//------------------------------// // Chapter Four // Story: Mismatched // by Paradox Wolf //------------------------------// Dr. Moria Brown was having a headache. Whether it was the wine she was drinking or the current problem she faced. She suspected both were the cause.She sat in her lab looking over the numerous amounts of reports on the experiments. Many had either died, been injured or escaped there confines during the gate's activation. Among the most disturbing of these reports were that A-004 and B-003 had gone missing. Two leaders of two different factions that had a vested interest in ending the either the corporation or the human race. "This could not possibly get any worse..." She wished she had never said that as her hazel eyes looked over the next report. The experiment themed X-005 is believed to have escaped alongside C-001, C-004, B-003 and B-004. They're current whereabouts are unknown but Kappa Three believes one of their retainers caught scent of him. B-004 has escaped... They were located in a dark, damp forest with plenty of shadows for him to hide in. And X-005, or Mimic as he had taken to calling himself was valuable to her research now more than ever. Especially with his power mimicking abilities. She took a moment to pull up B-004 and X-005's research analysis and reports. B-004/Shade Report 12[Updated] The Following is an overall report of B-004's abilities, mental/emotional strains and physical strengths and/or weaknesses. Any questions or procedures for updating this document can be directed to the Head of Chemical X research, Dr Moria Brown. Description B-004 is a Vulpine Variant Experiment who to this day still remains somewhat of a mystery to us as he is almost always hiding in shadows or have himself cloaked. Methods such as thermal imaging and even throwing flour at him doesn't work all too well. Despite this we still have managed to observe his form a few times. He is Pitch white with gray eyes. His fur glows and can even change how bright it is depending on if B-004 feels endangered. Due to his unique powers he escapes on a day to day basis and if he were to ever escape to somewhere where darkness is always present we would most likely not be able to find him without causing major harm to the environment. Chemical X Manifestations B-004 manifests his Chemical X by making himself somewhat intangible but completely invisible to most senses. The only way to detect B-004 is by attacking him with Chemical X laced attacks or by detecting his near undetectable scent. B-004 has managed to trick and escape those above him quite often. Mental/Emotional Overview This is still under debate as B-004 refuses to speak to any other experiment or Personnel. Physical Attributes Experiment B-004 has proven quite difficult test his physical attributes as he avoids confrontations as much as possible. Despite this he has shown himself to be quite durable and able to pack a punch. He has shown able to be able to bite down with a force equivalent to 1,900 lb. Considering his base species is a fox this is quite stronger than average. To add on to his strength he is able to carry up to 92 pounds without noticeably being slowed down. He moves at 207 miles an hour and can keep this speed up for a good hour before needing to slow down. He has shown to be incredibily agile able to scale trees and obstacles within seconds. 'Hm, we're not finding him anytime soon. Maybe he'll have a run in with the inhabitants and they'll somehow weaken him enough for us to capture. Ugh I don't even want to think of the small horses right now. What are we even going to do with them?' The door to Dr. Moria's office opened revealing Alan Vincent. He stepped in with a nod to her. "Excuse me for intruding doctor but there were some things I wanted to discuss with you. You know business and such." He walked in and took a seat eyeing the wine she was drinking. "Mind if i pour myself a cup?" "Do what you please Mr. Vincent." She sat the reports down and faced him. "But what business do you have with me today. As you can see I am quite busy as of the moment." "It's about a specific group of experiments, the Mismatched I believe they call themselves. I needed to know if they were gonna be a problem since Z-001 is rallying up her own army. I wanted your advice if they would partner up with her at all." "The Mismatched don't care for what she believes in as far as I can tell. But I wouldn't be surprised that if Z-001 did attack, they would take advantage of the chao's to free the members still locked in here." She sighed and rubbed her temples. "Still they might try and finish us off given the chance." "Hmm. Thanks Doc." He finally took a sip of the drink almost spitting it out. "Jesus what are you drinking, straight alcohol?!" "Possibly." "Whatever Doc." He sighed and put the cup down. "Well at least most of the A tiers are still contained. Right Doc?" "Oh do I have some news for you." She muttered as she finished her glass of wine. The cutie mark crusaders trotted behind at a brisk pace as Zecora stealthed her way through the woods scouting out a path for them to take. They were scared but also surprised. There wasn't a time where they had heard Zecora speak without a rhyme. Then there was also the weird creatures that spoke as if they were straight out of the royal guard, or the E.U.P! There was just so much they didn't know what was happening. "Sweetie Bell! What were those things back there?" Whispered Apple Bloom harshly. "Why did Zecora take us off the path? Why do we have to sneak around?" "I don't know, maybe Zecora is scared of those two leg things? They did break into her house and she hid from them." Sweetie Bell responded. "I mean I wouldn't be very happy if someone broke into the carousel boutique." "But we still don't know what they are or how Zecora knew they were coming." "Yeah..." "Hey Scootaloo you've been awful quiet over there." Apple Bloom turned behind her to see that her orange friend was gone with no clear indication of where she went. "Scoots?" "Uh oh..." "Girls?" Scootaloo yelled over the dark ambiance of the forest despite the sun light piercing through the trees. "Where'd everypony go?" Suddenly a low growl meets her ears as rustles sound from behind her. "Oh no..." She spun on her hooves to face the beast as it emerged from the bush. Its green and glowing eyes, its hollow wooden insides. It was a timber wolf. "Hey you leave me alone!" Its growling grew harsher at her attempt to intermediate the creature. "Rainbow dash will have your hide if you lay a paw on me!" Not caring much for her idle threats the wolf finally stopped circling her and dove in for its free meal. "AHHH!" Scootaloo let loose a scream as she awaited the pain. But it never came. Her eyes opened to see a small light blue wolf pup with white paws. A floating blue branch sat in the timber wolfs jaws just barely holding it back. "Stay behind me!" He yelled out with his eyes trained on the jagged form of the wooden wolf. "I'll keep you safe!" The stick started wagging around till the wolf got thrown back from it. The stick hovered close to smaller wolf in a circle around the two of them. "W-who are you?" Scootaloo finally spit out from her mixture of surprise and fear. The timber began to circle them waiting for its opportunity to pounce. "I'm Mimic, and i'm not scared anymore!" He yelled out as he grit his teeth and started to growl back at the wolf. Mimic's eyes lit up with the flame of courage as he stared at the wolf. His mind was a race with thoughts and ideas in just how exactly he was gonna get out of this. 'All I need is just I one piece of it and i'll be able to transform. Just one piece!' The timber wolf finally stopped its circling and leaped at Mimic only to get batted a few feet away by the hovering branch. A small and barely noticeable chunk was knocked off from the wooden wolf. Mimic dropped the branch from his telekinesis and dove for it only to be intercepted by wooden jaws crushing down his midsection. "Agh!" Another timber wolf had appeared from the bushes and taken Mimic by surprise. *Crunch! A sickening crunch echoed through the air as it bit down on him. "AHHH!" He let out a scream no longer focused but crying for help as his vision started to fade while he was being thrashed around by the wooden wolf. Just out of sight the second one came from behind trying to wrap its fangs around him next hoping to rip him in two. "Mimic!" Scootaloo yelled out to her savior in vain. She was forced with no choice but to watch as her savior was ripped piece to piece by the fangs of the feral timber wolves. But luckily that didn't happen and a glass bottle filled with a green substance flew straight into the wolf's jaws. It shattered on impact sending a small green mist cascading over the wolves. They quickly drop the now unconscious Mimic and sprint off whimpering with their tails tucked in between their legs. "Scootaloo!" Screamed Applebloom and Sweetie Bell as they hug tackled their friend. "Are you okay? Did those timber wolves hurt you? How did you lose us?" They asked in a barrage of questions. "What about Mimic! He's hurt!" Scootaloo explained to her friends panic in her voice. She ran over to Mimic to see Zecora already patching him up to the best of her abilities. "Is he gonna be okay Zecora!?" "That I do not know, but his wounds are not for show." She gently placed the small pup on her back. "And here I did not think I would see this pup again. Come we still must hurry from the everfree, so come now and let us flee." With the small, bloodied pup cradled on her back Zecora led the cutie mark crusaders from the new danger of the everfree to the now unsafe ponyville. But a shadow stalked them just always out of sight and curious to its new prey. The Golden oaks Library was quiet per usual with the purple unicorn known as Twilight peacefully enjoying her morning book with a lovely cup of tea. Spike was near enjoying a comic he had picked up the other day as his chores were done. It was a time of peace and relaxation. At least until a loud boom shook the entire town and made a few books fall down. "Augh!" Spike moaned as he was knocked clear over with few books piling on top of him. "Mmf MMMF mmf!" "What in Celestia's Mane was that?!" Yelled Twilight as she struggled to stand as to tremor continued to shake the town for a few seconds. Not a second after it stopped several, smaller booms shook the ground. Then the screams started. Not wasting a second more Twilight burst through the library doors and a seen of chaos met her lavender eyes. Fire. It covered a crater, in which had been where a water fountain used to be found, was nothing more then molten stone and darkened flames. A massive figure rivaling Princess Celestia peered out from the flames as they seemingly slowed down. It's eyes glowed a menacing red as they met hers. With a snarl it step passed the flames staying as low to the ground as it could get. She could only stare as it reared up and looked down on her. "And what are you?" It growled outlooking down on her. Twilight knew exactly what to say to the towering beast in front of her. "W-what?"