Wind tousled Richard's shaggy, black hair as he leaned over the railing of the huge airship he had boarded earlier that day. The young man winced as he tried not to think about how many bits he had to drop in order to get an express ticket all the way from Japone to Equestria. While he had saved up quite a bit of money working and apprenticing in a mechanics shop three years previous, his purse wasn't bottomless.
Still, the airship was the fastest way across the ocean, and it was certainly quite comfortable. It was, essentially, a boat tied to two huge, cigar shaped balloons that floated gracefully above the deck. Propellers turned rapidly at the back of the great vessel, and Richard vaguely wondered what type of engine they ran on. "Probably an internal triple ascension drive. Liquid cooled." He had built a few on a smaller scale, and had once even created a scooter from himself to travel on, but quickly realized that it lacked the 'cool factor' that he was looking for. Besides, scooter's were kids toys.
"Excuse me, sir, may I see your ticket please?"
Dick turned around, and whipped out the small, silver billet. Glancing around, he noticed how packed the large ship was. While he had tuned out all of the background noise before, now he was all too aware of the screams and shouts of rich, over-privileged children as they ran this way and that, chased by their frustrated looking parents. "Is it usually this busy?"
The ticket-collector chuckled as he stamped the slightly crumpled paper. "No, sir, not always. But with the celebration in Equestria, folks are travelling from all over the globe to see Celestia do her thing."
At the mention of his former teachers name, he snapped his head up and gazed into the kindly middle-aged man's eyes. "What? What celebration? Is the Summer Sun Celebration coming up?"
Perhaps startled by the boy's sudden intensity, the Equestria Air employee took a small step backwards before answering. "Yes, sir, it is. Tomorrow, as a matter of fact. I take it you don't read the news too much, do ya?"
Having spent the last six months on top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere, that was a pretty safe bet. "No, I guess I don't," Dick replied, smirking a bit. "Where's the celebration being held this year?"
"A town just outside the limits of Canterlot. It's called Ponyville." The man's smile returned as he continued. "Used to be pretty sweet on a girl from there, before I became a conductor. Name was Carrot Top. I wonder how she's doing..."
Richard shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat, snapping the man back to reality. "Uhm... Yes... Right, well we'll be docking in Canterlot in two hours. Please enjoy the flight." The conductor blushed and turned on his heel, hurrying away. "I guess he went on more of a tangent than he realized."
"People are weird..." He muttered to himself, leaning back over the railing. Ponyville, huh? Well, Nightwing couldn't start fighting crime until his rib healed a bit more, so maybe he should just take a break for the first time in twelve years. Besides, last time he was with Celestia at a public event, his parent's had been murdered. "Maybe I should keep tabs on her..."
Dick sighed and thought back to his last encounter with Celestia. He had reacted poorly to the news that the Canterlot Police Department had closed the case surrounding his parent's death. There wasn't enough evidence to implicate Tony Zucco in their untimely demise, and Big Top had been too terrified to testify against the mobster. And so, Zucco continued to walk free, having not even been accused with anything.
At the time, Dick had blamed Celestia. Wasn't she the one that had promised to help track this man down? She was supposed to be a goddess, wasn't she? Shouldn't she have the power to do... well... anything? To a ten-year old Richard Grayson, it was the final nail in the coffin. He had trusted the princess, put all of his faith her in seemingly unending wisdom, and she had failed.
Now, however, the blue-eyed young man had a greater understanding of why the woman who had once been his hero had been unable to do anything. She couldn't circumvent the law, no matter how powerful her magic was. She needed to set an example for her subjects, and be a model of love and tolerance. Therefore, she couldn't make brash claims against one of her subjects without any solid proof.
Dick took off his sunglasses for a moment and wiped the lenses with a handkerchief, trying to remove a fingerprint he had left on them accidentally. If he was going to become some kind of superhero, he couldn't be bound by such a restricting rule book. Richard would, inevitably, rub the Princess and her white knights the wrong way. Just another reason to hide his identity.
He would need a mask. Just a small one would suffice, something that would prevent him from being identified by some passing stranger on the street. He would also need a suit... Magic, heat, and acid resistant, toughened to be able to stop a knife or sword blade. And gadgets. Lots of gadgets. Richard started creating a mental list of all of the supplies he would need in order to make his calling a reality.
Frowning, he squinted through his sunglasses at the ocean below the ship. The citizens of Equestria would need to be able to identify him, so that innocent people knew who to turn to for help, and criminals would target him before going after anyone else. Of course, he would need to conceal his actual cutie mark at all times, lest someone Dick Grayson knew figure out that he was actually a costumed crime fighter. Some simple makeup, spread across the offending mark, could solve that problem, though. He just wouldn't be able to go swimming with other people any more. Not that he had anyone to do that with in the first place, but it was good to set up precautions in advance. Just in case.
And a name. His alter ego would need something to be identified by, something dark and mysterious that would strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. Something like... Shadow Bird. Or Black Fury. Or... Something. He could figure that part out later.
Resigning to return to his cabin and take a nap, he bent over and picked up the duffel bag (and wincing dramatically from his rib injury), and prepared to male his way inside the ship. Maybe he could take a nap before they arrived in Canterlot. As he began to walk, however, he bumped into a small girl who had been, unbeknownst to him, standing almost literally right next to Richard.
"Oof!" She cried, falling onto her butt and splaying her arms out behind her to try and soften the landing.
Dick took in the appearance of the girl before him, with her cargo pants, orange tank top, and purple hair. "Oh jeeze, I'm sorry." He extended a hand to help her up, and she grasped it.
"Uhm, ya, that's alright," She replied cheerily, and hefting herself to her feet. Apparently, she was of pegasus descent, as she had two orange wings growing out from behind her back. "Accidents happen, I guess."
Richard looked around, scouting for her guardians. He didn't see anyone with purple hair or orange wings around here. Other than the girl, of course. "Are you here with your parents, little girl?"
"It's Scootaloo. And no, I'm moving to go live with my aunt in Equestria."
Dick frowned. "All by yourself? Isn't that kind of dangerous?"
The little girl looked down at her shoes for a moment, before meeting his gaze again. "It's fine. My aunt is going to pick me up at the air docks, and then that'll be that." Her eyes traveled up Richard's bicep and lingered on his cutie mark, just barely visible under the sleeve of his t-shirt. "You've got a cool cutie mark, mister. How did you get it?"
He hesitated for a moment, but rationalized that he would probably never see this girl again. Besides, if she was anything like he was at her age, she would be nigh obsessed with all things related to cutie marks. "I got it when I realized that I wanted to help people for the rest of my life. The outstretched wings represent the bird shielding me from darkness, while the bird itself represents how I fly into danger." While he had made the last few things up, they sounded cool.
"But," she began quizzically, leaning to one side to get a better look behind him, "you don't have any wings."
"It's a metaphor."
"If you say so. So why are you headed to Equestria?"
That was a line Dick wasn't going to cross. Explaining his cutie mark was one thing, but blowing the lid off of his whole plan was something else entirely. "I'm going to visit some friends." He said, simply. It was a lie, of course, as he didn't actually have any friends, but there was no way for her to know that.
"Oh! That sounds fun!"
"Yup. I'm all about fun. Well, it's been nice meeting you, Scootaloo, but I'm gonna head back to my room. Maybe I'll see you around sometime."
"Ya! See you mister!"
Richard wondered if had told Scootaloo too much. What if she told someone who he was? No, that was impossible. While she might recognize the cutie mark, he hadn't given her his name. There would be no way for her to track her down. Unlocking the door to his cabin and flopping down into the most comfortable bed he'd had in years, he drifted off into a gracious slumber.
"TWIIILIIIIIIIGHT!!! HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO PACK!?"
"Just enough to fill one suitcase, Spike! We're only going to be in Ponyville for a few days, max."
"But the princess told you to make some friends. She probably wants you to stay for a week or two, minimum."
Twilight scoffed at her young assistant, and waved a hand dismissively. "Please. Once Nightmare Moon returns and the Princess discovers I was right all along , my secondary objective will be belayed in favour of more important things."
Twilight's home, usually so orderly and neat, was a mess of books, clothes, and parchment strewn everywhere as the duo packed for their assignment. The princess was sending a chariot to take them to Ponyville at one o clock. That gave her just an hour to pack and prepare for her journey.
"UGH, SPIKE!!! WHERE DID YOU PUT My COPY OF AN INQUIRER'S GUIDE TO QUESTS AND CREATURES?
Spike sighed, and decided not to answer. It would only encourage her to start looking for other books that she didn't need to bring. The young dragon-boy loved Twilight, he really did, but sometimes she could be a tad... ornery? That seemed like a good word to describe it.
The green-haired boy was excited to get out of Canterlot, for a change, and visit somewhere new. While he and Twilight had been on diplomatic missions to various towns and cities in Equestria, it wasn't often that the duo was specifically told to make some friends, which meant Twilight wouldn't keep the pair locked in their room for the duration of the trip.
Unfortunately, the poor little dragon didn't have any friends his own age, much less any friends of his own gender. Now, he was getting a chance at a fresh start. Maybe there would be some other little boys he could hang out with. That would certainly be a welcome change.
Zipping his favourite purple hoodie up, he brushed some dust off of his shoulder and smiled. Today was going to be a good day, whether Twilight liked it or not.
Meanwhile, in her bedroom, Twilight was sifting through piles of clothing and books, attempting to prioritize what she would need in order to survive her weekend away from home. Would there be any need to perform any advanced magic? Of course there would be, Nightmare Moon would be coming back. But, what kind of magic? What spells could Twilight possibly perform that could inflict any kind of lasting damage on the fallen goddess? Why couldn't Princess Celestia just trust that Twilight was telling the truth? Frustration built inside the violet haired girl, and she balled her fists.
Suddenly, Twilight heard a great horn sound in the distance. Glancing out through her bedroom window, she saw an Equestrian Air liner drifting down to Wonder Tower, where it's rich and privileged travelers would disembark. She sighed, reflecting on how unfair it was that while many people would be entering her home city, she would be leaving.
"At least I'll be travelling in style." the young sorceress thought to herself. Grunting, she grasped the zipper of her suitcase in a purple glow of magic and sealed it. If only she was more adept at teleportation spells, she could just zap herself and Spike to Ponyville in the blink of an eye. Maybe she could even be home for dinner.
"TWILIGHT!!! THEY'RE HERE! COME ON!!!" Spike's voice rang out from the other room. Sighing, she took one last look around the room, and glanced at the huge airship in the distance that was currently blotting out the sun.
"A sign of things to come?"
Resigning herself to the task handed down to her by the powers above, she left the small bedroom, hoping from the bottom of her heart that there would still be enough daylight when she returned to see it again.
The streets of Canterlot were extraordinarily clean. A testament to the Princess of the Light that resided in the city. Richard Grayson had always found it ironic that a place that looked so pure could house such a wide array of filth. Men in suits and women in dresses walked the streets, unaware of the incredible power of crime in their country.
Crime rates had been rising in Equestria. The mob was growing more and more powerful, and there was nothing Celestia could do to stop it. They were just too careful. Luckily for her, Dick wasn't bound by the law. He worked to his own agenda, and the mob was about to take a few hits. For the most part, however, Canterlot had been left unaffected due it being the home of the Princess.
Briefly, he wondered if he should track down the Princess's star pupil, Twilight Sparkle. The two had been friendly enough when they were kids, and Dick felt that she could give him a good summary of the events that happened while he was gone. Being so close to Celestia, she could be a very valuable asset.
But, she would no doubt tell the Princess that he had returned, and Dick somehow doubted that his former idol would look upon the rise of a new superhero and his return as a coincidence. For now, he needed to keep a low profile. First things first, he needed to hide his cutie mark.
Walking into a cosmetics shop, he purchased some make-up that matched his tan skin tone. It had to look flawless if he was going to be above suspicion. Next, he ambled around downtown Canterlot searching for a clothing store. He needed to blend in to Equestrian society, therefore he would need Equestrian clothes. Wearing his Japonese threads would make him stick out like a sore thumb.
Satisfied with the black t-shirt and blue jeans he had purchased, Richard decided it was time to buy a train ticket to Ponyville. With the Princess out of her castle, she would be an easy target to any would-be assassins, even with the Honour Guard defending her. And, as much as he hated to admit it, Celestia was a good and just ruler. Not to mention the only reason the sun rose in the morning and set in the evening.
After the Summer Sun Celebration, he would take up arms against the mob. But for now, he needed to heal. His detective skills were sharp enough that Dick figured he could probably sniff out any possible attempts on her life before they were set into action. Nothing to strenuous, just some poking around here and there.
Looking in the direction of the castle, he noticed a royal chariot taking off. Would that be the Princess? No, she wouldn't leave Canterlot until the last possible minute. Shrugging, he decided that it was probably just a noble leaving early for the day. Having been built into the side of a mountain, it made it an ideal location for air ships and private pegasi descent rickshaw's.
Dick brushed some ebony hair out his eyes and made his way to the train station. He could use the time on the train to come up with a name. Shadow Claw, maybe...
Night had fallen over Ponyville. For some, this meant a night of rest, accompanied by an early rise. After all, the Summer Sun Celebration occurred right a sunrise. Then, a day of festivities and fun would allow the citizens of Equestria to forget their troubles and party.
For Twilight Sparkle, however, the night was filled by loud music and the sounds of a raucous party being held in her home. Wincing as she heard something shatter downstairs, she slammed her pillow over her head. "I am notcleaning that."
She glanced at the clock on her wall, and gulped. Just an hour until sunrise. Nervously, she tapped her fingers against the sheets of her bed. "Maybe I am wrong," she thought nervously. "Maybe it is just an old wives tale." In the back of her mind, however, she knew she was right. Nightmare Moon would return to Equestria. And there was nothing she could do to stop it. "Unless... What about the elements of harmony?" Wishing desperately she could just go downstairs and get a couple of books on the subject, she cursed her so called 'friends' that were currently trashing her temporary home.
Thinking wistfully of her nice, quiet apartment in Canterlot, Twilight let out an exasperated moan. Of all of assignments that Celestia had sent her on, this one was, by far, the worst.
Scared and alone, Twilight curled up into a ball. How could she possibly stop Nightmare without the elements of harmony? No one would believe her, no one would help her... and her pride wouldn't allow her to ask for help from the people who had invaded her tree house.
She would just have to hope that, when the time came, Celestia would rise up to save them.
A sudden increase in light and volume in her bedroom told Twilight that her door had been opened.
"Come on, Twi, it's time for the sun to be raised! We've gotta head over to the town hall!"
"... Okay Spike. Let's go." Twilight rubbed her eyes and sat up, looking at the smiling green haired boy in front of her. Coming to Ponyville had been good for him. It wasn't often that he got to enjoy the presence of people other than Twilight, and she was glad that he was having such a good time. "Hey Spike?"
"Ya, Twilight?"
"I love you."
Spike rolled his reptilian eyes. Twilight could get so emotional sometimes, over such little things. "Ya, ya, I love you too, Twi. Now, let's get going! We're gonna miss it!"
Twilight nodded and accompanied her young assistant downstairs where Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were waiting (Rarity had to leave early in order to prepare for her reveal of the Princess). The group regaled her on the whatever fun things happened at the party, and commented on how the didn't seem to see her around. Twilight merely smiled weekly and wrote it off as being tired from her long flight to Ponyville.
Finally, they all arrived at town hall, and Fluttershy flew off to round her birds up. Twilight nervously looked around at the crowd that had gathered. Children yawned and stretched, waiting to see their beloved Princess commit an act of magic so great that it seemed nearly impossible, while the adults chatted excitedly amongst themselves.
Wait... Was that...?
There, leaning against the wall, stood Richard Grayson, scanning the crowd with a look of abject boredom on his face. Twilight Sparkle couldn't believe what she was seeing. After ten years of no one finding hide nor hair of the troubled young man, here he was at the Summer Sun Celebration.
"Hey, Spike!" Twilight started excitedly.
The group all turned their heads to look at the girl who had shown an uncharacteristic amount of enthusiasm.
"What?" He responded, curiosity piqued.
"Look, over there! Isn't that-"
"LAAADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!!" Mayor Mare interrupted, yelling out over the crowd.
"Just tell me after, Twi, it's starting." Spike said, craning his head to get a better look at the stage, before Applejack picked him up and placed him on her shoulders so he would have a better view.
"But-"
"It is my great pleasure to bring you all this year's Summer Sun Celebration!" The mayor unwittingly interjected again. "This is, truly, a fine day in Ponyville history. A day that we shall remember for years to come as one of the greatest Summer Sun Celebration's of all time!!!"
The crowd cheered and raised their hands, shouting their approval. The locals of Ponyville were a proud folk, and the mayor's words only ignited their deep seated love for their town.
"It is now my great pleasure to introduce to you, the Goddess of the Sun, the literal light of our lives, PRINCESS CELESTIA!!!" The mayor gave Rarity and elaborate hand fluorish, and the beautiful young woman smiled to the crowd as she pulled the cord. The curtains parted dramatically, red velvet swishing against itself, revealing... nothing.
"Oh no..." Twilight mumbled, her heart dropping like a rock. "Oh no, no no no no no..."
"Uhm..." The mayor began, her voice shaking slightly. "Everyone stay calm. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for-"
A high, cruel laugh rang out in the town hall, rendering everyone inside silent. The laughter continued, growing louder as time went on, disturbing the crowd greatly. The children shook in terror, and Twilight whipped her head around to gaze at the moon. It's face was blank and luminous, the imprint of the Girl in the Moon totally gone.
Ominous blue mist floated into the great hall, and gathered on the platform that Rarity currently stood hyperventilating on, condensing to form a shape. The laughter grew louder as more mist condensed into the figure, and people began screaming.
There, on the wooden platform, stood Nightmare Moon. Ornate, light blue armour covered the villains body, matching the colour of her evil, apathetic eyes. Black accents stood out on her suit, especially on her helmet, which covered a flowing head of hair that embodied the night sky. A black horn poked out from a hole built into the armour, and her wings flared dramatically as she relished her new found freedom.
She smiled cruelly down at the cowering citizens below her and began her speech. "CITIZENS OF EQUESTRIA!!!" She shouted, noting with pleasure how her new subjects squirmed below her. "I have returned!!!"
Murmuring broke out amongst the crowd, as everyone tried to figure out who, exactly, she was.
Noticing the lack of shocked gasps or dramatic fainting, Nightmare Moon's smile faded. "Oh, come now! Surely there is one among you who remembers who I am!? Has my dear sister been so foolish as to convince you all that I was mere legend!?"
Twilight Sparkle stepped forward, separating herself from the crowd with courage she didn't even know she had. "I know who you are." The purple haired girl called, wearing what she hoped was an expression of defiance on her face. "You're Nightmare Moon."
Gasps rang out throughout the crowd as the realization dawned on them, and Nightmare Moon's smile returned.
"Yes! I have returned! AND I SHALL ENGULF EQUESTRIA IN THE NIGHT... FOREVER!!!"
"What did you do with Princess Celestia!?" Rainbow Dash called out, preparing to charge at the malicious alicorn descent. She was stopped short by Applejack, however, who held the red eye'd girl down.
"Rainbow...! Settle... down...! You're no match for her!" She drawled, speaking in between grunts of exertion.
"Everyone, get of here. Now." A new voice, powerful and low, rang out. Nightmare Moon smiled as she realized someone was resisting her. Here she thought she wouldn't get to make any examples tonight. Her smile was short lived, however, as she felt something grip her shoulder suddenly.
"What...!?"
A great pull suddenly brought her tumbling off of the balcony, and she found herself falling to the floor below. Richard Grayson released the line on his grapnel gun and retracted it as the evil princess flared her wings again to ease her landing. The crowd had parted around the two, and Dick stood tall as he drew two fighting sticks out of his duffel bag. He could buy the citizens of the town perhaps thirty seconds. Fortunately, he had thought in advance to bring a ski mask to hide his face. It always paid to plan ahead.
"WHO DARES LAY HANDS ON THE MIGHTY NIGHTMARE MOON!?" She bellowed, rising up to her full height, as well.
Dick turned his head to the purple haired girl and her friends at the fringe of the crowd. "Twilight! Get to your library and find a way to stop her! I'll buy you as much time as I can."
Twilight's mouth dropped in shock. "How do you...?"
"No time! Just go!!!" The masked hero ran forward, raising his two batons, looking for an opening in her armour, and wincing as the movement irritated his rib. "Fight through the pain..." he thought to himself, knowing that these were likely his last moments in this world.
Twilight Sparkle balled her fists and ran out into the night, heading straight for the library. No more games. No more parties. Now, she meant business. Twilight vowed not to leave her tree house again until she had a way to stop Nightmare Moon.
Dick gasped as he was tossed across the room by a powerful telekinetic force, slamming him hard against one of the columns that held the platform Nightmare Moon had recently been pulled off of.
The spectators of the fight had long since fled, realizing that neither party would give up until they were incapable of movement, or dead.
"DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN DEFEAT A GODDESS, BOY!?" She called, sending lances of pure dark energy flying towards him.
Richard grunted and rolled out of the way, the lances slamming harmlessly into the wall behind him where they dissolved. His body screamed in agony, and black spots began to swim in his vision. "Focus! She hasto have a weakness!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood, and gazed at his opponent. Armour covered her body completely, and she had summoned a wicked looking scythe that Richard was sure could slice him in half without her even having to try. It looked heavy, however, and if Dick could get her to swing at him, he would have a window in which she would be too off balance to stave off his blows.
Running full tilt towards her, the fledgling superhero kept his eyes trained on her weapon. If he messed up... It was all over. Two halves of him would go spinning across the room, splattering blood against the walls, and painting the town hall in memory of his failed attempt to save Equestria.
Alright, ladies and gentlemen, the moment we’ve all been waiting for...
Dick saw her raise the scythe, a wicked look in her eyes.
The single most daring family to ever grace the earth...
Nightmare Moon swung the evil looking blade, her eyes alight with the prospect of finishing this audacious young fool who dared challenge her on the night of her return.
it’s the FLLLYYYYIIIING GRAAAAYSOOOOOONS!!!
The last Grayson leapt up and over the path of the blade, over even Nightmare Moon, and spun himself upside down in mid-air. Grinning as he sailed over top of her, he brought both of his own weapons down upon her head, and cried out, using the momentum he had from the spin to knock her forward painfully.
"Ungh!" She cried, stumbling and trying to regain her balance. Not wasting a moment, Dick flew forwards and brought his tools of justice into Nightmare's back, again and again. A flurry of blows so fast that his arms were mere blurs. Each blow sent her stumbling forwards a little more, her wings desperately trying to beat him back, to no avail. This was the moment Richard had been training for. The moment where he began his crusade to save his home.
"You -UNGH- dare st- AH!!- strike me!?" She called, attempting vainly to reassert her dominance over the situation.
"ENOUGH!!!" Dick shouted, "IT'S OVER!!!" He vaulted up over her one more time, and brung a knee into contact with the back of her head, before twisting and delivering two sharp kicks, knocking the Goddess of the Night to the floor, where she erupted into blue, sparkling mist.
Panting, Richard dropped to his knees and allowed his fighting sticks to drop to the ground. He was in more pain than he thought was humanely possible, and needed to recover. Just a short nap...
Suddenly, the blue mist enveloped him and lifted Dick into the air, ripping the ski mask off of his head.
"I shall remember your face, mortal. And when I'm done with the Celestia's champion, I shall return for you. I only spent this time playing with you so that she would find the Elements and lead me right to them. But now, I'm afraid I'll have to kill her."
Richard Grayson was dropped unceremoniously to the floor, where he lay bleeding. "No..." He whispered, trying to get up. "Fight... through the... pain..." He slammed a fist into the ground, and stumbled to his feet. Twilight would need him. She wouldn't last two seconds against the enraged spirit of darkness.
He limped forwards, but tripped on a fallen banner. This time, he didn't rise. His body had finally shut down, and Dick Grayson no longer had a say in how much he fought. Unwillingly, he closed his eyes, and lay still.
Sunlight streamed through the shattered windows of the town hall, and roused Richard Grayson from his unconscious state. Nightmare Moon! He had to get to Twilight before...
Wait, sunlight? That meant...
Dick pulled the mask back on and stumbled outside, using his grapnel gun to ascend to the rooftops, he walked along until he reached the town square. A celebration was taking place, with an abashed looking Nightmare Moon standing next to Celestia and wearing a wreath of flowers around her neck. "No," Richard thought, "Not Nightmare Moon. Luna.". So the Elements of Harmony were real... and they had destroyed the hatred inside the true princess of the night.
"I, Princess Celestia, hearby decree, that the unicorn descent, Twilight Sparkle, shall take on a new mission for Equestria. She must continue to study the magic of friendship. She must report to me her findings. From her new home in... huh?"
Dick realized that Celestia had noticed him, and had begun gazing at the lone figure silhouetted against the sun.
Luna's eyes widened and she made out the bulky shape of the grapnel gun in his right hand. "It's him...!" She breathed, as a pang of regret and guilt assaulted her heart. Twilight and her five friends were looking at him now, too, trying to discern who the man that had stood up to Nightmare Moon was.
"Who are you!?" Celestia called out, her face serious.
Everyone in Ponyville was now looking up at him, all of them but one wondering the same thing.
Gripping the mask, he pulled it off and threw it down to the crowd, where it was caught by Celestia. He knew that there was no way they would be able to make out his face while he was shrouded in his dark silhouette.
His hair whipped in the wind, lending him a mysterious air. "I am Equestria's guardian." He called, his voice sure and strong. "I... am Nightwing."
Raising the grapnel gun again, he fired it at one of the gargoyles that stood menacingly against the town's clock tower. Soaring up, he used the stone demon as a balance bar from which he somersaulted off, and onto a nearby rooftop. Laughing at the first success of Nightwing, he ran along the rooftops, eager to put some distance between himself and the population of Ponyville.
Ladies and gentlemen... The FLYYYYIIIIING GRAAAAYSOON'S!!!