Sure, their method's and technique's may vary, but all in all villains all seem to copy each other. They take damsels hostage, build doomsday devices, experiment with unstable mutagenic chemicals; that makes them predictable and therefore weak. Jay is going to change all of that...

"Okay, let's go over the plan one more time. Does everyone understand what they're supposed to do?" he says.

Texas stamps his hoof nervously, it clatters against the ancient brick of the Houston city hall building. "Tell me again why we have to do this here? I hate being so high up!"

"I asked for location suggestions, the only place you suggested was H-E-B. We are not going to enact our villainous plot at a grocery store."

"They've gone woke! Why do they need a whole aisle dedicated to vegan foods!?"

"I chose this location we're going to bring justice to Houston. Where better to start than city hall?"

"Let's get back on track," Stygian interrupts, "Are you feeling okay? It's only been a few weeks, are you sure you don't need more time to recover?"

Jay swallows thickly. His body seems to be mostly healed, but it's his mind that he's concerned about. Fortunately, it seems like the strange voices haven't returned. Would it be too optimistic to assume they were a fluke?

Suddenly, as if taunting him, a quiet voice filters into his mind.

...If Jay wants some privacy he just has to ask, right? We don't need to be watching 24/7, just enough to get the juicy bits...

Shit. The fuck did that mean? He wasn't concerned about his privacy before...paranoia about being watched was a classic sign of mental illness, right?

He takes a deep breath, staying calm. As a hero, he's used to being watched, and since this voice just seems interested in the quote-on-quote "juicy bits" of his life, it's not like they're any different from the average superfan tuning into SuperNewsDaily...

He puts it out of his mind for the moment. It didn't matter right now, what matters is the mission.

"I'm fine, but we need to talk about some issues that might arise."

Stygian grins with wide eyes, flexing sharp claws menacingly. "Don't worry, I can handle any problems."

"We need more than brute strength, we need intelligence. So it's imperative we prepare for what to do if things go wrong."

"Stygian will win, he's the strongest one here," Razzmatazz says.

Jay rolls his eyes. "Haven't you noticed that no matter how strong a villain is, they always lose?

The heroes always get some second wind from, like, the power of friendship or something stupid like that. If we want to change that trend we need to be different."

"Well we're definitely going to win then, we're the first villains to harness the power of friendship for evil! Hahahaha!" Stygian cackles maniacally.

"I'm not your friend." Texas growls.

"I'm being serious, guys. You need to listen to me even if what I'm suggesting is absurd. My powers allow me to understand things you guys don't..."

"We trust you, Jay. You give the word, we'll listen," Razzmatazz grins.

Stygian smiles sharply, shadows fluttering. "Yeah, we trust you. Now trust me while I incapacitate you, hero!"

Jay yelps as the dark ribbons of shadow swoop through the air, lifting him off the ground as they bind his arms and legs. "Hey! A little warning!"

"What's the fun in that?" Stygian giggles, "are we ready to start yet?"

"Fine, let's go."

Razzmatazz starts the recording, pointing her phone at where the sidekick is bound. Stygian's eyes narrow, bringing Jay closer with a flick of his claw. Jay pretends to be disgusted as his chin is lifted by a glowing finger.

Stygian starts the video with a flourish of black, shadows dancing in the autumn air. "Greetings, Neo Houston. We meet once again. It's been a busy month for all of us—but big reveals aside, I have yet another proposition for you..."

Stygian's hand shoots out, gripping Jay by the throat and causing him to flinch. Even though there's no real force being applied, it's still a little nerve-wracking to have your life in the hands of an S-class super.

Stygian drags his hostage closer, red eyes glimmering with a burning intensity. "Our last attempts to blackmail the Network didn't go so smoothly. I guess the life of one little sidekick isn't worth much to them. But how much do they value their pride? This is a challenge to one of the Network's most beloved heroes—Massasauga, with all your gadgets and trinkets, can you face off with an A-class hero to save this sidekick? Or are you doomed to remain known as the pathetic unpowered fool?" Stygian cackles, purple-pink tendrils writhing with the action. "I'll be waiting, heroes."

Razzmatazz ends the livestream with a grin. "Do you think they'll actually send someone this time?"

"The only thing Massasauga loves more than his money is himself. He'll be here, don't worry," Jay smiles.

They don't have to wait long—right on cue, the hero's gaudy scale-textured Snakecopter can be spotted on the Horizon. The vehicle hovers above the villains for a moment before the billionaire jumps out. An extremely tasteless parachute promoting Astronotech billows behind him as he floats down. Behind him, two other heroes follow—Pixamena and Ravenette.

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The heroes land in a triangle formation, with Massasauga taking center stage. He flexes, grinning broadly. "Surrender villains, or face the fan—"

"Gannet, you monster! Put my sidekick down!" Pixamena screams, gripping an ornate purple bow with white knuckles.

Stygian blinks, surprised. Before he has a chance to respond though, Massasauga is already whipped around, scolding the magical girl. Stygian watches patiently as the heroes squabble. Jay coughs, darting his eyes towards Massasauga.

"Oh, right," Stygian whispers.

He sends a barrage of shadows toward the billionaire. Massasauga gasps, jumping away in just the nick of time. Texas and Taurrage take that as their cue, charging at Pixamena and Ravenette. Texas makes the first attack, grabbing Ravenette and launching her off the rooftop. She flounders in the air for a moment before her wings shoot out and slow her descent.

Pixamena retaliates immediately, using her bow to send electrified arrows the centaurs' way. He dodges the first three, but gets a direct hit to the sternum with the fourth arrow. Texas cries out in pain as the electricity incapacitates him.

Taurrage immediately makes the mistake of rushing to his husband's aid. Pixamena takes the opening to kick a green heel directly in the path of his face. It crashes against his snout with a bruising force, knocking him back. Pixamena doesn't let up, switching her bow for a longstaff with a flutter of glitter and pointing it menacingly at his throat. Taurrage puts his hands up in surrender, seeing they're defeated.

As Ravenette and Pixamena wrangle the centaur and minotaur into handcuffs, Stygian is still battling Massasauga with ferocious energy. He lunges forward, swiping a dark claw directly at the billionaire's face. Massasauga ducks, sweeping a leg under Stygian's legs. Stygian goes down, and is soon pinned under the smarmy bastard. But Massasauga's ego is his downfall; "don't let him grab your cape, Massasauga!" Jay yells out.

Immediately understanding the message, Stygian summons a wave of purple that twines itself with the gaudy yellow cape. Massasauga makes a choking sound as he's lifted off the ground by the shadows.

Stygian laughs wildly, binding his foe completely. He summons the enraged hero closer, a sharp grin on his face as he rises off the floor. "I can't deny your training is good, as good as money can buy, but you're not a hero."

Massasauga spits, snarling. "And what exactly do you think I am, villain?"

The uncanny grin on Stygian's face widens. A clawed hand shoots out, gripping the hero by the face. It pulls back abruptly, the fabric of his mask tearing with the action.

Massasauga gapes, frozen, as his bare face is revealed to the world. Wide eyes stare at where Razzmatazz is giggling, live-streaming the dramatic reveal.

"Why, I think you're a crook, Elan," Stygian purrs.

"You can't—you can't do that!" The billionaire warbles, looking like he's on the verge of tears.

"Says who? Honestly, I'm embarrassed I didn't try this sooner...it seems so obvious now!"

"What's the point of all this!? It accomplishes nothing!"

Stygian laughs out loud. "I couldn't disagree more. This proves the corruption of the Network; you bought your way into being a hero! How many people have trained for their entire life just to have what you got with your money?"

"That's not true, I—"

Massasauga's protests are cut short as Stygian presses a sharp blade of black against his throat. "I'm done with the lies. The Alliance will drag the truth into the light!"

"The Alliance?"

"That's right, bastard, the Network now has a challenger," Stygian turns to the camera fully, hoisting his captives into view, "today marks the beginning of the villain alliance! Endorsed by the famous cowboy duo, Texas and Taurrage!"

Razzmatazz pans the camera over to where Texas is bucking wildly as Ravenette clings on for dear life and Taurrage is futilely attempting to struggle out of his handcuffs.

"They're a little occupied at the moment," Stygian chuckles.

His shadows come to their aid, flinging Ravenette into the far-off horizon with and snapping off Taurrage's handcuffs with a flash of black. Texas limps over to Taurrage with a miserable expression, holding his left front hoof up gingerly.

However, suddenly, a sharp sound whizzes through the air. Stygian doesn't flinch as his shadows involuntarily catch a sharp-tipped pink arrow inches from his face.

Pixamena is already loading another arrow, eyes wide with rage. "Put down the heroes, Gannet!"

Stygian narrows his eyes, glancing at Razzmatazz with a meaningful expression. His shadows form a staircase to the hovering helicopter which she immediately scales. Pixamena gives a sound of rage, attempting to use her arrows to stop the villainess—but it's in vain. Razzmatazz makes it inside the vehicle, Stygian deftly blocking each arrow with a tendril of black. The helicopter begins to pull up and away from the rooftop.

Stygian opens his wings wide, jumping into the air. He hovers above Pixamena with Jay and Massasauga in tow, grinning victoriously.

"Sorry princess, I'd love to take you down a peg, but I have more important things to do."

The magical girl grits her teeth before a dark look crosses her face. Her wings flutter as she enters the air. "More important than Java?"

"...Java?"

With a glimmer, a pet carrier materializes in Pixamena's hands. "Hand the heroes over, now!"

From within the pet carrier comes a distressed yowl of fear [https://img.wattpad.com/73067af5522817a14aa88648b723da77157a4900/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f38576a6d59634d48597647662d673d3d2d313430303732353630332e313761303532613437373633663939303539343738363830323636312e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

From within the pet carrier comes a distressed yowl of fear. Stygian's face falls at sound. "You're using my stolen cat as a hostage!?"

"I didn't steal him. I rescued him when you abandoned him."

"I didn't abandon him, you assholes swarmed my apartment as soon as my identity was leaked!"

"Do you want him back or not? Hand over the heroes or I'll keep him in the

Pixie-Pocket-Dimension indefinitely."

Stygian grits his teeth, eyes darting towards Jay. The sidekick tries to communicate the danger with his eyes, but it's not enough. Stygian's emotions get the best of him; he sets the heroes down on the rooftop.

"Now give him back," he growls.

Pixamena smirks. She throws the carrier up into the air, causing Stygian to gasp as he rushes to catch his beloved pet. But instead of a fluffy black cat, Pixiepuff is the one who bursts out of the cage. The purple pomeranian latches onto Stygian arm with a growl, causing the Stygian to panic with a yelp and throw the dog off of him. Using his little wings, Pixiepuff flutters down into Pixamena's open arms. Stygian scowls at the scene, shadows roiling in anger.

"I thought heroes were supposed to tell the truth."

"The truth? You're an idiot asking for the truth after you lied to everyone who cared about you."

"Nobody knew the real me! If they did, they wouldn't have cared about me..."

"At least we can agree on something," Pixamena snarls, readying her bow.

Stygian's face contorts with anger, but his features smooth out as his eyes dart toward Jay, remembering his promise.

"Whatever. I already got what I wanted."

Pixamena gives a few rapid-fire shots that Stygian nimbly avoids. His wings open wide as he makes his escape, flying off into the skyline.

Jay watches morosely, wondering when they will next meet. He jumps as a hand clasps itself onto his shoulder.

"It's okay, it's over, Quickwit. He's gone."

"Thanks, Pixamena. You saved my hide."

"No problem. Don't worry, he'll get his just desserts...I'll make sure of it."

"I know you will."

This time, Jay feels no guilt for lying to his partner.