Vaudevillain

The Imp waved a hand, turning all the addicted NPCs around them into robots like Sir Destructo and Lady Dynamite.

"Oh, you can handle it?!" Sweet Dream said sarcastically. "Tell me how, since you're oh so smart!"

Dr. Zlo opened and rummaged around in his inventory, "I'll just use my monsterfier on a few of the transformed populace. They'll come under my control, and we can fight the reality warper with it."

Sweet Dream blinked, "You can't be that stupid."

"Trust me! It'll work!" Dr. Zlo said. The villain pulled out his monsterfier, rearing his arm back to throw. He aimed at Sir Destructo, the transformed guard the closest enemy to the villain.

Sweet Dream grabbed him by the arm before he could throw. "You'll just make his creations bigger! He's a reality warper, remember?"

"Bah, as if anyone but me could control my genius inventions!" Dr. Zlo boasted.

Sweet Dream pulled the monsterfier out of his hands before he could do anything else, "I'm not going to go down because of your hubris!"

Dr. Zlo tried to take the monsterfier back, but Sweet Dream transformed before he could snatch it. Not even Dr. Zlo was immune to the candy woman's hallucinogenic chocolate, so he had to cross his arms and grumble.

"Hold on, I'm testing something," Sweet Dream said.

Dr. Zlo huffed again but waited as Sweet Dream launched a glob of chocolate at The Imp. The sugary goop transformed into a monster mid-air, landing on the NPC's foot and latching on.

"Eww, what is this!" The Imp cried. The reality warper waved a hand, attempting to transform the mindless monster into something harmless. The chocolate creature ignored whatever it was The Imp tried, sticking to the NPC's shoe like glue.

"Yes, it works!" Sweet Dream cheered.

"What works?" Dr. Zlo asked. "What did you do?"

"Shut up and let me concentrate," Sweet Dream said.

The villainess directed her chocolate creation up The Imp's leg, trying to get it into the NPC's mouth. The Imp tried shaking it off, but the NPC was no stronger than a kid without their reality warping powers. Eventually, the chocolate monster maneuvered its way into The Imp's mouth. The NPC bit down, chomping the monster to pieces.

"Yes!" Sweet Dream cheered. "Now, let's see Zlo-Mite do anything."

It was Dr. Zlo's turn to blink in surprise. "You do realize that won't do anything."

"What do you mean?" Sweet Dream asked.

Dr. Zlo sighed, "I mean, that I used your chocolate to make the icing for the cookies, and guess what the little menace ate before turning against me?"

"Oh," Sweet Dream said, realizing what he meant.

"Yummy!" The Imp shouted, drowning out the sounds of battle for a second.

Dr. Zlo gave Sweet Dream an, I told you so look before sticking his hand out. "I think it's time for my idea."

Sweet Dream shook her head, "And what, you're going to throw it on one of the robots? I don't think so?"

"Blast it, woman!" the villain shouted. "We don't have a lot of time!"

"I know!" Sweet Dream shot back. "Which is why I'm doing this!"

Sweet Dream conjured up another chocolate monster, this one slightly larger than the last. She plucked Dr. Zlo's monsterfier out and placed it on top of the creation, pressing the button as she transformed back into her humanoid form. Instantly, a blue light appeared around the monster, highlighting it for all to see. Sweet Dream and Dr. Zlo backed away as the process started, ready to use the distraction to escape.

A series of images of the chocolate monster started to cycle from smaller to larger, growing faster and faster as the blue light increased in intensity. The NPCs all around paused to watch the show, creating a lull in the fighting. As the images increased in speed, the chocolate monster started to grow. Monstrous parts formed, giving the monster an eerie look.

"Let's get out of here," Sweet Dream whispered. "I don't want to see the aftermath of this whole fight."

"But we haven't stopped The Imp!" Dr. Zlo hissed.

"And how do you plan to do that?" Sweet Dream asked. "You don't exactly have the power to stop him."

"I'll think of something," Dr. Zlo protested.

"So think about it as we make our escape," Sweet Dream urged. "I doubt my chocolate monster will do anything more than slow down your tag along."

"Fine," Dr. Zlo said. "We'll sneak out while the monster fights, and I'll think up a brilliant way to stop this reality-warping menace."

"You better," Sweet Dream threatened. "I'm not about to commit crimes with a mini-you chasing us."

The two villains made their escape as Sweet Dream's chocolate monster finished growing. Melted chocolate dripped down as the glob roared, its molten mouth opening to reveal a row of sugary teeth. A roar followed, bits of dark chocolate splashing onto the NPCs below. A few unlucky ones found it spraying into their mouths, sending them off to dreamland.

"A giant chocolate monster!" The Imp shouted as the creature lumbered. "It must be my birthday! I'm going to eat all of you!"

The NPC conjured a giant spoon in their hand, rushing forward to chow down. Dr. Zlo and Sweet Dream escaped out the doors, neither bothering to turn around and look at the fight. The two called Riptide as they left, trying to find out where he respawned. Once they got a location, the three agreed to meet back at the warehouse.

Unbeknownst to the two villains, Psy-Ops and Fursation were hot on their trail. Neither were about to let their quarry escape after the chaos they caused. Yuppi joined up with them moments later, the trio chasing after Dr. Zlo.

Dr. Zlo arrived back at the warehouse just as Riptide surfed over, the two groups meeting in front of the double doors.

"Dude! That was an awesome fight!" Riptide said. "We should do it again!"

"We don't have the time," Sweet Dream said. "Dr. Zlo's child is full villain now, and won't listen to his dear old dad anymore."

"He's not my kid!" Dr. Zlo complained.

"Haha, sure, dude," Riptide laughed. "So, are we about to fight Zlo-Mite?"

"I don't think any of us have that kind of power," Sweet Dream said.

"Nonsense!" Dr. Zlo countered. "I'm sure I can come up with something!"

"That's the problem," Sweet Dream said with a roll of her eyes. "I don't trust Dr. Zlo to make something strong enough that won't backfire."

"You worry too much," Dr. Zlo said.

"And you don't worry enough, you megalomaniac," Sweet Dream argued, pushing a finger toward Dr. Zlo.

The villain scoffed, "Why should I worry when I'm the greatest criminal mastermind!"

Sweet Dream threw her hands in the air, "I can't deal with him when he's like this. Riptide, take over."

"Haha, okay, dude," Riptide answered. The villain surfed up next to Dr. Zlo, a smug grin on his face.

"Dude, you want to get rid of Zlo-Mite, right?"

"Of course I do!" Dr. Zlo argued. "Who would want a miniature of themselves running around?"

Riptide nodded sagely, "It is pretty bad. But think of how much worse it would be for someone who isn't as smart as you."

Dr. Zlo gave Riptide a sidelong glance, "What do you mean?"

"Zlo-Mite imprinted on you, right?" Riptide asked.

"Yes…" Dr. Zlo answered.

"Then that means he can imprint onto someone else," Riptide said happily.

Dr. Zlo brought a hand up to his chin and stroked it, "Hm, yes, I see. There's only one problem with that. The only way for that menace to imprint is for me to die."

The villain narrowed his eyes at Riptide, "Are you suggesting I die?"

Sweet Dream rolled her eyes, "For the love of– Don't you have Zlobots that look exactly like you?"

Dr. Zlo whirled on Sweet Dream, "I was getting there!"

"Sure you were," Sweet Dream laughed.

"So I use a Zlobot to fake my death!" Dr. Zlo cackled. "It's the perfect crime! Zlo-Mite will stick to someone else that isn't me, and we get away scot-free! Too bad about the city, though. An army of addicted citizens would have been useful."

"You're not the one who would use them," Sweet Dream said with a roll of her eyes. "We only brought you on to make the formula."

Dr. Zlo pointed a finger in the air, "The most important step! Which means I was in charge the whole time."

"Whatever, dude," Riptide laughed. "Let's just get this done. I gotta get off in a couple of minutes."

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