Chapter 51: Chasing Dragons. It's a lot like catching butterflies, right?

"Maybe we should split up?" Stark was staring down the street they had last seen Smaug scampering down.

"How will we communicate that we've found him?" Legolas asked. He had been the first to arrive at the edge of the town. "There are so many avenues he could have darted down, it is hard to pinpoint what direction he was going. Last I saw him, he was down there." He pointed to a silver garbage can at the end of the street that was tipped over.

"Did he knock that over?" Loki asked, wondering if it might be possible to follow a trail of chaos to find Smaug. .

"No, it was already tipped over. He just stopped and looked inside. Then he saw me and took off," Legolas replied.

"We could just leave him. It's not like we need him, and it was his choice to take off," Sif pointed out.

"Right, leave a dragon loose? Somehow I feel as if even a tiny Smaug can cause significant damage." Loki sighed in exasperation. "I suppose I could always reverse the spell and return him to normal size. We would find him easily then."

"NO!" Everyone shouted at once.

Loki wasn't sure who had shrieked the loudest. "Well, I guess that idea is out of the question. Anyone else have any thoughts? Otherwise, we shall split up. Tony, you know this area. Where is a good place to meet up?"

"There's a good ice cream place that Pepper likes to go to. Ah… best ice cream in Jamaica, but I can't remember the name of the place." Stark closed his eyes as he visualized the place, trying to recall the name of the place. "Let me call Pepper." He pulled out his cell phone and punched a few buttons.

"Tony! Where the hell are you now!" Pepper's voice screamed out of the phone.

"Hi, honey. We're down in Jamaica right now…"

Pepper cut him off. "Without me? I'm coming down right now! Don't you dare go anywhere else until I get there."

"Wait!" Tony tried to stop her so he could ask his question. His jawed dropped as Pepper appeared in front of him. "How? What?"

Pepper, looking equally surprised, glared at Loki. "Is this your doing Loki?"

Loki shrugged, putting both hands up in defense. "Not me. I can't transport people like that. Guess they decided you were necessary here. They must realize the severity of the situation."

"They? Who is they? And what situation? What's going on now?" Pepper asked.

"We lost Smaug," Legolas explained, as if that statement would cover everything.

"Smaug? What is a smaug?" Pepper asked, suddenly extremely nervous about this. Her eyes darted from Tony, to Loki, to Legolas.

"You know," Tony grinned. "Red and gold dragon. He's… it is a he, right?" When Thranduil nodded he went on. "He's usually about as big as that building." He pointed to one house across from them.

"Well, that should be easy to find, so what is the problem?" Pepper asked.

"I, ah… figured he'd stand out here, so I shrunk him. He's about the size of a medium sized dog," Loki grinned sheepishly.

"And then he took off. Last seen he was darting down this street," Thranduil added. "We considered just leaving him on his own, but everyone decided that was not a great idea."

"Seriously?" Pepper stared at him. "So why did you call me?" she asked Tony.

"Well, we are about to split up and search. Trying to decide on a place to regroup and I thought of that ice cream place you love but can't recall the name of it."

"That is why you called?" Pepper sighed. "You couldn't have bothered to call me sooner and tell me where you were?"

"We just got here," Stark explained, then noticed her look. "Well, not exactly 'just' but it wasn't that long ago. And we arrived with a dragon in tow." He hoped that would placate her.

"Well, I suppose arriving with a dragon would add a bit. Where were you before?" Pepper asked.

"We were in Middle Earth. That's where we met up with Smaug. Then Tony disappeared, Thranduil was hoping he went to get champagne, but he wasn't. We all ended up here," Tauriel explained.

"Okaaay," Pepper shook her head trying to take it all in.

"So, now we need to find Smaug…" Thor broke off as a family came walking down the street and passed them.

"Mom," the child whined. "I want a dog just like that one we saw. He was pretty. You have to get me one."

"Honey, you know we can't have a dog, your father is allergic," the mother replied.

"I don't care!" the boy stopped in the middle of the street and stomped his feet. "I ain't never ever seen a dog like that and I want one. They gotta sell them here somewhere!"

"Son, don't talk to your mother like that, and it is haven't, not ain't. Ain't is not a word," the father admonished. "And she's right. We can't get a dog. Never mind that I'm allergic, we can't take it back through customs."

"Customs, scusmushtoms. I want that dog! I'll bet that guy that was chasing him will sell him to us. Seems like the dog didn't like him," the boy replied angrily. "Bet the dog hates him and wants to come home with me."

Thranduil wrinkled his elegant nose as the child continued to whine and demand. "Do all human children act this way?"

"Ah, no," Tony replied. "Some do though."

"Com'on, mom. Dad? Really. He was pretty, all red and gold. I ain't never seen a red and gold dog before," the boy continued.

"I told you, ain't is not a word," the father replied, not bothering to address the demand.

"Wait!" Thor interrupted the family as he realized this 'dog' was most likely Smaug. "Where did you see this dog? It sounds like my brother's lost dog. We've been searching for him."

"Will you sell him to me?" the boy asked hopefully.

"Ah, I do not believe that would be a good idea," Tony answered. He saw the boy's face start to turn red and figured they were in for a temper tantrum. "But, how would you like a visit from Iron Man?"

The boy's eye grew round with awe as he suddenly recognized Tony Stark. "You're Iron Man! Aren't you? Where's your suit?"

"Back in New York, I'm on a… ah... vacation right now. Don't tell anyone I'm here. Our secret. But, if you promise to be good and do as your parents say, I promise I will visit you when I get back," Tony offered, hoping this would settle the boy.

"Deal!" the boy grinned from ear to ear. "Did you hear that dad? Iron Man is going to visit me! Can I take him to school for Show and Tell?"

"You'll have to ask Mr. Stark yourself, honey," his mom said. Glad that a tantrum had been averted and the topic of the dog was off the table. "Now tell him where you saw that dog."

The boy pointed down the street. "Down by the fruit stand."

"Thanks!" Tony shouted as he took off down the street with the rest of the group. "I'll see you in two weeks! And yes, I'll go to Show and Tell."

"You better not let that boy down," Pepper admonished him as they ran down the street.

"Find out where he lives," Tony replied. "And what's the name of that ice cream shop?"

Pepper stopped to go back to the family. "Devon House!" she shouted at the retreating group. She walked back to the family to get the necessary information. As she turned to follow the others, she discovered Sif, Frigga, and Tauriel had elected not to join in the chase.

"We decided to let the boys do the work. What is this ice cream that was spoken of?" Frigga inquired.

Pepper grinned. "Come on ladies, I shall introduce you to a treat. Do you like sweets?" When the three ladies nodded, she started walking to the rendezvous point. "A little ice cream treat would be nice while we wait for them to find this crazy dragon."

Dashing down the street in the direction the boy had pointed. Skidding to a stop by the fruit stand, they all searched around.

"Looking for that dog?" the market stand owner asked.

"Yes," Loki replied. "Have you seen it?"

"Ah yeah. Took off that way, with about three others chasing him. He yours?"

"Yes," Loki shouted over his shoulder as he took off with the others in the direction the man had pointed. "Why would others be chasing him?" he asked his companions as he ran.

"Probably because he's red and gold and they ain't ever seen a dog like that," Tony answered.

Rounding a corner, they reached a small open plaza. Several small shops surrounded the plaza, and there were four streets that exited the area.

"Damn! I had hoped we were getting close," Tony growled. He looked at the assembled party and frowned. "What happened to the girls?"

"Probably took a different route?" Legolas tentatively responded.

"I didn't notice any other avenues as we ran," Thranduil pointed out. "I would expect they remained with your friend, Pepper."

A loud crash of breaking glass erupted from one of the shops. This was followed shortly by shouting.

"You break it, you pay for it!"

"I did not break it! That crazy dog did!"

"Well, it's your dog!"

"It's not my dog, I'm just trying to catch it!"

"I don't care. You pay!"

Smaug bounced out of the doorway. Noticing Loki and the others, he darted down the street closest to him.

"There he goes!"

They raced after the tiny dragon. The two elves, being faster, were closing in on him when Smaug stopped dead. Legolas and Thranduil looked to see what had caused the dragon to stop and saw a group of four tall, black Jamaican men, all sporting long dreadlocks starting to surround the dragon.

"Yuh did see dat?" one asked.

"Yeah, dat one big dog."

"De dog be de biggest dog I evar seen."

"Ole still, doggie. Me gonna catch yu."

"Yrch!" Thranduil hissed.

"Do they have orcs here?" Legolas asked his father.

Thranduil shrugged. "They look like young ones. They should be easy to overcome." Drawing his sword, he started to advance.

One of the Jamaican's noticed the two elves. Waving his hands, he shouted at them. "Galang bout yuh business!"

"They even sound like orcs!" Thranduil stated as he continued to advance.

"Stop!" Tony shouted as he saw Thranduil about to attack the men. "Please, don't attack," he pleaded as he quickly figured out what was going on. "They don't mean any harm."

"They are orcs. There are no good orcs anywhere," Thranduil stated firmly, refusing to stop.

Smaug took advantage of this distraction to take off, only this time he didn't look where he was going and ran straight into Loki.

"Caught you!" Loki exclaimed. Legolas handed him a bit of rope which he quickly fashioned into a leash of sorts.

"Dat be yuh dog?" one of the Jamaican's asked.

"Yes, thank you for corralling him for me," Loki replied. "Thranduil, stand down. Really. They only meant to help."

"But these are orcs," Thranduil insisted.

"Orcs?" Stark asked.

"Long story, but orcs are bad guys on Middle Earth," Loki replied. He looked at the Jamaicans and could see how the two elves might imagine they were orcs. "Thranduil, trust me, these are not orcs. We have Smaug, so let's go meet up with the ladies."

Thranduil looked warily at the Jamaican's. They had not pulled any weapons out, nor had they screamed and attacked. He decided to listen to his wizard and sheathed his sword. "Do you think they have champagne at this ice cream place?"

"Only one way to find out," Steve said.

"Where? When?" Stark stared at Steve Rogers who was now with them. "Never mind. Welcome aboard." He peered around behind Steve. "Anyone else come with?" When Steve shook his head, he pointed to the tiny dragon Loki had situated on his shoulder. "That's Smaug. He is a dragon."

"No way. One of those reptile dragons?" Steve moved to inspect Smaug.

Smaug, uncertain of this newcomer, belched out a stream of fire. "Uh, no. A real fire-breathing dragon."

"I thought they were huge? At least in the fairy tales they are," Steve replied.

"They are, he's just small so he doesn't stand out too much here."