//------------------------------// // Unfriendly Terms // Story: The Hero They Need // by MetalJrock //------------------------------// "What are you?!" Batman ignored that question and snarled, walking forward to the bunch of ponies that had discovered his hideout. He glared daggers at them, his cowl giving him a frightening appearance. Fluttershy and Twilight shuddered at his sight. "I told you. Get. Out. Of. Here." Batman warned once again, emphasizing his point. Rainbow Dash scowled, "Who do you think you are!? Ya think you can order us to get out of here?! Listen, pal, I ain't afraid of you so I'm not moving." she boasted. "You say that now. But you'll regret saying that." threatened the Dark Knight, not budging from his spot. Dash huffed, flying away from the Dark Knight. She moved herself toward Batman and lunged at him. Batman had seen this attack before, but decided to stay still. Rainbow managed to land a hit on his face, causing him to groan. While he was stunned, Applejack tied him up with her lasso. Batman felt his arms tighten around the rope, "That oughta keep ya still." she chuckled at his predicament, tieing together the ends of the rope to tie him in the center. "Good work, Applejack," Twilight complimented, "Now, let's ask you some questions." she trotted directly in front of the Dark Knight, who didn't change emotions at all. He remained still, a little too still for his liking, but he decided to play along and when the timing is right, gain the upper hand. "Now... Who are you?" Batman growled, "I'm Batman." "Well... That was simple." Pinkie replied. Twilight groaned, "Okay then. Why are you here and why did you attack those guards a few days ago?" she hoped to get a better answer put of him this time. "They threatened me for no reason. I was only defending myself. As to answer why I'm here, that is none of your business." answered the Dark Knight in a stern tone. Twilight knew that he wasn't going to budge to her questions, but didn't show it. "Now... Can you let me go? I have more important matters to attend to." "Sorry, but we were told to send you to Canterlot by orders of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." Rarity told him and scolded, "So I think it would be best if you would answer Twilight's questions. Batman scowled, not wanting any more distractions. "I don't have time for your questions or to meet your princesses." replied Batman. 'There are two? I should've looked more into the monarchy of this dimension.' "You're not going anywhere like that, Batman!" Dash bragged, "AJ's rope should keep you stuck until we say you can go! Which won't be for quite a while!" Batman growled, "Listen. You have three seconds to let me go. Otherwise, I am acting in self defense. One..." he began slowly, giving them a chance. "You aren't going anywhere, Batman! Not until you explain youself in greater detail." Twilight responded, not changing her mind anytime soon for Batman. "Uh, Twilight... Are you sure we should keep him like that?" Fluttershy wondered. "Two." he ignored the conversation. "Ya darn right we're keepin' him like that, Fluttershy. Ya hear his threat to us? He hurt Celestia's royal guards for no reason! He needs to be put away or put on trial!" she answered for Twilight, not believing Batman's threat made to them. "Three." In an instant, Batman removed the rope from his body and stood back up to stare down the ponies. All six of them were surprised to see him back on his feet, "How did you manage to escape Applejack's bind?" Rarity asked. "Hm. You should have done a better job," Batman taunted, cracking his knuckles. "I'm giving you one last chance. Get out of here. Or I will make you do so myself." he held his fists up, knowing that they weren't going to leave him be. Rainbow Dash was the first to attack. She flapped her wings and flew out of the cave. A rainbow blur shot itself toward Batman, the man rolling out of the way in time to avoid it. The pegasus stopped herself before she could hit a wall, "You got lucky that time, Batman!" she insisted to him with a groan. "You should've stayed where you were at, because you can't catch me!" Batman activated his Detective Vision, "You may think that, but I've dealt with speedsters on my Earth. Compared to them you're as slow as a slug." he mocked, causing Rainbow to huff in anger, 'Annoy her. Catch when she least expects it.' the Dark Knight told himself, planning a way out in his head. Rainbow Dash aimed herself at Batman, not wanting to miss. Before she could even collide with him, the Dark Knight ducked underneath her flight path and uppercutted her once she passed his head, hitting her in the stomach and make her collide with the stone wall instead. "I warned you." he said, looking at her unconscious body, "Now... Who else wants a shot?" Pinkie growled, "Nopony hurts Dashie like that! You're a meanie!" she bounced at Batman and pulled out her party cannon. Cakes started to fly out of it, 'Where did she get that!?' he wondered turning off his Detective Vision and rolling out of the way of the flying pastries aimed at him. He pulled out his Batclaw and grabbed the cannon, pulling it away from Pinkie's hooves. The pink pony pouted, "Aw, you're no fun!" she huffed. Batman grabbed Applejack's rope and tied her up with it, making sure that she doesn't anything else during the fight. Applejack ran toward the Dark Knight and spun around, bucking him in the chest. The farmpony's eyes widened once she saw that her kick didn't faze him, "Do you think that would work on me?" he asked her in a taunting manner, 'My kevlar armor's built to take more than your weak kicks.' He watched her attempt to kick again, but Batman grabbed her hooves and spun Applejack over his shoulder, throwing her to the hard rock ground below. He could hear the painful moans of her trying to stay conscious from hitting the floor, "You'll get better. Later." he assured her and the others. Before Batman could reach Twilight, something hit him in the back of the head, 'What was that? Wait...' he saw a small rock on the ground, 'Magic... The white unicorn did that.' the Dark Knight turned around to face Rarity. "You're going to regret doing that..." he said in a cold tone. He held out a batarang and threw it, 'It's just a warning toss. Not like they have to know about that fact.' he mocked inwardly to them. The projectile missed Rarity's flesh, but it did manage to make contact with and cut off once it reached. Her mane. "Oh no... My..." she never finished her sentence and due to her mane getting cut off, Rarity fainted from worry about not looking fashionable until it grows back. Even Batman was stunned at the dramatic display seen before his eyes. Now, Batman faced Twilight. The alicorn shot him with a beam of magic, making him hit the wall of the cave, "You think you can get away with hurting my friends? You're going with us whether you like it or not!" she shouted. Recovering from the blast, Batman got to his feet and grunted, 'My suit wasn't designed to take on magic to this extent. I have to be careful when facing her... She has wings and a horn so she could be as annoying as that rainbow pegasus. I just need a way to catch her off guard long enough to incapacitate her.' Batman reached into his belt and grabbed a smoke pellet. He threw it on the ground, covering the surrounding area in smoke. Suddenly, Twilight felt something grab her. Once the smoke cleared, the purple alicorn saw that Batman had managed to tackle her. She was pinned down in a way that she couldn't use her magic on him. "I'm giving you one more warning. Leave me be and I won't hurt you or your friends anymore." Batman warned, looking at Twilight then Fluttershy who trembled in her place. "You're not going to kill us?" asked Twilight in disbelief. "No. I'll never take another life. I'm not here to hurt any of you or get involved. I'm here on a mission and I wish for you to stay out of my way. Got it?" he explained. "Okay!" shouted Twilight, "We'll leave you alone!" she said, looking at her incapacitated friends. Batman released the grip he had on the princess and grunted. "Now go." warned Batman. Twilight nodded and used a teleporting spell to warp her and her five friends out of the cave. Batman sighed in relief, 'Finally. Now I can get back to the task at hand.' Ra's looked at the crystal prepped on the table, "Are you sure this spell would work?" he asked. "Yes. I have read about it before. It was used by Starswirl the Bearded himself. All I have to is focus and I can call for anypony you wish over here." Chrysalis used her horn on the Warp Crystal, lighting it in a greenaura. "Heh. Now, you have fed my people. It is only fair that I return the favor." she said. "Very well... I shall test the Dark Knight for the moment we strike. And I know the first person he should fight." Ra's chuckled, telling the changeling queen who to summon to Equestria.