I tried to do justice to the fight scene from Iron Man, where Tony escapes from the cave. I wanted to be more violent but was so anxious for Tony to escape that I skipped on a lot of gory details. LOL, that reads just as ridiculous as it sounds in my head.
Tony's thoughts are in italics. Even the dragon's words are as the dragon is talking only to Tony inside his head.
Thanks for reading.
Marvel owns everything. I just have an overactive imagination that owns me.
A furnace was set up in their large cell. Forging tools were brought in. When the soldiers finally left, he and Yin Sen ate their meager gruel, the first meal for Tony in two days.
"Yin Sen, I do not want to build them this suit. I would rather die."
"I agree, my lord, but us dying will not stop Stane. We should escape and I think I know how."
"How?"
"We build them the suit..." Tony started to protest but Yin Sen held up his hand. "Hear me out. We build the suit but we design it such that it can be powered only by the flame. At the same time, I give you more of my flame, making you stronger. Once you are strong enough and the suit is ready, we fight out way out of this hellhole. And destroy Stane's base in this area."
Tony grinned grimly. "A fine plan. But Yin Sen, how can you give me more of your flame? Won't the loss weaken you?"
"I will become a little weaker, my lord, but it won't kill me. Besides, you need to reach maximum strength to fight in armor."
They shook on their plan and started to work on creating the armor.
x-x-x-x
First, they created a rough sketch of the suit on some sheepskin. Then Tony sketched detailed plans for each part of armor.
After that the forging began. To infuse the metal with the strength of the dragon, Yin Sen extracted some of his flame and used it to burn the steel. Tony did the arduous work of hammering the steel into the required form. Slowly but steadily the suit began to take shape.
While taking breaks, Yin Sen would engage Tony in sword play and hand-to-hand combat, to keep him fit and agile. He also taught Tony how to meditate and call forth the flame, from focusing inward. And everyday, Yin Sen would extract a little of the flame from himself and give it to Tony, making him a little stronger with every extract.
They were left undisturbed but once Raza unexpectedly dropped in to see how much they had progressed. What he saw must have pleased him, because he immediately left the fort to inform Stane. This worried Tony and he doubled his efforts, determined to complete the suit in the next few days.
x-x-x-x
The suit was finally complete. There was a storm brewing, judging from the sound of thunder. Tony and Yin Sen finally had a plan of attack.
They ate lightly and talked to distract themselves from the battle ahead. Yin sen looked at Tony thoughtfully.
"My lord, who are you going back to when this is over?"
Tony smiled sadly. "No one. There is nothing and no one waiting for me. What about you?"
"Me? I will go back to my family."
"Oh... I thought you wanted to travel, so you could pass on the flame to a successor."
Yin Sen smiled his toothless grin. "My lord, I have found my successor and he is indeed worthy. My quest ends here."
It took a minute for Tony to realize that Yin Sen was talking about him.
I concur with Yin Sen. whispered the dragon.
Tony grasped the monk's shoulder in thanks and then the great bell rang twice. It was time to put the plan in action.
x-x-x-x
The guard outside the cell was dozing when a loud moan was heard. He opened the hatch on the cell door. The old man was lying down on the floor, moaning. The knight was sleeping on a bench, in a pile of blankets.
He motioned at another guard and together they entered the cell. They came over to the old man. One guard prodded him with a stick. They tried to see what was the matter. While this was going on, Tony sneaked out of the open cell door. He needed a weapon.
Yin Sen clutched his stomach and let out another groan. "Oh! I am poisoned! Oh I am dying.. ooooaaaagghhhh..."
The guards stared at each other.
"I will go inform Raza." said one and ran out of the room. The other guard stood over Yin Sen, who was groaning even louder.
As the guard left the room, Tony knocked him out with a club and took the armory key from him. He opened the armory and selected a long broad sword for himself and a pike for Yin Sen.
He then returned to the cell. The other guard heard footsteps but didn't turn, thinking it was his friend. Then Tony knocked him out as well, using the sword's hilt.
Yin Sen dragged the other guard into the cell as Tony put on the Iron Knight armor. It was a feeling like no other. The flame in his chest allowed him to bear the armor easily. Yin Sen looked at him with pride.
They left the cell, locked it and quietly crept towards the main hall. Tony started to count the guards.
At least four on each side of the hall.
He could attack one side while Yin Sen could take the other. He turned to tell Yin Sen the plan but the monk was gone.
He whispered "Yin Sen, Yin Sen, where are you?"
"Here, my lord." said the monk breathlessly, suddenly reappearing. He had a great curved sword in his hand. He offered it to Tony.
"I took this from the armory. This was my sword. When I was captured, they took it from me. I want you to have it, my lord. May it serve you well in battle as it has served me."
Anthony looked at him with shock. "I can't take your sword."
But Yin Sen pushed it into his hands and made him set the broad sword down. "We can argue later, my lord. Time to fight."
"Right. You take the left side, I will take the other and we work our way to the center."
He slowly crept behind the nearest guard when there was a great explosion. Yin Sen was lobbying balls of fire at the guards on the left side.
Tony had to laugh. The monk is full of surprises.
He took advantage of the guards confusion, to quickly knock one out and then the other. Then two guards saw him and started shouting. All turned to stare at him in horror.
I must look like the devil himself to terrify these brutes so.
For a minute no one moved. They were too afraid to challenge him. Then a bold guard, seemingly the largest of the lot, charged at him. Tony defended himself from the charge and neatly flipped the guard off the landing's balcony. This seemed to frighten one or two guards, who ran for their lives.
Two more guards came towards him, swords raised. Tony clashed with one and finished him off. The other guard hit his back but the armor protected Tony and he stood firm against the impact of the blow. Then he raised his sword and cut down the guard and another as well. He was impressed at the lightness and strength in the weapon.
Yin Sen had barricaded the door leading from the barracks, to the hall, so there were no more guards on his side. Tony was facing one lone guard, when he saw Raza step in front of Yin Sen. He shouted, "Yin Sen, look out!"
The monk squared his shoulders and faced Raza regally. They clashed weapons and Tony quickly finished off the guard, eager to help Yin Sen.
As he ran to the left side of the hallway, he saw them cross swords and push against each other. Raza was stronger and pushed Yin Sen backwards, then swung his sword to cut the monk across the chest. Tony saw red, he could hear the dragon roaring in his ears. His chest started to burn and he rushed towards Raza, who turned to face him, sword raised.
The dragon hissed at him, Burn him in the fire of your anger. Concentrate Anthony, focus within yourself.
Tony knew what it was referring to. There was a switch in the armor that opened the glass lid of the blue flame in his chest. He flipped the switch, concentrated on his rage and a mighty blue flame burst forth from his chest, scorching Raza. The soldier screamed as the flame burned him and he ran blindly towards the fort's balcony.
Tony flipped the switch back and turned towards Yin Sen, who was lying on the floor. He was bleeding heavily as the cut was deep and mortal. Anthony tried to staunch the flow of blood. "Don't die on me, old man. I won't let you die."
Yin Sen looked at him with a serene smile on his face. "My Lord Stark, it is time for the final extract. I will give you my life force, so that you will truly be a knight of the Order of Ryun."
"No! Yin Sen, do not give up. Think of your family, you must go to see them."
The monk's smile grew wider. "It is because of them, that I must leave you, milord. They are not among the living any more. I want to be with them and now I can go to them happily, because I know you will carry on the legend of the flame."
With that, Yin Sen pulled Tony closer to his own chest, in a surprising show of strength for a dying man.
"Open the switch, Lord Stark."
Tony obeyed and he saw the blue flame escape from Yin Sen in bursts of flames. He could feel his own chest on fire. The incoming flame seemed too much for his body to take. He roared with the raw power flowing through his body. He closed his eyes and there was only blueness. In waves, in flames, in light.
Slowly the flame ebbed and he began to feel normal.
Yin Den was very pale but seemed so calm. He said haltingly, "Do not waste your life or your gift, Lord Stark. Do not be afraid to love. Help others and find someone who will love you, who will give you a reason to come back alive, from your quests."
He closed his eyes and let out one last breath, a peaceful smile on his face.
Tony leaned back on his heels. He was lost now. He did not know what to do.
I could have saved him. I should have.
The dragon murmured soothingly, "No Anthony, he lived a full life. There is no time to mourn. You have a higher purpose. Time to fly."
"Fly?!" Anthony exclaimed loudly.
The ludicrous suggestion snapped him out of his daze and made him take stock of his surroundings. The fire had spread and he could hear the chaotic sounds of people trying to escape the fort. He couldn't see Raza's body.
Did he survive my flame attack ? Never mind, I must get out of here.
He ran to the balcony door and stepped into the night.
The fort appeared to be built on the edge of a cliff. He was standing on a flat ledge which dropped off into the ocean.
Behind me, the wolves, in front of me, the cliff. Now how do I escape?
Fly, uttered the dragon.
Are you crazy? How can I fly? In a metal suit of armor. How, how, how...
Believe in the flame, my power, Anthony. Believe in yourself. Call upon your inner strength and jump off the cliff.
Anthony shook his head with disbelief.
Just then a small troop of guards marched onto the ledge, followed by a purple robed being. Stane.
"My lord Stark, you truly deserve the dragon. My lieutenant is missing. My fort is in flames. Half my fleet is dead. And you did all this with that half dead monk in a prison cell in two months. My salutations." the necromancer bowed sarcastically.
Tony stood tensely on the balls of his feet. Flee or fight?
He could fight off Stane's troops with some effort but Stane was a different matter. The man was a wizard. He seemed well versed in the dark arts and Tony couldn't match him in that.
I will not let Stane turn me into a mindless slave. I will not let him take the Iron Knight. I will not, I cannot. I would rather die.
The dragon whispered, You can escape and return to fight Stane another day. Believe in yourself and your gift.
Men are not made to fly, dragon.
But you are not an ordinary man, Lord Stark, trust me when I say this...
What have I got to lose, only my life ...
He said out loud, "Stane, Yin Sen will be avenged someday. Be prepared."
Then he turned and ran towards the ledge. He heard Stane's yell and the troop thundering after him but he focused on the ledge and the flame.
As he neared the edge, he could feel the fire burning with force, he could feel energy flowing through his body. He concentrated on the blueness of the flame, the light. He focused all his rage and anger on his core and jumped off, closing his eyes. He felt himself falling towards the blue depths of the ocean.
Concentrate, Anthony! Feel the flame flowing through you. Raise yourself towards the sky. roared the dragon.
He stretched his hands along his side and focused on the flame and its power coursing through him. He willed the light to move him. Then he felt the breeze on his face and he opened his eyes. He was soaring, soaring along the horizon.
"Huzzaahh!" Tony whopped joyously, the wind in his face, the sky above him and the sea below. He moved with the wind for some time.
Feels good, doesn't it, to fly... the dragon smugly said.
He coasted along until he saw a familiar landmark, the village of Dell. It was a day's ride from King Leoric's castle. He started to descend, focusing on reducing speed.
At last, I am free.
