Chapter 1 Part 1: You won’t get away with this, Strange!    By GaryGibbon

GaryGibbon here! So, here is Chapter 1, Part 1. I kept getting distracted by the actual game, so this is why it’s slightly patchy. Constructive feedback is appreciated.

My Little Pony and all related locations, characters etc. belongs to Hasbro. Batman and any related locations, characters etc. belongs to DC Comics. Batman: Arkham City belongs to Rocksteady Studios.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTT

“AHHAAAAAAAUUUGGHHHH!!”

Every nerve was on fire. His vision went white. Foam flecked spit pooled in his mouth as he lost control of his bodily functions. As abruptly as the pain started, it stopped, and he hung his head, exhausted, panting for air. He could hear somepony walking around him in a circle. Suddenly, the mysterious pony spoke:

“Wake up, Mr. Blueblood. We have much to discuss.” Blueblood recognized the accent immediately: it belonged to a certain Doctor Strange. Though Blueblood had known about him for a long time, he had only recently come to the public light when Mayor Sharp had suddenly announced that he would be the administrator of the new Arkhoof City. Trying to control his tongue, Blueblood attempted to threaten him.

“Strange? You won’t get away with this.” He heard an amused chuckle.

“Oh, I already have...”

Suddenly, a memory came up, unbidden. As the world went dark again, Blueblood concentrated hard on the little snippet to prevent him falling into unconsciousness.

...“This is Headline, reporting live from Arkhoof City, the controversial super-prison built right here in the heart of Gothoof City.” A yellow Unicorn mare with a newspaper title page for a cutie mark was levitating a microphone using her magic in front of her face, speaking directly into it. In front of her stood a zebra, holding a camera. Around her, eager journalists and news reporters milled around her, waiting for Prince Blueblood to show up. “In a few moments Prince Blueblood will be live on stage to explain his sudden interest in Gothoof politics. The infamous playcolt millionaire has never been one to-”

“It’s billionaire, Headline.” Prince Blueblood interrupted as he walked past her. As she stood there, trying to figure out what had just happened, he continued without looking back.”

“Millionaires are so last year.” The crowd of newsponies, registering the presence of the playboy, crowded around him, shouting to get his attention, taking pictures of him, holding Dictaphones up to prompt him into replying-

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTT

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAUURGGHH!”

Once again, the electrodes attached to his body activated, sending 150 volts of electricity coursing through his nervous system. Needless to say, it was agonising. As Blueblood slumped in his chair, Strange began speaking, a smug smirk on his face.

“I assume that you, as an influential member of the court of Celestia herself, thought yourself untouchable. Well, as you can see, nopony is untouchable.”

The lights were dimming, and another memory had surfaced. Blueblood replayed it, hoping that it would continue the story of how he had ended up here.

...Prince Blueblood stood in front of a podium filled with microphones. Around him, the paparazzi and press of Gothoof seethed, taking pictures and filming him. Blueblood motioned for them to calm down.

“Thank you! Thank you, Gothoof.” He motioned to the imposing concrete wall behind him. “Imprisoned behind these walls, gang leaders are fighting a bloody war in the middle of our once great city.” He could hear police sirens wailing in the distance. He paid them no attention. “Every inmate from both Arkhoof Asylum and Blackgate Penitentiary has been relocated to this facility. How can this be safe for the citizens of Gothoof?” He deliberately said citizens of Gothoof; there were many species other than the 3 types of pony which lived in Equestria, and saying ponies would doubtless been seen by some as a racial insu-

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTT

“UUUHHUUUUUHUUURRRRGHHH!”

Electricity coursed through his, now worse for wear system, and he grimaced in pain. Though Strange didn’t know it, Blueblood had suffered worse than electroshock therapy. He glowered at Strange.

“Shut Arkhoof City down! It’s out of control!”

“Shut it down?” Strange sounded bemused. “But by the end of tonight, I will be a hero. Just like you...Bat-Stallion!”

Blueblood’s heart skipped a beat. Strange knew his secret identity? This was very dangerous. Not only did the person who knew his identity effectively control an army, but he could spill the beans to other super-criminals! He had to...figure out...a way to...stop...him...

... The sirens were getting very close now, and Blueblood guessed that Strange had made his move against him. Though every inch of his subconscious screamed at him to flee as fast as he could (or head in the direction of the sirens), he continued his speech. After all, he was Prince Blueblood, a member of the Royal Court: he wouldn’t dream of doing anything wrong!

“Today, I’m starting the campaign to close Arkhoof City and make Gothoof safe again.” A helicopter light shone down on the conference. The press started to panic. Vans belonging to the mercenary organization running Arkhoof City, TYGER, pulled up to the stage and deposited squads of soldiers. This wasn’t a single species organization. There were many different species with members belonging to TYGER. A griffon there, a pony here, a Diamond Dog over there. Regardless of their species, all were dressed in black and grey body armour, with black berets and scarves concealing their identity. All were equipped with the latest in military technology, with stabilizers, earpieces and armrifles forming just some of their wide and varied arsenal. Blueblood could clearly hear their radio chatter, over the screaming.

“Remember, Blueblood is the priority target. Lethal force is not authorized. I repeat, do not use lethal force unless absolutely necessary. If the journalists get in your way, you are authorized to apprehend and take them into Arkhoof City.”

Tear gas was thrown into the crowd, stunning the crowd that had assembled in front of Blueblood, driving them off for god, or forcing them onto the ground. The TYGER guards picked random targets, marching up to journalists and arresting them on the spot. Blueblood decided to remain where he was. After all, although to the outside world it looked like the situation had rapidly deteriorated, in reality, it was going just as planned. The TYGER operatives surrounded him, two of them forcing their way onto the stage. A pegasus, her armrifle pointing straight at his head, barked at him.

“Hooves in the air, Blueblood!” Blueblood complied, and was rewarded by the other soldier, who slammed the butt of his armrifle into the side of his head, knocking him out. The last thing he heard was the crackle of a handheld radio:

“Target is secure. I repeat, we have Blueblood. Oh, the inmates are gonna love this.”

This time, there was no wall of pain, no electric shock. There was simply darkness. And then, the face of a light brown unicorn stallion, his dark chocolate brown hair ragged and unkempt. He was dressed in white surgeon’s gowns, and one of the smuggest smirks Prince Blueblood had ever seen was plastered on his face.  Doctor Strange began talking again.

“I feel I should thank you. Capturing Prince Blueblood is so much easier than capturing the Bat-Stallion. And now that we have you, Protocol Ten is ready to begin. It will be my legacy. A monument to you failure. And if you try to stop me, I guarantee that everypony will know your secret.” The worst part was not the threats, not the smugness, but the fact that throughout the mocking Strange had given him, his voice had remained utterly void of emotion, as if there was no point in expressing glee-or as if he couldn’t express it. The Doctor stood up, and slowly walked out of the room. He heard a door squeak open and closed. He was now alone in the darkness-

Light.Lightlightlight ahh it hurts ahhh-

His eyes, accustomed to the darkness, burned as the halogen lamps in the room suddenly turned on all at once, bathing him in bright, painful light. As his vision adapted to its surroundings, he saw that he was in a steel grey interrogation room. A television mounted on the wall flickered to life, an image of Doctor Strange menacingly introducing new inmates to the rules and regulations of the City. A desk sat in the corner. Hooks hung from the ceiling, attached to chains. Both his forelegs and hind legs were hoofcuffed. Blood, both his and others, pooled and congealed around his hooves. He was sitting on a simple metal chair, unfurnished, and most importantly, unattached. A double way mirror sat in front of him, and doubtless members of TYGER sat there, observing him, watching him sit, broken in body and mind. Or so they thought. He needed to get out of here. He began to rock back and forth, rocking his chair as well. It became unstable as Blueblood constantly shifted his centre of gravity back and forth. Suddenly, the chair fell over on its side, taking Blueblood with it. As Blueblood lay in a pool of blood, struggling to rise to his four hooves, an alarm rang out, the red strobe light flashing and wailing. Clearly somepony had seen his escape attempt. Somepony should be bursting through the door around about no-

“What the fuck are you doing?!” yelled a female Diamond Dog as she burst through the door and marched over to him. “Did you think we couldn’t hear you?!” She delivered a heavy kick to his midriff. Ordinarily this would have sent most ponies sprawling and spluttering, but Blueblood wasn’t most ponies. She aimed another kick. As it was about to connect, Blueblood grabbed the diamond Dog’s ankle and twisted as hard as he could, breaking it. As her legs gave way, he grabbed her uniform and headbutted her face as hard as he could, knocking her onto her back. At the same time, he stole her radio. As she began shrieking in agony, Blueblood slowly got onto his hooves, breaking open the walkie-talkie and taking the prized communication chip. He didn’t notice the Earth pony walk up from behind with an armrifle, and the only indication he had of his presence was when the butt slammed into his cheek, sending him reeling. The Earth pony then grabbed the side of Blueblood’s head, and shoved it into the television screen with enough force to crack the LCD screen, breaking the television in the process. Stunned, Blueblood was easily led by the brawny Earth pony to the door that connected the interrogation room to the outside Processing Centre, where inmates entered the mega-prison. When the duo reached the exit door, the TYGER guard bucked the door open, before bodily throwing Blueblood outside. As he struggled to get to his knees, the earth Pony shut the door, adding:

“Heh. Welcome to Arkhoof City, Blueblood.”

There were a large number of inmates outside. All of them were poor, hardened criminals, who didn’t take no for an answer. The effect of the city’s richest pony being thrown into their midst was instantaneous. Those in the submission position immediately broke it (much to the chagrin of the guards) and clambered to their hooves, hurling abuse at the playcolt:

“You’re gonna be my bitch, Blueblood!”

“I’m gonna rip your throat out with my teeth, Blueblood!”

“Those billions won’t do you much good here, Blueblood!”

“On the ground. Now!” a griffon guard yelled at the prisoners. When they didn’t listen, he simply aimed his gun at a random inmate’s kneecap and pulled the trigger, blowing out the poor pony’s ligaments. As she writhed on the floor, the inmates got back into the position they had been in earlier, suddenly silent, in fear of reprisal. Well, almost all of them.

“No one arrests Black Mask. No one!” A snow-white unicorn stallion with, as his namesake suggested, a black skull shaped mask, levitated a broken piece of chair in front of him, waving it randomly to scare off the 3 guards that were attempting to subdue him. Black Mask, real name Foreman, was the head of the Smelter family, until Blueblood’s family bought his out. Resenting Blueblood, Foreman turned to crime. He wore a black mask craved out of his father’s coffin in order to protect his identity, but when his first heist resulted in a fire, the wooden mask was burnt into his flesh. He became a mob boss, at least until his incarceration in Arkhoof. He became infamous after he killed and tortured many ponies dear to Catmare, not least her coltfriend’s father, carving his name into his chest. The TYGER guards shouted at him, keeping their distance in case he managed to actually hit somepony.

“Give up, Foreman!”

“Never! Get me Strange, dammit!”

“Put the chair down! This is your last warning!”

“No! Now do as the Black Mask says and Get. Me. Strange!” He turned to the guard who had yelled at him and took a swipe at him, narrowly missing him and exposing his flank to the guard on his left, who held a Taser stick in her talons. She ramped up the power to full and jammed it in his cutie mark, money and molten metal crossed together, like an impromptu skull-and-crossbones. Black mask yelled with pain, and the griffon turned the power up even more.

“You’ll regret that, Mask!”

Black Mask collapsed, and the guards took the opportunity to beat him up, slamming their fists and Tasers into every piece of exposed fur they could find. And yet still, Black Mask fought on, swearing and hurling abuse at them all the while. Suddenly, one of them looked up, and caught Blueblood’s stare. He swaggered up to him and socked him around the face. He could taste blood in his mouth.

“What the fuck are you looking at, poncy? Get into Line A, now! Scat!”

Reluctantly, Blueblood obeyed the guard, and moved into Line A. Line B was full, and 2 ponies were busy beating each other into pulp over the fact that one of them had previously worked for The Puffin. Only 2 ponies stood in Line A. One of them was a squat male Diamond Dog, and the other was a cyan Pegasus mare with an incredible rainbow-coloured mane. As they were ordered to move to the side, the Pegasus looked up at Blueblood, and sneered.

“Prince Blueblood.” The cyan Pegasus stated. “You’re on my list.” She mimed a cocked wristpistol, and then pretended to fire it at him. “Bang.” She blew out her invisible wristpistol, and then chuckled, and leant on the wire mesh, forelegs confidently folded, a smile on her face. A zebra ordered him to pass through the metal detector, and then whipped him round the face with the butt of his armrifle when the detector found out the fact that Blueblood had hoofcuffs. He forced him into the submission position, and then stopped when Doctor Strange, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, raised his hoof.

“Lower your weapons. Mr. Blueblood will not be any trouble.” He leant in close. “Will you, Mr. Blueblood?” As if sensing his disagreement, Doctor Strange continued. “The cuffs can stay on though: we don’t want to make things too easy. Do we?” The zebra threw Blueblood into the Assimilation Chamber, a room which had two airlock-like doors. Inside were one zebra-and a famous newspony, one that Blueblood easily recognized. He wore thick-rimmed spectacles and had milk-coloured fur. Notepad A.K.A The Creeper. Notepad had had a device surgically implanted into his flesh that allowed him to bring out a manic, violent personality that he had dubbed The Creeper. The Creeper had worked with Bat-Stallion before, but he had always come to blows over random ponies that Bat-Stallion wouldn’t let him kill. For now, he was plain old Notepad. He looked uneasy. As the doors closed behind him, he turned around, and came face to face with Blueblood. His expression changed, to anger.

“Prince Blueblood? Oh, great. Here I was reporting on your crummy press conference, and now here we both are. I’ll guess that’ll teach you to not get involved in politics, won’t it?” He sighed, and hit his head on the wall in frustration. Though Blueblood knew that The Creeper would be a powerful ally in Arkhoof, he couldn’t let Notepad know that he knew about his alter-ego. He looked at both the other unlucky souls, and whispered.

“Listen to me carefully. When they open the door, do. Not. Panic. Stay close to me. I’ll protect you.”

“You?” Notepad looked incredulous. “Do you think that I’d take advice like that from some guy who’s never been in a fight?” The door started to open. The zebra started panicking, and Notepad instinctively flinched. As the door opened they saw what awaited them on the other side.

A wire mesh fence was all that separated them from a veritable sea of criminal scum that had turned up to see Prince Blueblood in Arkhoof City. A few had even climbed the fence. Blueblood remained calm, as the zebra bolted. He muttered to Notepad.

“Stay calm. They’re trying to scare us.” Notepad utterly ignored his reassuring words and he, too bolted. As he sprinted past him, Blueblood caught s a sentence aimed at him by Notepad.

“Sorry, Blueblood. It’s every pony for himself!” He turned back, and ran straight into at least 5 thugs who had jumped over the fence. They knocked him over and began whaling on him. The zebra was beyond saving. Amidst the sea of abuse, 3 of the thugs turned to him and launched an attack on him. Blueblood neatly dodged a blow aimed at him by a Diamond Dog’s fist, and then grabbed it from behind, threw him bodily to the floor, and broke the Dog’s leg. He sidestepped a blast of unicorn magic, before charging the unicorn, sweeping her legs out from underneath her, and then jumping on her throat, cutting of the blood supply and knocking her unconscious. By now the thugs, who had previously taken Blueblood for a pansy soft boy, were amazed at his combat prowess. The fact that he was in a pair of freaking hoofcuffs increased their amazement. Slowly, but spreading quickly, a chant began to ring out.

“Blueblood! Blueblood! Blueblood! Blueblood!”

Utterly ignoring the chant, Blueblood leapt up and grabbed a Pegasus, who was using a bipedal fighting stance, thanks to her wings. He struck a cluster of nerves where the wing meets the spine, and as the Pegasus fell, he grabbed her left wing and broke it in 3 places. Only 1 was left (the other had decided to run away), and he was too busy beating ten shades out of a screaming Notepad. Trotting up to the zebra busy having fun with notepad, he snaked the chain of his hoofcuffs over the zebra’s throat, and pulled tight. After the zebra stopped struggling, he pulled Notepad to his feet

“Get on your feet, Notepad.” When he didn’t get up he yelled some encouragement at him. “I said, get up!” He pulled Notepad to his hooves. He was quite the worse for wear after that encounter, and he leant on Blueblood, using him as support. As the pair made their way to the gates, they suddenly opened. What greeted them made Blueblood’s blood run cold.

In front of 4 thugs wearing balaclavas, camo trousers and jackets stood a well dressed white unicorn stallion. He had an azure coloured mane and tail, and his cutie mark was that of three crowns. A monocle was over his left eye, and a trim pencil moustache nestled above his upper lip. When he saw Blueblood, he shrugged his arms and smugly sneered:

“Well, well, well! Look who decided to join our little garden party after all!”

Fancypants. The Puffin. Suddenly, a thug that had snuck up behind the pair swung a steel pipe into Blueblood’s hind legs. As he collapsed to his knees, Puffin continued with his sarcastic smug greeting.

“Welcome to hell, Princey colt!” As he struggled to get up, the Diamond Dog that had the pipe swung it like a golf club, smashing the back of his head and sending him sprawling onto the hard tar road. As he slowly looked up, blood leaking out of the gash in his head caused by the pipe, Fancypants strolled up to him. He finished smoking an expensive-looking cigar, before throwing the ashes in Blueblood’s face.  He looked down with an expression of pure hatred. He raised his forehoof and brought it crashing down onto his head. The last thing Blueblood heard before he lost consciousness was Puffin’s taunt.

“Nighty night, rich colt.”