A minute later, the dark shroud that had been pulled over the city was removed without a trace.
"Good work, Enchantress," Amanda Waller said through the radio. She was hovering over the building Batman had been hiding behind, riding in a silent hovercraft designed by the Colony. She bit her lip in frustration as she realized that the Dark Knight had escaped. "Look on the radar. Get me Batman, now!"
"He's not on radar, ma'am," the pilot said. "He's just gone!"
"Enchantress?"
"Nothing," Enchantress said through the radio. "I do have some of our magical little friends in my sights, though."
"You're good to engage. Grundy's on his way. Killer Croc and Katana will be close behind. I want at least one primary specimen taken alive. Do what you want with the others."
"Understood."
"Take us to the ground once the target is secured," Waller told the pilot. "I want to oversee its transport myself."
The pilot nodded obediently. She could already see her troops gathering around the gorilla king, their weapons held at the ready as they silently searched for targets in the air. Lex had vanished. She didn't like that, but she couldn't afford to worry about it now.
"I saw what your sister did to the moon," the Enchantress said as she hurled fireballs at Celestia. The Canterlot Guard were in a desperate fight with Colony soldiers nearby. "That was impressive spellwork, manipulating the laws of nature like that. You have my respect."
Celestia dodged to the side before taking to the air to avoid the large, grey monster that crashed down next to her. The creature began fighting her guards, pushing the ponies back with his incredible strength and durability. The ponies ganged up on him, stabbing him repeatedly with their spears and lances, but to little avail. It was if he didn't feel pain or fear. His skin was pale and lifeless. A shiver ran down Celestia's spine as she considered the possibility that it was undead.
"We do have many talents," the princess called back as she pulled her attention away from the fiend. She fired a bolt of lightning at the human that scorched the air as it moved. Enchantress parried it with a magic shield produced by a wave of her hand. "Our friends have already seen the outcome of this fight."
"Your friends have seen possibilities, and nothing more," Enchantress called back as Celestia teleported several hundred yards away. With another spell, the princess turned the ground to lava under Enchantress' feet, but the woman was already hovering in the air. "I know enough about clairvoyance to say that much. You don't know us, though. The power difference is too great. The only outcome is for you to lose and become Waller's lab rat."
Enchantress fired an explosive blast of magic at Celestia, which rebounded off of the princess' force field. Celestia responded with more lightning bolts, followed by a fireball that lit Enchantress' clothes on fire. Enchantress yelled angrily as she put out the flame, then she dispelled Celestia's shield with a word of power. A single shot rang out the second the shield was down. The princess was hit in the back, left leg. Her armor shattered from the force of the bullet, and she fell from the sky.
"A non-fatal wound, assuming you get medical attention," Enchantress said as she came to land next to Celestia. The nearby Canterlot Guard struggled to reach their princess, but the soldiers of the Colony were fast and strong. They formed a ring around the two sorceresses and held the guards at bay with gunfire and sheer brutality. Solomon Grundy had disappeared, having been called away by Amanda Waller. "Your kind will be fascinating to study. The governments of our world make it a rule to take whatever we can from our victories, for use against the constant threats we face. I believe you will add a great deal to our already considerable reservoir of knowledge."
Celestia coughed, the pain in her leg was extreme and the force of her fall had bruised her lungs. She looked to see the giant, grey fiend pull back and jump a long distance away. Her soldiers still fought, but they were losing now. Many of them were standing only due to force of will.
"Deadshot," Amanda Waller said over the radio at the Enchantress' waist. "We've got our prize. Start systematic clearing of the enemy. Grundy's already on it. I want you to carve us a path out of the city. Grodd and Lex can do what they want from here."
"Can't do it, Waller," Deadshot replied, his voice tense and frustrated.
"This is no time for insubordination, Lawton! Obey, or I'm pressing the button!"
"Press it if you want. I've got an angry, green ghost owl with an arrow pointed at the back of my head telling me he'll shoot if I do. I'll get one shot off before I'm dead. That's hardly enough to clear a path, and this thing behind me is immune to bullets. I can't do squat."
Amanda Waller growled angrily through the radio.
"I'm going to secure the target with Killer Croc and Katana. Silencer, Deathstroke, Joker and Harley. Give Grundy backup! Get us a clear path, now! I don't care how you do it! Once Grodd sees us leaving, he'll turn his new weapons batteries on us. It's Lex Luthor's tech, so there's little chance we'll make it out unless we get evac from outside the city. If any of you want to see tomorrow, then obey my orders! Waller out!"
"She's mad, you know," Enchantress said as a swarm of flies began hovering over Princess Celestia. "We're all mad. You made us look like fools in Gotham. The shady bureaucrats Waller answers to were most upset. They look like fools to their bosses, and their bosses look like fools to their big political donors. We wanted at least one of you captured. We succeeded. Now we just need to leave."
She grimaced as another swarm of flies began hovering around her head. She swatted at them, and they momentarily dispersed. The humans gave one final push, and the Canterlot Guard retreated. Celestia groaned in pain.
"Honestly, I don't think either of us smells enough to justify all these flies. It must be the monkeys that populate this stinking city. I don't think they shower."
"Get back here, you stupid, little, orange…" Deathstroke said through gritted teeth. He swung his blades with skill and precision, but he hadn't been able to land a hit, yet. A pair of flaming pig monsters were fighting Parasite nearby. They rammed the metahuman over and over with flaming tackles that seemed to do almost as much damage to them as they did to Parasite. Deathstroke watched out of the corner of his eye as his comrade sent one of the things flying. The beast landed on his back with a painful grunt, but was quick to his feet.
"I think you need more than one eye for this fight," Applejack said as she kicked Deathstroke's legs out from under him. A moment of distraction had almost cost him the fight, but he recovered fast. He rolled into his fall and came up from underneath the pony to slash at her ribcage. This time, his swords struck home. They tore through her armor and grazed her skin.
"Two eyes ain't always better," Deathstroke said as he followed up on his success and continued to push Applejack backward. He came in close for a downward swing, but the earth pony countered with a ramming headbutt into his stomach that knocked him several feet back. He felt his ribs crack, and breathing became considerably more difficult.
"Four legs is always better than two, though," Applejack said. She grinned as Deathstroke gripped his stomach and coughed painfully. She pulled a saber from her waist and held it in her mouth, her eyes shining with challenge. "Especially when they're attached to a sturdy country pony like me."
"I guess I'll just have to remove some of those legs, then," Deathstroke said. He pulled himself to his feet, twirled his blades and continued the fight with renewed fury.
"Hey, get back here ya' dumb horse!" Harley Quinn yelled as she chased Pinkie Pie through the streets. "I'm supposed ta' be blowin' up buildings and stuff, but you're too annoying to let live!"
"Oh, hi!" Pinkie Pie said as she continued galloping down the street. She slowed down a bit to let Harley get closer, but still maintained a solid lead. "Long time no see! So, whatcha been doin'?"
"Thinkin' a ways to kill you!" Harley yelled. She pulled a handgun from her side and began firing at Pinkie Pie.
"Why is your world so dark and gruesome?" Pinkie Pie said as she dodged the bullets with relative ease. "You're dressed like a clown. I'd think you would know a bit more about fun!"
"I'm a crazy clown! Gacey's got nothin' on me and my puddin', and neither do you and your stupid horse friends!"
Pinkie Pie stopped suddenly as Harley reloaded, and kicked the woman's feet out from under her. Harley was propelled forward. She landed on her faced and flopped on her back.
"First off, my friends and I aren't stupid!" Pinkie Pie said as she pinned Harley down with a single hoof. Harley's head was pounding, her neck hurt and she had let go of her gun.
"Why are you so strong?" Harley said as she was prevented from rising off the ground. The pony held her down easily.
"Second off, you need a good, proper smile. One you get from feeling good about things that are good."
"Where are the Colony soldiers that were following me?" Harley said as she continued to struggle. She watched as fourteen pink sheep-like creatures walked up behind the pony. Behind them were three rabbit monsters. Two of them had bright yellow fur around their ears and paws. The one in the center had pink fur that matched the sheep. All of them, bunnies and sheep alike, walked on their hind legs.
"These are my friends, and I know for a fact that your soldiers aren't coming to help you," Pinkie Pie said as she pulled a rubber chicken and some party balloons from a pocket inside her mail armor. "How do I know that? Cuz' my friends are here! And if my friends are here that means your soldiers definitely aren't coming. Anyway, we're gonna teach you what a clown should be like. Together, I think we can get all that nasty badness out of you!"
"Puddin'! I need help!" Harley yelled.
"Don't worry!" Pinkie Pie replied as she lifted the woman off the ground and gave her a big hug. Try as she might, Harley couldn't escape the pink pony's grip. "We're gonna give you all the help you need!"
"That would be such a dapper suit if not for the bloodstains," Rarity said as she hid behind a stonewall. The civilian gorillas inside the home had already fled. Though the Joker had tried to shoot them as they ran, Rarity had managed to keep the human's attention long enough for them to escape. The Joker fired round after round from his shotgun now, keeping her in place as he made a steady advance.
"The bloodstains make it all the more impressive, my dear!" the Joker said. "It tells a story, and reminds me of all those who have come before."
"Before what?"
"Before you, of course! There have been seven other people I've killed in this outfit before you. You're the last one before I wash it!"
"I don't think so, darling," Rarity said. Though she spoke the last word out of habit, she almost choked on it. "Perhaps we can sit down and have a nice chat over a chai latte?"
"A spot of tea does sound nice, but I think I'll take your head to go!"
"That… that doesn't even make sense…" Rarity said as the Joker appeared around the corner and threw a rusty metal hook at her. She dodged sideways, but the hook still managed to catch on her mail dress. She pulled on it, and the Joker fought her. She proved stronger and yanked the chain out of his hand. He responded by raising his shotgun and firing point blank at her face.
The shot exploded, rebounding off of the steel body of the Mega Scizor that had landed in the small space between Rarity and the Joker. The Joker took the blast head on, his face a mask of surprise and shock.
"Ouchie," the Joker said, pathetically as he crashed to the ground. Then he broke out into insane laughter. "Whooboy! I did not see that one coming! I think I need a doctor, but… Wow! What a great joke! I'm glad I've got Bruno recording this in that tree over there! I know a few websites that'll find that hilarious!"
He tried to point to Bruno's hiding spot, but his arm was barely attached. It flopped over, making the Joker laugh even harder.
"He's such an awful person," Rarity said as she peeked out from behind Lady Suzuki. "I hate to leave him here, but I'm also hesitant to help him considering…"
"We have more important things to do," Lady Suzuki said. "We need to find Lex Luthor. He disappeared when Princess Twilight cast her darkness spell. We've got all our teams searching for him, but no luck."
"You know," the Joker said. His voice was growing softer as he began to drift out of consciousness. "Black Adam's here, too. Grodd doesn't know, and neither does Waller. Lex brought him in. Find Adam, and you'll find baldy."
"What are they planning?" Suzuki said, as she carefully lifted the Joker up off the ground. She had a vague idea of his reputation. She knew he didn't deserve it, but she still felt compassion for him.
"Do you know where all roads lead to?"
"Where?"
"My bestie!" Joker said. Then he gave one final laugh, and passed out.
"Hello, princess," Amanda Waller said as she walked through the circle of Colony soldiers to stand beside Enchantress. She smirked as she looked the pony over. "Not so tough without your magic, are you? That's a nasty wound. Don't worry, we'll take care of it so long as you comply."
"Where are Croc and Katana?" Enchantress asked.
"I sent them to make a hole for us in Grodd's defenses. The others aren't making much headway. We're going to have a long, unpleasant talk when we get back to Belle Reeve."
Celestia groaned, still holding her injured leg. There were more flies buzzing around her now. A swarm of them had formed over Enchantress and Waller, as well. Enchantress groaned as she looked up at the insects.
"Can we leave already, Waller? This stupid monkey town stinks to high heaven. Look at all the bugs it's attracted. They won't leave me alone!"
Enchantress swatted at the bugs, dispersing them for a moment before they reformed their swarm. Waller looked up at the flies and grimaced.
"You don't sense anything strange from them?"
"No, but then again the smell of this place makes it hard to sense much. It's a constant distraction. Fortunately, our little princess was in plain sight when I found her."
"Right," Waller said, still grimacing. "Soldiers, get this captive bagged and boarded! We're going home!"
"Ditto," one of the Colony soldiers said.
"What was that, soldier?" Waller said, suddenly very suspicious of her subordinates.
"Ditto," another soldier said. Together, all the Colony soldiers lifted their weapons to point directly at Waller and Enchantress. Even the men that had accompanied her to the target were now pointing their rifles at her while repeating that same word, as if it meant something other than what the dictionaries said.
"It seems we've been compromised," Enchantress said. She raised her hands to cast a spell, but one of the flies above her head transformed into a giant, purple insect and slammed her to the ground. She lay there, unconscious, as the other flies transformed into armed Changelings. The Canterlot Guard returned, as well. They had been waiting nearby, hiding behind buildings in preparation for this moment.
"You've been defeated yet again, human," Princess Celestia said as she rolled over onto her stomach. A couple of medical ponies ran up to her and began treating her wound. Her armor had taken most of the explosive force, but shrapnel and pieces of bullet had still passed through her leg. "I can't say I expected to be shot, but we made the best of the situation. You were defeated before this confrontation even began."
Waller put her head in her hands and groaned. Then the Canterlot Guards forced her to her knees so she could be tied up.