//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Welcome to Ponyville! // Story: Batman Restarts // by TheClownPrinceofCrime //------------------------------// “Batman? My goodness...WHERE IN THE NAME OF CELESTIA DID YOU COME FROM?!” Rarity screamed. Batman stood before her, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack while the Cutie Mark Crusaders stood next to him smiling brightly. “We don’t know where he came from, but, like I told you, he saved our lives! He’s so awesome!!” Scootaloo shouted. “Awesome? From the looks of it, he looks rather...sinister-like! Is he like a bat-creature or something?!” Rainbow asked. “And this creature is standing on twos? What kind of creature is he?” Applejack asked. Batman remained silent during their reactions while he took note of them in mind. “This is going to be quite...interesting to say the least. Why am I having the feeling that this orange filly is going to follow me around wherever I go?” Batman thought. “Are you three sure that this...creature...is very friendly and protective as you say?” Rarity asked them, raising an eyebrow. “WE ARE!” the three fillies replied at once. “Hmmmm...if you say so.” Rainbow said. She then flew up to Batman. “Okay...uh...Batman...I guess we should thank you for saving Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle. They wouldn’t have been here if you haven’t saved them. But I’m still keeping an eye on you, buddy!” Batman simply nodded. Rarity drew close to him and curiously examined his suit; she then gazed in awe once she was finished. He looked down on her once she got a little to close. She backed away from him as she recoiled out of fear. “Sorry, Sir Batman, I was just amazed by your somewhat unique design! That’s all!” she sheepishly smiled. “Hold up. Is that your cape?” Applejack pointed to his long black cape. “Are ya some sort of superhero or somethin’?” Rainbow Dash then changed her look of suspicion to a look of surprise the moment she turned to him expectantly for his reply. Batman looked upon the mares and the fillies with the same heroic eyes he gave to Rachel before he faced Ra’s al Ghul. “It’s not who I am underneath but what I do that defines me.” he spoke. The ponies had looks of confusion on their faces. “What is that supposed to mean?” Rainbow asked. Scootaloo thought it over until she got the idea. “I think he means that his actions tells us who he really is. You know, like, ‘Not judge a book by its cover’ sort of thing?” Scootaloo interpreted. “Ohhhh, I get it now!” Rainbow said. “Hmmm, I think we should bring him to Ponyville! I am certain he would be quite a friendly visitor there!” Rarity suggested. The fillies rejoiced in excitement to have their savior come visit their hometown. “Ah’m also sure that Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy would like him too! C’mon, big guy! We’re gonna take ya to Ponyville!” Applejack said to him. “What is up with these names they’re having? And their hometown is named with a horse pun? Give me a break.” he scoffed in thought. “Hold on! Before we go, we would like to properly introduce ourselves. My name is Rarity, a professional fashionista. A pleasure to meet you, Sir Batman.” the unicorn made a slight bow in welcome. “Ah’m Applejack! Toughest farm pony in Ponyville! Great to meet ya!” the farm pony greeted as she kicked her hind legs in the air. “And I’m the one and only Rainbow Dash! Fastest pegasus there is! Nice to meet you!” she waved her hoof after flying in a circle to display her speed. Batman remained stoic after they introduced themselves although he took mental note of their personalities. “Great. Now that we have probably introduced ourselves, we will escort you to Ponyville. Follow us!” Rarity gestured to the Dark Knight. He did so without hesitation as he needed to find a way out of this world back to Gotham. So far, he has encountered three fillies and three mares who have strange names with different personalities with various colors. Once they were walking, Batman took notice of Rarity and Sweetie Belle being unicorns. He also heard this Rainbow Dash boasting of being the fastest pegasus. Could it be possible that he was in a cartoony world where myths and legends are actually real whereas in his world, they do not exist at all? He knew for sure that he was in a living fantasy with fictional characters. But could they in some logic-defying way help him bring him back to his home world with no trouble? He will have to find out soon enough. After about ten minutes of walking, they finally reached Ponyville. Batman beheld the town with the slightest wonder; he could easily tell that their species were quite primitive judging by their environment, but he still hoped for a way out of this dimension. They all entered the place. The residents saw their friends and waved at them as they passed; but the moment they laid their sight on the Dark Knight, they either gasped in fear or out of mere surprise. They kept staring at him once he also passed by as they have never seen this dark and mysterious creature before in Equestria. Was he a dangerous creature as if he came out of the pits of Tartarus? Was he an alien? A wild hybrid? What was he? Batman took note of their reactions even though he did not directly look back at them. They reminded him of how Gotham used to react to him ever since he began his existence and career of fighting against crime and evil. He remembered how there were some people in Gotham who appreciated him and praised him for his works of heroism and stand against organized crime. He also remembered some other people like Commissioner Loeb who hated him and did not like how he was fighting against crime as a vigilante. Would this unknown world be reminiscent of Gotham or would it be different? The six ponies directed him to a Treehouse. He was slightly impressed with the structure of the treehouse and its appearance. Scootaloo knocked on the door. Once they were opened, a little purple dragon greeted them. “Hey guys! What’s up?” he said. “Hey, Spike! We have a new visitor we would love to show to our friends!” Scootaloo said. “Oh? Who would that be?” Spike asked, tilting his head. As if on cue, the Dark Knight loomed over him in the most intimidating manner. Spike’s pupils shrunk as he fearfully beheld this dark figure for the first time of his life. He slowly backed away to avoid his movements. “Who-who is this g-guy?” Spike asked, shaking in fear. “Don’t worry, Spike, he’s friendly! His name is Batman! He won’t hurt you.” Scootaloo assured. “Is Twilight around?” Scootaloo asked. “Yes, she’s inside with Pinkie and Fluttershy.” Spike replied, letting his nervousness decrease. “Finally a character who isn’t a horse or whatever they are. I wonder if there are other dragons around here.” Batman thought. They entered inside where it appeared as a library. That was where Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were talking with each other. “Hey girls! I hope everything is okay with you all.” Twilight greeted. “Indeed we are. We have a newcomer from somewhere who is visiting Ponyville today! I’m sure you will like him.” Rarity said. “A NEW VISITOR?! YEEEE!!! I love meeting new visitors!!!” Pinkie shouted while firing her party cannon with confetti. “My, who’s this visitor?” asked Fluttershy. “See for yourself!” Scootaloo said as they all stepped aside to reveal Batman. Twilight and Fluttershy were flabbergasted at the sight of the dark creature that appeared rather threatening, scary, and intimidating. Batman walked up to them and made one simple nod in welcome. “I’m Batman.” he introduced himself in the same manner he did before Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity. Scootaloo giggled as she apparently took a liking for him mentioning his own name in a menacing way. Twilight and Fluttershy still had their mouths open in amazement. But suddenly, the pink pony appeared behind Batman and kept a long obnoxious stare upon him. “WELCOME TO PONYVILLE, BATMAN!!! Ohh, I should make a cake in the shape of a bat or in the same shape your bat symbol has on your chest!! You’re gonna have the BEST WELCOME PARTY EVER!!!” Pinkie shouted. “I’m only about ten seconds in, and I’m immediately starting to dislike this pony now.” Batman ranted as he silently groaned in annoyance.