Another adventure begins!

I've upped the violence in this adventure of Tony and Pepper.

Also, quotes at the beginning of each chapter, are now from Confucius.

I'd like to dedicate this adventure to all you readers, who have been so kind and wonderful with your support for this saga. The highlight of my morning is opening my email to see a Kudos or Favorite or Comment on my simple take of Pepperony.

My heart is ever at your service.

Marvel, thank you for creating Iron Man and Pepper Potts, so we can use them in our literary imaginations. We are just humbly representing them in a different form. You own everything.


Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated - Confucius

Spring was a peaceful time for Stark Keep and the village. The villagers were content with the influx of trade and good fortune. They were also happy with their new de facto leaders, aka Tony and Pepper. From the designs for a new town center to the syllabus for the school, these two were consulted in every village matter, be it big or small.

However, an unfortunate barrier had sprung up between Tony and Pepper, after their moonlight dance in the East Wing salon. It was all thanks to Tony. He was determined to avoid being alone with Pepper at all costs. Happy's presence was insisted upon, for all sparring lessons. He had changed his schedule and now slept in late and would stay up all night, knowing that Pepper was an early to bed, early to rise person.

When Pepper asked him to broaden her training, he instead delegated it completely to Happy and started taking secretive trips on his own with Tigliath. She was hurt and confused by his behavior. She wondered whether it was because, he could sense her growing attachment to him and he didn't want to reciprocate her feelings.

But she didn't know how to confront him. She didn't want to admit her feelings to herself, either. So instead, she started spending more time with the village womenfolk and Aland, whom she developed an easygoing friendship with.

He was a very nice man and while she greatly missed Tony's company, she appreciated the relaxing time, she spent with Aland. They would go horseback riding and flower picking, often with other couples from the village.

This state of affairs continued until the 3rd month of Spring.


Pepper was practicing her archery all alone, in the yard behind the east wing. She assumed Tony was on one of his solitary rides, because as usual, he was nowhere to be found. She heard huffing and wheezing close by, and smiled.

Happy's here, exhausted from running up the hill again... I wonder why he is in a hurry.

Sure enough, Happy rounded the corner with an anxious expression on his face. "Tony, Tony, we need to talk. You were right about..."

He stopped abruptly, seeing Pepper there. And tried to assume an air of nonchalance.

"Hey Pep. You've seen Tony around? Wanted to catch up with him."

Pepper wasn't fooled at all.

"What's going on, Happy? What has happened, what is Tony right about?"

He looked at her with unease. He had the same expression as Tigliath had whenever she caught him eating from the kitchen's rubbish bin.

He hemmed a bit and then hawwed and she finally said, "Happy, please tell me what's going on."

"My cousin has come from Carinthia with grave news. We three need to talk. Come, let's ride, I know where Tony is."


Tony was lying down in a grassy meadow, amongst the daisies, situated on the western side of the keep. Far away from the lake and the village. Pepper didn't know this area, so he felt relieved in knowing that she wouldn't come here.

He idly chewed on a blade of grass. Balthazar was nearby, grazing peacefully. Tigliath was busy snoozing in the grass.

It's so calm out here. I can forget about the world, the Keep, the village. I can forget about the flame. I can forget about my parents, Stane...

Out of nowhere, a blue butterfly flitted across his view, choosing to perch on a daisy nearby. Such a lovely shade of blue. Deep, deep, sea blue.

Remind you of someone? Chortled the dragon. The beast then began to hum, Da da... da daa, hmmmm...Once upon a dream...

Tony scowled. The dragon couldn't resist needling him about Pepper and that moonlit night in the salon. He was playing a horrible tug of war with himself, regarding his feelings about Pepper. He did not want to accept that he had feelings for her in the first place.

And I'm not going to think about her and Aland either. The name made him tense.

How typical, Anthony... you keep saying you do not want Pepper but you do not want Aland to have her either. Snorted the dragon. So, so childish.

He closed his eyes, willing himself to forget about Pepper, along with everything else. Just relax.

The sound of approaching riders made him straighten up and he reached for his sword. Then he scowled.

Pepper. Just whom I'm trying not to think about.

When they dismounted, Pepper looked around the meadow with joy. Tony couldn't help but smile at her expression. She looks so pretty. Especially amongst the daisies.

Pepper looked at him and smiled back sweetly. For a minute, he forgot he was trying to stay away from her and kept smiling.

Then he remembered and looked away.

"What is it, Happy?" he growled, suddenly wishing they hadn't come here.

"Sir, you were right about Carinthia. My cousin Jerald reached our village just now, with his family. They had to leave. The new Queen wants the land for herself."

Tony grimaced. He had hoped his fears would remain fears and not turn into reality.

Pepper looked between the two men, confused. "Can someone please explain to me, what is going on?"

Happy said, "My cousin, Jerald, is the head farmer of a small community of barley farmers on the outskirts of the city of Carinthia. The city is prosperous and ruled by a kind and just ruler, King Jon. He had a good relationship with my cousin's community."

"But it appears the King has been dethroned and the new ruler, a queen, wants the land for herself. Yesterday her guards kicked Jerald and his family out of their homes and burned everything down. Even their crops."

Pepper was shocked. "Are they all right?"

Happy nodded. "They aren't physically hurt but the shock of losing their homes...It wasn't just them. The Queen's guards are clearing the entire countryside in a bloody, violent manner. They have kicked out numerous farmers and destroyed an entire season's crops without a care."

"The people of the inner city are also scared. The queen has raised their taxes overnight and is demanding additional tributes. A curfew has been imposed. There are even rumors of people disappearing, never to be seen again."

Pepper said, "This is horrible, she's a despot and she''s abusing her right to rule."

Tony spoke then. "The game of kings and kingdoms is not one, we can normally engage in. But..." he paused thoughtfully, "there is a deeper evil at work here. One I cannot ignore."

The dragon hissed in agreement. I have sensed a disturbance in the spiritual balance. A malevolent presence has been awoken. It is somehow linked to the turmoil in Carinthia.

Tony repeated the dragon's words out loud.

Tony noticed Happy looking at him in disbelief but didn't know how he should explain his thoughts.

I cannot let them know about the dragon. They'd think I'm mad. No one will ever take me seriously if I say a spiritual being lives in me.

He glanced at Pepper, expecting to see a similar skeptical glance but instead she was looking at him understandingly, as if she agreed with his dilemma.

Happy cleared his throat, "Ok, so what do we do know?"

Tony said, "We need to investigate before it is too late for the people of Carinthia."