The Mane Six and Spike sat in their respective thrones, surrounding the Cutie Map in the main room. The Cutie Mark Crusaders stood by their older sisters. Celestia stared at all the eager ponies and dragon, all intently awaiting of her to give out the news that she has spoke to them about. She cleared her throat, preparing herself for the announcement.
"As you all know," Celestia begun to speak, "I have yet to inform you about the crisis happening in Gotham City I have sensed early on." Everypony in the room gasped at the place that the princess mentioned. They chose to be kept silent as Celestia continued, "Therefore, I shall explain to you as slow and simple as I can to you all to understand. But I must warn you, it might be a great shock to you all and it will be very complicated."
"Gotham!? Crisis!? What the hay is going on?" Dash blurted out. "How long has it been since we've been to that other world? Three years?"
"We're going to come back in Gotham!?" Pinkie exclaimed with glee. "It's been so long since we've been there! Oh, I can't wait to see Batman again and tell him all the exciting things about Twilight's now a princess, and she has her own castle, and""
"Let her explain, darlings. We should all not interrupt when the Princess is speaking. It is simply not polite," Rarity scolded. "Clearly we are not going to be there just for a visit, since she did mention a crisis after all."
"It's fine, Rarity," Celestia said with a chuckle. "I can understand that all of you have questions that you want to be answered. Now, as how I know of this event in Gotham," she continued, the Mane Six began to look with interest, curious to know the answers and what happened, "I have sensed an invasion in Gotham while I was doing my daily meditations. I don't know how I managed to sense the threat in Gotham. You all have questions just as much as I do right now."
"What!? No way! We have to go back over there," Dash said with a sense of urgency. "It has been awhile though."
For years now, Dash could remember that she was probably the closest one to Batman after the Arkham City incident. She even took on the identity as the Batmare, having worn a suit similar in appearance to Batman's. She fought crimes in Equestria just like Batman did in his city, but, since there weren't much crimes in Equestria like there were in Earth, her career as the Batmare didn't last for very long. She had given up the identity as the Batmare and refocused back to achieve her dreams and goals as being a Wonderbolt.
"I know, this might be shocking to some of you. I'm going to give you girls an option whether you want to travel back and help this Batman save Gotham from the horrendous threat wanting to take over. Now this is optional for you all, as I am not forcing any of you to come along. Would you all like to accept this task," Celestia asked.
"You can count on us, Princess," Dash spoke up with pure confidence. "We won't let you down!"
Everypony agreed with confidently, but somehow all but one certain farm-pony seemed to be skeptical about this.
"Yeah, but Ah reckon how we could get back," Applejack pointed out. "From what Ah remember, we've only woken up there after Hugo Strange brought us there."
Twilight's ears perked up in realization as soon as those words left Applejack's lips, she turned to her friend with a grin, "Actually, I think I have just the thing to do that." Everypony peered in with interest towards her. "Follow me, I have it right over here," she exclaimed, everypony shrugged as they followed behind her out the thrown room.
They found themselves in a large hallway, where they had the large stained windows depicting Princess Celestia and Princess Luna defeating notorious foes such as Discord, King Sombra, and the incident where Princess Celestia forced to banish Nightmare Moon to the moon using the Elements of Harmony. Recent events were also included, such as when Twilight and her friends used the same magic to defeat the returning Nightmare Moon, Discord, King Sombra, and Tirek. Even stopping the changelings when they invaded Canterlot a few years back was depicted as well.
Everypony stared in awe at the portraits on the large windows of the hallway. No matter how many times Twilight's friends would visit this hallway, they could never stop admiring the atmosphere this hallway has to offer. They turned to enter through the last doorway on the right, where the hallway ended. Once they have a view of the small room, the group stood astonished to see a familiar mirror standing in the center of the room, noticing it appeared completely different than when they last saw it. The Crystal Mirror was now connected by even more gadgets, with a few more tweaks to the frame of the mirror here and there.
"I've been working on some major modifications on the Crystal Mirror for the past couple of months during my spare time, but it has yet to be at full completion for it to work properly," Twilight explained as her friends and the princess gazed upon the same magic mirror which bought her and Spike to that other world of human versions of themselves.
"How long will that take you," Dash asked.
Twilight gave a nervous grin as she rubbed the back of her mane with her hoof. "Um, maybe approximately at two to three weeks at most," she answered with the update to her project, to which Dash gave out a groan of extreme impatience.
"Seriously, two weeks? It'll probably be too late by then," Dash complained as she crossed her forelegs in disappointment.
Rarity gave Rainbow a stern and assertive glare, "Now calm down, Rainbow."
"Well, it will still teleport us there to Gotham, but there might be some mishaps along the way," Twilight explained furthermore. "Would we have to take a risk here and see how things go," she asked with concern, her friends glanced at each other with uncertain looks upon their faces. Fluttershy, in particular, seemed the most uncomfortable about doing this.
"Well, it is worth a try," Applejack honestly stated.
"Yay, I'm with Applejack! It's going to be fun," Pinkie exclaimed in enthusiasm.
"Well, I suppose Applejack might be right. I guess we all have to go in and hope for the best," Rarity said, looking at Twilight's direction. "Twilight, what do you say?"
Twilight sighed, taking almost a minute of thought to think through this dilemma. "Alright then, but we all have to try to stick together this time. We're all friends and we'll make this through, like always," she said with determination, her friends nodding in agreement.
Celestia's eyes widened in surprise when an aura of magic shot off her horn, creating a holographic screen to reveal a familiar face looking down at the group.
"Greetings, my friends," said the stallion.
"Victor Fries," Fluttershy exclaimed with excitement, "it's been so long!"
"As to you, Ms. Fluttershy."
"Oh, Mr. Fries, what a surprise! Is there anything you might want," Celestia asked lightheartedly.
"I have been informed by Princess Luna about some strange events going on in Gotham. Is it true?"
"Apparently there is. My friends and I will have to get to the bottom of this and try to return to Gotham," Twilight said, to which Victor only sighed with disappointment.
"I wouldn't recommend you returning back, but I have no right to force against your wishes. Now based on the available information I have been told by Luna about the fear breakout happening in Gotham, I only know one man that is capable of doing this action of fear to cause citizens to evacuate," Fries said. Twilight and the others perked with interest.
"Oh, and would you like to say who," Celestia asked.
"Of course, the culprit's name is Dr. Johnathan Crane. He calls himself the Scarecrow," he explained, everypony looked with confusion.
"Scarecrow? Batman has never told me about him," Rainbow mentioned.
"Oh, and who might this 'Scarecrow' be," Celestia asked.
"I've had a few encounters with Crane when we were incarcerated in the Arkham Asylum. Honestly, I have never liked him or even feel comfortable with him being in my presence. He seemed to be always plotting when I see him. He has been experimenting with this fear poison he has created on innocent people. I believed he has died during when the Joker took over the asylum, but he surprisingly survived Croc's attack on him."
"He sounds like a horrible pon- I mean, person," remarked Fluttershy.
"He is, Fluttershy. Now it's time for me to say farewell for now. Good luck to you all, be very wary when you all arrive there. I don't know what has changed with Gotham's rogue's gallery now with the clown gone. Goodbye to you all," Victor Fries finished.
"As to you, Mr. Fries," Celestia bid in return, to which he nodded as the magical holographic screen vanished into thin air.
"Alright, let me try to get this thing to work and-" Twilight was cut off by a new voice that entered the room.
"Hey, what's going on here?"
The group turned to that direction to see two unicorn mares standing in the doorway with looks of interest. One was light purple-coated, the other was a brilliant azure-coated.
"Off to another adventure again," Starlight Glimmer asked with a look of excitement. Her eyes widened as she noticed the Princess was also present in the scene, "but seriously, what's going on?"
"Yes, Trixie would like to know why the Princess is even here of all ponies," Trixie asked with the same level of curiosity as Starlight.
Celestia explained to both Starlight and Trixie everything she had already explained to the others, about Twilight and friends' past adventure to Arkham City, what is currently happening with this situation. She explained everything as simple and carefully as possible so that it came to their understanding. As Celestia finished the story, Starlight had a look of concern on her face while Trixie looked very interested.
"They get to travel to another world? Trixie would love to tag along," the blue unicorn thought in her mind as she walked besides Twilight, much to the lavender alicorn's confusion. She gave Twilight a smile of plea, "Twilight, would you mind if Trixie would come along with you? Trixie would love to experience this adventure with Trixie's new friends."
Twilight flinched at the request. "Uh, I'm not sure if that is a good idea, Trixie," said Twilight, using her best attempt to nicely turn down Trixie's request.
"Please? Trixie has helped you and your friends to be free from the changelings," she stated with pride, Starlight joined in the conversation as well.
"If you guys are all going to that other world, you're not going without me. I would hate to miss out all the fun," Starlight stated to Twilight's dismay.
"Look, you guys, I really don't want to disappoint you, but I'm afraid that I can't let you two come with us. The place that we're visiting is a very dangerous place, probably more dangerous than the Everfree Forest," Twilight said. The fact of Gotham possibly being more deadly than the Everfree brought the Cutie Mark Crusaders some shivers. Rarity, Applejack, and Dash quickly consoled their dear sisters by giving comforting smiles, which somewhat calmed them down. "I'm afraid that you two might not be able to make it through. My friends and I have had way too many near death situations on our last adventure there. That place called Gotham, it is a dark, gloomy city filled with dangerous criminals. We never know when some maniac pops up out of nowhere, and we almost got killed. I just can't risk taking the two of you with us," Twiight finished her statement. Trixie hung her head in defeat, Starlight however began to insist.
"Look, Twilight," Starlight began, "I'll have you know that just about a month ago I along with Thorax have saved you, your friends, the princesses, your brother, Trixie, and even Discord from the changeling kingdom. I've stopped Queen Chrysalis and her army of changelings from taking over Equestria. I've reformed the changeling army and Thorax is now their new rightful ruler because of me. I've proven that I can help be a savior, ... and I want to do it again," she said with passion, making her reasons seem valid to everypony. "So, Twilight, I am asking, please allow me to come with you."
Twilight took awhile to answer back, which felt like an eternity to Starlight, before finally sighing in defeat. "Oh alright, you can go," she said. Starlight shot out a smile to her former foe. "I guess you do have the right to go."
"Wait," Trixie's voice gained their attention. "If Starlight goes, then Trixie will go too," she said determinedly.
"You too," Twilight asked with shock.
"Yes, and I'm serious," Trixie responded, displaying one of those rare moments when the magician drops her third-person talk. "Over the past months since I have befriended Starlight, I have been learning the value of friendship every time I've spent time with her. Also, I want to make it up to you guys for the things I have done in the past. I just wanted to be the best at what I do, until Twilight prooved that she was better than me in every way. Jealousy had struck me and I found the Alicorn Amulet. I've banished you from Ponyville, yet you've still managed to stop me. After that and a lot of thinking, I have come to the realization that I regretted it. I was not proud at what I've done, and I still am not. I just wanted to say that I"" She exhaled heavily, "I'm sorry." She sighed in relief after her monologue.
It took long for Twilight and her friends to process everything she has said to them. The honesty, regret, and apologetic tone in Trixie's voice was very unlike her usual self, and the words she spoke were the most thoughtful and the nicest thing that Trixie had ever said to them. Everypony, including the Princess and the Cutie Mark Crusaders, all given her smiles of forgiveness and affection. Trixie didn't see the scene before her as she hung her head down, expecting not to be forgiven. When she gazed towards their direction, she was absolutely surprised by the praise she was given.
Twilight gave her former nemesis a warm smile, to which Trixie quirked up an eyebrow in confusion.
"Trixie, even after everything you did against us, I forgive you. I'm glad you've said all those things to us, that must have felt like a ton of weight being taken off your hooves," Twilight said jokingly. Trixie nodded in agreement with a sheepish smile, clearly not being accustomed to this friendly affection given to her. "If you really want to tag along with us, you are free to go as you like."
Trixie nodded, she was very excited to her first trip out of Equestria, but at the same time, terrified and tension rose inside her about what awaits her in the town of Gotham.
Clearly not knowing what to expect, Twilight turned to the others. "So, are we all ready to go," she asked. The Cutie Mark Crusaders quickly turned to their respective sisters with looks of plea.
"Can I go, Rarity? I promise to stay with you," Sweetie Belle asked. Rarity gasped in shock for the request that her little sister would want to go to a place such as Gotham.
"Yeah, Applejack, can I come?" Apple Bloom pleaded to her older sister, filled with hope much to Applejack's annoyance.
"Yeah, Rainbow Dash, it's going to be awesome! You and me helping save a city like superheroes do," Scootaloo exclaimed with excitement.
"Absolutely not, Sweetie Belle! Gotham is no place for fillies, and I would not live with myself if something happens to you," Rarity stated, not allowing her dear little sister to walk into a place that. "If you want, you could stay over at Applejack's house for a sleepover during the time that I am away."
"Yeah, Apple Bloom, ya could invite yer friends for a sleepover. Granny Smith an' Big Mac can watch ya girls when Ah'm gone," came Applejack, agreeing with Rarity's idea for the fillies.
"Yeah, going to Gotham is not a good idea for you girls. You guys can play some awesome games in your sleepover," Rainbow commented.
The three fillies merely hung their heads down in defeat.
"Aw," they groaned in unison, then responded in defeat, "okay."
Knowing that there was no getting passed the older mares' orders for them, the original CMCs gave up in trying to persuade them. After all, a sleepover seemed to be a nice idea for the fillies when they turned to each other to conversate about their plans for tonight's activities.
"Ready to go now? We can't time waste time, you know."
"Wait, hold on!"
Twilight groaned at her cyan pegasus friend's call. "What is it, Rainbow," she asked with a tone of frustration in her voice, which Rainbow ignored.
"Can I go to my place? There is something I need to get," Dash asked. "It'll be fast, I swear."
Twilight rolled her eyes before sighing, "Just get whatever you need."
Rainbow beamed with excitement and quickly flew out a nearby open window.
As Dash quickly sprinted through her bedroom window, having multiple Wonderbolt merchandise and souvenirs decorated across her room. Dash rushed into her closet and began digging through the pile of mess stuffed in.
"C'mon, where is it?! It's got to be in here somewhere." She continued to throw random useless items behind her, making the room more messy than it already was, "Ah, here it is!"
Underneath all the mess in her closet, there was this black case sitting on the floor beneath all the piled up clothes and extra blankets. She was not much of a good housekeeper most of the time, but what she was finding was much more important to her than housekeeping.
As she opened the lid of her case, her eyes laid upon a very familiar black suit which resembled a bat. She smiled at the sight of the costume. Having not worn this thing in years, she did feel nostalgic once again holding it. She rushed inside her dressing room, then stared at her reflection through her mirror after changing into her Batsuit. She grinned with pride, being satisfied with her visual appearance inside the suit, "Can't wait to show everypony that Batmare is back and twenty percent cooler than before."
Back in the castle, the group patiently waited for their brash friend to return. After sometime, they noticed a pony dressed in a familiar suit Rarity had specifically made of her pegasus friend for a special circumstance.
"You all don't need to fear, Batmare is here," Dash exclaimed with confidence and pride, standing with a smirk on her muzzle, which was the only thing on her face not covered by the cowl. Twilight slapped her forehead in embarrassment, not wanting to show any childish acts from her friends to the Princess.
"Alright, Rainbow! Are you ready now," she asked with impatience.
"Yeah, sure. Let's go and hit this show on the road," Dash enthusiastically returned as all the ponies turned to the mirror.
"I bid you all farewell and good luck, my little ponies. I have every faith that you all will make it through," Celestia said her goodbyes to her friends and made her exit out the room to return to her castle in Canterlot.
"Well, let's go, everypony. We could only hope for the best," Twilight said, her friends nodding to her statement. "Just let me power on the mirror and set the location to where we're going."
Twilight came to the control panel connected to the mirror and flipped several switches and buttons to set up the teleportation. "I'll say this to remind you again: This project is not done, so there could be mishaps on the way. We could all be transported in different places, or worse, one of us could be in the wrong world. Gotham is set to be the destination though," she said as she pressed various buttons on the control pad next to the mirror. Once she finished doing whatever she was doing, the mirror lit up, revealing a tunnel vision through the mirror.
"Let's bring it on," Dash exclaimed. She immediately jumped through the mirror, surprising the other mares. Twilight was the second to go through, followed by Starlight.
Rarity was the last to enter through the mirror behind the rest of the crew.
"Rarity, wait," Spike called from behind.
Rarity abruptly stopped and faced Spike, "Yes, Spikey-Wikey?"
"Are you sure you'll come back, Rarity?" Spike said with concern. "I don't know what I'll do if something happens to you. Just be careful."
Rarity smiled sweetly down at the young dragon due to the care he had for her. She embraced the dragon with one foreleg around him. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Don't you ever worry," Rarity said soothingly, she gave his forehead a small and brief peck, which caused Spike's cheeks to heat up. With that, she entered the mirror and vanished from Equestria, leaving Spike and the Crusaders.
Suddenly, the mirror unexpectedly began to vibrate and started flashing a blinding bright light. Spike and the fillies quickly shielded their eyes and immediately went for cover in case of an explosion. The mirror began to shake more violently as the seconds went on, frightening the fillies and the dragon. Then, it abruptly stopped. The Crystal Mirror now shut off after the shaking, Spike shot a panicked look as he stared at the mirror.
"Oh no," he muttered, worried if anything terrible happened to his closest ponies along the way.