The Venom Inside

We now find Venom out on patrol, swinging from webs rather than flying.

“The city’s been quiet tonight… guess everypony’s afraid of us or something,” growled Venom before laughing. As she landed on top of a building, Venom let out a roar. Unexpectedly, a soft voice chuckled behind her. Venom turned around and growled. The chuckle had come from what seemed to be a unicorn mare in a dark outfit… but, she seemed a little… flat somehow.

“Hmm… for a big, black, monster with more power than at least 300 Earth Ponies… you don’t seem so deadly,” said Paper Doll.

Venom hissed as four tendrils sprouted from her back. “Something tells us you’re not here for chit-chat… who are you anyway?” said Venom.

“My birthname was Piper Deli… but, I go by the handle ‘Paper Doll’... and you’re coming with me. Will you come quietly, or do I have to drag what’s left of you back home?” asked Paper Doll, before swiping at Venom with a razor-thin hoof.

“How’s this for an answer?” said Venom, her hoof turning into claws as it slashed at Paper Doll, who got a scar on her face. “So, what are you, anyway? Government agent? Corporate super soldier?”

“Well,” said Paper Doll, as she slashed at Venom again, scoring a few slashes that healed almost instantly thanks to the symbiote. “You’re actually pretty close with the second one. The Doctor sent me to capture you, dead or alive.”

Venom launched out her tendrils and grabbed Paper Doll and brought her up to her face.

“And… just who is this ‘Doctor’ that is oh so interested in us?” asked Venom.

“That is need-to-know… and you don’t need to know,” said Paper Doll, severing the tendrils, which vanished almost instantly as Venom howled in pain.

“You’ll pay dearly for hurting us like that!” snarled Venom.

Paper Doll scoffed. “Bill me,” she said, before slashing at Venom again, scoring a few more hits.

Venom hissed again and launched four more tendrils at Paper Doll, who managed to avoid them by twisting her 2D body out of the way.

“Missed me, missed me, really don’t wanna kiss ye!” taunted Paper Doll as she served two more of Venom’s tendrils, which not only did it hurt Venom, but it really started to piss her off.

Grr… this little bitch is really starting to irk me! Any ideas? Lightning Dust asked the symbiote.

Well… since she’s flat and from what we know about solids needing to be not flat so they can breathe… perhaps she has to be careful with her breathing, the symbiote suggested.

So, what we need to do is figure out how exactly we’re gonna make her run out of breath so she can become 3D again… thought Lightning. My webs! Of course!

As Paper Doll ran in for another slice attempt, Venom took careful aim and fired a black web right at Paper Doll’s mouth. Almost instantly, Paper Doll started to turn blue as she tried to cut the web off of her mouth. Finally, having no other choice, Paper Doll’s horn glowed, and she became 3D again.

“There’s the sugar!” Venom shouted. She launched out two tendrils and started slamming Paper Doll around like… well, a rag doll. Finally, Venom threw the battered assassin off of the building and into someone’s carriage. Triumphant, Venom let out a roar before she took to the skies.

Well, that’s that taken care of… but, now there seems to be a new obstacle in our quest to destroy Dash… said the symbiote as Venom looked down in time to see first responders pick up Paper Doll.

Yes… who is “The Doctor,” and what does he or she want with us? replied Lightning Dust.

~

In his dark laboratory, The Doctor watched as Venom trounced Paper Doll. “I should’ve known Piper wasn’t tough enough to take Venom down… but, I think I know somepony who is…” mused The Doctor. One of his robotic tentacles reached and pressed a button on a different intercom.

“Yes, Doctor?” came what sounded like a filtered male voice.

“Jenkins, get down here… I have a job for you,” said The Doctor.

~

A short time later at Los Pegasus General Hospital, a bandage-wrapped Paper Doll was wheeled into her hospital room. There was only one other occupant: a white unicorn mare with an electric blue mane and tail who was wrapped in bandages and covered in electric burn scars.

“Hello, roomie,” said Killerwatt as Paper Doll was lifted into her bed. “My name’s Killerwatt. What’s yours?”

“Paper Doll,” said Paper Doll as the nurse left.

Killerwatt raised and eyebrow. “Now, why do they call you Paper Doll?” she asked.

“Well, why do they call you Killerwatt?” replied Paper Doll.

Killerwatt smirked and raised her hoof towards the ceiling lights. They began to flicker on and off. “It’s not much to look at right now, but I’ll be far  more powerful once my powers come back completely. Well, I’ve shown you mine. Now perhaps you should show me yours,” she said.

Paper Doll nodded. Her horn glowed, and she became flat as a piece of paper.

Killerwatt looked thoughtful for a moment. “Perhaps once you and I get out of here, you can help me with something,” she said.

“And what would that be?” asked Paper Doll.

“Well… have you by any chance heard of a creature called ‘Venom’?” asked Killerwatt.

“Who do you think put me in here?” replied Paper Doll, before returning to 3D.

“Ahh… and how did you run afoul of miss big and ugly?” asked Killerwatt.

“That’s none of your business,” said Paper Doll.

“Hmm… well, I guess if you don’t want help getting even with her…” said Killerwatt.

Paper Doll growled. “What do you have in mind?” she asked.

Killerwatt simply smiled...