Not-so-Villainous Volition

>Superheroine bunnygirl falls in love with a not-so-villanous villian (in a saturday morning cartoon style).


>It was a beautiful winter day in North MG City.
>The sun was shining brightly on the freshly fallen snow.
>On the outskirts of town, in a large farm re-purposed restaurant, the guests gasped in delight.
<“Fiancé!” exclaimed a young Bunny Girl with wavy blond hair and soft brown fur.
>In front of her, a fox-woman was holding a man’s hand, both bright red in the cheeks.
>“Y-yes, I know it’s a little sudden, but Anthony and I talked about it and, we decided to hold the wedding in May. That’s the real reason behind inviting all of you today. We wanted you, our friends, to be the first to know.”
>The young man continued in his soon-to-be-wife’s stead.
>“Of course, you’re all invited.”
“Hah! Had I known beforehand, I would have prepared a more fitting menu. This seems ill-fitting for such good news.” lamented the chef, who had been dragged out of his kitchen to hear the announcement.
>“Oh, Valter, you know it’s not true. Everything you cook is fantastic.”
“Don’t try to flatter me, miss Fortuna. Knowing you and Anthony, you’re going to order something ridiculous once again!”
>“Well, we were planning on asking you to do the catering for the wedding.”
“See what I mean? Ark! Fine! Fine! We’ll discuss the details per e-mail…”
<“Everyone! Three cheers for Fortuna and Anthony!”
>Just as everyone was rising their glasses in the air, a detonation echoed from outside.
>With barely a moment of hesitation, a part of the group ran to the gardens to meet the intruder.
>A large, four-legged machine was trampling the flowerbeds and had knocked down a decorative tree.
“My vegetable patch!” cried the poor chef.
>>“Ghahaha! Sorry to interrupt the celebrations, people of MG North! It is I, Ravid the Ravager! And I, too, have something to reveal!”
>After a dramatic pause, to make sure everyone in the restaurant was paying attention, the super-villain continued.
>>“After months and months of careful investigation, I have finally found the secret identity of one of MG City’s most famous heroes! I am talking about the Fantastic Foxy! And she is right here, inside this very restaurant!”
>Another wave of gasps, this time of shock coursed through the building.
>>”Now, it’s quite simple, I just want Miss Foxy to come out and play. I have a score to settle with her.”
<”Is this about the time she kicked your ass so bad you got caught on national TV with your butt exposed?” taunted the rabbit woman, to everyone’s growing shock.
>>“… You’re quite noisy, little bunny, if you don’t want to become stew, you should keep your mouth shut.”
<“And you’re awfully confident, to be asking for a re-match like that.”
>>”Mh-mh-mh. Oh but I have a plan… That being said, I guess I can skip a few parts.”
>With a loud BANG, a steel claw shot from one of the mech’s legs, grabbing the rabbit woman by the neck.
>“Lillian!” cried the group outside while their friend was dragged towards the robot.
>>“Alright, let’s get to the main dish: Fortuna Flahmin! You are Fantastic Foxy! And I owe you a most painful defeat!”
>“Let her go!” shouted the fox woman under the horrified looks of the guests.
>>”Only if you show everyone the truth… Show us your true colors, hero.”
>“I’m… You’re mistaken… I’m not-“
>>”Oh, please, Miss Flahmin, I’ve been following your every move for almost an entire year, and I never make mistakes.”
>There was a long pause as the fox-woman looked at her husband.
>Not a word was exchanged.
>Eventually, the fox-girl let go of her fiancé’s hand.
>”Very well, if it’s me you want…”
“No, no, no. This was meant to be a day of celebration! Fantastic Foxy is not in this restaurant!”
>>“Oh come on! Not you too! Do you want to meet the same fate as this stupid rabbit?”
“This person is an esteemed guest of my establishment! And let it be known that Valter Vyze provides the best welcome possible to his guests!”
>>“Listen, idiot, in case you didn’t notice, I’m in a battle mech, you’re not, and I have a hostage. Go get the cash register, and I might leave your façade in one piece, how about that?”
>“Chef Valter! Please stop!”
“No, no. Miss Fortuna. Just relax… And do what you must, when you can. As for you, Anthony, take good care of your fiancée.”
>The chef then turned towards his restaurant.
“To my most esteemed guests, please, follow the staff’s instruction. And do not panic.”
>With a snap of his fingers, a silver cane appeared in the man’s hand, while he produced from the inside of his jacket a half mask of the same metal.
>“This mask!”
>>“It can’t be…”
“Oh but it can. Like a nightmare in broad daylight! Clad in silver and fine silk! The most well-dressed evil-doer of MG North!”
>A flash of blinding light exploded from the chef’s cane.
>When the villain’s vision finally cleared, the restaurant was covered by thick metal platings, and all of the guests that were standing outside seemed to have simply vanished.
>Including the one that was in the robot’s clutches.
>>”Wha- Impossible! You’re…”
“Tremble in awe and fear! For you face The Count Vice! Mwahahaha!”
>On the roof of the restaurant, now turned bunker, stood a tuxedo wearing man, his face obscured by a silver mask and wielding a cane.
>>“You… you were that chef all along! Was it to trap the Heroes?”
“You expect a man of culture and tastes such as I to stoop so low and to poison fine food crafted by my own two hands? You are nothing but a barbarian!”
>>“You idiot! Together, we could have defeated Foxy! What were you thinking?!”
“I might be evil, but I am an evil man of principles. There is no room for personal vendettas in the pursuit of glorious Evil!”
>>”Have you gone mad?! You’d let such a perfect chance slip away for something as stupid as morals?!”
“Morals are what make us men. Clearly, you’re not worthy of being a servant of our great OverLord. Prepare yourself! You’re about to learn from the very best!”
>>“The best?! You’re nothing but a traitor! My Ravage-Quadra-Pod Mk3 will destroy you!”
>The robot hissed, gnashed, and rumbled, but stayed immobile, its feet in the snow.
>>”What’s the meaning of this?”
“You’re all talk, Ravager, while you were fascinated by my style, my amazing HenchLadies and HenchGentlemen immobilized your machine.”
>With a flourish, 4 masked figures joined their boss on the roof.
>>>”Defender of Devils and Demons!”
>>>”The Fabulous Four Fiends!”
>>>”Presenting their winter attire!”
>>>”Not only dashing, they are warm and granting glorious camouflage on the snow!”
“I would advise you to buy our product, but I strongly believe scum like you lack the taste or money needed to appreciate its features or wear it correctly.”
>>>”Still, we will show you some mercy.”
>>>“And share with us a humble piece of advice.”
>>>“You’ll never leave a positive impression by holding grudges.”
>>>“Go and reflect on your actions, you disgusting stalker.”
>>“You ridiculously dressed penguins! You might have immobilized me, but you’ll never pierce my RQP Mk3’s armor!”
“That much is true. We can’t…”
<“But we will!”
>”We apologize for our late arrival…”
<”However, there is nothing to fear!”
>“Fantastic Foxy! Youko or Inari, my one tail is more than enough power to vanquish you, villain!”
<“Lago Lazuli! From my long ears, I hear evil coming a mile away! And in the blink of an eye, I am where I’m needed!”
>>“No! No!”
>“This shall feel awfully familiar to you, Ravager Ravid.”
<”And just as painful and embarrassing!”
>>”Mercy! Mercy!”
>”Justice!”
<“KICK!!”
>The heroic duo’s divekick effortlessly drills through the machine’s plating, landing gracefully behind the robot, before it explodes, sending Ravid sailing through the cold winter air, his clothes half-burned, especially his pants.
>…
>The guests inside the still fortified restaurant cheers loudly, as the TVs insides display their half-unexpected saviors’ victory.
>But the situation isn’t over just yet, as Foxy and Lago turn towards The Count and his Evil Allies.
“What will it be, then?”
<“So… Behind that mask, you’re Valter Vyze, are you not?”
“Who knows, perhaps Count Vice is the real one, and Valter Vyze just a disguise.”
>”And your Henchmen… The employees of the restaurant.”
“What could possibly make you think that?”
>”They’re the ones who activated the bunker functions before disappearing… It would make sense they went to sabotage the robot.”
<“I trusted you! I know the whole staff by name! I had plans to go shopping with Sharon!”
>“Lago! You’re saying too much!”
>Next to The Count, a Lamia in a nice cocktail dress looked away from the rabbit heroine, unable to hold her hurt look.
“I… I know I can say little that could possibly better the situation. Just… know that I never lie.”
<“And what do you call hiding in plain sight, then? Making friends with all of us?!”
“I…”
>>>”Boss, we should go. Other heroes will eventually come.”
>>>”Or the police.”
>>>“What good would it do? They know our real identities.”
“I think I instructed all of you to run as soon as possible.”
>>>“We started in this city together, Count. How could we possibly abandon you?”
“You loveable fools…”
>There was a long pause as the Villains stared down the heroes.
“As I said to your mentor, Lago Lazuli: Do what you must. You two know the truth. Do what you please with it.”
>The silence seemed to stretch on forever.
“Just ask yourself… who’s going to do the catering for the wedding?”
>Foxy began to laugh.
<”Foxy!”
>“You’re not wrong… Besides, there might be a civilian still inside who wanted to ask you to be his best man.”
<“Foxy!? You’re… forgiving him?”
>“I’m giving him a chance. What about you? Will you call the other heroes, warn them that the villain has been apprehended? Or let them come?”
<“I… I trust your judgment.”
>”Sooner or later, you’ll have to make your own, I don’t plan on fighting crime during my honeymoon.”
“Well, with that settled… We have desserts to prepare! HenchLadies! HenchGentlemen! We take our leave!”
>>>“We retreat, for now!”
>>>“But we shall return!”
>>>“Like a nightmare in broad daylight!”
>>>”We hope you’ll like our next outfits!”
“Farewell, Heroes!”
>The following flash bomb isn’t as painful as the first, as the heroes expected it.

…

>The rest of the lunch ends in a strange atmosphere.
>Some of the guest are much more wary of the staff.
>Others… are willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
“Thank you very much for your visit.”
>“Thank you, Valter. I’d like to say it was lovely, and your cooking was, but… hey.”
“Once again, congratulation for your engagement, Anthony. Call me whenever you want to discuss the details of the catering.”
>“Oh yes, of course. Talk to you later.”
>“Mister Valter… Thank you. For everything.”
“I know you would have done the same, miss Fortuna.”
>”I see… Well.”
>The chef looked most surprised when the fox woman hugged him.
>“Have a good day.”
“You too, miss. Be safe.”
>Finally, one last guest stood before him.
“Well, miss Law. I really wish I could entertain you longer, but I was planning on closing up this afternoon, I doubt business will be any good right after a super-villain attack.”
>More silent staring.
“A cup of coffee, perhaps?”
<“Tea, if I may.”
“Oh yes, certainly! I’ll be right back.”
>Valter had hoped he would get some reprieve from the unnerving beautiful bunny fixing him so intently while behind the counter, but she clearly had planned for it.
>One by one, the employees filed out of the restaurant, some clearly happy to put some distance between them and the strange scene.
>Eventually, the last employee waved goodbye at the two.
>>>“Good afternoon. I’ll see you tomorrow, Boss… Lillian… Good afternoon.”
“Good afternoon, Sharon.”
<“Sharon?”
>>>“Y-yes?”
<“I’ll… I’ll send you a message… about the shopping.”
>>>“Oh… Okay. I’ll be waiting.”
>And with a thin, hopeful smile, the snake woman slithered out.
“So, what are your plans for this afternoon?”
<“There is something I’d like to know.”
“If it’s about my recipes, I’ll never talk.”
<“No, it’s not about the recipes.”
“I had guessed as much… Alright, follow me if you dare, Lago Lazuli, into the Count Vice’s hideout!”
>After passing a door marked “STAFF ONLY”, the duo descended a flight of stairs towards the dimly lit basement, then headed towards the wine cellar.
>Grabbing a bottle and giving it a twist, the shelf slid away, revealing another flight of stairs, this one better lit and reinforced with metal plates.
>The “hideout” was a stark contrast to the traditionally styled restaurant, with clinical white lights and most surfaces being either chromed or holographic projectors.
”Congratulations in making it this far, Lago, you’ve always been the Heroine I respect the most.”
>The count’s admittance sounded genuine, yet sad, he took his place behind a desk littered with designs and tools, letting himself fall rather than moving with his usual flair.
>The rabbit woman took her time observing the laboratory.
>There was enough room to accommodate at least 8 person working comfortably.
>Most notably, she quickly gathered that the Count and his 4 subordinates seemed to always work as a team, each of them had a clean work-station, nice seats, drink and snacks barely hidden and little trinkets that would clue her on who sat where.
<”When was all this built?”
“This hideout? A little before you started your vigilante career. My senior owned this terrain and funded most of it.”
<“Your senior? Was it Lady Cyanide?”
“Correct. She still considers Fantastic Foxy to be one of the greatest heroes she ever fought. Speaking of which.”
>Valter stood up and beckoned his guest to follow him to the next room.
>Immediately, it made Lillian think of a museum.
>Everywhere she looked, she recognized pieces of equipment and trophies of old battles.
<“You still have your old designs?”
“Just because you and your colleagues broke these tools doesn’t mean I musn’t thank them for their services. It also helps when improving them.”
<“This brings back memories…”
“Ah, the ruby of Akh Armana, well, its replica, I mean, trying to steal it from the Royal Museum was honestly one of my most fun operation I’ve ever done.”
<“I still can’t believe this whole thing was to expose the curator’s plot to use the ruby as a power source for her Anti-Mana cannon.”
“You wouldn’t have believed me if I had told you.”
<“Well, how could a heroine trust a well-known villain?”
“Good question…”
>There was a long pause as they stared at one another.
<“Is that my old mask?”
“Oh? Yes, I tried to repair it but it’s not quite right… It’s from our fight on the freight train, do you remember?”
<“Of course… You could have left me to die.”
“A beauty such as you deserve a better than burning alive. Especially for a corrupt senator’s greed.”
<”You’ve always done these things, you get involved with other villains’ stratagems or you just so happen to be where something’s going on and you have your ‘own benefits’ to protect…”
“Now now, you give this humble man too much credit, my selfishness just so happens to often overlap with your altruism… Nothing else.”
<”I’m having a hard time believing that… You know Fortuna- I mean Foxy and I would have never met if you hadn’t issued that challenge at Danuki Central Bank, right?”
>Another pause.
>As realization dawned on Lillian.
<“That was your objective all along! You knew she was looking for a partner! Lady Cyanure knows that the Rainbow Stone needs to have its powers passed! She must have explained it to you!”
<”But… why me? I was just… some girl with issues and too much power…”
“You needed help. But not from someone like me. Fortuna’s a great woman, she would believe in you, bring out your best and balance your recklessness… Slight miscalculation on that part, you’re still too brave… Speaking of which, that claw’s left a mark on your neck. Don’t move, I have some ointment nearby…”
<”This makes no sense! Why would you help heroes so much! Haven’t you sworn your life to the OverLord?”
“You seem to misunderstand, the OverLord wants what’s best for our world. Love, happiness. What I’m doing is exactly that. Women like you, burdened with too much power need villains like me, so that power has a meaning.”
<“But what about your happiness?”
“I’m getting plenty, both as Count Vice and as a chef. I see the smiles of my clients, of the people you save. And well… you’re happy being a heroine, right? You like a good fight, making the world a better place, and you’re doing great.”
<“I… It’s a lot to take in…”
“I know. I’m sorry for making you feel so confused. I honestly never wanted you to know all this.”
<”When did you realize my true identity?”
“Oh… Umm… Your… Your smile betrayed you.”
>Under the questioning gaze of the rabbit girl, the villain couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
“It’s a truly beautiful smile! And you have that one sharp teeth on your left, it shows when you smile and it’s just so unique for a bunny girl! I recognized it instantly!”
>Lillian didn’t know what to say, unconsciously, she brought one hand to her lips, hiding the traitorous fang from sight.
“I apologize… I think it’s time we wrap thing up here. Allow me to accompany you to the door and-“
>Valter’s back hit one of the display cases rather hard, thrown out of balance by the sudden crash of the rabbit girl’s lips against his.
>After a moment of silent contemplation, Lillian thought she had her emotions in check.
<“Listen, right now, I’m really considering punching someone really hard, so this is the best compromise I can make. Just, don’t put on that stupid mask for a few days, and we’ll talk some more once I’m calmed down. Understood?”
“Crystal clear.”
<“Great!”
>With that, she put an end to the discussion with another harsh kiss, before leaving in a hurry, face bright red.
>Valter tasted blood from his lips, but also sweet victory.
>Not the glorious evil kind.
>The glowing, heart-pounding one.