Announcing “The Villain Saga”, Season 2 (Prologue)

Four years ago (😰) I announced a concept for a Poptropica TV series centered around the aftermath of Super Villain Island, styled as a multi-episode show that would continue the stories of some fan-favorite characters. After a few too many hiatuses for me to feel comfortable about, Season 2 of The Villain Saga has arrived!

Thank you everyone who has stuck with this series and contributed your own stories to the blog, it’s been amazing seeing more creatives in this community. Let Season 2 of the cross-island adventure begin!

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INT. COURTHOUSE, FLASHBACKS

Of course, more happened before the events before Jupiter’s experiment. Before being taken into Erewhon, all criminals had to stand trial, including those who thought themselves above or apart from mainland laws.

A gavel slams down, silencing the crowds and reporters.

JUDGE

Order!

We cut to flashbacks of the “Big 5”—DR. HARE, BLACK WIDOW, CAPTAIN CRAWFISH, RINGMASTER RAVEN, and BINARY BARD. Memories of their past crimes are replaying as the JUDGE speaks.

JUDGE

We stand here today with people across our world—people who are so stubborn, so extreme in their lives of crime, that word of their actions has spanned dimensions.

(con’t)

Nonetheless, each one of you is allowed a fair trial. While construction of the new isolated prison completes, let this be a time to reflect.

CUT TO:

DR. HARE is at his trial, entirely uninterested in this whole song and dance. He’s still got some dust and carrot bits on his suit from his time in space, and the fur of his suit looks akin to a bed head.

JUDGE

“Doctor Harvey Hare”.

(con’t)

After much examination, it has been ruled that your unique, and quite frankly strange, circumstances have led you to a life none would have expected. You used children of the citizens of your island to farm an amass of carrots for you under forced mind control, and have committed mass treason with your attempt to do the same to all of planet Poptropica.

CUT TO:

BLACK WIDOW is at her trial. An officer has to stand by her, and she’s struggling not to jump at the judge or any members of the jury. She looks like she was crying earlier.

JUDGE

”Black Widow”, as you call yourself, and as you refuse to give us any identifying documents–

(con’t)

You committed mass art thievery, planning heists that stand out in history and amassing a fortune beyond any normal thief. You’ve infiltrated and impersonated government employees, museum curators, and used all sorts of people as pawns for your materialistic desires.

CUT TO:

RINGMASTER RAVEN is next. He’s slumped in his chair, mask on his face, which must have been allowed while the cameras flash photos of him. A single tear rolls down his face, underneath the beak-shaped mask.

JUDGE

Ringmaster Raven, an unnamed orphan who could barely find acceptance even at the most dark and exploitative of carnivals. You returned to your old home to chemically induce transformations to turn everyone into monsters, with the intention of making everyone at your new carnival a mindless beast under your command.

CUT TO:

BINARY BARD is enjoying the court as though he’s watching a drama unfold, one he is entirely removed from. Even in the prosecution’s seat, he looks across the court high and mighty as ever.

JUDGE

Mordred LeFay, alias “the Binary Bard”. You broke your kingdom’s laws regarding the ethics of science, eventually committing treason and resisting arrest. After two decades due to a risky attempt to escape to space, you returned to bring destruction to the kingdom and named yourself the new king of both Arturus and the universe.

CUT TO:

CAPTAIN CRAWFISH, like DR. HARE, is hardly paying attention to the court comings and goings, although he certainly looks more irritated than HARE.

JUDGE

Mr. “Crawfish”, for decades you have committed acts of piracy—major theft, attacking coastal towns and looting, along with the destruction of private treasures and property, eventually threatening to burn the town of Fort Ridley to the ground in your endless, merciless hunt. Your crimes also include influencing and bribing local government to hide and support your doings.

CUT TO:

The final sentences are being delivered. While each villain would have been given a separate trial, it is lined up as though all are receiving their verdicts at once.

DEFENDANT #1

Why are we in an inter-dimensional court over something like carrots?

PROSECUTOR #1

She didn’t just harm artworks—people were affected as well!

DEFENDANT #2

This supposed “life of crime” at the carnival lasted a mere few minutes, how does that compare to the way the carnival treated him for years??

PROSECUTOR #2

You say dressing up as a bunny and mind controlling people is too strange to take seriously, but I say the insanity of this case is exactly why he needs to be tried here!

DEFENDANT #3

My client is not fit to stand trial—as intelligent as he may be, his mind is no longer stable and a result of extensive mishandled health!

PROSECUTOR #3

One only needs to hear “pirate” to imagine what Crawfish was like—he’s a callous thief who’s only loyalty is to cold wealth!

PROSECUTOR #4

And they all have one thing in common–

(con’t)

They’ve all committed TAX EVASION!

The gavel slams down once more. All turns silent.

JUDGE

After an uptick in these large scale crimes, which I note may not be of the same extremes, but have effects across our universe, the court has agreed to a unique decision.

(con’t)

Rather than being returned to your island of origin, you will be sent to the newly built experimental Erewhon Prison. This location is far out in the middle of the open sea, with unbreakable defenses, and hosts experimental security technology. This sentence will be for life. The leader of this project, Dr. Jupiter, intends to make you useful to society for the remainder of your days.

(con’t)

Case dismissed.

CUT TO.

We return to the present. The villains are on the open sea, the same evening as when they escaped. Everyone is scattered about the deck, some working, while the test subjects of Dr. Jupiter’s Dream Machine experiment are taking some time to rest. DIRECTOR D. and MADEMOISELLE MOREAU are at the stern of the ship, watching the remains of Erewhon prison fade into the distance. Storm clouds are quickly approaching.

MOREAU

Why would a…”super hero” organization contact us?

(con’t)

If they know who we are, why aren’t they here?

DIRECTOR D.

…We’re looking to stop the dimensional fracture. I’m sure that’s their goal as well.

MOREAU

So they’re following us?

DIRECTOR D.

I think so.

(con’t)

We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, they’re helping us, so we can keep up a sort of symbiotic relationship. Like bees and flowers. We’ll stop them before they turn parasitic.

From the center of the deck, CRAWFISH waves at the two, trying to group his crew and the new members of his ship. Some of the pirates have shining swords and daggers. RINGMASTER RAVEN is toying with the mirror fragment he has kept on his person since Erewhon. HARE and BARD are two of the smartest people on the planet, although the former is much less intimidating, watching the remains of Erewhon disappear. BLACK WIDOW takes a spot near the door to the cabin, telling anyone who approaches to back off with just a glance.

MOREAU

I wonder what they have if they think they’re strong enough to go against us.

DIRECTOR D.

(chuckles)

“Us?”

(con’t)

Remember, it doesn’t matter if any of the others get the rewards. One thing I’ve learned, Mademoiselle, is all you have to do is hold a carrot in their faces to keep them from noticing you’re getting the prize.

MOREAU

Thoughtful.

The two leave the railing, back to the group as the last of the sun falls into the water.

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“The prison has been destroyed, and those within have escaped. But now there is a much greater problem-the dimensions of Poptropica are “fracturing”, and if a solution is not found to this seemingly impossible problem, all life will be put at risk.

“So, Captain Crawfish leads his team of pirates and other scheming villains across the seas, searching for an island with the ultimate truth behind their history! Many dangers face them along the way; monsters, storms, and a strange band of “heroes” who tail them but never actually try to capture the motely crew.

“As these mysteries unfold, schemers Director D. and Mademoiselle Moreau are left wondering-can they rely on the villain’s selfishness to get them closer to immortality? Or will their experiences change them into something…too heroic?”

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Castori honorem ~ Maryann/Smart Bubbles