Beatrix Belladonna in B.A.B.S. : A Cyberpunk Adventure

Despite wounds that hadn't fully healed, Rebel Spike wildly sprayed his uzi at Varys in a constant rattle. It was unlikely mere bullets would do him in, but he wanted to keep the cyber demon distracted. Nonetheless, not even magically altered ammunition could penetrate his hide, presumably the Vice Lord's machinery able to nullify the enchantments. But they served their purpose as Spike closed in while the clip was emptied, a primal roar sounding from his depths as ragged fur sprouted all over him mid-leap.

“Filthy mongrel,” called Varys in a mechanical drone, discolored toxic clouds released from his suit as he fired a needle at the werewolf. Spike twisted to avoid what he could and rapidly swiped his extended claws, determined to buy his allies precious needed time.

“Never did know my place,” he spat back, barely able to hold onto his sanity, his rage breaking.

At the same time, a mechanized horde closed in on his companions. “I still need more time to prepare,” warned Lady Ewe.

“Gotcha,” answered Beatrix, who was forced to both attempt to keep up a barrier and weave spells to defend herself. But unfortunately, each time she cast an attack spell, she was forced to momentarily lower the shield around her and held her breath so as not to inhale the fumes...yet the touch of the poisons alone made her skin start to bubble and melt. “Ouch!”

To their relief, several companions rose to support the couple. A magic horn glowed on Sunset Shimmer's temple while she helped widen the mystic shield and said, “Good thing I didn't rely on cybernetics. They've been messing up our ability to conjure magic!”

“Count the Great and Powerful Trixie in too,” the woman in question announced and worked her own craft, a horn manifested on her temple.

President Spike realized that the Elements of Harmony had broken the Vice Lord's control over his systems and yelled, “All forces converge on my position! Concentrate fire on the main target!” Explosions rocketed around the mechanized dragon corpse, which shrieked when its razor jaws dripped an oily substance. It creaked with each movement and spat hellish molten flame.

Machines melted, spun from the air, were torched or smashed alongside the tossed-up streets. Chunks were ripped from the dragon's surface, the monstrosity aflame as it continued to tear up everything that was thrown it’s way.

“It's time,” announced Oona, who glowed as she unleashed her magic bubble trap, her Onoma. On activation, she, Beatrix, and Varys were surrounded by spheres that closed around them, sealed off from the outside world as they were knocked asleep and drawn into the dream realm.

Around them, their allies continued to defend them from the mobs that closed in...

*****

Everything was clouded in a sickly yellow-green in the dreamscape; the soil dried up, plant life shrivelled, unlike the luscious mystic flora that Beatrix remembered. She held onto her partner as the Vice Lord emerged to confront them.

“A reckless tactic,” Varys stated, nonplussed by the trap. “Your reserves have been drained just to force us here. And now, you're completely helpless, Oona. Do you honestly expect your foolhardy apprentice to triumph over my genius?”

“No, Varys,” Lady Ewe weakly stated, leaning on her dream catcher staff. “I expect Beatrix to conquer it. I trained her well, after all. I have complete faith she will defeat you!”

“Glad one of us does,” whispered Beatrix meekly, trying to psyche herself up to face down the mad doctor. The atmosphere around them swirled while a horn materialized on her forehead.

“Then let us test that faith,” the Vice Lord mused as two large needle-like blades erupted from his coat sleeves. Stylized to look like syringes, hot orange liquid flowed through tubes connecting his back. More peculiar was the robotic tail that slithered from underneath his robe, acting as a third arm. “Don’t worry, Beatrix Belladonna. I plan to make excellent use of your corpse!”

Growling, Beatrix’s hands emitted her magical aura as she began wildly firing off her strongest spells. Expecting this, Varys raised a beehive-styled shield that easily deflected her casts. Sparks danced around him; fireballs, lightning bolts, gales, and hail cast aside and struck the ground around them. Unimpressed, he rushed her down and extended two syringe arm blades.

She yelped and jumped out of the way, barely able to avoid his precise, controlled swipes. So focused on preventing his twin needles from reaching her vitals, Beatrix almost forgot about his other appendage, turning just in time for his iron tail to slam her into the ground.

“Keep on your toes, Ceann Oga!” Oona pleaded, “Varys can’t activate his Onoma until he’s infected you. Just remain cautious, and you’ll overcome him! I know you can finally put an end to this!”

The cyber demon uttered a humourless laugh. “You may have an advantage in this magically attuned realm, child. But my experience is far greater!” Varys drove the witch towards a corner, her back against the solid stone, his blade arms stabbing through her cape to pin the unicorn. With his subject caught, he detached his arm free to seize her throat, squeezing the life out of her.

“A-aaagch!” Beatrix choked, kicking uselessly at his steel body as his tail poised by her neck, the syringe tip looming closer to her jugular.

“Relax,” Varys ordered calmly. “This was an inevitable outcome. Flesh holds you back, where machinery will make you better. Once I’ve cured the vessel, your inner beauty will shine through.”

Rather than simply kill her, the Vice Lord sought to corrupt her. There was potential for Belladonna to become a valuable pawn, should he successfully taint her. Without further hesitation, he jabbed the syringe into the unicorn’s neck, watching her scream and flail while he injected his potent mutagen.

“BEATRIX!” Oona shouted, struggling to pull herself up, yet was far too weak to interfere.

“Imagine the work and adventures that await you!” The cyber demon proposed, continuing to twist her mind. “Power far beyond your current skills! An immeasurable pleasure to truly satisfy your hedonistic nature. Once I’ve liberated you, you won't be forced to hold yourself back anymore. That's what you secretly wish!”

Beatrix saw vivid visions pass through her mind as she felt the injection slowly spread throughout her system. She sat over a throne among her fellow Vice Lords, bathed in cosmic darkness. The entire universe remade to be her playground!

“No,” she sputtered, mustering enough magic to unleash a burst of explosive aura. Varys grunted upon being knocked back, and her back smacked into stone, confident it would leave a nasty bruise as she coughed and choked. Instantly she was on her feet, fresh spell readied.

“Inconceivable! I injected you with enough mutagen to corrupt you tenfold! How are you able to resist!?” The Vice Lord shrilly demanded answers in a rare moment of outrage.

“That is where you failed, Varys!” Beatrix declared, pointed at the Vice Lord dramatically before her confident expression fell to reveal her own blatant confusion. “Uhm.… Actually, yeah! How am I not a walking robot zombie?”

“Your spirit persists,” Oona explained, smiling weakly. “When one holds unlimited potential within their soul, not even the deadliest of nightshades may harm you. For all your knowledge and technology, Varys, it can’t hold a candle against pure spiritual magic. Something you actively refused to participate in!”

Fists clenched tightly, Varys glared down at the fierce witch, ready to rip her asunder until he noticed the glowing sigil below his feet. The Vice Lord realized this skirmish was all a distraction to buy the dream fuan time to complete her banishing ritual. His hellish visors turned to Oona, recomposing his posture. “I see.… It appears I severely miscalculated the power of one’s Onoma. Rest assured, I will rectify this error in judgement the next time our paths cross.”

“I’m sure you’ll have all the time to think about it,” Oona scoffed, tapping her staff down to enclose the magic circle that widened around the Vice Lord and shimmered. “Now begone!”

He didn't resist as his body began to slowly dissolve, offering little more than a slight chuckle. “Enjoy this moment while it lasts. Although you may have defeated me, my work for this planet can never be undone. I look forward to the results that’ll prosper. Until we meet again...”

With that, Varys vanished, permanently banished from this plane of existence. Expelled from this universe, color and life started to return around them, the dream realm once more tranquil.

“W-wow! Did we…do it?” Beatrix asked, powering down and rubbing her neck. Whatever trace of the mutagen had also faded. She eyed the azure sheep, her beloved mentor, with a wide smile.

“Aye, that we did. I'm proud of you,” said Lady Ewe, who strolled up beside her. “Let us return to the world proper.” She touched her arm, and their eyes closed as they left this plane behind them and returned to where they belonged.

*****

The wyvern creaked once it rusted and crumbled to dust. A similar fate followed what was left of the Redcaps, Flower Children, and other pawns twisted by the Vice Lord, his influence lost. Beatrix and Lady Ewe stirred the armor that once housed the Vice Lord, now empty. Both of them took a moment to survey the ruins, filled with a mixture of relief and melancholy at the results.

Beatrix pursed her lips and wondered aloud, “What will happen to this world?”

“I think it’ll be fine,” assured the dream shaman who clasped her shoulder. “Despite what Varys believes, this planet can be renewed with the right amount of wisdom and leadership.”

“We'll still be here,” added Rebel Spike, offering a thumb's up. He forced himself to sit and recover as he'd transformed back into a man. “Looks like the toxins dissipated, but it's too late for those who breathed them in.” He chuckled weakly.

Sunset shook her head. “There must be some way!” She stared at the Element of Magic in her palm, now cool to the touch. Its power was ultimately tapped out for the moment despite her efforts. “Damn it! Don't tell me a bunch of our friends will die by such a dumb-”

“Hold up everyone,” interrupted Tree Hugger, who revealed a ln innocuous vial. “Got a sample of the cure right here.” She blushed and remembered a kissed swap with Flutterbitch, the contents spat into the vial for later use. “Is there time to, like, synthesize more of the antidote?”

“Shouldn't take much time,” assured President Spike, who observed over a hover ambulance. For the moment, the plague victims were to be kept in stasis to slow the spread of disease, until a widespread solution could be made available. Rebel Spike sleepily smiled at his double before he was placed in a cell, flash frozen for the moment to be released when it was safe.

Babs Seed lit up a cigar. “Another mission accomplished. Swell. Not sure what to make of this new world, though.” She took in all the vegetation that had developed over the buildings, barely able to remember what the old Equestria looked like. “At ease, B.A.B.S. We're all overdue for some rest.”

She and her crew also studied the city they called home, as a new era dawned...