//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Painful Recalls // Story: The Dark Knight Triumphs // by TheClownPrinceofCrime //------------------------------// Early in the morning, Bruce and Selina exited from the airplane and arrived at the Gotham City Airport. Once they arrived there, Bruce ordered an Uber to drive them to their designated area. Afterwards, they went to one of the benches outside of the airport to sit down to await their Uber drive. “The Uber should arrive in twenty minutes. Hopefully, he won’t be too late.” said Bruce, laying his luggage down. “And hopefully, you won’t have to snore so loudly like you did in the plane.” Selina scowled. “Our flight took about ten hours to get here. You don’t think I should have my rest during such an everlasting flight?” Bruce excused. “Sure, but you do realize that not many people appreciate their ears bleeding from the loud snoring, right? Do you know how many times I had to bump your elbow to stop snoring?” Selina said, raising an eyebrow. “(Sigh) Okay, fine, I’ll stop snoring...even though I have no power in my being to cease it since I’m...hmmm...oh yeah...asleep! Hello? But sure, I’ll try to stop.” Bruce sarcastically replied. “I thought the Batman had all the power in the world to behave himself?” Selina smirked. “Surely, you cannot be that weak to face a fearsome enemy—the loud snoring that kills the innocent ears of people. Will the Dark Knight be able to defeat such a foe?” “Nice try. Batman could defeat his enemies if only he were still here. But since he is no more, it is up to me, Bruce Wayne, to stop his inner foes.” Bruce jokingly remarked. There was silence between the couple as they continued to wait for their ride. Bruce kept track on his phone of where the Uber driver was. As they were still waiting, Selina decided to take the initiative with a different topic. “Bruce, do you still believe in what Batman believed in before his...’death’?” asked Selina. Bruce looked at her as if she was stating the obvious. “Of course...why do you ask?” “Do you still have love and good will for those ponies in Equestria? Do you really miss them?” Selina asked, ignoring his question. “Yes, I do miss them. I really mean it, and I still have great respect and love for what they do and for who they are. It’s just that...” Bruce paused for a moment once he remembered the tragic mistake he made over a decade ago in Equestria when he battled his archenemy. Selina noticed his change of expression. “That what? Tell me.” she said, concerned. “(Sigh)...it’s just that I don’t want to put any of my friends in danger if I return again. When I returned to Equestria months after I defeated King Sombra, things only got worse since it received new enemies who not only greatly challenged my friends but also me.” Bruce resumed. “If I return the second time, its newer adversaries, if they have any or will have them, will do even greater damage and threaten more innocent lives. I won’t allow that to happen.” Selina wrapped her arm around her husband and kissed him on the cheek. “Honey, listen. I am sure you had those same paranoid feelings before you initially returned to Equestria. But that doesn’t mean that you should back down in fear while you let evil villains to tear apart innocent souls. What if someone in Equestria such as...one pony among them who misses you, is inspired by you, and wants to be heroic like you were? That same pony may not have any idea where to start and where to go from there.” she said. “I’m not saying that is actually happening in Equestria or that there is that kind of pony in there because I’ve never been to that place. I’ve only watched its show when I was a little girl. I’m just saying that something like that could happen in the future. What then?” she clarified. Bruce presses his chin together as he was thinking on what she said. “Suppose if none of their rulers or princesses who have no idea or clue whatsoever on how to counsel, strengthen, and encourage that pony in a way in which you do. Wouldn’t you need to be there for that creature and support him or her in whichever way possible?” Selina continued. “That’s...that’s quite reasonable, sweetie. I can’t really argue against that. Honestly, I would if I had the chance.” Bruce admitted. Selina smiled. “So that means that you would be more than willing to go to Equestria and perhaps even...dwell or live with them to bless their lives?” “Live with them? I don’t know about that, Selina. You need to slow way down with this, okay? Look, I perfectly understand your points and line of reasoning. I’ll think more about this and see where we will go from here. However, this does not by any stretch of the imagination mean that it will automatically resurrect the Caped Crusader. Besides, there can be only one mask to roam around the multiverse.” Bruce concluded. Selina slightly frowned on the last two statements. “Well, at least you’ll be thinking more about this.” “Yeah, and that will end up with one more discussion to settle it. Nothing more and nothing less.” Bruce said. After about twenty minutes of waiting, the Uber driver finally arrived at the airport and picked them up from there. IN EQUESTRIA Fluttershy turned grayer and grayer as she continued walking her way to the train station. Her hair was covered with several twigs, pebbles, and dirt. Her eyes were bloodshot red as she barely got any rest last night in the Everfree Forest. Once she arrived at the station, the train conveniently arrived at the exact time. Several ponies exited the train with their belongings whereas she was the only one who was to get inside the train. Suddenly, a conductor politely approached her and made a slight bow. “Pardon me, madam, is everything all right? You seem not like yourself today.” he said, concerned. “NO...you don’t have to ask. Fluttershy is not okay and never will be okay. As a matter of fact, she is dead. I am...nothing.” she emotionlessly replied. “Ummm...very well then.” he said. “The train is about to depart to the Crystal Empire. Would you kindly—?” “I don’t have any tickets, and I don’t really care.” Fluttershy flatly stated. “Oh no, that’s fine. Please come along, my dear. The Crystal Empire will do more than just soothe you during your time of anguish and distress. I can clearly assure you of that.” the conductor smiled. “Well, if you say so...” Fluttershy said, getting up from the bench to enter inside the train. “ALL ABOARD! THE NEXT STOP IS THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE!” he announced. Just before he entered inside the train, he looked back at a window with an evil smile on his face and had glowing red eyes. “Step one: complete. Now step two: coming right up.” he said before he wickedly chuckled to himself. After he got in, the train departed from the station.