Chapter 11: Home at Last

Pepper and Happy were in the kitchen filling the saucers with food for Tony's Pokémon. One saucer had screws and bolts for Claw, a computer was imputed with code for Z and Nine was served mineral water and Pokémon food. Nine was still on the doorstep waiting for Tony to arrive to Pepper and Happy's sadness. Its been three months and they haven't been able to find Tony.

Rhodey calls them every now and then to give them updates on his search, the most interesting call was when he told them that he recently caught a wild Charizard. Rhodey told them a story about how during a routine search he stumbled upon a group of poachers trying to knock out their stolen Charizard with taser guns. He and Scizor fought the poachers and their Pokémon and successfully recovered the dragon. The Charizard was grateful for Rhodey saving his life so he decided to accompany him and Scizor on their journey. Eventually Rhodey claimed Charizard and nicknamed him Charlie after making sure he was willing to be his partner.

Pepper was outside petting Eddie with Diana in the pool overlooking the beautiful sunrise across the ocean when she got a call. She looked at the screen and saw Rhodey's name for the first time in two weeks.

Pepper answered the phone, "Hey Rhodey what's up?"

"We found him" Rhodey said immediately.

Pepper felt cold in her veins as she couldn't comprehend what Rhodey just said, "Yo-You found him? You found Tony?"

"Yeah" Pepper gasped and felt tears down her cheeks which made Eddie and Diana concerned.

Pepper sniffed back tears, "Is he okay?"

"He's fine, his arm's broken and he has some bruises but otherwise he's in one piece."

"When's he coming home?"

"This afternoon were flying back right now I thought you should be the first to know. Do you want to talk to him?"

"Yeah" She heard shuffling on the other end and a familiar voice nearly tore her up inside.

"Miss me Ms. Potts?" Tony said in his usual sarcastic voice.

"Hardly I was getting used to not hearing your annoying voice." Pepper said in an attempt to make it seem that she didn't miss Tony.

"Well sorry to disappoint but your gonna be hearing my voice more than ever in the future…How's Nine? How are the others?" Tony asked unusually serious.

"She's outside of your door waiting for you to come home."

"She's been waiting for me for three months. Wow and I thought the fangirls were hardcore and what about Claw? Z?"

"Their fine they've missed you especially Z, he whined all day when they told us you went missing."

"I'll give him some new codes to make up for it." Pepper heard shaking in the background and felt worried.

"Tony! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine just hit a little bit of turbulence. Right well I should go the pilot say's we can't talk on the phone for long so I'll see you at around 4 okay?"

"Okay I'll get Happy and the others to come too."

"Great see you soon."

"Bye" Pepper hung up and sobbed quietly with Eddie wrapping himself around her ankles and Diana standing next to her with comforting eyes, "I'm okay guys its just…Tony's alive."

Pepper went to the front of the door to tell Nine, "Nine Rhodey just called, they found Tony he's alive, he's coming home." Nine looked up shocked and jumped around screeching happily to Pepper's amusement.


Pepper and Nine stood nervously at the airstrip praying that this wasn't some sick trick from God or Arceus. A giant military aircraft slowly opened its large doors to reveal Tony and Rhodey inside to Nine and Peppers delight. A Riolu was being carried away on a stretcher no doubt to the Pokémon Center. Rhodey helped Tony down the steep walkway and Nine ran up to him in excitement. She wagged all her tails when she was in front of Tony who smiled at her and affectionately petted her while they walked the rest of the way towards Pepper whose eyes were visibly red and puffy from crying.

"Your eyes are red. A few tears for your long-lost boss?" Tony amusingly said.

"Tears of joy. I hate job hunting." Pepper said not wanting to be vulnerable in front of her dearly missed boss.

"Yeah, vacations over." The three of them went inside the car with Happy driving. Nine was in the middle seat with her head on her masters lap.

"Where to, sir?" Happy asked with Sunny on the passenger seat.

"Take us to the hospital, please, Happy."

"No." Tony said to Nine and Pepper's shock.

"No? Tony, you have to go to the hospital."

"Nine" Nine nodded her head.

"No is a complete answer." Tony was stubborn.

"The doctor has to look at you."

"I don't have to do anything. I've been in captivity for three months. There are two things I want to do. I want an American cheeseburger, and the other..." Nine sweat dropped at the innuendo

"That's enough of that."

"...is not what you think. I want you to call for a press conference now." Nine's lifted her head curious at her master wanting to talk to a group of reporters immediately after he was rescued.

"Call for a press conference?" Pepper asked shocked

"Yeah."

"What on earth for?"

"Hogan, drive. Cheeseburger first" Since Happy was technically on Tony's payroll he was inclined to take his orders as he drove with Nine and Pepper confused on what Tony plans to tell the press.


After the press conference Tony stood at the Pokémon Center in Los Angeles hoping to find Rani. After they landed Rani was taken away on a stretcher no doubt exhausted from the desert and being held captive for three months. Nine walked along side him still reeling from the shock of Tony closing the weapons division down. Claw and Z were back at the mansion waiting for Tony. Nine was curious on what they were doing there and gave a questioning look at Tony who gave an answer.

"Were here to see an old friend, it wont take long…hopefully."

Tony and Nine looked through the glass windows seeing countless Pikachu's, Eevee's, and the standard starter Pokémon's ten year old's are given, he stopped in his tracks when he saw Rani sitting up on a hospital bed while being tended to by a nurse and her Audino. He felt a tap on his shoulder turned around and saw a man in a lab coat standing in front of him.

"Hello I'm Dr. Jenkins I'm head of the research lab here at the center, can I just say it is an honor to meet you Mr. Stark."

"Call me Tony Mr. Stark makes it sound too official."

"What can I do for you Tony?"

Tony turned his attention to Rani who noticed him on the other side but stayed cool as a cucumber to not appear overexcited, "I'm here to see a friend."

"Of course the officers who brought it in said that you two were found together in Afghanistan."

"She" Tony corrected.

"Sorry?"

"She's a she not an "it" can't you tell?" Tony said to the confused doctor.

"Not as much as you can but thank you for informing me."

"How is she?" Tony asked.

"She's doing just fine, despite the…circumstances she's very healthy and there's no visible or internal injuries that we weren't able to treat."

"Good so what happens to her now?" Tony wanted to know what their usual procedure was for treating a rare Pokémon like Riolu.

"Well we keep her under observation for the next few days make sure that she gets all the nutrients she needs and afterwards I will take her to my lab to do research on her kind."

Tony frowned upon this after everything Rani went through the last thing she needed was to be under a microscope, "So you plan to use her as a lab Rattata?"

"I assure you Mr- Tony that I will treat her well as I've done with other Pokémon. I don't see an opportunity like this happening again so from a scientist's point of view I ask that you understand where I'm coming from."

"I understand Dr. Jenkins but I also ask that you understand that that creature in there has been through more in her short life than a normal person faces in one lifetime and that being confined in a lab isn't the way to move forward. I didn't come here just to see Rani I also came here to take her to my house where she will live." Nine snapped her head up at yet another one of Tony's life changing decisions, whatever happened to him in Afghanistan clearly changed him Nine hopes it was for the best.

Dr. Jenkins jaw dropped from shock, "Um I admire you wanting to give…Rani a good home but seeing as she not officially your Pokémon-"

"Sure she is." Tony pulled out a miniature great ball from his pocket aside from the miniature arc reactor it's the one thing from Afghanistan he brought back, "See this is her Pokéball and by law that makes me her master and not you."

The doctor still not convinced crossed his arm, "Prove it."

"Follow me" Tony held the door for the doctor and they all entered Rani's room to the nurse's and her Audino's confusion.

"Excuse me you can't just barge in here without an appointment." The nurse scolded.

"Audino!" the Audino was equally annoyed.

"It's all right Tina he's with me." Jenkins explained.

Tony approached the bed where Rani was sitting up, "You feeling all right?"

"Rio" Rani nodded she looked at the beige fox who curtly nodded at the pre evolved Pokémon.

"Good cause I need to do something before we get out of here." Tony pressed the button and pointed the great ball at Rani who stood still and confused, "Return!" The red light surrounded Rani and she stayed inside the ball for a few moments without any signs of resistance.

The doctor sighed, "Okay I believe you; you can let her out now." Tony threw the ball in the air and Rani appeared on the bed again and yipped. "We should discuss this outside."

Tony agreed, "Good idea." He turned towards the nurse, her Audino and Rani, "Ladies." He and the doctor walked outside and sat opposite each other in the visitors lounge while Nine was sitting on the floor next to Tony.

Tony looked at the doctor who seemed disappointed at being denied the chance to observe a rare and foreign Pokémon, "I'm sorry to take her away from you doc but I've been with her in a cave for three months so I think that gives me an idea of what's good for her."

"You were held prisoner with her for the past few months?" No one knows all the details except that Tony and Rani were found in the desert together.

"…Yeah along with another man." Nine was confused.

The doctor was curious, "But only the two of you were found what happened…" Tony replied with a sad look in his eyes that told Nine that the men died during that time and doctor nodded respectfully, "I see."

"Before it happened, I made him a promise that I would take care of Rani and I intend to keep it." Nine was shocked at seeing how much her friend had changed after a few months and felt sad that he probably had to witness his fellow hostage being killed.

"I can see why you want to take her home you care for her very much and want to honor your friend. I understand your need to take care of Rani so I will allow you to take her to your home."

Tony stood up ready to leave, "Thanks doc."

The doctor stood up as well, "On one condition." Tony silently cursed as well as Nine who wanted to take her master back home to rest, "I still very much want to do research on her species and seeing as how I can't do it in my lab I propose that I stop by every now and then for observation."

Tony thought this out for a moments, "All right I can live with that just don't try and steal anything."

The man chuckled, "I won't" they shook hands in agreement.


Rani entered the lavish Malibu mansion with her eyes wandering over the beautiful building.

"Welcome home sir." A voice suddenly said Rani looked around but didn't find the man who spoke.

"That's Jarvis he's an AI I built." Rani looked up at Tony cocking her head in question.

"AI stand for artificial intelligence, its like a computer but with a mind of its own, Jarvis stand for Just A Rather Very Intelligent System." Rani narrowed her eyes at the silly acronym, "Don't look at me like that like you would've come up with a better name." Nine was personally glad to have another woman in the house who wasn't there just for one night or because she was paid to be there.

A floating shape appeared out of nowhere and circled Tony happily who petted him affectionately, "This is Z I made him down in the basement." Rani choose to ignore that last statement and simply stared at the unique Pokémon, "Z meet Rani the newest addition to the family." Z was happy at having another sibling as he circled around the confused baby Pokémon.

A computer voice came out of him, "I'm so pleased to meet you I've always wanted a little sister!" A large metal monster came to the living room to Rani's fright who hid behind Nine.

"What is that thing?" Rani asked.

"That's Claw, he looks scary on the outside but he won't hurt you." Nine explained to a still scared Rani, "Go up to him and say hi." Nine nudged Rani forward who took a step forward in front of Claw.

She looked up at the metal Pokémon and timidly said, "He-hello I'm Rani"

"I'm Claw are you our newest housemate?" Rani nodded, "Then welcome home! Do you want to take a ride on top of my head?" Tony stood back and observed what was going on.

"Are you sure? Won't I be too heavy for you?" Rani was shocked at how welcoming this monstrous looking Pokémon was.

"Not at all I once lifted an 18-wheeler on my head without breaking an oil so I think I can carry you." Rani mentally shrugged and tentatively climbed on top of the iron Pokémon's head, she found it to be strangely comfortable.

Tony finally said something, "Okay now that the introductions are out of the way how about we show our newest member to her room." They all nodded with Rani for the first time in months starting to feel safe and at home.


AN: Sorry for the delay guys I hope that this makes up for it. I decided to call Z and Claw him and he cuz it was getting a bit boring hope you guys enjoy! R&R