Rising of the Avenging Heroes
ESKK: Well let's begin a new chapter folks to let's get started.
(Start Evening Camp)
The Avengers were all asleep after setting up camp. Most of them were in the Sky Stinger's provided beds snoring away. Pym was drooling a bit as Azari's marks lit up when he snored. Torunn was with Hawkeye as the two slept as luckily the two understood that the game of hide the Zucchini was against house rules.
The Camp was filled with the sound of work from both James and Morgan. Morgan was on her table constructing some new armor for herself. Since all she had to do was gather the materials and the ship would handle the rest for her. It was all automated but it still carried with it certain tasks such as maintaining it and the like. Hence why she had synthesized the tools she needed to keep the ship in operating order. Among her new armors was specialized armor she had been working on as well as suits for the team. One of the suits was an aquatic dive suit which would make travelling easier for the heroes when needed to go deep dive for monsters.
As she worked Morgan also had blue prints for a larger suit of armor. This particular suit of armor was one Morgan knew for a fact that Skaar would not be a fan of. No offense to Skaar but the Hulk Buster was a must for her though she is modifying it so it's not strictly Hulk oriented. She liked to be prepared for every situation as she worked. Her new suits were all being made and stored for her for when she needed them. She could make too many because then they'd run out of room for them all.
"That should do it." Morgan said with a smirk on her face letting the computer do the rest after she did the main bit of using a holographic screen to make the armor blue prints in question. She then looked over and saw James working on something to which she went to look him over. "Hey James what you doing?" Morgan asked as she looked over James shoulder.
"Oh nothing much just crafting accessories for everyone." James said as he figured out the first thing he would do is make some stuff for the guys so they didn't feel left out.
"Really isn't this a surprise sort of thing where they wake up and oh where did these come from." Morgan said while joking around.
"Well I know there's no getting pass you so there." James said as he handed Morgan a bracelet of sorts.
"Huh nice." Morgan said as she looked it over noting the white gem on the red band.
"So what are you doing?" James asked to which Morgan shrugged.
"Meh new armors and the like." Morgan said as she looked to James.
"New armors?" James asked worried Morgan may be going overboard a bit.
"Nothing to worry about just have them in case I need them." Morgan said knowing full well James saw through her on this.
"Morgan..." James began but Morgan then cut him off.
"Look I get what you want to say, no one makes that many armors unless they are expecting the worse and honestly your right." Morgan confessed as she sat back on a seat. "Look James we've been lucky thus far but with the King out to get us and already having to clean up the Spear Stooges mess I'm worried that eventually our luck is going to run out." Morgan said as she sat with the team's leader.
"You didn't really mean starting a war between Melromarc and Silvelt right?" James asked as that had been bugging him thus far.
"I was bluffing but how long do you think it will be before he realizes my bluff or tries to lock us up to keep Silvelt from finding out." Morgan said showing she was worried for good reason. "Or worst case scenario the bitch tries to control Skaar with magic." Morgan said as she was worried for Skaar as well seeing as she made an armor she hoped not to be made to use against him. "I just want to be ready when that event comes up." Morgan said to which James understood where she was coming from.
"Morgan my dad once said that every time you tried to end a war before it begins innocent people die... every time." James said as he looked to Morgan who knew this well enough.
"Yeah I know and its scary knowing there's a possibility that I can't predict every scenario and solve every problem I'm faced with." Morgan said as he prided herself in being five moves ahead but it's scary to know she can't tackle and solve every problem she's faced with.
"Then maybe you shouldn't be so far ahead and take a moment to slow down." James said as he looked to Morgan with a smile on his face. "Sometimes the answer you're looking for to solve a problem is right in front of you." James said to which Morgan smiled a bit in response.
"Yeah maybe." Morgan said with honesty as she then yawned. "Well I'm going to bed gonna shut down my greatest most important tool." Morgan said tapping her brain as she headed to get some rest. James smiled and then yawned as well before he went to finish up what he was doing. Once he was done he would head off to sleep after all they needed to be ready to leave tomorrow.
(Scene Break the next Morning)
The Avengers were up and about ready to head out as James and Azari were hooking Filo up to the Wagon. As they did this Azari stopped when he heard movement causing him to look over to where it came from. Raphtalia and Filo also saw it as the Avengers saw a pair walking down the road weak and tired by the looks of it with an old lady carrying a large bag on her back. The group all looked to each other and already were in agreement on what to do.
(Later)
After the Avengers had shared their food with the tired pair and their stomachs were filled the old lady began to speak. "You children would do well to turn back while you can." The old lady said as she looked to the Avengers.
"If you keep going forward on this path you'll die." The boy said as the Avengers knew something was going on at their destination.
"We heard there's a village on this path." James said as he looked to the two refugees.
"The village is devastated even the village elder got sick with the plague." The old lady said and thus the Avengers were even more intent on getting to that village to aid those in need.
(Later)
They were soon on the road again making a bee-line for the village. They were on their normal ride plan as Morgan was on the Sky Stinger working on protective gear for the plague. "What's happening there?" Raphtalia asked as she looked over the map.
"We'll know soon." James said as he held the reigns for Filo.
"Morgan is working on some protective gear for us." Hawkeye said as he'd rather not get sick himself. "Gasmasks the works." Hawkeye said knowing they were going to need it.
"Let's hope it will be enough." Azari said as he was honestly worried for the people there.
(Scene Break Village)
The Avengers had arrived at the village as the Sky Stinger came for a landing while James guided Filo and the Wagon through the gate. When the hatch opened Pym was made to stay in the Sky Stinger for his own protection as the Avengers left the ship.
"My, what brings you all to this God Forsaken place?" An old man said as he left his house to see the new arrivals.
"We're travelling merchants here to sell medicine." James said as he looked to the old man in the house.
The old man then took notice to the Avengers as well as their numbers and modes of transportation. "Traveling merchant you say?" He asked as he took a closer look at Filo. "Wait that Filolial could it be?" He asked and thus it occurred to him. "Is that the heavenly fowl!?" The old man called out as he saw the Avengers here. "Doctor quick!" The old man cried out as he made a bee line to the doctor grateful that help had finally arrived for them.
(Nearby)
When the old man arrived at the clinic he was yelling all the way through. "What is it what's the matter?" The village doctor asked as he looked to the old man.
"Our savior of the Heavenly Fowl has come for us he's right there!" The old man called out pointing to James and his group who stood ready to provide aid.
(Later in the Clinic)
The Avengers were given the rundown of the problem so far. The Doctor desperately needed medicine but could not make enough for everyone one. So as the Avengers were guided through his clinic the Doctor was surprised to see the famous Savior here to aid them. When they got in the Avengers already knew a lot of these people in the village were either dead or dying.
The beds were all filled with the sick as the Avengers were in shock at what they saw here. "Good morning." The Nurse greeted as she stood up. "Oh Doctor are these people with you?" The Nurse asked as the Avengers saw the situation here.
"They just arrived there going to sell us some medicine." The Doctor said as James saw this.
"I really wish Dr. Strange was here right now." Viv said as she knew the Sorcerer Supreme was a licensed and a well-respected Doctor before learning magic.
"Looking at this, we'll get to work right now." James said as he, Viv, and Torunn went in first. In turn James began to give the people the Medicine using the Potion enhance skill to better heal them up. The first person James gave the medicine to showed instant signs of getting better once he was given the medicine.
The Avengers all began to work as they took a patient and gave them the medicine until James could get to them. Torunn was a Goddess as she quietly snuck away wanting to try something. Viv seeing this followed after Torunn staying hidden as she did so.
(Torunn)
Torunn made an Asgardian circle on the ground and put a box of the medicine upon it. When Viv found her Torunn was doing some sort of Norse ritual of some sort. "By the rite of the Allfathers in the name of Torunn Daughter of Thor the Allfather King of Asgard I ordain thee to heal thine sickness and ill and cleanse thine body of poisons and impurities." Torunn said and then to Viv's shock the circle began to glow as thunder was heard in the distance. The Medicine all began to glow making Torunn go wide eyed at what she did.
"I can't believe that worked." Torunn said before looking to either side before taking the medicine back to give to the people. The only witness to this being Viv as she was also surprised Torunn could do that.
(Scene Break Later that Day)
The sun was beginning to set as James sighed a bit before looking to the side. He had just gotten the last of the medicine into the store room when her eyes went to the graves with a lone person there on their knees no doubt grieving for lost loved ones. When James saw this he knew he had to do something and to start off he had to figure out where this all began.
(That Same Evening)
"50 Silvers?" James asked as he saw the bag filled with money.
"We can't thank you enough dear sir." The Doctor said but James begged to differ.
"I appreciate it but what's the plan now?" James asked as he needed to know what the next phase would be to combatting this pandemic.
"For now we've staved off the immediate crisis." The Doctor said but James begged to differ.
"Please tell me that's not enough for you, all I did was treat the symptoms not cure them if we don't handle this problem soon you'll just be back to square 1." James said as he wanted to help these people and by his tone alone the health practitioners were aware of it.
"I'm afraid you are indeed correct." The Doctor said as he noted how James was scolding them but he too wanted to help.
"How did this all start?" James asked and thus the Nurse spoke first.
"We believe it's the wind that's coming from the mountain that's the cause of the plague in our village. The mountain that's home to all the monsters." The Nurse said as she looked to the window behind James as they all looked and saw what she was talking about.
"Home to what monsters?" James asked as he looked to the Mountain.
"About a month ago a large dragon that nested there was killed by the sword hero that at least was the good news." The Doctor began but Morgan put the rest of the pieces together.
"Let me guess Mr. Sword Art Online didn't bother to clean up the Dragons corpse and it began to rot and poison everyone here." Morgan said as she then started to figure out the rest. "The reason you guys could afford the medicine before was because the village flourished with adventurers wanting to see the dragon's corpse." Morgan said and thus figured out where the rest sunk in. "But the dragons rotting corpse got those Adventurers sick leading up to this." Morgan said to which the Avengers all figured out what happened.
"That fool this isn't a game." Torunn growled as she was going to give Ren a piece of her mind when she finds him.
"How come no one has tried to fix this mess if you now the cause?" Azari asked and thus the Nurse spoke up.
"That mountain is filled with violent monsters so the only ones who dare to go there are the Adventurers." The Nurse said as and thus Hawkeye figured out the rest as did Cody.
"And thanks to the rotting flesh the ecology of the Mountain has probably changed so the average adventurer won't go near that place." Cody said to which the Doctor nodded in response.
"Exactly we've sent word to the royal court of this situation but they said the heroes are too busy to help us so all we can do is wait for the medicine they sent to arrive." The Doctor said and thus Hawkeye smelled a cover up.
"Either that or the Aultcray doesn't want people to realize the heroes fucked up." Hawkeye said as he knew this needed to be handled NOW and not held off.
"Cancel the request tell then you don't need it because someone else decided to do it instead." James said as he was not taking this lying down. "Guys get ready to move out we got to clean up Ren's mess." James said as Torunn was all for it.
"I got some protective gear ready in the Sky Stinger assuming Pym hasn't messed with it yet." Morgan said ready to clean and sanitize the place until the plague was properly dealt with.
"And don't bother trying to stop us danger is something we're used to." Hawkeye said as James wasn't one to take this lying down.
"Oh you have our thanks." The Doctor said as he smiled to the heroes who came to aid them.
"Don't worry." James said as he then smiled to the doctor. "You've done all you can now leave this part to us." James said and thus the Avengers took their leave.
(Scene Break the next day Sky Stinger)
With all the tools gather and Morgan made some last minute change to one of her armors she made, with everyone was within their own suit to protect them from the poisonous air they are about to go into other than James as he has a shield that give him poison resistant, and Torrun who was naturally resistant to most poisons but they were wearing a mask on their faces to keep out the smell.
As the Sky stinger flew closer to the dragon corpse that shows on screen, James held up a tool that was mean to break down giant monsters dead bodies as he said, "Alright everyone we're getting closer to the dragon corpse. I want everyone to stay alert the dragon maybe dead but there could be monsters that are naturally resistant to the poisonous air cause by the corpse itself, and I want everyone to stay together in a pairs of two at least."
"We will park the ship as close as we can, and walk the rest of the way which isn't that far at least, anyone have a problem with that?" Morgan said as she stood by James side wearing her modified suit as she had a some tanks on her back with hoses connecting to what looks like flame thrower on her arms of the armor while keeping a sleek form to the overall look.
No one said anything at first until Pym raise his hand as he said, "What if we have to use the bathroom?"
"Then it best you go now before, if you don't have the urge to go, do it anyways," James said as Pym nodded and headed to the bathroom to take care of his business with everyone else as he went on saying, "If there nothing else, then ready yourself and grab a tool, we got a dead dragon to clean up."
(Later)
The sky stinger landed near the dragon and unloaded everything including the wagon itself sense Filo didn't want to go anywhere without it, which somewhat worked out in their favor as it can carry all the other tool that were needed.
Morgan had drones check the area for any monster that were nearby, thankfully there wasn't maybe due to the dragon corpse itself and the smell it was giving off, but it wasn't bothering anyone else thanks to the suits they were wearing and the masks as well as Raphtalia said, "This mask is such an amazing thing, I can't even smell anything."
"That Morgan for you able to make something helpful," Azari said, with the Avengers looking the dragon corpse, Pym looks he was getting a bit sick while looking at it as everyone had a lost their appetites as James said, "Maybe we should have ate something before coming here."
"No kidding, after this I don't know if I can look at a steak the same way," Hawkeye said as suddenly there was a sound of someone eating, as everyone turn to see Filo in her Filolial form was eating some of the fruit from the monster tree as she look up at the group as she said, "Looking at it made me hungry."
"I don't know if we should be disturbed or not," Azari said as Cody said, "I think it just best to go along with it as everyone has their weird thing going on."
"Don't overeat," Raphtalia said to Filo as James pick up a hammer and turn around as he said, "Looking at this thing, I may take of the rest of the day to take care of it."
"Well if needed we can ask Skaar to do some of the heavy lifting, or maybe see if he can throw it across the land and into the King's castle?" Morgan said in a joking manner, but in a way she did want to see it happening as well as James give a small laugh as he said, "No doubt would get him angry to see a dead dragon in his bedroom."
"Or its head in his bed," Morgan said as she has seen the godfather while living in the ruins of California, not a lot of choices as the movies did belong to her father.
As Morgan and James walk up to it to see what they should start doing first, but before they could get a step closer, there was a sound from the dragon corpse itself.
Looking up at it and to their shock to see a red glow at the dragon's skull I its eye hole before its entire head twitch suddenly before it started to move.
The avengers were shock and gross out to see the corpse of the dragon was moving and not only that, its blood that was dripping down from the stone that it was on was flowing back up into tis body and much of it was healing its wounds, but with most of it was still rotten away or torn off by wild creatures, as the dragon seem more like a zombie dragon.
"A Dragon zombie?!" Morgan said as she also seen zombie movie, and resident evil, but those didn't come close to what she is seeing now the dragon stood up and roar out.
"Oh come on!" Hawkeye complained as he saw the Dragon Zombie towering over them.
"Run!" Morgan called out as she flew away fast with Torunn and James on her tail. Cody ran while Azari sprinted leaving Pym to shrink down and fly off.
As they got to cover they looked ready to fight until Filo roared out and jumped into the fight. "A dragon! I hate dragons!" Filo called out as the Avengers saw this.
"Filo stop!" James called out and then looked to Cody. "Cody!" James called out as they needed Skaar out here.
"Already on it!" Cody called out ready to bust out their heavy hitter.
Filo then kicked the Dragon in the face knocking it to the side with ease. When the Avengers saw the damage it did they saw that they may be able to fight it. "Ok there might be a way to fight it!" James called out as the Avengers all saw this. "Avengers Assemble!" James called out ready to do battle against these foes.
The Dragon roared a bit as violet smoke began to form in its mouth showing it was going to unleash poison upon them. "Morgan it's time we see if these suits can hold up!" Azari called out ready for the worse.
The Dragon fired off its poison breath and thus the entire area began to be covered in it. James put his barrier shield up for added measure as the monster eventually ended the breath before roaring in fury. "Is everyone ok?!" James called out as he looked to the others.
"Yeah the suits held!" Hawkeye called out to which was then followed by a familiar roar.
Skaar jumped up and went for the dragons face and started punching it with his fists. "Alright Skaar kick its ass!" Hawkeye called out as he grinned at Skaar. The Dragon then swung its head and then flung Skaar off it causing the Hulk to crash into the ground.
"Skaar you ok!" Torunn called out as she looked to Skaar.
"Now I'm mad!" Filo roared out and charged in causing James to go wide eyed to this.
"Filo don't!" James called out but it was too late she was already attacking the monster. "Pym get in there!" James called out and Pym nodded before going into his giant form. The giant boy then punched the monster in the face knocking it back as the Avengers began their attack. Pym sent a few punches in as the monster then roared at Pym in response. When it roared Morgan flew in and sent out torrents of flames from her arms and setting the monster on fire. The Monster roared in pain to this as it was proven to be weak against fire being a corpse and all.
Skaar roared and took out his broad sword before jumping up and slashing the Monster with it. Once he did this Torunn came in and brought down a bolt of lightning upon the monster. Viv then flew in and began firing a beam from her head at the monster causing it harm as she did so. When Viv did this she flew back away from the monster as it tried to return fire against her. Doing this Torunn flashed at its eye causing the undead beast even more pain from the result.
Raphtalia then charged in with her sword ready to do some damage at the Avengers all began to do harm to the monster. As the battle progressed Raphtalia slashed at the monsters side as it tried to fight off all of the attackers. But clearly it was getting angry and thus with a powerful flap of its wings sent out a gust of wind from its wings. The Avengers were all knocked back by the attack as Skaar then glared at the monster.
Hawkeye charged in and began firing off his arrows at the monster avoiding its attack as they came. But it was clear the damage they were doing was minimal at best as they all saw this. "Avengers we need to regroup!" James called out as Pym still as a giant tried to hold the monster back.
"Got it!" Pym called out and thus shrunk back down into his pixie form before the monster could chomp down on him. Pym flew off while the other Avengers were ready for more.
"Skaar!" James called out and Skaar went to regroup as well.
"Wait, where's, Filo?" Torunn asked as she looked for Filo.
"Over there!" Morgan called out as she saw Filo running down the hill after the monster.
"Why didn't she listen!? Filo!" James called out trying to get Filo to listen to them.
Filo had jumped after the monster and when James called her name she was going at the monster. "Huh?" Filo asked as she was distracted long enough for the Dragon to take note of this. The Dragon took advantage and chomped down on filo causing blood to spew out from where it ate Filo. The Dragon then lifted its head and swallowed its food causing the Avengers to all go wide eyed at what they saw.
"FILO!" Raphtalia cried out in horror as Pym was even shocked.
"NO!" Pym cried out and in turn the monster once more let out its poison breath upon them.
James defended with his shield as he saw what had happened. James held his ground as best he could as his mind was assaulted with memories and images of Filo from the moment she hatched all the way to earlier today. James grit his teeth through this as the pain was he was feeling was indescribable. Torunn was horrified at what she had borne witness to while even Skaar was in utter shock.
(James)
'No... Am I... am I going to lose those I care about again?' James asked himself as he was withdrawing into his mind as he was thinking about the loss of his parents. Just then the fire the spark returned as the last time James felt this was at the duel against Motoyasu.
'D0 Y0u s33k PoWeR?'
"Huh? What Power... no." James responded to the words as they flashed into his mind.
'D0 yOU haT3 3veRYtHiNG?'
"Hate? No of course not." James tried to defend but it seems whatever this force was saw through James lies.
'D0 yOU haT3 3veRYtHiNG?'
"Hate..." James felt the sweet words flow to him and in turn something began to awaken.
"Curse Series RAGE Shield." When the icon appeared on his hub James was met with all his gathered skills thus far and in turn was met with the image that still haunts him to this day, Ultron.
Ultron stood there followed by King Aultcray, Malty, and even the other heroes. "No... I don't." James tried to deny but it was there the rage and hatred its always been inside him but this 'Rage Shield,' knew better it knew how James tried to lock it all away bottle it up trying to be more like a man who was dead who everyone looked up to, trying to be someone he's not. It all began to flow as his skills all began to turn red and take on a new form.
The green gem of his shield turned into a blazing red as in turn the Shield began to call the shots. To do this it chose to forcibly bring out all the pent up and bottled up rage James Rogers had tried to lock, away denying the truth of what was inside.
(Battle)
Skaar and Torunn after seeing Filo eaten both roared out and charged head first into the battle. Torunn went for the monster as did Skaar drawing on their agony and rage to cause harm to this beast. Skaar was getting stronger fast as the more his rage grew the stronger he became. Torunn meanwhile attacked the monster with her sword drawing in thunder as it seemed Storm Clouds began to form overhead.
"How dare you kill her you murdered her... FILO!" Torunn roared and thus went for the attack stabbing into the monster before slashing at it. The Monster then attacked and knocked Torunn down as her sword spun and landed on the ground behind the Avengers.
Meanwhile Skaar with his broad sword stabbed into the monster intent on killing it. In turn the marks on Skaar's body began to glow as he drew upon the Old Power he inherited from his mother. "Skaar stop you're going to deep over the line!" Cody tried but soon even his words were muted by Skaar's rage.
The Monster then unleashed its poison breath upon Torunn and Skaar but it seems Torunn was getting back up... only this time the storm clouds created thunder as she rose up. Her eyes began to glow with the same energy as her powers as a storm began for form.
"Um did you know she could do that?" Morgan asked looking to Hawkeye in shock.
"No I didn't." Hawkeye confessed as he saw Morgan going berserk.
Just then James began to walk forward shocking the Avengers with this. "James what are you doing?!" Morgan asked as she looked shocked to see what James was doing. The Monster then brought down its claw when its saw James intent on squashing him like a bug "JAMES!" Morgan cried out in pure shock at what she saw.
Just then a powerful bolt of thunder came down from the heavens above causing serious harm to the monster as Torunn approached it her eyes glowing with power with Thunder flowing around her. It was then followed up was an energy blast curtesy of Skaar who roared in fury at the monster starting to lose control of himself. Finally to add insult to injury James had not only blocked the attack but his shield began to change form before their very eyes. But in doing so his body was covered in crimson markings similar to his skill tree while he began to roar in fury and worse of all his eyes were now glowing crimson red.
"James!" Morgan called out as she then went for James having the best protection at the moment.
"Torunn!" Hawkeye followed up and went to try and bring his girlfriend back from her haze.
But James shield created a blast of wind that melded with Torunn's storm which began to grow more violent by the second. The ground around James indented as he glared at the monster while the three powerful heroes glared at the undead foe. The Monster then swung its tail at James who then blocked it with his shield with ease as the now black and crimson shield halted the attack.
"No Burn." James growled and thus the monsters tail was lit aflame thanks to James and his new power. All James saw was a crimson haze as the monster was but a shadow in the haze representing all of the hatred James had tried so desperately to lock away for so long. The Monster tried to attack again only for James to block its attack with ease while coming closer to his prey.
For Torunn it was different all she saw now as power unlimited power. She began to grin to this as the power of the Allfathers flowed through her by blood alone. She then raised her arm up ready to bring down her next attack. "Suffer!" Torunn spoke next as she then brought down not one not two but three bolts of lightning on the monster all at the same time. The Monster roared in pure agony as its suffering could be heard by all who were near it.
(Cody)
"Skaar!" Cody called out as he looked for his friend a prisoner in Skaar's rage. "Skaar I know you can hear me! SKAAR!" Cody called out as he looked for his best friend.
Just then he found a light and in turn saw through Skaar's eyes as all he saw was a crimson haze of pure rage.
(Battle)
"DIE!" Skaar roared out ready to unleash his power as were Torunn and James.
But if they did this out of vengeance out of anger then... they might never come back from it. But before the final attack could be made James went wide eyed as he felt something grabbing his arm. Torunn was the same as she looked and saw Hawkeye risking electrocution to stop Torunn from going too far.
"I know your hurting James," The voice of Morgan came to him in his trance of anger as she went on saying, "I know what you're trying to do… trying to be, to become Captain America."
James look to his arm where he felt someone is holding him at as Morgan voice keep on speaking, "But you're not captain America, you're not Steve Rogers. You're James Rogers, son of Captain America the soldier and Black Widow the spy who inhering their strengths, the boy who I admire."
"This voice," James thought as he look up seeing a light shining down at him, with Morgan voice went on speaking to him saying, "You are James Rogers, the shield hero, and I trust you above all else."
James snap out of his trance as he said to himself, "W-what was I doing?"
James look and saw who was holding onto him and to his shock to see Morgan with parts of her armor broken off and her helmet missing, no doubt she push through the storm and flames to reach him as she smile to him even thought she was suffering as she went on saying, "Welcome back…James."
Morgan collapse as James kneel down to her as he calls out, "Morgan!"
With Torrun as she was look to see who grab her, and to her shock was Hawkeye as he held onto her closely despite getting shocked by her powers as he said to her, "Torrun… please don't lose… yourself to… your anger."
Hawkeye could not hold on anymore as he let go and collapse, as Torrun eyes return to normal, her power all but vanish as the wind died down and the lightning stooped as well as she cry out, "No, Francis!"
Back over with James, as he look and seen the damage that was done to her, as it wasn't just her arms and face, but the expose part of her broken armor that was all over as James quickly chanted, "As shield Hero, source of thy power, I order thee!"
A burst of energy came forth as James quickly cast a spell on Morgan as he said, "Decipher the laws of nature and heal my target. Fast healing!"
James try to heal Morgan as he could but it seem her wounds were still present, despite using a high level healing spell as he try again and again.
With Skaar as he was the only one left battling the dragon zombie as the power of his mother was come forth as the ground around came forth and wrap around Skaar like armor as he beat, slash, and cut the zombie dragon but it wasn't going down so easily and try to shake Skaar off but did manage to use his burning tail to strike him with it, being curse flames from James shield it hurt him pretty bad while he was knock off.
Skaar soon gotten back up with his wounds were healing, but slowly as he went back at the zombie dragon once again unknown to him Cody was still reaching out to him.
(Cody)
"Come one Cody, think! How can I reach Skaar if he can't hear me?!" Cody said as he was freaking out a bit within his shared mind as suddenly an unknown woman's voice spoken out to him, "There is such a way young one."
"Hu?" Cody said as he look around for a voice that didn't belong there as he soon called out, "Who's there?"
"It matter now who I am young one, but I know of a way to reach Skaar," the woman's voice spoken to him as Cody soon said, "How can I reach him?"
"Show him the memories you share with him," the voice spoken as Cody said, "How do I do that?"
The voice didn't call out and left Cody in the dark silent, as Cody sigh in frustration done as he said, "Alright, show Skaar your memory… but how? Just think about it, but what, how we enjoy the hot springs?"
Suddenly an image pass by as Cody saw it out of the corner of his eyes before it vanish as he said, "Wait was that… the time Skaar asked for a dragon?"
Soon enough another image appeared as Cody saw a brief moment of the time before the race between James and Motoyasu happen as when he saw the dragon mount Motoyasu had Skaar wanted a dragon for himself.
(Skaar)
Skaar knock the dragon back with an upper cut punch, stun it a good bit before, as Skaar was about to go for a kill shot, he stop suddenly as a flash memory of Cody speaking to him as he said, "No Skaar, you can't have a dragon."
"But I'll take care of it!" Skaar tries to reason with Cody of wanting a dragon, as Skaar remember that before as he suddenly said "Cody?"
(Cody)
After a moment of waiting, the red light from Skaar vision change into a more gray-ish red color as Cody turn to see Skaar had stopped in his raging moment as he suddenly Heard Skaar called out, "Cody?"
"Skaar can you hear me?" Cody called out, but after a while there was no reply, to his guess, he was still too deep in the mind, and he try to think of something else as he remember something that would bring him and Skaar back, and he said, "Skaar remember how we first meet, that kid who try to help people because he wanted to be a doctor?"
Soon enough another image came forth one showing the past of how he and Skaar first meet and came to be as it was.
(Flashback)
Cody was walking through some ruins after avoiding a patrol of Ultrabots. He was heading to his hide away from them after scavenging for food scraps before noticing something. He saw the Ultrabots had been patrolling the area violently and thus he saw a trail of destruction. When he followed it he nearly yelped in shock when he saw Skaar there holding a bleeding injury.
Cody recognizing someone in need despite his size acted and headed to the creature. But Skaar roared and growled at him thinking he meant him harm. Cody raised his hands showing he didn't mean any harm while slowly approaching Skaar. "You're hurt." Cody said as he looked to Skaar while taking out some medical alcohol. He took out a clean rag and looked to Skaar who glared at him watching his every move. "This is going to hurt just... don't smash me for it." Cody said as he applied the stuff to the rag.
Skaar heard the warning and term hurt and when Cody did so he did not lie. Skaar roared in pain and thus the Ulta Bots heard them causing Cody to go wide eyed in this. Cody quickly acted and thus tried to device a distraction. Skaar seeing saw Cody run out and in turn blew a shrill whistle and thus Skaar saw Cody guide the robots away. Skaar saw the bag was still here and thus began to shift through it for any bandages or medicine.
(Later)
By some miracle Cody escaped and returned to Skaar who was looking more like a mummy at the moment. "You're doing it wrong here." Cody said and thus began to properly wrap the bandages around Skaar's injury. "You're going to need to give it some time to heal try not to exert yourself ok." Cody said after he wrapped up Skaar's arm. "Heh not much of a talker, well ok I'm Cody nice to meet you big guy." Cody said as he looked to Skaar who he assumed didn't talk. "It's late so I guess this will be camp for us." Cody smiled and thus Skaar was intrigued by Cody.
(That Night)
Cody had changed Skaar's bandages out and was reading a medical book from his small collection while the fire burned. Eventually Cody yawned and began to fall asleep which Skaar was waiting for. Skaar took one of the books and opened it with one hand before he began to read it or tried to.
(End Flashback Skaar)
Skaar remembered that day the day he and Cody first met. Of course Skaar tried to get Cody to leave him alone but the two stuck together. Skaar was Cody's protector at the time and Cody became Skaar's first friend.
(Cody)
Cody saw he was getting somewhere and thus began to bring up even more memories of their adventures together. Raiding Libraries, helping the little guys, and even just laughing when one of them did something funny. "Skaar it wasn't your fault what happened." Cody said as he remembered the day he and Skaar became one.
(Flashback)
Skaar roared out fighting his way through the Ultrabots that Cody tried to distract to give people time to escape. Cody refused to give in and in turn Skaar came to the scene of Cody against the wall dying from laser wounds through his body. "CODY!" Skaar yelled and ran over to his closest and only friend.
"Hey big guy trust me it looks worse than it feels." Cody struggled to say only to cough up more blood.
"Cody hurt don't die!" Skaar cried out trying to recreate what Cody had always done to heal others.
"Nah it won't work, not a doctor for miles bud." Cody said knowing full well this was it. "It's been fun the two of us together." Cody said as Skaar was feeling grief now and rage against Ultron. "Skaar just stay here with me until it happens." Cody said not wanting his friend to go down that path.
"Ok." Skaar said staying with Cody as he began to cry for his best friend his only friend.
"It's... been fun... you know." Cody said as his breathing began to slow down with his body functions shutting down as well. "Just... promise me... you won't become vengeful... promise me you'll help others be their hero... show kindness even to those who are cruel to you." Cody said as Skaar nodded in agreement. "Always help the puny people help those who can't... who can't..." Cody then breathed his last and thus Skaar was wide eyed as the tears began to stream.
"No... Give Cody back. GIVE HIM BACK TO SKAAR!" Skaar roared and summoned the Old Power from deep within himself taking both himself and Cody's corpse with him.
(End Flashback)
"Skaar remembers how Cody and Skaar became one." Skaar said remembering that day.
"Yeah... you saved my life Skaar." Cody said and thus he felt the haze around him vanish as well.
(Battle)
"You saved my life by sharing yours with me." Cody added as Skaar smiled hearing Cody again after so long.
"Cody saved Skaar first." Skaar said showing he was trying to repay that favor.
"And when I did two lifelong friends were born." Cody countered and thus Skaar began to focus on this. "Skaar we still have a fight to win but this time let's play smart with the others, brains and bronze." Cody began and Skaar smirked to this.
"Cody and Skaar are strongest there is!" Skaar roared and thus after pulling the power back charged at the Zombie Dragon once more and went for its neck. The Dragon seeing this roared in challenge trying to force Skaar off its neck.
The Avengers saw this and smiled at what they saw. "Skaar is back!" Pym cheered seeing Skaar was back to his normal bug angry self.
"What is he trying to do choke it out?" Azari asked as he saw the event take place.
"No... He's trying to tear its head off!" James called out as he realized this.
"Will that kill it?" Pym asked as Raphtalia was also worried about this.
"I'm not sure buts it better than the alternatives." James said looking to the blazing shield in his hand and the harm it did to Morgan.
"What's the plan, James?" Raphtalia asked as she looked to James.
"Torunn!" James called and thus Torunn got to Morgan and James while holding Hawkeye in her arms. "Get these tow to safety once you do regroup with us." James said and thus looked to Azari and Pym. "Azari help me and Raphtalia get that things attention, Pym go big and hold it down!" James ordered and thus the two understood.
"Got it!" They said and thus charged into the fight with James and Raphtalia close behind them. James blocked the monsters attacks on him and gave Azari and Raphtalia cover to circle around the beast. Once they did this then climbed up its back going to where Skaar was holding its neck. Following it up Pym flew upward to the sky before he went big and landed on the beasts back and began to hold it down as best he could. Raphtalia then found a soft spot and stabbed into the monster's neck via the soft spot. Azari went further and clawed out the monsters good eye causing it great pain from it.
"Ah gross it's so wet!" Azari yelled flicking the eye juices off his hands.
"Torunn!" James called out and thus Torunn flew back into the fight and when she did she summoned her sword. When she caught the weapon she flew upward before drawing a thunder strike to her sword. With a roar she stabbed the sword deep into the monsters neck on the opposing side of Skaar.
"Skaar!" Torunn called out and thus Skaar nodded. "Now you undead monster!" Torunn began as Skaar drew his sword. "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!" Torunn roared out and sliced the monsters head clean off with Skaar helping make the clean cut. The Monsters' head rolled on the ground where it moved for a few moments before going limp with the eyes no longer glowing.
"We got it!" Pym cheered as the monster was now dead.
Skaar glared at the Dragon and gave it a good kick to make sure it stays down this time. Just then the group heard movement at the Dragon's stomach causing them to panic and looked ready for an attack. "Please tell me this thing wasn't pregnant." Azari said as he glared at the stomachs movement. Just then a slit was seen and thus the Dragons rotting guts spewed out with Filo rolling out with it.
"Is that?" Pym asked almost too hopeful to see this.
Just then the mass got up and revealing it was indeed Filo alive and well. "Filo your alive!" Raphtalia gasped truly happy to see Filo was ok.
"Well it took me a little while but I'm out." Filo said happy to be out of there.
"But that thing ate you and there was blood everywhere!" Azari called out as he was surprised to see Filo was ok.
"I don't think that was blood." Viv said as she flew in and looked to Filo.
"She's right it was the fruit I threw up when the dragon gobbled me up." Filo said and thus the Avengers realized in the heat of the moment the vomit did look like blood.
"That's so sweet of you guys to worry about me thank you for that." Filo began but was then bashed into by Skaar giving her a big hug. Following it up was Torunn, James, Pym, Azari, Viv, and even Raphtalia.
"Filo I'm so glad you're ok!" Torunn said as she then gave the Filolial a scolding look. "Don't you ever scare me like that again young lady!" Torunn scolded Filo sounding like a mom more than a warrior.
"Were you helping us from the inside?" Raphtalia asked and thus Filo nodded.
"Yeap that I was." Filo said as she then remembered something. "Oh and another thing while I was tearing at its belly trying to get out I found this big purple crystal. It was so shiny." Filo said and thus the group looked to her.
"A crystal?" James asked as he looked to Filo.
"So that must be what powered the thing." Torunn said deducing it. "What did you do with the crystal?" Torunn asked and thus they got the answer via Filo belching.
"I detect that crystal... inside her stomach." Viv said surprising the group.
"Wait you ate it!?" James cried out shock to hear this.
"I'll get to pulling it out." Viv said as she knew she'd be asked to get the Crystal in Filo's stomach.
This in turn caused the group to laugh only for a new voice to be heard. "Geez you guys are so loud." Morgan was heard causing James to go wide eyed.
"Morgan!" James called out and thus he ran over to her. Once he got to Morgan he looked and saw her and Hawkeye coming to. "Are you ok?" James asked as Hawkeye then raised his hand.
"Don't mind me I got electrocuted by god power I'm totally fine." Hawkeye said as Morgan smirked a bit.
"Just give me some medicine, clean up the dragon, and then we can make me right as rain back at the village." Morgan said as he looked to James.
"Morgan Hawkeye we need to get you two looked over." James said and thus Skaar began to transform back into Cody who began to cough a bit.
"Don't worry." Cody said as he stumbled in a bit. "I'll keep them under observation you guys focus on the bigger problem." Cody said and thus the Avengers nodded.
"Come on guys lets clean up this mess before the bastard resurrects again." James ordered and thus the Avengers all nodded and got to work.
(Scene Break Later that Day the Village)
The Doctor was looking to the Avengers after they brought Hawkeye and Morgan in to get healed. The rest of them got a look over and good news they were all ok save for the two heavily injured ones. "The Mountain wind has gone back to normal we'll be alright now." The Doctor said as he looked to the Avengers. "Thank you so very much." He said passing the Coins he planned to give to the Royal Court to the Avengers.
"Use that money as payment to treat Francis and Morgan." James said as his friends wellbeing were more important than getting paid. "I don't care about the price just get it done." James said to which the Doctor sighed.
"Your archer friend will be fine but your other friend well... curing her will be difficult." The Doctor confessed as Morgan was currently wrapped in bandages with Hawkeye. "She's been afflicted with a curse a powerful one at that." The doctor confirmed as the group listened. "We've done what we can we wrapped her in bandages soaked in holy water but we don't have a Holy Water that's pure enough to dispel curses like this." The Doctor said making James wide eyed that he did this to her.
"Isn't there a way to help her?" Viv asked hoping to help Morgan somehow.
"Yes if you go to a church in a big town I know you'll find some." The Doctor said as the Avengers paid close attention to this. "Please keep this money for when you do." The Doctor said offering the sack once more to which James took it.
"Thank you Doctor." James said and thus the Avengers all went to check in the patients.
(Morgan and Hawkeye)
Hawkeye was enjoying a nice drink as Morgan was being tended to by the nurse. "Morgan how are you feeling?" Filo asked as they all walked in.
"Meh on bed rest so I'm taking some improve leave time." Morgan said acting like the injuries didn't bother her.
"You're telling me I'll be out of here in a few days." Hawkeye said smirking to this.
"As you can see Barton is still Barton." Morgan said to which Hawkeye scoffed to this.
"I had no idea corpses can inflict curses like these." The Nurse said causing the group to get nervous to this.
"Yeah fucker wrecked my suit and got its flesh on me, let me tell you having rotting flesh on you is not a pretty feeling." Morgan said keeping the Nurse from getting suspicious of what really happened.
The Nurse saw the way James looked and smiled to the girl. "That boy cares very much about you doesn't he?" The Nurse asked smiling to Morgan knowing she had good friends and family nearby. Morgan blushed to this and then just sipped at the drink she was given mumbling to herself.
"I'm really sorry... I lost control." James said to which Morgan shrugged.
"Hey don't worry, but try not to put yourself in that situation bottling up that anger and trying to be more like your dad. You should be more like you James Rogers maybe pull up a little Black Widow that's in you." Morgan said relaxing in the bed.
"Oh before I forget here James." Viv said handing the crystal over to James. "It may be a crystallization of the residual energy from the dragons corpse it might prove itself useful in fact." Viv said and thus James nodded and put the crystal on his shield. When he did he pushed it in and thus gained access to a new Skill... or at least he thought he did. All he got was a question mark showing he wasn't a high enough level for it.
"Guys." James said as he couldn't stop thinking of what he ALMOST did. "I'm sorry that happened... I don't ever want to use that power ever again... I'm afraid if I do... I won't come back from it." James confessed as he looked to his friends.
"Yeah it maybe kick ass but I'd think we might want to avoid using it." Morgan said knowing something like that could very well destroy James.
"It's not just that, I hesitated I've been trying to be more like my dad and every time I get close I get a reminder to the face telling me I'm not him... I can't be the Captain America my father was... but I can be my own Captain America." James said showing he had grown up some in this regard.
"Well of course we're the Next Avengers Heroes of Tomorrow." Morgan said with a grin on her face at the words she used.
"And as long as we stand united and fight as one... then evil will never win." James said and thus Torunn nodded to this with the other Avengers. "So let's all get stronger together one day at a time." James said and thus they all smiled to this as James then looked to his shield. "Avengers... Assembled." James said with a grin on his face looking at his reflection in the gem of his shield.
"Guys its getting pretty late let's all head to bed we've had a long day." Torunn said and thus they were all in agreement on this.
(Scene Break outside)
James sat on a rock as Torunn was next to him. "Are you sure about this?" Torunn asked as her sword was stabbed into the ground.
"No... But I'm going to try it anyway." James said as he got up and looked to the sword. James then hovered his free hand over the swords handle hesitating for a moment. He then sighed and put his hand on the hilt of the blade and to his surprise the Shield didn't reject it. He then pulled at it and noticed something Torunn didn't see. As he saw it he let the Sword go and walked away keeping what he learned to himself. James now had a lot to think about and hopefully Morgan's research on the Cardinal Weapons, The Waves, and the Dragon Hourglass may actually yield for them results. But until then as James said they had to take things one day at a time.
Still today was too close a call but now James would work harder to be careful and protect the others. He promised that much because like Morgan said he's the son of James Rogers the Soldier Captain America and Natasha Romanov the Spy Black Widow. And now he had to work on connecting more to his mother's heritage if he wants to be the best hero he can be. But until then James will fight on and lead the Avengers just as his father did before him.
(TBC)
ESKK: Well here we go another chapter completed and ready to publish. I hope you all enjoyed it and decide to leave me a review. So until next time folks I will say here ja-ne.
