Fear Itself
Archer and Limelight stared down the Stabbington brothers. They could move again and they were cuffed with their hands behind their backs. The men stared up at them with death glares.
"Now then. Tell us where your boss is," Archer demanded. The brothers snorted and remained silent. "Tell us where Gothel is or else—"
"Or else what Archer?" Jasper challenged with a sneer. "You gonna sic goldilocks on me? That may work on other people but we both know she practically farts sunshine and rainbows."
Archer glared down at the man. He was right. Limelight could intimidate but she was too sweet for the rougher aspects of interrogation.
"You're both goodie two shoes. You aren't gonna do anything," Horace spat at them.
Archer responded with a swift hard punch across the face. Horace spat out some blood before glaring up at her.
"You have no idea what's coming ladies. Our boss and her new pals are gonna turn the world on its head. And when they do I'm fine being a lackey over dead," Jasper said coolly.
Archer and Limelight frowned. They were getting nowhere. They needed answers. A location. Archer kneeled down to ask some more when the Flightmare suddenly spoke.
"Incoming Hostiles Detected. ETA…5 seconds," it said. Archer and Limelight exchanged a glance before sure enough they started hearing the humming of thrusters in the distance. Then through the window flew in 10 of Drago's robots. Followed by another 15 walking in from the entrance of the warehouse.
Archer equipped her bow and drew an arrow in preparation for a fight. Limelight started gathering her energies as she stood at the ready. The robots didn't move for a moment as they seemed to be scanning and evaluating the situation.
"Enemy Recognized. Archer and Limelight. Terminate," they suddenly all said in unison. Then they all started raising their arms ,pointing their guns, and aiming their missiles at them.
"Drago Bots detected. Initiating Attack," the Flightmare said. The bike switched over to autopilot before deploying its weapons. Then it started firing plasma blasts at the robots while taking to the air.
As the robot began returning fire Limelight grabbed Archer and the Stabbington brothers before flying them to cover behind the truck.
"Thanks Limelight," Archer said gratefully as she pressed herself against the truck. Limelight nodded in acceptance before leaping onto the top of the truck's trailer. She took in the scene. The robots stopped firing at the trailer. Likely because their objective was to secure the cargo inside. They instead started shooting at the Flightmare which was evading, flying, and swooping around the room while returning fire.
She glanced down to see some of the robots attempting to fly to the other side of the trailer. Narrowing her eyes in determination she leapt at them. She immediately punched one hard enough to send it hurtling to the floor. It crashed into the ground before she wrapped her hair around another one and then whipped it into one trying to get by her.
One tried to fly below her but she noticed it. She tackled it to the ground. Getting up she stomped down on its head, crushing it and disabling it. Another came at her, she raised a hand up and fired a sun blast at it. She put in enough power to melt a hole in it. It exploded in a huge fireball as she prepared to blast the others.
As she fought she was getting shot with bullets. Luckily for her she was mostly invulnerable to low caliber fire. They still stung though. It felt like getting hit with small pebbles. But she ignored them and continued fighting.
Meanwhile, Archer was fighting against the robot trying to come around the side of the trailer. She edged over to one side and peeked around the corner. She saw several robots coming. Notching her arrow she stepped out from the trailer and fired.
The arrow head glowed red hot and as it sailed through the air. When it struck the first robot it melted a hole in it and bored straight through, piercing two more behind it. The robots started to spasm and spark violently before they went offline due to the damage.
Archer's eye widened. Ok, so she had to admit the arrows Fury made for her were incredible. Loud footsteps got her attention as she glanced back to the Stabbington brothers, she saw a robot breaking the handcuffs on them, freeing them.
With a growl she drew and arrow and fired at it. The arrow pierced it head and released a massive electrical surge that shut it down. Its glowing eyes went dead as it fell forward and went offline. The brothers used the opportunity and entered the truck for cover. That was fine for Archer. She wouldn't have to worry about them.
Suddenly a metallic screech was head behind her. She turned around to see a robot flying directly at her. She was about to roll out of the way when Limelight descended on it. She drop kicked it into the ground, causing it to explode. From the flames Limelight emerged unscathed. She brushed some ash off herself as she walked toward her partner.
She watched Archer suddenly draw an arrow and level it at her. She flinched slightly as she fired. It sailed passed her head. She glanced back to see it impact with a robot and explode, reducing it to scrap.
"Thanks," she said gratefully.
"Your welcome. How many more?" Archer asked.
"About five or six," Limelight said peeking around the truck.
"More incoming Hostiles detected. ETA…3 seconds," the Flightmare said as it suddenly came to hover above them. Both women groaned in annoyance. And sure enough more of the robots came pouring through the windows of the warehouse. After a few moments there were thirty of them in total.
"Large number of Drago bots detected," the Flightmare pointed out. Missile launchers deployed from its nooks and crannies and fired, taking out five of them. "Recommend Localized EMP blast. Denied or Granted?" it asked Archer.
Archer's eyes widened in surprise. "Granted!" she shouted up at it.
The Flightmare responded. From its center a missile popped out. It fired it straight into the center of the warehouse. The head exploded sending out a small electromagnetic pulse that shut down the robots. The robots all fell to the ground in heaps. The Flightmare however was protected by its shielding.
Limelight walked up to one of the downed robots and kicked it in the head. "And stay down you piece of junk!" she growled at it. "Well that wasn't too bad," she said looking to her partner.
"Aye," Archer said in agreement. The Flightmare touched down on the ground next to her. She ran a hand over it. She loved this bike. "Flightmare, are there anymore hostiles incoming?" she asked it.
"Scanning…scanning…no hostiles detected. Area secure," it informed her.
"Good," she said with a satisfied smile. She turned to see Limelight waling back towards her. She smiled at her. Her partner smiled back. Both of them beamed with pride at their victory.
But their celebration was cut off as suddenly a robotic claw ripped out of the side of the trailer and grabbed Limelight's arm. Her eye's widened in surprise before she was suddenly pulled through.
"Limelight!" Archer cried in surprise.
"Hey Archer!" came a voice behind her. She whipped around to see Horace smiling and holding up a bazooka. "Smile for me," he said as he took aim. Archer cursed before he fired. Archer leapt to the side and rolled away in time. But the Flightmare went up in a huge explosion.
She looked up from a kneeling position to see the remains of it. "Fury is gonna be so mad," she said with a sigh. But she didn't have time to dwell on it as Jorace pulled out another weapon. A flamethrower. He gave an evil smile and a maniacal laugh as he aimed and sent a stream of fire at her.
Unable to think of a way to avoid the fire Archer crouched and wrapped her cloak around herself as the flames came at her.
Meanwhile, the trailer rocked back and forth as the two people fought inside. Then from the other side of the trailer Limelight burst out. She hit the ground on her back before rolling and planting her feet into the ground. She looked up from her kneeling position as she awaited for her opponent to follow.
Suddenly two metallic claws gripped the edges of the hole she'd emerged from and tore it open wider. Inside the trailer was Jasper. He was clad in a bulky robotic power suit. He smiled maliciously and his single eye twinkled in dark eagerness. He leapt out of the trailer and started walking toward her.
"Like the suit Limelight? A gift from our boss' partner Drago. Probably reminds you of your new buddy Night Fury huh?" he said with a smirk. "I've been wanting to bust up that pretty face of yours for years. And now…" he paused as he punched a fist into his palm.
Limelight growled and charged him. Jasper smiled and rushed to meet her. When they got into striking distance Limelight swung her fist at him. But Jasper caught it with his left hand before delivering a powerful punch across her face with his right. Then he punched her in the stomach.
Limelight doubled over in pain. Jasper grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her up. Then he bent over and rammed into her, driving his shoulder into her chest he charged forward.
He rammed her though several assembly lines causing her to cry out in pain as her back impacted with the steel. Then he drove her into the warehouse wall. Pulling back he began punching her in the chest repeatedly, cracking the stone wall behind her and driving her into it.
Jasper just smiled and laughed darkly. He loved the power this suit gave him. He could finally pummel Limelight to death with his bare hands. He stopped when he got tired and her eyes were half closed.
"Any last words Limelight?" he said smugly. He saw her lips move as she mumbled something he couldn't hear. He snorted in satisfaction before leaning in. "What was that?"
"I said…is that all you got?"
Jasper's eyes widened in surprise before Limelight's hair and eyes began to glow. Then she smiled. A proud and confident smile that made his blood boil. He cocked back a fist and swung it with all his strength. But Limelight raised her left hand up and caught it with her palm, stopping it in its tracks. He swung at her with his free hand but she stopped him once again by grabbing his wrist with her other hand. With her strength she squeezed down on his metallic gauntlet, bending the steel inward and causing it to spark and screech. Then she placed a leg against his chest and pushed, sending him flying backwards.
Jasper crashed into the ground hard. He rolled over onto his stomach and leapt to his feet. He glanced back to where Limelight had been only to find her gone.
"Behind you," he heard her voice say from behind him. He swung around and lashed out with his arm, hoping to backhand her. But she ducked before punching him in the stomach. Even with his mech suit he felt the blow and 'oomfed' in pain.
Limelight grabbed him by the shoulders and lifted him up before slamming him back into the ground. Then she delivered a powerful kick to his side. He went flying and spinning through the air before crashing to the ground.
He stood up albeit a little wobbly. He turned around to see her smiling at him smugly. With a snarl he charged her. Limelight charged to meet him. Both of them cocked back a fist and swung forward. Their fists met between them and with a loud screech Limelight's fist dented his. The metal bent and warped around her fist. He yanked back his damaged hand before swinging at her with his left.
Limelight raised and hand up and caught his fist. She squeezed down, crushing it before she stepped forward and thrust her other hand forward, driving her palm into his chest and sending him flying while tearing off the suit's arm.
He was sent back and landed on his back. He tried pushing himself up but was immediately driven into the ground by Limelight pressing down onto his chest with her foot. Limelight raised a hand up before driving her fingers through his suits chest piece. Then with a mighty yank she ripped the front of it off.
Jasper's eyes widened in terror as he was now virtually defenseless. Limelight smiled and grabbed him by the throat before lifting him into the air. His feet dangled above the ground as he grabbed her arm in an attempt to get free.
On the other side of the trailer Horace finally ended his flamethrower assault on Archer. He stopped to see if he'd finished her. He squinted his eyes and tried peering into the flames. Suddenly an arrow flew out from the flames and directly into the nozzle of the flamethrower. He watched as suddenly the nozzle was frozen solid. Then the ice began spreading. With a curse he shook the flamethrower off and backed away from it. He glanced back to the flames to see Archer emerge.
Archer smiled as she drew another arrow. Her cloak had protected her. She was going to have to kiss Fury when she got back to HQ. It had done exactly what he said it would do. Notching her arrow and taking aim she fired. The arrow sailed toward him before landing at his feet. The head exploded and released a foam like substance which began to expand and cover him. He struggled against the stuff as it kept expanding.
When it reached to just below his head it suddenly hardened, effectively trapping him. Limelight walked up to him and smiled as he glared at her.
"Looks like Ah win," she said proudly. Movement above her caught her attention and she looked up to see Limelight descending toward her. She had Jasper over her shoulder and let him fall to the floor when she touched down. He was wrapped in several steel bars. And though he squirmed and struggle he couldn't break free.
"Well that takes care of that," Limelight said smiling.
"Aye," Archer agreed. She was about to continue their interrogation when suddenly a wisp appeared out of nowhere. She furrowed her brows at it as it began whispering away. Warning her of something.
"What's wrong Archer?" Limelight asked eyeing the wisp. She could see it but couldn't make out what it was saying.
Archer shook her head in confusion. "I don't ken. Its saying something about…Fear is coming," she said unsure.
"What's that mean?" Limelight asked unnerved.
"It means me…" suddenly came a voice.
Archer and Limelight jumped in surprise before immediately looking around. But they couldn't see anybody. The whole building was empty save for them and the Stabbingtons.
"My, my, my ladies. I must say well done," the voice said again. It sounded like it was coming from all around them. They kept darting their heads back and forth in an attempt to pinpoint the origin.
"You two have become quite bothersome," the voice said again. But this time they both looked up to see a man staring down at them from atop the trailer. It was a tall man with charcoal grey skin and jet black hair. He looked at them both with menacing amber eyes and they both shivered a little.
"Pitch Black Ah presume?" Archer asked curiously.
Pitch remained silent for a moment. But then he flashed them a smile with glittering white teeth. "Correct Archer. And you must be Limelight," he said looking to the other woman. "Your mother has told me so much about you," he said with a sneer.
"That witch is NOT my mother," Limelight snarled as she leapt to the top of the trailer. But as she did Pitch simply backed away and out of sight. When she got to the top he was gone. Her eyes widened in shock before she began looking around for him.
"She has quite the temper doesn't she?" came his voice from behind Archer. She whirled around and attempted to strike him but found no one there. "I take that back. You're the one with the temper," he said mockingly. Archer turned to see him standing a few yards away. Looking quite relaxed and calm.
"What do ye want?" Archer spat at him.
His face became hard and vicious. "Oh me? I'm just here to eliminate the thorns in our side," he said dangerously. A yell above him caused him to look up. Limelight was heading toward him. Her fist high in the air. As she came down he sank into the shadows, letting her smash the spot he had just been standing and opening up a crater.
Limelight growled and cursed as he once again got away from her. He was playing with them. Trying to get in their heads.
"And how will ye do that?" Archer asked inquisitively. "We nae so easily killed."
Suddenly the warehouse was deadly quiet. They looked around and tried to find him. But he was nowhere. It was unnerving.
"WITH FEAR" suddenly came his voice. And suddenly both women were surrounded by a black spiraling column of sand. They yelled for each other and attempted to clear the sand. But in a matter of moments it was gone. And they were standing in blackness.
"So what do you fear Archer?" Pitch asked. She narrowed her eyes and turned in a circle to find him.
"Nothing. Ah don't scare easily," she called out.
"Ha ha ha. Aren't you the brave one? But no one is without fear. Fear is a part of being alive. And though you are brave, I can see what you truly fear."
"Quit yer gabbing and fight me," Archer challenged.
"What you fear is that you will forever be alone. That no one will ever love you for you," Pitch said mockingly from the darkness.
"Shut it," Archer replied hotly.
"But that isn't any fun. So let's use this instead."
Archer furrowed her brows in confusion. She didn't know what he meant. She backed up and turned in a slow circle. Trying to escape this darkness. She couldn't make out anything. And then she bumped into something. It was warm, solid, and large. She whirled around and looked up.
"No. Not you," she said in dread. She looked into the shadowed face of one of her greatest fears. It was a man. One of her greatest enemies. He gazed down at her, making her feel small, helpless, and weak. His black eyes seemed to be looking into her soul. She was about to draw an arrow when suddenly his arm shot out and wrapped around her throat.
Archer gasped and struggled to breathe as she felt her windpipe being crushed. He lifted her off the ground. She kicked and flailed her legs in a desperate attempt to get free. But to no avail. She felt her strength leaving her body.
As her vision began to tunnel her life flashed before her eyes. The good memories, the bad one, all of it. And her last few memories were of Hiccup. She'd begun to feel something really special for him. She just wished they could've been something more. She felt the last bits of her strength leave her and her struggling ceased.
This was the end for her.
Or so she thought.
"AGGHHH!" came Pitch's pained cry.
Suddenly she felt an electrical shock flow through her. And instantly the blackness around her disappeared. Her eyes widened as she was suddenly staring into the face of Limelight, whose hand was wrapped around her throat.
Limelight's face twisted into an expression of horror as she dropped her and leapt back.
"I thought it was Gothel," she said bewildered and horrified.
Archer coughed and gasped for air as she brought her hands to her throat. Movement got her attention as she turned to see Pitch battling someone.
It was Frost.
Pitch had a wicked black scythe in his hand as he attempted to slash at Frost. But Frost nimbly leapt over his attacks before firing blasts of ice at him. Pitch raised a wall of sand to block. The ice and sand impacted and fused together in a wicked protrusion of spiked black ice.
Frost gathered the wind and compressed it into a ball. Then he sent it flying at Pitch, hitting him square in the chest and sending him flying out of the window in a pained cry. Frost flew after him.
"Are you ok?" came a familiar computerized voice. Archer glanced to her other side to see Fury looking down at her. She tried to reply but ended up coughing.
"Oh my god Archer," Limelight said in panic as she came over. She knelt down to her level and wrapped her hair around her neck gently. She began pouring her energy into her, healing her bruised throat and helping her breath again.
"You two shouldn't have gone out by yourselves. This is why I have you guys pair up with us," he said angrily. "That way we're not taken by surprise."
Archer looked up at him as her breathing became less ragged. Slowly she was helped to her feet by Limelight.
"Are you ok?" she asked. Guilt and worry evident in her voice.
"Aye. Aam fine," she said giving her a smile.
"You nearly got killed. Limelight would have killed you if we hadn't shown up. And you blew up my bike and the Stabbingtons got away with their shipment," Fury growled.
Archer and Limelight didn't have anything to say in response.
"We're supposed to be a team. You're supposed to trust us. And we're supposed to trust you," he spat at them.
Atop the warehouse Pitch and Frost were still battling. Pitch was swinging his black scythe while Frost formed ice around his cane into a giant spade and swung back. Their blade smashed and grinded against each other. Then they swung again as they stepped forward, their attacked stopped as their weapons clashed. They glared at each other with snarls on their faces.
"Didn't take you as a team player Pitch. Get tired of losing?" Frost said to mock him.
"Just thought I'd see if the whole strength in numbers saying was true," Pitch growled back. He pushed against Frost as he pushed back. They were both attempting to overpower each other.
"I guess the losers banded together to try and support each other. Must suck to always get stomped into the ground."
"Oh laugh and mock now Frost. You have no idea what's coming. My allies and I will—"
"Blah, blah, blah, evil, evil, evil, yeah, yeah I've heard it all before Pitch," Frost said cutting him off. He quickly stepped back and ducked, letting Pitch's weapon go over his head before he whirled his around and swung it into Pitch's chest.
Pitch was sent flying off the roof of the warehouse. Frost rushed forward and glanced over the edge only to find him gone.
"You best be ready Frost. You won't win this time," Pitch said from the darkness. It was then silent and Frost could tell Pitch had fled.
Frost snorted and narrowed his eyes in determination. "Bring it."
Back inside the warehouse it was silent as Fury glared disapprovingly at his supposed partners. He'd tracked them here a few hours after they'd left. And he was terrified to see Limelight trying to strangle the life out of Archer. He knew of course it was Pitch using his magic to twist their fears. So he immediately leapt into action, leaving Frost to battle his old foe.
"Hey, everything alright?" Frost asked as he came up beside him.
"Yeah. They're just shaken up a little," he said looking to Limelight who was apologizing endlessly to Archer.
"I imagine. Nearly killing your best friend can do that to you," Frost said evenly.
"And Pitch?" Fury asked.
"Got away. And Drago got his shipment," Frost said unhappily.
"Yeah. But at least we didn't lose them," he said looking specifically at Archer.
Their enemies may have gotten away. They still might not have been any closer to finding them or figuring out what their plan was. But he would take that as a win.
New chapter. Hope you like.
