Back in Ponyville, Starlight and Trixie were relaxing at a spa side by side. But just as they were having a peaceful time together, screams were heard outside. Anxious to see what the commotion was about, both unicorns ran outside. They saw several ponies crowding together just right in front of the mayor's house.
"What in Equastria is going on? Is there a monster on the loose?" Starlight wondered.
"I hope it isn't an Ursa Minor!" Trixie whimpered. Starlight looked at her with an eyebrow raised.
"I have a bad history with those creatures. Just...don't ask."
At that moment, Scarecrow was seen walking slowly in the midst of the town with his staff in hand. "Who is that guy?!" a stallion shouted, sweating.
"That has gotta be a zombie!" a mare yelled.
Then Scarecrow simply waved toward them in a friendly fashion. "Greetings, little ponies. Many apologies for my...unsettling appearance. My name is Jonathan Crane, former professor and doctor of psychology. But you can call me...the Scarecrow." The ponies gasped after hearing his alias.
“Where is the Scepter of Healing?”
“The what?”
“What the heck is that?” some of them murmured.
“I know it’s here. It is what brought me and my comrade here,” said Scarecrow, taking his handgun out. “I’ll ask again. Where is it?”
Suddenly, a rainbow mane-colored pony flew in front of him with an angry look on her face. "Hold it right there, buddy! I don't know what you are or where you've come from, but you're not gonna hurt my friends on my watch!"
Unfazed, Scarecrow pushed her aside and walked toward the frightened ponies. "What the--?! Hey! Who do you think--ah!" The villain shot her with fear toxin without even looking at her.
Coughing, Rainbow looked around and saw every pony laugh at her. The sky turned orange, the grass ignited in flames, and the Wonderbolts started to taunt her, “Hey, look! It’s Rainbow Crash! I bet she can’t even fly!” As soon as they said that, she felt her wings missing and she widened her eyes at the sight of them gone.
“NOO!!!” she screamed. She jumped up and down, but she ended up bumping against the wall.
Scarecrow chuckled at the sight of the poor pegasus sobbing on the ground and screaming at nothing. The residents stared at her in confusion.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“I don’t know! That creep must have done something to her!”
“What kind of gas was that?!”
“I’m glad you asked,” he replied. “Care to take a free sample to find out?” He pointed his gun at them once he re-loaded it.
However, Starlight Glimmer teleported in front of them and ignited her horn at the Scarecrow. “Stop! Leave them alone! Whatever kind of disgusting creature you are, you don’t belong here! I won’t let you hurt them!”
“My, my, my, what an interesting display of heroism. You consider yourself very brave, don't you? I wonder what sort of fears you have.” He shot his fear bullet at her, but Starlight emanated her magical shield and protected herself from the toxin. Everypony fled for their lives the moment the shot was fired.
After she lowered her shield, she fired a beam at him. It struck him hard which sent him flying in the air until he landed on a roof top of a random house. He rolled off to the ground while groaning in discomfort. Then Starlight glared daggers at the villain with her horn still glowing. “Leave now before you get hurt more. This is your last warning.”
Scarecrow stood back up on his feet and picked up his stick. “I like your spirit. That alone says a lot about you and what you’re hiding inside. I’ll be watching you, my little pony.” Then he walked backwards into an alleyway, the shadows hiding his appearance until his glowing eyes and teeth were seen in the darkness. Then he was gone.
Sighing in relief, Starlight's horn stopped glowing and ran to Trixie who was sitting in a corner shaking with her eyes closed. “Is it over?! Is it over?!” she whimpered.
“He’s gone. Are you all right?”
“Trixie’s fine! Just not okay from the inside. Who was that monster?!”
“I don’t know! He called himself the Scarecrow and had some strange gas of some kind. It made Rainbow scream out of terror somehow...” Starlight replied, looking at the said pegasus. The latter was curled up in a ball, her pupils shrunk, her eyes were red, and her tears were falling out.
“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight called out. She and the Mane Four arrived at the spot and checked on the terrorized pony. “What happened?! Are you okay?!”
“Stop laughing at me! I SAID STOP!” Rainbow screamed. She saw Twilight and the others laughing at her and throwing garbage at her.
“What’s the matter, Rainbow Crash? Can’t fly without your wings?”
“LOSER!!! 20% uncooler!”
Rainbow kicked off Twilight and tried to run, but Starlight held her through telekinesis. “Rainbow, we’re trying to help you! What is going on?! What are you seeing?!”
“You’re all making fun of me! Just stop it please!” Rainbow begged, her voice cracking.
“Is she experiencing her worst nightmare? It’s not even night time yet!” Rarity wondered.
“There has to be an explanation for this!” Twilight said.
“Let me help you with that!” another voice yelled out. The ponies looked up and beheld Batgirl descend towards them with her cape. As she landed, she grabbed an antidote from her utility belt. “It’s Scarecrow’s fear toxin. It creates hallucinations for victims where they feel their worst fears.”
“Who in tarnation are ya?” Applejack asked.
“Introductions later! Gotta save your friend now!” Batgirl replied. She injected the antidote in Rainbow’s arm. Once she did that, the pegasus finally breathed slowly and laid her head on the ground.
The ponies looked surprised at the outcome. “Is she...is she all right?” Straight asked.
As if on cue, Rainbow opened her eyes and saw her worrying friends looking at her. “It’s...it’s over! Oh, thank Celestia it’s over! That was the worst nightmare ever!”
“Well, looks like she’s fine!” Batgirl smiled. Rainbow looked at her with a look of awe and admiration.
“Whoa...you look awesome!” she shouted, her pupils enlarging with stars inside.
"Who are you, and what kind of a....creature are you?" Twilight asked, curiously looking up and down at her. "You look like a giant bat."
"You can call me Batgirl. And forgive me if I sound rude, but... I can't believe you ponies can actually talk! Like, this is something I would never imagine becoming a reality!" the heroine exclaimed.
"Of course we can talk, silly!" Pinkie Pie grinned, popping out of nowhere. "There are a lot of weird things that can happen here like a magic-eating centaur, shape-shifting bugs, and an inter-dimensional being of chaos! But now that you're here, WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!" Confetti and balloons shot into the air from her party cannon.
Batgirl looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Ooo....kay?"
"Don't mind her. She's just being...Pinkie," Applejack said.
"Pinkie?" Batgirl repeated.
"Yep. This is Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, my best friend Trixie, and I'm Starlight Glimmer. Pleased to meet you!" She reached out her hoof to Batgirl; they awkwardly shook each other's hoof/hand.
"Nice to...meet you too."
"If I say so, darling, I admire your costume! Although your cape seems a bit too short for my taste. Hmm, perhaps I should make it a little longer," Rarity commented, scrutinizing her outfit.
"I can't believe I'm in a world of talking ponies! This feels so strange yet so amazing! But since Joker and Scarecrow are here, I gotta protect them. Who knows what they're up to," Batgirl thought, not listening to what Rarity said.
"Uh, are you okay?" Starlight asked.
Batgirl shook her head. "Yeah, I'm fine. I wanted to ask you if you know where the Scepter of Healing is?"
The ponies looked at her confused. "The what now?" Trixie asked.
"Wait, Celestia's Scepter of Healing? I know that artifact! But that was taken from us eons ago," recalled Twilight. "How do you know?"
"It used to be in Gotham City--where I come from. But Joker and Scarecrow stole it, and I tried to take it back until it somehow took us here. Now it's gone."
"Joker?" Pinkie asked, smiling.
"Scarecrow?" Fluttershy muttered, scared.
"Maybe the scepter has returned back to its original owner: Princess Celestia!" Twilight reasoned.
"Who's that?"
"She's the current ruler of Equastria, and she might be able to help you. Whatever those villains you mentioned are up to, they won't succeed as long as we work together!" Twilight proudly declared.
"Hmm, sounds like a plan. Lead the way!" Batgirl approved.
After the other ponies left, Rainbow looked at her and said, "Thanks for saving me back there."
"Don't mention it. And your mane looks really cool," replied Batgirl, winking.
Starlight and Trixie, however, looked at each other with worried looks. "I'm having a bad feeling about this."
"Me too, Trixie. That Scarecrow guy didn't mess around, and I'm afraid the Joker--Jester--or whoever he is, may be just as bad as he is."