"Now that was an amazing show!" Spike chuckled as he walked down the street alongside Pound and Pumpkin Cake. Not long after joining the circus, their travels had taken them to Las Pegasus, where they'd been hired to perform for Ponet Fantastique. Needless to say, their show was already the main attraction!

"Nah Spike you were the bomb today!" Pumpkin said enthusiastically.

Spike merely blushed. "Well I mean... I think I did okay but I have shape shifting powers guys. You're just normal ponies! No way I should be able to pull off the stunts you do!"

"You really need to stop selling yourself short." Pumpkin stated casually as they exited the casino. "I mean, sure we've been doing this longer, but you really put us on the map!"

"Not to mention you're-WOAH!" Pound yelped he accidentally bumped into someone. "Sorry ma'am-"

"Watch where you're going, twerp!" The Orange-named mare snapped as she stormed past him with two more ponies.

"Jeez what's her problem?" Pumpkin said with a snort. "That was just rude on so many levels."

"You're telling me." Spike said with a glare. "They just marched by him like they owned the place."

"Yeesh, this is why I prefer stallions." Pound scoffed before giving spike flirtatious look. "Speaking of which…"

"Pound, no." His sister stated firmly.

"Aww…"

Spike however, seemed more focused on the three figures. There was something… "off" about them. "Hey guys... I'll catch up. I'm going to see what those three are up to." Spike said as he turned to them.

"Those three? They don't look like much..." Pumpkin mused as she watched them leave before giving Spike a coy look. "You sure you don't have your own reasons for following them?"

"Trust me I don't." Spike said as he left to follow the three.

Pound just groaned as he saw him leave. "Why did he have to leave with the outfit on? He has such a tight-"

"Dial it back, Sir Flirts-A-Lot!" Pumpkin sighed and she dragged her brother off, rolling her eyes and annoyance.

As the three made their way deeper into the casino, Spike took a form of a mosquito and slowly flew after them. Eventually they entered a restricted area while no one was watching. At first Spike assumed that the camera would pick them up, however the lead mare placed her hand on the wall and let loose and odd pink pulse of energy, temporarily disabling said camera as they slipped into to the room.

"Alright girls, remember the mission." The leader said with a smile. "Time to earn triple our pay from when that bitch X stole our own heist."

"No need to remind us..." One of them shivered as she removed her hood, revealing her purple mane and pigtails. "The last thing we need is the Headmistress "disciplining" is again..."

"SHUT IT!" The other one snapped with fear in her eyes. "Just… never… mention that. Ever. Again." She shivered as she removed her hood and donned her mask/cowl, her blue mane poking out the back.

'What are they talking about?' Spike wondered as he took the form of a spider and crawled closer.

"Look, let's just focus and get this over with." The leader said as she took her hood off, revealing her long, bushy mane. "The faster we do this, the faster we get the prize and NOT punished."

One of the mares pulled out a device that displayed the hologram of a staff of some sort. "Just remember, our "benefactor" needs this device..."

As Spike observed the hologram, he couldn't help but feel an odd sense of dread while looking at it. 'Where have I seen that thing before…?' He thought to himself as he narrowed his eyes.

Just then, the leader's wrist communicator started glowing. "It's the boss!" She exclaimed, getting everyone's attention.

Spike narrowed his eyes as he took the form of a fly again and flew towards the blue one, landing on top of the mask just out of sight. 'Ok, let's see just who you're working for...'

Sonata then typed in a few things and instantly a hologram of a strange hectagon with an H in it's center appeared. Spike's eyes widened at that... he knew exactly what that stood for. Kobra's rival... HIVE.

"Jinx, Dusk, Gizmo, I assume you've already made it to the casino?" A female voice called out, the stern tone of her voice indicating that it was more of a statement than a question.

"Y-Yes Ma'am!" Jinx stuttered in fear. "The security systems have been hacked and we're searching for the artifact right now."

"About time you did something right." The voice said with a growl. All three shivered at that and even Spike felt a slight chill. Whoever this was he knew that she meant business.

"Now be sure to plant the tracer in Glademane's office before you leave. I may need some... leverage for later..." The voice continued. "Now get back to work and DO NOT fail me." She stated firmly before the communication shut off.

Dusk sighed. "Jeez, that woman is scary!"

"A-anyways you heard her Dusk. Go plant the tracer in... Glad whoever's office." Jinx shivered.

"Right." She nodded before melting into the shadows… and taking Spike with her.

Back at the remains of Kobra's former base, a mechanical figure burst out of the rubble. The machine soon began sparking as it began scanning the area around it. Trying to search for something. [Scans indicate that the subject is not in the area.]

[Scanning... Scanning...] The exclaimed as it started searching the area... until it found a DNA sample; green feathers. [Data scan complete. Tracking subject; Changeling's last known location...]

And with that it took off towards the mountains, towards it's new objective.

Meanwhile, Dusk was just outside the main room and smirking, a pair of doors blocked her path but she easily passed through them through the shadows.

"Top-notch security this place has…" She mumbled sarcastically as she pulled out the tracer. "Now it's time to-"

"Yoink!"

She was immediately cut off when a long pink tongue snatched it out of her hand. Looking up she saw a green chameleon stuck to the ceiling. "What in the-" She started to say before the chameleon started crawling off into a vent and… did it just CHUCKLE? "You get back here!" She snapped as she shifted into the shadows and created a portal to the next room.

Just as Spike exited the vent, he found the mare waiting for him. "Gimme that!" She shouted before lunging at him.

"How about I don't and just leave?" Spike said as he shape shifted into a bird and started flying off.

"Wait, did that thing just-" Dusk shook her head and darted after him. She was NOT going to fail because of some weird, shape-shifting rodent!

However Spike was getting to a good head start. "It's like you're not even trying!" He shouted at her as he got near the exit. Just a little more... and he'd be out to freedom.

"Oh no ya don't!" Another voice shouted as a mechanical claw burst out of the door and slammed into him, reverting him back to normal and sending him flying across the hall.

"Where'd you come from?!" Dusk asked as Gizmo exited the staircase with three mechanical claws extending from her backpack.

"The tracer we were tracking was moving away from the office, we assumed you botched the mission and someone found it." She scoffed as Spike got up.

"Ow... okay ow that hurts." Spike said as he tried getting back up. "I mean seriously... OW." He groaned as he tried shifting into another form.

"Don't move, freak!" Gizmo glared as two of the claws reassembled into ray guns. "Unless of course you want to be a steaming pile of ash..."

"Oh wow. Like that's the first time I heard THAT threat." Spike growled as he closed his eyes. He concentrated... tried to focus... tried to find the smallest possible thing he could become that could escape this.

Suddenly, several cards were sent flying past the two, each one landing on the walls, ceiling, and floor of the hall. Before the two could question what was going on the entire hallway transformed into what looked like a giant table with various treats and teacups.

"What the hell?!" Dusk exclaimed as Gizmo looked around in panic.

Suddenly, a familiar figure landed next to Spike. She had a long pink mane, wore a dark purple kimono that tied around her waist, where its length stopped just above her knees, black knee-high boots, and a dark pink mask, resembling a cat's head with purple stripes and a wide grin.

"You just can't stay out of trouble, can you Beast Boy?" Cheshire snarked.

"I was doing fine Chesh." Spike groaned as he got back up and turned into a raptor. "Let's just get out of here before the bad luck girl shows up." He told her causing Cheshire to look at him confused. "There's one that literally causes bad luck-look can we talk about this later?"

"Right... Jā-ne~!" She smirked behind her mask before throwing down a smoke bomb, engulfing the entire hallway with a thick cloud. By the time the smoke cleared and they were gone, leaving the two thieves stuck in an illusion.

"Oh that was a close call." Spike said as he walked back with a normal pony whose only indication she was Cheshire was her outfit. "Again. I can't thank you enough Mrs. Cake." He smiled, causing her to chuckle a bit.

"Oh Spike, you're family. Of course I would come to your aid." She smiled as she gently ruffled his mane... before giving him a flick on the forehead, "But what were you thinking going up against those two alone?! If Pound and Pumpkin hadn't told me what you were up to-"

"I could've gotten out." Spike pouted as they arrived. "Is uh... is Mr. Cake mad at me? I mean I know he doesn't like it when I stay out but is he like... blowing steam out his ears mad at me?"

Mrs. Cake simply rolled her eyes. "All he knows is that I had to borrow is playing cards for something." She stated as they entered their hotel room where Pound and Pumpkin were waiting. "Right now he's in the middle of a meeting with Glademane."

"Alright." Spike said as he saw the two. "Hey guys!" He said as Pound and Pumpkin tackled him with a hug. "OH LORD ABOVE WHY?!" He screamed as he fell to the ground.

"We were so worried when you didn't come back!" Pumpkin shouted as she hugged him closely. "What happened? Did they hurt you?!"

"Nah... well not too badly." Spike said as he rubbed his head. "I got out fine in the end though."

"With a little help I presume?" Mrs. Cake asked with a coy smile.

Spike sighed. "Yeah, you mom got me out of a jam-POUND STOP GROPING ME!" He snapped before turning into an ferrite and slipping out of their grasp.

"Well you're just a party pooper." Pound said with a pout. "I wasn't even grabbing that hard."

"STILL! THE POINT STANDS YOU WERE GROPING ME!"

"Sweetie, you know I have no qualms about your preferences..." Mrs. Cake reassured Pound... before smacking him upside the head. "But for Faust's sake have some sense of personal space!"

"Sorry... sorry." Pound said with a frown but then smirked at Spike with a wink.

"A-anyways... where was I?" Spike asked as he tried to find SOMETHING to change the subject.

"So… what exactly were those women up to?" Pumpkin asked, trying to get over the awkwardness of the situation.

"Oh they were stealing... something." Spike said as he sat down on a chair. "Some kind of staff or something I think."

"Ah yes, the Staff of Sameness..." Mrs. Cake said, getting everyone's attention. She immediately held up a familiar looking device that displayed a hologram of the staff in question. "Right before we left I snatched this off of the pigtailed one."

"...well that's a lame sounding name for a staff." Spike said as he looked at the staff. "I mean why name it that? Why not the Staff of Equality or the Nullifier? Those sound at least SOMEWHAT menacing."

"The fact is that this staff is rumored to hold powerful dormant magic, so whatever those three wanted it for can't be anything good." Mrs. Cake stated as the hologram shut off.

"We need to find Glademane and warn him before it's too late!" Pumpkin stated.

"Or, OR... we can do it ourselves and just smash it." Spike said as he held out his hand and a worried look on his face. "I mean seriously... I like you guys but I don't trust Gladmane. He seems... I dunno. He seems really underhanded and jack ass-ish, I'm just saying."

Mrs. Cake scoffed. "Honey, I know a false smile when I see it. I've felt with ponies like him before, but we can't just-"

Immediately the alarms went off as the lights started flashing red.

"Well, looks like our decision's been made for us…" Pound smirked while Spike put on his old mask.

"Well then, let's do this!"

"Honestly, you two can't do ANYTHING right!" Jinx snapped as the trio burst out of the vault carrying the staff.

"Oh like you could do any fucking better. Where the hell were you anyways?!" Gizmo yelled at her as she pulled her mask off. "Seriously me and Dusk nearly get creamed by some cat-mask assassin and you're nowhere near us to help stop them! Oh but at least you get some stupid pride trip from it don't you huh you bitch!"

"I was making sure those cameras stayed off you incompetent wench!" Jinx fired back as several guards blocked their path with their guns drawn. Dusk immediately melted into the shadows as Jinx let loose a powerful burst of energy and three mechanical claws emerged from Gizmo's backpack and started firing.

Dusk appeared behind them and quickly disarmed the ones not hit hit by their blasts before pushing them into the line of fire to make them easy targets.

"See? THIS is team work!" Jinx shouted as she blasted a few other guards with a dark laugh. "This is how you do things!"

"That's enough of that!" Pumpkin called out as she and her brother dropped down from above, kicking Gizmo and Jinx in the back of the head. Cheshire dropped down behind Sonata and started swiping at her with her sais, forcing her to retreat back into the shadows.

Slithering out of a nearby grate in the form of a snake, Beast Boy took the opportunity to snatch the staff from Jinx and immediately morphed into a hawk, flying towards the window.

"STOP HIM!" Jinx shouted as she tried to blasted at him. "WE'RE NOT GOING TO FUCKING RUIN THIS NOW BECAUSE OF SOME SHAPE SHIFTING BASTARD!"

"I'm on it!" Gizmo shouted as two rocket boosters emerged from her backpack and she flew after him... unintentionally taking Pound with her as he held onto her leg.

"Woohoo-I mean, slow down!" He screamed as she followed him out the window and up towards the roof.

"ROUND TWO YOU SHAPE-SHIFTING FREAK!" Aria shouted as she chased after Beast Boy. "AND THIS TIME I'LL BE SURE TO REDUCE YOU TO NOTHING BUT ATOMS!"

"So, you wanna dance huh?" Beast Boy smirked as he landed on the roof. "Then let's do it!"

The moment she reached the roof she threw Pound off her and pressed a button on her belt. Suddenly several parts other suit began to grow and expand around her. "Fillies and gentlecolts, introducing for the first time my latest and greatest creation!" The Integrated. Neural. System. Techno-Intelligence. Gyroscopic. Atomic Tactical. Organic. Robot.! Codenamed: The I.N.S.T.I.G.A.T.O.R.!"

As the transformation finished, she was completely engulfed in what looked like an oval-shaped robotic suit with a cockpit where the "face" would be.

"Oh fucking come on!" Beast Boy yelled as Pound landed next to him, the two quickly darted out of the way as the I.N.S.T.I.G.A.T.O.R. nearly crushed him while Gizmo laughed insanely.

"You won't win this time you freak! I'm in the superior weapon! I AM THE WEAPON! NOW DIE YOU ABOMINATION!"

"Bring it on!" Beast Boy let out a roar as he immediately took the form of a scorpion with a cobra head in the place of its tail that was the size of a lion. "Let's tango!" He shouted as he leaped towards her, latching onto her arms with his claws and attempting to strike her with his tail… only for it to bounce off of a shield surrounding the cockpit.

"...you know what? Fuck it. I'm going to kill you here and now." Gizmo said as she grabbed him and summoned a laser gun and put it to his head. "This is fucking payback."

Beast Boy's eyes widened in fear before turning to Pound. "Take the staff and run Pound!"

"But you-"

"JUST DO IT!"

[TARGET ACQUIRED, COMMENCING DEFENSE PROTOCOL!] A new voice called out as a figure descended from above, with blinding speed it sliced off the laser arm.

"NOOOO! MY MACHINE!" Aria shouted as she looked at her arm that was now weaponless. "WHOEVER DID THAT IS GOING TO PAY DO YOU HEAR ME?! PAY!"

[YOU ARE A THREAT TO MY OBJECTIVE. YOU SHALL BE EXTERMINATED!] The figure stated firmly as it landed in front of Beast Boy. It had the form of a robotic mare with a white coat, and its mane was divided into two colors; light purple and pink.

"... OH SHIT! EVERYONE GET OUT OF HERE! THAT THING'S A WEAPON!" Beast Boy shouted as he morphed into a bird and tried flying away from the war machine.

"What do you mean by-"

Suddenly an explosion erupted from the staircase as Cheshire and Pumpkin were sent flying into Beast Boy and Pound.

"You two are getting on my last nerve!" Jinx snapped as she and Dusk rose from the shadows, her body engulfed in pink energy.

[WARNING: NEW THREAT DETECTED!] The figure stated as it transformed an arm and aimed it at Jinx and without a second thought charged up a cannon and a discharge of plasma was fired off towards her.

"What the-WOAH!" Jinx screamed as Dusk tackled her out of the way and dived back into the shadows.

Gizmo, taking advantage of this distraction immediately replaced used her remaining arm to fire a rocket at her from behind. However, the robot's free arm grabbed the missile and then crushed it like it was nothing but paper. It then turned back to her and summoned a sword from it's right arm and slashed the suit's legs.

"Get away from her you BITCH!" Jinx shouted as she fired another pulse of energy at her, stalling her enough for Dusk to yank her out of the cockpit and flee into the shadows once more.

"OK, who is that and how do you know her?!" Pound asked as he lifted his sister onto his back.

"THAT IS A DAMN WAR MACHINE BUILT TO DESTROY EVERYTHING IN IT'S PATH!" Beast Boy shouted as he stared at it in horror. "I-I thought it was dead... Robot Mare... she... she and Nega they... they died..."

"C-Calm yourself Beast Boy..." Cheshire gasped as she picked herself up. "D-Do not falter, my son." She stated as the robot took to the air and fired several lasers down upon Jinx, who quickly leaped out of the way and fired back another energy blast.

Suddenly, Dusk appeared behind her and immediately wrapped her cape around her before she could react and vanished into the air.

"Whew! That's ONE nuisance taken care of..." Jinx sighed as she turned her attention to Beast Boy, Cheshire, Pound & Pumpkin. "Now then, how about you handover that staff…" She smirked as Sonata reappeared next to her, and Aria flew up behind them.

"... or how about this you bitch. Fuck. You." Pound Cake growled as he lifted the staff over his head and brought it down on his knee... snapping the staff in two.

There was a deafening silence between the two groups as the trio stared at the broken staff. Jinx's eye twitched as she glared at the group with murderous intent. "KILL THEM ALL!" She screamed in rage as she fired a massive bolt of energy at them.

...however, the robot returned and blocked the blast with a giant green shield that deflected it back at her feet, which caused the ground beneath them to start cracking.

"Oh son of a BIIIIIIIIIITCH!" Jinx screamed as she fell off the roof. Dusk quickly flew down after her while Gizmo gave the group a nasty glare.

"This isn't over!" She said before flying down as well, vanishing into Dusk's cloak along with Jinx and Dusk herself.

"... damn Pound." Beast Boy said as he looked at the staff. "I mean... did you snap it hard enough to erase the magic from it?" He asked his brother as Pound looked at the staff.

"...I think it's just a stick."

Everyone blinked as Cheshire picked up both parts of the staff. "Yeah, this is a total fake."

"Wait, so we went through all that for NOTHING?!" Beast Boy groaned… only to notice the robot approaching him. "GAH! Y-YOU STAY BACK!"

To his surprise however… the robot bowed to him. [I await your commands.] It said in a calm tone.

"...wait, what?" He asked as the robot stood up and looked at the others... and summoned a blade.

[SHALL I TERMINATE THE POSSIBLE THREATS?] The robot said in a cold tone as it started walking to them.

Beast Boy immediately jumped in front of her. "NO! NO! I-um, uh… stand down!" He stuttered. The robot immediately stopped in its tracks and bowed once more.

"So… this thing thinks you're its master?" Pound exclaimed as he walked towards it.

"So... what do we do with her?" Pumpkin asked as she got off her brother's back. "I mean. It only seems to listen to you..." Before anyone could respond however, they heard several police sirens in the distance. "...maybe we should get out of here first..."

"Yeah good idea. Um... robot. Take us back to the hotel where these three live." Beast Boy ordered. The machine looked at the three others and started scanning them and searched it's databanks for where they might be living at the moment before finding the hotel.

Adagio, Sonata, and Aria walked into the main office, nervously taking off their masks and looking around as they approached their boss' desk.

"We… we're sorry Headmistress..." Adagio said as she and her comrades kneeled before her. "We tried to obtain the staff but we were… intercepted by another group, they destroyed it and-"

"Oh, stop your groveling." The Headmistress snapped as she got up. "I already knew you'd fail. That's why I sent a more competent student to get the real staff."

Adagio, Sonata, and Aria looked up in shock. "W-What?" Jinx stuttered, feeling like she'd just been slapped.

"You heard me. I have someone else retrieve the true staff. You three were simply diversions." The Headmistress said as she raised a hand and snapped her fingers. "And she's proven far more competent than you three."

Before any of them could retort, a lone figure dropped down from the ceiling. She wore dark gray armor with black greaves and gauntlets, a mask obscuring most of her head save for her red and yellow hair, the left half of her mask was completely black, while the right side was dark orange with a single eyehole. She also wore a utility belt with several pouches, and twin-swords on her back. In her hand she held the real Staff of Sameness.

"You've done well, Ravager." The Headmistress smiled as she took the staff. "Your father would be proud."

"My father wouldn't have done this... and I only owe you a debt." Ravager said with a monotone voice as she turned towards the other three. "These are three you told me about?" She asked her.

The trio froze as they met her gaze, at the moment they felt like she was silently judging their every move, like if they so much as twitched they'd be dead before they hit the floor...

"Yes, though sadly their performances have been… lackluster as of late." She scoffed, snapping them out of their fear stricken state.

"Hey now that is uncalled for and unfair!" Adagio shouted at her with anger in her eyes. "Okay I admit our encounter with Red X could've gone better but are you seriously telling us that we could've beaten a shape shifter, three thieves and one of which is a damn assassin, and a fucking cyborg?! I should've done this sooner!"

A split second after she said that, the Headmistress' eyes glowed ominously, forcing Adagio to the ground as she screamed in pain. "Hold your tongue, Adagio." She stated firmly. "You were taught to think on your feet during a mission and be prepared for various outcomes, how can I expect you to handle a mission properly if you can't even handle one thief?"

"Maybe... if your teachings... were... less... shit... GAH! MY HEAD!" Adagio shouted as she grabbed her head and yelled in pure pain. The Headmistress growled and let up from the pressure and turned to the other two... who were unable to say anything. "And what do you two have to say for yourselves?" She snapped as Adagio fell to the floor, unconscious.

Sonata instinctively hid behind Aria who quickly took a step back. "We... w-we won't argue Headmistress." Aria said nervously as she looked at Adagio and gulped.

"Good, now take her and leave, I'll have a more fitting punishment for her later." She stated coldly while gesturing to the unconscious mare.

The two quickly carried their comrade out of the room as the Headmistress returned to her seat. "Now Ravager, I have a special task for you..."

"And what is it?" She asked her as she took a knee. "I hope to pay this debt off sooner rather than later."

"Oh it's simple." She began as her chair turned around and her bookcases separated to reveal a large screen. Said screen changed to display an areal map of Canterlot City. "This staff is one of the eight items we're seeking, and the next one is somewhere within this city… your job…"

"...is to steal it, or failing that, destroy it." The stallion explained to Red X. "Understood?"

"Yes but uh... question... what if your daughter is also trying to steal it?" Red X asked him. "I mean I got my ass creamed by you so what makes you think she's going to be any easier?"

The stallion simply chuckled as he handed her a circular object. "Everypony has their weaknesses, and this is hers. Make sure she gets this, and she won't be a problem."

"Sure thing. I'll be back before you know it." Red X said as she pressed the button on her belt and teleported out of there.

Cheshire made her way into the main office of the casino. "I have to say, I wasn't expecting you to take this long in exposing that fat oaf." She said as she sat on the desk.

The chair turned around, revealing Mr. Cake, AKA The Mad Hatter, sitting in Glademane's chair.

"Well now my sweat Cheshire. I did have some other appointments to make." Hatter said with a smile on his face before he started spinning the chair around as he let out a little 'wheeee!' whenever he saw Cheshire.

Cheshire rolled her eyes at her husband's antics before stopping the chair with her foot. "So I can say it's safe to assume we're now permanent residents at the casino?"

Cheshire happily embraced her husband before removing her mask. "While that's good to know, there's still the issue of that... robot that seems to be fond of Spike..."

"Oh he'll see that it likes us after a while. Besides the tech looks so... ALIEN." Hatter said as he kissed Cheshire on the lips. "I mean I'm crazy but I'm not gonna stupidly try and interfere with something that might literally blow up on me."

"No argument there..." Cheshire said, remembering the emotionless look in it's eyes when it suggested eliminating her. She was a talented former-assassin, but even she knew her limits. "Though that doesn't mean she can't be useful..."

Hatter blinked. "...she?"

"Well I mean, it seems to prefer the body structure of a mare, so why not?" Pumpkin explained as she paced around the robot.

"Well... still sorta weird. Why not just call the robot an it?" Pound asked as he scratched it's head. "Calling the robot a she just sorta... I dunno. Doesn't feel right."

[My designated gender is unspecified.] The robot stated, turning it's attention to Spike as he rested on the bed. [I can choose one should my master allow it.]

"Um... yeah. Mare is fine." Spike said... more distracted then anything else.

"Something bugging ya, Spike?" Pound asked, sitting down next to him. "You seem pretty out of it..."

"Well... it's just that it seems strange that the Staff of Sameness is rather a simple staff when there's such a big history behind it." He said as he looked through a computer.

Pound looked over his shoulder and shuddered. "This this can remove cutie marks... there is so much that's wrong with that..."

"It also bends the owner of the stolen mark to the wielders will..." Spike continued.

"Wow talk about nightmarish." Pumpkin said... she then noticed Pound sneaking up to Spike but before she could do anything the robot grabbed him by his hair.

[Threat incapacitated.]

"OW! Not the hair, not the hair!" Pound groaned as he struggled against her grip. "Spike, make her let go!"

"You promise not to grope me in my crotch again?" Spike asked with a raised eye brow. "I want to hear you say it Pound."

"Spike~! Fine! I'll stop groping you! Just make her let go!" He screamed. Pumpkin bit her lip, trying to surpass her laughter.

"Okay. Let him go." Spike said with a chuckle. The robot did as he commanded and went into standby mode.

"Oh I like her!" Pumpkin chuckled as Pound massaged his head.

"Of course you would..." He grumbled.

As he continued to read up on the staff, he occasionally glanced back at the robot. There was something... different about the way she looked at him...

Deep within the robot's base-programming, the final command from Robot-mare played repeatedly.

[Final Objective: Protect Beast Boy]

On the rooftop of S.T.A.R. Labs, the Black Racer was sent flying into a wall, creating a massive dent upon impact.

"I have to admit, you are one hard mare to put down." Her opponent chuckled as it advanced upon her.

"Being bonded to Death itself helps with that." The Black Racer said as she pulled herself out of the wall. "And may I ask why you're attacking S.T.A.R. Labs?"

"Being bonded to Death itself helps with that." The Black Racer said as she got back out of the wall. "And may I ask why you're attacking STAR Labs?"

"Oh I just passing through, thought I'd take in the sites, visit some people, kill that science-bitch you rescued, Y'know, basic stuff." The figure explained casually as it's left hand took the form of a scythe.

"Too bad. I'm not letting that happen." Racer growled as it zoomed forward and delivered several rapid fire punches to the figure and then one that sent it flying backwards. "I just hit you with enough force to leave a dent in a tank. If you're still alive I'm suggesting you stay down and don't get back up."

Much to her surprise however, the figure just stood up and laughed. "You dumbass! Pain is my friend!" It gloated as it thrusted its scythe-arm forward, the entire limb stretching like rubber. "Allow me to introduce you to it!"

"That's a cheesy as hell line and it's really cliche sounding." The Racer said as she vibrated her body and the limb phased through her harmlessly before the figure retracted it.

"It gets the point across doesn't it?" The figure scoffed. "Cool trick, but I doubt you can keep it up all night-" The figure suddenly stopped and put her right hand to her ear. "What?! I'm in the middle of-are you serious?! I just-...fine, have it your way!" She snapped before giving Racer an irritated glare. "Look like you're off the hook this time..." She said before leaping off the roof.

"Oh no you don't." She growled as she charged after the figure and grabbed them before throwing them into a car. "You're not leaving until you answer some questions first you little monster."

"I'd really love to, but my boss has me on a strict schedule..." She smirked as her scythe-hand was engulfed in electricity. But instead of stabbing her she jammed it into the gas tank, engulfing them both in a massive explosion.

The Black Racer was then launched backwards and hit another car. She groaned as she got up but saw that her opponent had just vanished into thin air. She growled as she sped into S.T.A.R. Labs and took off her mask as she saw the scientist she saved. "So what's up Captain Cold?"

"I'm a scientist Gilda I keep telling you that... besides that life is behind me now." The scientist told her. "And what's up is the security system after that robot tried to kill me... thank you for stalling by the way."

"No prob, bastard got away before I could question it though..." She grumbled as she took off her mask. "Just what the hell was that thing?"

"I don't know... it acted mechanical though... yet the body clearly was a normal pony." The scientist told Gilda. "I'm wondering if it was a cyborg that was heavily modified."

"Either way, it was working for someone. But they called it back for some reason..." Gilda said, watching the security footage of their fight.

"How is your... partner holding up?" She asked her. "I mean is the Racer agitated or-"

"Nah. He's still being patient... but he REALLY wants to hunt down the one New God. It's taking a shit ton of will to hold him back but... I can't really blame him." Gilda said.

"Well you said she escaped through a portal, and it has been a while... maybe she decided not to cause trouble… or maybe she just went back to her home planet..." She paused for a moment and took off her glasses with a sigh. "The fact that I can say that like it's a normal sentence really highlights how weird my life is..."

"Hey. I'm hosting the God of Death in me. Your life is much less weird I can promise that." Gilda said with a chuckle as she patted the scientist on the back. "So what now Lightning?"

"Now, I make sure my security system work properly in case that thing comes back." Lightning shuddered. "And considering your vibrating claw trick didn't kill it, I'd rather not take any chances."

"Yeah... but why was it coming after you though?" Gilda asked. "I'm going to go practice a bit longer. Try and see if I can improve." She told her.

"Just stay close by, that thing might've brought a friend or been a distraction..." Lightning stated as she turned around... only to be greeted by an empty room. "...I hate when she does that..."

As she said this Gilda started getting into a running stance as she looked ahead and saw the race track. She took one good deep breath before whispering to herself "Ready... set... GO!" And began her race.