The dais was obviously designed to be a viewing platform, Pepper decided, as she settled herself onto her 'throne' and watched as Tony seated himself to her right, while T'Challa took the place on her left – after he made sure his mother and sister were both comfortable. Thor moved off the platform completely and vanished off to the side – as did M'Baku – while those people who had been standing around when she'd arrived (including Natasha, Clint, Steve, Vision, the Guardians and everyone else that was currently at the compound) all walked to the edge of the grass field, as well, looking out toward the trees.
Pepper noticed that Stephen was absent, but Natasha wasn't standing alone, since Peter had walked over to join her, and the assassin put a companionable arm around the boy's waist, holding him close as they, too, turned and watched the direction of the trees.
Pepper had been aware that Romanoff was smiling a lot, lately, and made a mental note to find out what had her so pleased. Or happy. It was hard to read her, sometimes – even for someone as good at it as Pepper was. She saw Nick Fury walk out of the side door of the compound, dressed in his usual leather uniform and the SHIELD director looked over at the dais and then toward the trees. He pulled out a gun – she realized at the last minute that it wasn't a handgun – and fired a flare into the early afternoon sky.
A signal of some sort, Pepper decided.
Suddenly the sunny day darkened, clouds drew in from nowhere, making everyone look up at them. A massive bolt of lightning gathered and shot out of the clouds with a rumble of thunder, all streaking toward a lone figure now standing in the center of the field. The thunder roared as Thor stepped forward, the clouds cleared, giving way for the sun once more, and a beam of light landed just right, shining down on the god of Thunder.
"Show off," Tony murmured, softly, from Pepper's right.
She smiled, though, because she could hear in his tone that he was impressed – and couldn't hide it.
She didn't say anything, instead keeping her eyes on the tree line. There were sudden motions along the entire stretch, and people were stepping out from the cover of the green foliage. Asgardian, all, she could tell, immediately. They were singing; softly at first and then louder as they cleared the trees. Pepper didn't know what they were singing since it was a language that she didn't understand, but it was a gentle tune that seemed to be building, slightly, and she realized that the women who were singing were the troupe that they'd been entertained by when they'd been to Asgard.
Luckily, they were dressed a bit more modestly, this time – although she did glance over toward Peter, automatically. He was still with Romanoff, though, and watching, intently.
The song changed as the men joined in, and now it was more of a rousing tune. A flight of raptor-style birds appeared overhead, fierce beaks and talons easy to see as the massive wings carried them low over the watching crowd, even as the song built, further. Pepper found her heart beating faster with excitement at the stirring tones, and the troupe of performers were joined by a large group of warriors, all of whom were carrying weapons from their home world, and brandishing them with competence that left her – and those watching – breathless.
The warriors performed mock battles with each other, their weapons razor sharp and the steel flashing in the sunshine of the day. The sound of metal clashing with metal only added to the intensity of the song that was still being sung, and as the battles began to slow and the song reached a crescendo to its climax, there was a sudden shadow falling over the field and a murmur of amazement as the onlookers all had their attention drawn upwards, to the sky.
The raptors were gone, now, having flown off, and Pepper felt her jaw drop as she saw two small creatures that could only be called dragons fly low overhead, swooping through the sky above them, scales of gold and silver gleaming and mouths opening to display teeth at long as some of the daggers that the Asgardian warriors were wielding. The song crested, and the dragons roared, disappearing over the compound roof, and another flying form drew their attention – and another murmur of awe.
The Pegasus was brilliant white. Made more so by the sunlight that was bathing it. The wings of the creature were spread wide and seemed to be giving off sparks as it flew over them, and then turned and made another flyby – directed by the woman who was riding on its back. The song came to its climax just as the last sound of battle rang clear, and as the Pegasus disappeared into the sun, the song ended on a final note, and the warriors stilled, looking at their audience – and not a single piece of armor out of place, and no one scratched.
There was a moment of stunned silence, and then the watching crowd roared its approval, cheering and whistling and clapping. Pepper was one of them, of course, smiling broadly and amazed that so many of them were willing to put on a show – brief as it was but incredible, nonetheless – just for them.
The Asgardians bowed, politely, and then moved to the side of the field, well out of the way – and Pepper wasn't the only one to look toward the trees once more with silent anticipation.
They didn't have to wait long.
As Thor had done, a lone figure suddenly walked out of the trees. Dark skin gleaming in the sun, and wearing the formal warrior's garb of his own country, M'Baku stood alone and imposing in the middle of the field. He was holding a spear in his hand, and he lifted his head and made a sharp cry that echoed through the field and beyond.
There was a thundering reply from the trees, and M'Baku repeated his cry – which was a summons, Pepper decided.
Sure enough, more movements at the tree line, and suddenly the warriors of Wakanda were pouring from the small forest and onto the field. Like the Asgardians, they were dressed in warrior's garb. Leather, metal, cloth and a lot of bare skin that was designed to show off the tattoos from their manhood rites, the warriors formed up in ranks behind the Jabari chieftain.
A soft chant began, the noise like the sound of distant thunder, and Pepper looked for Thor, but realized the sound was coming from the Wakandans, instead, this time. They stepped forward, slowly, and they were all carrying the same spears that Peter had learned to use. Only they looked a lot more impressive with theirs than Peter probably would ever manage.
As the others watched, the Wakandans began a low chant, which grew in sound as they began twirling their spears in perfect symmetry, the metal flashing dangerously close to the heads of those warriors around them. The chanting continued, and M'Baku's spear was brought up above his head with an undulating cry. The field went quiet and the spears stilled. A lone figure broke ranks of the gathered warriors, and Pepper and the others watched as Azoru walked out, calm and cool and dressed in a similar fashion to his uncle. He turned toward Pepper and bowed, then turned to M'Baku and bowed to him, as well, before brining his own spear up.
The Jabari chieftain lunged at his nephew without warning, but Azoru blocked the attack and returned with one of his own – which was immediately repelled. The remaining warriors formed half a circle around them, and resumed their chanting as the sparring went on. Eventually, M'Baku swept low with his spear and took Azoru's feet out from under him. The young Wakandan noble went down and his uncle made a cry of triumph – which was answered by the others.
Before Pepper could worry that the boy was injured – even though she was certain it would have been accidental – Azoru sprang to his feet and was surrounded by half of the warriors, while the other half surrounded M'Baku. There was a sudden scream from somewhere in the group, and as if it was a signal – and it probably was – the two crowds moved back, and were now facing each other. Spears twirled, again, in mock combat, although none of the touched the weapon of anyone close to them – which was just as impressive as watching the Asgardians try to pound each other into dust. After ten minutes of an incredible display of weapons control, the Wakandans all ended up facing the dais in a single smooth motion, and the spears went into their left hands, while the right hands activated shields that looked like they were made out of the same forcefields that protected the country of Wakanda, itself.
M'Baku took his rightful place in front of his people just as the sky darkened – not from clouds, but as if a deep blue veil had been brought over the sun. A motion behind the Wakandans near the trees caught the attention of those who were most observant, and Stephen and Wong were both standing therands raised.
Before Pepper could wonder what they were up to, the sky was exploding in several different places as fireworks like nothing seen – even on the fourth of July, or New Years' Even – began to light up the darkened backdrop. The display was mammoth, and everyone was enthralled. Especially in the end when a final explosion of color sent up blue and silver sparkles that eventually spelled out 'Happy Birthday Pepper' in thirty foot letters.
As the light show was fading and the sky returned to its normal sunny day, the Wakandan warriors moved from the field, as well, coming to join the Asgardians and the people from the compound. Now it was clear why there was so much more food than usual; they were planning on staying and enjoying the barbeque. She shook her head, and looked over at Tony, unable to hide how pleased she was by it all.
"Nothing extravagant?" she said, incredulously.
His eyes widened innocently.
"What? You think that was extravagant?"
She rolled her eyes, but reached out and squeezed his hand, lightly.
"Thank you."