//------------------------------//
// Injustice 06 
// Story: Injustice for All 
// by Kaliann25 
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Stage magicians and sorceresses


Midtown Manehattan was eerily quiet, with dead and dying buildings bearing mute witness to the cataclysm that had transpired. It was no accident that there were no loose pieces dangling, threatening any pony foolish enough to venture in. Green Lantern, Marevel, and Dash, had stabilized everything so that proper construction crews could effect repairs in relative safety.

“All right, everycreature! Let’s link arms and forelegs,” said Batmare, offering her foreleg to Smolder.

Shyly, the dragoness linked elbow to knee. She then offered her free arm to Garble. The dragon linked elbows while angrily glaring at the Dark Knight.

Arrow locked Garble's other elbow before linking with Green Lantern. The diminutive dragon extended his free arm to Trixie. The showmare stared for moment before asking, "Are you sure it's all right to bring Trixie with you?"

Arrow said, "Take his arm. You earned it."

Blushing, Trixie did as she was told. The Batwing sped back to Ponyville while the rest of the League completed the circle.

Alicorn Marevel sighed. "I don't think there's any way I'd ever be able to pay for this mess, even if I live to be as old as Celestia."

Arrow replied, "Buildings can be rebuilt; possessions can be replaced -- lives cannot."

"That's one way to look at it," replied Dash. "Given the size of the disaster, we're lucky that there were no deaths and only a few minor injuries."

“All thanks to the most unlikely of ponies,” said Canary, looking at Trixie.

Trixie frowned but didn’t say anything.

Batmare said, "The princesses are not going to be happy about this. The bits for rebuilding are coming straight out of their coffers."

"We did our best," said Canary. "Still, we must face the music."

Batmare sighed. "After we drop off our guests." Looking around, she asked, "Is everyone holding tight?" Seeing that everyone was nodding she reached down and flipped back a cover on her utility belt. She pressed the button that lay underneath, and a brilliant white light flared over the group. When it faded away, the group was nowhere to be seen.





The planet's first artificial satellite maintained a polar orbit, covering the globe in a matter of minutes. From the outside, the station looked like a giant castle turret. In its core was a parabolic dish made of diamond sheets. Its reflective surface was covered with gold leaf, and a giant teleportation crystal was set at its focus. The roof of the focusing chamber was also made of diamond tile. The teleportation chamber itself was a circular room with walls of half-silvered glass. At even intervals, symbols representing the League members and the princesses were placed near the ceiling.

In a flash of light, a circle of heroes appeared in the teleportation chamber. Batmare said, "Welcome to the Watchtower! I must compliment the doctor on his design; the first operational use of the teleport system was a resounding success."

Arrow cleared his throat. "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna did a lot of the work."

Batmare shrugged. "I made sure their emblems were the biggest."

“Hey!” whined Smolder. “Everything looks cool but what about us?”

Pointing with a forehoof, Canary said, "Well, we have our training room, which is where you'll be spending most of your time. There's also a kitchen, bathrooms, water closets, observation deck, and the habitat level."

Marevel added, "We have sleeping bags and pillows and everything you need for a sleepover."

"Ahem," said Canary. "We have proper beds and linens."

"You don't have to worry about food," added Green Lantern. "In addition to the normal pony stuff, in the kitchen, there's a cupboard full of gems for me. You can have them."

“So, we just stay here?” asked Smolder.

“Only until we figure a way to separate the Garble and Starswirl,” said the Arrow. “The training room here is the only place he can unleash his power without endangering the ponies or the dragons.”

Garble rubbed his forehead. “You better hurry. The damn pony doesn’t stop talking, trying to take control. But I won’t let him!”

“Follow me,” said Marevel. “Inside the training room, you can unleash your full power without damaging anything.”

Garble grinned. “I will.”

“Don’t worry big bro, I’ll be with you!” Smolder said reassuringly.

"I never meant to scare you," said Garble. "This scares me, too. I couldn't control myself; I still can't with that damned pony trying to take control all the time and . . ."

His hands shook violently as he began to charge the raw magic on them. Worried, Smolder placed a hand on his shoulder. Garble breathed deeply and the magic faded from his fists. He sighed. "This will be harder than I thought."

“Don’t worry. We’ll find a way to get you two back to normal,” asserted the Arrow. “We’ll ask the princesses to make it their top priority.”

“And speaking of the princesses, we should go to back to base before they come get us,” said Batmare. “It'll go easier if we go to them instead of making them think we're trying to hide.”

The two dragons took a look around.

“So, it’s okay if we stay here? Unsupervised?” asked Garble.

"Princess Twilight and I will be keeping an eye on you from home," explained Batmare. "Your sister will be watching out for you up here. right, Smolder?"

Smolder nodded. “You can count on me.”

"Good," said Arrow. "Garble, go to the training room and ask for a scenario you want to try; my favorite is one vs. one million. Smolder, why don't you go to the kitchen and make some refreshments for you and your brother?"

Once the dragons left, everyone in the chamber linked forelegs and arms. In a flash of light, they were gone.





The teleportation chamber in the Castle of Friendship was not a happy place. Princess Luna was just about to activate the crystal when a flash of light stayed her hoof.

The princesses glared at the ring of heroes that materialized around them. Angrily, Twilight said, "We were about to fetch you from the Watchtower."

Luna nodded, fixing her glare on her Dark Knight. "Thou art lucky thou art not facing Day Breaker. I was barely able to calm her with a sleeping spell. When she wakes, we shall have words with thou."

Batmare sighed. "Let's go to the map room so we can talk this out."

The Princess of the Night agreed. "Indeed."

In the map room, there was one vacant seat at the table with the Cutie Map as Green Lantern had returned to his normal guise and gone to the kitchen to make refreshments. Impatiently, the princesses tapped their forehooves on the edge of the table as that waited for him to return.

Spike entered, wearing a pink, frilly apron and carrying a large tray laden with a tea service and a large assortment of sweet biscuits. He served Luna first, and then Twilight. He then set the tray on a platform projected over the center of the table so that everyone else to could serve themselves.

Once Spike was seated, Batmare said, "The destruction was due to a rampaging metadragon. He had already done severe damage to midtown when we arrived."

Marevel nodded. "I had to use my full strength to control him. He was too angry to listen to reason and too powerful to restrain without causing even more damage. If it wasn't for the metapony who kept him distracted until we arrived, we'd be talking about mass funerals instead of just ruined buildings."

“It is a good thing that nopony died,” said Twilight.

“Tell us more about this metapony,” prompted Princess Luna.

Trixie raised a hoof. “Excuse me, but it wasn’t a metapony. It was all Trixie’s doing!”

Spike face-palmed while the rest of the Justice League more painfully face-hoofed.

“What?” asked Trixie.

“You are the metapony!!” said the League in the unison.

“Wait a minute. Trixie?” asked Twilight.

“Yes, it is I, the Great and Powerful Trixie!” said the blue unicorn, rolling her eyes as she set off a small illusionary skyrocket. “Thank you for noticing my presence, Twilight Sparkle!”

“So, are you my little metapony?” asked Princess Luna.

“Indeed, she is. She is the mystery metapony I’ve been tracking for a while now,” said the Arrow. “Hiding in plain sight in Equestria’s biggest cities. Las Pegasus, Manehattan, and Trottingham.”

Trixie tilted her head in confusion. “Okay, you must be mistaken. Trixie wasn’t hiding. Trixie was moving around those three cities because they have the biggest audiences, more ponies, more bits.”

“What about your good deeds?" asked Arrow. "Witness say you've been helping ponies in trouble with your metapony abilities."

“Trixie was only doing what was right. Just like Starlight would have, if Trixie sees somepony in trouble, she helps. Trixie wasn't hiding; she loves the spotlight. She just had a schedule to keep.”

Rainbow Dash groaned. “Let me see if I get this right. You somehow gained metapony abilities and used them only for your shows?”

Twilight looked at Trixie. “Seriously? Trixie, now that you’ve gained this new power, you can be a great force for good.”

This time it was Trixie who face-hoofed. “Trixie is not a metapony, for Faust’s sake! Trixie is a stage magician!”

“But you were using metapony powers to keep Garble distracted,” said Spike.

"Trixie was just keeping him entertained with parlor tricks," explained the blue unicorn. "That's just stage magic, not any special powers."

“Maybe we can clear this misunderstanding if you show us what you can do, my little pony,” Princess Luna prompted.

Trixie agreed. “Sure. Trixie would be delighted to amaze you with her tricks. Warm Twilight Sparkle’s tea! Mraw Thgiliwt S’elkraps eat!”

A wreath of flames surrounded Twilight's teacup, superheating the liquid within. A plume of steam shot to the ceiling.

“Trixie!”

“Erif ffo.”

The flames disappeared instantly, leaving behind an empty, red hot cup. “See? That was not a metapower. That was just stage magic by saying words backward.”

Luna and Twilight exchanged a confused look.

“What? Trixie learned it from an old book. I am sure the two of you have at least heard about it.”

“Trixie, this is the first time I have seen or heard anything like this,” said the lavender alicorn. “Where did you get this book?”

Trixie frowned. “You can’t fool Trixie, Twilight Sparkle. I know that after Starlight’s death, you have been leaving textbooks on magic at Trixie’s door. The book that taught Trixie to do this is just one of many.”

“Oh! You had been studying the books I’ve secretly gave you?” asked Twilight excitedly. “I’m so glad my effort didn’t go to a waste. I was afraid you would have refused them if I gave them to you in person. I thought you blamed me for Starlight's death.”

Trixie looked downcast. "Starlight was my best friend. She said you were the best teacher she ever had. She would have wanted to give her life to save yours."

Twilight walked over and put a comforting hoof on Trixie's withers. "There's not a day that goes by that I do not miss her."

The blue unicorn said, "Trixie is grateful for all your help; she is twice the magician she was before you started." She sighed sadly. "Trixie would really like to talk with you about Starlight; you knew her better than anypony else."

Twilight smiled at her. “Of course. You've been honoring her memory by always improving, right?”

Trixie nodded. “That’s why Trixie is so grateful for all those books, especially the last one. That one changed Trixie’s life.”

“You mean the book that taught you how to use magic by saying things backwards?” asked Luna, steering the conversation.

“Precisely, that one!”

Twilight shook her head. “Trixie I’ve given you a small library, but that book was not in the collection. I didn’t know something like that existed.”

“But all the books you’ve given me . . .”

“Are books that I’ve already studied. I would never give somepony a book that I’m unfamiliar with. Who knows what could happen?”

“Do you have this book with you?” asked Alicorn Marevel.

“No, Trixie has it on her cart,” explained the magician. “But do not fear! The Great and Powerful Trixie will get it for you!”

She took off her hat and waved a forehoof around it. “Teg S’eixirt koob!”

Trixie reached her forehoof into the hat and pulled the book out. “Ta-da! Behold the prestidigitation of the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

Twilight took the book with her telekinesis and examined it closely. “Trixie, I’ve never seen this book before. What about you Princess Luna?”

The blue alicorn took the book in her own telekinesis and examined the tome. “Nay, this is new to me. Mayhap we can ask Princess Celestia on the morrow.”

Twilight nodded in agreement before turning to the magician. “Hey Trixie, do you mind if I try it?”

The stage magician smiled. "Trixie would be happy to oblige."

Twilight read a paragraph, and then she turned to a floor lamp in the corner. “Pmal emoc ereh!”

The lamp was unmoved.

“What?”

“Maybe you weren’t being specific enough?” Dash speculated.

“Maybe. Let’s do this again!” said Twilight. “Pmal emoc ot em!”

The lamp gave a repeat performance. “What I am doing wrong?" asked Twilight. "Trixie, can you show me how you do it?”

“It will be Trixie’s pleasure! Pmal emoc ot em!”

The lamp scooted over to Trixie. “It’s easy. You just have to concentrate.”

Twilight boggled at the sight. “I did. Then why it didn’t work out?”

“Let me see that book again,” said Luna.

Trixie gave Luna the book again, and the princess used a scanning spell on it. She frowned. “Well, this is interesting. This book is enchanted to reveal its secrets only to its master, the first pony who reads it.”

Trixie gulped. “So, this means . . .”

Batmare nodded. “You wield a unique special power. You know what that makes you?”

“What?”

“A metapony, worthy of us.”

“Yes, a metapony,” said the Arrow. He touched a forehoof over his heart. "But it is what you have here that makes you worthy."

“What are you talking about? All what Trixie did was to distract the dragon.”

Dash said, "You knew you were no match for the dragon. You could have run away."

“You bought enough time for us to come and to evacuate the area,” added Canary.

“That was what Starlight would have done,” argued Trixie.

“And what was she? A hero. You are a hero Trixie,” said Dash. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we would be honored to have you on the team.”

“Are you sure? Trixie doesn’t have the cleanest of records.”

“Hey, neither do I.” Arrow shrugged. “Yet, here I am.”

“But . . .”

“Think about it; you’ll be a great help,” Canary said reassuringly.

Luna cleared her throat. “Now, moving on to the next subject. What happened with the metadragon who caused all this?”

Spike said, "It's my fault; I should have known to protect him. Forest Thing nearly killed him."

Arrow picked up the narrative. "He is apparently two consciousnesses trapped inside the body of a single dragon. Garble is dragon's psyche and the body's owner. Star Swirl the Bearded is the other consciousness."

"What!" exclaimed Twilight.

Frowning, Spike continued. "Star Swirl cast an experimental spell to save Garble's life. It apparently backfired and trapped him in the dragon's mind. Now, the two of them are in a constant battle for control of the body."

Arrow said, "We managed to persuade them to control themselves. Smolder, the dragon's sister, is helping them stay in control, keeping Garble from getting too upset."

"We're keeping Garble in the Watchtower's training room," said Spike. "He can let loose with his full power there without hurting anyone or anything."

"What's to keep him from escaping?" asked Luna.

"He's a guest, not a prisoner," Spike retorted. "Smolder will help them keep themselves in check."

Luna narrowed her eyes. "Thou'd better be right. The bits to rebuild Manehattan aren't the worst part; now, every noble is insisting that midtown be rebuilt in their image."

“At least you found a solution to the metadragon.” Twilight sighed.

“But it is only temporary," said Spike. "They agreed to stop only if we promise to find a way to separate them for good.”

“Of course, we will,” said Luna. “It is the least we can do for our teacher and the father of modern Equestrian magic.' She shook her head in exhaustion. “You are dismissed.”

The League retired. Once they were alone, the princesses drank their tea in silence for a few minutes.

“Three years ago, when my seal broke after one thousand years, I barely recognized this world. I thought I couldn’t adapt but I did. Now, three years later, I don’t recognize it anymore,” complained Luna.

“The world is changing fast. Ironically, the flashpoint was the arrival of Barry Allen.”

Canterlot:

The Arrow shuddered slightly as took a break from his routine patrol on the rooftop of a decrepit mansion. He knew there would be a reckoning when Celestia woke. As senior member of the League, it fell upon him to keep her from overreacting.

A green glow from an abandoned estate caught his attention. The once-toney neighborhood had been abandoned after Arrow had begun purging the corrupt nobles. Looking through conjured binoculars, he could see that the glow flickered as if it were from a flame. While he had no issue with the homeless taking shelter in the derelict buildings, green was not a color from a natural flame. As sworn protector of Canterlot, it was his duty to investigate.

When he reached the property, he peered through an opened window. A pained moan caught his attention. He hopped through the window to investigate. He had scarcely stepped away when the window slammed shut. A green aura covered all the windows, sealing them with metal shutters with wicked spikes pointing inward.

“Now what?!”

The moaning continued. He followed it and the glow to a large room. A series of torches, burning green, lined the walls, highlighting ancient masks, weapons, and artwork. Silhouetted by the green flames of the large fireplace, a single pony stood, watching him.

“What are you doing, Miss Yearling?” asked the Arrow, glaring at the pony in front of the chimney.

The mare snorted. "That name is dead to me. I am Daring Do. I am here to avenge a murder."

Arrow replied, "A seeker of vengeance needs to dig two graves."

"The owner of this house would disagree. Moldy Gold was never mourned. I am here for the murderer of Doctor Caballeron. You are dead, Arrow."

Shrugging, Arrow replied, "You need professional help. Let me take you to a proper doctor before things get any worse."

Daring cracked her whip at Arrow. He backflipped out of the way, landing on a loose tile. Instinctively, he rolled forward when he heard hisses of air coming from either side. Poison darts harmlessly clattered against the wall, but the crack of a snapping chain caught his attention. He sprang back to his earlier position as the massive chandelier drove its spikes into the floor where he had been.

“Really, Miss Do, that is conduct unbecoming of a lady.”

“This used to be his home,” said Daring Do, ignoring the Arrow. “Every trap, every hazard, every feature of this house was his doing. Every time I had to sneak in, I found he had a new surprise waiting for me. It was the thrill that gave my life meaning. My life ended when you decided to take his. You took everything from me!”

The Arrow looked at Daring Do worriedly. “I've grown. I've learned. I know know what I did was wrong. I used to think that killing was the answer until my friends showed me what it truly meant. I never thought of the other lives I would be harming. I am sorry, Miss Do. Truly, I am."

Daring Do grinned grimly. “Your apologies won’t bring him back.”

“Neither will my death.”

“No, but at least it would give me some satisfaction. Besides, you are not sorry, not yet.”

She caught one of the torches with her whip and pulled. Arrow sprang forward just before a giant pendulum sliced through where he had been standing. With his telekinesis, he drew his bow and nocked an arrow.

“Miss Do I don’t want to hurt you but I will if that is what it takes to get you the help you need.”

Daring Do laughed maniacally. “You hurt me?! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Really? Show me what you have!”

The Arrow let the missile fly, aiming for one of Daring's wings. Instead of dodging, the mare caught it in an aura of green magic.

“What? No pegasus can do that!”

“I got help. Her name is the Sorceress.”

A green glow covered Daring Do, transforming her into a pony from nightmares. Her fur turned deathly gray, covered in a multitude of cutie marks. Her teeth turned into sharp fangs, and her green blouse transformed into a collar made of beast claws. Her pants turned into a loincloth that barely maintained her modesty. A wickedly sharp unicorn's horn completed her transformation.

“Who are you?” asked the Arrow.

“Are you deaf? I am the Sorceress.”

“I see. You possessed Daring Do. You are the one making her do this.”

“Yes and no. I thought I was going to have to worm my way in, taking control little by little. To my surprise, she welcomed me with open hooves, on one condition. I had to help her kill a pony." She grinned, showing her fangs to the Arrow. “Do I need to tell you who that pony is?”

A green aura surrounded the house.

The Arrow touched his ear, activating his transmitter. “Attention to all members of . . .”

“Oh, that’s no use. You'll find your magic and your technology are no match for my powers. Nopony can hear you; it's just the three of us now." She laughed. "Daring Do actually thought the owner of this dump, Caballeron was a master of booby traps. Compared to me, he was a dilettante. With my magic, this place is now ten times deadlier than anything Daring Do faced."

The Sorceress teleported right in front of the Arrow, licking his cheek. “I can buy you twenty more minutes before the game starts. Grogar rejected my affections but what about you? Do you want to go out with a bang? What do you say, hero?”

“Daring Do! You have failed Equestria!” Arrow executed a wicked osato gari.

The Sorceress slammed onto the floor a meter away. The spears from the triggered booby trap vaporized in the green aura that surrounded her as she stood. She grumbled, "Everypony wants to be a comic. Why can't I find a straight stallion?" She brushed herself off. "Daring Do is going to enjoy this twice as much as I will. Be seeing you!"

In a green flash, the Sorceress vanished. Bedlam ensued as every trap in the mansion activated.

Canterlot’s Water Reclamation Plant:

Anxiously, the Joker peered through the window. For the hundredth time, he checked the watch he had drawn on his cannon. “Where is she, Cozy Clown? Where is she? Are you sure you made that distress call, Cozy Clown?”

“Yes, Mister J! Have I ever disappointed you?” asked the very exasperated Cozy Clown.

“Then why hasn’t she shown up? Come on! BATSY WE’RE HERE! You are invited for a very special wreck-it-all party!”

A window exploded as a small figure in a black cape and cowl broke in.

“Batsy, you’re finally here! I thought you were lost! Cozy Clown!”

The filly in the harlequin outfit dropped from the rafters and struck the figure in black with a wooden hammer she carried in her mouth. A melodic peal filled the room. “Wait what?”

The figure removed its cloak, revealing a filly who had three quarters of her body made of metal. “You rang?”

With a hiss of air, twin darts at the ends of thin wires stuck to the Joker. He twitched involuntarily as high voltages pulsed through the wires. The filly said, "Batmare sends her regrets, but after our performance in Manehattan, we didn't want your party to drag on."

Cozy gasped and galloped to a cardboard box marked "party supplies". She grabbed a rubber chicken with the number 6 painted on it. She pointed the head at Sweetie Borg and squeezed the body. The head flew at the filly; thin wires trailed behind it.

Sweetie screamed in pain as she found herself on the wrong end of the attack. Rushing to Joker, Cozy cut the wires leading to him with a swipe of a dagger hidden in her wing.

“Excellent move, Cozy Clown!” said the Joker.

“Whenever you want Mister J!” Cozy smiled.

A bat-shaped blade buried itself into Cozy’s rubber chicken and exploded.

“What?!” gasped Cozy Clown.

Batmare pinned the harlequin with a double nikkajo. "You again? What is it with you and the clown, filly?"

"Call me Cozy Clown!" protested the pegasus as she twisted her head sharply. The bells of her headdress shattered against the floor, releasing a noxious green cloud. Batmare sprang back to activate her gas mask. Sweetie Borg's mask activated at the same time.

Batmare snarled, "Come back her, you little ho . . ."

A maniacal voice said, "Ah, ah, ah! There are foals present."

A fan sprang out of Sweetie's shoulder. In a few seconds, it cleared away the cloud. She activated her spotlight and looked around. "Where are they?" she asked.

Batmare groaned. "They got away." Looking around, she said, "I'm sure that glowing green dome wasn't here when we came in. Can you analyze what that is, Sweetie?"

A red beam shot out from Sweetie's cybernetic eye, scanning everywhere it touched. She said, "It's a standard magical barrier. All we have to do is deactivate the artifact generating it."

“Okay, can you track it?”

“Of course!”

Sweetie’s system processed the information in three seconds. “This way!” she said as she cantered to the next room.

Batmare followed as Sweetie approached a massive column in the middle of the room. The cyborg said, "Uh oh."

“What?” asked Batmare.

"This is the main support for the roof. Whoever planted the artifact has a lot more magic than I can handle; it's buried in the middle of this thing."

"Can't you just blast through it?"

Shaking her head, Sweetie replied, "That would destroy all the plumbing in this place. We'd end up flooding out the neighborhood with sewage."

Batmare groaned. “Right after we managed to destroy the most expensive neighborhood in the diarchy.”

"Do you think we can just wait for help?" asked Sweetie.

Shaking her head, Batmare said, "Joker knows us too well. He's going to do something to force our hooves."

A string of small explosions rang out, one after the other. With each blast, a stream of noxious green gas came out.

Sweetie frowned. "Our masks can't handle all of that."

Batmare groaned. "I know. And this is just the beginning. I really hate that clown."