A knock was heard on the door, being the only occupant of the Treebrary at the moment, Spike walked downstairs as fast as he could, wondering if everyone else came back yet. 'Had to get my early afternoon nap in.' he mused, chuckling to himself as he made it down the stairs, slowing his pace down.
The dragon opened the knob, seeing who it was. He raised a brkw at the strangely-clothed stallion that stood across from him. He was a red pony with a black, spiky mane, a domino mask covering his eyes, a red suit with an 'R' stitched on it, a green cape strapped on his barrel and a staff wielded in his hoof.
"Uh, who are you?" Spike asked.
"Name's Robin. Is Peter around by any chance? Or anyone else?" Robin wondered.
Spike shook his head, "Nope. It's just me. They're all down at Canterlot or on Earth. I can see if they can come back if you need them." he paused, "Wait... I've heard of you from Peter. Aren't you Batman's partner? Why isn't he here with you?"
Sighing, Robin replied, "We don't have time to explain. Batman is busy with the Justice League, so I was left to track down a criminal with Nightwing. He stole this thing called a Warp Crystal and opened a portal accidentally, where I found myself here when I followed him. If no one else is here... Are you willing to help me?"
Spike crossed his arms, "I guess so. It's not the first time I've fought. What are we up against?"
Outskirts of Ponyville...
A portal opened up, and stepping out of it was a green giant creature of some sort. He staggered to his feet, feeling the whiplash of jumping into the rift, struggling slightly to stand. But he managed to get his bearings and smirked, "Hmph. It seems the rock lives up to its name. I have a feeling the Boy Wonder followed me... I gotta get him off guard." he hissed,
Killer Croc was ready for a fight.
"So, you're chasing after a guy looks like a giant lizard?" Spike asked, walking next to Robin. "I mean, I didn't think your world had crocodiles that were big."
Robin shook his head, "I didn't believe it either when I met him. Heck, there are some things I'm trying to figure out in Gotham. That's why I'm so unsurprised being here. Batman mentioned he was here when stopping the Legion of Doom."
Spike raised a brow, "Where were you?"
"Watching over Gotham while he was gone. In fact, I had some help from Spider-Man and the Scarlet Spider when they were there." Robin pointed out. "I had to help track down four of our enemies when they caught Batman off guard. I needed help that time because it was four against me, but I can handle Killer Croc on my own."
"Then why did you need someone here?" Spike questioned. "Seems this Croc guy isn't much of a threat."
Robin sighed, "I needed someone who has knowledge of this world so we can search. I don't want to find out he harmed other people just to get to me."
Nodding, the dragon replied, "Yeah, I can see where you're coming from. I guess we're on our own for this."
Then, the sound of something breaking apart got the duo's attention. On instinct, Robin stood to his hindlegs and held his staff in his hooves. He and Spike turned around at the source of the noise. Spike's eyes grew to the size of saucers at what he saw.
A giant crocodile panting, standing next to a hole he made through an empty building. The giant, scaly creature turned his head, seeing the two heroes. "Aw, the bird is now a puny pony. Where's your Spider-Friends at this time?" the creature laughed.
"I don't need them here. I can stop you all by myself." Robin boasted.
Killer Croc laughed, "Ha! You're just a sidekick, always having to call for help. Like that little baby thing standing next to you!" he roared, making Spike jump back in surprise.
The ponies standing around were frightened by the conflict, and did their best to leave. Spike gritted his fangs, "I'm not a baby dragon... I've saved a kingdom, and three worlds! You're lucky I'm not on Earth, otherwise you'd be toast!"
"But we're not on Earth are we, dragon?" Killer Croc reminded the teen dragon. He cracked his knuckles, "Guess I'll have to teach you a lesson for talking back to your elders."
Robin jumped in the air, bringing down his staff on Killer Croc's head, the villain refusing to budge. The Boy Wonder backflipped, his backlegs colliding with Croc's face. Croc grabbed Robin's hoof and slammed him on the ground instantly. The bird-themed hero instantly jumped back up, driving his hoof directly into Killer Croc's chest, making him take a step back.
Croc then uppercutted Robin, hurling him across the area into another building. "Alright, that's it!" Spike yelled, deciding to take action. He lunged forward, revealing his surprisingly lengthy claws. He slashed Croc, but his scales protected him. Killer Croc chuckled darkly to himself, kicking Spike back a little, making him lose his breath.
While he was panting, Croc jumped, bringing his foot down. Spike rolled to the side, watching as the creature's foot tore apart the ground a little once landed. Killer Croc's eyes narrowed as he saw the dragon stand up again. "Heh. I heard of ya from Scarecrow in Arkham... Yer the dragon that helped stopped him. I admit, I expected more of a challenge from you."
"You look like someone who can barely handle himself." Croc insulted, turning to the side to dodge Spike's punch, decking the dragon in the stomach with his fist. "Just a kid... Like the Boy Wonder over there... Sidekicks like always it seems..."
Spike growled, "I'm. Not. A. Sidekick!" he screamed, headbutting Croc in the stomach, pushing him back. But that proved to have minimal damage for the crocodile and he smirked, smacking Spike aside, making him tumble in pain.
"Hey!"
Killer Croc scowled, turning around at the sound of the voice that got his attention. He saw a gray pegasus with a yellow mane and cross-eyes. "Don't insult Spike like that! He's done a lot for us!" she warned him, flying in Croc's face.
"D-Derpy!" Spike called out. Getting a second wind, Spike pushed himself forward, shoulder-tackling Killer Croc before he could do anything to the pegasus. The crocodile person was pushed back again, kneeling down slightly.
"Heh. That actually hurt..." Croc admitted, "But not painful enough." he shoved Spike aside and hit his head, scratching his chest, causing him to bleed a little from the wounds. He kicked him again and made him lose his breath and he panted.
The crocodile turned around with a huff, "Now... I need leverage." he whispered, seeing Derpy slowly fly away. "Oh no you don't..." he growled, grabbing the mare by the tail. "I need to make sure those two don't come after me."
Derpy struggled in Croc's grip, unable to escape. A little filly with a mane of the same color screamed, "Mommy!" as she tried to run after her mother, but the monster's roar made her freeze in place out of sheer fear. "Now... Time to get out before they wake up." he said, running away, Derpy now his hostage. Derpy remained silent after being knocked unconscious with one punch.
Tears ran down Dinky's eyes as she tried to give chase, but Croc already ran deep into the forest. Ponies all came out to see what the commotion was, seeing the crying filly unicorn. She thought her mother was gone, taken by the monster. Sobs were heard as a few of the civilians tried to comfort her.
Spike inhaled, getting his breath back. He staggered to his feet, some bruises seen on his face. "W-What happened...?" he asked, rubbing his aching head.
"T-The monster t-took mommy!" Dinky sobbed.
The dragon's eyes narrowed, "He did what? O-Oh man... Where's Robin?"
"R-Right here..."
Spike saw the Boy Wonder limp next to him. "What happened while I was out?"
"Killer Croc took Derpy. This filly's mother." his friend revealed.
"No... I didn't think Jones could stoop so low. He doesn't want us to follow him most likely." Robin whispered.
"You have to save her!" Dinky pleaded. "You're heroes!"
Robin frowned, "We are going to save her, kid. Luckily, I planted a tracer on Croc while we fought." he pulled out a strange bird-shaped device, "With this tracker, we can pinpoint his location and give ourselves the element of surprise."
"A-And how do you plan on doing that?" Spike asked, still getting his bearings.
The Boy Wonder smirked, "I was trained by Batman. I come prepared like him. He and a bunch of other crooks call me a weak sidekick, yet he doesn't know what I have with me. A few smoke-pellets, spare batarangs I took from Bruce and a staff that can change into a shield are only some of the things I usually use."
The dragon nodded, "Alright, I guess I gotta stop holding back. He took Derpy, and I'm not sitting back while she's in his grasp."
Killer Croc stopped running, finding that the trees were able to provide quite the cover for him. Derpy slurred, her eyes snapping open at the sight of the monster while leaning on a tree. "W-What do you want with me?" she studdered the question in fright.
"Leverage... I won't kill ya so long as the Boy Blunder and Dragon Toddler don't follow me. Which they won't. Once this crystal recharges, I'm heading back to my world."
"T-They'll stop you." Derpy hissed.
Croc laughed, "Those kids? They're probably looking for Batman or Spider-Man to help them! The Boy Wonder always needs someone to bail him out! This time will be no different!"
As he was talking, a small sphere fell on the ground where he wasn't looking. Suddenly, the surrounding area was covered in smoke, leaving Croc blind and unable to track Derpy. "What the hell? Are ya here, Batman? You and the kid want to see me feast upon this mare's bones? Very well!"
"Nope, no Batman here!"
Jumping from a tree were Robin and Spike, driving their legs into Croc's head, making him fall to his side. "Yeah! You're not hurting anypony else today!" Spike boasted.
"Today, I only wanted Batman's annoying team of crime-fighters gone. But you're gettin' real annoying." the creature hissed, cracking his knuckles again.
Spike opened his mouth, unleashing his firebreath, which burned Croc's scales a little. "How's a little firebreath? You probably weren't expecting that?"
"Eh. Burned a little, but nothin' I can't handle!" Croc roared, punching Spike.
That was when Robin showed up, swinging his staff upwards to Killer Croc's chin. Croc responded by driving his fist downward, but Robin's shield blocked the attack, and the Boy Wonder smacked his arm aside, striking him in a nerve area. When the croc noticed that he was unable to move a shoulder, Robin smirked, "Bats taught me that one. Striking you right where it hurts, you can't move that arm for a while."
Spike came back and slashed Croc again, before adding a headbutt. He used his firebreath to stun Croc. "Son of a... You can't stop me! Not even Batman can!"
"News flash, Croc!" Robin shouted, smacking Croc around and numbing another arm, making him unable to strike. He but down, nearly ripping the Boy Wonder's face. "I'm not a meal and despite what everyone in the streets think, I'm not a joke! In fact, let Arkham know that! That Robin kicked your ass without Batman!" he held the monster's head up right as Spike hopped on his back and wrapped his arms around his neck.
"Yeah! Tell the bad guys that you got stopped by us sidekicks!" the dragon shouted, looking at Robin, who whacked him with his staff once more.
Then, Killer Croc tried to bite Spike who was on the floor again. The dragon scratched his face and allowed Robin to finish things off with a powerful uppercut. The monster was too weak to strike back once all the wounds he received added up thanks to the Boy Wonder's precise strikes and Spike knocked him out.
"Nice work, Spike." Robin complimented, holding his staff behind his head.
"It was nothing. Glad we shut him up. You taking him back to your world?" the dragon wondered.
Robin nodded, "Yeah, but first... Hey, miss!"
At the sound of the young voice, Derpy came out of her hiding spot. "It's safe. We'll take you back."
Derpy sighed in relief, "Thank you."
"Mom!"
Dinky cried out, relieved to see her mother safe and sound now that she saw her in Ponyville. She hugged the gray pegasus, who returned the favor. "Thank you both..." she whispered.
"You're awesome heroes!"
Robin nodded and smiled sheepishly with Spike, "Think nothing of it, you two. As long as you're all safe and sound, that's all that matters. Now, I have to return Killer Croc and put him in Arkham." he put a hoof on Spike's shoulder, "Thanks for helping me out back there. I couldn't have done it without you."
"Eh. I'm just glad we got something done. And if you ever want to hang out, you know I'm here." Spike offered. With one last nod, Robin opened up a portal with the Warp Crystal, dragging Killer Croc's body into it behind him before it closed. With a yawn, the dragon stretched his limbs. "Woo. Guess I'll head home now."
"Spike." muttered Derpy.
At that, Spike spun his body around. "Yeah?"
"Thank you again... You're a real hero."
Spike raised a hand, "Like I said, I'm just happy to help."
Canterlot...
Peter shuddered, earning an eyebrow raise from Twilight, "Are you okay, Peter?"
"Yeah, but I got the strangest feeling we missed out on something." Peter replied.
"It's probably nothing, Parker." Miguel insisted with a wave of a hoof nonchalantly.