Celestia and Luna guided Twilight in a tour inside the new castle. The Mane Six, Spike, and Batman followed behind them. “You’ve been wondering what you’re meant to do as a princess. Do you know now?” Celestia asked.
Twilight thought about it for a few seconds before proudly smiling. “As a princess, I believe I have the power to spread the Magic of Friendship across Equestria. That was the role I meant to have in our world...the role I choose to have!”
Her friends gathered around her as she smiled at them. “But I didn’t defeat The Joker and Bane on my own. It took all of us to unlock the chest!” Twilight said. She and her friends then embraced each other. Twilight took at glance at the Dark Knight who stood next to the princesses.
“But we weren’t the only ones who gained the victory. It was also him...Batman...The Dark Knight who lead us and gave us the strength to face our fears and stand against other enemies. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t even be standing here today.” Twilight said before lowering her head in reflection. “Neither would I.”
Batman gave a slight smile at her speech. He was very proud of her accomplishment, and that she finally learned her role and place in Equestria. “That’s my pony.” Batman smiled internally.
“Then it is unlikely that you will be taking this task alone.” said Celestia as she opened the hall doors with her magic. After the doors were opened, a royal gathering room was revealed. It had a large table that had a large crystal logo on top with eight thrones around the table. The seventh throne had a bat insignia imprinted on the head. It was the largest throne in the room whereas Spike’s throne was the smallest and stood next to Twilight’s.
“You are now Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship!” Celestia announced.
The ponies and Spike gazed at the dazzling sight of the room. They entered inside to get a closer view of their thrones and the table.
Celestia then turned to Batman. “And you, Batman, are now The Dark Knight—the Prince of Friendship.” Batman arched an eyebrow in puzzlement.
“The Prince of Friendship? How can someone rule over friendship?” Batman asked.
“You have made exceptional leadership over the last several years while you were here. Ever since you visited Equestria for the first time, you proved yourself as a true hero—brave, determined, wise, intelligent, humble, and caring—a role model which Twilight clearly looks up to.” Celestia replied. “Because you have protected Equestria time and time again with such endurance, you are the seventh Element of Harmony—the Element of Perseverance.”
Batman meditated on her words and realized the reason why he became such an element. Throughout all these years of working as Batman in both Equestria and Gotham, he never truly gave up and still kept on fighting the good fight despite the painful ups and downs he suffered from villains such as Ra’s Al Ghul, Joker, and Bane. Recognizing his important role as Batman, he accepted his new role in Equestria.
“I am honored, Princess Celestia.” Batman said.
“You will be quite a greater influence as a new element bearer.” Luna smiled.
“Auntie Celestia!” a familiar voice shouted. The princesses and Batman turned to see the very alicorn whom they haven’t seen in three years due to her death. They widened their eyes in overwhelming shock and amazement.
“Cadence? You’re ALIVE??” Luna asked.
“Niece!!” Celestia responded, tears falling from her eyes. The three alicorns embraced each other tightly as they finally saw each other’s faces once again. “How?! I thought you were dead! We saw your own body!”
“It was the Magic of Friendship, I presume. That could be the only explanation.” Cadence said. She also wiped tears from her face and hugged her aunt again.
Twilight and her friends ran to the hall to reunite with their long-lost loved one. “CADENCE!!! You’re ALIVE!!” Twilight cried.
“Twilight!! I so missed you!!” Cadence said. They hugged affectionately and wept gratefully.
“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake!
Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” Twilight and Cadence greeted while dancing. Celestia and Luna chuckled while Batman was a bit confused seeing their gestures. But he let it slide.
“We’re glad to have you back, Cadence.” Batman smiled.
“Great to see you again, Batman. What happened out there?” Cadence asked after briefly hugging him.
“Just dealt with Joker’s machinations. He is gone for good, so no worries. Equestria is saved.” Batman replied.
“That’s great to hear. I wonder how Shining Armor is doing.” Cadence said, flying out of the castle.
Outside the castle, all the resurrected ponies reunited with their loved ones. They all rejoiced and celebrated their reunion together. Shining Armor was standing completely astonished at seeing all the ponies who were killed years ago alive again. “Those ponies—I thought they were dead? What happened?” he asked no one.
“The Magic of Friendship obviously.” Cadence said behind him. He swiftly turned his head to see the love of his life now alive before his very eyes. Gasping in shock, he drew close to her and touched her face. “Cadence? Is it really you?” he asked.
“Yes, honey. It’s me.” Cadence kissed him and hugged him. Shining returned the affection and began to cry tears of joy.
“I—I never thought I would see your face again. I missed you so much.” Shining cried, blowing his nose.
“There, there, and don’t worry. The Crystal Empire is in one piece and all the crystal ponies are safe and sound.” Cadence said.
“Really? I thought it was destroyed!” Shining said.
“I saw the empire myself. Whatever happened to it, Batman and his friends must have restored it with their magic for all I know. What matters is that Equestria is saved. From now on, we will stick together no matter what, okay?” Cadence said.
“Touching and agreeing. I love you, Cadence.” Shining said.
“I love you too, Shiny.” Cadence replied. They kissed again.
In Ponyville, the Royal Guards were escorting Trixie, the FlimFlam brothers, and Lightning Dust who received medical attention for her injuries to a large cage. They locked them in and escorted them to Tartarus.
Thorax saw everypony happy again as they reunited with their lost loved ones and friends. Realizing he still had no family of his own, he bowed his head in sadness.
“You can still be one of us, Thorax.” a friendly voice spoke. Thorax turned to see Gordon accompanied by Batman, Catwoman, and Robin. “Losing a family is a terrible experience. I know Batman here can attest to that and so do I. Remember that no matter what you go through in life, there will always be those who genuinely love you and want the best for your life and for your future.” Gordon said.
“You can live with us if you like, Thorax.” Catwoman offered. Batman drew nigh and bent down to his level.
“You don’t have to be alone. You can live with us in Florence, Italy. I’ll even make room for you in our mansion.” Batman said. Thorax thought it over until he smiled and nodded.
“Absolutely! I love to live with you guys! You’re already like family to me—more family-like then my own family ever was.” Thorax said. He hugged both Batman and Catwoman and teared up. They smiled down on him and stroked his head. Thorax gave another look at Bane’s mask until he picked it up with his horns (or antlers).
“I’m keeping this as a reminder of someone who could’ve been my best friend forever. I’ll still never forget you.” Thorax thought.
“You think it’s time to head back now? It will be a long way to head back to that forest.” Robin asked.
“No. I have a short cut.” Batman said. He raised his arms and shot white beams of magic at the ground. It grew to a large portal. “You can go on ahead. I’ll be here for a while.”
“Very well. We should be working together going forward. Gotham will definitely need three sentinels to protect it.” Robin said.
Batman nodded. All the police and SWAT forces entered the portal and stepped foot in Gotham City. Robin followed behind.
“Don’t take too long, babe. I’ll be waiting for you back at the hotel in Gotham.” Catwoman said.
Batman and Catwoman kissed before she departed in the bat-pod with Thorax and entered the portal. Gordon gave a soft smile to his closest ally and then entered the portal as well. The portal then closed.
Later that evening, Batman stood on top of a hill and beheld the sunset. He saw below him all the other ponies having a party hosted by Pinkie Pie. They all laughed and had a joyous time together.
Batman himself even smiled at seeing them fully happy again. Then he looked up and saw some stars in the sky as it got darker.
“My life will truly never be the same thanks to my interaction with these ponies. They have so much to offer to the multiverse and so much to share to Gotham. Now that the police have gotten to know these ponies, they will share that experience with the other officers and civilians in my city.” Batman thought.
“(Sigh) I will never forget the first time I met them in the forest.”he recalled, thinking back on how he met the CMCs and their sisters. He also remembered the sweet moments he had with Scootaloo and everything she learned about him.
He also remembered his manhunt for Scarecrow and his thugs which lead him to Equestria years ago. The enduring fight he had with King Sombra was another thing he would never forget. The crystal magic he gained there marked the first time in his life he ever wielded magic.
Sadly, he lost that magic due to his deadly fight with The Joker. He and Fluttershy both had bitter experiences that later affected their ways of life, especially after the way she executed Discord for his crimes.
But now he had the most powerful magic of all: the Magic of Friendship. Now that he was the new element bearer and Prince of Friendship, he recognized the important roles he had to play in Equestria and Gotham.
“The weekends will be better for me in Equestria, but Gotham will need me during those nights in the week while I work in Florence in the day. With my ability to make portals, I can go anywhere.” he thought.
For the rest of his life if he would ever have children, he will tell them and show them the ponies who changed his life forever. He will never forget the life lessons and experience that empowered him even more to remain what he was—The Dark Knight.
With that, he flew off to the sunset with hundreds of bats flying in the background.
THE DARK KNIGHT TRIUMPHS