Harshwhinny kept a level head as she entered the Badlands Penitentiary, a more secluded prison facility that held criminals that were redeemed too dangerous for even Balkham Asylum to hold.
And here, the more dangerous criminals had only one way out; utilizing their powers and skills to undertake high-risk missions for Cadmus in exchange for reduced jail sentences, under the the team alias "Task Force X", AKA the "Suicide Squad".
"Ma'am are you sure you want to do this... I mean these ponies were placed here for a good reason." One of the guards said as they followed her. "Half of them wouldn't blink an eye if they killed you and-"
"Hence why we have these..." She stated as she pulled out tablet, which had the images a status of each criminal on display. "If any of them step out of line, we can use this to detonate their implanted chips."
"You managed to fit them into each of these... ma'am that's severe violation of civil rights. Not to mention inequine and abominable." The guard said with barely contained horror.
Harshwhinny simply rolled her eyes while the guard on her right scoffed. "These aren't just your run-of-the-mill criminals, newbie. These are metaponies and hired guns who are more dangerous when not on a firmly secure leash." He stated as they made their way towards would look like a massive fish tank. "They don't have the same rights..."
"The same could be said for some guards here as well. Might want to be careful with what you say." Harshwhinny says to the right guard. "After all I do not tolerate corruption in the system of any kind."
The three of them were brought out of their conversation by a vicious snarl as a hulking figure swam in front of them. The newer took a few steps back while the older one quickly readied his weapon, only Harshwhinny herself remained completely stoic and unfazed by his sudden appearance. "Croc."
"You here for a new job you're scared of letting your simple folk know you do Ms. President?" He snarls yet it has an air of... formality. "Long as I get to hurt someone then I'm all fine with whatever job ya got."
"This mission requires you to locate and capture you former... associate." Harshwhinny replied in a stern tone as the water began to drain from the tank. "Brute force is meant to be a last resort in this case, understood?"
"...she has nothing to do with this... left out... that was deal for letting her go." Croc snarls at her. "Knew you wouldn't let her stay hidden forever."
"As mentally unstable as she currently is, it's better if we find her before someone else does." She retorted. "So like it or not, bringing her in is the only option at the moment."
"... fine." Croc then swam towards the upper area of his tank "But should she be harmed by anyone from you in any way... ruler or not I will feast on your bones puta."
Harshwhinny could only sigh as she left the room, with the two Guards accompanying her...
"Well, well, well... look who came to visit." A younger feminine voice called out as Harshwhinny approached her frozen cell.
"Frost. Pleasure to see you in such a... warm environment." Harshwhinny said. "You and the Squad are on a retrieval mission today."
"Cute." The Unicorn deadpanned as she swirled her finger around in a circular pattern, creating a snowflake in the center. "And who's the unlucky target this time?"
"You know her as Harley Pie... your former teammate." Harshwhinny said as she presented her with the files. "Do this and your sentence is reduced as per the deal."
The sound of an ice sculpture shattering echoed across the cell. "So... she's still alive huh?" Frost chuckled as she took the files and read through them. "And here I thought the Bat got to her..."
"Mm. We're sending you out to ensure that doesn't happen. However I am giving you and the rest an express order. Should the League indeed show up you are to retreat." Harsh said with a strict tone. "No attempting to flex muscles or anything. You are to retreat and consider the mission a failure."
"No need to tell me twice..." Frost replied. "Just because we're called The Suicide Squad doesn't mean I plan on throwing myself into the Mare of Steel's line of laser vision..."
"Good to see you at least have a sense of survival." Harshwhinny joked. "Now then. You're going to be mission ready in twelve hours understood?"
"You got it." Frost smirked as she watched her superior make her way towards the next cell, with a snap of her fingers all the ice in her cell proceeded to melt away. "This should be quite a reunion..."
"You can get out of the shadows now... I know you're there Spider." Harshwhinny said with a roll of her eyes. A dark chuckle emanated from the strange cell in front of her as something landed on the ground.
"Never could fool you, could I?" The figure smirked, remaining obscured by the shadows. "I'm actually surprised you'd come to me this quickly... usually after any mission the requires my talents you'd wait a few months at least before recruiting me again..."
"Well truth be told I'm only recruiting you to ensure that someone can at least have some sense of stealth in mind." Harshwhinny said as she tried to find them. "Your job is search and retrieve. Harley Quinn is the target."
"As you wish... just make sure my gear is in prime condition..." He stated as he watched her leave... only to feel a cold chill go down his back. "...huh, that's new."
As Harshwhinny closed her eyes for a moment as she felt a gust of wind, upon opening them she saw a Pegasus pony suddenly drop down from the ceiling, startling the guards. "Took you long enough Katana."
"Wh-where did she come from?!" The guard on her right asked. "She should've tripped some kind of alarm or something!"
"She's one of the best when it comes infiltration." Harshwhinny smirked as Katana bowed to her. "I assume that you've already been briefed?"
"Yes ma'am. When do we begin the mission?" She asked as she glared at the figure behind her.
"One hour from now... and please..." She began as she glanced back at the cell. "...try to get along with your team this time. We don't need another incident like the one in the Badlands."
As she entered the hanger Harshwhinny closed her eyes for a moment she felt a gust of wind, upon opening them she found herself staring at Black Spider hanging from the ceiling. "Took you long enough." She sighed as she heard loud footsteps not too far from the room, turning to her left she saw the hulking behemoth that was the Croc with Killer Frost right behind him. "You're the last ones to arrive..." Harshwhinny stated bluntly
Frost blinked at this. "But what about-" She was cut off as Katana suddenly drop down from the ceiling. "GAH!" Frost yelped. "Jeez lady, I could've turned you into a ninja-sicle! Watch who you startle next time!"
Katana chuckled under her mask. "There's only one person who could ever come close to killing me, and unless you trained under my master, you'll never come that close."
"Wanna bet?!" Frost smiled as she summoned an ice blade from her left arm.
"ENOUGH." Harshwhinny said with a glare. "Now then. You all have your assignment. I suggest you get to it fast otherwise we may have a situation on our hands."
"And where was she last place she was spotted?" Deadshot asked curiously.
Harshwhinny glanced over her shoulder. "Las Pegasus."
Back in Maretropolis, Twilight was dangerously close to pulling her mane out. One the main computer screen was Fluttershy, on what appeared to be one of the roofs of Gothamsville, with her expression being that of pure frustration. "You're telling me that you STILL haven't found Pinkie!? How the hell does a girl like that just slip off the radar!?" Twilight shouted at her, trying her best to avoid breaking the arms of her chair.
"She was with Harshwhinny for who knows how many years Twilight." Rainbow said nearby as she used her nods to type up commands and codes fast as she could for any surveillance. "Plus she was part of some lunatic-based superhero squad or something knowing that... nag." She said with a growl. "Kinda figures she'd pick up some survival tactics…. especially when she doesn't want to be found."
"While that may be the case Rainbow, we need to find her before Cadmus does!" Twilight fired back before calming herself, she laid back and slowly massaged her temples in irritation. "We cannot afford to let Harshwhinny get another step ahead of us, and considering what you found doing your little scuffle with Metallo, I think we both know that she's not going to be pulling her punches."
"Been meaning to say that. The way Metallo just showed up... I mean yeah duh, it could be Harsh's usual thing but it had a more... strategic thing to it. Less her and more like a general." Rainbow said as she kept typing up with her nodes. "Either way I think I found something."
On the main screen Fluttershy's window shrunk down as a map of a city in Las Pegasus popped up, a small red dot appeared in the western sector. "Apparently there was still a small amount of juice in that chip they stuck in her neck, her location seems to have been picked up here a few hours ago..."
"Alright. Let's get the team together and get her back. Don't know what kind of shit she's got herself into right now." Twilight said as she got up and flew off.
"... I swear she's so gung ho it's freaky sometimes." Rainbow said to herself.
"Considering who we're going to be up against, I'd say it's warranted in this case..." Fluttershy stated before putting her mask on. "I'll head off first and make sure she's not causing too much trouble..."
"I think she already-aaaand you're already gone." Rainbow groaned as the screen went blank. "Great. Just wonderful. Not like I was talking or anything right now." She sighed before taking off down the hall, catching up with Twilight just as she reached the elevator. "Twi… I may not know much about Pinkie but do I know she's a survivor, whatever happened to her... I'm sure she'll last long enough for Flutters to find her..."
"I hope so Dash, I really do…" Twilight sighed as the doors closed...
"I vote for a simple tranq in the neck and grab. Girl's too ditzy to really notice when she's drugged so it's really the safest way to handle this sorta thing." Black Spider said as they were flown towards Las Pegasus.
"You sure a tranq will be enough?" Killer Frost asked as she casually created a snowman in her hand. "Last time we saw her she got a nasty case of shock therapy... and asked for more."
"A tranq dart filled with enough drug to knock out Croc here on his best day. It'll work." Black Spider smirked, much to Croc's indignation. "Lighten up. I'm just joking."
Croc scoffed while Frost rolled her eyes... changing the snowman into Pinkie's smiling face. 'What happened to you Pinkie?'
A kunai flew straight through the ice head, shattering it and lodging itself in the wall. Frost glared at Katana in rage, the mare however gave her a stern look. "Leave your sentimental feelings behind, the mission always comes first." She stated as she went back to sharpening her blade…..
Meanwhile in the streets of Las Pegasus, Pinkie sighed as she made her way through one of the city's many alleyways, wearing an oversized trench coat, tinted glasses, and a bowler hat. 'Well... I guess this was inevitable...' She thought to herself, as she walked down the streets she heard cheers and multiple shouts of joy from ponies who'd scored big... ponies who were happy. "Must be fun." She said to herself.
'Focus will ya!?' Her other half shouted indignantly, Pinkie briefly turned her attention to a nearby window and saw Pinkamena in the place of her reflection. 'We are pressed for time and need a plan! I don't know about you but I'm in no mood to deal with your old co-workers!'
"Just shut up... I can't really believe I trusted you again... you ALWAYS get me in trouble... we were fine and safe with them... with her... but then I had to leave." Pinkie said with a whimper. Tears forming from her eyes.
'You really think they'd spare her? Or that she'd protect us?' Her other half scoffed. 'Wise up! They would have offed her without a second thought! And even then you can't seriously tell me you thought she'd risk her neck for you!'
"... sh-she's helped me more then you have." Pinkie said, trying to sound tougher then she felt. "At least I felt sorta big and tough around her... you've been just a big meanie pants."
'Don't give me that garbage!' Pinkamena snapped, her image becoming slightly more ragged. 'You were so desperate for the feeling of "belonging" that you let yourself become her snack! And that's all she sees you as!'
"You're lying! Y-you've always been a big... jerk liar! I-I shouldn't have listened to any of your stupid stories! A-and... y-you're... y-you're... A BIG MEANIE FACE! HA! THERE I SAID IT!" Pinkie said triumphantly at her ragged reflection. "YOU'RE A BIG MEANIE FACE WHO JUST LIKES HELPING ME WHEN SHE FEELS LIKE IT!"
Her reflection just stared at her... completely silent... having registered her words yet felt as if Pinkie had spoken to her in a foreign language of some sort. 'Y-You don't believe that...' She began, her voice losing its condescending edge and shifting to an almost more authoritative one. 'You NEED me. I the only one who-'
"STEP RIGHT UP STEP RIGHT UP LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" A voice yelled from far off. "COME ON IN TO THE CIRCUS OF WEIRD WHERE ALL OF YOUR DREAMS AND IMAGINATION IS REAL!"
Pinkie immediately turned her attention to the direction of the voice... and then a wide smile spread across her face as she glanced back at her reflection. "Well well well, looks I found myself the perfect hiding place... so I don't "need" you after all!" She chuckled before running towards the crowd of ponies, ignoring her other half's outraged screaming...
"Well then, let's is them a preview of what the Circus Of Strange has in store for our adoring fans!" The colt shouted as they prepared to pull off some sort of stunt…
As this went on, Pinkie felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck and looked around nervously. She quickly caught a glimpse of someone standing atop one of the rooftops of a nearby building... before leaping off the edge and out of sight.
Not wasting a second she quickly ran further into the crowd, she needed to get out of sight as quickly as possible...
I finally fucking found you. You little BITCH. A robotic tone said with a dark chuckle. Thought you could hide from us forever... well. Too bad forever seems to be a very short time.
A small beeping sound went off, prompting the figure to place a hand to her ear. [Agent Tin, have you located our next target?] A deeper voice asked.
I've done better, I managed to finally locate Pinkie Pie! She stated proudly.
[...are you absolutely sure it's here?] The voice asked in a suspicious tone.
I know that cowardly little bitch anywhere. It's her. She said. Now. PLEASE tell me I have permission to terminate her ass with extreme prejudice.
[...no.]
WHAT!? BUT I-
[We need her conscience in tact, therefore you are forbidden from terminating her until it is properly extracted.] The Voice replied sternly. [The planted chip is still functional, as such you'll be able to make a direct link to her brain and begin the procedure. Once that has been taken care of, you may dispose of the body at your leisure, understood?]
NO! I don't! FUCK your procedure and FUCK that cowardly little bitch! We all went through the process! The angry robot shouted before turning off comms. You and I are gonna have a coming to now bitch.
Just as she was about to leave however, she fell to the ground holding her head and pain as several glowing lines started growing across the surface of her body.
[You overstep your authority Tin.] The voice replied in a stoic tone. [You WILL commence with the procedure... or I will have to remind you who your superior is...]
OKAY OKAY! Sorry just... ugh... I hate that bitch. Tin said as she got back up. Fine... I do the thing and get her. THEN I can kill her body... right?
[That was the established objective, yes.] The voice stated in an almost sarcastic tone. [This is why father saw me as the more intellectually gifted...]
Fine fine... let's just get this over with. Tin snarled as she got ready. Been waiting for this rematch for ages.
Spike smiled as he exited the tent while stretching a few times, it had been quite a busy week. Then again Sweetie Bot had become quite popular after her debut as the "Pint-sized Powerhouse".
Spike felt a brief chill go down his spine... yet didn't even bother looking behind him, instead he glanced down to his right and noticed a familiar shadow of a figure standing atop a box. "Do you always have to appear out of nowhere like that?"
"Yeah I know..." Spike sighed as he turned around to face Cheshire. "It's just that... when you live most of your life looking over your shoulder as much as I have, it just becomes basic instinct at that point..."
"I know. This is supposed to help you get out of that a little bit dear. Especially around us." Cheshire said as she jumped off the ledge she was sitting on. "I mean you still act a bit high strung."
Spike was about to reply, however at that moment an odd yet familiar scent caught his attention. "Hold on..." He whispered as he sniffed the air a few times, taking a few steps forward he immediately turned into a bloodhound and immediately started sniffing around... not a second later he charged towards one of the open curtains and tackled the figure behind it to the ground, growling menacingly...
"Oh, hi Spike!"
"... ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?!" Spike said in an almost panicked tone. "What are you even doing here Pinkie?! I-I mean I haven't even done anything wrong!"
Pinkie Pie tilted her head in confusion. "What? I'm not here for you... Truth be told, I didn't even know you were working here." She explained as the green canine got off of her.
Cheshire, greatly confused by this sudden turn of events slowly approached the duo. "I'm assuming you to have a bit of a history?"
"She um... yeah that's one way of putting it." Spike said as he sighed in relief. "But thank god. For a moment I thought the others were going to be after my ass to."
"Others?" Cheshire whispered in a cautious tone. "Who else is here with you?"
"I'm by myself actually. I'm trying to avoid some old... associates and-" Pinkie blinked as she noticed a few white specks falling in front of her face. Looking around herself she immediately realized that it was snowing... despite the fact that it was in the middle of summer. "Uh-oh..."
"Uh... where's all this snow coming from?" Spike asked as he looked around. "I mean I love snow but... it's summer. This stuff shouldn't even be here."
Cheshire slowly pulled out a small kunai as she looked around. "Someone's watching us..." She whispered.
Spike quickly started sniffing the air and turned his attention towards a nearby tent. "There!" Just as soon as he said that, a large wall of ice erupted from the ground, cutting Pinkie and Spike off from Cheshire.
"Now now Pinkie. You know this doesn't need to be so hard." The cold voice said with a chuckle. "Now then. The drill is obvious. Come back with us and this can all pass over easy."
"One of your "associates", I presume?" Spike growled as he shifted into a polar bear.
"You could say that..." Pinkie sighed, she glanced at her reflection in the ice wall and scoffed upon seeing the other side's face. "Listen Frosty, you and I both know that's not happening..."
"Oh is that so?" Killer Frost said as she tried to summon an ice block to trap her in. Only for Pinkie to dodge it at the last second. "So what happened to your cute psycho outfit?! You decided you wanted to sell the clown getup
?!"
"Nah, just decided to change things up a bit!" She replied as she pulled her hammer out from god-knows-where. "Believe it or not, I'd rather not have to fight you..."
"Funny way of showing it." Frost said as she summoned an ice sword. "So I take it that means you're going to fight then huh? Shame that you can't fight all of us."
"While that may be true... you seem to have forgotten something..." Cheshire's voice called out as she appeared behind her, with a kunai dangerously close to her throat. "You're fighting on our turf."
"And you're dealing with a meta who can freeze you soiled." Killer Frost said in a calm tone. "Besides, I'm not your real opponent, Katana wants to have a word with you."
"What!?" Cheshire gasped before several massive spears of ice erupted from the ground around Killer Frost, forcing her to back away to avoid getting skewered.
Not wasting a second, she quickly drew out her own clawed gauntlets and hurled several shuriken at her opponent, only for Katana to leap down and slice through all of them.
"... you swore you would stay away from my family..." Cheshire growled as she readied her sword. "I see now that your word is good as the dirt you stand upon."
"I'm just doing my job..." Katana replied as she got into a stance. "I had no intention of bringing you or you're family into this. Just let us have her..." She stated, gesturing to Pinkie. "...and this can end quickly."
"Yeah listen Katana that uh... is never going to happen in this or any lifetime now. Capiche?" Pinkie said smugly. "I'm not the same nutcase I was when I left, so believe me when I say I won't go quietly."
Katana simply rolled her eyes at this before turning her attention back to her old acquaintance. "Things don't have to get messy between you and I, so just-"
"Not. Happening." Cheshire bluntly stated as she got into a fighting stance. "I've seen what happens to your "friends" when they don't comply with your boss's wishes."
"Then you leave us no choice." A vicious growling voice said as a scaly green hand ripped through a tent and grabs Pinkie by the scruff of her neck.
"Oh, h-hey Gummy... long time no see!" Pinkie choked out nervously upon recognizing the voice.
Spike roared before quickly shifting into gorilla in grabbing the arm and yanking Killer Croc through the hole. Croc proceeded to cuss up a storm in his native tongue before grabbing Spike by his leg. "Come here you green puta!"
"No idea what that is..." Spike mumble before shifting into a snake and slithered out of his grasp. "...but it sounds like an insult!" He finished as he quickly shifted into a tiger and slashed Croc across the face, causing him lose focus and drop Pinkie.
"That is because it was you insolent-!" Croc started before Spike turned into a anaconda and viciously began coiling around him.
"Zip it, fang-face!" Spike hissed as he forcibly squeezed as tight as possible around his arms and neck, calling upon the strength of a gorilla from his amulet in the process.
"Th-thanks Spike!" Pinkie coughed, rubbing the bruised part of her neck before quickly getting back on her feet to make a break for it... only to be intercepted by Killer Frost.
"Heya Pinks, just make this easy on yourself and come on back with us." Frost said as she started to chill the air around them. "I the end, you're only making this harder on yourself and everyone around you."
"Sorry Frosty! Nothin' doin'!" Pinkie shouted before quickly throwing down a smoke bomb filled with non-lethal laughing gas, obscuring her opponents vision before sliding between her legs and making a break for it as she went into a laughing fit.
"PFFFHAHAHAHA-not cool-HEHEHE-Pinkie-HAHAHAHA!"
Spike, not wanting to get caught in the gas himself, quickly shifted into a hummingbird and flew into the air.
Pinkie quickly took in situation before her, Katana and Cheshire had already began their own dual, Killer Croc was already picking himself up out of the collapsed wall with a look of pure rage, and Killer Frost was in hysterics, on her knees clutching her sides.
Needless to say, this was most likely her only chance to book it.
"Pinkie go now!" Spike yelled as he sped off though she didn't need to be told that twice. Taking this chance she quickly hurried off and made her way out... only to see Croc gaining on her.
"Oh no you don't!" A familiar voice called out. Before Croc had a chance to react, Cheshire dropped down from above and struck him in the back with her claws. While his thick hide wasn't pierced by her blades, she managed to slow him down enough for Pinkie to get further ahead.
"THANKS CHESH! APPRECIATE THE HEL-" Pinkie started to say before she bumped into someone hard and fell on her butt. "Hey watch where ya goin you-"
"Hey there..."
Pinkie glanced to her side, noticing Pinkamena smirking at her through a broken mirror. "What was that about not meeting my help?"
"I do not have time for you right now!" She hissed, but as she ran to another tent she felt the ground beneath her get a little bit more…. squishy.
"What the-" Pinkie whispered as she looked around. There was blood all over the walls and floor, objects have been torn up or sliced to ribbons, the tell-tale sign that vicious fight had broken out here. "O... K... there was definitely a massacre here, one that I'm surprisingly not responsible for..."
I finally found you... you little bitch. A mechanical voice said as a single red eye glowed in the darkness.
A chill ran down Pinkie's spine as she immediately pulled out her mallet. "Who's there!?" She shouted, however at that moment she saw something rolling towards her from the shadows, she quickly raised her hammer... only to realize that it was a severed head.
Black Spider's to be exact.
"Oooooh that's... that is NOT good at all." She said with a gulp.
The individual chuckled as a clawed hand shot out from the shadows, grabbing her by the neck and slamming her hard against a pillar. Tell me about it. I mean, that bastard barely put up a fight! The creature scoffed as it stepped out of the shadows, revealing her true form… and what Pinkie saw made her blood turn colder than anything Killer Frost could ever do….
The creature had the figure of a female, however her entire body seemed to be coated in some sort of silver metallic substance, she seemed to have a bowl cut hairstyle and her eyes glowed bright green. You on the other hand... you've made this little detour worth it!
Pinkie could only struggle as the mechanical creature effortlessly lifted her off the ground. "W-Who... who are you!?"
...ooooh no. NO NO NO NO NO! YOU ARE NOT PULLING THAT AMNESIA SHIT AGAIN! The monster roared as it slams her around harshly. DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU CAME FROM?! It roared as it pinned her to the ground with a look of pure unadulterated rage.
"I-I barely... remember when I brush my hair... then again I think it was last Friday." Pinkie gasps as she struggles to get free. "C-could you let... me go so... I can talk... better?"
How about NO? The creature growled as her eyes glowed menacingly. You are NOT getting away this time! She roared as her right arm morphed into some kinda probe needle. THIS TIME-
[HANDS OFF THE CLOWN.] A mechanical voice said as a sonic blast booted the mechanical beast out of the tent, tossing Pinkie a good ways away. The creature growled as she got up to look at who it was that dared to attack her.
"Sorry we're late…" Beast Boy smirked as he leaped through the hole in the wall in the form of a tiger, landing next to Pinkie. "Had to get some backup!"
"Ugh…" Pinkie groaned as Beast Boy shifted back to normal and helped her up, slinging her right arm over his shoulder. "W-who…?"
Beast Boy simply smirked in response. "Just a familiar face…. remember the Manhunter?"
Hovering through the hole was none other than Sweetie Bot, her left arm now in the form of a sonic cannon.
"... holy crap she's a LOT more badass than I remember." Pinkie said with groan. "So um... what about that backup?"
"We ARE the back up." Spike said, a little peeved at her until he saw the creature. The beast was less of a normal machine, even compared to Sweetie Bot, and was heavily damaged... or at least it was for a few seconds before it began repairing itself, whatever wounds and injuries it had suddenly closed up as if it's entire body was some sort of liquid.
[So you're the discount Terminator tearing up my home...] Sweetie Bot said as her left arm swiftly morphed into a glowing blade. [Spike, get the clown out of here, I need to have a word with our uninvited guest…..]
Spike quickly took the form of a gorilla and picked Pinkie up bridal-style. "So, you mind telling me why you're so damn popular tonight?" Spike asked as he quickly rushed out of the tent.
"Honestly would love to tell ya but uh... I got no clue at all." Pinkie said as she then giggled at how she was being held. "Heheheheh. You like the feel of your hands on my booty, big boy?"
Spike's eyes went wide as he blushed at that comment. "Now it NOT the time to-wait a sec…" He cut himself off as he heard something rushing towards him from the right. Thinking quickly he tossed Pinkie into the air before shifting into a giant eagle and taking off just as Killer Croc burst through the popcorn stand, catching Pinkie in mid-air via grabbing her shoulders with his talons. "Seriously!? Do you have any idea how much half of this stuff costs!?" He yelled, glaring down at his opponent.
"Our orders come first and foremost." Katana stated as she walked out from behind Croc.
"So it would do you best to stay out of our way... I'm not one to hunt and hurt a child." Croc said with a snort.
"Listen Gummy…." Pinkie began.
"I told you to never call me that in public!" He snarled back.
"...and Katana, just putting it out there, but I think we both have bigger issues to deal with right now!" Pinkie shouted. "Or have you not noticed that your fourth teammate hasn't shown up?"
"...figured he'd be the first to die." Croc growled as he began sniffing the air. "So then what killed him... or did you imagine him dying?"
*BOOM*
Right after he said that, an explosion caught everyone's attention as Sweetie Bot and was sent flying out of the tent landed right in front of Croc.
[Well, she's got a short fuse…] Sweetie groaned.
"Does that answer your question?!" Pinkie snapped as she watched the met creature storming out of the flaming remains of the tent.
GIVE ME THAT ARROGANT, SELF CENTERED, PSYCHOTIC NAG! The monster roared as it's right arm began to transform into a cannon. ALL I WANT IS HER BUT NOOOOOO! ALL OF YOU FREAKS JUST KEEP GETTING IN THE WAY! SEE WHAT YOU'RE MAKING ME DO PINKAMENA?!
THIS got Croc and Katana's attention as the two glanced back at Pinkie, who could only give them a confused shrug. "Don't look at ME, I've got no idea who this weirdo is!"
"Well she knows you and that is a problem!" Spike said as he morphed into a full grown dragon. "So um... temporary truce until this thing is dead?"
"As long as I get out of this alive!" Pinkie smiled as she pulled her mallet out of god-knows-where. "What about you two? Temporary team-up for old times sake?"
Croc snorted as he got into a charging position while Katana glanced at the mechanical monstrosity for a moment before putting two fingers up to her ear. "Frost, we have a bigger priority. Stand down and regroup."
"Dealing with said "bigger priority" right now! What kind of metal is this?!" Frost yelled over the comms as she and Cheshire quickly leaped out of the way just in time to avoid being impaled by several spikes. "DAMN THING JUST DODGES MY ATTACKS LIKE IT'S JUST LIQUID!"
True to her word, their opponent seemed to have a body coated in the same sort of metallic substance, although this one's body color was a darker shade of grey. Her "hair" was much longer than her comrades, reaching down to her waist and the part of the covering her right eye, which was violet in color.
Please forgive me... She said as the cuts from Cheshire's gauntlets slowly healed themselves and she pulled out the ice spears sticking out of her chest. But if I were to fail, my master would be greatly... upset...
"Wait, there's more of them!?" Spike exclaimed as Sweetie Bot finally picked herself up, her right arm started glowing as a transparent shield twice the size of her head appeared on it.
[It must have some sort of structural weakness. We just have to find it and exploit it.] She stated firmly.
"So you know how to fight a being comprised of a metal that can adapt so fluently?" Katana asked with a sneer. "Because if not then I suggest a tactical retreat. Lure them away from potential crossfire with innocents."
[Oh, so NOW you care about that?! Where was that attitude when you were tearing up our home?!] Sweetie Bot stated as their opponent charge towards them. Being the first to react she quickly slammed her left fist into the creature's stomach, shifting it into a sonic cannon and firing at point-blank, sending her flying back a few feet. [Everyone move, NOW!]
Taking the chance the group tried to run away from the circus to hopefully lure the metal monster away from any innocents that may still be there. However as they did so the creature responded back with a surprising weapon... Sweetie's own Sonic Cannon but with the blast amped up considerably.
Looking over his shoulder, Spike watched as Sweetie Bot's right arm was torn off and she was blasted into the air. "Good luck Sweetie…" He whispered as they continued to run.
[Ugh, just got this damn thing repaired...] Sweetie Bot grown that she landed, her scanner is attempted to pick up where her arm had fallen…. only spot the creature pull the arm out of the rubble.
Heh, nice toy… and it's MINE now. The creature chuckled as several lines began glowing across its left arm as it separated into several wires that quickly slithered into the inner workings of her severed arm, trying to assimilate her arm into its body…
...the keyword being trying.
Come ON! You're metal just like me! Why are you resisting?!
[Trust me... whatever kind of metal you're made of, it's nowhere near compatible with mine...] Sweetie Bot replied as she glanced at her severed arm, her right eye glowed red for split second before said immediately morphed into a canon once more, this time aiming on her face.
Aw crap. The monster groaned as the cannon off right in her face.
"Ok, this has officially gone from bad to worse! Does anyone here have a plan aside from "run from our lives"!?" Spike asked as they ran down the streets.
"Yeah... I say we kill the damn things!" Killer Croc growled. "These freaks are a threat to all here and need to be stopped."
"How about a plan that actually yields results and doesn't just equate to "hit it until it dies"!?" Spike groaned as they rounded a corner... only to find the entire area covered in sliced-up cars, various parts of the street either frozen or impaled with ice spikes... with Killer Frost and Cheshire covered on cuts and bruises, barely able to stand up while their opponent didn't even have a scratch on her.
"Just when you think things can't possibly get worse..." Spike whispered as the new creature slowly approached them.
I apologize for this... but you are all interfering with our objective... and therefore must be eliminated. The creature said in soft tone as her arm morphed into a bladed whip.
"Do you HAVE to eliminate them?" Pinkie asked with a nervous chuckle in her voice. "I mean you could just say they got me away and you were too slow to catch me or something. Right?"
The creature tilted her head, her eyes glowing for a brief moment. My master would not be fooled, my master always monitors our progress. She stated firmly. You will come with us, and any obstacles will be eliminated. There is no other option.
"But there is you metal monster." Croc snarled. "The option... where you get destroyed!" At that roared he charged at the machine who lashed at him with the whip.
I'll try to make your death quick and painless... it's the least that I can do. They said with a calm and sad sounding voice.
Croc narrowly dodged to the left as the whip impaled another car, right before she could retract it he quickly grabbed hold and yanked her towards himself. "NOW!" He hollered.
Before the creature could form another weapon, Killer Frost immediately slammed her hands together, firing a powerful beam of ice at her, freezing her solid. Croc then began to squeeze the frozen machine, the ice cracking beneath his muscles. "I told you there was another option! And now you pay dearly for underestimating us!"
Before he could follow through with this action however, a gray and blur shot down from above, slugging Croc in the face before he could react and kicking him away from the frozen creature in one swift motion, sending him crashing through a store window. Sadly, it barely slowed down as it grabbed Pinkie in one swift motion. FINALLY YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR- But then it was blasted by Killer Frost in an attempt to try and force its attention to shift.
Katana immediately sliced off the creatures arm, temporarily freeing Pinkie as Spike, still in his Dragon form, slugged her across the face and tackled her into an overturned truck. What in the hell?! The creature roared as she struggled to get free.
"Don't try it. I'm tougher than that overgrown gator on his best day!" Spike snapped at the creature before exhaling a torrent of flames right in her face.
Yeah well surprise buddy... SO AM I! She fired back, despite the intense heat, and began prying herself free from his claws.
"This is getting us nowhere fast..." Cheshire gasped as she watched the fight before her. "There's got to be a way we can kill these things..."
"What about your neck bombs?" A voice asked with a dark chuckle. "I bet those make a pretty big boom." Cheshire turned to who said it and saw Pinkie with a wicked smile on her face.
"What bombs are you-"
"Not you kitty cat."
Cheshire followed her line of sight and noticed that she was glaring at Katana. "Black Spider... he might be dead, but his bomb isn't. That thing might have enough juice to kill that freak..."
"You're sure of this?" She asked as she dodged a stab attack from the unfrozen creature who roared in rage and frustration. "I mean it might work, but it's a long shot!"
"You got any better ideas!?" Pinkie fired back, surprisingly more hostile than she'd intended. "We're getting rag-dolled here and we're running out of options-"
"AAAGGGGHHH!"
Before she could respond, Spike's scream of pain echoed throughout the area as he was hurled into a nearby taxi, the moment he landed he swiftly shifted back to his standard form, holding his bleeding arm in pain.
"... fair point." Katana said as she ran back towards the Circus, or at the very least where she's sure she Black Spider's remains were. "This had better work dammit."
Aw... looks like the coward turned tail and ran! The creature cackled as she pulled herself out of the smashed remains of a truck, stepping. Now that the shapeshifter's dealt with, it's time to claim my prize- She began, only to notice white blur rushing towards her. OH SON OF A-
[BITCH!] Sweetie Bot finished for her as she dived down from above, striking her across the face with her reattached arm. [First you invade my home, and then you injure my family?! I'll make sure there's nothing left of you to recycle!]
I AM FAR AND AWAY DONE WITH ALL OF THIS BULLSHIT! The creature roared as she struck Sweetie across the face with an extra tendril from its chest. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A DAMN EXTRACTION! HALF OF YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW OR CARE ABOUT HER!
"Our job was to capture her..." Killer Frost stated firmly as she summoned an ice spear. "You're the jackass who decided to get in our away!"
"She's the reasons I have my own life now..." Spike grunted as Cheshire helped him up, left arm slung over her shoulder as his right arm slowly started to heal. "No way I'm just going to abandon her."
Oh my God I want to fucking BARF. The creature snarled at them all. She's a damn LOSER and a traitor on top of that all! You should be glad we're here to take her!
[If she's so "worthless", what could you possibly want with her?!] Sweetie Bot retorted as grabbed the tendril, yanking her forward and firing a shoulder-mounted cannon at her point blank, giving her enough time to put some distance between herself and her opponent.
"OH SHUT IT! WORTHLESS THIS OR TRAITOR THAT!" Pinkie yelled at the creature. "I AM SOOOOO TIRED OF HEARING YOU PEOPLE GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW UNTRUSTWORTHY I AM!"
This outburst caught everyone off-guard as Pinkie slowly stood up, her eyes now having a more deranged look to them... only for her grab her head in pain. "No. No no no no, not here, not now!" She desperately pleaded.
Then, as if on cue, her mane suddenly became straight and her coat immediately went dim...
Just then, Katana landed a top one of the street lamps with Black Spider's head in her grip. "Forgive me Spider, I do not mean to disrespect your death." She whispered to the head, taking a deep breath, she hurled it at the creature with as much strength as she could muster.
"HEY ROBO-BELLE, BLAST THE HEAD!" Pinkie yelled out.
Sweetie was tempted to ask why... however her scanners immediately picked up something embedded inside the head... a powerful explosive chip. [You got it!] She smirked aiming her canon at the head the very moment it was within range of the creature. She fired a laser from the palm of her hand, hitting the explosive dead-on.
This bizarre action caught the creature's attention for a brief second. The FUCK-
*BOOM*
Explosive detonated point blank, made even more powerful by the laser sweetie had used... By coincidence or just laying luck, the explosion also hit the gas tank of the truck the creature had been flung into, resulting in a powerful chain reaction. Explosion in gulf to both the silver creature as well as her frozen comrade, forcing the entire group to quickly hide behind any overturned cars or rubble they can find to avoid being hit by flying debris.
"You have THAT stuck in your neck!?" Spike exclaimed, genuinely horrified by the magnitude of the explosion.
"Well yeah, but the explosion is never that powerful!" Killer Frost explained, more confused than scared.
[It wasn't.] Sweetie Bot stated as she made her way back to the group. [The explosion hit the truck's gas tank, causing a chain reaction…]
"Hell yeah! Suck on that you metal bitch!" Pinkie cheered with a dark morbid laugh. "I win! I beat you and your dumb friend's ass! I'm finally fucking free!"
"Uh, Pinkie? You... feeling ok?" Killer Frost asked in a nervous tone as Katana dropped down behind her with her sword drawn, much to everyone's confusion.
"Hell yeah I am!" 'Pinkie' screamed as she laughed harder. "I'm free! Finally from that psychotic-!"
Try harder dear. A soft voice said as the creature, no longer frozen emerged from the smoke behind her before morphing her left hand a tendril and stabbing her in the back of the neck, hitting the "X" marking dead-center. Beginning extraction process.
"PINKIE!" Both Spike and Frost called out in terror.
However before they could take action, a powerful surge of electricity shot out of the tendril and into Pinkie's body.
"AHHHHHH! IT BURNS! IT FUCKING BURNS, MAKE IT STOP!" The Earth Pony screamed in pain as her entire body was mercilessly shocked by the creature.
Finally! The other creature laughed as she slowly pulled herself back together. Something finally goes our way for damn once! Come on sis! Get every single last detail that you can!
Both Sweetie Bot and Katana attempted to attack her from both sides, but their target simply leaped backwards, morphing the needle end of the tendril into a collar of sorts while continuing to shock Pinkie, dragging the poor mare along with her as she avoided any her opponents.
Almost done. I am sorry but we have no choice. The creature said with a mournful tone. All you have to do right now is to relax. Submit yourself to the inev-
"LET GO OF HER!"
Before she could finish speaking however, two crimson beams descended from above, slicing off the tendril as well as the electrical surge. A loud SNAP echoed throughout the area as Pinkie fell to her knees with a blank look on her face, her eyes almost completely blank.
At that very moment, the Earth shook as Supermare landed in the middle of battlefield. And she. was. PISSED.
... NOPE! The bigger one said as she grabbed her sister and started to bolt. Supermare immediately attempted to blast the two right then and there, but unfortunately they were able liquefy their bodies and avoid each one. YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE LAST OF US YOU CAPED FREAK! And with that last declaration she oozed into a nearby sewer drain with her sister in tow.
"...damn it." Supermare growled.
"Pinkie!" Batmare called out as she landed beside her, quickly picking her up bridal-style and ripping off the metal collar. "Are you ok!? Please speak to me!"
"B-Bats?" Pinkie whispered weakly. "I-I… I can't feel her…. anymore..."
"... excuse me?" Batmare asked as she checked her forehead and general body for any fever. "Who can you not feel? Did they drain some kind of parasite or something? Did they hurt you?" She snarled at the Suicide Squad. "WHICH ONE OF YOU HURT HER?!"
Killer Frost took a step back, fear evident on her face. "Don't look at us! Those freaks of nature you just cased off are the ones who gave her a nasty dose of shock therapy!"
"She's... kinda right..." Spike stated, getting the batpony's attention. "I mean yeah they were chasing her, and tore up our home in the process. But those creatures are the ones that did this to her..."
"... you are still gonna-" Batmare started before an aircraft found its way to them, having already recovered the unconscious and bleeding Croc. Katana quickly grabbed Frost and flew up to it, the two quickly strapped in as it quickly flew away.
"Think we should try and get them? I can do it." Supermare said.
"...no. We'll deal with them another day..." She stated as Cheshire, Sweetie Bot, and Spike approached them.
"Is... is she going to be alright?" Cheshire asked, gesturing to the unconscious mare in her arms.
Supermare looked down at the resting mare, using her x-ray vision…. and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that her heart rate had stabilized. "She'll be fine. I promise... thank you for protecting her." Supermare said with a very awkward smile. "So... what uh, what damages were done? We could pay for it to be fixed."
Spike perked up at this. "Well, now that you mention it...
The sound of a engine roaring to life interrupted them as the Killing Joke drove around the corner, screeching to a halt right in front of the group as Brainiac flew out of the driver's seat. "Hey girls! I found her car… oh hey Spike, long time no see!"
As the two groups began to converse, Pinkie continued to rest peacefully in Batmare's arms….
"So you're telling me that the mission was interrupted... by two beings comprised of nanometal... and that Pinkie is with The Batmare. Am I missing anything Katana?" Harshwhinny asked through gritted teeth.
"No ma'am."Katana stated as she kneeled before her, unwilling to look her in the eyes. "Those two creatures, they were unlike anything I've ever encountered before... everything we threw at them only served to slow them down... it was only Supermare's intervention that forced them to retreat
"Supermare... well now this just makes everything better." She said sarcastically. She then sighed as she looked at the two members (Croc had been brought back to his tank). "Luckily, I feel merciful at this moment. Your times are now cut down. Though not as much as you'd like. Next time... complete the mission. Regardless of how small a victory it is."
"Understood." Katana stated before vanishing into the shadows while Killer Frost was escorted back to her cell.
Harshwhinny could only clench her fists in rage as she pulled a note out of her pocket. Something one of her men had found attached to Killer Frost's uniform. It was a message from the Mare of Steel herself, something she presumably slipped onto her using her super speed when she wasn't looking.
[This is your only warning, come after my allies again, and I will come down upon you like a thunderbolt.]
"You can call yourself the "thunderbolt" all you like Supermare…." Harshwhinny growled as she tore up the note with her magic. "...but I'm the whole goddamn hurricane!"
Yeah we didn't get her... but we did get a consolation prize. The bigger one said with a bright smile. Show her what ya got sis.
The shorter of the two held up what appeared to be a glowing crimson orb. I must admit, I hadn't expected this result when I tried to extract her conscience... but I believe we can put it to good use.
And inside it a flash of what looked like a worse version of Pinkie appeared. And all it did... was laugh.
"Good use"…? Oh you poor naive fool… just wait till they get a load of me….