The Masked Matterhorn #13-Mutant Island Part 2

"No one is sure what caused this outbreak, but recent data suggests that nearly 90 percent of the city appears to have acquired spider powers. And are people upset? According to our sources, most people are thrilled. Back to you, Big Shot," A news reporter said as Matterhorn was watching the news on her phone.

"So recenltly, me, Zapp, Radiance, Fill-Second and Moondacner have mutant powers, and now over 1.5 million. What can possibly go wrong?"

"Hey kid, do you mind, people work in this buidling."

"Sorry," Matterhorn quickly left said as she look around. "A city full of amatuer mutants. This has to be Monica's worst nightmare come true."

Then she heard someone screamed which go over her.

"Don't worry, professonal hero is on the case..."

In only a second, Moondancer grabbed her and landed on the ground.

"Always gotta be careful when you're flying through the city."

"Look, it's Moondancer!"

"Oh come on! You're embarssing me."

"There you are," Moondancer founded Matterhorn looking over the highway near Canterlot Bridge.

"It's offical. Everyone loves you. I feel like they barely torlate me."

"I don't want to sound offensive but maybe it's the costmue, it is a little creepy."

"Creepy? Why? Is the spandex too tight? Is there too much purple? Did went overboard with the goggles?"

"Whoa, did not meant to triggered your insecruites."

"Seriosly, a city full of mutants is reciepe for trouble."

"Come on, have a little faith in Canterlot. You and I turned these powers into something good. Everyone else might too. Unless your jelaous?" Moondancer raised an eyebrow.

"I ain't jealous. It's just having powers is not all fun and games. Zapp thought so, look what happened."

"Really, it's nice day. What could go wrong?"

As soon as she said that both her and Matterhorn heard an explosion and saw smoke.

"Saying on nothing could go wrong. Rookie mistake."

Both girls headed down and saw an amroed car on the ground.

"What in helll hit that thing?" Matterhorn asked.

"I did," Someone in black-ops suit approached them. "Name's Archer."

"I take it back, that's a creepy costume," Matterhorn gulped. "There's no chance that this is a big misunderstanding and that explosiion was accident, right?"

"Really? The guy has a scar on his face."

"Never jumped to conclusions."

"No kiddies in pjs are going to Archer," He cracked his knuckles. "But I could use a good laugh watching you try."

"Conclusion offivcally jumped."

"Let's do, this Matters."

"No. You don't have enough experince. Leave this to me."

"Did you forget we fought that Stealthhorn guy together?"

"This was..."

Archer fired a explovie arrow from his wrist which sent Matterhorn backed."

"You both talk too damn much."

"Moondancer, save the driver. I'll distract Archer."

"Now, that's a plan."

Moondancer leaped over him to the truck, then Matterhorn went to Archer for a punch but he quickly grabbed her and held her in air where she caught a wiff of his breath.

"What with bad guys and garlic knots, I keep some breath mints on me," Matterhorn exlclaimed as Moondancer got the driver out.

"Why did everybody in this city got powers except me?"

"Maybe you're a late bloomer.'

Archer tossed her in air and was about to fire but Moondancer fired an enrgey shot that took him by surpised which allowed her to deliver a punch at his face with Matterhorn coming down softly.

"Still don't want my help."

"You know I say some really dumb stuff."

"Enough! No rookies are going keep me from taking what I want!" Archer said then as he was about to throw a tire but Matterhorn yanked it out his hand with her magic.

"Rookies! I prefer changelled newcomers who are willing to give their shot."

Mattehorn fired a fire bolt at him then Moondancer grabbed Archer at the arm then threw him into the armorerd truck which he fell unconsuios.

"Who's the rookie, now," Matterhorn tauted.

"What do we have here," Moondancer saw a glass case and picked it up. "Heavy. Looks like this device it's made from Ethersteel? Whoa. This is potentially dangerous. We should take it to expert."

"I was going with take it to the police."

"And where will they take it? Nexus High. Wehere we have one of the only Ethersteel-scanning mircoscopes in the world."

"If Archer wanted it, it could be some type of weapon. So, I'm cutting the middleman," Moondancer headed to Neuxs High.

"Still don't think this is a good idea," Mattehorn said then followed her.

What either of them didn't know that someone watching them via camoflouge then secertly following them. At Nexus High, both Matterhorn and Moondancer made to the Think Tank.

"Starlight? Are you in here?" Moondancer asked.

"Up here," both looked up to see Starlight stuck on the wall. "Mattehorn, how do you live like this? This is worst."

"I had the same probelms at first. There was the whole pigeon thing which better left unsaid. Just realx and relelase."

She ease herself and landed on her bottom.

"Ugh, that will take some time to get used to," Moondancer helped Starlight up.

"Look on the brightside, you said wanted mutant powers. Trust me, it'll be awesome, we can all be like Matterhorn."

"Hooray," Mattehorn said with sarcasm as she crossed her arms.

'So, Starlight we can across something and you're the only expert I know," She gave her the case.

"This looks like pure Ethersteel. Do you have any idea how rare this is?"

"Rare as is having mutant powers," Mattehorn eyeroll as Starlight looked through it.

"A mirco-encrypted key. The type used by by secuity goverment installtions. As in we shouldn't be touching it," Starlight told them.

"Called it," Mattehorn grinned then her Danger Radar went off as she grabed something. "What in the..."

What she caught was a flash grenade that blind all of them then one by one they got knocked out and were on the ground being hand cuffed as the camoflouge was reveal to be a fair-skinned young woman with wavy black hair and amber eyes as well as cat ears on her head. She wore a long white tailcoat with dark violet inner lining and a sleeveless black crop top, as well as a belt attached from behind. The crop top has rectangular and diamond-shaped cutouts around the neckline, which have purple outlines while wearing a white belt over black skintight leather pants which showed a X-shaped scar on her waist. Addiontally, her torso is a diagonal strap that has a smaller magnetic clip on the back, which is used to sheathe her sword. . She wears thigh-high black heeled boots with gold-colored edging around the top. The left boot has a belt wrapped twice around the thigh. Each boot bears an emblem in white on the outer side of the thigh, and a white pouch is attached to the back of her belt.

"I'll be taking this," She said as she placed the Ethersteel back in the case.

"Holy moly... Blake Belldonna?"

"Masked Matterhorn, right? Ironwood had file on you. Says you have potential, but all seeing is a kid who just stole highly-classifed technology."

"It's not what it look like! We're only trying to help."

"That Ethersteel is a key. What's it used for?"

"That's Argus confidental. Leave it to the professionals."

Then rockets blasted the walls down as a group of VILE agents came through the door.

"Don't move! Hand the key over!" A VILE Hi-Rank said as the kids place their hands in their air.

"VILE agents? Like actaul VILE agents? This is bad, right?" Matterhorn asked.

"VILE's formainable, but so am I," Blake said as she unsheath her blades. "Do you guys believe you take me?"

"Seems you're missing some intel. VILE's got some upgrades. Show her, boys!" The Hi-Rank said as most of the VILE agents hands glowed.

"VILE as well? Is anyone not a mutant!?" Matterhorn exclaimed.

A VILE agent tried to get the first strike but Blake counter with sword swipe then kicked him at the face, then duck a eletric blast from VILE agent then knocked him down. Meanwhile, Matterhorn was working on the collars.

"Leave to Argus to make good handcuffs, a little Matterhorn magic should do the trick," She manages to uncouple the handcuffs freeing all of them.

Moondancer quickly got up as a VILE agent came to her and tried to punch her but she tackeled to the wall. With Starlight she created a cosmic orb and throw it but it off target.

"I thought it would be as easier than I thought it'd be," Starlight said as Matterhorn rapid punched a VILE agent before freezing him with a ice blast.

"No provbelem. A little combat training on the fly."

"Is making jokes part of it."

"No," Moondancer did kick to a VILE agent.

"One, use the enivorment to your advantage," Matterhorn said as she used her magic to throw a chair a VILE agent.

"Like this!" Starlight manage to lift a desk at hurled at VILE agent out of the school.

"A whole desk? You got the super strength down."

Two VILE agents magange to pry the key of Blake's hand before she knocked them out and just as a VIle agent pick it up.

"Archer will be happy with..."

"With what? Your failure?" Mattehorn said as she grabbed it then blasted with magic orb. "See that, it's all in the wrist. Moondancer, incoming!"

She threw it to her which she caught it then fend off the agents as most of them did a dogpile on Blake.

"Blake is down and you're no match for," The Hi-Rank said as he blast in chest by Starlight's cosmic orb.

"Wow. It's all in the wrist."

"Told you!'

"That's it! Destoym them!"

Then surpisely in black engery burst Blake disspread from dogpile then muster enough strength to punch the agent out of the building.

"Now that was amazing!"

"And strongert than I thought!"

Blake quickly charged her blades with purple energy and did mutiple slash at them then quickly did a backflip kick at VILE agent then sheath her blades.

"Not even a sweat."

"Alrightly them,' Matterhorn said having no words.

"So, what now?" Starlight asked

"Now, we get some infomation," Blake anwserd as she grab a VILE agent and placed him on a chair.

Moments the agent came around...

"What? Where am I?" then a light was shine on him.

"I'll be asking the question here, jackass," Mattehorn told him. "Time for you to sing like canary."

"What are you doing?" Moondancer asked her.

"An interrogation. I've seen a lot of cops shows. Answer me, or so help me..."

"Uh he can't anwser if you hadn't ask any questions."

"And not to mention, VILE are worldwide criminals, they ain't going to budge."

"So much for Matter-interrogation," Matterhorn rubs the back of her head as Blake walks to them which gives the agent gasped know that he was competelty screwed.

"Okay, I'll tell you everything."

"Really... I mean what the key for?" Matterhorn asked.

"It goes to the National Ethersteel Reserve."

"Why does Archer need that much Ethersteel?"

"I don't that part. But with everyone getting powers in the city, all hell's gone losse. He hatch a plan to steal the vault in the coufusion."

"Not bad for my first interrogation."

"I've seen worse," Blake said which Matterhorn gasped.

"How you were standing there?" She asked as Blake spray some mist on the agent face which made him fall asleep.

"During secure missions, VILE opreates under strict raido silcence. The rest won't know that Archer was caught, and they'd head for the vault."

"We can beat them there and set a trap!"

"We?"

"Sure. You can tag along."

"Not she meant like that, I think she's plan to go solo mission."

"Uh...We were the ones that down Archer and got the key. Let us be you backup. You might actually need some help."

"Fine, but I take the lead. Also someone should stay here to keep an eye on these VILE goons until they van be taken in."

"I'll do that. These powers are still weird to me. I still need some practice," Starlight said as Matterhorn, Moondancer and, Blake left.

"Belive it or not, this my first time breaking into the vault. So need to worry about.."

Blake shushes her then she look to the side to see some VILE agents nearing the safe.

"Are you sure he'll come."

"Yeah, he'll come and when the boss come he'll make sure that Archer is a thing of the past."

"Okay, so much getting the jump on them. Now what?"

"Change in stratgey. They mention a boss. Which means there something bigger go here, were going to need more surrveillance."

"More spy work," Mattehorn said.

"Trust me, spying won't get to borring soon."

What any knew was that Archer created a fireball and threw at them which all dodged.

'Okay, Archer with fire-based power, now that's unfair."

"You were Matter-brat! I was a late bloomer. The cops found out the way," Archer tired to fired but Blake force him to miss.

"I got him. You got the others!'

"Others?!" Moondancer asked.

"Long Live VILE!" A agent shotuted.

"Like the say it ain't party unitl the evil mutant army comes by." Mattehorn said before freexzing some agents before getiting into a struggle.

"Level the playing field. How it's feels to be like everyone else?"

"If I'm being honest not a big fan about it," Matterhorn replied as she hurled a gun to his face.

Meanwhile Archer tried to land a hit on Blake, but she back away from it then does a kick to the chest, then Archer fires an explosive arrow but he missed.

"One of the targerts have the key. Grab it!"

The Agents managed to surrouned the trio.

"What now?"

"Pull a stall-drop."

"Come again."

"We take a dive. Follow my lead,"

"She want to lose on purpose. That idea sound..." Matterhorn said before she spin kick a VILE agent to ground. "How do you say terrbile"

Blake circled around Archer then went up but Archer caughter and slammed her to the ground.

"Not the first time that had an ARGUS op at my feet, and won't be the last," Archer chuckled as the agents surrounded both Mattehorn and Moondancer who had their hands in the air.

Then two VILE Agents held up a knocked Blake that Archer acquired the key who procedded to open the vault.

"Here we go, the key to VILE's plan. And to a big fat payday," He said then look inside. "There's even more Ethersteel than the boss thought. This job keeps getting better and better.

Hours later, Archer placed the heroes in a cell that inside of a VILE Crusier that flying over the city.

"What do you plan to with us, Archer?" Blake asked him.

"Two teens heroes is one thing. But capturing you is another thing," Archer responed. "Let's just say that there a big bouns for throwing you into the deal." Then he left them alone by going into another room.

"You brought the key with you!? Aren't you the expert here?" Matterhorn asked. "I've been doing this gig for over five months, and I already know, bad idea."

"Becasue now Archer is giving us a free ride to his boss. And I want to know who it is," Blake explained to her as she tried to crack the cell

"It's VILE, it seem straight forward to me."

"Which faction, then?"

"Hold the cell phone, there are factions?"

"We bust this unit, another one will pop up. Takeout the guy at the top, the whole plan fails and the world become a safer," Just as cell was unlocked.

"Huh, did not think about it like that."

"It's okay, you're still new to this."

Much later, Archer was overseeing everything as the VILE agents managed to brought down the heroes along with the Ethersteel they stole, then another VILE Crusier land the door open to someone in dark red hood, having the VILE symbol on his arm.

"Who's that guy?" Matterhorn asked.

"Zartan. Now we know who's calling the shots."

"Oh, I see you managed led the fellas to the Ethersteel, Archer," Zartan smiled as he walked over to him.

"Pure Ethersteel. You finally be able forge the unbreakable weapons that VILE has been working on," Archer said. "So natulally it won't come cheap."

"The plot thickens, your plan worked a like charm. So now can we get some action, I'm feeling somewhat cramp inside this thing," Matterhorn wondered.

"I like how you think," Blake smiles then procedd the kick the glass window of the cell which broke and the heroes were free. "Sorry to break up this party, Zartan."

"Sorry, not sorry!" Matterhorn joked.

"Archer..."

"Don't worry. I'll contain them. VILE!"

Archer brought his cross blade and enage with Blake who drew her sword both did repeated sword strikes to the other then Blake kicked him back a bit.

"Nice try!" Archer fired a arrow at her but Blake dodged it at last second. With Moondancer she brought up a engery barrier that block shots from two VILE agents that she knock down. With Matterhorn she did ice blast which froze a VILE agent, then a fire blast to another one at his rearend which made scream, then a eletric blast which shocked the third one.

Then Zartan came from behind tried to hit her but she leaped over him, then he armed his gun and fired shots at her but she easily dodges them but he got lucky enough to hit her which casue her collide with Moondancer to the ground as Archer held Blake in the air toss her to the others as they got surrounded.

"You may us surrounded but we won't make this easy, Zartan," Blake said him.

"A pitful attmpt by group of soon to be," Zartan said before he sudeenly blinside by snow much his and everyone else surpise to see an enitre group of citizens who enaged with VILE.

"What's going on here?" Matterhorn asked.

"We saw footage from the newschopper. We knew you were in trouble."

"You saved my daughter from a speeding car, Matters. You saved her life."

"And you pulled me from buring building. Now that we have powers, too, it's time we paid you back."

"They love me, they really love me," Matterhorn giggled "Okay, let's do this."

"Hey VILE, guess I've got a team now too!" She said to VILE before laying the hurt on him then body slammed another who fell to Zartan's feet.

"Everyone one, fall back! Forget the Etehersteel!" Zartan said as he and couple of VILE headed to his ship and left.

"Bye bye!" Matterhorn said right before Archer grabbed her.

"You ruined a big score for me," Archer said.

"Hands off! That's our friendly neighborhood hero."

Everyone did mutiple shots at him which made loss his grip on Matterhorn.

"I can take down..."

Matterhorn quickly speared him to ground which knock him out cold.

"Now who talks too much?" Mattehorn asked with a sly grin on her face as Blake walked to her.

"Your fan club managed to capture the Hydra troops that didn't escape with Zola. Nice work."

"I don't know how to thank you all."

"Thank us? We should thank you."

"With everyone getting powers, you're more important than ever."

"You showed us all this isn't scary or weird."

"We actually could be heroes."

"I've have to admit, impressed."

"For accidentally stumbling into victory? 'Cause I'm very good at that."

"For insirping people. Ironwood told we should keep an eye on you. I'm suprised to say, I agree," She left before she leaped out of there."

Much later...

"You know you were right, Moondancer. This is a good thing," Matterhorn said.

"I knew you come around," Moondancer replied.

Help me! Help me!

"How about you take this one?"

"No problem."

You know, maybe an island full of mutants isn't gonna be as bad as I thought," Matterhorn said as she went back home.