Far out in the Arctic Ocean, a Coast Guard helicopter touched down upon the back of a heavily damaged and deserted cargo ship. Two Coast Guardsmen, armed with flashlights, jumped onto the deck of the ship to inspect it. They were baffled over the sight of the entire deck filled with massive holes.
Exchanging an uneasy look with his partner, one of the men shined his light upon the nearest massive hole.
<>
At Wayne Enterprises, Mr. Early was at his desk when an executive arrived with a troubled expression.
“Sir, we have a situation.”
“What kind of situation?” Earle asked.
Earle had already received word that Judge Faden was under investigation and wouldn’t be taking any new cases for a while, which meant his own plans of keeping Wayne Enterprises out of Bruce’s hands was currently behind schedule, and he was already in a foul mood.
“Coast guard picked up one of our cargo ships last night,” He reported uneasily. “Heavily damaged. Crew missing, probably dead.”
A frown formed along Earle’s face, followed by a trace of concern around the edges.
“What happened?” He asked.
“The ship was carrying a prototype weapon,” The executive explained. “A microwave emitter…”
<>
An industrial machine the size of a small van sat in a cargo bay, overlooked by two security guards.
“It’s designed for desert warfare – it uses focused microwaves to vaporize the enemy’s water supply…”
Suddenly, something grabbed the security guards from behind, their necks snapped, and then two men approached the machine and turned it on.
“Looks like someone fired it up…”
“What caused the damage?”
The two men braced themselves against the machine as it shuddered, emitting energy in a single wave.
“The expansion of water in steam creates an enormous pressure wave…”
Soon, the pipes exploded, belching steam all over the ship… sailors were tossed around by exploding pipes and drains…
<>
“It looks like someone fired it up at sea,” The executive concluded. “Judging from the damage to the ship and cargo.”
To suggest Earle was floored by the news was the understatement of the century.
“Where’s the weapon?” He asked.
“It’s missing…” The executive shifted uneasily.
‘Good lord,’ Earle thought. He could only imagine just who’d want the weapon and why they’d turn it on while in a ship of all places.
<>
Later that night, in downtown Gotham, a million-dollar Bugatti Veyron pulled up along the valet station at one of the fancy hotels. A long white limousine pulled up behind the car just as Bruce Wayne, impeccably tailored in a black tuxedo, stepped out of his car along with two beautiful women. From the driver side of the limo, the valet scrambled to the back door and opened the door, revealing the Mane Six and Spike. Once again, they assumed their human forms and dressed much like their Canterlot City counterparts.
The girls and Spike stared in awe at the fancy car, which Bruce and his lady friends stepped out of.
“Now that’s a nice car,” Rainbow commented with a smile.
“You should see my other one,” Bruce smirked.
“Think you can lend me one?”
Bruce merely chuckled in response before leading everyone inside the restaurant. As they walked in, Twilight Sparkle positioned a fetching beret in her hair.
“What a lovely accessory, darling,” Rarity commented. “It truly brings out your features rather well.”
“It’s not for appearances, Rarity,” Twilight told her. “I had Bruce hook up a miniature microphone in it.”
“Why would ya need tah do that?” Applejack asked.
“Bruce said this Court of Owls is made up of Gotham’s elite,” Twilight answered. “Surely there’s bound to be hundreds of Gotham’s wealthiest people here tonight and a few are bound to be members. Wearing this allows us to pick up any hidden dialect that might be spoken while we’re here.”
“That’s… actually not a bad idea,” Rainbow nodded slowly.
Inside the hotel restaurant, tables were positioned around a decorative infinity pool, and Earle was seated at one of the tables along with his wife, the Wycliffe’s, and other guests. He saw Bruce enter with the blondes on his arms and the Mane Six and Spike following close behind. Fighting back a sigh, he waved the young man over to join them.
“Bruce, so nice of you to join us,” Earle said through a fake smile. “And I see you’ve brought some friends.”
“Indeed, I have,” Bruce smiled, gesturing to the two girls.
“I meant your other friends,” Earle emphasized, motioning to the Equestrians. “The ‘younger’ ones.”
“Oh right, where are my manners?” Bruce feigned idiocy. “Everyone, these are some transfer students Alfred and I have taken in. This is Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Spike.”
The Mane Six and Spike waved casually toward everyone at the table.
“Lovely to meet you all,” Twilight greeted.
“Charmed, I’m sure,” Rarity bowed her head.
“Sup!” Rainbow spoke casually.
This received a stiff jab in the ribs by Rarity, who glared at her friend for her uncouth response.
“Again with the jabbing!” Rainbow whispered harshly. “You keep this up, I’ll end up with cracked ribs.”
“This doesn’t seem like much of a fancy shindig,” Pinkie Pie spoke disappointed. “Where’s the pinata? Where are the streamers? Does anyone here even know how to play ‘Pin the Tail on the Donkey’?”
Everyone at the table merely looked at the pink party pony turned girl as though she just said the most ridiculous statement they’ve ever heard. This caused Rarity to hide her face in shame and embarrassment, while Spike merely shook his head.
“This is gonna be a long night,” He sighed.
<>
A few hours later…
The table was littered with bottles and empty plates. Eventually, the conversation turned to a discussion over an incident involving the mysterious Batman.
“At least he’s getting something done,” One of the female guests said.
To which the husband of said guest released a heavy sigh.
“Bruce, help me out here,” He begged.
Bruce merely turned from the blondes as they stood and walked over the pool.
“A guy who dressed up like a bat clearly has issues,” Bruce responded with a smile.
“Totally bonkers!” Pinkie piped in. “He sounds as crazy as me when I get really hyped on the sweets. Which happens very often, so I know exactly what I’m talking about. In fact, I think this calls for a pick me up!”
Pinkie proceeded to reach into her hair and pulled out a box of assorted chocolates, which she dumped the entirety into her waiting mouth. Everyone at the table, especially her friends, just watched without uttering a single word as though they haven’t a clue what to say. Eventually, someone pulled the conversation back to focus.
“But he put Falcone behind bars,” The female guest pointed out.
“And now the cops are trying to bring him in,” Her husband pointed out. “So what does that tell you?”
“They’re jealous?” His wife suggested.
“From what I’ve heard, the commissioner is rather infuriated with this Batman character,” John remarked, while Julia sniffed slightly.
From the sidelines, the others watched with disapproval as one of the blondes slipped off her dress and lowered herself into the pool, quickly followed by her giggling companion. Bruce repressed a laugh at everyone’s expression, while maintaining focus on John’s choice of words.
“If he’s so benevolent, why hide his face?”
“Maybe he’s protecting the people he cares about from reprisals,” The female guest suggested.
There was some general agreement to this statement when the Maitre’d approached with an annoyed expression.
“Sir,” He informed Bruce. “The pool is for decoration, and your friends do not have swim wear.”
Bruce merely glanced toward the pool, where his dates were currently swimming and drawing looks from the various guests. To which a smirk spread along his face.
“Well, they’re European.”
The Maitre’d scowled, clearly unamused.
“I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
He became exasperated further when the young man pulled out a checkbook and started to write one out.
“It’s not a question of money.”
Now grinning, Bruce turned to Earle while writing out an amount of money on a check.
“Mr. Earle, I’m buying this hotel,” He informed the older man.
This drew a mixture of reactions from everyone at the table. Julia was indignant, John chuckled with the other guests, Earle nodded patiently, and the Maitre’d was dumbstruck.
“Will you please broker a deal?”
“Of course,” Earle answered.
Pleased, Bruce returned his attention to the stunned man.
“And I’m making some new rules for the pool area,” He added.
One of the blondes called to him and he stood, went over, and let them pull him backward into the water with a laugh. Earle shook his head and turned away to continue the conversation about the Batman, Fluttershy overhearing him suggesting the guy needed a straitjacket and the female guess stating he deserved a medal. The rest of the Equestrians watched with shock over the actions of the young Bruce Wayne.
“For a billionaire, Bruce sure doesn’t showcase much class,” Rarity commented.
“You left out the whole ‘playboy’ part of that statement,” Rainbow remarked.
Meanwhile, Twilight wasn’t paying much attention to what was going on. For at this moment, she had finally picked up a matter of interest through her microphone concerning a man and a woman standing off in the corner.
“And you are positive the day of reckoning is upon us?” The woman asked. “Gotham hasn’t faced judgment since the late 1800’s.”
“Our orders are quite clear,” The man responded. “The Grandmaster wishes for us to meet tonight. We are to give a list of those we wish to be spared when the reaping begins.”
“Then let us waste no more time.”
The couple proceeded to depart from the restaurant area toward the entryway of the hotel. Twilight knew if they were aiming to uncover some information on the Court of Owls, they couldn’t lose the trail. Quickly, she picked herself up and turned toward the rest of her friends.
“I think it’s time we head back for the mansion,” She told them. “After all, we have much work to do.”
She gestured with her eyes toward the doors, and everyone looked over to the couple making their way into view. Getting the idea, they quickly got up and addressed everyone at the table.
“It was quite nice to meet you all,” Rarity said kindly.
“Likewise,” Earle responded. “Do promise me you’ll keep a close eye on Bruce while you’re with him.”
“Can do partner,” Applejack nodded. “We’ll be on him like mud on a pig.”
Once again, Rarity rolled her eyes and sighed at the response before she started to walk away. The rest of the group followed behind her as they started for the restaurant exit. Before they left, they stopped near the pool where Bruce was still inside with his lady friends.
“Um Bruce, we’re just heading out for the mansion,” Fluttershy said. “If that’s alright with you, that is.”
Bruce paused for a moment and looked toward his friends through his sopping wet hair.
“Oh yeah sure,” He nodded. “I’ll meet you guys back there later. Just tell the driver to take you back or wherever you’d like to go.”
With that settled, Bruce returned his attention to whatever he was doing, while the Mane Six and Spike went off to follow the mysterious couple. Wherever it is they were going, surely it was meant to provide some form of answers to questions building in their heads.
<>
A while later, Bruce and the Blondes, now sporting some white hotel robes, left the hotel and were waiting for the valet, who pulled up in the Bugatti. Rachel, wearing a black dress with a black shawl and black heels, walked into the hotel for a dinner date. She stopped at the sight of her childhood friend, now soaking wet.
“Bruce?”
Surprised, Bruce turned and smiled when he saw her.
“Rachel.”
Rachel raised her eyebrows at Bruce, who was still damp.
“I’d heard you were back,” She commented with a faint smile. “What are you doing?”
“Just… swimming,” Bruce responded with a shrug. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too,” Rachel nodded. “So where have you been all these years?”
“Oh, kind of all over, you know?” Bruce shrugged.
“I missed you – you were gone a long time,” Rachel told him.
“I know, did you…?” Bruce started, then cleared his throat. “I mean, how are things… for you?”
“The same,” Rachel answered. “The job’s getting worse.”
‘Not for long.’
“Can’t change the world on your own,” Bruce remarked.
“What choice do I have?” Rachel asked honestly. “You’re too busy… swimming.”
Bruce winced slightly at the jab.
“Rachel, all this… it’s not all I am, inside I’m… different.”
Oh, how he wanted so much to tell her that he was the Batman everyone was talking about. But he also knew ‘why’ he couldn’t… at least, not yet. Just then, one of the blondes called out from the front seat of the car.
“Come on, Bruce! We have some more hotels we want you to buy!”
Rachel glanced toward the blondes, then faced her friend sadly.
“Bruce, deep down, you may be the same great little kid you used to be…” She sighed. “But it’s not who you are underneath… it’s what you do that defines you.”
She walked into the hotel, leaving Bruce to watch her sadly. He wished there was more he could say to show Rachel there’s so little she knew; yet, he didn’t have the words… he just couldn’t.
<>
The Mane Six and Spike, dressed in their Power Pony costumes, used their newly gained skills from training with the League to sneak stealthily through the hotel halls in pursuit of the mysterious couple. They followed through the foundation’s many halls until eventually they arrived outside the Ballroom. The couple stopped outside the room for a moment, looking over their shoulders to make sure they weren’t followed. When they saw no one, they both reached behind themselves and pulled out white owl masks which they placed over their faces before entering the ballroom and closed the doors behind them.
The Power Ponies and Humdrum, watching from the shadows, slunk silently across the hall to the Ballroom doors and stopped just outside. The Masked Matterhorn silently counted to ‘three’ with her fingers before they burst into the room, ready for a fight. Which made it even more bizarre when they saw… nobody, not a soul in the room. It was entirely empty; some would suggest deserted.
“What the hay?!” Zapp said confused. “Where’d they go?”
“That doesn’t seem possible!” Radiance shook her head. “There aren’t any other doors in this room; there’s no way two people can just disappear that quickly.”
“There’s something in here that can tell us where they went,” The Masked Matterhorn said. “Every pony take a look around, and if you find anything out of the ordinary, send a signal.”
The entire group began to scour the room for anything that could possibly tell them where the two people went. They looked up and down the entire room, but so far couldn’t find anything.
“Ain’t nothin’ here, Twi,” Mistress Marevelous called out.
“There has to be,” The Masked Matterhorn said. “I’m sure of it.”
Humdrum looked off into the corner and noticed something off. There was a marble statue of an owl, but the head was facing the wrong direction. Slowly, he walked over to it and reached out to touch it.
*WHAM!!!*
“Ow!”
All of a sudden, Humdrum felt a sharp prick in the back of his neck and reached out to find out what hit him. Something stuck out along that very spot, and when he pulled it out it appeared to be some sort of blow dart.
“Yeow!”
“Ouchie!”
“What the hay?!”
“Holy mother of Tirek!”
Humdrum looked up seeing the others pulling darts out of themselves too.
“What in the name of Celestia is—what in—wah-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba…”
Humdrum’s lip started to swell up while everyone else stumbled about, feeling extremely dizzy and tired. Within a minute, the entire group fell to the ground and passed out from whatever those drugs injected them with. Out of the shadows stepped a number of men in suits and white skull masks. They looked down upon the fallen Equestrian heroes, unsure of what to make of them.
“What should we do with them?” One Court member asked.
“We should kill them now,” Another suggested.
“No, we must allow the Grandmaster to decide their fate,” Another member announced.
One member of the Court approached the statue and turned its head back toward the direction it was meant to face. The room shook slightly as a hidden staircase lowered down into the floor, revealing a large medieval-looking iron door.
The members of the Court picked up the Mane Six and Spike one-by-one before carrying them down the stairs and through the iron gate off towards Celestia only knows where.
<>
The next day, at the county jail, Dr. Crane, with briefcase in hand, was buzzed through a set of thick steel-and-glass doors. As always, Chrysalis followed by his side and together they walked inside where an officer greeted them.
“Dr. Crane, thanks for coming down.”
“Not at all,” Crane spoke politely. “So, he cut his wrists?”
The prison official nodded.
“Probably looking for an insanity plea,” She guessed. “But if anything happened…”
“Of course, better safe than sorry,” Crane nodded.
Falcone waited for Crane in a white interview room, where his wrists were bandaged. He smirked when the psychiatrist and the Changeling Queen in disguise entered.
“A suicide attempt, Carmine?” Chrysalis spoke up. “How unlike you. Here I thought you were a crime lord, not a coward.”
“Dr. Crane, it’s all too much, the walls are closing in, blah, blah, blah!” He rattled up, grimacing. “Couple more days of this food, it’ll be true.”
Crane placed his briefcase on the table and sat down, unfazed by Falcone’s performance.
“What do you want?” He asked, cutting to the point.
Falcone took this hint, his face going hard.
“I wanna know how you’re gonna convince me to keep my mouth shut.”
“I could always kill you,” Chrysalis threatened. “That would certainly keep you quiet forever.”
“Easy my dear,” Crane gestured politely, facing Falcone. “About what? You don’t know anything.”
“I know you wouldn’t want the cops taking a closer look at the drugs they seized,” Falcone spoke slyly, with a smirk. “Odds are, they’ll be asking the CEO of Wycliffe Industries to examine the drugs since he’s a big supporter and sponsor of their anti-drug task force and rehab program. I know about your experiments on the inmates at your nuthouse.”
As he spoke, Crane’s eyes narrowed almost as though he were sizing him up.
“I don’t get into business with someone without finding out their dirty secrets. Those goons you hired… I own the muscle in this town. I’ve been smuggling your stuff in for months, so whatever he’s got planned, it’s big. And I want in.”
Crane studied the crime boss thoughtfully for a moment, then sighed.
“I already know what he’ll say… that we should kill you.”
“Let me do it,” Chrysalis offered. “I could make it either painful… or very painful.”
Glaring with contempt, Falcone leaned forward.
“Even he can’t touch me in here,” He declared. “Not in my town.”
Crane shrugged, popping the locks on his briefcase, and then removed his glasses. He looked toward Chrysalis with an almost sinister look.
“Let’s see if that practice you’ve been doing has paid off,” He suggested.
“With pleasure,” Chrysalis smirked wickedly.
Crane then looked back at Falcone, as he reached inside the case.
“Would you like to see my mask?”
Crane proceeded to pull out a burlap sack with eye holes cut into it, and twine stitching for a mouth.
“I use it in my experiments,” He explained. “I’m probably not very frightening to a guy like you, but these crazies… they can’t stand it…”
Falcone stared at him, warily and uneasily of where this was going. Crane placed the mask over his face and reached back into his briefcase.
“When did the nut take over the nut house—” He began.
*WHUMP!!!*
A cloud of white smoke shot out of the briefcase and into his face. Coughing, he pushed his chair back, surprised, and then began screaming when he locked eyes with Crane’s mask. Lizard tongues flicked out of the holes in his mask, as he stood and leaned toward the terrified crime boss.
“They scream and cry…” Crane growled. “… As much as you’re doing now.”
Falcone kept screaming as the eyes and mouth of Crane’s mask burst into flames. Chrysalis’ eyes turned dark green, her fangs elongated, and soon her human form melted away into that of her true Changeling form. She opened her mouth widely and began to suck the fear Falcone was experiencing, feeling herself grow more and more powerful. Once she’d gotten the full taste of fear, she reverted back to her regular human form as she could feel the power emulating deep within her.
“Hmm… so it’s true,” She smiled wickedly. “Fear is far more satisfying than love.”
<>
Barely a minute later, Chrysalis and Crane emerged, his briefcase in hand. Falcone’s screams echoed from within the room, as the man turned to the startled prison official.
“Oh, he’s not faking,” He confirmed. “Not that one.”
To which the official nodded gravely.
“I’ll talk to the judge, see if I can get him moved to the secure wing at Arkham,” He continued. “I can’t treat him here.”
With that settled, he and Chrysalis quickly left while Falcone’s screams echoed throughout the halls.
<>
At Wycliffe Industries, John was going over the results of the drugs that’d been tested. He hadn’t gotten far when one of his assistants approached.
“Yes?” He asked.
“There’s a Sergeant Jim Gordon here to see you, sir.”
“Send him in,” John said, studying the results. “This can’t be right…”
Goron entered the office and cleared his throat.
“Mr. Wycliffe?”
John looked up from the lab results and nodded, shaking the cop’s hand.
“Gordon, good to see you since the commissioner isn’t interested,” He said.
“Loeb has a different approach to what he considers to be ‘important’,” Gordon said, nodding to the papers. “Are those the results from the drugs we seized at the docks last night?”
“They are,” John confirmed. “And while most of the drugs are the typical ones Falcone brings in, there’s something else as well.”
“What’s that?” Gordon asked.
“Unfortunately, that’s where me and the technicians in my research labs are stumped,” He admitted. “Whatever it is, the chemical compound seemed to hint that it’s some kind of hallucinogenic, based on what I know about such chemicals… this could be a nasty one.”
“How nasty?” Gordon frowned.
“I say bad enough to induce a heart attack or even a fatal stroke in less than a minute,” John responded. “Of course, it’ll depend on the dosage, and how the person is exposed to it.”
To which Gordon didn’t like the sound of it.
“Will you let me know anything else that you find out about this hallucinogenic chemical?” He requested.
“I will,” John promised. “There’s a few more tests my people are currently running, and the results should be in soon.”
“Thanks.”
<>
Later that night, Gordon was at his apartment, where his pregnant wife, Barbara, was trying to get their two-year old, Jim Jr., to eat. He kissed her, picked up the trash, and headed outside. Thunder rumbled overhead as Gordon stepped out onto the fire escape, to put the trash into the trashcan and put the lid back on.
“Storm’s coming,” A raspy voice said.
Startled, Gordon looked up, spotting the Batman, who was crouched just above him on the fire escape.
“The scum’s getting jumpy because you stood up to Falcone,” Gordon told him.
“It’s a start,” The Dark Knight declared. “Your partner was at the docks with Falcone.”
To which Gordon rolled his eyes, unsurprised by the claim.
“He moonlights as a low-level enforcer.”
“They were splitting the shipment in two,” the Batman informed. “Only half were going to the dealers.”
Now this was news to the cop himself.
“Why? What about the other half? Unless…”
“Unless what?” The Dark Knight questioned.
“I went to Wycliffe Industries earlier to see John Wycliffe, who’s overseeing the testing of the drugs from the docks, and he found something strange,” Gordon explained. “Wycliffe isn’t sure, but he says it looked to be a hallucinogenic chemical compound of some kind.”
Batman considered this discovery with keen interest.
“Flass knows,” He observed.
Gordon shook his head even if he knew that was probably true.
“He won’t talk.”
“He’ll talk to me,” Batman said confidently.
“Commissioner Loeb set up a massive task force to catch you,” Gordon warned the Dark Knight. “He thinks you’re dangerous.”
Of course, Batman didn’t seem surprised by this at all.
“What do you think?”
“I think you’re trying to help,” Gordon said.
He turned away for only a brief moment, then when he looked back… the Dark Knight disappeared.
“But I’ve been wrong before.”
‘I just hope that I’m not wrong this time,’ a thought passed as Gordon proceeded back into his apartment. Batman watched him from a nearby rooftop till the cop disappeared. He tapped the side of his cowl and radioed back to Alfred, who was listening from Wayne Manor.
“I heard everything clear as day, Master Bruce,” Alfred said. “If what Mr. Gordon says is true, this compound could prove to be quite dangerous to anyone exposed.”
“I need to find Flass,” Batman replied. “He was there the night Falcone and Sionis were going to collect the drugs. He’ll know more about it.”
“Be careful, sir. With this city wide manhunt, traversing about the city will be difficult.”
“I’ll be fine, Alfred,” Batman assured. “Have you found any sign of them yet?”
“I’m afraid not, sir. The limousine driver said they never got back in the car and the hotel staff hasn’t seem them at all since they walked out of the restaurant last night. I have no idea where they are, but I do hope they’re alright.”
Bruce put an end to the communication and proceeded with his nightly patrol. He was worried about the Mane Six and Spike the moment he came home the other night, only to find out they never returned. He tried looking for them, but so far all efforts have proven fruitless. He could only hope that wherever they were, they could handle themselves until he found them.
<>
Groaning in pain, the brilliant lavender eyes beneath the mask of the Matterhorn slowly blinked open as she tried to adjust to a bright light shining upon her. When she tried to sit up, she quickly found her movements were rather restricted. Soon as her vision came in full, she noticed that she and the remainder of her friends were chained down to a large circular table in the midst of some chamber. Seated all around were an assortment of men, women, and even children, all wearing white owl masks.
The Masked Matterhorn looked on, shocked and in fear, as the entire Court of Owls gazed upon her, and her friends chained to the table. She attempted to use her magic to free herself and the others, only to find she couldn’t do it. Not for lack of trying, but because her magic had simply failed her. As she struggled to free them all, her friends eventually awoke and slowly came to realize their situation.
“What the hay’s going on here?” Zapp asked confused.
“Where are we?” Humdrum asked confused. “Who’re these people?”
“Scary birds…” Filly Second shuddered.
“Ugh! My magic isn’t working!” Radiance panicked.
“Mah strength ain’t working neither,” Mistress Marevelous groaned, pulling the chains.
“Twilight, w-w-what’s h-happening?” Saddle Rager shook in fear.
“I don’t know,” The Masked Matterhorn answered fearfully.
A low chuckle made the entire group face the head of the table where a man dressed in a three-piece ivory suit and wearing a golden owl mask sat in a throne. The Grandmaster of the Court of Owls stood up as he eyed the Equestrians.
“Of course you do,” He spoke lowly. “You seek answers into the Court of Owls. Well look no further, for here we are.”
Once again, The Masked Matterhorn tried using her magic to free herself. But even as she felt a spark, the magic completely fizzled out in seconds. Another chuckle emanated from beneath the Grandmaster’s mask.
“Try all you’d like, but your magic won’t work… Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight and the others froze upon hearing her name called out.
“How do you know my name?” She asked.
“I know all about you and your friends,” The Grandmaster replied. “That’s why your chains are made of a special metal that counteracts all your powers. You’re as helpless as puppy dogs in a pound.”
“Just wait till I’m out of these chains, creep!” Rainbow growled. “I’ll hit you so hard it’ll make the first Court of Owls dizzy!”
“Idle threats mean nothing to us,” The Grandmaster replied simply. “The Court of Owls has watched over Gotham City since its first founding. Our mission has been to ensure the city’s future by whatever means necessary.”
“Even if that means murderin’ the innocent, corruptin’ the system, and spewin’ lies?” Applejack asked.
“Indeed,” The Grandmaster nodded. “Though while Gotham’s continuation remains our goal, our priority is far greater than that. We are part of something much bigger than Gotham itself could ever hope to be.”
“And what exactly is that?” Rarity frowned.
The Grandmaster merely sat back in his thrown, his hands pressed together.
“The complete and utter destruction of magic itself,” He answered.
This puzzle the Equestrians greatly, shocked them even.
“What do you mean by destroying the magic?” Twilight asked confused.
“Do you truly believe you’re the first magical beings to end up in this world?” The Grandmaster asked. “Magic has done its damage to this world for centuries. It’s people like us, or rather people all over the world, with similar visions that have kept the magic at bay.”
“So what’re you going to do to us?” Spike asked. “Kill us?”
To which, once again, the Grandmaster released a chuckle.
“Eventually little dragon,” He nodded. “But first, the world must see how dangerous and destructive your kind truly are. Judgment Day is upon Gotham City at last, and your kind will serve as the executioners, whether you want to or not.”
“Our kind?!” Rainbow growled. “I’ll make you eat those words you—”
One snap of The Grandmaster’s fingers and the other Court members quickly rose up with blow dart guns in hand. They quickly fired toward the group before they could react and within another moment, they were out cold.
“What shall we do now, sir?” One member asked.
“Return them to Wayne Manor,” The Grandmaster answered. “Soon enough, the reckoning will come to Gotham. As their kind lay waste to this city, we commence with the purge of Gotham and rebuild from its ashes.”
A few members proceeded to unshackle the Mane Six and Spike, dragging them from their meeting chamber as the rest watched on silently and sinisterly.
<>
It was pouring rain, Flass was currently at a falafel stand, where the vendor piled the fixings for the corrupt cop. He helped himself to a couple banknotes, ignoring the protest from the vendor as he walked away. He walked down a dark street, stuffing the falafel into his mouth as the rain soaked him to the bone. Suddenly, he was yanked from the pavement and pulled up between two buildings while his food landed on the pavement below.
Screaming for his life, Flass found himself face-to-face with the Batman himself, the rain pouring off his cowl. The corrupt officer was so terrified he barely noticed the cord wrapped around Flass’ ankle held tightly in the Batman’s grip.
“Where were the other drugs going?” Batman demanded.
“I don’t know!” Flass gasped, scared. “I swear to God—”
“Swear to me!” Batman snarled.
He dropped Flass three flights down on the wire before yanking the terrified man back up.
“I never knew… never…” Flass whispered frantically. “Shipments went to some guy for a couple of days before they went to the dealers.”
If Batman’s suspicions were true, that probably meant John was right about the hallucinogenic chemicals. But the detective needed to make sure.
“Why?” Batman growled.
“There was something else in the drugs,” He whispered. “Something hidden.”
“What?”
“I don’t know – I never went to the drop-off!” Flass cried. “It’s in the Narrows – cops only go there in force…”
“Do I look like a cop?” The Dark Knight growled.
He proceeded to drop Flass, who screamed mid-fall to the ground. His descent slowed until the terrified cop was less than a foot above the pavement. Then the cord suddenly released, dropping the overweight jerk onto his face. The man whispered in response, as the cold rain soaked into his clothes along with what little remained of his food… which he now laid atop of.
<>
A cargo ship arrived at the docks, as Finch walked through the canyons of shipping containers along with two men. He checked the tags with a flashlight until he stopped upon one.
“This is the one I’m talking about,” Finch frowned.
“What’s your problem with it?” One dock employee asked.
“It shouldn’t exist,” Finch snapped. “This ship left Singapore with 246 containers and arrived with 247. I’m guessing there’s something I’m not supposed to find in there.”
“Listen, counselor… we know the way things work in this town,” One of the dock employees spoke. “You and me… we don’t want to know what’s in Mr. Falcone’s crate.
“Things are working different,” Finch scowled. “Open it.”
The dock employees shrugged, hauled the doors open, and Finch peeked inside, finding an industrial machine the size of a small van. Frowning, he ran his flashlight over it and picked out the Wayne Enterprises label on the side.
“What the hell is this thing?”
Behind the D.A., the first dock employee raised a silenced gun and fired; the second dock guy proceeded to drag the body into the container.
<>
Meanwhile, located in the midst of the Gotham river, there was an island called the Narrows. A ramshackle labyrinth of crumbling public housing, makeshift additions growing like fungus around the insane asylum; a wall city slick with rain. Batman landed on the rooftop of one of many housing projects and dropped onto one of the fire escapes.
He climbed slightly along the wall, window to window, until he stopped at one. He pulled a small black optic from his utility belt, extending it into a tiny periscope, and then angled it to look in the window across the way.
The Dark Knight could see a darken apartment, where the furniture was stacked around the walls, and in the center was a large pile of stuffed rabbits. Just then, a window near his perch opened and accompanied by the noise of raised anger, a little boy climbed onto the fire escape, rested his arms on the railing, and stared out toward the Narrows.
Batman peered at the boy and made a small noise, getting the kid’s attention. When the boy looked over, his eyes went wide the moment he saw the Dark Knight, who put a finger to his lips to indicate silence.
“It’s you, isn’t it?” The boy whispered, nodding to the apartment ahead. “You’re here to get that guy? They already took him. To the hospital.”
The boy pointed toward Arkham Asylum, where without question whomever Batman was looking for was already there.
“Get your ass back in here!” A female voice screamed.
Reluctantly, the boy turned to go back inside… but stopped. He turned back toward the Dark Knight.
“The other kids won’t believe me.”
Batman cocked his head slightly, then handed the kid the optic. The boy’s face lit up the moment he took it and, after smiling broadly, climbed back inside. The Dark Knight swung across to the other apartment, opened the window, and climbed inside.
<>
Once inside, Batman picked up one of the rabbits from the pile. He discovered it’d been split open, all its contents removed. Noises from the hallway caught his attention, and he melted into the shadows.
Moments later, the door to the place opened and Crane entered with two thugs, indicating all the toys.
“Get rid of all traces.”
“Better torch the whole place,” One of the thugs suggested.
Crane nodded when he noticed rain splattering off the sill of the open window and onto the floor.
‘Why is that window open?’.
Crane went over to investigate while one of the thugs began pouring gasoline onto the toys. His partner prepared a couple of Molotov cocktails. The first thug kept pouring gasoline all around, then went into the bathroom. After he shut the door, he set the container on the toilet tank, and was lifting the lid to relieve himself when he noticed something in the cracked mirror. Then, before he could react, Batman smashed his face directly into the glass.
<>
Hearing a crash from the bathroom, the second thug turned, holding a lit Molotov cocktail. Suddenly, a cord wrapped around the bottle and yanked it into the shadows, where the flame was quickly extinguished. The thug stared into the shadows uneasily when Batman launched himself out of the bathroom and smashed him to the ground before the thug could pull out his gun.
With the thug knocked out, the Dark Knight stood and turned to face Crane, who now wore his mask and the Batman ended up getting a face full of white powder. Gasping and choking, Batman stagged toward the doctor, lost his balance, and fell to the floor. He looked up toward Crane who’s eyes started flaming, his limbs elongated, and the monster spun like a dervish.
Crane picked up one of the bottles and smashed it over Batman’s head, stunning him while his armor was covered and soaked in gasoline. As the Dark Knight struggled to reach the window, now chased by bats, Crane picked up the lighter and flicked it open.
“Do you want my opinion?” Crane asked, his voice muffled. “You need to lighten up.”
As the Dark Knight turned to face him, Crane tossed the lighter forward bursting Batman into flames. Still in the grips of a hallucination, the flaming bat spun and leapt desperately at the window
<>
*SMASH!*
Seconds later, the flaming dark knight crashed through the window, falling through the air. He managed to deploy one wing, which caused him to spiral downward until it hooked a railing, slowing him just enough that he landed on the wet ground with a loud thump and sizzle.
Groaning in pain, Batman rolled around until the flames were completely out leaving his batsuit a smoldering mess. Ignoring the curious looks of the people on the street, he picked himself up and lurched into an alley; he raised his grapple gun, fired toward the enclosed roof, rode it up, and punched his way through wire and metal.
The Dark Knight crawled onto the roof and rolled onto his back, staring up at the skyscrapers of Gotham itself. The rain blurred his vision as he continued to face assault by various images of his parents’ death over and over again, along with hundreds of bats in the air. Fumbling at his belt, he pulled out a tiny phony and gasped hoarsely into it.
“Alfred?! Alfred?! Help!”
<>
An unknown amount of time later…
Batman was curled up in the backseat of the Rolls with Alfred driving. Occasionally, the butler glanced up at the rear-view mirror at his charge, who was flinching against the invisible antagonists.
“Blood!” Batman cried, surrounded by bats. “Alfred?! Blood! A sample – take a sa – sample – poisoned…”
And just like that, the Batman slipped into unconsciousness as the images continued to overwhelm him. Alfred may not have entirely known what his master was talking about, but he knew for certain he needed to act fast unless he risked losing another Wayne. An outcome of which he refused to let happen.
The quest to uncover some secrets are fraught with terror. Our heroes encountered this head-on during their endeavors to uncover not only where all these drugs were going to, but also to obtain evidence that the Court of Owls truly exist. However, the girls and Spike didn't have to 'find' the Court... the Court 'found' them. The worst part about it all was how they could've killed these kids right then and there. But no... they wanted them alive because a major event was coming to Gotham and these kids had a role to play in it. As if that wasn't bad enough, Batman's latest outing ends with him ambushed by Crane (Going by his Scarecrow ordeal, even if that name hasn't been used yet) and he was completely overwhelmed by the effects of the toxin.
At this point, the villains seem to be a step ahead of the heroes and they haven't even run into the ones they were supposed to capture to begin with.
Good luck with that domestic dispute. I hear that stuff can really screw you up as a kid.
Nicely done
Tell all your friends about meeee!
Man, No matter how many times I see Crane do what he does best. I still, can’t help but get shiver’s because, his THAT good at it
Things, are really aren’t looking good for are heroes. And, they haven’t even encountered Chrysalis or the Dazzlings yet. I can, only imagine the reaction when they find out about Zoe to
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Took me all night and this morning to finally have it prepped and ready for Mr. Enigma to present. Frankly, I'm rather pleased by how it turned out overlal.
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That just goes to show how effective of a character the man is, whether we know him as Jonathan Crane or as the Scarecrow. He knows as a man he's not intimidating enough. But thanks to his expertise of creating a toxin to induce a subject's personal fears, and using those hallucinations to make himself look terrifying, then ultimately, he can be a threatening villain without the need for superpowers. Because it's his sick, twisted mind that makes him dangerous.
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As am I
I declare WAR on the Court of Owls
Batman’s in trouble now just the the girls and Spike who are now targets of the Court of Owls. And they want to eradicate all magic. They’re certainly taking a page out of Cozy’s handbook
Just when you think you know it all, you learn something new. The court of owls is aware of who the Mane 6 and Spike are, where they come from and the magic they use, since it is not the first time that magical beings appear in this world, and like Cozy Glow, they want to destroy the magic, but first they plan to use them. So that? We will have to wait.
Now Chrysalis feeds on fear, Shadow King has competition. If that's how his powers work, he could use someone like Crane...or should we call him by his other name: Scarecrow, a villain who uses a hallucinogenic drug that makes everyone and everything look like monsters. Even someone like Batman can't fight it. What will Bruce do about it?
And as if that were not enough, a weapon capable of converting water into energy has been stolen. What will Crane's drugs have to do with it? The heroes need to get together and come up with a plan, because it's clear that Falcone was only the beginning. Their true villains have just appeared and they have the upper hand. I hope they find a way to stop them, but how do you stop something you don't know what it is or what it wants?
So...The Court of Owls knows about the magic, about Twilight and her friends. I can understand the Grandmaster's point of view. However, Magic isn't dangerous, it's just...unpredictable. In the right hands, Magic can be used for good. I have a feeling that The Court of Owls have bigger plans for the girls, but I fear for them. Twilight and her friends have meet the enemy and they're in for the biggest fight of thier lives.
Oh boy, things have just escalated.
This Court have their own plans with magic, the League of Shadows including Crane and Chrysalis want fear, Ivy, Zoe and the Dazzlings want to destroy Gotham with a tree and finally theres Batman and the Mane 6 stopping it all..............dang, its gonna be World War Gotham, spectacular chapter Lord Enigma and Drama XD
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True that my friend
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Im jumpy with excitment XD
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It will totally piss off Cozy Glow if the Court actually pull it off. It's like the Salem Witch Trials but taking it to extreme measures.
Not to worry, the next commentary and extra cuts will be here soon.
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That's the thing with these chapters, there's always something new introduced when you least expect it. It just goes to show that the Court of Owls know much more than we think. But if magical beings have appeared in this world before, then definitely someone's got some explaining to do. And I can understand how confusing this must sound: To destroy the magic, they must use the ones who can perform magic. It's a lot to take in.
And it drives me CRAZY you still think Chrysalis is a 'he' when clearly Chrysalis is a GIRL, which is a common mistake with the misuse of 'he' and 'her' as I've seen in your comments... but I'm not going to go deep into this right now. This is a reverse 'Monsters, Inc.' ordeal whereas the monsters discovered that laughter is more powerful than scares, but in Chrysalis's case she has found that 'fear' is more powerful than 'love'. And since she's never had love in her heart anyway, only hate, it'll be like a rehash of 'Scooby Doo' where Chrysalis absorbed enough power to become a more powerful Changeling.
What we know is that the villains have big plans, and our heroes are thus far not starting off very well.
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Makes you wonder how much the Court of Owls know.
Magic may be unpredictable, but it's how you under the unpredictability. Even such a power can be used for good, but it's a two-edged sword. Because you have no idea what effects wait for those who use magic, someone or some pony will just get hurt. But we have to wonder if the Grandmaster even cares about anyone's safety at all or if the Grandmaster is only out for themselves.
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A war is definitely brewing somewhere in the mean streets of Gotham. If our heroes are not prepared, it's going to be downright chaotic under the worst possible way.
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Discord's Theatre, Galaxy Branch
Byph: Whoa, what happened there?
Cal Kestis: From the looks of it, I had to guess that someone attacked the cargo ship.
Galen Marek: And if I also had to guess, someone stole something valuable on the ship, something that'd be worth killing and destroying.
Sunset Shimmer: Whoa, it's that dangerous?
Postwar: It is if it's in the wrong hands. Terrorists can find a way to sneak in powdered contents and when that thing activates, it could generate poison gas into the air.
Katochi: Wow, they look beautiful in them.
Sunset Shimmer: Even in other dimensions they dress in style.
Postwar: Kind of like you and your friends during Spring Break and the Music Festival. And if I had to admit, you look really good in those outfits.
Sunset Shimmer: *Blushes* Oh, thanks.
Zatt: Someone's finally thinking on their feet. Or Hooves. Or...
Sunset Shimmer: *chuckles* It's okay. It tends to get confusing overtime.
Petro: *sarcasm* Well they sure know how to go undercover.
Postwar: Come on, it's Rainbow and Pinkie, what did you expect? Both of them are like this since the first time they went to the Grand Galloping Gala.
Ahsoka Tano: What happened?
Sunset Shimmer: Let's just say their first night together...was a bit of a disaster area.
Galen Marek: How are they not dead yet? *Gets jabbed in the ribcage by Sunset*, What, I'm just saying. They need to learn to take some situations seriously.
Sunset Shimmer: They do take things seriously.
Postwar: Not as serious as you do, and you have a temper to prove it. *Everyone nods and voices in agreement, which makes her blush and pout at the same time*
Ganodi: He certainly knows how to stay undercover.
Petro: It's no wonder Bruce knows how to hide well behind a mask.
Postwar: That's why he's considered the best of the best.
Byph: Looks like they've got some work to do.
Katochi: They also need to make sure things go well off without a hitch.
Sunset Shimmer: *sat up in worry*, I have a bad feeling about this.
Postwar: You're not the only one.
Katochi: Well that wasn't awkward.
Postwar: Most reunions always are. Trust me, I've been there.
Sunset Shimmer: I knew it would be a trap!!
Katochi: Oh no, and Bruce doesn't even know it!!
Postwar secretly sent out a message to Phantom Dragon of the Mane 6 and Spike's situation.
Zatt: Whoa, what is that stuff?
Sunset Shimmer: That's fear gas.
Cal Kestis: You know of it?
Postwar: We do. Jonathan Crane was once a professor at a university, but he got kicked out for experimenting on his own students just to study fear using a similar type of gas. If gone to the higher stages, it could fatally kill someone.
Zatt: Nice to see someone trying to do something about it.
Postwar: When people are afraid, they all turn a blind eye and they don't want to get involved in something like this. Such is the tragedy of life.
Ahsoka Tano: At least those two are trying to work together.
Postwar: Sometimes all that it needs is the right push in the right direction.
Ben Solo: What do you mean?
Postwar: People are always afraid to live out their true potential, and sometimes they're scared that they won't succeed. Sometimes all it takes is one tiny nudge in the right direction to help them set out on the right path.
Postwar: Don't be too sure of that Bruce.
Zatt: What do you mean?
Postwar: From what I observed during his time as Batman, even he had a hard time capturing the Court of Owls. All of them had been at this for a long time, so one shouldn't expect that they would go down without a fight.
Sunset Shimmer: I've been there.
Ahsoka Tano: So those are the court of Owls.
Galen Marek: Be thankful that the galaxy never had a secret society like that before.
Cal Kestis: Agreed. I don't think even the Jedi and the remnants of the Sith could've stood up to them.
Postwar: Wait, I'm sensing a pattern.
Sunset Shimmer: You see that too?
Postwar: Yeah, I do.
Katochi: What is it?
Postwar: When Princess Twilight and the others went to help Carrie, the Seed Family also used special artifacts to block their magic. I think someone is supplying them with it, the same ones who supplied the Owls. *Sends a warning out to the entire Cinematic Adventure Group of this discovery*
Sunset Shimmer: This is really bad.
Postwar: *secretly continues to update the CA group of the discovery*
Petro: At least something good came out of it, that guy had it coming.
Zatt: Law enforcement can be easily bought, but if someone that wrote those laws change that, it's no wonder the Empire had every law enforcement around the galaxy replaced with Storm Troopers.
Postwar: Difference between them and Clone Troopers, at least the Clones can shoot straight, the Storm Troopers couldn't shoot a coin from a hundred-yard line. *Everyone chuckled at that statement*
Gungi growled and pointed at what was going on.
Zatt: Agree with you old friend. Looks like they're already setting things in motion.
Ben Solo: He even give the kids hope. *made up his mind*, If I become a Jedi one day, I'll give people hope instead of leaving them with nothing.
Everyone looks at him and smiles at that remark.
Postwar: *Sighs*, first rule of infiltration, never leave a trace that leaves others suspicious.
Ahsoka Tano: Speaking from experience?
Postwar: On one side or another.
Byph: Okay, this is bad.
Postwar: Remember, it's his origin story, it'll be his first time encountering folks like him.
Sunset Shimmer: And Batman telling Alfred to draw blood is a smart plan. Cause when they do that, they'll end up finding traces of certain compounds, which would allow them to create the antidote for whatever's infecting him.
Postwar: How is it you and Sci-Twi never were in the same Chemistry Club?
Sunset Shimmer: It's sort of a hobby and what I did for extra credit, I was intrigued with Fencing, that's why I joined.
Postwar: Huh, so that's why you're good with a sword.
(In riffing mode)
Forget war, it’s going to be an Armageddon of 3 magic and Gotham eradicating groups of villains!
Tom: You despicable fiends! You’ll never get away with this!
Also, I thought Spike was no longer little and was now a teenage dragon after Scooby-Doo 2….
Guess being Humdrum in this world had him age regress to being his old age at the time he became his super hero persona….
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Touché.
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No worries man
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Just because others call him ‘little’ that don’t mean nothing.
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Even the term 'little' itself is not just limited to size of one's height. It can mean a small extent of just about anything. Like what 'little' someone actually knows in comparison to those who sees the bigger picture compared to everyone else. True... the Court 'could' have killed Twilight & her friends when they were so vulnerable and helpless. But even a sadistic group like these Owls 'want' these heroes alive for a reason. It's like a game of Chess: You don't go directly to checkmate the king on the first move. That's not how the game works. You have to move pieces at a certain manner until you assume a position where the opposing side is so vulnerable, no matter how hard you look there's no way to break out of it.
Hunter's Extra Cut
Me: *In a fancy tuxedo* I wouldn't count on it Dash.
Future G5
Discord Memorial Cinema
Sunny: What’s down there?
Me: A many possibilities of things. These cliffhangers are starting to become a little annoying. Not a whole lot, just slightly.
Zipp: A what?
Izzy: A “huh”?
Zipp: (fearful awe) Woah!
Haven: (likewise) Goodness! Who in their right mind would design such a monstrosity?!
Alphabittle: I don’t think whoever designed that thing was in their right mind.
Sunny: (worried) What could this mean?
Zipp: Of course. A high-tech dangerous weapon is stolen while being transported.
Sunny: But who could have stolen it?
Zipp: The question is: who wouldn’t want to steal it.
Hitch: That is a good point, but it had to have been one of the villains.
Zipp: Crane and Chrysalis I’m not sure about, as well as Ivy and the Dazzlings. How would the microwave emitter work into their plans?
Izzy: Then maybe it was the Court of Owls. (gasps) Or even the League of Shadows!
Me: Those are viable candidates, but we shall see.
Haven: My goodness! Such splendor!
Izzy: They look go~od! And Bruce has new friends!
Everyone else: (chuckles).
Izzy: (confused) What?
Pipp: Izzy, Brucie is simply…living up to his…billionaire playboy, as you put it, Plymouth?
Me: Yep. He simply picked up a few chicks.
Zipp: (impressed) Her cleverness never fails to impress me.
Sunny: (fangirling) I know, right?!
Me: A cult of the city’s wealthiest. Just why?
Me: Poor Pinkie’s out of her element here. It’s saddening honestly. No fun to be found at a “party”. And Spike is absolutely correct with his statement.
Izzy: I agree! You call this a party?!
Zipp: Just…don’t say that stuff in front of my mom.
Haven: The music is so calming it’s depressing.
Me: I never was much of a fan for classical.
Me: I believe it.
Hitch: (smiling) She’s so random.
Me: Like you’d never believe.
Hitch: Oh, no, I believe it.
Zipp: (yawning) C’mon! When are we gonna talk about fun stuff for a change?
Haven: Zipp, I’m surprised at you. That’s unbecoming of the future queen.
Zipp: (still) Yes, mom.
Me: Heheheheh, just stick it to ‘em while you’re at it, ladies. It’s quite fun to watch.
Izzy: (likewise) The look on his face!
Izzy: Now that’s not very nice!
Zipp: Wow. Rude, much?
Haven: I just don’t understand what Mr. Wayne is playing here.
Phyllis: (unamused) Inopportune business transactions is what.
Me: (singsong) Billionaire playboy~!
Me: (munching popcorn) Yeah, lighten up, Rares. You don’t get entertainment like this everyday.
Izzy: I wanna go swimming too!
Me: Have I yet to mention that I hate cults?
Zipp: No. No you have not.
Me: I hate cults.
Me: Heh. Undermining the upper-class is always funny.
Zipp: What’s gonna happen to them?
Me: Nothing good, I’ll bet.
Sunny: What?
Me: Really what’s happening right now is that Twilight and her friends have traded one Judgment Day obsessed cult for another. It sickens me to know that such cults continue to exist in the world.
Pipp: (gulping) Oh…dear.
Red: (thoughts) Are people so finished with life that they are willing to destroy millions of innocent people because of it? Why? I don’t understand.
Izzy: Yay! Old friends reuniting!
Pipp: Oof.
Zipp: Ouch.
Me: And so in lies the inner turmoil of living a life like Batman’s. He’s not alone in this kind of conflict.
Sunny: Really?
Me: Just about every famous comic book hero I can think of has to deal with this reality.
Sunny: Don’t go in there! It’s a trap!
Zipp: They can’t hear us, Sunny.
Sunny: (scared) No! It’s too late!
Hitch: They used Batman’s tactic against them!
Pipp: How dare they?!
Sparky: (angry babbles)
Alphabittle: Cowards. The lot of ‘em.
Haven: (to Court) Call yourselves “elegant”, do you? You disgust me!
Sunny: (worried) Oh, no! What’s gonna happen to them now?!
Zipp: Is this how they died?
Pipp: Zipp, you gotta stop saying that, for hoofness sakes! Try thinking positive!
Zipp: How can I think positive in this situation?!
Hitch: Them again? (sighs) What now?
Zipp: Yikes. I almost feel sorry for him.
Me: (singsong) Foot-in-mouth~! Foot-in-mouth~!
Izzy/Pipp: (shaking vigorously) No!
Haven: Ugh, it’s hideous!
Alphabittle: It looks like a scarecrow.
Me: Everyone: meet the Scarecrow.
Zipp: Is that what he literally calls himself?
Me: Yep.
Me: Keep your eyes and mouth closed, everyone and don’t breathe in until I say so!
From some twisted joke of broken magic, the fear gas of the Scarecrow was seeping through the screen right into the audience. Thinking fast, I acted to ensnare and subdue the fear and pain from within. Because of this, I was left to face my own deepest fear.
As my body twitched in agony, images flashed across my mind, each one more painful than the last, and each one of the same man. The exact same image of the man who I held too much pain and guilt over what I had done to him.
“I know you’re hurting. I can feel it, but you oughta quit on it, now.”
Me: (sobbing, thoughts) How? How can I just…let it go, what I did to you?
And then, it slowly dissipated from my body, agonizingly exited through my throat and out into the atmosphere. It seemed to go on forever…and then it didn’t. The movie had paused, and I was laying on my back staring up at the darkened ceiling.
I purged the painful memories from my mind as I returned to my seat.
Me: You may all open your eyes and breathe now.
They all responded in kind.
Me: Now we may continue.
Haven: (paling) I don’t know if I can take much more of this. My breath is beginning to shorten.
Me: Perhaps we should take a break from the action. (to reader) We’ll come back in a while. (realizing something, then looking around) Where’s Red?
Izzy: What?
Me: Red. He’s missing. I don’t see him. (realizing) Oh, no.
Izzy: (growing worried) W-What?
Me: Since Red isn’t organic, he can’t breathe. Therefore, he took the full blunt force of the gas.
Izzy: (gasps) A-And that’s bad, r-right?
Me: (somber) The substance traps you in a vision of your greatest fear.
Izzy: And…what is Red’s greatest fear?
Me: Loneliness.
Izzy: (getting up) Don’t worry! I will find him! (dashing off) Don’t worry, Red! I’m coming!
Sunny: (calling back) Izzy!
Me: Don’t worry. She’ll be fine.
Zipp: She’s going after a runaway unicycle because it was scared of being lonely. What else is new?
Hitch: (to me) And what made you say it was scared?
Me: I could see what made him scared. There’s nothing more I can do about it.
Zipp: (skeptical) Moving on…(to herself) Note to self: the mystery of PlymouthFury grows deeper with more questions than answers. Unicycles that feel fear? Is he speaking in riddles?
Me: I pray that Izzy is the one to save Red.
>>next
Yeah definitely sensing a pattern of large groups of mysterious bad guys able to drug, threaten, and dump off the girls with ease. Big ambitions for the Court with the whole anti-magic stuff. I have to wonder if this verse has the likes of Constantine, Zattana, Fate, etc.
I will say for that one social gathering the girls are definitely overdressed and on their end haven't really caught on to the whole Zorro method of "there's no way this idiot could be a masked hero" he's got going there.
Seem to remember more lines Crane had before the iconic lighten up quote during the gassing scene, but I can understand they're pretty garbled and hard to make out.
<<Previous
Canterlot Mall Theater, Discord's Branch
The Equestrian Girls and Juniper gulp a bit. After, hearing how dangerous the weapon is.
Fluttershy: I-It sounds very scary
Arctic: It is Fluttershy. Things, like that is why people do their best to keep it out of the wrong hands
Rarity: They, look absolutely gorgeous! (She said in awe)
Arctic: Agree with you there Rarity (he said as he looked over at the fashionista) They, really know how to dress for success. And, you all can pull it off to (he said as he notice them smiling a bit)
Rarity: That’s, very sweet of you to say darling. I’m sure, you will make a girl quite happy with compliments like that
Sci-Twi: Smart thinking. And, it’s well hidden so no one would get suspicious
Arctic: True, though they have to be careful and not act suspicious themselves
Juniper: (facepalm her face a bit and groans) Well, this is going great (she said with a bit of sarcasm) both need to work on their undercover more
Rainbow: Hey! ( she said feeling a bit offended)
Pinkie: What do you mean? It was a, serious question that I agree with. (She also said in defense)
Arctic: Not, when it comes to a party like this Pinkie (he said to the party girl)
Arctic: I sometimes, worry for them in situations like this.
Applejack: Well, at least they know what their priorities are (she said)
Arctic: True, though I also worry for Pinkie having to MUCH sugar
Pinkie: Nothing wrong, with a little sugar Acey! (she said happily and pulled out a box of candy and happily eats it as her friend stare a bit from this as she just grins away)
Arctic: His the, best of the best for a reason. Really, knows how to play the part
Sci-Twi: Must say, you were right. Really does, know how to play his role well
Juniper: Looks like, they’ve found them.
Sci-Twi: Now, hopefully things will go well
Arctic: (felt a bit worried) I have, a really bad feeling (he said softly)
Pinkie: That, could’ve gone better (she said softly)
Rainbow: You said it Pinkie.
The Girls gasp in horror and worried seeing Twilight and her friends get captured
Fluttershy: o-oh no!
Sci-Twi: This is bad! They, have been captured and Bruce isn’t around
Rainbow: Well, at least it can’t get any worst right? (She said and felt a jab at her arm) Hey! What was that for!
Juniper: Never say, things can’t get worst!
Sci-Twi: Do you not know how these things work! (she added on)
Rainbow: Hey, they just been captured and I’m sure they can escape from these guys. What could they possibly do to them (she said)
Ace and the others just shake their heads and sighed a bit from her comment
Shivers went the the Equestrian Girls and Juniper spine seeing the events that just unfold in front of them
Fluttershy: W-what was that (she said as she felt herself shaking more then the others)
Arctic: That, was Fear gas (he said looking over) This, is what Crane does best. What, he lacks in
physical strength. He makes it up with his smarts and mind games. And uses one fear to torment..and even possibly kill them.
Rainbow: (would gulp slightly) O-Ok, I take back what I said about him from before.
Pinkie: I-I hope the princess and her friends will be ok..and don’t go through that (she said nervously)
Applejack: At least, they’re working together…sorta
Arctic: Yeah, though that’s just how his and Batman relationship works
Rarity: I hope, that he is careful.
Arctic: He has to, the Court of Owls are ones that won’t go down easily
Fluttershy: I-is that- (she begins to say as she then heard Ace voice speak up)
Arctic: Yeah, it’s them. The Court of Owls
Rainbow: Things…just got worst (she admits a bit nervously)
Sci-Twi & Juniper: We told you they would! (They said at the same time
Arctic: (as he listened to them he couldn’t help but be more worried) First the Seed Family, and now the Court of Owls. This can’t be a coincidence (he said to himself)
Pinkie: This is bad, like not having a good birthday bad
Juniper: And, if those things are still on them. They’ll be in more trouble
Arctic: It’s good he got something out of it. (He begins to say) i really can’t stand dirty cops who can be bought easily
Applejack: I agree with you there partner (she said nodding her head)
Juniper: They’re already getting things prepared and set. (She said with a bit of worry)
The girl’s smile softly a bit seeing this moment on how he gave the boy some hope
Arctic: Even giving kids hope, another reason why you gotta respect him
Juniper: Rookie mistake, they should’ve cover their tracks better
Pinkie: Girls, I think this just got more mad (she said worried)
Rainbow: You can, say that again. Now Bruce got effected
Sci-Twi: At least, he told Alfred to get a blood sample. Perhaps he can find some antidote for this
Rarity: I hope, you’re right about that Darling.
Fluttershy: M-Me to
Juniper: These villains, have step up their game a lot. And, they haven’t even encountered there own villains yet
Arctic: Which means, The princess and her friends have to step it up to. And, also have a good plan so they, don’t fall into another trap (he said and then look down pulling out his phone a bit secretly and sees that Postwar had sent a message about the Court of Owls) Guess, that Postwar notice to. Just, who is providing these devices and, telling these people about Twilight and her friends (he said softly to himself)
Next>>
Sorry, Mr. E and Drama.
I'm gonna estimate that it's gonna be sometime tomorrow when the commentary and my extra cuts are posted.
I fell asleep and had a pleasant nap.
It's been a long day at work. I was exhausted. Can you blame me?
But I did have a pleasant dream out of it.
11443802
There was no rush to getting anything done. Everyone else is doing their own part to provide a commentary in their own right. Some of them are pleasant to read... others... well they're just lucky to even be around this long at all. When your work is ready it's when you decide. You had a very long day, you were very tired... it wouldn't be fair to push it any further. You deserve a little break; we can wait.
Hmmm, quite a cast of characters, first is Riddler, then there's the Sirens and Chrissy, add in the Scarecrow (and maybe another guest star), oh, almost forgot the Court of Owls. Looks to be quite a party with that preparation.
As to the Courts plans, with the Equestrians, seems like combining the Sirens and Scarecrow would seem to work toward their intended end, a sort of mind-control lite (one does have to be careful with the fear dosing). [Chrissy may want to monitor her intake, as overloading is possible.]
<<previous
Me: I think that was a long enough break. Let’s return to the film.
Me: ‘Ey, Jim.
Zipp: (teasing) You think he’s on a calendar too?
Mares: (giggling)
Hitch: (grumbles)
Hitch: DRU—MMPH!!
Zipp: (to Hitch) It’s getting old very quick, buddy.
Me: Yeah, I’d say it’s run its course.
Me: Beagh, I’m more partial to tobacco myself.
Sunny: Tobacco?
Me: It’s not as stimulating for me, but don’t quote me on that for anyone else.
Haven: (likewise) Must he do that everytime?
Me: (shrugging) He hides in the shadows.
Zipp: The mystery deepens.
Me: Well he is the World’s Greatest Detective.
Pipp: Not as great as Detective Zipp?
Me: What I’m hoping for is to see the Main Six and Spike interact with more detective characters in the future.
Zipp: (smirking) That way we’ll see who the World’s Greatest Detective really is.
Me: (to reader) Spoiler alert: it’s Hercule Poirot.
Zipp: So, Batman’s got his hands full with Flass, but what about Twilight and the others?
Sunny: (worried) I hope they’re okay.
Zipp: Seriously? They even got kids into this?
Hitch: We’ve just met them and I’m already disgusted.
Zipp: Who could be under that mask?
Me: Don’t know, don’t care.
Zipp: “Don’t care”?
Me: Wearing a mask only hides their facial identity which only opens up to exuberate their personality. It acts like an extension of themselves.
Sunny: (likewise) How does he know her name?
Zipp: How do you know it’s a he?
Me: For one: his body is bulky and not curvy.
Zipp: (deadpan) Curvy?
Me: It’s basic rudimentary anatomy of the human body, at least based around the male physique.
Me: You and I both know there’s something more to that.
Sunny: (likewise) What?! NO!!
Zipp: Seriously?!
Pipp: NOOO!!!!
Hitch: Why must they always go for magic?!
Me: It’s quite simple: they see magic as a threat to their power, and people like this Court—a.k.a Cult—of Owls don’t like it when something or one threatens their absolute power. It’s basic human psychology.
Hitch: Why does that sound familiar?
Sprout: (on the spot) Would you stop giving me that look? I already feel like a fool in this hat.
Me: What? Don’t like pizza?
Sprout: No! I just don’t like making pizza!
Me: (groaning) God Almighty…
Zipp: (likewise) Not again…
Sunny: But they know where they are! It’s too dangerous to go back there!
Me: They wouldn’t dare harm them, not when there’s a chance for them to finally give the Court the opportunity for absolute power they’ve been waiting for. (sighing) I’ll never understand why some people are obsessed with the end of the world. Possibly…because it gives them the chance to finally have power over people. Disgusting.
Me: Oh, my God that actually chilled me.
Zipp: He’s not gonna kill him, is he?
Pipp: Zipp! How dare you say such a thing!
Me: And give the police a viable and legal reason to hunt him down? Are you now just starting to doubt him?
Zipp: No no no no no, that’s not…*sigh* I didn’t mean it like that.
Me: (shrugging) I know.
Zipp: Then why’d you—
Me: Just because.
Haven: (cringing) Disgusting.
Alphabittle: Like his personality.
The audience gasped at the sudden sight.
Zipp: D-Don’t they know?
Hitch: (covering Sparky) I…don’t think…they care.
Alphabittle: That Rachel better watch herself real closely. I think there might be competition between these villains and it’s gonna get heated real fast.
Me: This must be located near Arkham. The architecture sure shows it.
Zipp: Do they just not care if the buildings might just…collapse?
Me: Yes.
Zipp: …wow.
Haven: Why must children be treated this way? It disgusts me!
Zipp: Oh…that smarts.
Pipp: Did we…really need to see that guy…*gulp* you know?
Me: Nope, and we didn’t.
Me: (sudden, to the audience) I must ask you that you need to close your mouths and not breathe until I say so yet again!
Once again, I took the full force of the Fear Toxin for the sake of the audience, putting myself at the mercy of the anguishing memories that tore me inside out. This time, I could only stand back helplessly as a man under my care was forced to incur two full minutes of languishing electricity when it should have been quick and painless. I could have stopped it from happening, but I didn’t.
“Awful tired now, boss.”
He could feel it all happening from where he sat; every agonizing second.
At last, it was over. I laid there, sighing my body to subdue the painful images into my subconscious. Ever since that very night, I’ve hated thunderstorms with all my heart.
I returned to my seat.
Me: You may breathe and watch now.
Pipp: What’s wrong with Brucie?!
Me: He’s been doused with Scarecrow’s Fear Toxin. Right now he’s feeling the effects of it, like what happened with Falcone.
Sunny: (worried) But he’ll get better?
Me: (yawning) He’ll bounce…back.
Zipp: (to Me) What’s wrong? You look tired.
Me: My first day on the job and it’s already taking a lot out of me.
Sunny: No! Don’t end like this!
Zipp: He’s going to be alright. After all, he is the title character.They wouldn’t dare.
Hitch: (sheepish) Well…
Zipp: (adamant) Don’t…tell me. I’d rather not know.
Me: Phew, what a cliffhanger. (to myself) Why do they return to me now? Why can’t they remain buried?
Phantom's Extra Cut
I was sleeping in my guest room at Wayne Manor. Ever since last night's talk with Carrie White, helping her with some jitters that's gotten her on edge, I needed my beauty sleep more than ever. I was so deep in my sleep that I had a pleasant dream of me...and my wife, Rain Shine.
derpicdn.net/img/view/2019/1/17/1937548.jpg
Before I could speak, my wife started tapping her hooves and sang a song. Romantic Chinese song...to me.
《大喜》Chinese EM+Dance【Original song ▪ 泠鳶yousa】Vtuber
喜鵲叫鬧 來添紅燭
春風良宵 碎玉鋪路
只此刻都心慌 像是小鹿撞
來人來客匆忙 也快忘禮讓
我才攥住一顆喜糖
分些喜氣給紅娘
Me: "I love this song!"
I felt like floating in the heavens above the clouds, with my wife, and the little kirins who sang and danced beside her.
金釵搖 擺擺擺~
花轎搖 擺擺擺~
招搖 擺擺擺~
鈴鐺搖 擺擺擺~
一拜同心邀 山水迢迢
二拜永結好 歡歡笑笑
三拜共垂老 暮暮朝朝
南來飛燕終歸巢
恰君子天驕 淑女窈窕
有情相會七夕橋
天官凡塵也落俗套
贈紅包
I just fell in love with my wife all over again. I floated over to grab her for a kiss...but I missed?
許你我此生不辜負
同甘~~~~
共苦~~~~
惜福~~~~
許你我此生不辜負
良辰~~~~
共度~~~~
無數~~~~
只此刻都心慌 像是小鹿撞
來人來客匆忙 也快忘禮讓
我才攥住一顆喜糖
分些喜氣給紅娘
金釵搖 擺擺擺~
花轎搖 擺擺擺~
招搖 擺擺擺~
鈴鐺搖 擺擺擺~
I held my hands with Rain Shine's hooves. I just don't care what anyone would say about us. She's a kirin, I'm a human. Some of my bronies, or nay sayers, would say she's a recolor of Princess Celestia, but I think she's perfect the way she is. I love her. She may not have had a lot of screen times, but she had me at hello.
She's real to me.
I danced with Rain Shine, like all the ponies-in-real-life videos on YouTube back in my world.
I watched as Rain Shine danced with her little kirins following along, while she sings:
擺擺擺~
擺擺擺~
擺擺擺~
擺擺擺~
Every time she goes "bai, bai, bai, bai, bai" like that, I feel my heart increasing tenfold. I'm so under her spell. Rain Shine's my siren and I'm her Odysseus.
沾了粉黛 張燈結綵
看新人羞澀相對拜
Me: "I love you, Rain Shine."
If this is how it feels to wanting to renew your marriage vows, then this is it, because I'm in Heaven. But of course, all good things must come to an end.
????: "DOC!"
*Disc scratch SFX*
Me: "Huh?"
I woke up and found myself back in the guest room I was staying in, at Wayne Manor. I looked to the side of the bed to see HunterBrony, shadowshion, Carrie, Derrick, Mina, Isabelle, Krystal, and Bugs Bunny, standing at the side of the bed, looking at me.
Me: "Oh! Good morning everyone. What's going on?"
Isabelle: *Says something in Animalese*
Me: (To Isabelle) "I'm sorry. What?"
Krystal: (Translating Isabelle for me) "She said that we have to get ready. And that tonight, there's a 'big to-do' in downtown Gotham."
Carrie White: (Cont'd, to me) "And we should all get ready!"
Me: "Oh. Right. Still in the Cinematic Adventure..."
...What can I say? Absence makes the heart grow fonder...and I'm very fond of Rain Shine more and more...
Bugs Bunny: (To me, while munching on a carrot) "So, Doc? Who is this Rain Shine lady friend of yours?"
Meanwhile, back at Discord's Theater
Gallus: (To Silverstream) "What do you suppose could've made holes like that?"
Silverstream: (To Gallus) "My best guess is probably a very hungry shark. A giant hungry shark."
Captain Celaeno: (Deadpan) "...That's it? That be a weapon worth a plunder in the seven seas in another world?" (Enraged) "We could make more popcorns than loot more ships with that worthless junk!"
Squabble: "What a rip!"
Gallus: (To Captain Celaeno) "That is a huge machine for popcorns."
Captain Celaeno: "Oh! ...I stand corrected."
Capper Dapperpaw: "Suffice it to say, we get the picture..."
Scootaloo: "Yeah. And we can't unsee it."
Random pony: "No duh..."
Capper Dapperpaws: "Ooh la la! Nice set of wheels!"
Capper Dapperpaw: (Whistles in awe) "Meow~!"
Zephyr Breeze: "Rainbow Dash, dressing in style. As always."
Sweetie Belle: "Leave it to Rarity to talk everyone, including Applejack, to wear the fanciest dresses she could design."
Apple Bloom: (To Sweetie Belle) "Eeyup!"
Extra Cut
Not too far behind, my group and I are also dressed in our finest party duds, and were looking to have a good time. Y'know, just to take a break and to take Carrie's mind off of the imp assassins sent from Hell to off her.
Me: (To everyone) "Looking good everyone! Rarity really outdid herself."
Carrie: (To me) "Thanks. Though, I feel kinda bad about leaving Krystal behind with the others at Wayne Manor."
Me: (To Carrie) "I know. But after all the chaos we've been having, not to mention riling up almost all of Gotham City since the Mad Hatter...I think it's for the better that they stay behind in the mansion with Alfred. Most people aren't exactly accustomed to seeing a group of walking, talking anthropomorphic animals out and about."
Derick: (To me) "Tell that to those i–" (I quickly shushed Derick up)
Me: (To Derick) "Ah-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da!" (Points to Carrie, who's looking more worried than she needed to be) "We're here to have a party. Okay? Not stressing over the you know what."
Derick: (Sheepish) "Right..."
Shining Armor: "That's my little sister! Way to think ahead of the game!"
Extra Cuts
Derick: (To Carrie) "So, Carrie? You ready looking forward to this?"
Carrie White: (To Derick) "I...I don't know. I feel so nervous. This brings back memories of prom night..."
Derick: (To Carrie) "Hey...everything's gonna be okay. Okay? We're here to party, and...to take your mind off of things. So just relax and have fun, okay?"
Carrie White: (To Derick) "...Okay. MMMPH?" (Gets kissed full on the lips by Derick)
Meanwhile, I turned to my beta commentators – Hunter and Shadow.
Me: (To everyone else) "Okay, you guys. Listen up. We need to make this night a special night for Carrie and Derick, ya got me? So we need to stay alert and keep a sharp eye out for anything suspicious, and make sure nothing goes wrong for the youngsters. But if you see any trouble, just...handle it, but quietly. Ya got me? Good! Let's go!"
Little did any of us know, however, was that a certain hellhound was incognito.
static.wikia.nocookie.net/hazbinhotel/images/d/d3/LoonaHumanRef_by_EsmeCakes.png/revision/latest?cb=20210202211924
Loona has earbuds in her ears, listening to a song on her phone.
Silva Hound ft. Erica Lindbeck and The Stupendium - Root of All Evil
Loona: I.M.P. business, bitch you know
Family first till the end of the road
I got shooters, I got looters, I got hoes
All around the motherfucking globe
First class flights, helluva life
Bark, bark, bark, helluva bite
Even in hell, taking no L's, never a loss
Counting money 'til I die, helluva boss
Ain't nothing wrong here, but my feelings are strong here, like I don't belong here
Mm-hmm
But it's been so long here, since I wrote this song here, now we get along here
Mm-hmm
Prepared for assassination, so I can get vaccinated, 'cause you know my ass is patient
Mm-hmm
Feeling the wrath of Satan, the way that it hurts, it really ain't worth it, getting infatuated
Mm-hmm
I've been noticing these
Broke kids on that faux shit, woe isn't me
Flow sick, this is COVID quarantine dreams
Whole click get your dome split, mostly Millie
Let's go
Count up the dollars, fuck that impoverished squalor 'cause we get dough
Making them holla, sending em out to Valhalla, the creed's ten toes
Down on the solid, Moxxie just got me a rocket and he said "Blow!"
Goddamn, goddamn, I'm just here for the free payroll
I.M.P. business, bitch you know
Family first till the end of the road
I got shooters, I got looters, I got hoes
All around the motherfucking globe
First class flights, helluva life
Bark, bark, bark, helluva bite
Even in hell, taking no L's, never a loss
Counting money 'til I die, helluva boss
And then, all of a sudden, in her fantasy, Blitzo came outta nowhere and started rapping in her song.
Blitzo: (Singing)
The "o" is silent, I never like when the crickets in my bank account try to speak for me
Know that I've been in Stolas' eyelids for only one night, thank the Gods I can easily
Take the high route and fix the dry mouth
Go sip on some wine, maybe down it more frequently
Go unconscious and hit rewind then get back to the grind, baby, I need no sympathy
Easy come and easy go, cop a body, heave and ho, yuh
Little high and little low, profit off illegal notes, yuh
Either way the wind blows, I just wanna see my queen grow
Either way the wind blows, I just wanna see my queen grow
This is the family business I'm in charge of
Life gets wild just like my daughter
Don't bring light to my disorderly conduct, it's kinda obvious why Moxxie need watchers
I lift my lids off of Millie and lost a million dollars
And also almost lost Millie, I gotta father for really
You gotta hop off my daughter's box, Moxxie's block and my willy
Get a couple more kills and we can pay a couple more bills
Then maybe we can finally see a green zone
Either way the wind blows, I just wanna see my queen grow
Loona shook her head and resumed singing.
Loona:
I.M.P. business, bitch you know
Family first till the end of the road
I got shooters, I got looters, I got hoes
All around the motherfucking globe
First class flights, helluva life
Bark, bark, bark, helluva bite
Even in hell, taking no L's, never a loss
Counting money 'til I die, helluva boss
Woo yeah
Love, mee, yeah
Ooh, yeah
Love, mee–AAAAHH!!!
*Disc scratch SFX*
Loona happened to bump into someone and came back to reality.
Random Chinese Dude: (To Loona) "Watch where ya goin' ya fool!"
Loona: (To Random Chinese Dude) "Same to you, pal!"
Trixie: "It's the mineral bath at the spa. It really works wonders."
Starlight Glimmer: "Transfer students?"
Trixie: "Well, I can't blame him. I mean, fellow inmates aren't exactly the words I would use either."
Soarin: "Well, I can't blame, Crash." (Turns to Spitfire) "Remember the time, in Cloudsdale, during the young flyer competition, when that unicorn was plummeting towards the ground, and we went in, trying to rescue her?"
Spitfire: (To Soarin) "How can I forget? My jaws are still smartin' from that kick she gave me." (Rubs her jaws) See Season 1's Sonic Rainboom.
Extra Cut
Me: (Whispering to Spike) "Longer than the Grand Galloping Gala?" (To myself) "Which reminds me...I think it's about time we get Prince Blueblood out of that chimney..."
Meanwhile, with Prince Blueblood
Prince Blueblood: (Still stuck in the chimney we put him back in) "GET ME OUT OF THIS CHIMNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYY!!!!"
Cut back to me
Me: "Mmmmm. Meh. I think he can wait a little longer."
Meanwhile, Carrie and Derick were checking the hotel out.
Carrie White: "Wow! This place is beautiful!"
Derick: (Smiles to Carrie) "Betcha this is the first time you've ever seen these things, huh?"
Carrie White: (To Derick) "Hmmm. Well, mother was never..."
Derick: (To Carrie) "Carrie. Let's not talk about her, alright? We're here to have fun. Just forget about her and...live in the moment."
Carrie White: (To Derick) "...Right. Right, I'm sorry, Derick."
At that exact moment, a certain hellhound in human form was passing by, when her nose twitched, as if catching scent of her prey. She turned her head and...
Loona and Sonata Dusk: "Ooof!"
Loona: (To Sonata) "Hey! Watch it!"
Sonata Dusk: (To Loona) "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" (Looks down at her ruined taco) "Oh no...not another taco gone..."
Loona rolled her eyes and was about to leave when...
Derick: "Hey, what's going on?" (Runs over with Carrie to see what the commotion was about and sees Sonata) "You?!"
Sonata Dusk: (Looks up at Derick) "Me?"
Loona: (Sees Carrie) "YOU!"
Carrie White: (Looks at Loona) "Me?"
Me: (Walking over) "Hey, what's all the hubbub?"
Sonata Dusk: (Sees me) "Hey, it's you!"
Me: (Feigning ignorance) "Me?"
Derick & Carrie: (To me) "Doctor?"
Me: (Continue to feign ignorance) "Who?"
Loona: "WTF is going on?"
*One Awkward Moment Later*
Somehow, we managed to remain civilized, long enough for Sonata to vent out her latest frustration.
Sonata Dusk: (To me) "And she threatened to put a bullet in my head! A BULLET! IN! My! HEAD! Can you believe that sister of mine?"
Me: (To Sonata Dusk) "She sounds messed up."
Derick: "As Big Mac would say: Eeyup."
Carrie White: "Mmmm-hmmm."
Loona: (Looking at her phone) "No shit."
Sonata Dusk: "Sometimes, I don't even know my sisters anymore! I mean, Aria's always been mean and tough with me before, but...this is the first!"
Derick: (To Carrie, out loud) "And I thought you had it worst with a horrible relative." (Gasps in shock at what he just said, while Loona looked up with interest, with Sonata)
Loona: (Curiosity piqued) "Huh?"
Sonata Dusk: "Say what?"
Me: (To Derick) "SHHHH!!!"
Sonata Dusk: (To Carrie) "You too? You had a horrible sister who treated you so badly?"
Me: (To Sonata Dusk) "Uh, it's just personal stuff, and...I..."
Carrie White: (To me) "Doc!" (I turned to look at her) "It's okay...let me speak..."
I turned to look at Derick, who nodded. I looked over at Loona, who turned to look away, try to act dismissive, before I stepped back, wanting to see how this all goes down.
Sonata Dusk: "What's going on?"
Carrie White: (To Sonata Dusk) "Uh...Sonata, right?" (Sonata nodded) "The thing is...I know what it's like, growing up with...someone who isn't treating you the way they're supposed to."
And so, Carrie relayed the story of her nightmarish upbringing by her demented late mother, Margaret White. For me, it was bad enough, having to read the description of her ill-treatments on the pages of Stephen King's books. But hearing it all from Carrie herself is a tough pill to swallow. Little did I know, Loona's aggression melted to a look of sympathy, which she shared with Derick and Sonata.
Carrie White: "I'm thankful that my friends could save me from my mother and...her colleagues, but..." (Hugs herself, with Derick wrapping his arms around her shoulders)
Derick: (To Carrie) "It's been a hell of an experience for me as well, Carrie. We'll get through this. I promise."
Carrie and Derick hugged each other, but it's clear on the expression that Carrie was more scared than reassured.
Loona: "Y'know...I have a friend, whose mother is...a real mess. She's a real piece of shit. Screaming, yelling, and fighting with her dad, almost 24/7. Sometimes, it's amazing that she's even a mother. Especially when her daughter is...my best friend... And sometimes...family's overrated."
Sonata Dusk: (To Loona) "What do you mean overrated? Don't you have a family?"
Loona: "Well..." (Looks down) "Yeah...but they're not my real family. Only on papers. And...they're real shitty. Especially from someone who calls himself...my dad."
Derick: (To Loona) "How so?"
Loona: "Because...I don't know...I don't know how to have a family. I...I grew up in an orphanage, all my life...I was almost 18, when...this guy came out of nowhere and...adopted me, treated me like I'm a pup, and...just getting under my skin! I don't even know the guy! I'm F-ING in my 20s! AND...he treats me like I'm a kid! I'm a grown bitch!" (Huffs to herself)
We all looked at Loona. We're all in agreement, that this girl has some serious issues going on.
Me: (To Loona) "You were almost 18, when you were adopted?"
Loona: (To me) "What? You weren't listening?"
Me: (To Loona) "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey, hey...calm down! I was just...putting clues to the puzzle. That's all."
Loona: "Whatever..." (Sighs) "I don't understand why he even cares."
Derick: (To Loona) "Maybe...he actually sees something inside of you. Something he can relate to."
Loona: (To Derick) "Whatever...I don't know the guy. And nothing he ever does will make up for all the past 17 years in that orphanage...I just..." (Sonata offers her a taco) "Huh?"
Sonata Dusk: (To Loona) "You...want a taco? You look hungry."
Loona: "Uh...thanks, I guess." (Bites into the taco) "Wow! This is good!"
Sonata Dusk: "Hmph! Tell that, to Aria...BEFORE she dumps my tacos into the water again, like trash!"
Derick: (Breathes a heavy sigh) "Man, have we got family issues." (Remembers his disowned father, Joseph Seed) "Fathers..."
Carrie White: (Agrees along) "Mothers..."
Sonata Dusk: (Agrees along) "And sisters..."
Loona: "Whoa...sounds like...we've got a lot in common..." (We all exchanged agreements)
Sonata Dusk: "For realsies! Y'know...call me crazy, but...I feel like...this is what everybody calls destiny. Like we were destined to come together!"
Derick: (To Sonata) "...Y'know, come to think of it. You may be right. It sounds crazy, but it's right."
Carrie White: "Well...like Fluttershy would say, it's nice to make new friends. It's healthy and it's nice for me to come out of my shell..."
Me: "Amen to that..."
Loona: (Smiles half-heartedly) "Yeah...amen to that..." (Felt her phone vibrating, alerting her of a text from Blitzo) "Uh...I better get...going...my...dad's gonna wonder where I've been..."
Sonata Dusk: (Looks down at her phone) "Same here. My sisters are gonna freak out if I...come home too late than I need to be... Been nice talking to you! Oh, and nice talking to you again, Dr. P.D!"
Carrie, Derick, and I watched as Sonata and Loona vanished out of sight.
Carrie White: "Y'know...as much as I was afraid of her when she and her sisters attacked Ponyville...Sonata's not so bad."
Derick: "I'll say. Even that Loona girl is a lot of fun to look at." (Gets a death glare from Carrie White) "Hey, hey! Where's your sense of humor? Y'know I love it when you get jealous!"
Back with Loona, the hellhound-girl was texting back to Blitzo.
Loona: (Texting) "Keeping an eye on..." (Gets brushed by a man) "Hey!"
static.wikia.nocookie.net/stargirltv/images/8/83/STG1_HenryKingSr_SZR_080419_110rb.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20200427185537
????: (To Loona) "Sorry. Please, excuse me."
Next>>
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Commentary looking amazing as ever Phantom!
I’m, looking forward to seeing how, the rest of it will turn out
Well, this certainly can't be good
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Great start with the commentary!
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Hunter's Extra Cut
*When Loona and Sonata leave, I walk up to Phantom*
Me: Phantom! There you are! What are you three doing? Our table is ready.
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Shadow's Extra cut
Everyone was is at the table, well, almost everyone, one person was missing from the group, no one didn't know it until Rainbow Dash says something.
Rainbow Dash:"Hey, where did that Shadow guy go"?.
Derrick:"oh his over at the bar, he said he needs some time alone to wash a his sorrow of his dead older brother, doesn't know what he mean by that"?.
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Hunter’s Extra Cut
Me: *walks over* Shadow? You alright?
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Shadow's Extra cut
Me:"besides being the only uncle to my niece and Christmas coming up, I'm fan fucking fantastic, plus I have to see two friends of mine and one of them is late".
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<<Previous
Me: (To Hunter) "Oh, great! Let's take our seats then. I'm famished."
Big Mac: "Eeyup."
Random pony: "Speaking from experience?"
A.K.Yearling: "Issues is putting it lightly."
Random Donkey: (Eddie Murphy's voice) "Man, that girl's another level of crazies, right there!"
Big Mac: "Eeyup."
Marble Pie: "Mmm-hmmm."
Big Mac: "Eeyup."
Capper Dapperpaw: "Oh yeah. I'd be jealous too, if some masked hero swoops out of nowhere and saves the day. And looking good, doing it too."
Random pony: "No one seems to grasp the concept of the mask!"
Random pony: "EXACTLY!"
Sassy Saddles: "Ew! Going au natural as much? Don't they have any shames?"
Random Dragon: (To Sassy Saddles) "Huh? I'm sorry. Were you asking me? I mean, what do you ponies care about dresses? Almost your entire population go prancing around in your birthday suits. Haven't you noticed? And not many of you were pants! Not even when pants is in the name!"
Fancy Pants looks to the side, as he and Fleur-de-Lis exchanged looks.
The Audience: "OOooooh!"
Gallus: "I'm liking this guy, more and more."
Most of the audience members laughed out loud, while some looked rather uncomfortable.
Granny Smith: "Youngsters these days..." (Shakes her head in shame)
Princess Luna: "Hmmmm. It would seem that our friends have finally gotten a lead to somewhere."
Starswirl the Bearded: (To Princess Luna) "What gave that away, might I ask?"
Babs Seed: (To Apple Bloom) "Uh, no offense, to your sister, Apple Bloom. But that ain't the kind of expression I'd say to a party of fancy nampy-pampy, hoity-toities..."
Big Mac: (Agreeing with Babs Seeds) "Nope."
Random Dragon: (To the apples) "Y'know, I think she needs to work on her peopling skills."
Extra Cut
Shortly, after our chance meeting with Loona and Sonata Dusk, I resumed the festivity with Carrie White, Derick, Shadow, and Hunter. All was going well, when...
????: "Wretched humans...no matter where I go, they're all the same...greedy...selfish..."
Carrie White: (Looks up at her surroundings) "What? Who?"
Derick: "Carrie?" (Carrie looks at Derick, and us, all looking her with concerns) "What's the matter?"
Carrie: "I...I thought I heard someone..."
Me: (To Carrie) "Well, in case you haven't noticed, we are at party of some sort..."
Carrie: (Shaking her head) "No, no...it was like...they're...talking to me...in my head..." (Suddenly, she felt a sudden surge of telepathic powers)
????: "...Who's there? Can you read my thoughts? Extraordinary! I thought I was the only one..."
Carrie searched through the crowds of people, but couldn't find anyone who stood out in the crowd.
I walked over to Carrie, and put a gentle hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
Me: (To Carrie) "Do you want to leave now?"
Carrie: (Nods her head) "Yes, please..."
We all took our leave. Little did any of us know, except for Carrie, we were being watched.
Smolder: "Welp. This is awkward. Isn't it?"
Gallus: (Sarcasm) "Oh yeah...just swimming..." (Whispers to a giggling Silverstream) "In a tuxedo..."
Yona: "Bruce Wayne got locked up in jail in snowy mountains and trained with League of Assassins by Ra's al Ghul!"
Student Six: (Yelling) "YONA!"
Big Mac: "...Ouch."
Random pony: "Yeah. The trouble with being a superhero is...you can't tell anyone, that you're a superhero...everybody knows that a superhero's loved one are the bad guys' favorite target."
The mysterious pony friend of Derpy Hooves took a lot of consideration of Rachel's words.
Random pony: "It's what we do that defines us...huh?" (Derpy puts a comforting hoof on her)
Extra Cuts
Outside the hotel, Loona was pacing back and forth, talking to herself, trying to decide.
Loona: "Dad...I mean, Blitz! I'm having second thoughts-No... Blitz, I don't think we should off the girl and reunite her with her mom. No, no, no...Blitz, I...Dad, I...ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!" (Bangs her head against a brick wall, repeatedly) "Why is having friends so hard than MAKING FRIENDS?!"
She stopped her ranting when she sees us leaving the hotel with Carrie. She started to follow us to wherever we're taking Carrie. But then she stopped for a moment, as if contemplating on whether she should do it or not. She shook her head and ultimately decided not to. She was about to turn and leave, when she noticed that we were being followed. And not by Blitzo, Moxxie, or Millie.
We were being followed by a suspicious looking man. Loona looked at her phone, then back up in the directions we went in, before she decided.
Loona: "I know I'm going to regret this..." (Follows the man)
Next>>
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Shadow's Extra cut
I turned and saw the others leaving the party, I payed for the 2 litter of soda, grabbed it and catch up with the gang, when I did, I asked Phantom Dragon.
Me:"Care to explain why you guys are leaving the party early"?.
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Hunter’s Extra Cut
Me: Is everything alright Carrie? You look like you’ve seen or heard a ghost or something.
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Hunter’s Extra Cut
Me: Carrie is spooked for some reason.
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Carrie White: “I don’t know…I felt…something. Like something is try to get into my head and…I heard someone talking…”
Derick: (To Carrie) “There’s no one here, but us Carrie.”
But still, Carrie wasn’t too convinced.
Me: “We should get back to the mansion.”
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Hunter’s Extra Cut
Me: Sure, we’ll get her there so she’s safe. Make it quick also. I have to go on my first mission with Bruce.