The wind whistled through the treehouse skyscrapers of the Everfree forest. The full moon shone brightly in the deep crystal night sky. Equestria has become hell.
Discord had somehow escaped. He killed Celestia...Unthinkable in a
time of peace and unity. But things have changed. With her dying breath she sealed away almost all of his magical power. But Equestria still fell to the chaos.
Luna was the first to be struck. She went insane at the sight of her sister's brutal murder. After the tragedy Luna couldn't handle the memories of her sister which plagued her every time the sun rose and so plunged Equestria into eternal night.
One of the first things Luna stated after gaining power over Equestria was that she vowed to destroy all villainous ponies and announced Everfree forest would become an open air prison. Meaning all animal life there would be destroyed.
Meanwhile Discord, who needed help now his power was drained had convinced Pinkie Pie that chaos was for the best. The world didn't need organisation, chaos was just natures way to handle things. Maybe he hypnotised her or maybe its was the chocolate rain but Pinkie fell completely in love with him. Pinkie jumped at the chance to be by his side. His "queen" he had told her.
Pinkie Quinn was born. With the new name came a new trait of madness. She would stop at nothing to make sure the chaos kept on rising, and Discord stayed in power.
Applejack had disappeared. The most painful part, nobody but her family even noticed. One last chore she had promised Granny Smith she would complete was to bring her beloved Granny one last harvest of zap apples before she died, and with that she had gone to farm the few wilting trees that were still gripping onto life in Sweet Apple Acres. After Applejack had been gone for 2 days Granny Smith had begged Big Macintosh to go look for her. A search party was promptly organised, but the poor mare was never found.
When Fluttershy saw what was happening to the beautiful forest she had once called her neighbour, and her precious creatures called home she decided she must protect it
Fluttershy knew that chaos was rife over Equestria but she was determined to help the only way she knew how, helping her animal friends, secretly it was the only pleasure she had left after the dark night fell.
So she snuck into the Canterlot Archives, knowing exactly what she was looking for, it didn't take long for Fluttershy to find the spell she needed. A spell that could turn blood to chlorophyll. With this new mutation Fluttershy gained power over nature, and a confidence boost, but her mind fragile mind was twisted and broken, and she developed a hate for all of ponykind.
Almost all the villainous ponies have been locked in the sprawling forest prison. It may not be the highest tech prison around, but it sure kept the prisoners in. Even Discord, the Clown prince of chaos was captured and entrapped rather quickly without the use of his magic.
He put up a bloodsoaked fight but the ponyville police force handled it well.
The police force's top squad, consisting of Octavia, Vinyl scratch, Derpy Hooves and lead by Captain Shining Armour took down most all of the criminals, but for some reason they were forced into a low paid, dangerous job as medics within Everfree.
One would think every criminal locked up is a victory. The problem is countless innocent ponies are also fending for their lives within Everfree. Thankfully,these ponies aren't alone.
They have a silent guardian. Her name used to be Twilight Sparkle before the dark night broke Equestria. She pushed herself to the limits when she heard her mentor had died. Following ancient training techniques learnt from Zecora and ancient scrolls she perfect her mind and body ready for the fight for justice.
Then she donned the cowl.
Twilight Sparkle was Batmane.
As she sits atop a branch high up in the prison, the breeze ruffling her cape, she looks at the chaos surrounding her. She can't help but to think how ironic the name Everfree has become. It may never have been perfect. But at least nopony died there.
"This isn't justice" She growls through the voice changer in her cowl. "This is slaughter".
Batmane was aware she had a heavy responsibility and this was one of the rare
moments she had time to sit and observe, but did she want to? The chaos unfolded beneath her, ponies cried, trees burned, flesh was torn from animals bones. How could she ever return things to how they were?...
As Batmane snapped back to her surroundings, away from the thoughts that dragged her spirit down, she spotted something in the corner of her eye. It was fast, colourful.
"Shit" Batmane uttered to herself, how could she be so careless?
Knowing in these abysmal times there was only one thing that stayed colourful and it wasn’t good. With that Batmane was covered in confetti. Explosive confetti from of Pinkie Quinn's "hilarious" death machines.
"How ya likin' Everfree, Batbrain?" Pinkie screamed to Batmane, who was currently lit up like a firework. “I think its jus-”.
In one deft swoop Batmane had glided a good fifty metres through the air down to the cracked ground. Before Pinkie Quinn had finished her sentence Batmane had her by the throat.
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Twilight never wanted to be like this. Fighting against her friends. Maybe... it was her that belonged in prison. Maybe she was a much a monster as everyone else in this hellhole. However this was not the time think about that. If she thought too much about what she had done, then she would certainly lose her grip end up just like the others. No sanity, no principles and no way to help. How she longed for the power of the elements of harmony, or merely her friends support.
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Subconsciously Batmane had released her grip on the cotton candy pink mare.
"Hehehe... I knew you weren’t going to hurt poor defenceless Pinkie... a-are you?" Stuttered Pinkie.
"You haven't left me a choice, Quinn." muttered Batmane. Batmane lifted a nearby rock up with her magic and threw it at Pinkie Quinn
Batmane made sure to only ever call Pinkie Quinn, Quinn.
She would like to think it was a sign of respect, to honour the memories of her dear friend. however even she knew in the back of her mind she called Pinkie Quinn, Quinn for only one reason. Separation. The name Quinn helped her justify the senseless violence, and keep a grasp on her sanity.
"Aha missed me!" Pinkie giggled as she cartwheeled away from the sizeable, speeding lump of stone. She proceeded to pull out a pair of joke glasses from a pocket in her red and black get up and placed them on her face. “You wouldn't hit a pony in glasses right" Pinkie mumbled nervously, starting to laugh hysterically.
"Nah. She wouldn't, doesn't have the guts to." yelled a stallion plastered in clown makeup. A typical Discord henchman armed with a deadly party popper gun. Classy. Normally Batmane would sneak up behind one of these stupid brutes and take them out without breaking a sweat. But she was caught between Pinkie and two guards.
"You guys really as stupid as you look?” Batmane shouted, her voice brimming with false confidence.
“Fuck you, ya sonofabitch.” Yelled the slightly larger of the two guards as he grabbed Batmane by her jaw and yanked back her head, exposing the neck
This was it. She stopped for a breather and now she was going to die. All because of one mistake. Her friend was going to kill her in about thirty seconds.
"Well well well... Tell you what Batmane, I'm gonna take this knife" Quinn pulled a short, pink knife with a sharp serrated edge from her seemingly endless pockets and bounced over to Batmane.
"And I'm gonna make you smile. Smile. SMILE!" She erupted in laughter as she placed the knife on Batmane's cheek. Quinn was taking her time. How foolish.
Suddenly the unmistakable crackle of electricity pierced the air. Followed by two fully grown stallions begging for mercy. Pinkie’s eyes grew wide as they frantically darted about their surroundings, searching for the source of the sinister sound.
"Look out." Batmane grunted in such a calm way. Almost in a way that gave Pinkie a chill. Pinkie took a anxious step back “D-d-don’t do anything you’ll regret Batmane. If you kill me my Puddin’ won’t be happy” She attempted to threaten.
Just then a steel rod topped with a taser dug into the back of Quinn's neck. Her laughter twisted and warped into a horrific scream as her face hit the hard ground and she fell unconscious.
“You fucking idiot Nightwing!” Screamed Batmane as a cyan pegasus stepped over Pinkie’s twitching body. “If you want to commit suicide then slit your own throat, save her the hassle”
Though her identity was classified by her blue and black jumpsuit and black eye mask, Rainbow Dash was still Rainbow Dash, just as reckless and arrogant as ever.
“Maybe I knocked out the wrong pony, Twi-Batmane” sighed Nightwing. “No thanks for saving me, Nightwing?”
“Thanks for saving me, Nightwing” Twilight said softly, turning off her voice changer. “I thought I was as good as dead” she stepped closer to her friend.
“You were” Chuckled Nightwing. “How did you end up in here anyway?” She continued, her voice tinged with concern
“Last night, well, 24 hours ago was a rough, rough night.” Sighed Batmane as she recalled events...
Author's Note
This is my first attempt at writing, so I apoligise for the quality (or lackof it)
Huge thanks to Scopetime42 for encouragement and proofreading and to FluttershyAllTheWay for inspiring me to write
Batmane
Hope is an interesting emotion. That primal instict that pushes you forward through the darkest of times, because you know something better is on the horizon. Hope is the only thing that keeps Equestria going.
Twilight Sparkle had been well known and adored in Ponyville ever since she helped restore Princess Luna, the very same princess that had brought her beloved town, and world, to its knees.
Twilight had refused to resign to the how Equestria had withered and whilst she honed her skills and crafted her batgadgets in secret she had also become a public beacon of hope. She spoke out in many (sadly uneffective) protests and it was at one of these events that it all went wrong.
Twilight stood on a makeshift stage infront of the cold, unforgiving gates of Everfree prison. Rain lapped down from the cruel black sky dampening Twilight's coat. The screams and cackles of the inmates could be heard riding the wind, no more than ghostly whispers.
Twilight stepped up to the mic to adress the few ponies who had bothered to turn up as was greeted by an explosion of feedback.
"Fellow ponies" Twilight started, her spirit knocked by the disappointing turnout. "We must stand togethor if we wish to reclaim our beautiful home. Inside these walls your friends, family and even spouses are being brutally mistreated for breaking menial laws."
Twilight's resolve was challenged again as she watched three ponies nonchalantly walk away. "We are the citizens of Ponyville!" Twilight continued. "Did we surrender to Nightmare Moon? Of course we didn't! We put our hearts and our souls into defeating her. Did we beg to Discord when all seemed lost? No! We kept hope in our hearts and we perserved to defeat his tyranny! Now I ask you Ponyville, will we surrender to this tyranny?
No response. The crowd dismissively stared at their hooves or awkwardly glanced at each other. Just as Twilight was about to give up hope and skulk home a small filly emerged from the crowd, no wait, three fillies.
"No way!" shouted an overly hyped Scootaloo. "We can do this!" pepped up an enthusiastic Sweetiebelle. "Too right gurls!" added Applebloom, pushing her way to the front.
Twilight couldn't help but chuckle, even in these dark times friendship still prevailed, for someponies at least...
"So." Twilight excitedly questioned "Who is with us?!"
For a heartbreaking second that hung like an eternity they're was silence. Then a voice at the back yelled "Im with you Twilight." another voice added "me too" and third joined in "and me!"
Soon Twilight was swimming in a sea of applause and support. The noise was so loud she didn't even hear the hiss of the canister at her feet. Her head started to spin and her balance abandoned her. White smoke filled the air and she just managed to whisper "grenade" as she fell to the floor and darkness enveloped her.
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The first thing she saw when she came to was blinding light. Was she dying? Was this the end? She heard a familiar voice softly say "Twilight Sparkle... I've been waiting"
"Celestia?!" Twilight called out. Suddenly her eyes focused and she recognised the pony looming above her "...Luna..." Twilight trailed off.
"Hello Twilight Sparkle. Isn't the night beautiful?"
Twilight tried to lash out towards the alicorn, only to find she was bound to her chair. "So you grew a backbone then?" Luna mocked. "Even though your friends all turned to darkness you still have hope. Sweet little Fluttershy has really lost her innocence hasn't she?" Twilight felt a sharp tinge of agony in her heart. Her friend... The element of kindness.. Really was a monster.
"Then theres that physco Pinkie pie. Selling out to Discord, how pathetic. And Rarity, a common theif, hardly fitting of a lady..."
Tears streamed down Twilight's cheeks. She already knew this information but to hear it summed up like this was heartbreaking. "No!" Twilight screamed "Rainbow Dash is still loyal and I know somewhere out there Appleja-" Luna cut her off "Applejack is dead" she coldly stated.
"Don't worry Twilight, I'm sure you'll have a nice reunion with Applejack and Celestia soon. Criminals hate Batmane."
Panick spread over Twilight. Luna didn't know she was Batmane. She couldn't.
"What does that have to do with me!?" Twilight shouted, her voice obviously thick with concern.
"Don't play dumb, Twilight or should I say Batmane?" Luna giggled menacingly. Suddenly the straps that kept Twilight bound to her chair released and two stallions grabbed her and lifted her up. She was dragged across the dark, mettalic room she was in and brought to a high window. "In 24 hours everypony will know your secret, Twilight" Luna concluded as the stallions drop Twilight and she started to freefall.
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The wind whistled through her mane as she plumeted closer and closer to the floor. Then she made contact. Fortunately she landed on a building's canopy, but after bouncing off that there was a noticible crack as she hit the stone floor.
Twilight groaned in agony. It felt like everybone in her body had broken. She felt a strange sensation on her muzzle, was she being licked? She opened her eyes to see a small cat lapping at a cut on her muzzle. She saw she was surrounded by cats licking her. Twilight was suitably confused. "What the fuck?" Twilight weakly groaned as a pony in a black latex catsuit approached her. "Well hello, Twilight darling" Rarity greeted "What brings you to this fine institution?"
"None of your buisness, Catmare." Twilight snapped. Catmane was visibly frustrated by this response.
"You try and be civil and this is what you get." She dramatically complained. "I almost wish I didn't get my darlings to fix you up!"
With these words she noticed the pain in her body had disappeared, along with the cats. "How did you..." Twilight trailed off, knowing Rarity it was best not to ask.
"Im sorry, darling but I must be off. If you ever need me I make do with the cave near the entrance to the swamp. Try to find a map if you get lost."
And with that she strutted away.
Twilight dragged herself to her feet, there was no time to waste chasing after Catmane. She needed her suit and gadgets, magic may be severly limited within Everfree but Twilight was strong enough to broadcast a message back to her batcave.
"Spike?" Twilight asked "Can you hear me?"
"Oh yes, Miss Sparkle" replied a high pitched british voice. "The signal is truely superb Miss Sparkle. May I politely inquire as to where you are located?"
"Why in Equestria are you talking like that, Spike?" Twilight puzzled.
"It just seemed right as I'm your butler, y'know?" Spike replied, in a more familiar voice. "but seriously where the heck are you?"
"Im in Everfree, Spike. Luna knows my secret. I need you to transport my suit here." Twilight urgently replied. "just set co-ordinates to Everfree and press the blue button, okay?"
"uuuuh..." Groaned a confused Spike. "Oh! I got it. Suit in boooouuuuuund. Wheeeeee" he continued, a little too enthusiastically.
Twilight looked towards the sky to see a canister fall from the sky. And get caught in the tallest tree in sight.
"Spike!" Twilight shouted. "Same old Spike" she sighed to herself.
She trotted over to the foot of the tree and her gaze wandered up. "C'mon Twi..." Twilight commanded herself. "you've defeated countless criminals. You can climb a tree."
Author's Note
Nice to see speedy updates isn't it?
