//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 Painful Memory // Story: Gotham City Heroes (canceled version) // by Batfan98 //------------------------------// "How do you feel about being turned human?" The question caught Scootaloo by surprise. "Why do you want to turn me human?" "I'm not asking what I want, I'm asking what you want." Bruce explained. "What do you mean?" Scootaloo asked raising an eyebrow. "I mean I'm giving you a choice, you can be a human or stay a pony, I won't force you to be a human and I will respect either discision you make." Bruce said. "Why are you asking me if I want to be human?" "You see, earth has scientists who would want to..." Bruce said trying to find a term to not worry the filly. "...take you away, but if you're a human then people would think you're native to earth and not see any reason to take you away, but if you want to stay a pony then we could find another way to keep you safe." Scootaloo put her hoof to her chin in a thinking manner. After about a minute she said "Can I have some time to think it over?" Bruce noded "Of course, take all the time you need and remember, I respect any disiscion you make." 1 Hour Later Scootaloo was sitting on her bed in the guest room she was using, thinking about what discision she should make. Of course she was happy being a pony but this world didn't know she was a pony and if they knew then people might take her away somewhere she doesn't want to go, just like the scientist that brought her here. She then turned her head to the window looking over the city, she realized she would want to go outside the manor sometime and see what's out there, but if she went out as a pony then people would take her away. Sure she could stay in the manor but she doesn't want to be cooped up here forever, then there was the matter of getting home, what if she came home as a human and everypony would think of her as a monster. Home. The thought of it made her heart heavy, she may not have a family to go home to but her friends are there. Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Spike, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, they must be worried about her. The Dimensional Transporter was obviously destroyed in the explosion, so she didn't know for sure if she would make it back home. In fact she might never get home and she could be stuck here forever. A single tear rolled down her cheek and she soon wiped it with her forehoof. Pretty soon a knock was heard at the door and Bruce came in "Scootaloo, Alfred wanted me to ask you what-... Are you okay?" Bruce said noticing the sad look on her face. "I'm fine, there's nothing to worry about." Scootaloo said innocently, but Bruce didn't call for it. "Hey, you can tell me." he said comfortingly, he walked over to the her and sat next to Scootaloo. She sighed and looked at him. "I've been thinking about home, I miss Equestria and my friends, (sniff) they were the only family I had when my parents passed away." she couldn't hold it in any longer and sobbed into her forehooves. "I didn't have anypony to look after me, I had friends but my parents were what I had until they died." Bruce could see the pain she was dealing with, he knew how it felt to loose both parents, and the worst part is that it happened in front of him when he was eight years old. Flashback It was the seventh time he watched that movie at The Monarch Theater, the seventh time his mother and father took him there to see The Mark of Zorro, the movie that they played there every week because it was the first movie they ever showed, the movie that Bruce would never forget like he would never forget this night. Bruce's parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, would always take him to this theater to see The Mark Of Zorro because it was his favorite movie. Two things that Bruce was a huge fan of was Zorro from the movie he just saw and The Grey Ghost from his favorite TV show Bewear The Grey Ghost. The family of three turned to the nearest alley to get to where they parked they're car. "Mom, Dad, thanks for taking me to see that movie again." "You're welcome Bruce." Martha said kindly. "Hey Dad, I want to be Zorro when I grow up." "You would make a great hero son." Thomas said happily to his son. Bruce then swung his right arm like he was holding a sword. "Take that you wicked tyrant!" Bruce said playfully like he was in a sword fight. Just then, someone was walking towards them and stopped a few inches in front of them and imidiatly pulled out a gun, they noticed this and stopped in they're tracks. "Wallet!" The man said, his face unable to be seen in the darkness. "Okay, okay, take it easy." Thomas said pulling Bruce behind him. Thomases voice was calm but he had pleading look on his face. He pulled out his wallet and handed it to the man, who snatched it from him. His eyes then turned to the pearl necklace around her neck. "I'll also take that necklace you're wearing lady." he said. "But these are my mother's pearls." Martha said holding onto her necklace. "Just give 'em to me!" He yelled, pointing the gun at her. "Leave her alone you-" BANG Before Thomas could finish, he fell too the ground dead from the gun fired at him. "Thomas! Oh God, Tom!!" Martha yelled panicked. BANG She too felt a bullet hit her chest and fell to the ground dead. Bruce watched in horror at what he just saw, both his parents murdered before him. The mugger bent down and snapped the pearl necklace off Martha's neck, letting some of the pearls fall to the ground scattering. The man then pointed his gun at Bruce but he heard sirens. "See ya 'round kid." he said as he turned around and ran to the exit of the alley. Bruce knelt down on his knees with a look a horror on his face, looking at the lifeless bodies before him. "Mom, Dad..." He then looked up at the sky above him with tears in his eyes. He then yelled in fear, sadness and rage. End of Flashback Bruce couldn't forget that night, he remembered the fear in his mother's voice, the gunshots, everything. He looked at Scootaloo with a look of sympathy and put a hand on her shoulder. She was surprised from the hand on her shoulder and looked up at Bruce. "I know how it feels to lose both parents, it happened in front of me when I was eight." Bruce said sadly. "The man wanted my father's money and my mother's pearls around her neck." he then looked at Scootaloo. "I'm sorry that you lost your parents and that you are separated from your friends, but you are not alone, I will always be here for you." Scootaloo imediatly wrapped her forelegs around him and buried her face into his chest and sobbed as Bruce hugged her back.