Not the CEO!
Penny was one of many students waiting impatiently for the last-minute assembly to start. MJ, Ned, and Harry were with her, with the latter two poorly attempting to sneak some cash into one of her backpack’s smaller pockets. They were supposed to be working on a rough draft of their essay for the book they had finished reading the day prior, but instead, they waited until Director Morita walked in and demanded that everyone be silent.
The director cleared his throat and addressed the students in the crowd. “Thank you all for coming here. I know you have classes to attend, but I just received news of an exciting opportunity. As you are aware, the school has hosted numerous guest speakers who have shared their knowledge and stories of success. We usually seek out guest speakers to spare their time to speak, but we have received confirmation that Pepper Potts is seeking permission to visit the school as the guest speaker.”
The director went on to spill the beans and revealed how the CEO would be visiting this upcoming Friday. It would be too much for the school staff and put a lot of extra work for the teachers if the entire school gathered in one place, especially with exams around the corner. Additionally, Mr. Morita would like students to have the opportunity to ask questions. To be mindful of the staff’s schedule, groups separated by grade level would have an arranged time to assemble at a designated location. Half of the time would be spent sitting as everyone listens to Pepper, and the other half would be used for a Q&A session.
“Seems suspicious,” MJ mentioned in a hushed tone. “Pepper is known to only make guest appearances at schools at the beginning of the academic year, not before finals.”
“You don’t think she had an ulterior motive, do you?” Ned quietly asked, realizing what MJ was implying.
“If they are searching for us, why would they send Pepper Potts out of everyone?” Harry commented, his tone near silent. He didn’t like where this was heading. “Would sending Captain America, Bruce Banner, or Tony Stark make sense?”
“To lower our guard,” Penny guessed, feeling the beginning of a head to form. She just remembered something about her last fight with the minion. “And thanks to Harley, I think I know why they chose to look at our school.”
She most definitely didn’t facepalm when she recalled how Harley loudly teased her about her upcoming exams as they fought a werewolf abomination wearing gold armor. It was just them fighting a werewolf minion that spawned at a park. Harley was joking about how she couldn’t afford to miss any more time to study and listed all the exams she had to take.
She theorized that Harley's adoptive dad managed to have Friday search for clues, found a street camera that caught the fight, and noticed Harley’s slip. It wouldn’t be hard for a man like Stark to search for schools with finals coming up, the class subjects being tested on, and the schools near where most of the fights occurred.
Penny told her friends her realization, which caused MJ to shake her head and Ned to give her a horrified look. Harry looked like he wanted to slam his head with his textbook. She doesn’t blame him.
“How is he not blown his cover by now?” Harry whispered in disbelief. “He’s almost bad as Johnny with his secret identity.”
“The magic cloud our features,” MJ reminded, briefly glancing at the surveillance camera on the wall. “If you don’t remember, most photos published are the ones shot from a distance. Cameras cannot identify us, and the magic has warped our appearance to the point that we are indescribable to the common folk.”
Explained why no one could take pictures of them without Nebula’s and Astroid’s interference.
“She’ll find nothing and leave,” Ned mentioned, attempting to convince himself that his words would come true. “And the next time we deal with a minion from the Dark Kingdom, we will spread lies that will throw the Avengers off.”
“That could work,” Penny acknowledged, tapping her chin with a pointer finger. “It could be possible they are looking for Scout Red.”
Harley only implied that Scout Red had exams coming up, so it’s plausible that the Avengers are looking for Scout Red. And if they are only looking for Scout Red, she thinks that the group sent out Pepper with the assumption that she would lower her guard.
Unfortunately for them, the team is several steps ahead.
Penny transformed to Scout Red with practiced ease, sensing the familiar haze of power wash over her. With the familiar sensation of a golden tiara on her head and a bright golden-covered rod with a heart-shaped top in her hands, she took off from one of the empty classrooms.
“Scout Blue, how are you doing on your end?” Penny asked, a finger pressing on her heart-shaped earrings. “Did you disable the--”
“The cameras are disabled,” Ned quickly confirmed through the earpiece. “I wish I could do more to help.”
“You’re doing enough,” Harry said, sounds of panic being heard in the background. We need you to make sure the cameras stay disabled and to delete today's footage.”
Knowing the school's layout like the back of her hand, Penny swiftly traveled back to where she had been minutes earlier, the theater room where Pepper was giving her speech. She took several leaps into the air to avoid getting caught in the waves of students fleeing the scene. Lost in the panic, they didn’t realize she was even there.
A minute later, she arrived back at the scene. A grey, humanoid woman with crow wings used her feathers as projectiles. MJ was already at the scene, summoning a scythe that matched her purple attire except for the blade. A few feathers managed to slice her arms, but MJ twirled her scythe to deflect the remaining feathers.
“Disorder Blast,” MJ shouted, shooting a violet sphere out of her palm before she resumed twirling her scythe to deflect the sudden flurry of knives aiming towards her.
The violet sphere struck the woman, causing her to lose her balance. Penny sprinted toward her, attempting to hit the humanoid with one of her attacks. However, the woman managed to sprout more feathers on her wings before she resumed using them as projectiles. Unlike the last round of feathers, these feathers were on fire.
“They are evolving,” Penny yelled, narrowly dodging the plethora of flaming feathers. “I didn’t know they would incorporate elemental magic!”
“What did you expect?” a voice called out from above. “Thorns of Protection!”
Thorny vines burst from the ground to protect Penny from the feathers. At the same time, Harry fell from above and kicked the minion with so much force that the minion flew across the room and slammed into the wall. Penny winced at the sounds of the body making an impact with the wall as she heard something breaking. It's most likely the bones.
“Scout Red, purify her before Harry can do more damage,” MJ said, ignoring Harry’s protests.
The creature did attempt to get up, but weakened from its beating, it couldn’t do much to protect itself from a golden sphere hurling its way. Penny isn’t going to risk any chance of the monster getting up, especially since Tony Stark will likely come bursting into the room at any minute.
That is, if anyone had the courage to tell one of the most powerful men in the world that his wife had transformed into a monster and tried to kill a crowd of teens.
“Purifying tiara,” Penny chanted, throwing the item with one hand.
The tiara morphed into a golden disc and hit the creature. The being hissed in pain as a golden light enveloped it, removing the dark energy lingering within. Then, the beast shifted into the unconscious form of Pepper Potts.
In Penny’s honest opinion, Pepper looked absolutely horrible. Usually, victims targeted by the Dark Kingdom are hurt with non-life-threatening injuries. However, Pepper wasn’t responding, and there was a pool of blood forming due to the woman’s wounds.
“We need to take her to the hospital,” Penny panicked, carefully carrying Pepper in her arms. “If we leave it to chance, there’s a chance she wouldn’t make it.”
She carried the woman bridal style, ensuring she had a secure grip on her before sprinting to the emergency exit. By now, the students were evacuated, but she knew everyone would be waiting outside the building, anticipating something to happen.
“Scout Red, get out as we distract the press,” MJ said, almost demanding. “Scout Green will throw some smoke bombs to confuse the press.”
Approaching the group of students and curious onlookers, Harry took a few smoke bombs out of a bag and threw them at the floor and walls. Their surroundings were enveloped in thick, black smoke that expanded rapidly.
Picking up on Pepper’s slowing heart rate, Penny picked up the pace and rushed to the nearest hospital. If the woman in her arms were to die, then she would have failed Harley, Abby, and Morgan.
And that is something she refuses to allow to happen.