As Canterlot City was having another snowstorm, Solar had once busted another crime in progress, still trying to find out who Mastermind is and what's the endgame.
"Great, none of them know who's the mask under Mastermind," Solar groaned as she overlooked the crook being taken in by Canterlot PD. "I know you're out there. What are you up to?"
Meanwhile…
"Welcome to your lair, Mastermind," Mechanic said as he, Raptor, and Plasma were greeted by Madame Mayhem.
"Thank you, Mechanic," Madame Mayhem told him.
"I still don't get why you didn't bust out with me and Hunter?" Plasma asked.
"Is quite simple . When building a secret empire of super criminals, the safety of a hospital bed has its advantages."
"Beats being in prison," Raptor said.
"Yes. As Solar Eclipse searchers for Mastermind, leaving Madame Mayhem free to plan," The villainess smiled. "I assume that everything is in position."
"Of course, all that remains is calibration and testing.".
At Mercer Corp…
"Sunset, so glad you can make it," Darell said to her, being in a broken down building.
"Well, you're a hard mentor to say no, Mr. Mercer. Besides, what teenager doesn't love so old fashioned destruction now and then.
"Once this place comes down, we can repurpose the property for a brand-new R&D building. Sunset, this Mall Pryer, our demolition expert."
"Nice setup, is it wireless?" Sunset asked.
"100 percent, once we're clear, I'll remotely activate the countdown, and boom," Mall said.
"Sunset, go get a good seat for the implosion," Darell told her. "I'll join you shortly."
"Okay," Sunset replied and headed out but not before having her head flash. "That can't be good."
"Oh, crap!" Mall exclaimed as the bomb started. "The countdown has started. 30 seconds until the explosion."
"Shut it down," Darell ordered him.
"I'm trying, but I'm locked out. We can't get clear in time."
Then Solar dropped in.
"Wow, who invited the downer," Solar joked as she created a force field around the two. "You boys, comfy?"
"Wait, what Sunset?" Darell asked.
"Already safe. Your turn."
Solar pushed them out of the building but not before the bomb went off trapping her. But Solar created a forcefield around them protecting her from the fallen debris then a few moments later she emerged from the debris.
"That went well," Solar said.
Meanwhile, both Raptor and Madame Mayhem were watching from the base.
"At least we tried, Wallace."
"Mercer's time will come. As will, Solar's. Still, you must be pleased with the initial test."
"Very pleased. The neural transmitter that allows me to control my hair and with a mere thought I was able to activate the countdown."
"I didn't like power flux, put more in reserve," Mechanic told Plasma.
"Working on it," He said as he charged the reserves.
"Minor problems aside, you and the others had done a successful job assembling the tech that Cavalier stole."
"The brain work was all yours."
"Yes, that has a working wireless connection with nearly every computer in the city, but that is just the beginning. In less than 24 hours, the world will be at my mercy. Just imagine the possibilities."
At Sugarcube Corner…
"Any plans for the new year?" Rarity asked. "I'm going to an elegant ball, showing off my newest design."
"We're selling hot apple cider, at the farm," Applejack said.
"Me and Pinkie were going to the Canterlot Square for the ball drop," Rainbow said. "Twilight? Sunset?"
"I got nothing."
"Spending time with the family," Twilight said.
None of the girls realized that Plasma was wearing his trench coat, eyeing Twilight.
"It's me, I got eyes on the target. Begin phase one," Plasma said on his con and immediately the lights started to flicker.
"Is everything okay?" Sunset asked.
"I'm not sure, what's going on?" Mr. Cake said. "But everyone please leave the store."
As everyone left, Plasma still kept his eyes on Twilight.
"Target has left the shop," He said.
Excellent, proceed to extract her.
Plasma snuck from behind zapped her and carried her off to Raptor came down grabbed her then took her to the air just as Plasma got in a truck with Mechanic driving.
"Package delivered, go," Plasma said as the van took off.
Then Solar arrived following them.
"Great, Raptor's long gone. But there's Plasma's van. And hopefully, he'll let me to where Twilight is."
"Yeah, nothing but road, thanks doc," Plasma said.
You're not home free, yet, it seems the wretched Solar is on your tail.
"No problem, we'll ditch her," Mechanic said.
"Eat this, Solar!" Plasma said as he fired an energy sphere at her forcing her to dodge.
"So much for the stealth approach," Solar said as she dodged the spheres, and then created a red barricade in front of them.
"Look out!" Plasma said seeing it as the van crashed into the wall.
At Mastermind's base, Raptor put Twilight in a cage then he grabbed Twilight's phone.
"Oh, Mastermind, our guest has arrived and she kindly lent us her phone," Raptor told her.
"Good, it's time to call the big brother," Madame Mayhem said as she called in Shining Armor.
Hey, Twilight.
"No, not, Miss Sparkle, Captain. You need help keeping tabs on your sister."
Who is this? How did you get Twilight's phone?
"Oh, call me, Mastermind. As for the phone, from Miss Sparkle, of course."
From her? Where is she?
"She's fine, she's taking a nap."
Listen, pal. If you touch a hair on her…
"Let's dispense with threats and get straight to the point."
Alright, what do you want?
"The global portal codes stored at Homeland Security's Canterlot HQ."
Forget it. Those codes give you access to every government computer in the…
"The world? Yes. And you will provide the codes."
I'll level with you. I attend briefings at Home Sec. But I don't have clearances for the codes. I couldn't get them even if I wanted them.
"That could be fixed. With a little help and some proper motivation."
With Solar…
"Alright, you," Solar held Mechanic on the edge of the building. "Both Raptor and Plasma are long gone but you are going to tell me where to find the girl."
"Or else what, we both know the hero won't do anything rash," Mechanic smirked.
"You think I'm bluffing?" Solar asked him before throwing him off then used her magic to hold him.
"Ready to talk, now?"
"Like I tell you anything!"
Solar let him go again but this time she yanked him by the leg as he was about to crash onto the streets.
"That strike two care to try for three?" She asked.
"Okay... you win... I'll talk."
…
,,,
"Remind me again, why do we need him?" Plasma asked as he and Madame Mayhem watched Shining Armor heading straight to Homeland Security HQ.
"It has proven different to hack into their network, even if I use the transmitter, their network is on a secure line, protecting them from foreign code," She explained.
"Are you sure he will comply?"
"He will, if he cares for his sister's safety. Raptor and Cavalier are in a position to provide a distraction for him."
With Solar, she was at the hideout due to info given by Mechanic.
"The secret entrance to the Mastermind's lair," Solar said as she was being laced with sentry guns. "And since I don't want to have holes in my suit. I'll have to take an indirect approach."
She dived into the lake and swam into Mastermind's underwater lair.
"What's with the bad guys and having their lairs in lava forges or underwater labs," Solar asked as she came through the entrance but Madame Mayhem saw her.
"Plasma, deal with her. I'm a little busy here."
"On it," Plasma said as went to deal with Solar.
With Twilight….
"Hey, Twilight," Solar greeted her from the outside.
"Solar, I am so glad to see you. Quick question, how did you get here?"
"You don't want to know," Solar said before melting the bars. "I have you guys out in a minute."
"You're finished, sun-freak!" Plasma entered and fired an electric blast at her.
"Look out!" Twilight shouted.
Solar blocked the first one but Twilight fainted and the second headed straight for generators.
Plasma take this fight somewhere else.
"Sure thing, boss," Plasma replied then Solar had an idea.
"Mastermind doesn't want this tech to be damaged." She thought to herself. "Whoa, Dylan. Don't tell me you're scared of a second-rate jerk?"
"First, I'm not scared of anything!"
She dodged Plasma's blast.
"Second, Mastermind isn't second-rate! And third, don't call me rustbucket or I'll blast to kingdom come!"
He fired a whole lot of bolts at her only to hit the generators.
Plasma, stand down!
"Na-na-na! Rustbucket. Rustbucket, Rustbucket!"
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
He fired an electric blast from his mouth at her but Solar deflected it back to him.
"Mother fu..." He said before feeling the blast.
"If all of the…" Madame Mayhem groaned as robot arms came out of the wall.
"Even the walls have arms. At least one mystery was solved. Hey Mastermind, some secret identity advice, don't sign your handiwork, Madame Mayhem."
Yes, Solar, how amazing of you to have guessed the truth even after I revealed it.
The robot arms tried to grab her but missed, then Solar hurled the unconscious Plasma at them and they all exploded when she felt the impact.
"Worth it."
"If you want something done right…"
Solar grabbed the sleeping Twilight, and then a hair tentacle came at her face and placed it into a wall.
"I thought the arms race was over."
"Oh, I have a few tricks up my sleeves," Madame Mayhem said holding Twilight.
She sent two hair tentacles at her but Solar dodged it the third one grabbed her and slammed her body around the lair and tossed to the ground then formed a drill. Solar quickly acted and fired a magic sphere at the power line making Madame Mayhem feel a surge.
"No! Without the server to route signals… it's too much…." Mayhem winces in pain as Solar saves Twilight. "Must destroy the connection!"
She destroys the generators powering down most of the base.
"Congrats. My lair, my master plan, all ruined!"
"Thanks, I enjoy fooling myself by foiling villain plots."
"Only one option remains," Madame Mayhem pulls a lever and not a minute too soon the lair is in self-destruct mode as she heads to an escape pod and leaves. "Farewell, Solar. Enjoy your grave."
The place started to come down trapping the two in the place with Solar being on top of the debris.
"Can't budge. So cold. My whole body was stiff and numb. Guess this is it, I fought the good fight. Did my best. Foiled Mayhem's plan to rule the world. No one could ask any more of me," Solar said. "What am I doing? I can't give up. Twilight needs me. Okay, I never tried this move before, but I hope I don't die."
Solar charges her body and screams, making a loud explosion that destroys the debris that was on her to which Twilight woke and joined Solar in the water.
"Sweet Celestia, it's cold," Twilight exclaimed.
"It's going to get even colder if we don't get out of here," Solar told her. "There's an escape pod that Mayhem used to escape. Can you drive it?"
"Sure."
"Good, get warmed up, I need to grab one more passenger," Solar looked at Plasma who was still being knocked out as Twilight headed to the pod.
"You may be a jerk, but you don't deserve faith this bad," Solar grabbed him and joined Twilight and the three of them got out just as the lair exploded.
"Captain?" Solar contacted him.
Yes.
"I just want to let you know that your sister is okay, and I have a bad guy for you."
Thank god. I don't know what I do without you.
"Not a problem."