Equestria is facing a new black chapter. With the death of Princess Celestia, Equestria falls to crime and poverty. Princess Luna struggles to maintain order within a corrupt system. The Elements try to bring ponies together, to no avail, leaving them torn from each other and their Elements. This is paticularly true in the city of Canterlot. The rich feast on the fair city while the poor feel fear from an ever growing criminal element.

For Eye Catch, it was another night in Canterlot, another terrifying night. Walking through the city streets, returning from her reporting job. What was it she reported on? Nothing good. “Sadistic”, “horrendous”, “evil”. Those were the words she would use. But fate would have an interesting turn for her tonight.

“Yo! Mare!” A voice cried out behind Eye Catch. She turned behind her to see two hulking Earth Pony Thugs. They looked tough and mean. “Give us all yer bits!” The thug said to Eye.

“Please!” yelled Eye. “I hardly have enough to get a piece of gum.” The economy for many in Canterlot was terrible, and everypony tried to get by in any way they could- even if that meant going to the lowest form of getting it.

“That's okay-” the thug said with an evil grin. “I know another thing you could give us.” The thugs eyed the body of Eye Catch. She shuddered when she realized what he meant. She tried to trot away as fast as she could, only to be stopped and pulled into an alley by the two thugs. It was a dead end.

“NO! Wait!” She pleaded for anything but this fate.

“Sorry lady, looks like today ain't your day.” The two thugs drew closer and closer to Eye with malevolent intent. Eye Catch's eyes widened as she saw them move over her. But then she looked up into the sky. And saw something gliding above them.

“Oh my-” The two thugs turned around to see a dark figure only inches on top of them. The figure collided with thugs. Eye Catch quickly rushed to hide behind a trash can. She hid while she heard the action. Bucks, kicks, punches, and it wasn't the thugs who were doing it. The sound stopped, she came out from behind the trash can to see the thugs tied up and hung up on a street lamp, bruised and knocked out. She looked up into the sky and saw what appeared to be, bat wings. She quickly ran back to her home to write a story about this immediately.

“A figure dressed in black-”

“-could only be described as a creature-”

“-sources say a bat-”

“Another robbery stopped by the Bat-”

High on the skyscrapers in Canterlot, was figure dressed in black with the look of a bat. He was a protector of the night, a punisher of the wicked, and a vigil for justice. He is vengeance- he is the night- he is . . . Batmane!