Chapter 1 - A Trip to Insanity
Batman and the Crusaders followed the path where a huge structure, where they imprison ponies who are deemed insane by the Maretropolis government and keep them incarcerated for their own safety. The huge, mysterious asylum institution stood upon a hill behind a gate that marked: The Maretropolis Asylum.
They walked in front of the asylum's front gates, placing their hooves on the identification scanning stations to prove that they were not inmates in the institution. The gates slid open as they walked onto the asylum grounds, the group headed towards the front entrance of the asylum's interior, but they paused for a moment.
''I can't believe, that we're actually going into an asylum!'' The young vibrant pegasus, Scootaloo, hopped on her hooves in excitement.
''Scootaloo, ya' do know that these is no laughing matter right?'' Apple Bloom asked.
''Of course I know that, but this is a golden opportunity,'' Scootaloo pulled her two crusader friends next to her. ''especially in an asylum institution that has insane ponies incarcerated, including the Mane-iac.''
''Well, if you guys say so.'' Sweetie Belle shrugged her shoulders.
The front entrance of the asylum opened as the gates lifted over their heads, while they walked into the ground floor of the asylum. As the gates descended behind them, they walked through the security clearance gate with a security guard to accompany them.
''The asylum's warden sent me to accompany you guys, just in case things get out of hand.'' the security guard stated.
''That's fair then, if you can take us to the Mane-iac's holding cell that would be very helpful.'' Batman said to the security guard.
''Will do.'' the guard escorted them to the Mane-iac's holding cell where the authorities threw her in there a couple of weeks ago, after she was defeated by the Power Ponies in her shampoo factory. ''There you go, but I must warn you that she is very dangerous, so it would be best not to get too close to her.''
Before they could even thank the security guard, the guard vanished at the blink of an eye. In the contents of the holding cell, was a mattress, a dirty toilet, a very-detailed map of the asylum, and an escape route. The villainous Mane-iac laid down on the white mattress in her straightjacket, that prevents her from any means of escaping. Sadly, the one mistake in the construction of the asylum was that inmates used spoons to scrape holes in the walls of the asylum.
''Hello, Mane-iac.'' the caped vigilante said to the insane villain.
''Ah' never knew that, today we would be meeting a villain with a crazy mane.'' Apple Bloom looked in shock at the out-of-control mane tentacles.
''Tell me about it, this is really awesome!'' Scootaloo's hooves bounced off the walls of the asylum, in a very energetic, sugar-crazed matter. The adrenaline was rushing through every fiber of her being, not only to meet a villain in person, but to actually be in an asylum for the mentally insane. A weird feeling, but a feeling nonetheless.
''Hello there, I hope you're not one of the Power Pony hooligans that defeated me a while back.'' The Mane-iac rose from her mattress as she stepped up to the metal bars that prevented her from lashing out in an uncontrollable rampage. ''I'll be seeking my revenge on them when I get out of here, what do you want?''
''I found some residue from your shampoo factory, when I was fighting one of your henchmen.'' Batman threw an analysis report under the holding cell door, with all of the information of the DNA and her background information. ''Now, talk.''
''I sent my henchmen out to pick up some supplies, which you attacked one of my henchmen that was delivering said supplies to my cell that I was going to use to build up my doomsday device.'' The Mane-iac announced.
''Tell me what you were planning to do with the device, now!'' Batman slammed his hooves on the cell's metal bars.
''Well if you really want to know, I suggest you get the security guard back here.'' The Mane-iac looked up at Batman, with her devious eyes glaring at him.
A loud scream near the Mane-iac's cell was heard throughout the asylum, which signaled the guard to stand near her cell where the guard swiped her identification card as the cell door opened. All of a sudden, a loud bang echoed in the halls of the asylum as the wall behind the charismatic villain had a big hole in it. ''Everything is going, according to plan.''
A huge spray can emerged from the wreckage of the wall, with a grappling hook attached to the top of the can. The hook was shot forward with the center of the hook as it wrapped around the Mane-iac's body, the straightjacket ripped apart in the process in the clean getaway. ''This has been a mane raising event, but I really must be going.''
''MUAHAHAHAHAHA, I shall have my revenge!'' Her maniacal laughter was heard through the streets of Maretropolis with a well-planned escape plan, now she is heading towards her shampoo factory to finish building her doomsday device.
''I've seen worse security standards, so I'll have to enlist the help of a hero that can assist us.'' Batman said, looking in awe at the big hole in the walls.
''Are you sure about that?'' the Crusaders said together.
''I'm sure, but I'll have to keep you guys safe and sound.'' Batman said.
''If you say so, Bruce, we will take your word for it.''
A security guard from the Security Wing of the asylum approached the three fillies, saluting the Caped Crusader with a hoof across his forehead. ''I would be more than happy to protect those three fillies, in our high-tech Security Wing.''
The guard took the three Crusaders to the Security Wing of the asylum, where he placed the young ponies into a glass-protected, spherical dome that can keep them safe from danger. ''Thanks for keeping us safe, we really appreciate it.''
''The pleasure is all mine, make yourselves at home.'' the security guard walked away from the dome, as the doors closed behind him. ''One more thing left to do.'' A cloud of gas started to fill the inside of the dome, poisonous contents of the gas spread around the dome until it was completely covered from top to bottom.
''What the hay--'' Apple Bloom coughed as the fumes started to spread throughout her body, she collapsed onto the floor.
''You trader---'' Scootaloo said, as she collapsed to the floor as well.
''Just wait until, Batman hears about this.'' Sweetie Belle dropped to the floor without her body moving an inch, her vision started to fade away as her eyes slammed shut.
''You won't be hearing from him anymore, because he will be out of the picture very soon.'' He took off his mask, revealing his identity. ''I'll be sure to pay him a visit.''
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Batman landed on the top of a rooftop, scouting the area of the henchponies that were surrounding the Maretropolis Shampoo Factory to keep the doomsday device and their boss safe. Snipers stood upon the rooftops with night vision goggles, and their weapons locked and loaded with their scopes in the line of sight, anxiously waiting for ponies to take down with no hesitation.
''Any sign of the Power Ponies or Batman?'' The Mane-iac said on the radio communication system.
'No sign of them yet, ma'am. We will keep a close eye out for them, and alert you once we have spotted them. Once Batman sets a hoof on the factory, we will take him down. Over and out.'' He turned off the radio, and kept his eye near the factory for Batman.
As he turned his back as the lookout, Batman stood behind him without making a noise, and wrapped his arms around his neck to suffocate the oxygen from his throat. The sniper slipped into an unconscious state, slipping out from his grip while he laid on the rooftop, knocked out.
''One down, four to go.'' He glides down from the rooftop, flying in mid-air to the next sniper across from him, kicking him down to the ground. ''I never knew that I would say this, but I need help.''
A shadowy, mysterious figure with a dark blue mask, light blue reflective circles on her mask, a dark flowing cape, and her dark purple suit flew into the air while she propelled down on the ground. She stood side-by-side with Batman, as they looked at the snipers.