Chapter Five

1993-1994

After being reunited with his mother, Tony continued to visit her off and on, sneaking out from under Obadiah's keen eyes and careful care. He listened as she told him of how the war between her and his aunt was heating up and watched with a heavy heart as his son's infatuation with the red queen drew him further and further away from them. Pepper watched it as well, holding her prince late at night when he sobbed and raged against her brother's impending fate.

Their only distractions from the pain came in the form of Rhodey and another Human that had wormed his way into the young prince's heart named Harold Hogan, who they affectionately called Happy. The human, who had been Tony's driver since he'd taken over SI, had endeared himself to the prince after he had found Tony during a fainting spell and took care of him, even going so far as to risk his job by telling off Obadiah, something few had ever done for him.

Both humans could tell that something was up with their friend but he refused to tell them what it was and no amount of pushing would get him to tell them.

A year passed and the war worsened. He tried to help his mother best he could, even going so far as to by Cinq Fleches, training the Schiff after they broke away from Anshel, enhancing them with his blood to immunize them to Saya's. He grew weaker with each passing day, 21 years overdue for his hibernation but wanting to see this out to the very end, and he often found himself fainting from lack of blood, despite Pepper's best efforts to keep up with both his needs and SI's. Still he kept it all from Solomon and his mother, feeding from Pepper when she was available.

He suppressed the less than sane aspects of himself in his mind, shielded by a thick steel wall and built things including a second, third, and fourth AI. This said, He was nowhere near prepared when his mother announced that she was pregnant, especially when she informed him that it was by Saya's younger human brother-turned Chevalier named, Riku.

He stared at her, speechless, taking in her bright smile and the way her eyes softened, and fear gripped his heart.

He fled.

He fled the beautiful mansion her mother and her chevaliers called home, so distraught that he didn't even activate his invisibility, nor did he see the worried blue eyes that followed him.

He ran and ran, and he didn't stop until he reached the safety of his lab, even bypassing Pepper who followed him with a worried frown.

"My Prince?"

Wet chocolate eyes looked up her, their owner's cheeks marred by twin trails of tears, before he shook his head. She opened her mouth to speak but the familiar form of Her Queen appeared and kneeled in front of the crying billionaire, one hand cupping his cheek.

"Rosario, my rose, what ails you?"

He bit his lip harshly and looked away, knowing he wouldn't be able to lie to her.

"Tell me." She demanded, ice blue gaze tracing the thin trail of blood that escaped his lips from where his fang had pierced them.

"Why…why are you replacing me?" He asked brokenly and she recoiled violently as if he'd struck her. Even Pepper seemed surprised by the question.

How had it escaped he that while he may be centuries old, her son was still essentially a child. He, like her, had been raised in captivity, unaware of the norms of the world. Even after travelling the world, he had always been her only child so he feared that once the twins were born, he'd be abandoned. It broke her heart.

"Repla-No! My Rose, no. I'm not replacing you and I'm not abandoning you. In fact, you'll be the most important person at my side after your sisters are born. I do not trust my chevaliers." She soothed and he looked up at he looked up at her with wide child-like eyes.

"Really?"

She smiled and nodded.

"Of course. They're yours to protect, Little prince."

He nodded.

"I'll protect them with everything I have." He promised solemnly and she giggled as did Pepper.

"I'm sure you will, darling." She responded stroking his hair.

"I'm sure you will."


Rhodey was shot.

Tony stared down at the still frame of his human, trembling as he noticed how fragile the man looked in the large hospital bed. Tubes and wires were attached to his broad form, his caramel skin ashen, and a bandage was wound around his abdomen beneath the blanket.

The man looked terrible and the doctors had informed him that there was a 60% chance he wouldn't survive the night.

The bullet had ricocheted inside his body and nicked his left lung and they couldn't stop the bleeding.

"You aren't going to die here." He whispers, unhooking the machines from his friend.

He had never thought about creating another Chevalier, but Rhodey had wormed his way through his barriers and burrowed so deeply into his heart, that he didn't even hesitate to bring his wrist to his mouth and bite down.

Gathering a mouthful of blood, he pressed his lips to those of the unconscious man, using his tongue to coax the unresponsive lips open and allow the blood inside.
After a moment, he pulled away and smiled, watching as Rhodey started to convulse.

He would live.


1995

He's in the middle of redecorating his Malibu home when it happens.

His mother rushes in frantically carrying a large wicker basket and her blue eyes full of sadness. Dropping the painting he'd been trying to hand up, he rushed to her side and gently removed the basket from her hands and leading her to sit on sofa.

"Mother?"

She took his hand in her own. "Solomon has betrayed us!" She cried.

"James and Karl are dead and I don't trust Anshel. I need you to keep your sister here."

Dread pooled his gut and his heart aches for his wayward child when he realizes what she's not saying. She embraced him passionately and kissed his forehead, before she stood.

"M-Mother?"

She smiled sadly, blue eyes glistening with tears. "I'm sorry, my dearest Rose. I'm so proud of who you are now, who you have become, and I would love to watch you grow…but tomorrow will be my final performance. I need you there."

He blanked his face, not wanting her to see how much her words hurt him.

"I'll be there…Solomon will not live another day."

Pepper bowed her head behind him, her heart mourning her brother, even as her Prince placed the wicker basket in her arms.

"Take care of them, Pepper. Only you and Rhodey are to know they are here. This war ends tomorrow."

She bowed. "Yes, My Prince."


Pain.

It was an emotion that Tony was intimately familiar with. One that had haunted every step of his long cursed life, and one that lanced through his very being as he faced one of his first and oldest companions.

Vilerio stood there in his original form dressing in a form fitting white suit, scarlet falling in elegant curls around his face, blue eyes impassive as they stared into his bi-colored ones.

He stood in his true form as well, cold bi-colored eyes and ravens wings hair worn in a strict plain, three blue roses in the base and a ragged blue ribbon at the tip. He wore the same victorin suit he'd worn so long ago, so similar to one Saya's chevalier Hagi wore, that Ville's mask nearly cracked.

"My Prince." Ville greeted softly and Tony said nothing, bi-colored eyes piercing as they stared at him.

When he spoke, his voice was soft and predatory, eerily reminiscent of the one he'd used the night they met in that dark Italian alleyway.

"My dearest, my love for your sister and yourself are endless. You are my first friends, my first companions, my children. You made my life so much less lonely." His voice broke, tears welling in his eyes.

"So why? Why have you betrayed me?" His eyes hardened once more.

"Why shouldn't I rid the world of your existence?"

Ville shivered, reminded for the first time in decades that his Prince was one of the strongest beings in existence.

Still he gave a sad smile.

"I love her. She owns my heart even if I own none of hers."

There was no response for moment before his creator vanished and he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, followed by a cooling sensation. Warm lips met his in a platonic kiss and he opened his eyes (when had he closed them?) to find his prince in front of him claws buried in his gut.

"Y-You're crying." He gasped, coughing up blood. His master was beautiful, even with the crystalline trails making their way down his flawless porcelain cheeks. His eyes were full of regret, pain, and…forgiveness and Ville smiled.

"Rest, childe." The raven crooned and the chevalier found himself unable to resist giving in to the darkness, knowing he'd never wake again.

"I…love…you…and…Pep. Tell…her…pl…"


She was dead.

His beautiful, larger than life mother, his queen…was dead.

Tony's being felt numb as he knelt invisible by his mother's crystalized form. He ignored his aunt and her 'brother' and gathered her in his arms, startling them when he stood.

"Whose there? Show yourself!" The human male demanded and he obeyed impassively, watching as his aunt brought up her blade.

"Who are you? Where are you taking her?" She growled.

"I'm taking my mother where she belongs. I am taking her home." He monotone and before they could respond, he vanished.

TBC…


A/N: Alright that's the end of the BP series. Next we get into the Avengers. Iron Man 1&2 are similar to canon but the changes will be addressed in flashbacks or mentioned briefly. Hope you enjoyed, R&R.