//------------------------------// // Act 0: Ch.2 Shining Armor Director of SHIELD // Story: Avengers: Equestria's Mightiest Heroes // by Slam-Manian //------------------------------// Act 0: Avengers Initiative Chapter 2: Shining Armor: Director of SHIELD Iron Mare stared down the pony suited SHIELD agents, ready for whatever they may throw at her as they kept the weapons aimed and poised for the same. “BARB, I don’t have anything planned for tomorrow, do I?” the Unicorn asked. “No, Ma’am, your schedule was cleared weeks ago so you would have time for one of your ‘Lab days’.” The A.I. responded. “Good, then don’t wake me up tomorrow, I have a meeting after this and I’m gonna be exhausted when I get home tonight.” Twilight sighed stressfully. “Understood,” “How’s the Uni-beam power level coming along?” “Twenty-six percent after those two repulsor attacks; with no further energy expenditures the Uni-beam will be completely charged in two minutes and forty- three seconds.” “This is your final warning,” The fore front armored SHIELD agent announced. “Stand down.” “Look, gentlecolts, I don’t really have time to be hassled, I have a meeting to get ready for, so unless you’re going to thank me for doing your job, I’m not in the mood for this.” Twilight informed them as calmly as she could. “You’re going to have to come with us, Iron Mare,” The agent told her. “Again, I have a meeting to attend and I do not want to be late, if you would like to schedule an appointment then my assistant Note Pad would be happy to pencil you in, otherwise, its not gonna happen.” Iron Mare responded still calm, but with a slight edge in her voice. “Uni-beam power is at fifty-two percent,” BARB announced to her. “BARB, scan the Ponydroids, please.” Twilight asked. “As you wish,” With that, the AI quickly began her total systems scan of the Ponydroids. Twilight’s screen zoomed in on the forefront agent, before the screen made a quick scan, showing the parts and wiring built into the suit and made another scan, revealing the agent underneath. “Alert,” BARB announced as the scan completely and zoomed out from the Ponydroid, giving her full view vision again. “Several components of the Ponydroid armor are derived from Sparkle Industries Technology.” “Really, why am I not surprised,” Twilight muttered to herself as she took a tentative step forward. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere, back aboard the Helicarrier, Shining Armor eyed his sister from the main monitor that was receiving live feed from the armored soldiers on the ground. “That’s some nice armor you got there, who’s your tailor,” She asked, her voice echoing throughout the brig. “I know you can hear me, Shining, so I’ll ask again, who’s your tailor?” “Director Armor, Iron Mare just scanned the Ponydroid armor,” Trixie informed her boss as she pulled away from the computer. “Why would she do that?” “Call them back,” He told her, glancing back at her quickly before turning back to the main screen. “Tell the Ponydroids to stand down. We did not come here to fight Iron Mare.” “But, sir?” “Do it,” He snapped. The pale blue unicorn turned back to the computers with her hoof over her earpiece, relaying her boss’s orders to the agents below. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back down on the field, Twilight was getting more assertive as she took another step closer to the Ponydroids. “You know, I don’t like repeating myself three times because it makes me think ponies aren’t listening to me, so again, where did you get that armor?” She asked this time demanding an answer. The agents took a few steps back, unsure what the mare might do. “Stay back, Iron Mare, don’t take another step.” The agent told her. Unknown to them, the drill of the HYDRA Dreadnaught punched through the rubble it was buried under, quickly followed by the rest of it, revealing it to still be completely intact from SHIELD’s previous assault. “Stop playing games with me, where did you get-” “WARNING!” BARB cut Twilight off when her screen honed in on the Dreadnaught as it turned to the horde of agents before it. “Look out!” She shouted as she pulled her forelegs up, aiming her repulsors to the mechanical menace behind them. The Ponydroids responded in fear as they saw the mare arm her weapons and proceeded to act. “Open fire!” The commanding agent announced as the whole squad loosed a barrage of energy blasts. Twilight couldn’t possibly attack, being forced to turn her head and shield her body with her right foreleg. She grit her teeth and groaned under the pressure of the constant attack, listening to the armor groaning under the stress even louder than herself, but still her armor held steadfast under the assault. Twilight felt the hard thumping and glanced up to see the Dreadnaught closing in on the Ponydroids, standing only a couple feet behind them. “Ma’am, the Uni-beam is now full charged.” BARB informed her. About time, She groaned inside her mind. Twilight took a chance and pulled her front hooves up at the two Ponydroids at the front and right and gave a quick blast of her repulsors, knocking the two down and out of her line of fire. With the Dreadnaught in her sights, Twilight’s eyes and horn shone brightly as she concentrated her magic to its highest peak. She then focused it into her chest plate and puffed her chest out, aiming the Arch mage reactor at its target with her hooves planted firmly into the ground. With the magical proper transfers, Twilight closed her eyes tightly and released a deafening scream as a mass of pure magical energy erupted from her chest, hitting the Dreadnaught dead center. The Dreadnaught barely lasted ten seconds as the attack forced it back about twenty feet before it exploded. The explosion that ensued from its destruction was still nothing compared to the force of the blast as it was enough to send the surrounding Ponydroids flying a good ten feet away, crashing their systems and bodies into the ground as well as forcing Twilight back, causing her to dig her hooves into the ground to stop herself from flying back until the blast finally died down. When the energy dissipated, Twilight felt her body completely give way as her legs buckled under her and she dropped crouched on the ground, breathing heavily. Twilight heard her armor hum back to life as she opened her eyes and saw the ‘System reboot’ sign on her screen. In seconds her systems were back up and so was she. She took a few deep breaths as she looked around at the downed Ponydroids. While the Uni-beam was easily her most powerful attack spell, if not used correctly it had its draw backs. Normally she would augment the energy to ensure such destruction was kept to a minimal but the situation didn’t call for the necessary preparation she required. “BARB, are they alright?” She asked. “All Ponydroid life signs are responding.” “Good,” Twilight say as she walked over toward the nearest one. The Ponydroid groaned as its helmet sparked. When a shadow covered its head, it turned to see Iron Mare standing over him. “Excuse me, but I need to borrow this.” Twilight said politely as she reached down toward the Ponydroid’s head. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back aboard the Helicarrier, Shining Armor eye remained on the static covered screen as he watched Iron Mare make a grab for the helmet before the feed died. “We’ve lost all Ponydroid feeds,” Trixie announced, as she glanced at all the static covered screens. “We’re trying to get a fix on Iron Mare’s location now.” “Let me guess,” Shining sighed as heard the sound of metal straining and bending. He then turned to see a sizable dent in the floor not ten feet from him, before a blast of energy blew a hole where the dent was and Iron Mare flew through, hovering in midair. Both Shining and Twilight regarded each other in a quick silent stand off before Twilight broke said silence as she said, “You wanna explain this to me?” She then tossed the Ponydroid helmet to ground, only for it to roll and stop at Shining’s hooves. Iron mare then slowly descended to the floor, landing a couple feet in front of her brother before closing the distance with Shining still standing a head or so taller than her. “You stole my tech,” She told him. “You-” Twilight was then interrupted when she saw the glimmer of magic in peripheral vision on her right side as well as the sound of weapons being charged. She glanced to her side as saw Trixie with her horn clad in a light azure glow. “Twilight Sparkle, step away from Director Armor, now.” Trixie instructed her, before the armored unicorn looked over her shoulder to all the Earth and Pegasus ponies in the room, aiming an assortment of weapons at her. “You’re under arrest by order of SHIELD. If she moves, open fire.” Trixie told her subordinates. Twilight paid them no mind as her gaze shifted back to her brother’s, who never once took his eye from her. “Stand down, Lulamoon.” Shining ordered with a wave of his hoof. “But, sir, she attacked the Ponydroid unit,” Trixie explained as she glanced at her boss. “No, she saved them from a threat they didn’t see and in case you forgot, she just saved the United Nations from a HYDRA attack while we were on a wild goose chase.” He explained as he eyed her. “So again; STAND. DOWN.” He ordered with authority and emphasis on each word. Lulamoon eyed the Director for a moment until she dispelled her magic and all other personnel pulled down their weapons. “You used my inventions to make war machines,” Twilight snapped, getting back to the topic at hoof. “C’mon, Twily, you’ve been selling us tech for years, when you stopped, we just simply . . . modified what you gave us.” Shining explained with a nonchalantly smirk, putting on that natural charm and charisma he was well known for. Twilight growled in her throat in sheer anger. As far as she was concerned, he lost the right to call her by that nickname years ago, but that was neither here nor there. “Modified . . . try twisted. You twisted what I made and what’s worse; you let it leak to HYDRA.” She told him. Twilight watched as that smirk quickly changed to stern glare; not of anger, but curiosity. “Come again?” “That’s right, your precious SHIELD has a crack in it and HYDRA’s been exploiting it. Those Dreadnaughts were about two degrees off from your Ponydroid design.” She explained. “Those Ponydroids will save lives, Sparkle,” Trixie told her, forcing the two siblings to meet her stare. “That’s why we’re here. That’s what SHIELD does and when you withhold resources from us you’re just giving the advantage over to groups like HYDRA.” Twilight shook her head in frustration. “Now I have to repeat myself because it’s like nopony is listening,” She groaned before she shouted, “Weapons don’t solve problems, they only make problems worse!” “Wake up, Twilight!” Shining snapped back. His horn became encased in its cerulean glow as the screens switched to scenes of the destruction from her previous battle. “How exactly do you think our problems are going to get worse? You’ve seen what’s out there; the tech HYDRA’s got; Super-villains coming out of the woodworks; Monsters like Sp-” Twilight cut him off instantly as her eyes began to glow. Shining knew that was a landmine he didn’t want to step on, especially if he wanted his sister to listen to what he had to say. “Listen,” He said in calming down, as Twilight calmed down and her eyes stopped glowing. “we need Twilight Sparkle, more than we need some armored vigilante. The fact of the matter remains, you can’t do this alone. You’re just . . . one . . . mare.” He said, tapping his hoof against her chest plate to emphasis his point. “One of me is more than enough,” She told him before she turned around and headed for the exit. “I’ll get my tech back on my own, thank you very much.” As she came to the front of the barricade of ponies and weapons that were once again aimed at her. She stopped and glanced back at her brother. “Do you really wanna go down this road, Shining?” The Director gave a small nod of his head, causing his subordinates to stand down and part, making a path for Iron Mare to leave. As she neared the exit she said, “By the way, there’s a small unit of unconscious HYDRA agents down there, waiting for you, no need to thank me.” And with that said, the sliding doors parted and allowed Twilight to exit and make her way out of the Helicarrier. “Sir, I-” “HYDRA got into our systems,” Shining cut off Trixie before she even started. “SHIELD has a crack, find it and seal it up.” “Yes, sir,” Trixie said as she gave a quick salute and headed off to begin her mission. “And get me the Violet Widow.” Shining demeaned as he turned back toward the monitors as he surveyed the rounding up of HYDRA agents on the ground. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back in front of the U.N. building a couple of SHIELD Quinjets littered with SHIELD agents were hauling of the newly captured HYDRA agents onboard to their new prison cells. As one HYDRA agent was being loaded onto the transport, he looked up to see Iron Mare flying overhead. To where he knew not, but he did know he had her to thank as he gave a small toothy grin, hiding a sharp feral fang underneath. “Hey, keep it moving, HYDRA scum; you’re all headed straight for The Vault.” Said a SHIELD agent earth pony as he shoved the HYDRA agent with the side of his gun. The HYDRA agent gladly did as he was told since he knew he would soon be at his desired destination. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ten minutes later Back at Sparkle tower, Twilight stood still in her armor vault as BARB disassembled the armor with Spitfire and Note Pad watching her. “You should’ve been there Spitfire,” Twilight said as BARB neared the end of the dismantling sequence. “There were three robots this time and ponies in robot suits.” “I tried to watch but Paddy wouldn’t let me,” Spitfire said, eyeing the assistant. “I don’t need to watch to know that she’s going to win,” Note Pad said with a huff as she turned from the accusing Pegasus. “See, Spitfire, why can’t you be supportive like her?” Twilight asked. “Cuz I don’t have to suck up to you to get a paycheck,” Spitfire answered sarcastically. Why is it that I seem to attract the most sarcastic ponies, Twilight thought to herself. With that BARB finally finished and Twilight was set free from her armor. She took a few steps out, giving her body a few good stretches. A few of her muscles tensed up and she knew she would be sore for a few days. She used her magic to pull her mane free from its bun and shook her head, letting it fall back to its nature style. “Well, now that that’s done, I’m going to take a nice long shower, change and do my final look over for this business meeting with the Flim Flam brothers.” Twilight said as she headed for the door. “You know, you really don’t have to do this stuff alone?” Spitfire said, getting the unicorn’s attention. “Do what?” Twilight asked as she looked back at her friend, just as the doors to her vault opened up to her. “All this,” The Pegasus said as she gave a quick extend of her wings for emphasis and dramatic effect. “This whole lone hero thing; Taking on SHIELD, giant robots, super-villains. The whole world doesn’t have to rest on just your shoulders, Twi.” “Yes, it does,” Twilight said with a tiring sigh as she looked at the floor. “Look, I know you two always have my back,” “Well, I guess I’m just software clutter then,” BARB chimed in a somewhat hurt tone. “Yes, you too, BARB,” Twilight said with a light smile. “But let’s face it, against things like this, who’s gonna help me.” On that note Twilight left the room and headed out to prepare for her meeting leaving Spitfire and Note Pad to shortly follow after. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Elsewhere, out in the most barren mountainous ranges in all of Equestria, the SHIELD Quinjets, along with two fighter jets were making their way to one of the three high security super-villains prisons. After a few more kilometers, the clouds parted and it came into view; The Vault. Out behind two mountains stood a tall spire, taller than the mountains themselves; there were no windows, vents, or even security from the outside. The only way inside seemed to be a lone landing pad near the top. As the Quinjet neared the base of the spire, the two fighter jets broke off and headed back to base. When the Quinjet stopped completely in midair, itss wings pulled back upward, as the jets underneath increased their power, causing it to rise up toward the landing pad. Once it was near the landing pad, the wings pulled back forward as it flew into the open access point before it. It then pulled the wings up once again, as it began it’s slow decent down to the landing point. The inside was littered with landing pads on a multitude of floors, each housing a different area of the prison. The Quinjet finally found its designated landing point and released its landing gear as the engines were deactivated. The Bay doors opened up, revealing Shining Armor at the forefront with Trixie on his right and a slew of cuffed HYDRA Agents behind them. As they all disembarked, they were greeted by an array of armed SHIELD Agents, prepared to apprehend the new prisoners. “Move ‘em out,” Shining said being the first to step exit the jet with Trixie right beside him. The SHIELD agents quickly stepped to it and began to move the HYDRA agents off the jet to begin being processed. Shining continued to walk until he was met by a blue coated unicorn stallion dressed in the same SHIELD attire as Trixie. “Director Armor, it’s good to see you,” The Stallion said as he held his hoof out, shaking his boss’ hoof. “But since when do you start overseeing prisoner drop-offs?” “Since today, when HYDRA escalated their attacks on pretty much everypony,” Shining answered with a simply shrug. “Besides that, I also thought I’d come and check on our . . . mutual friend; see what he knows about this. So I’ll leave you to your work, Point Guard.” The pony nodded as Shining turned to address his other subordinate, “Lulamoon, let’s go, I got something I wanna show you.” Shining told her as he started toward the elevators. Trixie nodded and swiftly followed in tow. Once they were inside, they found themselves looking at an open window, showing off line up windows to the Prison cells. When the doors closed and the elevator began to descend, Shining asked, “Okay, Lulamoon, tell me what you know.” “The Vault is the first of the three super-villain prisons specifically created and designed to hold tech based super-villains and their gear; Designed by your sister, Twilight Sparkle, until she decided to stop working on SHIELD projects.” She answered. The elevator quickly arrived to the lowest floor and the view was cut off as it was replaced by a new set of doors. When the doors opened, the two SHIELD agents found themselves in a wide hexagonal hallway with luminescent lighting above and set in the walls of the hallway were cells filled with the most dangerous of prisoners the Vault had to offer with a large doorway at the end of the hallway with an ‘H’ painted on it. As the two began to move again, Lulamoon continued her answer. “Current high profile occupants include Crimson Dynamo, Technovore, MODOK, and . . . ,” Lulamoon paused as they reached their destination, the door at the end of the hallway. “HYDRA’s boss, Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker,” Shining said, finishing her sentence. As if on cue, the doors opened, unlocked two more sets of doors, revealing a large, dark cold room and in the center of it was a large containment cell, which seemed to be hooked up to an array of wires and tubes. Shining knew this as the high tech life support system his sister made to keep the single prisoner inside and alive as it funneled pure Mana into the cell, seeing as it was the only real thing keeping the prisoner alive. Outside of this cell, he wouldn’t last very long. Lulamoon’s eyes were widening in fear more than shock, but she quickly composed herself. She heard stories of this pony, everypony in SHIELD did, but to meet him was something only the Director was authorized to do. The two walked inside and saw a single lounging chair and desk were the only furnishing in the cell with the prisoner sitting idly by, silently. He was an elderly ebony black earth pony stallion with a grey mane, sporting a green HYDRA coat and pants with a white afghan underneath. His two most noticeable features were the glass monocle in his left eye and his missing right hoof that stopped at his knee. Shining knew this as the norm, being the oldest inmate here; the Baron was treated fairly well, since he was virtually harmless. As the doors closed shut behind them, the two agents sat quietly waiting for the prisoner to respond. “Herr, Director,” the Baron sighed in a deep Hoofssian accent as he closed his book and placed it on the desk. “It’s been a vhile.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere, a few floors up in the Processing center, the HYDRA agents were being scanned for any hidden gear they might have stashed away. They were lined up, unmasked, surrounded by armed SHIELD agents as they were herded one by one through a high-tech X-ray, metal/energy detector; a set of SHIELD agents, including Point Guard were monitoring a set of computer screens on the side lines, watching for anything suspicious. “Clear,” One of the agents announced, signaling for the next inmate to go through. “Clear,” The agent repeated and another inmate was sent through. On a table behind them, another agent was looking over and cataloging all of the weapons and gear they removed from the prisoners. He found a duffle bag with the HYDRA insignia on it and opened it up. What he found inside was strange red mechanical gauntlet. He looked at it in complete confusion, before turning to Point Guard and said, “Sir,” But the second he did, the screens flashed red as alarms began to sound. “Agent Guard, look,” One of the Agents exclaimed. Agent Guard went over to the screen and looked at the inmate being scanned. “Look at his right hoof, he’s got an implant,” The agent told him. Agent Guard saw it; in the inmate’s right hoof where bone should have been, a mechanical prosthetic was seen going all the way up to his knee. Point Guard focused his magic, while the rest of the armed agents took aim at the inmate as he shouted, “Cyborg! Down on the ground now!” “Don’t worry, everypony, it’s okay, I got a note from my doctor,” The Inmate said in a rough, eerie tone. With the help of the X-Ray, the agents watched in horror as the inmate flexed his shoulders as his body began to grow and expand. He stood up on his hind legs as his bones began to shift and from his hooves, claws began to elongate. His barrel widened out as his muzzle narrowed out and his teeth grew and sharpened. When his body was finished, he flexed his right hand and it quickly reconfigured into a two foot long scythe. The creature lunged out of the scanner, revealing himself to be a massive feral Werewolf. “Take him down,” Point Guard ordered as the agents opened fire. The Werewolf was assaulted by a barrage of magic and energy beams, but it didn’t seem to faze him as he moved with stunning agility, dodging the attacks and blocking some with his scythe. With his speed and agility, he swiftly began to dispatch some of the agents, slashing through them with ease with his scythe and claws. Even as agent after agent hit the floor, the remaining didn’t stop firing. And the onslaught continued until only the Werewolf was left standing. The Werewolf moved over to the assortment of weapons to the duffle bag housing the gauntlet and reached in to pull out a cloak. He quickly shrouded himself, using the hood to cover most of his face, before closing the bag and hauling it off to its owner. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere, back at the base of the Vault, Shining and Trixie were just wrapping up their talk with the Baron. “Your questions amuse me, Armor,” The Baron said as he once again picked up his book and continued to read, “a pleasure as alvays.” “Then we’re done here,” Shining said as he turned around with Lulamoon on his heels. “Did you really think he was going to tell you anything?” Trixie asked as they exited the cell and headed into the hallway. “All that shows me is that you need to learn to listen better, Trixie” Shining said in a slightly sarcastic tone. “He told me plenty. Something’s going down, something big and soon. The question is what?” As if Celestia herself was mocking him, the alarms began to sound off, causing the two to ready themselves. Shining pulled the collar of his jacket to his muzzle, activating the implanted communication device. “Guard, what’s going on,” He asked, but got nothing but static. Suddenly the ‘ding’ of the elevator sounded and the two looked to see the Werewolf standing in it. “Well, well, the great Shining Armor.” The Werewolf said with heavy sarcasm as he took a few steps out of the elevator. “Hell Hound,” Shining said glaring at the wolf as he and Trixie readied their magic. “It was a setup. The whole attack on the U.N., all of it; you did all of that just to get in here and spring Baron Strucker. But you didn’t plan for one thing.” “Oh and what’s that,” Hell Hound said with a toothy grin, flexing his scythe as it gave a menacing gleam. “Me putting you in here with him,” Shining answered. Hell Hound lunged forward, poised for the attack as Shining Armor and Trixie unleashed a volley of magical beams at him. Hell Hound continued to dodge the attacks as they came, never slowly down for a second as he advanced. He then turned toward the wall, running up the side as he started making his way above them. When his feet touched the top, he spun around, righting himself as he tossed the duffle bag down at Trixie and before she could do anything, the bag slammed right into her face, knocking her back onto to the ground, unconscious. Hell Hound landed in a crouch on one knee as he faced Shining again, alone. Shining continued his assault as Hell Hound now bounded forward at him, ready for the kill. The cybernetic mongrel quickly dodged the attacks and closed the distance with his scythe closed back, aimed at Shining’s head. Shining leaned back just barely missing attack, but Hell Hound quickly countered by ducking down and sweep kicking the stallion’s legs from underneath him, causing him to fall on his back. The second he landed, Hell Hound was looming over him, driving his scythe down toward Shining’s head. Shining quickly jerked his head to the side, dodging the attack, causing the scythe to get stuck into the floor. Before he could pull back, Shining clasped his front hooves on the blade, holding it and it’s wielder in place and then quickly pulled his rear hooves back and quickly bucked upward, landing a clean attack to the Werewolf’s chest, sending him sprawling back. Trying to keep up the momentum, Shining quickly got up and threw his right hoof forward, landing a strong right cross Hell Hound’s jaw. Hell Hound gave a toothy grin as he swung his scythe, but Shining ducked down, causing it to slice right through the wall behind him. Then in a series of blindingly agile movements, Hell Hound made a number of more slashes before he jumped and landed standing straight. He then pulled up his left paw and snapped his clawed fingers; not before long, Shining heard a loud noise and his eye widened in shock as he looked up, just as debris from the ceiling came crashing down on him. Not wanting to waste any more time, Hell Hound turned and walked away toward his intended destination, but not before walking over to the duffle bag and picking up off the still unconscious unicorn underneath. The Werewolf made his way toward door at the end of the hallway and when he reached it, he made two quick slashes cutting through the door like paper in an ‘X’ formation, causing the metal to crumble and fall, making a triangle shape opening. Hell Hound then entered the room and was quickly regarded by the Baron as the imprisoned pony closed his book and stood up to face his subordinate. Hell Hound then made his way over to prison and stabbed his scythe through the chamber, causing the glass to shatter, making an opening. He then got to one knee and bowed as he pulled out the gauntlet and presented it to his master. “The Claw of Abaddon, Master,” Hell Hound said in his most humbled tone. The Baron stepped out from his confinement and stopped in front of the Werewolf. Without a word he grabbed the gauntlet with his good hoof and placed it where he missing one used to reside and then he felt it. Mana. Pure mana energy; the gauntlet began to glow a deadly crimson red as it began to feed the energy to its master. The stallion groaned in exhilaration as the power flowed through him and as it did, he felt his body growing and changing. His hooves grew up as bones shifted and became elongated claws. His coat grew into a thicker black fur coat as his chest expanded and finally his muzzle grew and narrowed out until he was a Werewolf, the same as the one before him. With his instrument that allowed him to drain the living energy from others and his original form restored, he was now complete. Baron Strucker was free. “Hail, HYDRA,” Hell Hound said happily and proudly. “You haf dun vell, Hell Hound,” The Baron said as he walked toward the exit with his hands behind his back. “Come, ve haf much vork to do.” Hell Hound quickly got to his feet as he followed behind the Baron to take their leave. As the two exited the chamber, they were met with a row of armed earth pony SHIELD agents. They quickly opened fire upon the two, releasing a full on barrage. The Baron didn’t even flinch as Hell Hound dashed forward and blocked the attacks with his scythe. The agents didn’t relent even as Hell Hound continued to block their attacks. He then sent a few flying back at their attackers, taking a few of them out in one foul swoop. He then lunged forward to take out the rest as the Baron slowly followed behind. As Hell Hound began to quickly dispatch the rest of their opposition, the Baron stopped as he heard a groaning and turned to see one of the agents was simply stunned with a bleeding scorch mark in his right shoulder where he was hit. The Baron then leaned down and grabbed the pony by his neck with the gauntlet and picked him up, bringing him to eye level. The Gauntlet then began to glow, enveloping both the Baron and agent in its crimson glow. As it did, the Baron could feel the Mana being sucked from the pony as he watched the creature in his paw getting older and weaker as he felt himself getting younger and stronger by the second. Within a few moments, the pony was an old, withered husk, while the Baron stood taller, his coat had a darker sheen and his mane was a deathly crimson red. The Baron then dropped the lifeless creature and followed after his subordinate. Having cleared the way, the Baron and Hell Hound mounted the elevator and headed upward toward their escape. As they departed, amiss the ruble, a strong cerulean glow began to shine. It then began to grow brighter and expand into a dome, pushing the debris aside as Shining Armor pushed himself free. When he was clear of the ruble, he released his barrier and looked around him, trying to gain his bearings. When he saw the ground littered with his fallen agents, he knew who to blame and he wasn’t going to let them escape. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Elsewhere, outside the Vault on the lone landing stripe; The Baron leisurely made his way to set of emergency escape chariots as Hell Hound protected him from another squad of SHIELD agents. When the Baron was seated in the passenger’s seat, Hell Hound jumped into the air and landed in the driver’s seat. He then activated the Mana engine, causing the wheels to turn a full ninety degrees until they were directly under the chariot, as the engine activated its magic and the chariot began to hover. Hell Hound then took the wheel and pushed it forward, causing them to take off along the runway. “Well, that was easy,” Hello Hound said with a calm smirk. All of a sudden, the hood of the chariot dipped forward as something heavy set it slightly off balance. When it righted itself, the two looked forward to see Shining Armor standing on the hood of the Chariot. “You’re not home free just yet,” Shining exclaimed. “Armor,” The Baron snapped before Shining leaned forward, giving the older Werewolf as good punch to the face. The two struggled with each other, while Hell Hound struggled to keep the Chariot stable. Finally finding some purchase, The Baron managed to grab Shining by his head with his Gauntlet and the two quickly became enveloped in its power. Shining tried to get himself free as he felt his strength being drained from him. The Baron smirked as he saw some of the light blue streaks in Shining’s mane go grey. Knowing he had only one option, Shining wrapped his hooves around the Baron’s arm, and leaned back pulling the Werewolf back with him. The Baron’s eyes widened in shock as the two flipped back off the hood of chariot; feeling the wolf’s grip weakening, Shining kicked him in the chest and extended his right hoof, just barely catching the bumper of the chariot to stop himself from falling. Shining watched as the Baron crashed to the runway, bouncing off the ground until he slid to stop on his back, toward the edge of the runway. He then quickly pulled himself back up to the hood of the Chariot to see Hell Hound looking back at his Master, lying unconscious on the ground. He growled as he turned back to his pursuer and pulled his scythe. “You’re gonna suffer for that, Armor, big time.” Hell Hound swung his scythe, but Shining jumped up and dodged it. Using the wind force at his back, Shining pulled his hind leg forward and kicked the werewolf right in the face, knocking him from the driver’s seat. When he landed, Hell Hound was already coming at him again with his scythe. Acting quickly, Shining leaned back, dodging the attack, but then countered and grabbed Hell Hound at the wrist, holding him in place. He then repeated the same trick he used on the Baron and pulled his leg up as he flipped back, kicking Hell Hound in the air, over the hood of the chariot. Before he fell over, Hell Hound quickly righted himself and stabbed his scythe through the bumper of the Chariot. Just as Shining took control of the wheel, he saw Hell Hound looming over him as he took a swing with his scythe. The stallion just barely leaned back into the seat, dodging the strike. Just as the wolf pulled his scythe up, Shining kicked the throttle with his rear hoof, causing the chariot to accelerate and the added wind pressure pushed Hell Hound to fly overhead. As he reached the rear of the chariot, Hell Hound spun and stabbed his scythe into the chariot to save himself. He then flipped forward, pulling his scythe free as he crouched into the passenger seat with his scythe pulled across his chest. Shining jumped back as Hell Hound swung his scythe, dodging the attack, but found himself falling over the edge. He quickly grabbed the door with his left hoof as Hell Hound stood over him grinning ear to ear. Hell Hound pulled his scythe up and swung down at Shining’s hoof only for Shining to pull it back and replace it with his right to keep himself from falling. Just as Hell Hound pulled his scythe back to get the other hoof, Shining reached into his pocket and pulled something out. Right when Hell Hound brought his scythe down, Shining let go and began to fall down to the snowy mountains below. Hell Hound began to bellow a hearty laughter at his triumph. “That’s right, little pony, run; Run with your tail between your . . .,” Hell Hound paused as his ears picked up the distinct sound of something beeping. He then pulled up his scythe to see a small device with a red dial counting down from three. “Aw sh-” Hell Hound was interrupted as the device exploded, destroying his scythe and chariot in one shot. Shining watched as Hell Hound screamed as he plummeted to mountains below. Quickly remembering he was in the same situation, Shining focused his magic, encasing himself in a cerulean barrier, surrounding his entire body. When he landed, his barrier sent him bouncing into the air, completely unharmed. When he ascended to the air again, he saw Hell Hound face down in the snow on the mountain side. He quickly dispelled his barrier as he started falling right above the beaten Werewolf and just as Hell Hound began to rise, Shining landing on the beast’s back, pushing his face back into the snow. “Told you you weren’t getting away,” Shining told him. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere, back at the Vault, the Barron was still lying on the runway. He groaned and shook his head as he slowly began to come to. He turned to look at his gauntlet and as he raised it up, a pale blue hoof came down and pressed it into the ground. He looked up to see Trixie, horn aglow with a mass of SHIELD agents looming over him. “Don’t even think it, mister Big Bad Wolf.” Trixie told him. Trixie quickly used to her hoof to pull the Gauntlet loose from the wolf’s arm. She knew better than to use magic on it, since it naturally absorbed Mana, the core source of all energy. The Baron and Gauntlet gave off a crimson glow as the Baron’s body quickly reverted to that of an old, crippled pony. Trixie quickly picked up the gauntlet as she moved away from him. “Get him back to his cell, now,” She ordered and the agents quickly went to work apprehending the prisoner. Suddenly, Trixie heard static coming through on her head set. “Trixie, do you copy?” Shining asked. “Copy, sir,” “Are you alright, what’s your status?” “I’m fine, we just apprehended Baron Strucker and are returning him to his cell,” she answered, watching as the agents led the Baron back inside, “how about you?” “I’m fine, but I’m gonna need a ride and a pair of cuffs, I got us a new prisoner.” Shining said in his charismatic tone. Trixie couldn’t help the smirk that worked its way on her muzzle. “One pick up, coming right up, sir,” She told him. I guess that’s why they pay him the big bits. She thought to herself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An Hour Later After cleaning up the aftermath of the failed breakout, Shining Armor and Trixie found themselves staring at a disgruntled Hell Hound, sitting uncomfortably with his destroyed cybernetic arm in his prison cell. “Assault, conspiracy and infiltrating a government facility; you just broke into your new dog house, Hound, enjoy your stay.” Shining told him as he turned and headed toward the exit with Trixie tailing behind him. “Director Armor,” Trixie said, trying to get his attention as she got to his side. “This place, the Everfree, the Big House; are all the super-villain prisons like this?” “No,” He deadpanned. “All four are different.” Shock gripped Trixie as her body came to halt. “Four, I thought there were only three?” She asked with a raised eyebrow as she watched her boss walk away.