Man, this was supposed to be a short chapter. At this point in the fic I probably should have given up in writing anything less than 10K words, but we can dream.

You guys are incredible. Comments flooding in again, thank you so much for the love. Heads up that this is the final battle chapter of the 3-part epic, to be followed up by the conclusion and an epilogue. All in all, we have 3/4 chapters left and they are all nearly ready to post, so it will be a fast-ish run into the finish line.

So, sit back, buckle up and hang on tight. It may be the weekend, but this ain't going to be a party.

Previously.

The battle has been far from straightforward.

Assaulted by Kairon from the moment the portals opened Tony and the Avengers dealt with the unexpected arrival of thousands of civilians in the city, swiftly getting them to safety, though the effort of doing so drains Tony badly. Unable to close the portals until the 5 beings had come to Earth, Natasha finally sees them coming in on the edge of the city. Bruce cannot get the machine to work leaving Tony in a difficult position which he only by the skin of his teeth.

Suffering badly from his injuries, Tony diagnoses the fault while the Hulk is finally unleashed into the field. The allied forces are badly overwhelmed and using the CAEB to close the portal leaves Tony in a dire state. He wakes up nearly 4 hours later in medical finally recovered, is able to save Natasha from near fatal head injuries and is now ready to use the CAEB to batter the enemy.

But Kairon is determined to scupper him at every turn. He cuts the power to the city, leaving Tony very little to channel and limiting his powers. But Tony is not one to be outsmarted. He learns to channel the energy from the enemy organism themselves and is back in the game.

Then the worst happens. As Edraskil appears in the square just as he saw in his dream, Tony prevents his worst nightmare from coming to pass, he drains Edraskil's own energy in order to defeat him, but Rhodey is lost in the process.

"The energy is too much to hold Stark you need to get rid of it now, quickly." Frigga's voice somehow cut through the noise of a thousand voices screaming all at once. And yes, Right! The energy he'd drained from Edraskil… he'd not used all of it in his obliteration and now it was burning through his fragile human vessel. But how was he supposed to get rid of it?

As the agony kicked in and reality twisted into a complex web of light and colour, Tony felt like he must be screaming, but quite honestly, he had no idea anymore. The earth was gone, he wasn't there.

Chapter 40- And it all came down to this.

"Tony you have to get of the energy now, it's going to destroy you!" Frigga pleaded, but Tony's eyes were burning blue and vacant, crunched in the foetal position on the ground, face twisted in pain.

"Can he even hear us?" Steve asked, reaching out tentatively to the Engineer, the gravel rash on the side of his face a reminder of what had happened last time he'd touched the powered-up billionaire. "Tony?" He shouted, wrapping his hand round the Engineer's shoulder as the man suddenly jolted.

"Jesus this is a bad trip." Tony hissed, pressing the heel of his hands into his eyes. Then the pain hit him like a truck. It was all he could focus on; the bright and unending agony that was whiting out his vision. He didn't even realise he was screaming until he felt Frigga's magic penetrate his mind.

'Tony quickly. You must get rid of the energy.'

But it was too much… if he just let this power free, he would vaporise Steve and Frigga and take out half the city… he needed a target.

"Point me at something I can kill!" He managed to cry out and he vaguely felt himself being hauled to his feet.

'Hoard of Makluhk slaughtering Asgardians over on 8th!' The call came from Natasha and was like a mallet to his fragile skull.

"That'll do me." Tony grimaced with whine as another wave of pain washed over hi

"Hurry, he has a minute at best before he is scattered to atoms." Frigga urged. Right now, he could feel her magic practically holding him together. More pain spiked through his skull as a Makluhk skittered past and the sounds of the hive mind reached him. The lone creature reminded him of the first time he'd encountered one and tried to control it. For a brief time, they had shared a moment, connected by the incredible web of intricate frequencies that was their communication channel. The noise was getting louder, they must be close to the pack Natasha mentioned.

"Put me down Steve." Tony hissed weakly.

"Not much further Tony."

"Put me down they'll come to us." Tony ordered gruffly and sure enough, growls filled the street moments after Steve lowered him to the ground.

"Stark quickly!" Frigga urged. Tony didn't need reminding as the pain grew again.

"Yeah, on it. But I've got an idea." Tony smirked.

He'd done it once before and it had taken all his strength, but he hadn't had the power to channel then, not like he had now. The controlling force of the 5 in the hive mind was now clearer than ever to him. Every second he had spent close to these creatures had given him a better understanding of how their minds worked and now, he was certain he could do it.

He released the energy into the hive mind and felt it spread, creature to creature, not just into the pack he was close to, but to every creature in the city.

"Tony what are you doing?" Steve asked nervously, his voice almost a whisper in the background. The Makluhk were still advancing, Tony could feel that, so it was understandable that Steve was getting worried, but he just needed a moment longer… There!

Like a snapped cable in a suspension bridge Kairon's string in the web of the hive mind snapped. Makluhk shook themselves and looked around in confusion, skittering around nervously unsure whether to attack, to run or to hide. Tony could feel the anxiety and unease in the hive, he pushed through a wave of calm to prevent any of them attacking in panic and felt the energy slowly drain from him. There was still too much, but for now at least he wasn't going to implode. He felt better.

"What did you do Tony?" Frigga asked, confused and awe struck as the beasts just stopped their advances and appeared to be lost and disorientated.

'The Makluhk have stopped attacking.' Heimdall reported in awe. 'What witchcraft is this?'

'Some of them are laying down and damn sunbathing.' Clint exclaimed. 'I'm guessing this 'witchcraft' was Tony?'

'Who else would it be?' Natasha scoffed. 'Are they still a threat Tony? And has anyone got a report on the Hulk and Thor?'

Tony ignored the voices in his head and focused. He wasn't done yet. Yes, the Makluhk were no longer attacking, but he could go one further. At the moment they were just wild creatures, unpredictable and likely to get in the way, but if Kairon had controlled them, why couldn't he?

Steve just looked around Gobsmacked as the Makluhk stepped down. Tony and his power as the CAEB never ceased to amaze him. It seemed he was only limited by his own ingenuity and the energy available, and Tony Stark was hardly short of the former.

The Makluhk went from anxious to calm, but despite the questions being fired at him, Tony remained stoic and focused. What was he doing? Steve wondered. Suddenly the Makluhk growled and started to walk forward again, approaching the three of them with a worrying amount of intent and purpose. The sight of 30 perfect predators approaching hungrily sent fear shuddering down Steve's spine and both he and Frigga backed away nervously, throwing anxious glances in Tony's direction.

"Ermmm… Tony?" Steve started, taking a few more steps backwards, but the Engineer didn't flinch. "Tony, should this be happening?" He queried, desperately, but there was no reply from the Engineer and the Makluhk kept approaching. Yet, a calmer and more objective glance of the approaching hoard showed Steve that the beast's weren't interested in him and the Asgardian Queen, they were solely focused on Tony and despite the cacophony of growls and roars there was no aggression in their bodies.

A single Makluhk broke away from their pack, forging the path ahead. It was larger than the others, just marginally, and clearly commanded the respect of the pack. Was this their leader? Steve wondered. He was soon proved right as it approached Tony and stopped, the rest of the Makluhk fell silent, watching and waiting to see what would transpire. Tony's focus was now on the lead Makluhk, silent words flew between the two, the connection almost palpable in the air, until suddenly the silence was broken. The lead Makluhk roared loudly, the air vibrating. As it bowed and backed away from Tony the rest of the pack started yipping and howling, a sound, Steve realised, that was being made all across the city. Something had happened, what that was exactly, Steve wasn't sure, but every Makluhk in the city had clearly felt it.

"Ermmm Tony?" Steve tried again as the blue glow faded from his eyes and he seemed to shake himself back into reality. The Engineer nodded respectfully to the Makluhk as they settled around him.

"I thought I would have to manipulate the hive mind." Tony said fondly. "But I didn't need to. All I had to do was talk to them. They are incredibly intelligent creatures."

"So… what did you do?" Steve asked, genuinely interested and mesmerised by Tony's silent interaction with the pack. He had the urge to reach out and touch one. For all their ferocity they really were quite magnificent, so perfectly evolved, almost beautiful if you could truly appreciate it.

"Not much." Tony confessed. "The control Kairon had over them caused them great pain and anguish, they didn't want to fight and kill, it was like they were possessed, but they want revenge and to make amends."

"Make amends? How curious." Frigga said, approaching the creatures confidently, holding a hand out for one to sniff before it allowed her to pet its head.

"This is… this is insane. They're talking to you?" Steve asked in disbelief. "Like actual words?"

"They are far more intelligent than humans Steve and no, its not words as such, its far more complex than that, far more expressive than mere language ever could be. Its quite magical really, I can't describe it. They've accepted me as their alpha, they will fight for us."

So that's what that was. Steve mused silently.

'Anyone going to tell me what's going on with the Makluhk things.' Clint asked, flabbergasted on a nearby roof.

'Tony's their alpha now.' Steve relayed.

'Tony's what?' Clint scoffed.

'What does that mean exactly?' Natasha asked.

'It means they're with us, they're on our side.' Tony clarified.

'Stark has just turned the enemy's greatest weapon against them.' Frigga sounded impressed.

'The battle is all but ours.' Sif cheered.

'Let's not get ahead of ourselves.' Steve warned. "Tony, any sign of Thor, is he ok? He went down hard"

Tony nodded immediately. 'He's back on his feet, Heimdall has notified him of the situation.'

"And Hulk?"

As if on cue there was a roar somewhere close that could only come from one unique creature, but it was rapidly followed by a worried voice.

'Ermm, Tony, got a slight Hulk issue. He's attacking Makluhk.' Clint informed them.

Tony disappeared in a flash of blue light, landing in front of Big Green and holding up a hand to stop him.

"Woah there big guy, take it easy on the smashing for a second."

"Tin man get out the way. I no want hurt Tin man." Hulk grunted, clearly pissed and ready to fight.

"I know Big Guy, but no smashing Makluhk. Makluhk friends now." Tony tried gently.

"Makluhk no friends. Makluhk bite hulk! Bites hurt!'

Damn, Tony hissed to himself. How was he going to get the Hulk to understand? He had a one-track mind and that usually involved killing or attempting to kill everything in sight, his grasp of the concept of allies was tentative at best and he took any attacks on him very, very personally. Enslaved or not, the Makluhk were definitely in Hulk's bad books. After a brief moment of deliberation Tony had an idea; he just hoped Bruce wouldn't kill him when he woke up.

"Hulk they were being controlled. It was like when Hulk has to listen to puny Banner. They didn't want to hurt us, or to hurt Hulk."

"Makluhk have a puny Banner?" Hulk posed in thought and surprise. Tony sighed in relief. Breakthrough!

"Yes, Kairon is Makluhk's puny Banner."

"Hmmm, me like Makluhk. I help Makluhk."

"Thanks Buddy." Tony grinned.

'Stark, I believe its time 'to end this thing'.' Tony could almost hear the air quotes in Thor's tone, and it brought Tony a new surge of determination. The God was weary and worse for wear, Tony could tell, but Thor was first and foremost a warrior, he would be fine and his resolve was unwavering.

'Right you are pointbreak.' Tony smirked. 'So, Natasha, Clint, who's first?'

…..

There was fire in the sky, endless fire, but nothing rained down on the forces below. Tony was slaughtering the craft. The Makluhk on the ground were tearing through the Mega wolves. Clint felt rather surplus to requirements at the moment, firing the odd arrow, keeping an eye on the ground. Steve was stood back, as were Frigga, Sif and Heimdall. They were finally getting a moment of respite and most of the Asgardian platoons were now free from attack.

They were winning, there was no question about it. The enemy forces were down to a very small number, but unfortunately 4/5ths of the larger part of the threat were still alive. The 5, or maybe he should call the 4 now, were gone… or out of sight at least. Clint couldn't see them anywhere, but he knew they couldn't get out of the shield. Or at least, he hoped they couldn't.

'Tony, these 4 fuckers got names or something? I can't get eyes on at the moment.'

'I can feel them, they are still here. They're not far.' Tony assured. 'Kairon, is the one in pale blue. The back one, Vinam, I think is second in command. She and Kairon are clever and conservative.'

'She?' Thor said, sounding shocked.

'Yes She.' Tony 'How does that still surprise you when you've fought with Sif for thousands of years?' Tony asked in astonishment. 'She could kick anyone's ass, including yours, whenever SHE feels like it.'

'Oh, I like you Stark.' Sif chuckled over Thor's protested explanations.

'Anyway, Green one, that's Urus and the navy one Ethusa. They're a little more emotional, we can use that against them.'

'Well I shouldn't have asked, there's no way I'll remember all that.' Clint sighed.

'How did you get this information Tony?'

'Got a bit of a vision I think when I wiped myself out closing the portals. I have tried to listen in on their plans, but Kairon is too strong and he has set up safeguards.'

'You are going to accept our help tackling the rest of them Stark?' Thor asked, leadingly.

'Yes.' Tony said, somewhat reluctantly. 'But, and I don't say this out of disrespect, but you need to leave the main assault to me… I hate to say it, but I think I'm the only one who can take these guys.'

'I do not underestimate them Stark. The pounding in my skull will not allow me to forget and you are quite right; singularly none of us are capable of felling these beings. That has to be down to you, but we can offer aid.'

'Yeah Tony, you've been thrown enough around for one day, let us help.' Clint

'Hulk Smash!'

Tony chuckled. His family had his back. It was time to finish this. 'I will guys. I will.'

'So, we going to let the Makluhk take the lackies and hit out on the big bad?' Clint asked.

'Anyone had eyes on them recently?' Steve countered.

'I last saw them entering a warehouse by the docks, probably trying to plan a way out of this mess.' Natasha informed them. 'That was 25 minutes ago maybe, just after Tony took out Edraskil.'

'Yeah thats worrying, shouldn't we strike while they are all together? Before they have a chance to plan anything else to scupper Tony?' Steve proposed.

'We are far better isolating them. I can take one at a time no worries, but I don't think I can face them all at once.'

'Stark is right, we must try to separate them.' Frigga Confirmed.

'I may have an idea on how to do that.' Natasha smiled.

The ground no longer shook with explosions at the same frequency as it had before. Kairon knew this was a bad sign as he huddled with the others in a filthy human storage facility. The human had turned the Makluhk against them and now their forces were all but defeated.

"It is time." Kairon nodded, turning back to his followers. It was a miracle he hadn't gone insane in the millennia he'd been trapped with these imbeciles. Vinam was the only one he could stomach, she at least had more than half her wits at any one time. Why Mimir had chosen many of them as his followers he had not understood. Politics it seemed was an important on any world. Only Kairon and Vinam had been chosen on their actual merit, Urus, Ethusa and Edraskil had been Sons of important families in the Asgardian nobility.

"We can defeat them without this." Came the expected protest from Ethusa. "We are strong enough, we have more power than any of them combined.

"I know it will weaken us…" Kairon began his explanation but was rudely interrupted. It was not something he usually tolerated, but he knew the death of one of their own had shaken his weaker followers.

"It won't weaken you Kairon, only us. You are stronger than us! You saw what he did to Edraskil! Urus and I and weaker than he was, and you propose to make us weaker still!"

"I agree with Ethusa." Urus joined. "Our best chance is to face him together now. He won't stand a chance."

"And if the human dies, the control he has over the Makluhk will end!"

"He does not control the Makluhk." Vinam spoke for the first time. "They joined him of their own free will."

"Vinam is right."

"What does that mean?" Ethusa asked.

"It means there is no controlling them." Vinam explained.

"Can't you re—establish the link?" Ethusa pleaded.

"Building that link took years. I cannot remake it on a whim." Kairon said dismissively. He'd just about had it with these… children. He may kill them himself when this was all over, but unfortunately for now he had to keep his anger in check. He needed these imbeciles for now, he could kill them later.

"I would have thought if Edraskil's death had taught you anything, it would have taught you that every precaution must be taken. We need them as weak as possible before we make our final strike. Stark is proving hard to kill and has surprised and outwitted us at every turn."

Urus opened his mouth but Kairon held up a single finger silencing him immediately.

"Enough of your protests. This happens now. Gather your power and prepare yourselves."

'I'm still not happy about this.' Tony growled. He knew Natasha's plan was sound, but he still hated it.

'Which part irks you so Stark?' Thor asked.

'Both the part where you use yourselves as bait and the part were we use the Makluhk as cannon fodder!'

'Tony, half an hour ago they were trying to kill us.'

'They're intelligent living creatures just like us Clint, they didn't ask for any of this. They are innocent and I'm not happy about asking them to sacrifice themselves like this.'

'I know Tony and I'm sorry.' Clint said solemnly.

'Tony, we're so close. Regardless of what we do next, some of them are going to die.' Steve reasoned.

'I can't take any more death, I can't lose anyone else!' Tony snapped. There was a moment of silence across the link as no one knew what to say to that. Nearly no one, anyway.

'Tony, you've got to hold this together, otherwise Rhodey died for nothing.' Natasha didn't mince her words, she knew what was on his mind, what was on all their minds. But this wasn't time to grieve, this was time to fight and Tony had to keep his head in the game. 'You're their alpha now, they want to win this fight as much as we do so you've got to make the hard call Tony. I know you like to 'cut the wire' but right now we don't have the tools. Its brutal, but this is war.'

'Ok Natasha.' Tony conceded wearily. 'Let's do this.' He began relaying instructions to the Makluhk, the fact they were ready and willing to lay down their lives to gain their freedom and enact revenge didn't change how bad he felt. What shocked him the most was that they tried to soothe him, tried to tell him it was ok. They could feel the pain of his loss and he could feel theirs. Nothing was hidden across the link.

It was time to end this. For Rhodey. It was time to go home.

'That's not possible.' A strong sense of shock, panic and disbelief broke though Tony's barrier. Clint was terrified, his voice low and quiet as if he were afraid to speak or even to breathe in fear of making a sound.

'Clint what's going on?' Natasha asked, voice dangerous and worried.

'Remember watching game of thrones?' Clint said, more clearly.

'Of course we do.' Steve grunted, a little annoyed at the unnecessary suspense.

'Well, if all the dead bodies are… well, the dead bodies and Kairon is the night king, then he's just just…'

'You are joking!' Natasha spluttered. Tony couldn't speak, overwhelmed by the energy he was feeling and the sight he was seeing.

'No, not joking. Real life zombie army down here!' Clint clarified, urgency in his voice.

Thor watched in horror as his fallen comrades, soldiers of Asgard and Vanaheim, warriors he'd watched die over the past day suddenly started to stand. The eerie orange glow that surrounded them sent a shiver down his spine. Kairon was more devious and twisted than he ever could have thought. The 4 certainly were powerful, but bringing back the dead bodies of his friends and comrades and forcing him to fight their reanimated corpses… This was horrible.

'I think we may require a change of plan.' He said solemnly. They could hardly target the four when they now had another army to face.

'I didn't think it was possible to hate someone even more than I already hated this fucker.' Clint growled. 'Why can't they just lay down and die!'

'For the same reason we can't.' Tony countered.

'So, what's the plan?'

'We stick to the plan.' Tony announced.

'How?' Steve asked, surprised.

'These fuckers need eliminating now. I can feel the energy they are using, they have combined all their power for this. It will have weakened them, we have to strike now.'

'Ok Tony, tell us what you need.' Steve agreed.

'I need you to take Thor's place, lead the Allied forces against the undead and I'll send the Makluhk in to help, that should cover it. Natasha, Clint, help them in anyway you can and be my eyes and ears. My power isn't unlimited and I'm tired, I can't keep track of everything all the time, I'll need help.'

'You got it.' Clint confirmed.

'Thor, Heimdall, Sif, Frigga, Hulk, you're with me. Operation: fuck up the 4 is go.'

'We are with you Stark.' Heimdall assured. 'Though I believe a better name for the operation could be achieved.'

Tony just chuckled. 'Great. It's 2pm, if we get this done quick, we'll be back in time for Dinner. I think by some miracle that Shawarma joint from last time is still standing, should make it a tradition.'

'Save the planet, eat Shawarma. I like it. I'm bloody starving.' Clint chuckled. 'And no offence, I'm grateful for the supplies and all, but energy bars and gels are getting a bit boring.'

'Next time we have a world ending battle I'll let you plan the battle food menu, how about it?' Tony smirked.

'I vote for those delicious pop tarts!' Thor joined in.

'Jesus go raid a Trader Joe's or something!'

Natasha's head still pounded just a little. She had no idea how much time had passed since she'd woken up in the medical tent and she knew she should be dead, not just concussed. She guessed it had been maybe 12 hours, perhaps more? The constant daylight façade produced by the Asgardian shield was quite frankly disorientating and she really wished she'd worn a watch. Was it Thursday, Friday… maybe even Saturday? This fight seemed to have lasted forever. It hardly mattered anyway. She didn't know it was possible for her body to hurt this much, and she'd pushed it before. Every fibre, every muscle, every joint, all the cuts, bruises and grazes sang her on skin every time she moved and if her adrenal gland had to produce anymore adrenaline, she feared it might explode. The fact she no longer felt mentally tired told her she'd gone well past the point of exhaustion and her body had just accepted its fate. When this finally ended and her body was allowed to sleep, she guessed she'd be comatose for a good 20 hours and she wasn't even fighting.

And then there was that; Usually she would be angry and frustrated about being kept out of the fight, but this time, she was glad. Clint had been right 12 months ago, she was a spy not a soldier and although she had been more than willing to jump into a war and fight for the very survival of their planet, she would rather be anywhere else but here.

Honestly, this whole thing was like some sort of sick and twisted nightmare. Just like the times where you are being chased but are running as though you were wading through treacle, the 5 had taken every small victory they'd had and then ramped up their attack like in levels of a never-ending videogame. Then there was Tony. He took everything they threw at him and threw it back twice as hard. Every problem, he solved, just like he always did, refusing to believe there was no solution. While the others marvelled at the CAEB's power and Tony's resolve however, Natasha looked beyond that and looked at him. And the truth was, Tony was struggling. The power was out in the city and yes, he may have found other sources but that was a far from ideal situation for him. She could almost tell in his body language every time he accidently channelled his own strength, it was like the very life drained out of him, he slumped a little further and took a little longer to bounce back. There was only so much the human mind and body could take, even one so remarkable as Tony Stark's and she worried. She was concerned how many more times Tony could do this, how much more he could take, and she could almost see the ticking clock above his head. He would run out of strength soon, there was no doubt. And Rhodey's death had hit him hard, written in the tension in his shoulders, the angry tremor in his hands and the blaze of wild emotion behind his eyes. There was going to be fall out from this, if they survived that is, and there already had been. The way Tony had dispatched with Edraskil had been about nothing but revenge, causing the being as much pain as he could. She didn't blame him, she'd have done the same in his position, but it had been rather terrifying.

She listened as the Team planned their assault. It was time to go after the creatures and she hoped and prayed that meant they were entering the final phases of this battle. If there were any more twists or setbacks she just might scream. That Zombie army really was the last straw. Her plan had been pretty damn good, but now it was thrown out in seconds as the dead started to come back to 'life'.

As the boys bickered about food, aware of her role she stalked around another building, being careful to avoid corpses littered on the streets. It seemed not all had risen yet, but the orange glow surrounding them told her that they would soon enough. She needed to be vigilant, but as she caught a glimpse of Steve, moving into position through the streets it became clear he'd not had the same thought. She looked on in horror as he marched along the asphalt, looking around for danger… but in all in the wrong places.

It happened to her in slow motion. The bodies behind Steve snapped to their feet silently. Natasha looked up, praying to see Tony, but he was gone already. She could hear frantic shouts through the comms in her head. They were already battling Urus. They were busy and Steve was in danger.

"Steve!" She yelled in warning. The soldier turned on his heels, but it was too late. It seemed the Asgardians retained their strength even after death. Steve didn't have time to raise his shield before he was hit in the face with a force Natasha could barely believe. The Asgardian fist collided with Steve's jaw and the soldier was thrown across the street like a ragdoll, slamming into the curb and laying still.

"Shit." Natasha didn't hesitate. She was running before Steve hit the ground. She knew she could do absolutely nothing against the Asgardian undead, but as more and more bodies rose in the street and Steve lay helpless, she knew if she didn't get him out of there, he was dead. She grabbed Steve's legs, bending them so his knees were up, and his feet planted on the floor, then she took his wrist and pulled. Steve's limp body lurched forward and upright. She used the momentum; bending at the hip she let his torso rest across her shoulders and threaded her arm between his legs. Then she bent her elbow, pulling his leg round the front of her neck and chest until she could grab his wrist with her hand. A fireman's carry. So designed that a person can carry someone much heavier than themselves, but even with Natasha's strength, her aching body protested as she strained to stand upright under Steve's weight. She let out a cry of effort as she took her first steps overcoming the inertia and breaking into a run. The army of the undead did not move slowly, there were tearing after her. She could see something streaking through the sky towards them, glistening and silver and knew that she just had to hang on for a few more seconds.

As she rounded the corner, struggling under Steve's weight pain exploded through her shoulder and she went spinning to the ground. She yelled out in pain and terror as she realised, she'd just run head on into another swarm of Asgardians. She was trapped and pinned under Steve who had fallen with her. She was helpless as she was wrenched from the concrete and launched into the air.

Everything went black.

….

They didn't waste time.

Tony spoke to a small faction of his new Makluhk army and sent them straight to the warehouse Natasha had pointed out, he could sense them now they were closer, and Natasha had been right, the 4 were inside.

He couldn't see the assault the Makluhk were waging, as he observed from above, but he could feel what was happening through the link. The side of the warehouse blasted outwards, rubble scattering in the street as orange energy rippled… Kairon. The strongest of the four was making mincemeat out of the Makluhk, but in doing so had forgotten his comrades. The Makluhk had done their job, Urus was being half herded, half dragged away whenever the Makluhk could get their teeth into them. Bringing the Asgardian's back from the dead had weakened these beast's, Tony could feel it. This was just the opportunity they needed. Urus and Ethusa were now separated but Vinam would not leave Kairon's side. She would have to wait, Tony realised aggrievedly. The Makluhk had played their part now it was time for Tony to play his.

'Thor, I need you to move 10 paces dead south please. You're on the wrong side.' Tony requested.

'Clear Stark.' Thor confirmed from the ground a moment later. The air flashed blue. Tony grunted and came into land besides the members of Operation: Fuck up the 4. He liked the name, he wasn't changing it.

"Stark, are you well?" Frigga asked in concern.

"Never better."

"Tony?" Thor challenged.

"Bit worse for wear." Tony admitted. "But aren't we all." He scoffed. "Would have been nice if we hadn't had that power cut."

"What are you drawing from currently?" Frigga asked, worriedly.

"Mainly the Makluhk, which isn't ideal so I'm not taking much. There aren't really any other sources which I haven't mostly drained at this point."

There was a resounding roar of anger which startled them, turning them in the direction of Kairon and Vinam who were only about 30 metres away.

"Oh look, big bad Kairon's just realised what we've done." Tony sighed.

"We should get to work Stark." Heimdall suggested and Tony flipped his face plate down in response. He was ready.

The flash of blue, had been a shield. Tony had used his own power to section the city within the Asgardian shield, separating Urus and Ethusa from each other and from Kairon and Vinam. They were trapped, isolated and unable to attack the Avenger's through the shield, but Tony had ensured that the good guys could move freely wherever they wanted. Now they could pick them off one by one without fear of a surprise attack.

"HULK SMASH URUS!" Were the words that brought Tony's thoughts back to the present. Hulk was clearly ready for some smashing time and although Thor looked about as exhausted as Tony felt, Sif, Frigga and Heimdall also looked ready for battle.

Urus, it turned out, was right behind them, but instead of attacking the figure turned and fled. Great. If Urus ran or tried to hide, this could go on forever and Tony hadn't the time or energy to mess around anymore. "Hulk, go bring him back here, it would be rude to turn down our invitation for smash time." Tony smirked and Hulk took off in one leap.

'Thor!' A pained and desperate cry came over the link.

'Fandral?' Thor answered. The warriors 3 were each in charge of battalion of Asgardian soldiers and although Thor thought it nice to hear the voice of one of his closest friends, under the circumstances it was far from comforting. 'What is wrong?' He asked, gravely.

'The undead… they cannot be killed. We are being slaughtered in droves. Each warrior they fell joins them, they will soon outnumber us. There is no beating them my Prince!'

'Stark!' Thor pleaded, turning to the Iron avenger for an answer.

'I heard.' Tony said, cogs visibly whirring in his head. Then suddenly there was a rush of air behind them that sent a shiver down his spine. The other's had clearly felt it to, as they turned to face what had caused it and it wasn't Hulk returning.

Behind them stood a sight that made their blood run cold. There was a gathering army stalking towards them, their bloodied, mutilated bodies crossing through the blue boundary which rippled in the air before them.

'Stark, I thought you said the enemy wouldn't be able to cross he boundary?' Sif exclaimed.

'They can't… they're not the enemy, well clearly they are, but the point is they weren't originally. They're Asgardian or from Vanaheim and I worked the shield mechanism on DNA.'

'That was a grave mistake.' Heimdall grunted.

'I know.' Tony held his tongue at the criticism and returned his focus to the threat. They were right, he was tired and making mistakes and as a result he'd led them into what was essentially a kill box.

His mind flashed back. "It's the kill box, Tony, okay? This is where you go to die." Rhodey… For a second, as he was hit with a wave of dark emotions, he felt something strange, something different yet familiar…

"Stark are you with us?" Frigga asked, a gentle hand on his shoulder. That's when he realized there was a tear running down his cheek.

"Yeah, yeah." He sniffed. Flipping down his face plate once again, shutting out any further questions.

There wasn't time for any more words. As the army rushed towards them a clash of swords, bright sparks of magic and blue blasts of energy rang out in the air. Just as Fandral had reported, the enemy would not fall. Heimdall ran a sword through an already impaled corpse and it carried on regardless. He watched as Sif took the head clean off one's shoulders and it still continued forward. It seemed only complete dismemberment, amputating both the arms and legs was all that had any effect.

Tony took a breath and tried to get attuned with their opponent. If the 4 had cause this, surely, he could stop it? If he could sever them from the 4's energy they would be as they were before… dead. He reached out with his power, trying to draw from the energy reanimating the fallen and then use it to sever the link, but it was too much. The power tied to the 4 was immense, he couldn't break it, not with any amount of channelling, but maybe if the 4 fell, then so would the undead. Until then the only effective method of defence was to obliterate them and for that, he would need energy.

Thankfully he knew just where to find it.

'Hulk, I don't care if you are having fun smashing Urus, we need you to get him back here.' Tony ordered.

'Hulk trying. Urus strong. Urus difficult.'

Tony growled. He could feel Hulk was as much receiving as much damage as he was inflicting currently, then something else coiled in his stomach… fear, pain, darkness. He couldn't pinpoint it; his power and senses were fading under the strain of the battering.

'Thor, you said a Midgardian was to help us coordinate our attack.'

'A little busy Volstag!' Thor yelled.

'I can imagine, but he has not arrived with us, I believe he may need aid.'

"Stark?" Thor asked strained, nearly losing his footing under a wall of the undead before Tony blasted them off him, giving him vital seconds of reprieve.

"I can't sense them." Tony growled as he disintegrated the first row of Asgardian undead in a flash of blue and staggered. He couldn't take much more strength from the Makluhk, he had no nearby power sources to reach…

"We cannot hold them much longer." Thor grunted as Mjolnir levelled another drove, only for them to stand straight back up. Thor was right. What they were doing wasn't enough. He wasn't enough, not right now anyway. Tony knew that. "Can you take out more in that manner?"

'Tony, where are Steve and Natasha? I lost sight of them, there are undead everywhere.' Clint demanded.

'I don't know Clint, a little busy right now.' Tony gritted his teeth and blasted another row of the undead, growling at the lack of available energy to channel. If he continued at this rate, they would be free in half an hour. Half an hour in which someone would probably end up dead and they could have spent killing the 4.

'Tony are they alive!' Clint screamed.

'I don't know!'

'How do you not know?'

Red ran down Tony's face, he couldn't stand much longer but thankfully Thor was pissed. Lightning lit up the sky and burnt the hoard of his former comrades into dust. Tony wasn't sure why he hadn't done that earlier, but he was damn glad of it. He tried to reach out to Steve and Natasha, but it was like he was cut off, all he knew was that breathing was difficult and he wanted fresh air so the faceplate was lifted again.

"Stark… you are not well." Thor stated more than asked, noting the fresh nose bleed and his pale skin.

"I'm fine." Tony growled attempting to rub the blood off his face.

There was an almighty thud and clatter in the corner of the street as a ball of battered armour hit the ground hard. Tony spun round on his heels.

Urus.

Hulk landed next to Tony with another thud that made Tony stumble and lose his footing as the ground shuddered.

"Hulk bring Urus."

"Shit." Tony hissed. "Thanks, big guy. You did good." He murmured. It wasn't Hulk's fault things had gone to pieces yet again… His timing couldn't have been more off. Tony wasn't ready to fight Urus, not in this state and looking ta the figure clambering to its feet, battered armour or not, the beast looked fighting fit and incredibly pissed off.

"Stark, have you a plan?" Thor asked.

"He needs to rest." Frigga urged.

"You guys mash him, attack at will, when I can see straight, I'll drain his and use the energy to thin out the undead heard."

"I like that plan." Heimdall nodded in approval, then wasted no time launching himself into the battle, golden armour moving around the figure of Urus balletically as he and Thor began their assault.

…..

They were trapped. Even more so than before. They were trapped, vulnerable from raising the dead and separated from each other after millennia of being unable to be apart. This was far from what Kairon had envisaged when he had been plotting their great escape from imprisonment. When they won this, he would appreciate it all the more. The greatest triumph really would come from a greater struggle. It was a shame that Earth would not experience the same.

Urus and Ethusa were terrified, they were focusing their assault whole heartedly on the barriers between them and then the Asgardian shield. But there was no escape. Kairon could sense the power of that troublesome human reinforcing the Asgardian technology as well as creating these irksome barriers. Even Vinam beside him was rather ill at ease; his own faith was shaken and he was starting to wonder whether they would triumph at all.

Hope… a word Kairon hated. Hope meant that plans had failed. Hope and luck were not things he allowed room for, but now it was all they were left with. They had to hope that the undead army they had raised would be enough to finish this battle. They would have to end Earth's resistance and quickly, else, he feared, Stark would end them first.

…..

Tony hit the ground again. Thor went slammed into an HGV trailer and disappeared. Tony's head was buzzing too much to tell but he had a feeling Pointbreak wasn't getting up this time. Thor was as protective of his family as Tony had tried to be, had faced Urus head on, sacrificing himself to minimise the risk to the rest of them. It was demoralising and debilitating to see Thor, who had so easily cut through every enemy he had faced before this, get struck down like a toy discarded by a child. The only reason one of them wasn't dead already, was because of him, taking the brunt of the attack. And they were all injured. Hulk was bleeding, badly, His entire side torn up and burnt from an energy blast that had hit him at close range. Heimdall was more dragging his left leg than walking, Sif was currently trying to gather herself to her feet whilst clutching the wound in her side and Frigga, usually without a hair out of place, was ragged, tired and probably had broken ribs.

And Tony had nothing left to give. The world was spinning, he could feel the strain of holding up the shields, reinforcing the Asgardian defences, maintaining the link and trying to aid in this fight… He was carrying the weight of the city and any second it was going to crush him. He tried to gather himself to his feet, but his body had other ideas. He allowed himself to fall to the ground. He was too tired. Hadn't he done enough? Every fibre hurt, his body was betraying him, and the ground was so cool in the summer heat, so comforting and inviting. He let his eyes close.

"No Stark." Frigga hauled him into a sitting position and shook him into awareness.

"I can't." Tony sighed. And he meant it. Rhodey was gone. He wasn't strong enough. He'd failed. He couldn't do this without his best friend and there was little point trying.

"You must." Frigga insisted, her eyes boring into him, conveying everything she wanted to say, everything he needed to hear, without saying a word. He shook himself. This wasn't about him, this was about the whole damn planet. Yes, Rhodey was gone, but for crying out loud Frigga was stood right here, her son was wounded, perhaps gravely. Tony still hadn't seen the demi-God get up and if he was worried, Frigga would be terrified. But she was still here. She was still fighting. For God's sake Pepper was still out there, relying on him to stop this and keep her safe. All those people, helpless, and defenceless they were all relying on him. He couldn't let them down. He couldn't give up now, for once in his life he had to be selfless.

"Drop one of the shields Stark." Frigga said, knocking him out of his thoughts.

"What?"

"You are not channelling energy correctly." She said, more worried than scolding.

"I know, but I'll kill the Makluhk if I take anymore." Tony protested.

"Then drop a shield." She said calmly.

"We can't face all of these guys at once." Tony argued.

"Not all, just two." Frigga reminded him. She wanted him to drop one shield, the one separating Urus and Ethusa. It would mean they were open to attack from both beasts at once. "They are weakened but give them any more time and they will regain their strength. You have us all, you can do this. We can do this."

Tony considered, but realised quickly that this was the only chance they had. He couldn't fight with the strain of maintaining all this shieling. Drop one he'd have more energy to spare on the fight… maybe even enough to drain Ethusa and Urus the way he did Edraskil and then scatter them to atoms.

"OK." He nodded. 'Heads up guys, we're going to be facing two in T-30seconds.' Tony said to the remaining member of Operation: Fuck up the four, who were just out of earshot. Accepting Frigga's help to stand on his shaking legs giving Urus a swift blast, sending him careering through several layers of concrete with his newfound energy.

'Two! Stark, we are barely surviving the one.' Sif protested.

'Trust me Sif, this is for the best.' Frigga spoke softly.

'Of course, your majesty. You have my trust… you both have my trust.'

"No pressure then." Tony muttered.

There was a desperate groan bordering on a whine from the crumpled HGV. It was a sound he never thought he'd hear the Asgardian Prince make. Heimdall and Frigga were by his side in an instant, helping haul Thor's near-limp and battered body out of the wreckage, soothing him as he cried out in pain. Urus took that moment to emerge from the hole Tony had thrown him through. With Thor clear, Tony wasted no time launching what was left of the HGV at the beast, throwing up a shield with a shaking hand to trap him in the corner, giving them a precious few seconds.

"Thor?" Tony asked, not well concealing the fear from his voice. The demi-God was in very bad shape, draped across the shoulders of Heimdall and his Mother.

"I will live Stark." Thor assured, but Tony wasn't convinced. Thor wasn't holding any of his own weight; his skin was pale, too pale and blood was trickling at an alarming rate and pooling on the concrete beneath his feet. Frigga was fussing over him, no doubt easing his pain with her magic.

"Can you heal him?" Sif asked quietly. Tony thought seriously. The technical answer was Yes, but if he did, he would almost certainly pass out, if he didn't kill himself. Healing an Asgardian was far harder than a human, and with nothing substantial to channel it was a bad idea. He would leave the others alone against not one, but two of the 4. They would certainly die. On the other hand, he'd seen that look in a person before. The glaze in Thor's eyes, the weak smile, the knowing face… It looked like Yinsen had just before he died. The reality hit him like a truck. Thor, God of Thunder, Prince of Asgard and the nine realms might actually die, right here.

"No. I really can't, if I could…" Tony desperately.

"I know." She nodded firmly.

"We need to get him out of here." He said to Sif. "We need to end this now!" He announced more loudly so that everyone could hear.

"Just drain Urus, steal his power Stark." Thor grunted, ignoring Frigga's attempts to shush him. "Like you did with Edraskil."

"It's not that simple, there is an energy barrier to overcome for me to do that and it's a big one, I don't have enough power, if I channel any more from the Makluhk I will be sentencing the allied forces to death against the undead."

"Take my strength." Heimdall offers.

"I can't do that."

"I have power in my sight Stark, you won't take it all, I trust you on that and once you defeat Ethusa, I will recover in time and there will be little left to fight."

This was a dangerous move. He had never channelled a single being to this level before, not without deliberately disintegrating them. It would take nearly all of Heimdall's energy to gain the power he needed. If he misjudged this even slightly, Heimdall would die a horrible death.

"I trust you Stark." Heimdall said sincerely. "And even if you should make an error, I am willing to give my life to this cause."

"I…"

"Stark, this is the best chance for my Prince, for my people still fighting and for your planet. Take it." Heimdall's eyes conveyed his sincerity and Tony's his gratitude in return.

"Ok. Tony conceded, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

"Frigga, who is your best medic?" Tony asked, placing a hand at the centre of Thor's chest.

"Ingrid and Halla, I will help you find them." Frigga swiftly connected with Tony's mind, sending an image which Tony located. He opened his eyes, ears ringing and head pounding. He couldn't keep this up... screw that he had to. He was still standing, unlike some. In a flash of blue Thor was teleported to safety. But as usual there was no time to waste with rest.

Tony turned to Heimdall. "Brace yourself." He warned, and Heimdall gave a nod to show he was ready. The other's stepped back.

The timing couldn't have been better. As Tony started to drain Heimdall Ethusa rounded the corner. It seemed Hulk, bored of their conversation had taken it upon himself to round him up as he had Urus. Tony dropped the shield holding Urus, who broke free angrily, but neither managed to take another step. The moment Tony felt he had channelled enough energy, he released Heimdall and grasped onto Ethusa. The Navy clad beast shuddered and grasped at his chest as the very life was torn from him. Urus rushed forward to help but was too late. Tony had in that moment drained enough energy from Ethusa to break the energy barrier once more and latch on to Urus as well. The two were frozen, helpless, as with every passing second Tony's strength and power grew. In the end, it was rather anticlimactic. A sharp flash of blue and Ethusa and Urus were nothing but dust.

The burning was back, excess energy that needed he needed to be rid of and he didn't want a repeat of before. This time he'd been ready, he'd found a way to dispel the energy before he's acted but Tony wasn't going to waste it on another pointless obliteration, no, he would need the energy again later. There was a factory that manufactured large industrial Capacitors just a few miles south, charging them would leave him a store of energy to channel when he required it. With a breath he released it. The pain subsided, yet he was still exhausted.

"Heimdall?" Tony asked, as he turned. The Golden armoured warrior was laying prone, being rolled over Frigga while Sif held the weight of the fading Prince.

"Get him to the medics." Tony nodded to both of them and Frigga looked at him, a question on her lips.

"My son?"

"I'm sorry Frigga, he's alive but that's all I can say. It's like trying to see the bottom of a lake when the water's filled with silt."

"I understand and thank you, that is all I needed to hear."

"But we can't leave you alone Stark, we still have 2 beasts to slay." Sif protested.

"Hulk Smash!" God they really needed to expand his vocabulary.

"Go." Tony said, his voice so finite that there was no mistaking what he meant. Sif and Frigga looked at him, too many emotions running through their eyes to be discernible individually.

"Good luck Stark." Sif said with a nod of respect.

"Farewell Tony."

"Thank you."

And with that the two Asgardian women lifted Heimdall and proceeded to carry him away.

Consciousness was not a welcome thing for Steve. With it came pain both dull and aching and sharp and stabbing all across his skull, simultaneously. He tried to lift his head but instantly regretted it. The jolt of pain through his neck made him lay his head back down swiftly. He knew whiplash when he felt it, and this was certainly the worst case he's ever had. He saw a blurred shape approach him as his vision slowly refocused, the bright light was like a knife to his eyes and his headache grow from splitting to searing pain. He closed his eyes and groaned.

"You are lucky to be alive." A male voice, a Doctor no doubt said above him. Steve gingerly tried to open his eyes once more and this time was successful enough to learn they were in the medical tent.

"How did I get here?"

"You were brought here by an iron legion soldier." Came the simple reply.

The memories started to come back into Steve's throbbing skull. Tony had been going to separate the 4 and pick them off on eat a time. Steve had been heading to join the allied forces and help them coordinate when… the undead… Natasha! Natasha had called to warn him…

"Is my friend here? The redhaired woman?" Steve asked urgently, worry spiking in his chest.

"Yes, she is, she too was carried by the iron legion solider." The Doctor said solemnly. The way he spoked the words made Steve's heart drop into his stomach.

"And?" Steve demanded.

"Her condition is grave. I am not sure what we can do for her, but we will do everything."

Steve could hear his heart thumping in his chest. Natasha had no doubt saved his unconscious ass, she'd run into danger for him and now… well she could well still die for him if the look on that Doctor's face was anything to go by.

"And you yourself are in no fit state to fight. Your concussion is too severe and you fractured your neck in 3 places. We have been able to fix most of the damage, but you will still need time to recover."

He'd fractured his neck? Steve made a gentle attempt to sit up, cradling his neck to take the weight of his head while he did so. The advantages of Asgardian medicine and his own super healing were already making themselves present. Slowly but surely the pain was subsiding. He's be ok in a few hours, give or take.

"What's going on out there?"

"Reports suggest another 2 of the 4 have fallen, but the Prince Thor had fallen also, he arrived in medical not long ago. Heimdall is also in a grave state but should recover well."

Tony had done it… he'd killed two more, but Thor and Heimdall, two of the strongest of them all had paid the price. Things must be carnage out there. Tony's backup was down to 2, they needed him.

"Where are you going? You need to stay here and rest!" The Doctor called futility as Steve gingerly got to his feet and located his shield.

"I can't just lay here while my friends are dying… I have to do something."

And with that he turned and ran.

…..

The allied forces were falling. So were the Makluhk. In fact, there were very few Makluhk left, he realised gravely. He was essentially causing the extinction of a species. Thor, Heimdall and Natasha were down, he could no longer tell if they were alive or dead. He was tired beyond what he had ever felt before, his senses scattered. The link between them fluctuated along with his waning strength. He was reaching the end of his endurance and if he waited any longer the casualties would be astronomical.

The enemy couldn't be killed unless he took out the remaining 2 abominations. The only way for them to win this was for Tony to end it now. Kairon had to die and his army had to be obliterated.

He closed his eyes for a moment, held high above the city by his thrusters, and focused on what was to come. Everything fell away into silence as he explored an avenue of his power he had never truly embraced before. The visions were not solely involuntary, they could be controlled, just like all his other powers, it just took a little practice. But by now everything the CAEB was, was second nature, it wasn't something he controlled, like a computer or a machine, it was as much a part of him as his limbs. He told it what to do and it obeyed. When he opened his eyes, he knew what he had to do. The path was clear. He smiled in relief.

Now he knew. He knew how this was going to end. He knew what he had to do.

….

Clint looked around and blinked in confusion. He'd been on a roof, in downtown Manhattan and now… He looked around to try and gain a sense of where he was when he saw Steve.

"Clint?" The soldier asked, surprise evident in his face.

"Steve, thank God, you're ok." The Archer sighed, running forward and embracing the soldier. "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Steve asked, confused.

"You get transported here? Was it Tony?" Clint asked, and Steve looked clueless.

"I don't know, The iron legion suit, it brought me and Natasha here to medical."

"Natasha!" Clint exclaimed. "Is she ok?"

"I don't know Clint; the medics took her its bad." Steve said solemnly. "If it wasn't for her, I'd be dead."

Clint rubbed his face in anguish, trying hard not to scream at the sky.

"What's going on Clint?"

"I'm not sure… I was in the middle of the city one minute the next I was just here."

Looking around Clint realised that as Steve ha said, they were near the medical tents on the edge of the city. There was a grumbling roar as Hulk pounded his fist against a shield of blue… blue.

'Tony, what are you doing?' Clint gasped. The whole centre of Manhattan was engulfed by a dome of shimmering blue and slowly but surely as Steve and Clint watched more and more people arrive in small flashes of blue, Asgardians, Vanaheimians, even Makluhk they realised. Tony was isolating them from the enemy.

"Tony!" Clint yelled, running up to the shield and banging on it as hard as it could. It was a strange sensation, it wasn't hard like hitting a wall, but it didn't seem to bend under his fists either. It just tingled, sending the odd sensation all the way up his arms and into his chest. "Tony! What are you doing?" He yelled.

Steve came up along side Clint and realised what the archer was yelling about. Just the other side of the shield they could see Tony, obscured by the shimmering blue, and not 30 feet in front of him were the remaining two figures, Vinam and Kairon himself. It was clear. Tony intended to end this, now. He intended to face them and the undead army alone, he was willing to die.

'Tony please talk to us.' Steve pleaded, taking his turn to bash his fist against the unyielding barrier.

'It's ok guy's I've got a plan.' Came the reply. Tony's voice was calm and resigned, so calm it was as if he was trying to soothe them, but it only served to make Steve grow more distressed.

'What plan? Tony! What plan!' Clint yelled.

'I know what I have to do, this is the only way.'

'No Tony, don't be stupid let us help.' Steve countered.

'There's nothing you can do guys.'

'Tony stop! Let us in let-down the shield…' Clint pleaded.

'We always knew this was how it was going to end.' Tony reminded them. 'Just trust me. I will be ok.'

'No, just stop it! You don't have to be a damn martyr! There's always another way.' Clint yelled, each word accentuated with another punch to the barrier holding him back.

But then Tony severed the link. They all felt it. Tony couldn't hear them anymore and they couldn't hear him. This was hard enough without having to feel their worry and anguish. Tony Stark didn't want to die, but this was the only way.

'Goodbye Pepper. I love you.'

He didn't wait to hear a reply. He couldn't bare to hear it. There was no going back now. He could feel Kairon and Vinam approaching. He started to strip his armour. It was battered, scorched and twisted, caked in blood and dust; it had served its purpose. It wouldn't be able to help him anymore and it felt nice to feel the air on his skin again. The weight off his shoulders was freeing as he took a deep and painful breath. One thing he did need was the exoskeleton, he imagined it wouldn't make much of a difference, but with the enemy he was facing he would need every scrap of advantage he could find.

He started walking forwards. The figures of Kairon and Vinam were now visible in the street in front of him. He knew these were likely the last steps he would ever take, the most important steps of his life. But he was ready. Every moment of struggle and of pain, of suffering and of anguish and of joy… this was what his life had led to.

And it all came down to this…

…..

Electricity crackled in the air. He could almost taste it. His heart beat heavy in his chest. He could hear his breaths, slow and controlled. The air tickled his chest as it left his nose in a long steady flow. He was strangely calm and despite the aching of every fiber of his body. The burning in his diaphragm with each breathe, the led weight in his stomach, and the searing in his throat as his eyes locked onto the pile of armor he'd left behind, all meant very little to him. The thin fabric of his under-armor allowed his skin to breath in the warm summer air. The chill of his drying sweat, and blood brought a welcome shiver.

Filled with purpose he ignored the hairs that stood to attention all over his skin. His muscles howled with adrenaline that coursed through them as he strode forward. Rubble crunched beneath his feet. His breathing quickened. He knew where this would end, but he knew what he had to do.

He looked up for the last time, glancing at the flames that had been flickering in his peripheral. He searched for a familiar face, but there was none to be found. He was too far from the shield now. He wished he didn't have to do this alone, but the others were safe. All there was for Tony, was ash, dancing flames and the taste of smoke. Shattered concrete and twisted metal were strewn over the scorched ground and everywhere, Blood.

The sounds were muffled. Explosions in near distance, the scream of undead voices and the terror of city prickled across his skin, diluted by his own.

Focus.

Then there was a face.

Kairon.

Everything was playing out as planned. The events that had tortured his nightmares for the last 12 months were coming to pass, but they'd already changed things. Were there had been 5 figures to face before, now there were 2. Edraskil, Ethusa and Urus were gone. Clint and Steve were still alive… Natasha and Thor, he didn't know, he could only hope. But despite all his efforts there had been casualties and heavy ones at that. But that didn't mean he had failed, and he wasn't going to now. They were the avengers after all, and he had someone very, very special to avenge.

"You are proving very hard to kill." Kairon spoke. His words different to what they had been in his dream, but the two of them were hardly meeting for the first time. Staring into the face of charred skin and mangled flesh Tony realized he knew it almost as well as his own. They were old friends at this point, the same couldn't be said for the female figure behind him.

Tony simply raised an eyebrow in response. He was too tired to be witty, he wanted this over, enough blood had been spilled today, enough of his friends had been hurt or… Rhodey. They would pay for that, they would both pay. He felt the anger start to sizzle under his skin as images of Rhodey filled his head.

"You should have left you armor on if you were to face us Human." Kairon growled. "It would have not saved you, nor will your unexpected powers, but perhaps you would have survived long enough to earn the respect of your planet. Before it burns that is."

Tony didn't respond. He just stood firm. A thick drop of blood slid down his face as the effort of holding up the shield with the city's power out burned inside him. He was drawing strength now from the Makluhk, from his friends, from the people safe behind the Asgardian Shield. He didn't take enough to harm them… well not enough to harm anything other than the Makluhk. They knew they were unable to get home and they didn't want to live on this strange world. It was their sacrifice. Alongside Tony, their strength would help them defeat the enemy that had enslaved them so cruelly. He hoped they would be remembered as something other than beasts. It was a shame he wouldn't be able to live to ensure it.

"Before you join your friends in death, tell me… How did a human gain the means to spy on us half way across the universe? What is the source of your strange power?"

"You keep calling me human." Tony chuckled. "I've not been human for nearly a year." Tony said simply.

"You're not Asgardian." Kairon stated, intrigued.

"No, I'm not."

"Then what are you?" The second figure asked in amusement.

"The one who's going to end you."

Kairon chuckled in amusement. "You are powerful, yes. You and your comrades succeeded in killing Edraskil, Urus and Ethusa, but you will soon realize we are not so easily killed."

"You still haven't figured it out have you? It's not like I've been subtle." Tony scoffed.

"What are you talking about?" Vinam demanded.

"I am going to be the one who ends you, because I am the one thing you fear. You should have killed me in that cave when I first found you. You should have killed instead of toying with me when you held me by the throat. You should have killed me any chance you've had because now I'm going to kill you both and obliterate your undead army with you. You've hurt my friends, killed my best friend, you tried to kill everyone we ever saved, and you are trying to take this planet, but you are not going to."

"Because you are going to stop us?" Kairon asked, a little less amused, a little more… nervously.

"Yes."

Vinam laughed, but Kairon remained stoic. "You say you are the one thing we fear, but we fear nothing." He said adamantly.

"You know that's not true." Tony smiled. The Earth started to shake. Vinam looked to Kairon nervously. Tony's eyes glowed blue; He couldn't see it, but he knew. He could feel the power coursing through him.

"This isn't possible!" Kairon yelled.

"Oh Honey." Tony tutted, something slid down over his face. More blood he presumed, but it didn't matter now. "I'm afraid it's very possible."

"The CAEB!" Kairon roared in anger and took a step back. He could feel the terror, the shock and betrayal rolling off them in waves. He was glad these were the last things they would feel, the same things every one of their victims would have felt.

"In the flesh." Tony smirked. It was time. "And now I'm going to burn yours." As ran forwards to attack, he felt a feeling he'd felt once before. The same feeling that had started him on this horrific path. He wasn't fighting to survive this. He wanted to, but it wasn't the way it was supposed to be. This was his last fight, so he'd better make it count. He'd already changed the future.

Now it was time to fix it.

He smiled. It was time.

…..

And… that's it, until next time guy's. Cliff-hanger Queen over here I'm sorry. Let's see how this rollercoaster will end.