Title from Iron & Wine''s cover song.
Pepper and Tony make a good tag team, don't you think?
GuestFromFrance... long time no see you my friend, hope you are still reading...:)
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
Translation: I will either find a way or make one
Tony and Pepper were facing down the large, and at the moment, furious Celestial Beast in all its magnificence.
A mass of silvery tendrils headed Tony's way and he braced for impact, while slicing at them. He managed to chop off some but they hit him anyway, like multiple tiny hammers hiting his torso with force. He stumbled back with pain as they retreated.
The beast began to pace, roaring mightily. God, that stung! Has it pierced my armor ! No, it hasn't.
He groaned as the multiple bruises began to throb and dimly realized Pepper had knelt beside him, her hand on his chest plate.
"Tony, Tony! Are you alright?"
"Pep, I'm fine... look I'm going to keep him occupied. You need to circle back and find a weak spot. Take the crossbow and shot it."
Tony stood up quickly, ignoring the pain as the Beast stepped forward cautiously, ready for round two. He saw that Pepper had thrown her shield on the grass and had disappeared into the shrubbery.
"Pep! You idiot! Your shield! You left it here!" He yelled without taking his eyes off the Beast, who was growling.
She yelled back from somewhere. "Tony! You need it more that I do, you proud fool! Hold it up when the tendrils attack!"
Tony smiled. The student has become the master here. He lifted up the shield, thankfully just in time as the Beast tried a new trick.
The tendrils stiffened in its mane and shot out a dozen, tiny, silver arrows of light rapidly at Tony. He held up the shield, protecting his face and torso. But one of the arrows scratched his thigh. Just my luck, he has light that can pierce flesh!
He braced himself as another round of tendrils extended towards him. Time to show you my parlor trick, you furry fiend.
Tony raised both his gauntlets, joined his palms together and released two waves of blue flame at the incoming tendrils. They got burnt badly and the Beast hastily retracted the surviving tendrils. It tilted its massive head at him curiously.
Tony once again, took up a defensive position, sword raised. Now that we know each other's strengths, let's dance.
The Beast narrowed its eyes at him and assumed a crouching position. Just then a bolt hit it in the face and bounced off its nose. It blinked with surprise and Tony chuckled. Good girl, Pep.
Pepper grimaced as she realized she was running out of crossbow bolts. Tony and the Beast were engaged in their deadly game of flame versus tendril. She was worried because she noticed that Tony was growing tired. The weight of his chest plate, the summer heat and the Beast's continuous attacks were all taking a toll on him. Plus he's got two nasty cuts, one on his thigh and the other on his head.
She felt warm and flush. The effect of those damn injections. At least I hope it is that and not... oh no...no... wait I can control it.
She mentally girded herself. Just then the Beast unleashed another torrent of silvery arrows and Pepper gasped as Tony was hit again, this time a nasty gash on his arm.
I have got to get involved. But how? I can charge at it... wait! I can cripple it if I slice its hamstrings. Worth a try.
She stepped out from the shrubbery and waited for Tony to unleash a bolt of flame. When he did so and the Beast was distracted, she charged at the furry leg closest to her, sword raised.
She struck hard, slicing through flesh and the Beast roared angrily and turned towards her, raising its leg.
Pepper backed away hastily, feeling very warm and excited. I am in control, I am control, I will not let it come out ...
She turned to run when she noticed the Beast had held itself back and was not coming after her. It had raised its leg to lick the cut tenderly, just as a cat would.
Its giant, silvery eyes watched her watching it, curiously eager. Then it ruffled its mane at her and lowered its head and huffed softly at her, as if urging her to come closer. She stood still. A large pink tongue lolled out of its mouth and licked its whiskers. Pepper took one step closer and put her hand forward slowly.
The beast's giant eyes were focused on her and Pepper realized they had contracted to study her. A lone tendril came towards her slowly, like a silvery twirly tail. It was going to touch her when she heard Tony yell. Both she and the Beast turned as Tony charged towards the Beast and threw his sword with force at its face.
"Pepper, get away! Run!"
Before Pepper could do anything, the Beast roared in pain as the sword struck its nose, leaving a nasty cut.
Pepper backed away slowly as the Beast rose to its full height. Then in a vicious swipe, it struck Tony with its front claw. She shrieked in horror as Tony literally flew backwards through the air and landed on the grass with a bang.
He just lay there motionless, sprawled out like a drowned rag doll, eerily still
She wanted to run to him but her legs wouldn't obey her. She swallowed hard as she felt her heart beat loudly in her chest. Thump, thump, thump. Time slowed down.
She felt the breeze slow, the Beast stand in place, the water still.
She felt the tingling, the burning sensation in her palms, grow. Her eyes started to burn.
I will not contain it anymore. I hate my power but you, Beast, you leave me no choice but to use it.
She focused on her rage, her frustration, her anger and felt herself grow warm and then burn with fury.
I am tired of being pushed around and feeling helpless. I will not stand idly by and tolerate it anymore.
The sight of Tony lying there motionless on the grass, made the fury pulse stronger within her. She could hear a roaring, whistling noise surround her.
She felt her blood roar as the heat entered it.
Then as one powerful force, the fire and her blood coursed fiercely through her veins, reaching every part of her body and filling her with a burning rage.
She took a deep breath and exhaled, feeling the rage envelop her, surround her, engulf her.
And she took it all in, breathing deep again, feeling the fury set her on fire.
Lesson learned. Flying easy. Landing painful. Ohhh... I do not want to open my eyes. I ache, I ache all over. Good god, has every bone in my body been broken?
Anthony, Anthony ! Get up! Open your eyes! You need to see this!
Tony closed his eyes harder. Dragon, please let me suffer in peace.
Anthony, it is Pepper! Get up.
Hearing Pepper's name shook Tony out of his ache-filled stupor and he came back to the present and sat up abruptly. The word "Pepper" died on his lips as he looked at said woman in complete shock.
Because Pepper was levitating at least nine feet off the ground, nearly eye to eye with the Beast. Her arms were stretched horizontally, away from her body, palms pointed downwards, feet pointed straight and head regally tilted upwards, with the most serene expression on her face.
Tony watched in awe as she turned her arms, raising her palms to the sky. She moved her head backwards, letting it loll from her shoulders and closed her eyes. He could hear a roaring noise, like that of a blazing fire. The he nearly shrieked as Pepper straightened her head and a burst of flame appeared in each of her palms.
Tony and the Beast watched quietly, too stunned to move as the flames throbbed and ebbed in her palms. She opened her eyes and calmly rubbed her palms together and then a giant ball of flame engulfed her from head to toe.
Tony actually yelled then but shut up when he saw the flame burn around Pepper like a body halo. Her hair gently floated in the wind, ablaze with flame. Her eyes glowed, cerulean blue ignited with a reddish light.
For a moment, Tony had a vision flash through his mind.
Pepper sitting cross legged on an altar, wrapped sensuously in crimson cloth, eyes closed, face calm but hands raised at her sides, an orb of fire in each other, ebbing and burning. Her crown was a wreath of flames that gently rotated. She was surrounded by worshippers prostrating before her, chanting reverently.
Is she... is she a pagan goddess of fire? Pepper? Look at her so alight with flame, so... so frighteningly divine, resplendent in her fury. I am ashamed to admit that I am very scared but very aroused at the same time...
The sound of Pepper's voice, broke him out of his trance. She spoke in a crisp but violent manner, the voice familiar but dreadfully other worldly, "Celestial Being, you have come to my world, for an unknown purpose, which you do not reveal. I have no quarrel with you but..."
The orange flame around her seemed to throb and pulse violently for a second and she continued coldly, "You dared...You dared to hurt someone dear to me. I will not allow this!" she ended on a loud whisper.
The Beast had widened its eyes and Pepper said fiercely, "Time to face your fears, Beast ... time to face me!"
Then she opened her mouth and to Tony's astonishment, unleashed a stream of bright flowing fire onto the Beast.
That's...
Yes.
She's...I don't believe it... she's...
The Dragon whispered with pride, As I live and die. A daughter of aeterna flamma. I knew Pepper was special, I felt it in my bones. She is your soulmate, Anthony. Man of blue Ryunn flame and daughter of eternal fire. You are truly destined for each other.
Tony shook his head with disbelief as he watched Pepper, his Pepper, unleash cascades of fire onto the Beast which had curled inwards to shield its eyes. The fire had singed its tendrils and fur badly and it raised one scaly claw to try and protect itself from the endless stream. Pepper was levitating gently in place and now was juggling two giant orbs of flame in each hand.
Midway through yelling at the Beast to stand down, Pepper glanced at him and smiled radiantly, relief shining in her eyes. Tony could only smile weakly at her, sitting on his rump on the grass, his body aching with pain. Then she returned to the battle and lobbed the two giant orbs at the Beast in succession, hitting it on its torso and mane.
The Beast took the two powerful hits, head on and in a frighteningly quick motion, splashed water heavily onto Pepper.
Tony's heart began to thump painfully in his chest.
Crap! I forgot we are fighting it on the shallow end of the pond. I did not expect him to do that!
She did not dodge in time and the water managed to hit her. Pepper lowered herself clumsily and her flame reduced in intensity. Before she could recover, the beast raised a massive, scaly claw and lowered it over her, forcing her to the pond. It then imprisoned her in a cage of claws.
Tony weakly pushed himself to his knees, trying to stand up. He could see Pepper was gently pinned down by the claw but she was lying in shallow water. He could see her struggling to restore her flame, she was sweating heavily and her face was tense with concentration.
He realized with dismay, that the water had dampened her and she would not be able to restore herself. She collapsed weakly against the wall of claws, staring at Tony with deep exhaustion, strength spent.
Tony began to call upon his own power, his own flame to give him strength. He gritted his teeth against the pain in his bones and stood up straight, girding himself.
The Beast was not paying him any attention and instead, had lowered its giant head to the claw with Pepper, sniffing at her.
Noble Ryunn, bless me with your rage, your flame, your power, your passion. I am but a humble channel. Let your flame flow through me and burn away this pestilence.
He saw the dragon unfurl like a giant, red and blue, scaly, swirl of flesh. Swirling through him. The blue flame began to dance in him.
Flame of Ryunn, give me strength, flow within me, ignite me with power. Kill me later but give me the power now to destroy my enemy and save Pepper.
He concentrated within and felt the flame roar through him. The Dragon shouted at him Run towards its lowered face and unleash the flame from your chest!
He slid the steel lid off the arc and ran quickly towards the Beast, catching it off guard. Tony spewed a torrent of blue flame at its face wildly. It yowled in pain but to his frustration, still kept its claw on Pepper.
Then he found himself being swept off his feet and lifted through the air. He could hear a scream from Pepper, the ground became small and he could see it above him.
Great, now I'm feeling slightly sick.
Something had caught him tightly around one ankle and was holding him upside down in mid air. He dimly realized it was a thin tendril. As he swayed there, rather helpless, the Beast's huge silvery eyes came into view, glaring at Tony. Tony winced as he saw his flame had burnt the Beast very badly around its nose. The flesh was raw and pink.
The Beast snuffed at him, releasing a gust of air that made Tony swing. He was upside down but he swung himself forwards, stretching upwards towards his feet. Come on dagger, please still be there in my boot... please! Wait... yes !
He extracted the dagger and swung upwards with force, ready to cut the tendril when he felt another tendril coil itself tightly around his chest. It tightened painfully and Tony gasped at the intense squeezing sensation. I can't breathe. Let go. Oh god, let go!
Then he felt himself being pulled horizontally in two opposite directions, by the tendrils around his leg and his chest.
Tony started to yell at the immense pain of being pulled apart. He could not breathe, he felt his bones stretch excruciatingly and his torso was being squeezed so tightly. His leg felt like it would be pulled from his body at any moment.
The Dragon was roaring too and as Tony began to black out from the pain, he dimly heard Pepper say pleadingly. "Please... please Great One... stop, stop, do not... do not hurt him. Please do not hurt Tony."
Tony gasped as the painful squeezing vine around his torso was released and he was abruptly dropped backwards, the vine around his ankle, still holding him upside down.
As he rotated in place, he could see the Beast slowly raise its claw and Pepper creep out from under it. She stood there, eyes wide and looked up at the Beast.
Then she said in a firm but pleading tone, "You want me right? You came here for me. right? All this is because of ... because of that ceremony. You spoke to me that day ... in my mind... you spoke to me..." she swallowed hard and looked down at her hands and then looked back up at the Beast, eyes filled with tears.
"Take me with you... I am willing." She whispered. Tony shook his head violently with disbelief.
"No! Pepper, no, no! Do not say that! Don't do this! Wait, wait I'm coming down! Pepper!"
He started to swing in an effort to get free and Pepper continued sadly, "Take me, Great One. I am willing to be your consort. Please... please just let him go... please."
Tony felt his heart constrict with emotion as the Beast lowered its head to the ground, to let Pepper climb onto its luxuriant mane. He watched with horror as it secured her in place with a tendril about her chest.
"Pepper!" He yelled as he saw her standing at the crown of the Beast's mane. "Pepper, don't go! Pepper! Wait I'll do something!"
She stated at him mutely and roughly wiped her hand across her eyes. She raised her other hand in a gesture of farewell.
Tony began to swing himself, so he swayed perilously on the tendril, trying to swing towards the Beast.
But it was too late. He was being lowered to the ground and before he could straighten himself, the giant Beast crouched powerfully on its muscular back legs and jumped upwards towards the sky.
Tony watched it fade into the inky blackness of the night. "Pepper!" he screamed. "Bring her back! Come back here!"
The sky was silent. the clearing was silent. He fell to his knees. His bones ached, his chest burned with pain and his face was bleeding from a cut.
All that was secondary, to the ache in his heart. "Dragon..." he whispered in anguish, looking up at the sky tiredly, "Dragon, how do I get Pepper back ? How..."
The Dragon was silent for a minute and then replied sadly, I do not know, Anthony. The beast has gone back to the stars. I do not know. ... I am sorry... I am sorry, Anthony...
He had never heard the Dragon talk with such indecision. He felt a tightening sensation in his chest. The flame ebbed within him and flickered faintly. Deep sadness began to permeate every fiber of his being.
I do not know what to do... I ... how can I get Pepper back... He held his head in his hands and began to weep quietly.
Pepper, Pepper, I'm sorry ... I could not save you... I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I let you down... I'm sorry, Pepper.
So... Pepper's secret is finally out. It is not Extremis because Pepper does not have super strength or regenerative powers. She is a pyrokinetic and can create fire within herself and control it like a weapon.
Some might say "Pepper has never shown this power before, in any of the earlier adventures, when it could have helped Tony. How did she suddenly become a pyrokinetic?"
And my answer to that is, she has been controlling herself all this time but the High Priest's drugs have reduced her to a vulnerable state and she cannot control it anymore. Oh and also, the pain of seeing Tony being pulled apart, made her control snap.
I also feel Pepper's emphasis on training in physical combat, was her way of trying not to be dependent on her mystical power. She hates this part of her, so she has tried to hide it as much as possible. We have all been there.
And I really hate to stop on a cliffhanger but I am going to take a tiny break (1 or 2 days) to finish up this adventure.
