A Cold Cold Path

[Beta Ray Bill]

The sound of Kuzuru's guitar was enough to make a grown man go insane, but not as much as their insufferable claims to Ballad's morals and actions. Most of what they said seemed to be true seeing as Ballad himself knew what they were talking about. Morals didn't really matter to Scarecrow, it's the fear that really mattered. Fear brought people back to reality; it pushes everything  to its limits and eventually leads to  control. Or that's what Scarecrow wanted: to manipulate those around him, for people to shiver in terror and learn that there was no hope.

Ballad made a good point on what the "bounty hunters" were. They were the same thing as  what they hunted; they were common criminals, vagabonds of society. They just didn't know it yet; either that, or they just accepted a lie that they knew was not true. The bounty hunters were doing exactly what Scarecrow's  old nemeses did. They were bearers of false hope and light,  things the world truly didn't need.

Doctor Crane stepped out of the semi-circle that made up the Society of Supervillains. Placing his right foot on a small boulder that was set in-between the two groups, he raised his hand that held his gauntlet injector and clenched his fist. He then gave a big grin and a soft chuckle as the amber liquid filled the  tips of the gauntlet.

"So... you Ashen Blades want Ballad's head, hm? Well, I'm afraid to tell you that I can not allow that."

He stopped, quickly  turning and  paceing back and forth in-between the two groups. Suddenly, he put his hands together, as if to pray to some sort of god.

"Ballad works for us now. He is a member of my perfect society. In unison, we are strong. I put into words what you bounty hunters think you are. You Ashen Blades are bringers of false hope and light, cracking  bone and killing those you deem unfit to live for what you call  order. In truth, we are the ones who bring the world back to its reality. To teach the world that terror is the only way to learn. Do not lie to  yourselves that we are what weakens the world. You all rot it to the core."

Scarecrow then stopped  now in front of his group. He raised both his arms in a preaching stance. A cold breeze whipped through the entire cave. Crane's coat flapped up and down as the breeze hit, shivers running down his spine. Then, with a loud cackle, he began to speak again.

"WE ARE YOUR IMPENDING DOOM! WE ARE WHAT YOU CONSIDER MISFITS OF SOCIETY! WE ARE THE VILLAINS TOO, BUT TO OTHERS IN HISTORY WE WILL BE THE GOOD GUYS!" The words echoed throughout the cave, snow and ice began to fall from every corner and crevice of the frozen cavern.