Global Warming - Commission for Flamesofsorrow
#19 of Commissions
Another commission for Flamesofsorrow. Super Villain Mane-iac is enjoying her latest evil plan when suddenly her newest secret base is besieged by none other than the Power Ponies! Will the super villain's new power suit be enough to stop their assault? Or will she go hobbling away in embarrassing defeat again?
She stomped into her private quarters and even then only once she was in her secured grand bath did Mane-iac finally disengage from her new power suit.
Her new base of operations was certainly impressive but it would be her suit that would finally allow her to reign supreme. While the super villain was certainly powerful even she had weaknesses, which she was loath to admit.
Fortunately that's where the suit came in. Not only did it amplify her current roster of abilities but it also provided some much needed defense. Unfortunately her last bout with the idiotic Power Ponies proved that the best defense wasn't always a great offense.
By the time she walked across the room to the largest tub the water was already steaming. Even simply being in here was akin to being in a sauna and it was having quite the therapeutic effect on her exposed skin. It was so difficult to let one's guard down ever, let alone be naked. Her bum gave a little wiggle of joy as she skipped to the tub.
Dipping a hoof in she then jumped into the near scalding water and instinctively relaxed letting the hot water soothe her aching muscles. It was especially bad near her hindquarters lately which resulted in cramped teats and a sore butt. But here, she could soothe her privates in peace and comfort.
It was brilliant, her genius had determined that this island volcano would be perfect for not only powering her newest hair product of doom, but also produced bathwater superior to anything found in Maretropolis.
Already the sales had quadrupled and bit by bit she funneled the profits into her schemes. Bribing prison guards meant more freed labour in the form of henchponies. This resulted in expanding her fortress which allowed for greater access into the energy provided by the volcano which meant more hair products which meant more bribes.
It was a beautiful cycle.
Humming in glee a tendril of her green mane slapped a nearby monitor on. What was a bath without some quality entertainment? Flicking through the channels she finally settled on some generic news report.
"In today's latest news, scientists are still puzzled over the rapid and localized increase of temperature in the ocean." The news pony pointed at a stylized map of the ocean, "While this island has always been known for unusual volcanic activity this appears to be excessive."
"Do you think it's possible that Mane-iac is back in action and that this is her latest plot?" Her equally moronic co-reporter stroked his idiot moustache before continuing, "While it has been quiet since her escape months ago there has been a suspicious number of her associates being released from the Maretropolis maximum security prison."
Mane-iac blew a raspberry at that comment. Associates? Please, they were little more than simple peons deemed only certified for the most basic and lowly of tasks that were beneath her. With that being said, it was true that she had been slowly funneling money for their bail. Somepony needed to do menial labour and it certainly wasn't going to be her.
"Regardless of who's behind this what is certain is the number of ill marine animals cropping up. A large number of Maretropolis marine biologists are currently working round the clock to save as many of these creatures as possible."
The female reporter nodded before suddenly reaching for her earpiece, "This just in. We have some breaking news for all our viewers at home! It appears that the Power Ponies are on route to determine the cause behind this oceanic anomaly!"
"WHAT?!" Mane-iac immediately stood from the bath and stared at the monitor in rage and disbelief. Why? What conceivable reason would they have to come to an otherwise ordinary island in the middle of nowhere? Yes she had made amazing progress but she wasn't completely ready to deal with those stupid super heroes yet.
"It appears they've been persuaded by Saddle Rager!" The news pony pointed a hoof at a live camera that broadcast the Power Ponies charging off into the distance.
"Well that would make sense, I wouldn't even think about harming a fly around her." The two reporters started laughing while Mane-iac punched a hole in the monitor with her mane, causing it to sputter and spark.
"It's just a bunch of stupid fish, what is her problem?!" Slapping a hoof to her forehead the super villain quickly towelled off and hopped back into her power suit. Fine, so be it. Even half-baked preparations would be more than enough this time to deal with this squad of idiots.
If the news report was accurate then Fili-Second would be here literally in seconds and the rest of the squad bumbling in right behind. Slapping commands into the nearest computer she could find she began to issue orders.
"ALERT. ALERT. BASE IS UNDER ATTACK. THE POWER PONIES ARE ON-ROUTE. ALE-"
The transmission suddenly cut out and the screen went to hissing static. Had she been too slow? Were they already here? If the muffled screams ahead were of any indication then at least one of them had arrived to begin wreaking havoc.
Gritting her teeth Mane-iac darted towards the main source of the commotion and beheld a flurry of destruction. Henchponies streamed into the lobby only to be pummeled by a barely noticeable blur.
"So we meet again Power Ponies! I see that my staff are already hard at work tending to you!"
"That's Fili-Second to you!" The blur stopped for a fraction of a second to point at the villain before bludgeoning another hapless pony over the head.
Before Mane-iac could respond with a quip a thunderstorm shook the walls and proceeded to electrify the remaining henchponies into unconsciousness.
"Can't have you stealing all the thunder!" The one that called herself Zapp soared in, the crackle of electricity in the air was immediately felt by everypony followed by a predictable crumpling wall revealing Saddle Rager in all her monstrous strength.
"HOW DARE YOU HARM THE OCEAN CRITTERS." Even with her new suit the audio receptors had difficulty dampening a roar of that magnitude. This was not good, she needed more time and fewer Power Ponies, not the opposite.
"We're going to stop you for good this time Mane-iac." Ugh, of course Masked Matter-horn. She trotted in, all confident. Disgusting.
"But how can you tackle me? The mane event with just four of you?" Mane-iac leered, "You don't stand a chance."
"We don't need to." Matter-horn stuck out a hoof and gestured towards a tunnel and the blur disappeared down it in an instant. "We just need to stall you for long enough for the others to disable your diabolical volcano."
"Oh please, I'll deal with you three bimbos first and then the others will be a snap." The super villain stomped her hoof down once and immediately all three Power Ponies were surrounded and trapped by an energy cage.
"What are you going to do? Energy blast the energy away?! And you! Do you intend to fire lightning bolts at the energy?! HAHAHAHAH!" Mane-iac was hysterical now, and all the remaining henchponies laughed with her. "And last! Do you intend to "punch" the energy away?! Fools! Now if you'll excu-"
Saddle Rager roared again but instead of punching the cage she simply ran right through. The crack of raw power lashed at her skin, barely holding her back when suddenly she burst through and collided with the wall underneath Mane-iac's catwalk.
Everyone stared in shock as the energy prison fizzled and powered down. The conscious henchponies awkwardly looked for some kind of direction from a confused Mane-iac as the other Power Ponies darted to check up on their stunned teammate.
"Don't just stand there! Attack!" A few henchponies lunged forward only to be immediately blasted away. Mane-iac slapped a hoof to her forehead, what was the point of freeing these idiots?
"Fine, I shall personally deal with you!" She leapt off the ledge and into the foyer just in time for her remaining troops to be wiped out. Growling, her mane whipped around ready to strike. Zapp turned around as Matter-horn continued to tend to Saddle Rager's unconscious body.
"Turns out, lightning can strike twice!" A multitude of electric strikes directly collided with Mane-iac and exploded into a cloud of choking smoke. Grinning, the Power Pony turned around to check up on her allies only to immediately get bound and lifted in the air.
"Wait, what? How?!"
"Because you're all idiots." Mane-iac walked out of the cloud completely unfazed. Her new power suit was working exactly as she had planned and had efficiently dissipated most of the lightning. Whirling her mane in an arc she slammed Zapp repeatedly into the ceiling before releasing the limp body.
"Zapp!" Matter-horn tried to reach the collapsed pony but found herself blocked by Mane-iac. They both scowled at each other as the Power Pony leader charged her horn, the magical energies buzzing as she readied her attack.
"I think you'll find that to be highly ineffective." She smirked as Matter-horn braced herself against the ground, "But you're welcome to try!" With a flash of light the Power Pony unleashed her attack, a direct hit.
It fizzled uselessly against the suit.
Matter-horn took a step back, clearly shocked, and fired again. And again. Mane-iac stepped forward, welcoming each subsequent shot with glee.
"Useless! You're all useless! Give up now and spare me the effort so I can go after the rest of your clown troupe." Her laughing was even more hysterical now and in the corner of her eye her suit notified her of a rapidly approaching figure. Formed a giant fist her hair automatically punched a recovering Zapp back into a state of unconsciousness.
"Gotta do better than that if you want to sneak up on me!" With her mane now formed into giant drills she had Matter-horn's back against the wall. "Any last words?"
"GRAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
Mane-iac didn't even register the hit. All she knew was that one moment she was standing, and the other moment she was fused with the opposite wall. Suit sensors were blaring and a useless stream of garbled data flashed in her visor.
Using her mane she pried herself out and quickly examined the situation, cursing her carelessness. Of course, Saddle Rager, when did she regain consciousness? Already they were trying to resuscitate a battered Zapp.
A quick diagnostics check revealed damage to a number of components, but most worrying was hull damage to the rear portion of the suit, especially near her teats where things felt loose or even exposed. Defensive capability was heavily reduced but she still maintained the amplified offensive power.
Fumbling she stood and charged at the trio, dodging another barrage of energy blasts she bodyslammed Saddle Rager before slapping Matter-horn into the floor.
"And stay down!" Wait, this scene looked familiar, where was the third Power Pony? Her visor screeched again, from the left. How predictable.
"Don't you stupid ponies ever learn?!" She swivelled to greet Zapp only to be welcomed by empty air. Her confusion quickly became pain as a thunderbolt coursed through her hindquarters.
"Looking for someone?" Zapp calmly descended from Mane-iac's right side. What was going on? How could her suit be so badly damaged that it was detecting foes from the opposite side? Grimacing the super villain prepared to attack again only to be struck by a bolt of energy directly at her ass.
"Looks like you're having trouble there Mane-iac." Matter-horn lowered her smoking horn and calmly approached the staggered villain. Even from this angle the cracks in the back of the suit were becoming more and more apparent.
"Don't get too cocky Matter-horn. If you think I don't have more tricks up my mane then you're sorely mista-"
Mane-iac found herself in a wall again. As the Power Ponies popped in and out of focus she could see and hear Saddle Rager triumphantly squealing. How disgusting. But more worrisome was the entire back of her suit disintegrating upon impact. Some improvisation would need to be done.
"Nice teats." Mane-iac ignored Zapp's taunt, even as the other Power Ponies poorly hid their giggles. We'll see who has the last laugh when you discover the other half of your team buried at the bottom of the ocean.
Thooooom...
Everypony froze in place. Something just exploded from far away and the rumblings were finally arriving, shaking up the walls and floor tiles. Both groups stared uncomfortably at each other, uncertain as to who would act first.
KATHOOOoooommmm....
There was that sound again. But louder, more violent. The Power Ponies however were becoming more relaxed and that made Mane-iac uneasy. They were even giggling now, the nerve! What did they know that she didn't?
"Job's done! Let's go!"
Fili-Second was there for a split second, in and out. The broken optics on the suit were only able to capture her afterimages and Mane-iac was not happy. All her plans ruined, why? Because a few stupid fish were too warm? Because her henchponies were about as strong as a wet napkin?
"You may have damaged my volcanic generators, my latest secret base may be going down BUT I'm taking you with me!"
Kicking her suit into overdrive she diverted all energy to offensive hardpoints and suites. In ten minutes the suit would be a fizzling hunk of metal and useless computer parts barely qualified to be a paperweight. But that didn't matter, revenge needed to be exacted.
Ignoring the warnings blinking in her headset she allowed herself an evil smile. Now these pests were finally taking her seriously as they clued in that all of them were about to be buried alive. Assuming they lived long enough for that even.
Her hair shot across the foyer in the shape of a hand and grappled Saddle Rager down. This one had always been trouble, best to get her out of the way first. As the pony screaming in rage her allies split up and approached the super villian from opposite sides.
"Splitting hairs over how to stop me and save yourselves? Just abandon the beefy one and we'll call it even."
"We're not leaving her behind." Matter-horn was charging up her horn again and the air sizzling meant Zapp was planning something too. Mane-iac steadied herself, getting simultaneously attacked by two Power Ponies would be too much to handle in her current state.
"NOW!" The atrium erupted into a blinding wave of white light, overloading every sensor in the suit as she braced for the impact that would never come.
When the light died down Mane-iac was both confused, relieved, and then overjoyed. They missed. The idiots missed. And she cackled to the point where she was wheezing as she addressed the two heaving super heroes.
"How did you miss me?! What kind of heroes are you?! I'm just standing there, defenceless and not one, but BOTH of you miss me?! WAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The wall behind was crumbling, probably obliterated, definitely leaking, who cares. She had two more Power Ponies to contend with and if she was quick enough maybe could even deal with the others. One base for six super idiots? Good deal.
"My turn! Prepare yourse-" A loud metallic crack stopped her in mid-sentence but it was getting slapped in the ass by a severed metal pipe that threw Mane-iac onto her face. The rumbling of the broken pipe was drowned out more giggling.
"Make fun of me when I'm down will you?" The giggling immediately stopped. Ah, so they were finally starting to give her the respect she deserved. "Your demise beckOOOAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
An attack from the rear? Of this intensity? How? Impossible! Her suit should be protecting her, shit it was damaged and defensive augments were offline. What was going on? The pain was intensifying and even with the vocal dampeners Mane-iac's screams were still reverberating throughout the room.
She didn't even have to turn her head that far back to see blue flames spewing out of the shattered tube. And they had been directed right at the most vulnerable and damaged parts of her armor. It was humiliating as she rolled around the tiled floor, dragging her ass around in an attempt to smother the flames.
Scorching fires aggressively clung to anything that could even slightly be considered fuel as the blaze hungrily crawled across her left buttcheek. Every second that passed further expanded the amount of damage done.
"I think you need to cool off a bit." Mane-iac was in too much pain to give a retort as multiple structural failures in the roof allowed waterfalls of ocean water to begin flooding the ruined base.
"And maybe come up with suits that don't leave your butt looking like a Sunday roast." They were openly laughing at her now and escaping as she struggled with the humiliating ways she was trying to soothe her burnt rump, which had now ignited.
"YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF ME." Mane-iac managed to scream that out before the roof finally caved in, burying her in the rubble and more pain.
But if they thought she was dead they were in for a rude surprise. Even without augments her mane was more than sufficient to shield her from the debris. And with quick thinking she ripped a hole in the floor revealing a hidden escape route to the other side on the island.
Despite the intense damage there were still rudimentary fire retardant systems in place and as she crawled the heat on her buttocks were eventually reduced to a smolder. The flames were suffocated but now she had to contend with the smog all around her.
Bursting out of the tunnel that now smelled like burnt horsehair and melted plastic she plunged herself immediately into the first pool of water she spotted. The suit sizzled and water seeped into the cracks, soothing her singed hindquarters.
She didn't even care that the rapid change in temperature was causing additional splintering of the armor. In fact, it was probably a good thing as it allowed more cool water to rush in and temporarily stop the pain.
"It's just a base, a bunch of worthless minions, and this suit can be rebuilt better and stronger. This is just a minor setback Mane-iac, just a minoORRRRRRRRRRRR?!"
She screeched as something sharp clamped down on her now exposed teats. Perhaps it was a bad thing that her suit had so much exposed skin. Glancing back it appeared a number of marine life were taking interest in the soft and reddened mounds.
"Get off! Get off! Argh! What are you? Crayfish?" She uselessly swatted away at them. While their claws weren't sharp enough to pierce skin, her body was extremely tender after recent events and everything was uncomfortable.
"DAMN YOU POWER PONIES. I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE." Though for better or for worse, no one else was there to see or hear her as she hobbled out of the pool. Cupping her sore teats she stumbled face-first into some bushes and collapsed unconscious, singed butt poking out.