The next day after the party, Lucy happens to be watching the news about the attack on Gulmira on her laptop.
Katherine: This is Katherine Mulligan here reporting living miles away from the outskirts of a village called Gulmira. In this 15-mile hike from the village which can now only be described as a descent into hell, into a modern day Heart of Darkness. Farmers and herders from peaceful villages have been driven from their homes, displaced from their lands by warlords emboldened by a new-found power.
As Lucy watch the broadcast, she was using a glass filled with water to focus her anger of what she's seeing from the attack towards the glass.
Katherine: Behind me are group of villagers who are now having to take shelter in whatever crude dwellings they can find in the ruins of other villages, or here in the remnants of an old Soviet smelting plant.
The screen shows gunfire towards a village as the group seems to be using them to break through. Lucy then forms a fist on her right as the water in the glass froze completely.
Katherine: The recent violence has been attributed to a group of foreign fighters referred to by locals as the Ten Rings.
The screens then pans towards Raza by who smokes his cigar as he seems to be glancing at the camera.
Katherine: As you can see, these men are
heavily armed and on a mission. A mission that could prove fatal to anyone who stands in their way. We now come to to a villager who was driven away by his home from the Ten Rings. Tell me please, how do feel of being forced away from your home?
Afghanistan Man: (Speaking in Afghanistan) "It sad, I'm separated from my family, which I can assume are killed. What could cruel, selfish being could give these awful people the power to take away everything we had."
Katherine: As see now, with no political will
or international pressure, there's only a little bit hope for these refugees. Now around me, a woman begging for news on her husband, who seems be kidnapped by insurgents, which has a choice of either forced to join their military or be killed.
Lucy gets off the her seat a walks away by two shorts steps until stop across a statue of gobin she kept across her bed.
Katherine: Desperate refugees clutch
yellowed photographs, holding them up to anyone who will stop. Across from is a child who asks a simple question, "Where are my mother and father?"
Lucy channels her powers to form a small and sharp ice spare in front of her. She then points the sharp end right towards the statue and flies it towards the statue. The spare was somehow so strong that it forced through the right eye of the statue, leaving a small hole with cracks formed around it. Lucy was in complete surprise by how strong that icicle was to break through a statue like that.
Katherine: There's very little hope
for these refugees, refugees who can only wonder and I too ask who, if anyone, will help.
She looks at the mirror next to her, she looks at her own reflection for a short time until looking back at the statue. She forms more icicles and fires them at the statue and with a her own mirror as they break through them as is they were nothing. Later on, she hid the statue and the shattered mirror in the basement, and after taking care of it. She heads back to her room and checks on her phone to only check what time is it, only to notice a message that was send to her that was blocked. She opens the message to see that it said, "You heard the news? If you know what I'm talking about then I'll get right to it, I could use help with these guys. Care to join?" She could obviously guess who it was that send her that message, not willing to let many people die in from the Ten Rings, she replied back with, "I'm in. When do we head out?" Not even a full minute had after the next message was already sent to her that read, "Now, let's meet up around the woods." Before leaving, Lucy tells her parents that she's heading to a meeting with her club all day. They gave her the simple okay, as long as she doesn't miss curfew unless she calls that she will be late. With no one wondering where is she going, she heads out. After taking some pathways through town along with some bus stops, she walks around the walkway to the woods. Unsure where or when Tony will show up. Believing that he would want to meet somewhere where no one would catch them meeting each other, she walks elsewhere into the woods. While still going deeper into the woods, she hears a loud rumble in the sky. She looks up above her as she turns right to see "him" flying by. He glides down right in front of her as lands on onto the ground.
Lucy: It's great to see you again. How did you even figure on how to find me here?
Tony: You like dark places, not only can my suit analysis the power of any opponents that I can face or detect around the surrounding area, but I figure you'd probably be somewhere shady in this forest.
Lucy: That's very clever. So about the situation?
Tony: Right, I'm gonna take down every member of the group, along with the weapons they have. I wanna know if you wanna come and help me out.
Lucy: Why me?
Tony: I think this could be considered the first test into learning how the ropes of heroing is, and handling situations like this.
Lucy: Do you really think I'm ready for something like this?
Tony: I took the 15 year old to solve our situation with the Avengers back before our disbanding, it went alright. So I believe it you're turn.
Lucy really wonders how this experience of fighting terrorist will teach her about becoming a better hero. But all she had to think of was saving the lives of the villagers that are being attacked by the 10 Rings.
Lucy: I'm still unsure of how this can help me learn but I'm willing to help stop those killers from harming those people.
Tony: Alright then. Suit up, and I'll get us there.
Lucy: Okay.
In one flash, Lucy turned to her Blade form as she turns to Tony.
Tony: Alright, get on the back of my suit and hang tight.
Lucy: You do know I can fly with my lance though.
Tony: I know that, but would rather have you right behind me so I don't have to explain anything to your family if any were you happen.
Lucy: Whatever you say.
She gets right on Iron Man's back as she holds tight on him. Iron Man launches into the sky and flies into the sky. Unaware to Lucy, Shulk and Taylor had been watching everything she's been thinking and doing that they begin to feel concerned about her.
Shulk: If she does decide to help fight alongside him, she would risk getting herself into major trouble to her own life.
Taylor: True, but if the vision is correct, it will eventually turn things better for her. And besides, the first vision fated us to her, and proved right to give her a chance to continue living with the crystal in her and using the its powers to protect the livings rather than hide or misuse them.
Shulk: Is this drawn by your will of caring for young kids.
Taylor: Perhaps, but if anything were to go wrong or sudden, our Monado's will warn us, and we could always intervene.
Iron Man and Lucy flies over seas as his repulser beams kicks up speed through he clouds. Around the village of Gulmira, or what it is now, villagers are running for their lives as The 10 Rings caused catastrophe. They destroy homes, killed villagers and gathered some in groups. Abu led the soldiers around village instructing them to kill, destroy, smuggle people or stack their weapons.
Abu: (Hungarian) Put the woman's there! Stack the weapons!
Behind him was a family huddle together as they were forced to move by a member of The 10 Rings. One of the kids trip causing the parents to help them. Abu commands the solider.
Abu: (Hungarian) Grab that dog!
One solider grabs him by his arm around his neck and pulls him away from his family. His wife, son and daughter calls him while they and him are dragged away from each other. The son manages to break free and goes after his dad as he too breaks free and approaches his son. They hug as the father tries to get him to go with his mom and to not be close to him. Abu sees this and approaches them.
Abu: (Hungarian) What is this?!
Abu grabs the boy on his shoulders and pulls him away from his dad. Abu pushes the man onto the ground and stomps on his chest there times while his family is watch panicking and screaming in fright. Abu then pulls him up to his knees and commands the soldier across from him.
Abu: (Hungarian) Shoot this dog! You're all incomprehensible!
The soldier aims his gun right at his head as he commands him.
Soldier: (Hungarian) Turn your head! Turn your head!
The man's son screams for his dad until a loud aircraft noise sounded above the causing everyone to grab their attention. Soon the first thing that lands is Lucy as a burst of snow crystals burst around her as she lands. As she stood, the soldier who was had his gun pointed at the man before, began to fire at her. Before she could ready for it, a magical gold shield formed around herself, which caught her by surprise. The bullets were deflected from the shield as Lucy approaches to the soldier who is shooting at her and summons her lance and smacks the soldier above a house roof. Soon then, Iron Man makes his landing and soon start shooting his blasters at every Ten Ring soldier as Lucy too took out other soldier with her ice shards. Soon they both faced one direction together nearly about to fire their attack until seeing the soldiers gripping on some villagers as they seem to be threatening them as if they make a sudden attack, they'll kill the villagers. Both knowing that if they try to attack, they'd risk having some of the civilian's killed. They both place both their arms down.
Lucy: What do we do now, Mr. Stark?
Tony: I got this.
In Tony's radar, he locks onto every soldier of The Ten Rings and right then, his shoulders of his suits pops open to blast small, fast bullets at the targeted soldiers as it hits their heads, killing them. Lucy was really shocked to see him do that, but knows that it was probably was a smart movement to make. The boy then runs towards his dad as he hugs him. They are both are relief that they're alright as the the boy looks at Iron Man as he walks behind them. Lucy too was watching them as she was happy to see them both alive and well. Soon, somewhat felt a strange sense of something hiding behind a wall. Iron Man then stands across from.
Lucy: Hey, Mr. Stark, I don't know how or what, but I feel like someone's hiding behind that wall.
She points at the wall as Tony speaks.
Tony: I can detect it.
Tony walks towards the wall and punches through the wall and pulls out Abu who was hiding behind there, he was thrown right in front of the crowd of villagers. Lucy takes notice of a phone right underneath her and suspects that he was about to call for reinforcements but they caught him just before he try to. She freezes it solid and then shatters it. Iron Man fires his repulsor from his palms and feets as he lowers down, signaling Lucy to get on. She gets back on as he was about to fly away leaving Abu with the villagers, only for him tell this to them before flying away.
Iron Man: He's all yours.
The two then fly away as the villagers watch them go before turning their attention back to the defenseless Abu as they gain their revenge on him. Iron Man flies over the region as he locations every stockpiles around the area.
Iron Man: Hey princess, I'll drop you around here to take out these Jericho missiles around here while I take out the ones from there.
Lucy: Got it.
Soon as Iron Man stopped as he hovered steady in air, Lucy hops off as she land around a deserted part of the village. She spots the missiles across the village. Before she heads to the direction, she felt a sudden sense of something heading her way. She turns as she quickly swift from a missile that was heading her way. She sees a tank away from her. Suddenly, a purple aura surrounds her as she realizes Shulk and Taylor standing besides her with their Monado's drawn and displaying an art at the center of their swords. Feeling the power of their Monado's, she summons her Megalance as she runs towards the tank and jumps just before the tank fires another missile at her as she throw her lance directly at the tank as it pierced through. She grabs the lance and jumps back to where she was before and turns to walk away as the tank explodes behind her. Shulk and Taylor cast an art that surrounds a shield around their that she believes to be the same shield from before as it deflects all the gunshots that the Ten Rings soldiers shoots at her. Lucy channels her powers to create an ice beam that she fires towards the missiles as it freezes them up and she follows up by extending her lance and slashes them down. As the ten ring soldiers continue firing at her, she creates her icicle spears and fires them each at the soldier shooting at her. Once she around the area, she takes notice of an explosion from a distance from where she is. She believes Tony is dealing with the situation there.
Lucy: Guess he's got everything under control.
She waited for a short while before Iron Man flew back towards her and lands right in front of her.
Iron Man: Did you take care of the thing I told you about?
Lucy: Yes. I can know that you took care of yours.
Iron Man: You know how being iron is always like. Unlike a girl who can finish a task without making a loud blast.
Lucy: Funny you say that despite me being in a silent girl in my family.
Iron Man: Okay, enough standing around a sharing thoughts, you're going home now. Get on.
Lucy gets on as he flies into the sky and away back to Michigan. While then, a truck driving around stop as Raza looks up to see them. Around sunset, they finally reach back to Royal Woods, stopping around the woods where they meet up earlier than, Iron Man lands as Lucy came off him.
Iron Man: Thanks for the help. It's really appreciative.
Lucy: Don't mention it. I believe I had to do what I can.
Iron Man: Right.
Lucy: So what will you do now?
Iron Man: I'm gonna try dealing with the weapons that are around my company. Can ask a favor?
Lucy: What is it?
Iron Man: Can you remain close to ground. Like, stay away from anything dangerous beyond like that, just be a... religions... Ice Princess?
Lucy wonders why he wants her to stay low as possible. But believe it's probably better to go with this instead of taking on anything serious and dangerous she chooses to accept it.
Lucy: Okay, I'll stay low. You have my word.
Tony was intrigued by her listening to someone like him and doesn't insist on wanting to be more than what she is now.
Iron Man: Thanks.
He fires his repulsor and turns as he was about to leave before telling her.
Iron Man: I'll see you next around.
He then flies away as Lucy watches, she turns and heads home before saying.
Lucy: I'll see around too.
While still in her Blade form, she jump over buildings and runs through fields to get all the way home as quick as possible. Once she reached her backyard, she hops up into their backyard tree and stand on a branch strong enough to hold her. She looks at the house to see that Lynn and her bedroom window is open, with their bedroom door open as well. She sees Lori walk by her bedroom. Lucy knows that she missed her curfew and if she were to enter the house from the front door, her parents will know that she missed it and she'll get in big trouble from staying out long. She plans to sneaking into her room by sneaking through their open bedroom window and close their bedroom door as she turns back to her normal form. Just before she was gonna reach for the window, two voices stopped her before she could do anything.
Fiora: Lucy, please don't think of passing through you window room.
Lucy: Huh? What? Why?
Trayen: We wish not to say, but we really believe you shouldn't do this.
Lucy: I don't get why you two don't think I should do this but I've missed curfew and if my parents find out I've been out longer than before then they'll gonna kill me.
Fiora: We understand. But if you...
Lucy: I'm just sneaking into my room through the window, it's not anything bad or something.
Lucy then proceeds to enter her room from the window. She quietly crawls through the window as she quietly walks towards the door as she slowly closes the door. Once the door was closed, she sighs in relief as she turned around to only get shocked to see Haiku sitting on her bed with books on her hands with her face in total shock as she witnessed everything Lucy did and appearing right in front of her in her Blade form. While still in shocked, the books she was holding started slipping out of her hands as they fall onto the floor, making a loud thud as she stood up.
Rita: What was that?!
Yelled her mother from downstairs. Lucy turns to the door.
Lucy: Uhh, nothing! It's nothing! Haiku just dropped her books on the floor! Nothing wrong, really!
She turns to her friend.
Haiku: You're... the Ice Princess, from the news?!
Lucy instantly turns back to normal as she covers her chest.
Lucy: No I'm not!
Haiku: Didn't I just see you come through that window, and seeing you in your princess outfit and witnessing you turning back with me in front?!
Lucy: No you didn't, Haiku why are you in my room anyway?!
Haiku: Your parents let in and didn't we agree that we meet here to discuss on our books about Darkstalkers!
Lucy: You can't just sneak into my room-
Before Lucy could finish, she heard her bedroom door open as she shakingly turned to she her mother coming through the door.
Rita: Oh. I guess you were right about Haiku dropping her books on the floor. I almost thought you were beating Lynn's sandbag so hard to put where you broke off the hook on the celling.
Lucy: T-That's what I said about it was nothing.
Rita: Good to hear, anyway you're father is making his special squid surprise again, so when he goes to bed we're ordering take out. All your siblings besides Lola are staying with their friends tonight so we're going for thai. Haiku, you want thai, too?
Haiku: Uhh...
Before Haiku could say anything, she was stopped by Lucy.
Lucy: No! She got things she has to do!
Haiku: Uhh, yeah that's right.
Rita: Okay. Be sure to clean up your side of the room.
Lucy nods her rapidly as she puts her hands behind her back. Rita then closes the door.
Haiku: Wait, you're mom doesn't know?
Lucy: No! Nobody knows! Well... Mr. Stark knows because he's teaching me about how to good hero but that's it!
Haiku: Wait, Tony Stark?! The head CO of Stark Industry and the famous Iron Man is training you?! Does that mean you're a member of The Avengers?
Lucy: Umm, I guess, maybe. Look Haiku, now that you know you can't tell anyone about this you have to keep it a secret!
Haiku: I can understand why you want me to, but why not your parents?
Lucy: You know what they're like, if they find out I have a power like this and I use to fight bad guys at night, then they're not gonna let me do this anymore! And soon my entire siblings will find out too, and it will really get crazy by then! Please Haiku!
Haiku: Okay, I know this is suppose to be serious and handle keeping secret thoughts to ourselves but I'll be honest, I don't think I keep this one a secret, this is so incredible, it's like the greatest thing I've ever seen!
Lucy: Haiku! No one must know, I can't let anyone know this secret! Not even my family can know! And for your own sake's you have keep it between us! Otherwise, you'd risk death by my creators. Please!
Haiku: All right, all right. I promise. I swear.
Lucy: Thank you. Ugh, I can't believe this is happening!
Haiku: What did you mean by, "my creators"? Is that crystal actually heart or something? How do you turn from being your princess form and turn back to normal. Where do you keep your lance?
Lucy: Look, I'll tell about all this someday, look you gotta go now!
Haiku: Okay.
Lucy leads her towards her bedroom door as Haiku was about to leave before stopping.
Haiku: Wait, how do you all of this and the Stark Internship?
Lucy: I just set up list of what I do.
Haiku: Okay.
Lucy: Just go.
Haiku walks out the door as Lucy closes from behind as she turns and places both her palms on her face as she sits down behind the door.
Lucy: Awww, dang it! I can't believe that just happened!
Soon Fiora and Trayen appears right besides her. They both then sits down.
Fiora: We didn't warn you, didn't we?
Lucy looks at her.
Lucy: How did you guys know that Haiku would've been here when I was trying to sneak in?
Trayen: In truth, we didn't. We just had a nervous premonition. And we hoped that you would listen, but you decided not to.
Lucy: Well now I wished I did. I would've still spared Haiku from this. And be forced to on my punishment.
Fiora: Don't think of this as a mistake, if Shulk and Taylor were to be here now, they would still be saying the same thing as we are saying now.
Lucy: Really?!
Trayen: We know them, they would know what the correct way to lead to those around them, to us or you.
She wonders if Shulk and Taylor really are wise to know what she does is the way to lead her to a good life, even with her new powers.
Lucy: Well, if you both know that they're doing alright with everything then, I believe you guys.
She gets up.
Lucy: Thanks for talk. I better clean my room now.
Before she could start clean her side of her room, Fiora asks her something.
Fiora: Wait. Can I ask?
Lucy turns her attention towards Fiora.
Fiora: Before we heard, your father is a terrific cook, but now your mother is warning you about his current recipe which he calls, "squid-ink surprise", if that is what is we heard. Is it somewhat really disgusting and bad despite him beings amazing cook?
Lucy: Well, it kinda does look weird and small really bad, but we never tried it. We usually just say we like, but when he's away from the table we quickly get rid of it and wait for him to go to bed before getting take out. There's a story involving my sister Lisa, developing a lie detecting invention that catches all of us lying and eventually goes bad, but it's a long story.
Trayen: Well, would it be alright if we watch how he makes it?
Fiora: Also if it is really bad as you and your family says, does he not taste it himself to see that it really needs improvement and he does not see all of you not like it?
Lucy: Like I said before, it involved my sister's invention and I don't know if he does try it or not, we never see him try it before because we to busy with getting rid it, so no. But otherwise, go ahead. Just try not to scare him. He gets easily terrified, even on Halloween and watching a scary movie. Heh.
They smile in amusement from her response. Later that night in a restaurant called Prachya Thai, Rita, Lucy and Lola are eating together as the eat while talking to each other as Lucy was just picking her fork into her food as the speak.
Rita: So Lola, how did your practice rehearsal go today?
Lola: It's was great mommy! I going to dominate the next Ms. Queens Beauty Pageant!
Rita: That's great Lola! And Lucy, as was yours?
Lucy wasn't answering as she was still picking her fork.
Rita: What's wrong Lucy, is it you food? I know you like larb, is something wrong with it? Is to larby? Not larby enough? Do I have keep saying larb, until talk to me? You know I larb every one of you.
Lola started getting irritated by her mother saying larb too much.
Lola: Mommy, can you please stop saying larb.
And can you at least say something so mommy can really stop saying larb, Lucy!
Lucy: I'm just tried from this meeting today. I really don't feel like talking this much now.
Rita: I never thought your club meeting was this stressful today. Must've been very rough today.
Lucy: It was mom.
Lola: Really? Can you tell us why was it?
Rita: Lola, Lucy just said she tried and doesn't feel like talking about it. We should honor her decision. You know, creativity of writing can sometimes be stressful when your trying to think of a good story. Heck, I bet your principal didn't really think much about the passionate about writing...
While Rita was still offering advice, Lucy then get distracted by the news report that was showing on the tv. Katherine was now reporting the events that happened after Tony and her saving the village.
Katherine: This is Katherine Mulligan broadcasting right at the village Gulmira. Moments ago, the notorious group called The Ten Rings were causing bloodshed all over the village. But moments later, Tony Stark's own Iron Man had appeared and strike down most the of The Ten Rings soldiers and destroyed most of their weapons. However, he did not do all of this alone.
Rita and Lola noticed that Lucy was watching the on the tv. They then turn their attention to the news as it soon showed Lucy in her Blade form fighting The Ten Rings.
Katherine: From what we hear now, Iron Man brought along a young new hero who calls herself, Ice Princess. Originally appearing in the Royal Woods area from the famous internet video of stopping criminals, she assisted the Iron warrior as they both defeated the Ten Rings and saved the remainder of the village.
Lola knows full well that this must've of been what Lucy's been doing today and the reason why she not willing to talk. She gives her an glances in suspicion as Rita turned back to face her childrens.
Rita: Thank goodness nothing scary like that happens around our town. I don't know what me or your father would do if something like that were to happen to us. But thankfully we brave heroes to protect us. Including that new young little girl who probably going to be our towns protector. Such a brave little girl she is to fight bad guys like that.
Lucy: I'll admit mom, it is nice to have someone to protect our town from danger.
Lola: (Still in suspense): I guess. It's kinda strange how the moment you left for your meeting was the time this happened.
Rita: I know Lola, it's really strange.
Lucy: Umm, yeah, I never knew this was happening when I was was there.
Lola still glances at her still in suspense.
Lola: (grins) Right, that's why.
Rita: Since these events are starting to happen around our town I'll tell you both now, if any of you spot anything like what we hear now, promise me and your father that you will turn and runaway from the danger.
Lucy: Yes. I promise mom.
Lola: Yes mommy.
Rita: Even it means no more night time walks, Lucy.
Lucy: Alright, mom.
Lola: (Still in suspicion): That's right Lucy.
Soon a waiter comes by and gives them a new bowl to their table.
Thai Waiter: Sticky rice pudding.
Rita: We didn't order any?
Thai Waiter: It's on the house.
Rita: Oh thanks.
He then leaves.
Rita: That was nice of him.
Lucy: I think he larbs, you.
Lucy jokes as Rita points at herself with a exaggerated look of surprise.
Rita: Oh Lucy, even if it's true, your father is the only person who I larb.
Lucy chuckles at that.
Lola: Okay, can we please stop saying larb. It's bad enough even if Luan isn't here doing that.
Around at the Malibu Mansion, Tony looked into his armor as he feels like it needs a newer upgrade.
Tony: Mark 47 handle well, but I think I need something to put on for Mark 48. Jarvis, I need to install a new feature for Mark 48.
Jarvis: What would this feature be for, sir? To increase repulser range.
Tony: Not quite. I feel I need to improve the defense of suit in case I were to struck by ice powers.
Jarvis: Is this feature for to protect yourself from excessive ice attacks. Are you afraid that your new student could potentially be a threat to you?
Tony: No, it's not that. I feel like if I were to face someone with high powered ice attacks, I want to be ready to handle them.
Jarvis: I must say now sir, if you're going to install this new feature in Mark 48, then Mark 48 will need more time to finish before being ready for deployment.
Tony: Just do it Jarvis. (To himself) Meanwhile, I have to get Pepper here, to help me out with a little situation.
Meanwhile someplace else, Obadiah too was seeing the news as he is seen in frustration. Seeing Iron Man and Ice Princess taking down the Ten Rings and destroying the weapons, it made him really upset. He then makes a call.
Obadiah: Yeah I'm seeing it. Shouldn't expect him bringing along a partner with him. I offered everything you wanted. I get you what you want, but before I do, did you recover everything that Tony left when he escaped your grips?
A short time passed.
Obadiah: Good. I'll be there in a few days, then we'll discuss our trading. Oh you don't need to know that now, I tell you when we meet up.
He hangs up as he looks at his laptop video footage.
Obadiah: Also, I should plan ahead to meet up with the Chilly Princess's little sister.
The laptop shows the footage of Lola spying on Tony and Lucy on the Avengers Facility roof.