"Any architect will tell you that no impressive structure is, it's only strong as its weakest link," Matterhorn said as the bridge started to fall. Lucky Masked Matterhorn, Zapp, Radiance, and Filli-Second were there to help, and their newest companion The Doctor, and Mistress Marevelous

"Since when do you know about bridges?" Zapp asked while stopping a car.

"You know that everything relates back to science."

Are you always chatty?" The Doctor asked.

"Pretty much."

"Then I'll be known as the quiet one."

Marevelous used her lasso and saved the people that were dangling off the bridge.

"Thanks!"

"You're welcome."

"This whole will come down if we can't relive the pressure," As The Doctor tried to fix it.

"How much time do we have?" Radiance asked.

"They're breaking every 12.6 seconds. You do the math."

"So, not enough."

"The weight should matter if we create a strong enough Ice structure with the proper geometric angles, compression at the top, intention as it lower, Got it!" Matterhorn pulls up the blueprints.

"Then stop the chitchat and get to work."

Matterhorn and Marevelous used their ice tech to support the bridge.

"This feels weird working with The Doctor, that's David Crawford, for crying out loud, I'm sure as I glad we don't go to Nexus," Zapp exclaimed.

"Don't be spoilsport, we just welcome him to the superhero community," Radiance said.

"And we're done!" Matterhorn said as the building was holding together. "Let's get going there have been reports of lizard hybrid running amok."

...

"Hey ugly, don't you know claws ruin a car's finish?" Fili-Second asked before giving a high-speed punch. "Would you look that! I think someone's pet snake escaped."

"It's better than battling a giant hamster, I guess," Radiance said forming a chain to restrain it but got loose.

The Doctor fired his guns at the beast.

"He wasn't kidding about being the silent one," Marevelous said then use rope a capture it before it got away. "Oh no, you don't mister."

The lizard broke free and headed towards the sewers without its tails.

"Fun fact, Lizards can detach their tails and compress their bodies nearly flat," Filli-Second said.

"At least we have a souvenir," Zapp said.

"Stroke of luck, actually," The Doctor chimed. "The DNA from this tail will answer many of our questions. To my lab at Nexus High."

"It's definitely a member of the Lepidosauia family," Radiance said looking through a microscope. "But unlike we covered in class, they trace something else I can't put my finger on."

"They are strands of human DNA," The Doctor said.

"Which would likely explain its size and posture," Matterhorn said. "But why would attack that car."

"Maybe it's not why but who."

The Doctor inserted a flash drive shows the footage from earlier.

"You have a built-in camera?" Zapp asked.

"Of course for research, I may have a few suggestions of your moves on to improve them."

"That's Caleb Simon's car, but why a lizard be attacking Caleb?" Fili-Second asked.

"I'm natural in atomic physics, not reptilian behavior luckily ran a search algorithm for that. Dr. Axel Smithers, an expert in genetics and herpetologist."

"And he just happens to work for Simon Tech. Not much of convenient to not check out."

"May I remind you that Caleb Simon isn't exactly a fan of ours?" Zapp brought up.

"Really? He's been nothing but supportive of my genius. Perhaps your association with me will improve your standing." The Doctor suggested.

"Oh, I wasn't expecting company," Caleb said seeing the group walking in. "Those were meant for you. There have been some attempts in my life recently, and I need to heighten security. Crawford a pleasure to see you again. I am glad your talents have evolved as I predicted. And congrats to all of you for saving the bridge this morning."

"Should he be trying to experiment on us?" Marevelous asked.

"Well, The Doctor did say, that being with him would improve our status," Radiance replied.

"Masked Matterhorn, I owe both you and the others an explanation. I rushed to judgment when I met you, but I realize I'm better off with you as friends than as enemies."

"We'll see," Matterhorn sternly said.

"The reason we're here, Caleb, is because we wanted to talk to Axel Smithers about that Lizard that attacked your car earlier," The Doctor explained.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible because he is the Lizard or the media called him Nightcrawler."

"What happened?"

"Axel is one of Simon Tech's most brilliant scientists, but he heard I was funding research in limb regeneration based on lizard DNA, he thought he could apply it to his lost arm. The results weren't fortunate and the serum turn him into that lizard creature and now he blames and has been trying to destroy me for it."

"What a pathetic waste of a mind," The Doctor exclaimed then Nightcrawler.

"Dr. Smithers, we were just talking about you," Filli-Second exclaimed.

"Engage security."

"Something tells me that us!" Matterhorn said.

Marevelous used her lasso and tied up Nightcrawler, while Zapp and Filli-Second punch him in the guts, only for it to throw Marevelous into the two.

"My, his tail had grown back," Radiance formed a bow and fired an arrow at him before getting thrown across the room.

"And I'm coming back with a one-two punch!" The Doctor formed his gauntlets and punch Nightcrawler hard.

"Don't hurt him! That's still Axel Smithers," Matterhorn explained. "Cross Formation!"

"Still need a better name for it!"

"No time for gymnastics. We need to stop him from hurting Caleb!"

Nightcrawler reached him but only Marevelous lassoed his tail and pulled him back.

"Caleb, what type of fire suppression do you have?"

"A cooling gas system."

"Perfect," The Doctor grabbed a coolant pipe and it fire cool gas at Nightcrawler. "Lizards are cold-blooded. No heat equals no movement."

"Thanks for the head-ups," Radiance said as Nightcrawler went down.

"We should be trapped before he heats up again."

"No need, my technicians have been working on a containment suit in hopes of capturing him. It's probably best if I keep him here. I have a team of scientists working from the original formula."

"Yeah, the last thing we need is for animal control to get involved," Filli-Second said.

The next morning in Crawford's class

"Hello, students, as most of you know, today is test day, and since about 68% of the class test scores were so abysmal. I've come to the conclusion I'm working you too hard."

'I've told you that,' Sandbar said under his breath.

"Because I'm in such a good mood, no test for today!"

Then Randall came in.

"Crawford, may I have a word?"

"Of course, Mclean."

Then two of them were in his office.

"David, how many times do I have to remind you not to conduct unauthorized experiments within the walls of Nexus High?"

"What are talking about?"

"I received a call informing me you're involved with something dangerous again."

"From whom?"

"That doesn't matter."

"It does. if you're taking their side instead of mine."

"Look, even you have to admit you don't have the best track record. First, the neural interface, then the secret power source you were working on."

"Both were successful."

"Yes, but they put you, the students, and the school in danger, and I simply cannot have that. My rules are in place for a reason."

With Randall noticing, Crawford made a grab for one of his vials.

"Randall, I am not involved with anything that anybody here at Nexus is in danger."

"All right. If that's what you say, then I trust you."

As Randall left, Crawford's phone was buzzing.

"What?"

"David, it's Caleb, Nightcrawler broken free of his restraints! Have you found a cure!"

"Yes, I believe I have."

"Then get over quick!"

"Now, remember, this has to look good for David," Caleb explained. "Do this, and you'll never have to become Nightcrawler again."

"And you will finally give the formula to regrow my arm."

"Am I not a man of my word?"

Moments Later, The Doctor arrived at Simon Tech just Nightcrawler pursed Caleb.

"Get behind me, Caleb!"

The Masked Matterhorn came by and shot an electric blast at it.

"Is this a private party?" She asked.

"What are you doing here? I got the call, not you."

"We're a team, David."

"I don't need you, I have the cure."

"Where'd you get that?"

"Caleb knew it would take a superior level genus to create one, so he gave the data to me."

"Did you test the genetic markers for abnormalities? Or calculate the polymerase chain reaction? We should test it before you inject him."

"Don't try and pass yourself off as a scientist by regurgitating things you've heard me say." As The Doctor took back the cure. "One of your gal pals referred to DNA as squiggly things, for crying out loud."

Nightcrawler lunged right at him then he injected the formula.

"Now we'll see what true genius can do!" Only for him to grow bigger.

"I'll take a wild guess, that wasn't a cure."

"My readings were correct, this shouldn't be happening.

"Maybe someone tampered with vile, someone who wants to stop you from being a hero so they can have all the glory?"

"You did this, you probably swap it when wasn't looking."

"Me? David, you've lost your mind if you think I'd do something like that," Matterhorn exclaimed as the others arrived.

"Yeah," Zapp sided with her. "You think we want a 60-foot lizard monster!? If so, your ego is big as his." All of them dodged the giant-sized Nightcrawler's foot.

"There's no time, David! Be the hero you are and destroy this monster before it levels the city!" Caleb came in.

"No," A figure came in who has long flowing pink hair, wearing a green aquamarine suit with pink frills at the neckline beneath a dark purple wrapped off-the-shoulder sleeves, with pink bead bracelets decorated with yellow butterflies at the top, and purple mask that frames her moderate cyan eyes ran to them. "Mr. Crawford, we can save Smithers."

The Doctor grumbled and went after it.

"Well that was anti-climatic," Filli-Second said as the others follow. "By the way what's your name?

"I'm Saddle Rager, I know fighting is not my thing, but I'm an expert medic and a biologist in animals."

"Not the best intro as a giant monster is about to lay waste to the town! Mareveulous said as The Doctor got its back formed a plasma gun and blasted it.

"Dude, stop, you making him, angry!" Zapp tried to stop him.

"And you're enraging me!" He threw her off.

"Hey ugly! Here ice and the eye!" Mareveuouls threw an ice bomb at its eye only for Nightcrawler to growl in pain throwing off The Doctor. "That's a bad idea."

"How is he?" Radiance asked.

"He's alive, just unconscious," Saddle Rager said.

"Good, because he was getting a lot tougher to fight than Lizalle over there," Filli-Second said.

"But I have an idea," Matterhorn said. "Mareveulous, with me!"

"We need to tie him to the skyscraper, they're made of reinforced steel and should slow him down."

"Got it!"

Both heroines throw their respective ropes and tie him to the skyscraper then his tail popped off.

"That is revolting," Radiacae exclaimed.

"But maybe it can be helpful, one of us should take a sample of this back to Nexus and see if we can't create a cure!" Matterhorn sliced off a scale and gave to Saddle Rager. "Use David's computer, maybe it will help you figure out what went wrong the first time."

As Saddle Rager and Filli-Second left, the others did their best to restrain him.

...

"Cures 'R Us. How can I help you?" Filli-Second answered her comn.

"Funny, How it's coming?" Matterhorn asked.

"Turns out the data Caleb gave Crawford was tainted," Saddle Rager exclaimed. "At the best even incorrectly labeled."

"Caleb is too smart to make a mistake like that."

Why would do that, Crawford?" Zapp asked.

"I don't know, but now's not the time to figure it out.

"I'll decouple the reptilian DNA from the isotope... and it's worked, I'll have it to you in no time."

"I don't think we have to worry about that because there coming to us!" Filli-Second saw them headed to the school.

...

"Okay, do want the good news, or the bad news?" Saddle Rager asked.

"What's bad news?" Zapp asked.

"Let's just say Smithers is so big that his skin is four times as thick. You need to inject at the base of the skull where the flesh is the thinnest."

"Good news?"

"You get to be the hero now, good luck!" As Filli-Second gave her the antidote.

Matterhorn used her jet boots and flew right at Nightcrawler and injected it into its skull and Nightcrawler started to turn normal.

"Perfect timing to test drive these!" Matterhorn harnessed her necklace energy and grew wings and flew down to safety whereas Nightcrawler was back into Axel Smithers. "Welcome back, Dr. Smithers."

The next day Randall showed David the news from last night.

"You lied to me, David," Randall pointed it out.

"It wasn't supposed to be danger--"

"I don't want to hear it, " Randall interpreted him. "I guess I can't trust you anymore, it pains me to say it but-"

"Let me, save you the trouble, Mclean, I quit! I'm going someplace where I'm appreciated!"

As David walked out, Twilight overheard the conservation.

"I should tell Randall, that Caleb gave him tainted data, but something tells it's going take a lot more convincing to let Crawford stay.

At Simon Tower.

"David!" Caleb greeted him. "Welcome to Simon Academy. I've waited a long time for this moment.

Caleb saw The Masked Matterhorn and motioned him she wants to talk to him.

"Go check out your new lab, I'll be with you in a moment."

"Thank you, Caleb."

...

"Something wrong, Matterhorn?" Caleb asked.

"Was this your plan all along, Caleb? Get David fired so you could hire him at Simon Academy?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Don't con me, if we're friends now, then you'll tell me the truth."

"The truth is that we are decidedly not friends unless you confess that you are a solder in Vargas's army."

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"Then prepare yourself, if you thought I was after you before, you have no idea what's about to come next. Your days are numbered Masked Matterhorn."

"Then he said, 'Your days are numbered Masked Matterhorn." Matterhorn told Saddle Rager.

"That's unsettling," Saddle Rager shuddered a bit. "Are you sure we have to do this?"

"We are the ones who detached it ergo, we have to get rid of it. Besides, Saddle Rager, I really thought I could David not let his ego get the better of him, I thought I could turn him into a hero like us. But he's aligned with Caleb Simon, I don't know what to think."

"Well, you know know what they say, 'no matter how much a snake sheds its skin, " Zapp said as the girls pushed the lizard tail off the bridge. "It's still a snake."

"Anyway thanks for the help, Saddle Rager," Radiance thanked her. "But I can help wonder that looked you and looked familiar."

"You not off the far from the tree," Mareveulous said as she and Saddle Rager removed their mask making everyone gasp.

"Applejack and Fluttershy?!" Everyone but them said.

Author's Note

Canterlot High (Trixie's Group)

Tempest Shadow

Hela

Shadow Lock