The first thing that Batmare did when she entered the room was hide behind the crates in front of her, waiting a few seconds to make sure that she hadn't been seen before she peeked around the side of the crates to look around the room, her eyes widening in shock from what she saw. A large number of the humans were in the room. Only a few of them carried the weapon that hurt her, but she only noticed them after she absorbed what she saw in the center of the room.
"Batman," she whispered to herself as she set her eyes on her father, who was sitting in the center of the room apparently strapped to a chair with chains. He looked a bit different from the last time she saw him. His suit was now a pure black with a red bat in the center of it, but she knew who it was without a doubt. She would have risked throwing herself into the fray no matter how many of the humans there were, but one figure kept her from attacking right away. It was a human that was clothed in brown cloth, with some weird mask on his face that made it look like something out of a horror story. It had a knotted noose around its neck and its right hand had four long needles protruding from it.
'Scarecrow,' she confirmed as she looked back to Batman. She couldn't tell much about how he was holding up due to his suit, but from what she could see from the portion of his face that wasn't covered up, he was in terrible shape. His skin was nearly completely white and he had sweat running down his jaw, his teeth clenched together from either pain or rage. His suit had a large number of gashes in it and she didn't know if the blood on the side of it was from him or somepony else. But either way, he wasn't doing well. She started going over the options she had just as the Scarecrow began to speak.
"So here we are again, my little bat," he said in a higher pitched voice than she would have expected, but it sent chills down her spine all the same. This was a crazy one. "Time for another dose of your medicine. I hope this isn't like the last few attempts where you try to attack your doctor. I'm only trying to help you."
"Go to hell, Crane," Batman spat back, his eyes opening to glare at his captor. That gave Batmare a bit of relief, because if he had enough willpower to remain defiant, then he might not be as bad off as she thought. Scarecrow sighed as he heard this and looked to the four needles that he started to move in front of his face, giggling slightly to himself as he did so before he looked back to Batman with two glowing orange eyes.
"Oh Batman, why must you be so stubborn? A doctor can't help a patient that refuse to co-operate. All I want to do is help you with your fears," Scarecrow said with a sickening honey in his voice as he pointed the needles towards Batman and started to move them closer. "And you are truly the most stubborn patient I have ever had walk into my office. A full day and a half of receiving my toxin and yet you still refuse to break. You are a remarkable person, but I'm afraid, my little bat, I will have to break you."
"You'll never break me, Crane. Do your worst," Batman said with a growl, watching as the needles got closer and closer. Batmare also watched the needles get closer, knowing that she was running out of time and couldn't afford to wait any longer. She had a plan of attack and figured that the shock factor of seeing her might be enough to scare off a few of the humans so that she could get to Scarecrow. So she flew to the ceiling before diving back down onto one of the henchmen on the ground, kicking his lights out. All turned to face her as she slowly stood up.
"You want fear?" she asked them as she flicked her visor from white to red, a feature that she rarely used. "Then you get it." But much to her surprise, none of the humans ran despite their faces being filled with sheer terror at the sight of her.
"It's another monster!" One of them roared as he charged her, a pipe clutched in his shaking hand. "KILL IT!" She dove out of the way of the strike and broke the human's leg so that he went down. But again to her shock, the human grabbed her rear leg with an iron grip. "DIE MONSTER!" The rest of the humans began to roar similar lines and all rushed her at once, those with guns not bothering to fire them as they held them like clubs. The only thought running through their minds was to kill the terror. Batmare had no idea why the humans were so afraid of her, yet chose to fight as she broke the hand that was holding her so that she could take up a fighting stance, unaware of the fact that they were all under Scarecrow's fear toxin and they were fighting for their lives.
"What the hell is that?" Scarecrow muttered as he turned back to Batman, his eyes going wide with shock under the mask. For a brief second, despite the will and the years of training, Batman had let an emotion besides rage or anger slip through his defenses. Even though he hid it a second later, the moment he saw Scootaloo in his world taking on a large number of fear-fueled psychos, an emotion rose to his face that rarely did.
He was afraid for her life.
"So you fear for it?" Scarecrow asked, with a smile spreading beneath the mask that would have made the most hardened of criminals shake as he slowly turned to face Batmare, who was fighting off the large number of humans with varying success. When they attacked her one or two at a time she could hold them back, but when they all attacked together she found herself quickly overpowered. Scarecrow began to laugh at the thought of Batman caring for whatever this thing was, but he now knew how to hurt the Batman, how to make him afraid. "Hold it down crows, I want Batman to watch as this thing dies in front of him." Batmare kicked another guy in the head as she pulled out a batarang and aimed for one of the chains holding Batman in the chair, but it was knocked out of her hoof as a human tackled her from behind, the others that weren't laying broken on the ground jumping on top of the two before she could shake him off.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Scarecrow asked as he slowly walked over to Batmare, who was being held down by about six of the henchmen despite her best struggles to escape. "Oh no, please, don't hurt yourself trying to resist, this will only take a moment. I have no idea what kind of creature you are, but you must be intelligent from the fact that you can talk. Tell me...do you feel fear? Fear of pain? Of loss? Of...death?" He flicked his needles together as he said this, looking down at her with the two orange eyes that made her begin to sweat a bit. "Do you fear death, little one?"
"CRANE! Touch her and I will end you!" Batman roared as he struggled against his restraint, but the combination of mental and physical exhaustion along with the restraints prevented him from escaping.
"Shhh Batman, you're scaring the poor thing," Scarecrow said as he put a finger to where his lips were, looking at Batmare who was trembling as she pushed against her captors holding her down. "Why, you're shaking. You must be afraid. Don't worry though, you'll soon be freed from your fears." Despite her struggles, Batmare could only watching with increasingly widening eyes as the needles came down, piercing her suit and her skin as she felt her mind begin to spin. Images flashed in front of her eyes as she shook her head, feeling a sense of panic beginning to flow through her. She blinked twice and realized that she was no longer in the mill with Batman and Scarecrow. Instead, she was on a cliff overlooking a sunset, while standing next to an orange stallion with a brown mane on one side while a white mare with a purple mane stood on her right.
"Mom? Dad?" she asked hesitantly, holding out a hoof to the two, oblivious to the fact that her armor was gone once again. The two of them turned to face her with smiling faces and each held out a hoof, inviting her to join them. She smiled as well and ran over to join them...when a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky and her father went from glowing with life to a bleeding corpse. "NO!" she screamed as another lightning bolt flashed and her mother ended up in the same state, both of her parents laying dead in front of her. Scootaloo fell to her knees as dark clouds began to form over her, tears starting to fall from her eyes again. Then the lightning flashed one more time and another body joined her parents: Batman.
"No," she whispered to herself as she closed her eyes. "Not you too. Not again." She walked over to Batman had started to cry over him, unaware of the massive creature that rose out of the sea and towered over her, its laugh echoing throughout her mind. She slowly looked up to see the massive form of Scarecrow towering over her, looking down on her with red eyes that shone like spotlights.
"Poor little pony, all she wants is to be loved by her family, but they just keep dying around her," he said with a chuckle as he slowly lifted his hand over her, blocking out any light as his shadow completely enveloped her. "But don't worry, a doctor only strives to free his patients from their pain. Now let me free you from yours." Scootaloo never blinked or moved as the massive hand came down to crush her, she simply stood still and accepted her fate. Scarecrow laughed as his hand came down on her...only to stop as he realized that his hand had hit a silver barrier. "What in the...?" he asked as a blast of silver knocked him back. Scootaloo looked down with some confusion to see the silver mare standing in front of her.
'Giving up so easily, Scootaloo?' the silver mare asked as she turned her head to look at her. 'What would Batman think if he saw you giving up? You may be afraid, but if you are to truly become the pony that you wish to be, you must overcome those fears.' She turned back to face Scarecrow as he got back up, an unseen smile. 'Stay true to who you know you are, not what others want you to be. Overcome your fear.' She vanished in a flash of light, but left the bat-signal where she had been standing. Scootaloo looked at it for a second before she shook her head and ran over to it, pointing it at Scarecrow and firing the beam of light into his chest. He roared in rage as his illusion was blasted apart, both of them vanishing in a flash of white light. Batmare blinked again and opened her eyes, realizing that she was back in the real world now and that the henchmen had been blasted off of her. She started to get up, but Scarecrow tackled her back down and held her by her throat as he positioned his needles right above her eyes.
"Time to die, creature," he spat as he brought the needles back, only to have them shattered as a batarang flew through them and embedded itself in the wall. Scarecrow turned to see a very angry Batman walking towards him, cracking his knuckles with rage in his eyes. "How...?" he asked before Batman's fist drove itself into his face, sending him skidding across the ground.
"I think I finally found something I fear," Batman said in a whisper that scared even Scootaloo. "I fear what I'm going to do to you." As Scarecrow screamed and started to run with Batman chasing him, Batmare slowly got back up, noticing that she was being offered an armored hand.
"Need some help?" Batmare looked up into the face of another human, this one wearing a small mask on her face (she assumed it was a her because of her voice) as well as a black hood that covered her head, but Batmare could still see red hair underneath. As Batmare grabbed her hand, she noticed that the human was wearing a red suit with black pants, a collapsible staff hanging from her side.
"Thanks," Batmare muttered as she shook her head, trying to get rid of any of the remaining toxins.
"No prob. It's nice to finally meet the person...or whatever you are...that Batman's been trying to keep a secret," she responded with a friendly smile, one that Batmare wasn't sure she should return. "Name's Robin by the way."
"Batmare," Batmare said after a second of silence, not knowing who this person was. She was about to ask who's side she was on when Batman walked back into the room, holding a bleeding and unconscious Scarecrow in one hand.
"What took you so long, Robin?" he asked her as he ungraciously dropped Scarecrow on his head, folding his arms. "I went 'communications silent' a day ago. You should have been here within a few hours."
"Well sorry, but there were a large number of robberies once you got yourself captured and I needed to deal with those first, not to mention it was supposed to be Diiii...the other Batman who was supposed to be looking for you," Robin said with a shrug of her shoulders as she placed her hands behind her head, looking down at the unconscious form of Scarecrow. "So, how's the doctor?"
"He'll live," Batman muttered before looking down at Batmare, both anger and relief in his eyes as he looked at her. "We have a lot to discuss, but this isn't the place to do so. Batmare, you go with Robin to the Cave. I'll join you after I drop this piece of garbage off."
"Wait, we're going to show her the Cave immediately? Aren't we going to blindfold her or-?"
"The Cave. Now," Batman growled as he picked up Crane again and grappled out of the building, leaving Robin to sigh as she looked down at Batmare.
"Fine...come with me, Batmare, we're going to the broodiest place in all of Gotham...the Batcave."
====---====
It was a sight beyond words.
Batmare thought that her cave back in Equestria was a centerpiece of technological perfection, but she saw that even with all the cool gifts that Batman had modified for her use, there were still hundreds of gadgets and tech of which she knew nothing. Batman and Robin had taken her to the Batcave in something that he called the Batmobile, a strange carriage of sorts that went faster than anything she had seen move on land before. Batmare had heard Robin ask Batman why they weren't using a blindfold on her, but Batman had said that Batmare could be trusted but said nothing else. So Batmare was content with looking out the window as the streets and lights of Gotham raced by them. When the car finally came to a stop, the three costumed vigilantes hopped out of the car, Batman indicating for Batmare to follow him.
"Where are we?" she asked him as she looked around the massive cave that had more lights than she had been expecting from Batman.
"We're in the Cave. This is the hub from where I wage my war on crime," Batman said as he sat down in a revolving chair that sat under a massive computer with at least six separate screens. "Robin, go ask Alfred to come down here and tell him to bring his medical kit with him. Both Batmare and myself aren't in the best of conditions."
"Aw come on. I wanted to talk more to the-"
"Now." Robin grumbled to herself as she headed for the stairs at the far end of the Cave, which Batmare assumed led to the mansion in which Batman said he lived. After Robin had left, Batman spun the chair to face her, with a look she couldn't read on his face.
"Why are you here?" he asked her in a near whisper, a tone that she recognized and meant that he was angry.
"Why am I here? I came to save you," Batmare responded as she unhooked her cowl and took it off, letting her sweat-drenched mane fall behind her head. "Because you needed my help." Batman's eyes narrowed as she said this and he placed both hands under his chin.
"How did you know I was in danger?"
"Alfred told me when I called the other night," she said quickly, looking into his eyes the best she could without flinching. She was, technically, telling the truth. Alfred had been the one to specify what danger Batman was in. She didn't know why she wasn't telling him about the silver mare, but it just felt like something that needed to be kept secret for now. Of course, Batman almost immediately saw through her attempt to hide something from him, but instead of pressing on he decided that it was time for the scolding.
"What were you thinking, in crossing over to my world and risking your own life to rescue me on a mission that could have been a trap?" he growled at her, his eyes flashing with rage. "You could have been caught by any one of the maniacs that run through the streets, or worse. I was fine. Robin was on her way and she would have gotten me out of that trap with little issue. But because of your interference, you nearly got yourself killed. I thought that I taught you better than--"
"No, you taught me to use my skills to protect myself and those I love," Batmare shot back, doing what few dared to do as she interrupted Batman in the process. "And the last time I checked, I still love you...Dad. So when I heard that you might be in danger, that your life might be at risk, I didn't hesitate to come here to make sure that you were safe." Batman looked taken aback for a second by her words, but the Dark Knight regained his composure and resumed the attack.
"Noble, but foolish. You came into this world blind and entered a fight that you might not have been able to win," he reminded her with a scowl. "And in that situation, I was not able to protect you. What would you have done if Robin hadn't show up in time? How would you have handled Crane?"
"The same way I handle any foe that tries to hurt somepony I love. I hurt them. Badly," she said with a scary smile. "And I don't care that I didn't have a plan or that I went in blind. You were in danger and needed help then. And don't say that my reasons were foolish, because I know that you would do the same if not more to keep me safe, even if you had to go in with no plan!" she roared back, with Batman narrowing his eyes as a result.
"You could have waited for a better moment to strike, instead of risking your life the way you did. Why did you act so recklessly?"
"Because...because I was afraid that I would lose you as well," she said with her emotions finally overpowering her will, mixing her voice with both rage and sadness. "I already lost my parents in an accident that I couldn't stop, and it has haunted me to this day. But this time was different. This time I could do something to save you and so I did...because I couldn't lose you. Not like this." The iron will of Batman that had only failed him once before was on the verge of collapsing again, as Scootaloo's emotions got through to him. He let out a sigh and took of his cowl as well so that Scootaloo could look into his eyes without any interference.
"Scootaloo...you weren't the only one who was afraid that they were going to lose someone they cared about," Batman said in a tired voice, holding his still gauntleted hands to his face so that he could wipe away the sweat. "I had managed to overcome nearly all of Crane's fear toxins, when you showed up out of the shadows to face those killers...and the image of you standing against them did something that his gas could never do: it scared me." Now it was Scootaloo's turn to be shocked by what she heard. Batman had been afraid?
"But you're Batman! You aren't afraid of anything! You took on a magical enchantress with two holes in your body, when all of hell was breaking loose behind you without flinching. How in all of Equestria could that--?" Her words died in her throat as she looked into his eyes to see both the seriousness of what he was saying, along with the traces of fear that had been there earlier.
"Because I was afraid that I'd lose you," he admitted in a whisper. Scootaloo didn't have anything to say, all she could do was stand silently as Batman closed his eyes. Then, after a few moments of waiting, she walked forward and wrapped her arms around his waist with a small smile.
"You wouldn't lose me. You trained me better than that," she said as she tightened her grip a bit. "Don't worry, you won't be rid of me so easily...Dad." Batman looked down at her for a second with no idea what to do, before he decided to forget his Batman side for one second and knelt down to her level and hugged her back as gently as he could.
"And you have to hold more faith in me, because you won't be rid of me that easily either...Scootaloo." The two stayed like that for a minute before the sound of a person clearing his throat was heard throughout the cave. Both Batman and Scootaloo spun to see the butler standing at the bottom of the staircase, with a case of medicine in one hand and a barely contained smile on his face.
"If the two of you don't mind, I was told that you needed some medical expertise," he said as he walked over to them, kneeling down to Scootaloo's level and asking her to take off her armor. He shook his head as he saw the bleeding that was still going on from the needle wound. "Yes, this will take a few stiches to fix. If you would kindly sit down at the table over there, I can get started." Scootaloo did as he asked, wondering why he was taking to talking a Pegasus so well. "Trust me when I say that you are not the strangest thing that Master Bruce has brought into the cave with him. Please turn."
"So what do you plan to do now that you've rescued me?" Batman asked as he sat down next to her on the table, removing the top half of his suit so Alfred could look at his injuries as well. Despite her resisting the best she could, Scootaloo couldn't help but wince as she looked at the multitude of scars that he had acquired over the years, along with a number of discolorations and burn marks.
"My plan is to--ow--head back home and get a day's worth of sleep before resuming my search for the scum that are trying to resurrect the demon that will destroy all of Equestria," she said with a stifled yawn as Alfred finished up her stiches and turned his attention to Batman. "However, I'm worried that they only need one more filly to complete the ritual. While I might be able to protect Pumpkin, there are still at least fifty fillies on that list that could still be used as sacrifices."
"Do you need me to help you?" Batman asked. "I'm more than willing to go back to Equestria, especially since I see that you are having a hard enough time keeping up with your training. Your form has slipped a bit from the last time we trained together. You should have been able to handle the grunts without that much trouble."
"The Scarecrow threw me off my game, okay? But don't worry, one day I will be as skilled as you. And maybe even as dark and terrifying." Batman looked down at his hands as she said this, waving Alfred away when he wanted to look over the rest of his body for more injuries.
"I never wanted you to become like me," he said softly as he looked over at her. "The life I lead is a life that would wish on no other, and especially not one that I care for as much as I do you. In all honesty, if it were in my power, I would make sure that there was no need for a Batmare...or man."
"If you don't want me to be Batmare, then why did you help me by sending all of those cool gadgets to my cave," Scootaloo asked as she and Batman both hopped off of the table.
"Because I can't be the one who decides who you want to be, you have to," Batman said, bringing back memories of what he had said during his final battle with Morgaine. "Because you have to choose your own path in life. And as your mentor, I'll do my best to support you in any way I can. Which reminds me." He motioned for Scootaloo to follow him to a part of the cave where he had a number of spare suits lined up on the wall, with one labeled Equis 1.
"Ever since you mentioned that you've been having trouble with you armor, I decided to have some of the minds at Wayne Tech whip this up." He pressed a button on the side and stood back as the locker opened up. "I give you your new batsuit." Scootaloo's jaw hit the ground when her eyes rested on the suit within the locker. It was a sleek black design, with a red bat in the center of it's chest. "The materials are made from a lightweight titanium that can deflect most projectiles and blades. I also had a few of my more mystical allies work on it and it can also reflect almost any spell back at the caster. And of course, there is room for you to spread your wings. Go ahead, try it on." Scootaloo walked up to the suit and gently placed a hoof on it, having to force herself not to start giggling at the touch of the metal armor. She slipped the actual suit on first, feeling a tingling throughout her body as it fit perfectly over her muscular body.
"It feels like I was meant for this suit," she said with a smile as she started to throw punches, the suit not hindering her in any way.
"That's because it was," Batman reminded her as she slipped on the hoof guards and cowl. "The cowl comes with thermal vision as well as the newest version of detective vision that my suppliers have produced. It can also show you where structures are weak and can scan for blood. It should help you during your crusades."
"I love this armor!" Batmare yelled as she spun around a few times, watching the black cape following her with a grin. "It's like it's another skin."
"It's supposed to be. The armor you wear should be like another part of you, not weigh you down like the armor you wore," Batman said with a shake of his head as he held the torn up suit she had been wearing. "I admit that Rarity does have talent when it comes to fashion, but I don't think that going to her for armor was one of your better ideas."
"Because the Canterlot armor is bulky and sticks out," Batmare said. Then she remembered what she promised Twilight. "I hate to say this so soon, but I need to get back to my world. I promised Twilight that I would contact her as soon as my mission here, or rescuing you, was complete. Do you still have the dimensional stone that you used to visit me so that I can get back?" Batman nodded and walked over to a locker labeled "Batmare" and opened it, reaching inside to pull out a small stone with blue markings over it.
"I've kept this here in case the day came when I needed to go to Equestria again, despite some of the more paranoid sorcerers on the league advising me otherwise," Batman said as he walked over to a device that sat near the computer, looking like twin metal rods sticking out of a metal circle with an image burned into it. "So I asked Dr. Fate if he would help me construct this device, which can be used to access other dimensions. This should take you home." Batmare walked over to the device as Batman placed the stone in the center of it and started to mutter something that she couldn't hear, covering her eyes as a bright flash went off and a portal appeared in front of her.
"So...I guess that I'll see you later then?" Batmare said with a hint of sadness in her voice as she looked over at Batman, who had walked away from the portal towards a tarp that covered something.
"Before you go, I have one last thing for you," Batman said as he pulled back the tarp, revealing a night black motorcycle that had the red bat symbol on the front as well. "You may not have been in my world long, and a lot happened so that it was mostly us fighting for our lives, but I still enjoyed spending time with you. This is for you."
"You're giving something this awesome to me? Me? The pony that nearly crashed a hang glider and almost got herself killed trying to learn how to cook?" Batmare asked in disbelief.
"It's your birthday, isn't it?" Batman asked with a smile as she walked over to the motorcycle with awe in her eyes. "Every year I've given you something that would help you and this year is no different. Happy Birthday." Batmare hopped onto the back of the vehicle as Batman explained to her how it worked. "I have a test track at the end of the cave if you wish to--" His words were drowned out as Batmare shot off to the track with a gleeful laugh following her as she hit the track and started to drive around flawlessly.
"She is truly as talented as you said she is," Alfred said as he walked up beside Batman, who shook his head with a thin smile as he watched Batmare drive around the track.
"And just as reckless," he said with a small sigh.
"But you still took her under your wing."
"She needed somebody to help her with her grief. I just wish that she found somebody better than me." Alfred chuckled to himself as he placed a hand on Batman's shoulder.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Master Bruce. You have done a fairly good job despite your own grief. And she helped you just as much as you helped her." Batman smiled at that as Batmare drove up to the two of them, a massive smile under her face.
"This. Is. AWSOME!" she yelled.
"I'm glad you like it, but I thought there was somewhere you needed to be?" Batman asked with a smile.
"Right, I gotta go," Batmare said as she revved the engine. "Despite the small amount of time we spent together, it was still nice being with you again. Bye Dad!...Love you."
"Go stop those criminals. I know you can do it." Scootaloo hung her head a bit, but she raised it again with a smile as she aimed the motorcycle at the portal. With one last rev of the engine, she shot forward through the portal and vanished into the other side.
"And there she goes. So how does it feel to see your daughter all grown up?" Alfred asked, raising an eyebrow as Batman walked past him and sat down at the computer. "And right back to work with you. I'd recommend at least a few days to let the wounds heal."
"Crime doesn't take a break and neither do I," Batman said as he started to scan the screens. "You should know that by now." Alfred sighed and walked over to the suit that Scootaloo had left behind, picking it up gently and looking at it with a smile.
"Well, I know that I am going to set this up in a case right away," he said as he headed for the display cases.
"Do you think I've...done enough for her?" Batman asked in a whisper, a whisper that Alfred had only heard once or twice before. "I've given her all she needs to be a crime fighter, but is it enough? Have I been as supportive as I could have been? Should I be out there with her instead of spending my nights fighting this endless battle?...Should I have gone back to Equestria?" Alfred walked over to Bruce and put his hand on his shoulder to comfort him a bit.
"You are doing your best, Sir; that's all she ever wanted from you," Alfred said gently. "And despite the fact that you think that somebody better should have helped her, you were the one to save her...in more ways than one. She loves you, Master Bruce. Never forget that." Alfred turned towards the suit cases and began to walk away, leaving Bruce there to think quietly to himself about what he should do. He eventually sighed and looked back to the computer, scanning the streets for the next crime.