The Heat is On

 

Synopsis: Continuing from The Collection of Toontown. Sizzler and his cronies break Braniac free from Gotham and with the help of Sivana and Mr. Mind, Sizzler is able to begin heating up the earth, but this has massive consequences. It is up to all water elementals to build up the balance before the earth is turned into a volcanic, uninhabitable world. Even Toontown and its citizens are sweating. Featuring characters from the Mortal Kombat series.

'Knock a man down, and you saw what he was made of. That man might run. If he didn't--if he stood back up with blood at the corner of his mouth and determination in his eyes--then you knew. That man was about to become truly dangerous.'--Wheel of Time, Book #14: A Memory of Light

Chapter 1—It’s a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
    Mr. Mind, Sizzler and Dr. Sivana had easily sprung Braniac out of prison.   Sizzler had already proven himself valuable by showing off his melting abilities.  
    ‘I wonder if that’s all you got up your sleeves, Sizzler.’, Sivana complimented.   Sizzler blushed at the compliment.   Senpai had most definitely noticed him and it was almost too much for him to process at the moment.   He recollected himself and shook his head to keep his focus. 
    ‘I’m still a greenhorn.  I don’t fully understand my powers as of yet.  They were the result of a dare.’, Sizzler said.
    ‘Ooh, what stupidly moronic thing did you do ?’, Mr. Mind prodded.   Sizzler rolled his eyes, in disbelief that he had been so naive, foolish and bullheaded to act upon his ‘friends’ dare just to be accepted into their clique.  He dumbly drank the liquid in a lava lamp at his job in the power plant.   He fell in a vat of radioactive acid due to doubling over thanks to stomach cramps from ingesting the non-potable solution.   His friends abandoned him to die, thinking that the acid had claimed another life, but Sizzler emerged, new abilities and all and a lone wolf until he had opted into Dr. Sivana’s little rag-tag group.  
    ‘I think it’s time for us to make all these people miserable.’, Braniac stated with fiery ire in his tone.  He kneaded his hands together and set up the enhancer that Sivana had made and gave Sizzler his cue to use his ability.   Sizzler wasn’t feeling very confident even though he had sprung his psychopathic buddy from the slammer.   

Chapter 2—Too Darned Hot 
    Sizzler hated being watched.  It made him overly self-conscious.   All he wanted to do was to generate a favorable opinion of himself in the eyes of his superiors.   Senpais had noticed him.   His breathing began to ramp up but he immediately reminded himself all eyes were on him, there was no pressure and he needed to calm the hell down.   
    ‘Fine, fine.  Just do it.   Turn the heat up to 11.  Make these miserable wretches suffer for how they mocked you and called you obtuse and a square.   They deserve it, the ingrates.   Everything is going to melt and then you’ll be the God they all worship.   Screw everyone else !’, he thought to himself as he focused his laser heat into the sun and waited for the result.     The sun responded in kind and slowly, but surely, the temperature began to reflect Sizzler’s wrath.  
    ‘Let’s see them try to stop an act of nature.’, Sizzler said, with a sadistic grin.   Sivana might have liked the kid before but his aptitude for destruction and annihilation were rather disturbing.   It was as if Sizzler had shifted into a mode of obliteration and didn’t care who he hurt or who got in his way.   In his twisted mind, everyone was at fault for making him feel insignificant.  

    Meanwhile at HQ…
    Sweat, like endless rainfall was falling from everyone’s brows.   It was comfortable before noon but now the air was almost insufferable.   The news had broken that Braniac was out claiming what was his and in this torrid temperature, not many people could fight back.
    ‘We need ice elementals and water, too.   All you can muster.’, Somnibot stated, wisely.   Alpha 5 chirped in surprise.  She couldn’t have been more right and there was no time to waste since the temperatures were climbing and the heat was slowly getting more oppressive.

Chapter 3—Hey, Sun !  You Need to Calm Down ! 
    'We have to do something !', Roger exclaimed. I don't think we Toons can survive this blistering heat forever !'
Roger's attractive rabbitlike (thanks to he power of the Morphin Grid) wife Jessica rubbed his shoulders, but even she too couldn't handle the scorching rays. She began to collapse slightly but Roger picked her right back up.'Not even Disneyland's black Sunday grand opening was this hot !', Michael "Mickey" Mouse said, sweating profusely.
    Alpha 5 had an ingenious plan. 
    ‘I’m hailing all the elementals that we know of.  Ice and water will do nicely.   We know of plenty of them and they can tame the arid air, easily.   We have to act post haste though.  No time to waste.’, he mentioned.   Rapidly, they were teleported in and by the looks of their expressions they already knew what their assignment was going to be.
    ‘It’s going to be a tough order to turn down the sun, you know.’, Killer Frost mentioned, looking less than amused.   Loki had all matter of magic, elemental or otherwise, as a part of his vast talents, so he was glad he had been incorporated in this quest.   Whether he wanted to admit it or not, part of him still wanted to be an Avenger, if only to rub it in big brother Thor’s face should he do a better job than him, or better yet, get the glory in an arena that was totally foreign to the God of Thunder.  

Chapter 4—With Our Ice and Water Magics Combined…
    It actually wasn’t enough, even with Loki, to calm the beating sun’s rays.   Some of the super heroes were beginning to feel weak due to the torrid temperatures, but fortunately, everyone had prepared with plenty of water for re-hydration.   All of a sudden, Captain Planet came out of nowhere.
    ‘Ooh, boy.   This is quite the jam, huh.  I guess the Planeteers figured I’d lend my assistance.  Looks like I am in good company.’, he said, feeling a bit more positive seeing there were hundreds of other elementals like himself, gearing up for battle.   There was Loki, Elsa, Skuld, plenty of water and ice related Pokemon, Korra, Katara, Killer Frost, Mr. Freeze, Frozone, Mera, Aqualad and Aquaman, Barnacle Boy, Sailor Uranus and Mercury, Aisha and Silvermist of the faye.   All of them knew this battle was one for the ages, but at least with their abilities multiplied, they would be able to settle the sizzling sun.   While they were off in outer space, the Rangers saw the melee that had broken out in the streets due to people desperate in getting water.   Magic Screen knew how to locate weather stations and realized those actually did more than report the weather, they controlled it.   She simply dialed into their frequency and one by one, snowflakes started falling.  

Chapter 5—Justice Served Ice Cold
    Sub Zero was more than happy to serve justice the best way he knew how; using martial arts and his icy talents to even the score.
    ‘It’s been so long since I have fought along anyone worthy.   Too long if you ask me.’, he said, laughing almost giddily.   It was unusual to see such a brutal character actually enjoying himself among the ranks of the Rangers.   Frost was also by his side, and she hadn’t fought for what seemed to be eons.    She hadn’t missed a step and Sub Zero was more than glad to have him battling alongside him.   
    ‘I can’t believe we actually got Sub Zero to agree to helping us.  I mean, he’s an Overworlder...’, Tommy said, in complete and total mesmerization.
'And to even fight alongside this 'Elsa' that everyone's been calling me lately...', Frost said, putting her ego aside to momentarily fangirl for a brief moment. They had met earlier and practiced honing their ice powers.

Though the smaller group was tougher with their tiny armada, one by one, the magicians, the cyromancers, everyone, began to finally corner them where they couldn’t fight back.
    ‘This again ?  This is getting old.’, Braniac complained.     
    ‘Oh shut up, Braniac.   Might as well accept fate.  Mr. Mind was already bubbled up by Zatana.   She used an impenetrable shield.  No way he’s using his psionic trance to get out of that reinforced trap.’, Sizzler sighed.   He had never been in jail and he was quite young to be accepted as part of the Injustice League, but at least he belonged to something bigger than himself now.   

Chapter 6—A Most-Welcome Rainstorm

The weather had become more amenable as the day dragged on and everyone started returning to their homeworlds. New friends had been made and alliances forged. The Rangers were still on cloud 9 after having fought with actual Kombatants and even Captain Planet. He had gotten Gaia to pull in a huge favor. She began to cool things down with a pleasant downpour. Most of the troop was getting drenched in the rain, but no one complained. The villains were the only ones kvetching, but in all honesty, the rogues deserved every bit of what was coming to them, especially Sizzler. At least everyone would live one more day and the apocalypse wouldn’t happen for years to come. The rain literally cooled everyone off but Elsa was more than happy to use her icy abilities to make snow cones for everyone who asked. They were a welcome treat and beat the oppressive heat that they literally bargained to back off. Although the day was ending, the shaved ice was just what the doctor ordered and everyone could kick back and relax for the remainder of the evening.

Epilogue

Summer was soon coming to a close and the gang’s kids would soon be heading back to school. Some of the kids were desperately longing to head back to class and get their hands dirty in doing new projects, learning new things and making new friends. The robots themselves had been enrolled to become more used to being around humans and getting the knack of sarcasm as well as human syntax and how unpredictable people could truly be. Another school year was just around the corner, which would somewhat limit the Rangers’ new adventures but there were always villains in the world they would have to combat. This was never ending and it was a tale older than time itself. The band didn’t mind; they knew fighting evil was for the greater good. Although they might’ve gotten little to no thanks for what services they provided, the team was glad that Angel Grove and the entire world was literally rescued from being fried like an egg over easy. It was smooth sailing from there on out that night. All the Rangers and crew could rest easy in their own beds, dreaming of what they would do as their last hurrah before the school year ramped back up.

To Be Continued…