Crisis of Infinite Trixies

“Thanks,” Shade said as Iron Will passed over a cup of coffee. With the hour so late, she needed something to add some pep to her step. She perched on a parallel building, watching security officers patrol the premises, the pegasus’s flashlight glimmering as she flew around the building.

They’d spent the last two days surveying the building complex, learning the layout of its security measures. The technology of this world was impressive. They had glass boxes that recorded your picture perched at various points across the building. She’d also overheard each window had an alarm that any outward activity triggered. This won’t be an easy building to break into. Still, Shade was determined. Her crew was wise enough to not argue with her.

With her binoculars, she spotted her target, Bayou Runner, speaking with a glamorous white unicorn, kissing the mare on the lips. This was the titan of industry’s wife, Fleur de Lis. In her world, the mare was a noble of considerable standing, an icon of beauty. It seemed, in this universe, she hadn’t strayed far from her social standing. After some chatting, Bayou Runner gallantly led her out the front door. Close behind them was their only son, Cinnamon Tea, a unicorn with a brown coat and reddish-orange mane. He joyfully jumped around his parents, laughing and chatting with them. Some minutes later, the family left in a limo for a social event that’d keep them busy for hours.

“Damn,” Northern Lights said, whistling. “Bayou Runner sure has fine taste in mares. Quite the catch.”

“Bayou Runner has a nice family. Are you sure he’s the villain you think he is?” Iron Will asked. “There isn’t any actual proof he’s done anything criminal.”

“No, I know him.” Shade snapped back. “Don’t let the cutesy scene fool you. He’s the same Bayou Runner we all know and hate.”

Her partners shared a glance but didn’t argue, and they went to work. Bayou Runner’s penthouse sat on the top floor of the building, one designed to cater to the Manehattan’s elite. Beneath it was an office complex of several dozen floors. Getting inside the building was easy enough, but the security on the upper floors was impressive. You needed to pass through a security checkpoint to get inside. But fooling them won’t be easy. They were on watch for any magical tricks.

But that challenge only spurred Shade forward, eager for the challenge. Her posture was calm as she passed through the richly appointed corridors, tasteful art decorating the wall. Her wig itched something fierce, but she fought back the urge to scratch it. Shade’s disguise was a theater actress of some acclaim, one that came and went at odd hours.

“Hello, Miss Cayenne,” the guard gave her a lazy wave. Much to the disguised Shade’s surprise, the guard barely paid her any attention. Instead of doing his job, he remained fixated on the metal box across from him. It was one of those strange television sets she’d seen around. On its screen, tiny figures tossed a ball around a triangle-shaped field.

“Big Yankee fan, Miss Cayenne?” the guard asked, ripping Shade from her reverie. While she’d seen these TV sets before, she’d never seen one up close. It was a mesmerizing piece of technology. Text on the screen said the game was being played in Fillydelphia. How could they possibly broadcast such a distance?

“Not really,” Shade said, recovering. “But I watch it sometimes.”

But the guard only grunted in annoyance. “The Yanks are getting slaughtered. Still, three innings left. There’s still a chance.” Shade saw the game was 12 to 23.

“Let’s hope so. Good day.” But the guard barely paid attention to her farewell, returning to his game. Shade shook her head, relieved but in some way annoyed this had been so easy.

“Any trouble?” Northern Lights asked as they slipped through the fire escape door, Iron Will following close behind. Unlike the window, it’d been trivial to disable the door alarm.

“None. Let’s hurry,” Trixie said, casting an illusion over her friends. To all observers, they were invisible.

Because of the late hour, the halls were almost empty. But they avoided the few ponies around just in case so they might see through Shade’s disguise. After some walking, they reached Bayou Runner’s penthouse. A sophisticated lock guarded its entrance, and it took some minutes to bypass it. Iron Will kept watch as Shade worked, but thankfully nopony harassed them. With a click, the lock opened, and they slipped inside.

Northern Lights whistled. “It’s good to be king.” The finery was exquisite. Even the carpet cost more than the crown paid her in a year. No pony was about. The servants were off on errands. They’d never have a more prime opportunity to do some mischief.

Bayou Runner’s office was the first place they searched. Books lined its walls, each well-used, much to Shade’s surprise. There were an impressive amount of subjects, ranging from psychology to sciences. A proud photo of Bayou Runner hung on the fireplace mantle, but pictures of his family sat everywhere.

“What a phony display. It must look nice to his guests.” Shade said, snorting.

“Just because he’s a bad guy, which we still haven't proved,” noted Iron Will, “doesn’t mean Bayou Runner doesn’t have things he cares about.”.

“I know Bayou Runner,” Shade said with a dismissive snort. “His wife? A trophy to impress the Manehattan elite. His son, a cute token to draw sympathy. Trust me, Bayou Runner only cares about himself.”

She fiddled with his mechanical box known as a computer, awkwardly tapping at its keys. A password guarded it. Shade trapped the keys in frustration, unable to figure it out. The others searched through his paperwork, looking for anything incriminating.

“Kingpin? Murder? Crime?” Shade tried everything she could think of. Much to her dismay, there wasn’t a convenient notepad with the password nearby. “Evil? Sociopath?”

“How about his mother’s name?” Iron Will asked as he flipped through some invoices.

“And that is?” Shade replied, annoyed.

“Rosebud,” Iron Will replied.

Much to Shade’s surprise, it worked. “How did you know that?”

Iron Will pointed at a portrait of an aged, earth pony mare with a white coat and brilliant scarlet mane. It was masterful work, the product of a master. Her dress, however, stood out among the finery. It was an old-fashioned floral dress, simple but functional for somepony that worked hard with their hooves. It seemed Bayou Runner had sprouted from more humble roots.

“Thanks,” Shade said, awkwardly moving the mouse. This computer business was tougher than it looked. She kept clicking out of everything. Still, it wasn’t all frustration. She found some interesting contacts in a note file. Some names seemed shady.

“Guided Path, eh?” Bayou Runner had sent him a message with some kind of computer mail. The contents seemed innocent enough, but she detected something sinister behind the words.

“Anything on your end?” Shade asked over her shoulder.

“We found a safe,” Iron Will said, pointing to an open wall safe. It contained stacks of bills and some files. “But nothing too interesting.”

Northern Lights tapped at the floor with his hoof. “Do you think he might have a secret safe somewhere?” He brightened as his hoof struck something hollow. “Bingo.”

“You’re a bold one, breaking into my office uninvited.” A deep voice said, causing everyone to jump. Standing in the doorway was a large figure, his pose imperial.

“Bayou Runner!” Shade said, scrambling away from the computer. “But you’re with your family at an opera!”

This Bayou Runner’s stature differed greatly from the one from her universe. Besides being bald and over two hundred pounds heavier, he carried himself differently. He radiated authority and power, a true behemoth of greed and capitalism. In his mind, Bayou Runner was untouchable.

“I was.” The businesspony said. “But when my ponies called me, telling me somepony was breaking into my penthouse. I had to meet who’d be bold enough to attempt such foalishness.” Shade tensed, eyeing the obese pony for any goons with weapons. Much to her surprise, Bayou Runner was alone.

“You’re not interested in money.” Bayou Runner gestured to the open safe and the ignored piles of bills. “Reporters, maybe? Spies for Oscorp?”

“No, we’re here for more righteous reasons,” Shade replied. Time for the bold approach. “We know who you are, Kingpin.”

“I don’t know what you mean. I’m just a simple businesspony, famous for my philanthropy. Are you implying I’m some sort of criminal?” Bayou raised a single eyebrow.

“Yes, I am!” Shade snapped. The words spilled out before she could stop them. “You killed my mother!”

But Bayou Runner seemed unperturbed by the accusation. Instead, he turned thoughtful. “I’ve caused the deaths of many mothers. But I don’t think you’re talking about me, are you, Trixie Lulamoon? You must be talking about another Bayou Runner.”

The sudden change in topic and casual admission to murder and another Bayou Runner surprised Shade, her mouth dropping agape. “What?”

“Proto warned me about you. He said you’d come around and cause trouble. It seems his prediction proved correct,” Bayou Runner said.

“Proto!” Shade straightened. The situation had suddenly turned worse than she’d thought.

“He even gave me a gizmo to help eliminate you. But I doubt it’d be necessary. I can easily destroy you myself,” Bayou Runner said.

“By yourself?” Shade almost laughed in incongruity. Did he have some weapon hidden somewhere on his massive person? She peered over Bayou Runner but found no guards rushing to the millionaire’s aid.

“What are you planning to do? Sit on us until your goons arrive?” Northern Lights asked, mouth extending in a smirk.

“You best surrender,” Iron Will said, crossing his massive, muscled arms. “We don’t want to hurt you.”

“How kind of you,” Bayou Runner pounced with a speed Shade never realized was possible for somepony of his bulk.

Iron Will threw himself before Bayou Runner’s charge, but a backhoof hurled him clear across the room. Shade couldn’t believe her eyes. Iron Will was a minotaur; it shouldn’t have been that easy. But Northern Lights was on top of his game, taking to the air in the spacious study.

“We can do this!” Shade said, regaining their bearings. His surprising strength and speed aside, they outnumbered their opponent. She jumped aloft, using her illusions to confuse Bayou Runner.

“Impressive,” Bayou Runner said as four pegasi flew around his head. “Shame that won’t be good enough against the Kingpin!”

“You’re all talk!” Each Northern Lights dove at Bayou Runner with a hoof, only to howl in pain as it connected. The real Northern Lights recoiled, his face twisting in agony. “Gah, it’s like punching a brick wall.”

Northern Lights gasped and howled as Bayou Runner plucked him from the air and hurled him into the ground. The polished wooden floor cracked on impact, crumpling the pegasus like a crushed bug.

“Lights!” Iron Will’s temper flared, steam rushing from his inflamed nostrils. His massive biceps grabbed Bayou Runner, hoping to grapple him into submission. Hoof met hand as they fought for superiority. But remarkably, the Kingpin resisted his efforts, the minotaur grunting in pain as he struggled against his foe.

“Impossible!” Sweat dripped down Iron Will’s forehead as he struggled and failed to contain Bayou Runner. It was like watching a toddler trying to restrain an adult.

“Only three percent of my body is fat,” Bayou Runner said, his mouth extending into a pleased smile. “Shall I show you what four hundred pounds of muscle can do?”

“No!” Iron Will’s face extended into a rictus of pain as the Kingpin pushed him to the ground. A headbutt dazed the minotaur. Bayou Runner lifted Iron Will off the ground, like he weighed nothing, and hurled him across the room. The Kingpin’s desk exploded into wood chunks as the minotaur’s body collided with it.

Ice flowed through Shade’s veins as the Kingpin directed his attention towards her. She shook her head, backing away in terror. How had things turned so badly, so quickly?

“You’re a unicorn. Do you have any fancy tricks, I wonder?” Bayou Runner asked. In response, Shade turned invisible.

“Just as I thought,” the Kingpin snorted in derision.

Invisible, Shade’s eyes glanced around for some way to turn their dire situation around. A hidden weapon somewhere? Her eyes caught sight of a display of fancy liquors. If she could blind him, it might help Iron Will win. Using a rather fancy illusionary trick, she created a duplicate of the bottle while taking the real one in hoof. Her movement was silent and swift as the wind.

“Playing hide and seek, are we?” Bayou Runner said, glancing around the room, searching for her. Her friends were recovering, and she hoped this would buy them time.

Shade slunk around the study like a cat, her hooffalls silent. Bayou Runner futilely searched for her, his eyes darting for any clue as to where his attacker might be hiding. She pounced like a cat when his back turned. With a clang, the bottle smashed to pieces over his head.

“There you are.” But the blow didn’t even cause the giant to flinch. Agony tore through her system as his hoof connected. Brandy dripped down Bayou Runner’s bald head as he lurked over her. She backed away in fright. Anything to escape from this towering behemoth.

“That stung a bit,” Bayou Runner said, plucking the broken bottle from the ground. “The ‘28, it cost quite a bit, but I’m sure I can make it worth the price!” He slashed forwards with the broken shards.

Blood dripped right where the blow struck, blinding her in her right eye. He didn’t stop there, however, taking pleasure as he picked her apart. Her ribs cracked as a hoof struck her sternum. Her breaths came out as a pained wheeze. She crawled around the ground, helpless to fight against the beating. Shade had been a foal to underestimate the Kingpin.

“Trixie!” Iron Will grabbed Bayou Runner from behind, holding him in place for a few moments.

“Iron Will,” Shade said weakly. Everything hurt, struggling to even raise her head.

“Lights, get her out of here!” Iron Will said, trying and failing to contain Bayou Runner.

“But!” The pegasus limped over, his features distressed.

“Don’t argue. I’ll be fine. I can handle this big boy.” Iron Will shot them a confident smile. “She needs medical attention. You’re the only ones who can escape. This place is likely crawling with his goons.”

“Dammit!” Northern Lights wanted to argue. But then the Kingpin broke free of their friend’s hold, leaving him with no choice.

“You can’t!” But Shade was already over his shoulder, dashing towards the window.

“Hang on. This won’t be elegant.” Glass shattered as he flew through the window into the open air. They dashed away at full speed, flying faster than anyone could follow. Tears stained her cheeks mixing with the blood as she spotted Iron Will engaging Bayou Runner, buying them the time they needed to escape. She swore she’d make this right somehow. She would reunite their team and stop that monster somehow.