponies." Fuse said while showing an unwavering spirit. Many reporters tried asking more questions but were held back by security while Fuse made his way inside, passing through the lobby and taking the elevator up to the top floor.

Once reaching the floor a mare dressed in a gray suit was waiting for him with some papers in her hoof.

"Welcome back, sir." The mare greeted him. "They're waiting inside for you."

"Good." Fuse said as he walked down the hall and towards a set of doors, opening it up to reveal a large, spacious office with red carpet that had his company Logo in the center, a large desk, a few priceless paintings and small sculptures here and there, and with a clear window that overlooked Manehatten. Inside the office stood about six stallions that looked extremely nervous.

Fuse walked up to one stallion and stared him in his eyes "How many drops have we lost?" Fuse asked, but not towards the stallion, his question was directed to the mare.

"We've lost over forty-seven this week." The mare answered. Fuse then punched the stallion in the face, sending him flying back with a tooth flying out his mouth.

"How many bits were lost?" Fuse asked, walking up to the next stallion.

"Approximately fifty-thousand bits have been lost." The mare answered once more. Fuse punched the stallion in the gut making him double over in pain and gasp for air.

"How many ponies have we lost?" Fuse asked as he glared at the next stallion.

"We've lost well over seventy-six ponies. That's only for the bodies we were able to find, any way." The mare told him. Fuse head-butted the stallion, breaking the stallion's nose as he dropped to the ground.

"We have all those drops. All that money. All those ponies. Only to lose it all to one fucking freak?!" Fuse's, well, fuse, was lit as he lifted up another stallion and threw him against the wall. "What the Tartarus do I pay you fucking morons for?! Stand around with your hoof up your ass?! Somepony give me a motherfucking reason why this damn freak isn't in front of me on his knees?!" Fuse demanded as he marched up to the mare, but she was unfazed by his rage.

"Sir, may I be frank?" The mare asked, Fuse glared at her and scoffed as he walked over to his desk, sitting down. Waving his hoof at her for her to continue. "He's merely... Too good."

"What, you the president of his fucking bookclub, now?" Fuse scoffed.

"Sir, he has singlehandedly taken down multiple gang leaders, have taken out entire operations, cleared out entire warehouses and buildings with dozens of armed ponies alone, evaded the police, and continue to taunt you with the bodies. No matter how many ponies we send, no matter how well-armed they are, no matter where we hide our stash, he finds it. And it makes sure you know it's him." The mare placed a folder on Fuse's desk.

Upon opening the folder Fuse saw dozens of photos of the mutilated bodies of his ponies, all of them showing a more cruel and gruesome fate than the last. But one thing they all had in common? They all had a bat symbol. Whether it was carved into their bodies, painted in their blood, or made up of their corpses, there was always a symbol of that bat. Fuse grumbled as he scattered the photos on the floor.

"This son of a bitch thinks he can muscle in on my city? On my turf?" Fuse turned around and walked over to the window, looking down at Manehatten.

"Sir, I don't think he's competition. He hasn't made any alliances, he hasn't made any declaration of keeping territory, and every shipment of weapons, drugs, or ponies we have he destroys or turns over to the police. He's not some crime lord muscling in. He's someone who is trying to rid of everypony." The mare explained. Fuse looked down over the city as he gritted his teeth.

"He wants to play lethal protector? Fine then. Put a bounty on him. One hundred million bits for whoever brings me his head." Fuse said as he reached into his suit and pulled out a cigar, lighting a match as he lit the cigar. "Do whatever it takes."

"Yes, sir." The mare then walked out along with the other stallions after they picked themselves up. Fuse smoked his cigar and looked down at the photos, burning it with his cigar.

NIGHT. NO POV.

Jason was tailing a group of ponies while they drove in a cab down the road, rain pouring down from above as thunder roared in the clouds covered night sky. Perfect. The weather will make it harder for the group and the police from spotting him. He had read in the papers about Fuse's response to what's happening and he could tell that Fuse was beyond pissed. Good. It would make him sloppy, afraid, make him more likely to make a mistake.

Jason was trying to disrupt Fuse's business more while also gaining new information on him by "talking" with his underlings. Which is what he's doing now. Jason followed the men for a while until they stopped in front of a... Massage parlor?

"Maybe they came here to relax?" Nightwing said while leaning over the edge of the roof.

"Then I'll make sure they sleep permanently." Jason said as he stood up.

"Don't you think enough blood has been spilt? What happens when Fuse retaliates?" Batman asked while standing next to Jason.

"Funny you say that. Tell me, how many graveyards did Joker filled before he finally bit the dust?" Jason glared at Batman as he then jumped off the roof. Using his grappling hook to land in the roof of the building and walk over to the skylight on the roof, peeking inside. He saw stallions and mares all inside getting a massage, the group he was following walked in and were met with an older mare.

"Have you come for tonight's special?" The mare asked them.

"We came for the usual." One of the stallion's said, the mare nodded and tapped her hoof as two other, younger looking mares walked over and bowed at them.

"I'm no horse expert, but those girls look way too young to be in here." Batgirl pointed out. "Not to mention the way they keep averting their eyes, they look stiff and are wearing a lot of makeup." The more Batgirl pointed things out the more it enraged Jason. Watching as the ponies took followed the two mares into another room.

Using his detective vision Jason kept an eye on the group, one mare walking over to a wall and grabbing the lamp that was nailed to the wall, pulling it to reveal a secret door. The mares escorted the ponies inside as Jason watched.

"Ah, the secret entrance behind the bookshelf. Classic." Nightwing said as he dangled off the roof. The stallions and two mares walked through the doors and the older mare shut the bookshelf behind them. Walking over to a window she opened it and lit a cigar.

"Those girls better bring in their share, otherwise It'd be an even bigger waste of money of getting rid of them." The mare grumbled, taking a long drag of her cigar before putting it out. Walking out of the room, but left the window open. Jason saw his opportunity and climbed down, jumping through the open window and walked over to the bookcase. Pulling the book to open the entrance.

"Uh, do you even have a plan?" Batgirl inquired.

"Kill everyone then burn it all." Jason said as he walked down the stairs.

"So I guess a few civilian casualties are fine as long as the job is done?" Robin glared at Jason as Jason ignored him and continued walking. The walls were lit up by lamps on the walls as Jason made his way further and further down. The others trying to talk him out of his reckless and dangerous plan, but their warnings fell on deaf ears. He reached the bottom to see a gate of an elevator, pushing the button Jason waited for it to come up, checking his gear with him and making sure to be mindful of his ammunition. When the elevator reached him he opened the gate and headed down.

"Jason, this is too reckless. You could get killed! What if innocent get in the line of fire!" Nightwing shouted, trying to get through to Jason. But it didn't work as the doors opened and Jason stepped forward. Two guards that were playing cards jumped to their hooves in shock and tried to grab their weapons but Jason rushed them, slamming his elbow into one of their throats and roundhouse kicked the other guard. Both dropping to the ground, but Jason wasn't done. He took out his knife and slit their throats, leaving them to die as he walked down a corridor. He marched up to the steel door at the end and banged on it.

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Calm the buck down, asshole." A voice groaned behind the door, opening it "What is-" before he realized it the stallion had his neck snapped. Jason then lifted him up and tossed over to another stallion that was by the door. Jason quickly rushed over and drew his sword, stabbing the stallion in the head.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!" Jason turned to see a mare dropping a tray of drinks screaming out in terror. Jason took out his sword from the dead stallion and ran over, putting a hand over the mare's mouth.

"Shhh! Zip it, I'm trying to help!" He told her, but this just made her more terrified, he heard footsteps coming and smacked his lips as he knocked the mare out. Jason sighed as he turned to walk down the corridor and saw multiple stallions armed with swords, hatchets, and a few crossbows.

"Oh shit, it's him! It's fucking him!" One stallion shrieked in fear.

"Calm the fuck down, it's just one freak! We can take-" The stallion was cut off as Jason fired his grappling hook on his face, bringing the stallion in as Jason grabbed him by the throat, jammed his thumb into his throat, and slammed his head down into the wooden floor, cracking it.

"Knock knock. Who wants to spend some quality time with daddy~?" Red Hood raised his gaze and glared at the stallions.

"K-KILL HIM!"

"Give it your best shot!" Jason rushed forward and drew his sword, using it to cut up the flying steel bolts that were fired at him. Slicing them in the air and deflecting them. Two stallions charged at him with their weapons.

Red Hood parried a sword from his left and stabbed the stallion through the stomach, ducking just in time to avoid a swing from a hatchet. Red Hood kicked the stallion against the wall and grabbed the hatchet, tearing it away from his grip and bringing it down on his head. Slicing the stallion's head like an apple. Quickly stepping back to avoid a hail of bolts fired at him Red Hood took out one of his pistols and started firing back, taking down three ponies with a clean shot to the head. Red Hood ran and tucked his pistols away, using his sword and a hatchet to quickly cut down the remaining guards.

Red stabbed a mare in the stomach and sliced her head off with the hatchet, kicking her corpse off his blade and bursting in through a door. There he was met with what could be described as red light district from Feudal Japan. In cages there were mares locked inside flirting with ponies or trembling with fear. Some were even being mounted right in tables or being led into private rooms. Red Hood saw one mare that looked to be extremely young be pushed out of a room with a black eye and a white liquid leaking out from her flank. Tears streaming down her face as a drunk stallion came stumbling out of the room, his dick flaccid with cum leaking out. This is what made Jason lose it. He gritted his teeth and sheathed his sword and threw the hatchet, hitting a stallion in the head. Pulling out his shotgun Red Hood fired and blasted two stallions apart, marching forward as he gunned down any guards that got in his way.

"HE'S HERE! HE'S FUCKING-" A stallion got his head blown off after trying to run away.

"Shit, grab your weapons! We can kill this fucker!" A stallion grabbed a hammer and charged at Red Hood but he quickly had the barrel of the shotgun in his mouth and had his head blown off as well. Red Hood kicked a table and used it as a shield to defend against a barrage of arrows. He quickly reloaded his shotgun and kicked the table, sending it flying towards some guards and walked on, firing at more guards. The mares all screamed and cowered in their cages or tried to run away, but some were caught and held as meat shields and bargaining chips by the guards.

"This is too reckless! There's going to be civilian casualties!" Batman warned Jason but he rushed forward, hitting a guard with the stock of his shotgun and kicking another guard in the neck. Red Hood reached down and grab a crossbow, aiming at some of the guards and with incredible precision he hit the guards and avoided hitting the mares. But some had the genius idea to hide behind the mares while trying to get away.

Red Hood put his shotgun on his back and rushed at them, flipping through the air to avoid the arrows as he quickly took them down.

"Don't wanna die? Then get the fuck out of my way!" Red Hood ordered the mares as he grabbed a guard by the neck and snapped it. Red Hood saw some lanterns and smirked as he grabbed one and threw it. The lantern shattered and soon a fire ran loose. The guards and mares panicked as the fire quickly spread, Jason used this opportunity to quickly strike down more and more guards.

"THE BUCK IS GOING ON?!" A large Griffon shouted out while bursting through a set of doors. From the looks of it he was the boss around here. The griffon stared at Jason as Jason was holding a guard's head on a burning piece of wood, melting his face as he screamed in agony. Jason kept his head down burning until he finally went limp. Dropping his now burning corpse down as the fire surrounded the place. Jason and the Griffon glared at each other as the Griffon grabbed a large machete and roared as he flapped his wings and flew towards Jason.

Jason raised his shotgun and tried to fire but the Griffon grabbed a table and threw it blocking Jason's vision as he fired at the table, destroying it but the Griffon came down from above and tackled Jason to the ground, the two rolling for a bit as the shotgun was knocked out of Jason's hands. The Griffon screeched at Jason and clawed at his helmet, but it barely left a scratch on him. Jason quickly kicked the Griffon over him and jumped to his feet. Turning to glare at the Griffon as Jason cracked his knuckles.

"Let's fucking go, you oversized chicken." Jason growled as he charged at the Griffon, the Griffon tried punching Jason but his fist was quickly caught and soon twisted.

"AH!" The Griffon yelped in pain and tried punching Jason with his other claw, but Jason grabbed that one as well and twisted them both, making the Griffon kneel as Jason lifted him up and slammed him down on the ground. Strengthening his hold on him Jason spun the Griffon around and threw him against the wall, cracking it. Not done just yet Jason leaped forward and dove his knee into the Griffon's stomach, a loud, sickening snap was heard and the Griffon coughed up blood. The hit breaking ribs and punctured a lung.

"Oof, that sounded like it hurt." Jason smirked as he raised his fist and punched the Griffon in the face, nearly knocking his right eye out of its socket. Jason then lifted the Griffon over his head and threw him into the fire, his screams muffled by him choking on his own blood. Jason looked around at the burning building and quickly ran grabbing his shotgun and running out. He took the elevator up and soon left, but not before setting the room at the top ablaze as well.

"You're setting the whole building on fire?" Nightwing gasped in horror.

"Don't you think this is a little too overboard?" Batgirl tried to get Jason to calm down, but to no progress.

"It's about sending a message. I'm letting every scumbag in this city know that I can and will take everything from them. And no matter how many men they have or how well armed or how well hidden they think the place is, I will ALWAYS find them." Jason said as he kicked open the door, holding a burning piece of wood to set the rest of the building on fire.

"Please no!" A cry caused Jason to snap back and aim his shotgun to see the older mare from before holding a young woman hostage, a crossbow in hoof as she held it against the hostage's head.

"You! They warned me about you but I didn't think it was true! To think that some... Some... Freak! Was behind all of this?!" The mare gritted her teeth as she glare at Jason. "This is what's gonna happen. You're gonna let me get out of here, or else this little thing is gonna drop dead before the flames take her."

"Counter offer. You let her go and I'll make your death quick." Jason offered bed while aiming his shotgun. The mare pressed the tip of the arrow harder against the mare's neck, hard just enough to draw blood as she cried and pleaded to be spared. Jason didn't falter as he still had his shotgun aimed at the mare, it would be impossible to shoot without hitting the hostage as well.

"Put down the gun, there's a chance she might let her go!" Nightwing shouted at Jason.

"You and I both know that's a lie." Jason said, confusing both mares as they stared at him.

"So what, you're just gonna kill them both?" Robin asked with disgust.

"Shut it, little shit." Jason growled.

"Put it down and walk away!" The mare yelled as she pressed it deeper against her hostage, making her cry in pain and fear.

"Jason, please! Don't let your anger cloud your judgement!" Batgirl tried her best to reason with Jason, seeming to work as Jason slowly lowered his shotgun. The mare took this opportunity to take aim and fire at Jason, hitting his heart as he turned and fell back. Landing on his side. The mare laughed as she then tossed the mare away and walked over to Jason.

"This is what got everypony so scared and shitting bricks?" She mocked as she kicked Jason's leg. Her smile soon fell as she watched Jason turn and stand up, tackling the mare to the ground and slamming the crossbow out of her hooves before wrapping both hands around her neck, squeezing as he repeatedly slammed her head against the ground. The mare pleaded through tears in her eyes and tried to break free from Jason's hold but his grip merely tightened around her throat. Staring into her eyes as she gasped for air. After a few moments her body went limp and her eyes rolled back. Jason slammed her head down a few more times, blood pouring out from the back of her head and splashing blood around like stepping into a puddle. Jason panted slightly as he stood up, looking down at her lifeless corpse. Jason looked over at the arrow that had "hit" him, the tip had broken when it made contact with his chest but he caught it just in time and fell to make it seem like he had died.

Looking over at the mare who had crawled herself into the corner, trembling with fear as she flinched when she saw Jason looking at her.

"P-Please, don't h-hurt m-me." The mare begged with tears in her eyes. Jason walked over to her and looked down at her, causing her to hide behind her hooves and silently cry. After a few moments she looked up to see... He was gone. Suddenly the doors burst open and Detective Bullhorn and Twitch stormed in with a few firefighters.

"We got another one!" Bullhorn shouted as he rushed over to the mare. "Ma'am, are you alright? Are you hurt?" He asked, kneeling down beside her. The mare tried to speak but couldn't find any words to form.

"Let's get her out of here, now!" Bullhorn shouted as he and Twitch quickly grabbed the mare and escorted her out. Multiple officers, firefighters, and Royal guards waited outside of the building that was slowly being engulfed by flames. As Bullhorn and Twitch led the mare out of the building and towards a paramedic Jason stood on top of the roof across the building, seeing all the mares having escaped from that Hellhole.

"What was that?" Nightwing asked.

"What got you mad this time, Dicky?" Jason asked harshly.

"You didn't even lower your gun when you saw the hostage, you didn't even flinch. Were you really going to just shoot her?" Nightwing demanded an answer as Jason glared at him.

"I got the job done. That's all that matters. You don't like, cry me a fucking river." Jason snapped at him and soon ran off.

Bullhorn stood next to Twitch as he kicked a beer bottle away. "Son of a fucking bitch! He was just here! And we missed that bastard!" He shouted.

"We had no way of knowing that he would strike here, Bull. Heck, we didn't even know what this place was a trafficking den and illegal Ma House." Twitch tried his best to calm his partner down.

"That just pisses me off even more. We're supposed to be helping these ponies, but if this... Freak keeps this up then how long before ponies start taking the laws into their own hooves? Before they start murdering any pony that so much as bumped into them?" Bullhorn reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigar, lighting it as he took a huff of it, blowing the black smoke through his nose.

"We can't afford to let him run amok in this city. We need to find him. And I might have a clue." Bullhorn said as he looked up at the sky as clouds came in, foreshadowing the impending storm that would soon come.

Jason lands on a rooftop and stands near the edge, looking over he once again came back to Estrella and her family's bakery. His eyes landing at the window near the fire escape and see Estrella once again crawling out to leave a plate of sandwiches and milk on the stairs. Jason watched as she scribbled something before looking around trying to find him. After a few seconds she crawled back into her room and sat at her desk.

"... You gonna eat that?" Red Robin asked.

"Fuck off." Jason quickly said as he turns to leave.

"But she worked so hard on them, you can even see she tried peeling off the crust. Surely you aren't going to be such a jerk and leave it to waste, right?" Batgirl tried to emotionally manipulate, or in her words persuade, Jason into eating the food. Jason groaned loudly and turns back around and quickly heads over to the fire escape, snatching the plate and glass away before hiding away. Taking off his helmet Jason started eating, the sandwich was a peanut butter and jelly with... Potato chips inside.

"That's... Actually pretty good." Jason said as he ate, reaching down he picked up a piece of folded up paper that was on the plate and unfolded it. Inside was a question.

"What is your favorite color?"

The note read.

"Aw, she wants to get know you. That's so adorable." Batgirl giggled. "Answer her back." She said while pointing at a colored pencil that was also left on the plate.

"The hell is wrong with you, now? Why are you so pushy about me doing shit like this?" Jason rolled his eyes at Batgirl.

"Because you need to remind yourself that you have a heart." Batman said, sitting next to Jason. "You need to know that you aren't a monster."

Jason glared at Batman and tried to speak, but no words left his mouth. He smacked his lips and turned away from them. Finishing his sandwich and the glass of milk. Jason stood up and put his helmet on and prepared to leave. But he made sure to bring the plate and glass back.

Hearing the sound of the plate being put down Estrella raced over to the window and saw the empty plate and glass, she smiled and quickly brought it inside, she then opened up the paper and squealed with joy. On the note had something new added to it.

"Red."