//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Coping with Pain // Story: The Dark Knight Triumphs // by TheClownPrinceofCrime //------------------------------// BACK IN EQUESTRIA At the palace of Canterlot, Twilight was standing on the balcony of the castle later that morning. After the events she went through yesterday at the Crystal Empire, she felt even more useless as the new princess. She could not even remember why she was chosen as Equestria’s new princess. The more she wondered in disbelief and doubt, the more depressed and uncertain she felt. “Are you all right, Twilight?” Celestia asked as she rejoined her. Twilight looked back in sorrow before sighing in distress. “I can’t honestly say I am.” Twilight replied. “Yesterday was nothing special to me personally. All I had to do was just smile and wave. That’s it. I feel like I don’t have a unique purpose as a princess.” “Twilight, I know how discouraging it may seem to you, but please remember that one day you will know what is your true purpose in Equestria.” Celestia assured. “But how will I know what my true purpose will be? What if I will never find out?!” Twilight worried. “Twilight, please...” Celestia gently put her hoof around Twilight. “You may feel insignificant; you may feel worthless, but know this: you are valued, appreciated, and loved by your friends and family no matter what position you may hold or what you may be. Never forget that.” Twilight wiped a couple tears from her eyes and slightly smiled. “Thank you, Celestia. I needed to be reminded of that.” She then hugged her mentor before the latter hugged back. After they broke the hug, Luna joined in with them. “Celestia, we have a friendly visitor wishing to see us here.” she smiled before looking to Twilight. “Would you care to join us, Princess Twilight?” “Sure. I would love to.” Twilight smiled, feeling slightly better. The three princesses returned to the throne room while Luna and Twilight stood side by side of the throne while Celestia sat on it. A guard approached them with a bow. “Your highnesses, a visitor from Gotham City would like to see you all.” he spoke. “Great. You may bring the visitor in.” Celestia permitted. The guard nodded and signaled to the other guards to open the doors. Once they did so and stood aside to their posts, Commissioner James Gordon appeared to them and made a slight bow. “Greetings, princesses.” he smiled. “Commissioner Gordon! You’re here!” Twilight smiled. “It’s been a long time, Twilight. How long? Like, 11 years? I just thought that we could be better connected. You see, I haven’t felt this sort of...friendship so to speak ever since we faced King Sombra.” Gordon said. “I understand, Commissioner. It is truly a pleasure to see you again after so long.” Celestia said. “Indeed. But may I ask, how did you manage to visit our world from Gotham? Did you come from the portal my sister and Twilight made?” Luna asked. “Yes, I did. Although I discovered it by accident while flying over the Alanctic Ocean in my helicopter. Heh, who would’ve thought that our worlds would be connected like that?” Gordon chuckled. “Indeed, old friend.” Celestia chuckled back. “We too had missed you so much after what we went through back then.” “Really? Even though it was just...one day at that time?” Gordon asked, surprised. “Of course. The Magic of Friendship works in various ways in the lives of creatures, Commissioner. And to be fair, it could be quite a blessing to those who receive it.” Luna stated. Gordon took a brief moment to dwell on that. “That’s amazing. Naturally, it doesn’t work like that in my world especially in Gotham. That city knows nothing of friendship...at least your interpretation of it.” he said. Then he turned to Twilight. “I noticed that you have wings now. A special endowment, I suppose?” “Well, Princess Celestia gave me these wings since I’ve proven how much I learned of the Magic of Friendship. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t grateful to her.” Twilight said. Her ears suddenly fell flat as she continued. “But during the last three years, I really never saw my unique potential as Equestria’s new princess. Celestia raises the sun, Luna raises the moon, while I just...smile, wave, and...be happy? (Sigh)” Gordon drew nearer to them as he listened. Twilight stepped down the stairs and got close to him. “Really? So during all those years, you felt...worthless?” he asked. Twilight sadly nodded. “I’m sorry, Twilight. Listen, I may not know what it’s like to be a monarch or a ruler, but just remember that whatever is throwing these negative thoughts in your head, feeding lies about your identity, bringing you down...” Gordon paused as he contemplated what he said and felt emotional. “(Sigh)...increasing your pain.” Twilight looked up to him with tears on her eyes. “You sound like something horrible happened in your life that led you to that.” she observed. “You know...you’re not wrong.” Gordon said. “What happened?” Twilight curiously asked. “Eleven years ago, we had a faithful district attorney named Harvey Dent—a brilliant white knight of Gotham. But a tragic event happened to us both...including Batman. After losing our beloved friend Rachel, he turned over a new coin and became a criminal murderer.” Gordon somberly recalled. “He threatened to kill my son to teach me a lesson about losing someone you love. Then...(sniff)...Batman saved my son from the madman. After he died, Batman took the blame for Dent’s murders while I...I had to...” Gordon covered his face as a few teardrops fell. Twilight felt anxious. “Had to what? Don’t cry!” Twilight said, hugging him on the waist. “...I had to uphold Dent’s reputation on a lie...to spare Gotham pain.” Gordon finished. “For eight years of course.” The princesses gasped at the revelation. “So during all those years, you withheld the truth from your city?” Celestia asked. “Gotham needed a hero. It turned out that it was the only one who saved us all...it was the Batman.” Gordon softly smiled. Twilight was silent to process everything that Gordon advised her and told them all. This very man, a close ally of Batman, stood on a lie for a murderer that long? “I can’t believe it. You must’ve felt depressed every day knowing that you were lying to Gotham.” she said. “I know. My wife left me because of that. Plus, she was deeply traumatized by that terrifying experience. She even took the kids with her to Cleveland. She never gave me a chance to say goodbye to the kids, especially my son.” Gordon recalled. “Thus, I paid the price for it. Not only did I cope with my pain but also faced it. I, Batman, and all of Gotham’s police fought against our enemies who sought to destroy Gotham. Even though they exposed the truth of Harvey Dent and nearly drove Gotham to a false hope, we used our learned lessons to take them down for good.” Gordon smiled. The princesses smiled as well. “I’m glad you did, Gordon. I’m sure Twilight and my other ponies will learn of your experience.” Celestia said. “I hope I can be a better role model...like how Batman was to me.” Gordon said. “You definitely are. Will you be staying with us?” Luna asked. “For half a day before I head back to work in Gotham. Can’t stay away forever, you know.” Gordon replied. “I’m happy you will be here with us. I can bring you to my friends!” Twilight rejoiced. “I’ll be happy to see them again.” replied Gordon.