I wish I had some fluff for you,e especially after the snuff film that was Infinity War.
But this chapter... is definitely not fluffy.
Tune in tomorrow for another non-fluffy chapter.
The scariest monsters are the ones that lurk within our souls.
- Edgar Allan Poe
Tony sighed tiredly as he looked down at his gauntlets.
"I do not know, Pepper, I just do not know if I can do this, at all."
Pepper and him were in the clearing behind the Keep, training once again. It was mid-afternoon and for once, it was not snowing. There was a moderately thick layer of snow on the ground but it was not difficult to walk in.
Today's training was going to focus on leveling up their firing skills i.e. the intensity and distance of their respective flames, Pepper's eternal orange fire, that came from within her and Tony's blue Fire of Ryunn.
The Dragon had mentioned that they needed to learn how to control the intensity of their fires, so that is what he and Pepper had been practicing for the past hour.
The ever-reliable dummy stood in the center of the clearing, freshly stuffed with hay, while he and Pepper took pot-shots at it. It had been Pepper's turn last and he had to admit, she had managed to do a fine job of reducing the strength of her flame, according to her will.
Tony, however, was floundering and was beginning to get disheartened.
He pulled off his gauntlets and knelt down on one knee, looking up at the dummy. Pepper came close to him and placed her hand on his head, stroking his hair.
"We can do this, Tony, let me help you, tell me what is the matter..."
He sighed in frustration. "I just can't control its strength! The Fire always burns the same!"
She knelt as well and asked, "How do you fire from your gauntlets, Tony?"
He pointed at his Arc. "My fire comes from my Arc but using this pipe in each arm," he removed his arm guard to show her the thin pipe along his hand, "I siphon the flame to my gauntlet, which is reinforced to withstand the heat."
Pepper tilted her head thoughtfully. "So your actual power source is only the Arc? Your gauntlet's firepower depends on it completely?"
"Yes," Tony nodded. "Which is why I must be able to control the fire from the Arc itself." Then he lowered his head. "But I just can't. I just don't have the skill."
She gently cupped his cheek and he looked at her. "Why don't you let me try? Please, Tony. I can help you."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "What do you mean, Pep, I do not quite understand..."
She stood up and he did as well, ever curious to see what Pepper had in mind.
Pepper guided his movements such that he was facing the dummy. She lifted his right hand, then asked, "Do you prefer this hand to fire?"
He nodded and she said, "Raise it as if you are going to fire, Tony."
He did so and she moved very close to his chest, facing him and nearly leaning on his chest. Then Pepper placed one hand on his Arc, spreading her fingers. As always, his Fire seemed to come to life at her touch and he felt it surge within him.
"Calm down, my love." she whispered and Tony couldn't help but grin.
Then Pepper placed her other hand on the crook of his raised elbow, turning herself slightly.
She said softly, "I am trying to feel how your flame moves within you. So now I need you to fire."
"Pepper..." he murmured, "If I fire, the heat might hurt you, you are too close."
She looked up at him, blue eyes molten soft and quirked one corner of her mouth upwards to widen into a smile. Then she turned her head and kissed his chest-plate covered heart, murmuring, "You will not hurt me, Tony... do not worry."
He wanted to argue but didn't and fired a bolt of blue flame outwards. Pepper's hand was still on his Arc and she tapped it restlessly.
"Once more, please, try to fire continuously as if you are burning something." She said.
He did so, raising his hand and this time, Tony felt his heart race as Pepper moved her fingers over his Arc and his fire seemed to respond to her movements.
He could feel a surge of power move within him, so mighty that his hand shook slightly as he fired. Then he saw his fire spew out brighter and thicker than he had ever seen it, a blazing inferno of blue flame unleashed from his hand.
"Steady, Tony, steady..." she whispered as he could hear the Fire roaring loudly in his ears, nearly deafening him. He took a deep breath to calm himself as the raging inferno kept pouring out of his hand.
"Okay, stop." Pepper said and Tony stopped firing. He felt very shaky and he closed his eyes.
He heard Pepper say his name and he opened his eyes and looked up into the dark blue, shimmering sky. He took a deep breath, searching the sky and then with a start, realized he was lying on the ground, his head and half of his chest in Pepper's soft lap.
"How am I ... on the ground?" He asked, dazedly.
"Tony, are you alright? You just crumpled." She asked in concern and he nodded.
"Pepper... has anyone ever told you that your eyes are the color of the sky on a cold winter's day? So damn blue." he whispered.
Pepper smiled and murmured, "Now I know you are alright because you are flirting with me, even after nearly fainting."
She gently pushed his hair off his forehead. Tony closed his eyes, enjoying the soft touch of her fingers on his skin.
"Pep, what happened?" He asked lazily.
"I guess I overdid it. I was trying to move your fire, to see if I could control it but it... "
"Got too excited?" He helpfully added.
"Yes." she said. "It has a life of its own and it rose to my command and I lost control. I am sorry, Tony." Pepper said contritely and he opened his eyes.
Pepper was looking down at him guiltily. He reached up and used his thumb to nudge her bottom lip out from between her teeth.
"Hey now, Pep, come on, it is okay." He tapped his Arc. "I have seen how my fire reacts to your touch... just like me..."
He raised himself slightly, to lightly brush her lips with his in a feather-soft caress.
He felt her arms move around him to cradle him tenderly as Pepper deepened the kiss, moving her lips over his softly. They kept kissing for a long minute until finally to catch her breath, she raised her head and gently lowered Tony back to her lap.
He smiled at her, her face flushed with passion, lips slightly swollen and red from his beard and eyes sparkling at him like sapphires.
Tony rolled over and moved to his knees. He looked at Pepper and winked slowly at her. "And just like that, Sleeping Beauty woke up from his slumber with a kiss of true love, from the beautiful princess."
Pepper snorted in laughter and he moved his hands to theatrically cover his Arc and tilt his head coquettishly at her.
She rolled her eyes at him but smiled and stood up. She held out her hand to help him up and he took it, rising as well.
Then Tony said, "What do you say to trying that again?"
She looked at him hesitantly. "But Tony... I mean... I do not want to hurt you..."
He clasped her arms and shook her gently. "Pep," he whispered, "you did not hurt me... I just got over-excited, that's all. You know that happens with other parts of me as well, right when you touch me." He waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively and she smirked.
"Alright, brave knight, let us try that again, but...". She waggled her finger at him, "Do not get excited."
He looked down at his Arc and said, "Did you hear that, behave yourself in front of my lady!"
Pepper giggled and he raised his firing hand once again.
Then Tony heard the Dragon growl slowly, Anthony... evil draws near... it is the work of..., it hissed angrily, the Witch ... Stane ... their evil is here.
Tony lowered his hand in shock. Pepper caught it and he shook his head at her, eyes wide.
"Dragon, where are they?" He asked and felt her tense.
They are close... the Dragon roared angrily and then hissed, They are chasing something! Quick! Quick, you must hasten to them! Hurry, hurry, both of you!
Tony shouted, "Pepper! We must go! Come on! Arm yourself!"
She didn't hesitate, she picked up her sword and his. Tony put his fingers to his lips and whistled sharply.
Pepper handed him his sword and he sheathed it quickly. "Tony, what about your armor?"
"There is no time, Pep! Stane's evil is here! And it is up to something! We must stop it!"
From around the Keep, Balthazar thundered up to them, tossing his mighty head. He came to a grinding halt before them and Tony knelt and cupped his hands, so Pepper could step into them and climb up onto the saddle. He hoisted himself up behind her and took the reins.
He whistled thrice, this time calling Tigliath, who answered with a yowl from some distance away.
"He will catch up with us! Let's go!"
Then he turned Balthazar and flicked the reins hard, to urge his horse to gallop. Tony held Pepper to him and they raced off, picking up speed as they rode up the hill.
Tony said tightly, "Something is being hunted by whatever Stane has sent... we need to fight it. Are you ready?"
He felt her nod and then swore. "Damn it, Pepper! You do not have your shield! Or any armor for that matter!"
"But I have my sword and my new guards and gauntlets!" She countered.
He looked at her as Balthazar galloped fast over the snow-covered land. "I do not suppose you will listen to me and just watch the fight from afar?"
"Nope" Pepper said impudently and he sighed worriedly.
"Do not worry, my lord, we will defeat whatever Stane has sent.." she squeezed his hand around her waist.
They were galloping down the hill and the Dragon hissed, Ride past the Village! They are on the Boglands! Hurry!
He jolted the reins, forcing Balthazar to go even faster as they rode around the forest surrounding the lake and passed the Village.
Pepper turned and looked behind. "I can see Tigliath coming..."
Then they burst forth to clamber up a small hill and Tony halted Balthazar at its top.
Before them, stretching on for miles, was a flat treeless plain of land, covered with pure white snow.
Pepper whispered in awe, "Not a tree in sight!"
"Yes..." Tony said absently, scanning the plain, "these are the Boglands. There was a great marsh here but after a drought, the area dried up. The land is still soft in some pockets."
Tigliath bounded up behind them growling, hackles raised, looking out at the plain.
Pepper caught his hand. "Tony! Look!" she exclaimed, "Look there at the edge of the plain!"
At the very end of their line of sight, right at the beginning of the Boglands, he could see a figure running over the white land.
Tony narrowed his eyes, trying to get a better look.
"What is he or she running..."
Then Pepper exclaimed, "There are things behind her! Look!"
A four legged creature scampered after the figure, whooping loudly. Then another joined it and Tony saw with horror, that there were at least five of those things, creating a violent din with their whoops and yowls. Tigliath growled angrily and then raised his head and roared loudly.
Tony commanded, "Tigliath, charge!" and the black cat set off at a brisk pace, bounding skillfully over the snow, towards the figure who was approaching the middle of the plain.
Then he clicked the reins and yelled, "Yaah, Balthazar!" They rode down the small hill at breakneck speed, Tony guiding Balthazar through the land with a gentle tug and pull on the reins, here and there, ever mindful of the dips in the plain.
As they neared the figure, Tony got a better look at the strange clambering creatures and felt his heart begin to thud.
"God's teeth!" He swore harshly as he could see what they were. "What on Earth? Are they even from this Earth?"
The creatures were large but very skinny, twig-like beings with four spindly legs and pointed feet. They were eerily skin-colored and naked.
Pepper whispered, "Tony, look at their limbs, they are jointed in place! Their knees are broken and turned towards each other!"
Indeed, from the way they arched their back and held their legs stiffly, the creatures seemed like huge mannequin dolls, with external joints on their limbs.
He felt Pepper shudder lightly and he whispered against her soft ear, "Pep, do not take risks, swing hard and fast, protect yourself first, attack later. They are made of flesh and bone. If they aren't..."
He smiled against her cheek, "Then, my love, let them taste the fury of your fire..."
She turned into his embrace and nuzzled him back, whispering, "You do the same, Tony."
"Oh, I intend to... I am going to go on foot, you take Balthazar."
"What! No! Tony!"
"Pepper, no time to argue! I have my armor. Besides, he will listen to you and he does not need to be controlled, he knows how to behave in a fight."
He let go of the reins and Pepper said, "May your blade hit your every target true."
"And yours too."
Tony noticed, his jaw tightening with anger, that the figure lay sprawled on the ground, while the creatures surrounded it, clawing at it and whooping.
Then one of them looked up, saw Balthazar approach and started to yowl. The others noticed as well and began to yowl as a unit, making a deafening row.
He jumped off Balthazar, who had slowed to a walk and was whinnying loudly, the yowls upsetting him. Pepper patted Balthazar's mighty neck, soothing him, "It is alright, they are just trying to frighten you..."
Tony saw Tigliath approach the circle of creatures from the other side. He was on one side, Pepper and Balthazar in the middle. The three of them neared the circle cautiously.
He could see that figure was face down in the snow, arms outstretched. From her attire and the long dark hair visible against the white snow, he guessed it was a young woman. Her soft sobs made Tony tighten his grip on his sword hilt.
"Whatever you are!" He yelled at the creatures, "Move away from the woman! Leave her alone!"
The creatures reared their heads at him and Tony got a good look at their horrific faces.
"They have no eyes in their narrow cylindrical heads... just skin and... long, pointed beaks... what fell beings are these?" he whispered to himself.
These are dark things from the Abyss, hissed the Dragon, watch yourselves, Virginia and Anthony.
He was close enough to make out, they had absolutely no feathers or fur or hair of any kind, completely smooth with sores and pock marks in random areas.
One of the creatures had a long dog-like snout, instead of a beak and opened it wide, to bare its teeth in a snarl at him.
"Easy, chaps!" Pepper yelled tightly, "You are on our land! Back away from her!"The creatures stared at her quietly for a moment and then crouching on their hind legs, straightened their backs to sit up. They raised their fore legs, which Tony now saw, were actually hands and with a loud "tick" sound, thin, razor sharp claws sprouted from their fingers.
"Alright," said Tony, "If you want to talk that way," he unsheathed his sword and raised it high. "We can talk that way." Pepper did the same.
Then he swallowed hard as one of the creatures came towards him, blue beak glistening. It straightened completely, standing only on its rear legs and he saw it was at least 7 feet tall, hands crooked weirdly at the elbows, claws towards him.
Tony side-stepped to separate it from the rest and it ran straight at him, beak opened and emitting that horrible whooping noise. He dodged and it turned quickly to swipe at him with its claws.
The battle was on then as the creatures split up. He saw Pepper engaging one and two cornering Tigliath as one stood guard over the fallen woman.
But Tony had no time to think because the creature astoundingly kicked at him with one raised leg. He avoided the brunt of the kick but still fell back onto the snow, breath knocked out of him. Then he rolled quickly to one side as it struck at him powerfully, swinging both arms with force. Snow flew up from the ground and he stood up rapidly.
The creature once again faced him, tilted its eyeless head at him and opening its beak. It struck at him viciously with its beak and he dodged it just in time. Tony circled it quickly.
It cannot turn quickly because it is too spindly.
So he raised his sword and slashed at its back legs. He grinned in satisfaction as the creature let out a yowl of pain and fell forward. Then Tony felt himself being lifted in the air and he flailed his legs wildly.
"Crap! One of them has got me from the back!"
He realized that another one of these things had sneaked up on him and was holding him by his chest plate. He could feel the sharp claws against his back.
"No time to lose! I must get.. down!"
He kicked backwards as the creature turned him and Tony was suddenly very close to a long sharp black beak and the eerily skin-colored face. He felt his heart began to pound faster.
Their eyes are sewn shut! And what is that smell!
A strong odor of rotting flesh emitted from the creature, who growled and tightened its grip on him.
Tony thought fast and raised his sword to stab it. The creature moved its other hand to catch his sword, so he turned his sword, just in time to cut the approaching arm off.
It whooped loudly but did not drop him, it just tottered backwards and he felt ill from the swaying motion. Then he swung himself forward and stabbed it in the center of its chest, pushing his sword deep.
Inky black goo spewed out onto him and his sword but he ruthlessly pushed harder until the beast fell backwards.
"Aaargh!" Tony yelled as he fell face first into the snow with a whoosh. He was stunned for a minute and then pushed himself off, shaking the snow off.
He turned to see the one-armed creature lying next to him, motionless with black goo covering its chest.
"You better stay down." he muttered. The he saw a shadow fall on the snow and turned to face the other blue beaked creature.
Pepper saw Tony take on one of the stick thingys. The snouted one stayed back to guard the woman on the ground, who Pepper could see, was still alive.
Then she saw the remaining three assess her and Tigliath critically. They tilted their beaks and whooped softly to themselves.
Before she could move Balthazar forward, Tigliath sprang before the horse and roared angrily at the thingys.
That helped them decide and apparently they felt Tigliath was a greater threat for they moved towards the big cat.
Only one was left staring her down. Or rather standing in front of her, for it had no eyes. Just two blank spots.
She was scared, her heart racing but she patted Balthazar for comfort and whispered, "Come on Balthazar, we can handle this one."
The red beaked stick or Red as she decided to name it, hunkered down on all fours and slowly stepped sideways.
She grimaced at its disjointed limbs, that looked like someone had broken them and then tied them back with string.
Then she realised Red was trying to sneak around her and she turned Balthazar. Neither took the first step.
Then Pepper heard a painful yowl and turned quickly to see Tigliath, surrounded by the other two, who were swiping at him.
That pissed her off and she flicked the reins, such that Balthazar galloped forward with force. Pepper raised her sword and bore down on the two creatures circling Tigliath.
She heard a yowl of annoyance behind her and realized Red was chasing her but she didn't care, she had the advantage of speed and she moved ahead.
The other two were so busy harassing Tigliath, that they did not notice her until she reached the first one and hacked at it hard from horseback.
It screeched and reared back but she had already moved on to the other one, slashing it as well.
Then Pepper rode on, trying to draw them away from Tigliath, giving him some space. She saw that she had successfully managed to separate two of them from him.
They were looping after her and she turned Balthazar suddenly and charged straight at them.
Pepper gasped loudly in fear as the one closest to her, stood up completely on its hind legs.
"It is so tall! How can I... wait let me circle it!"
Murmuring praise to Balthazar, she skillfully turned him just in time to avoid the creature's wide kick.
Then she quickly moved around its back to slash at its legs from behind.
Black goo gushed out and she raised her sword in victory.
Then Balthazar whinnied loudly and she just turned, only to be pushed off her horse with force.
Pepper landed with force on the snow, feeling the impact painfully in every part of her. She raised herself slowly, only to scream when the wounded stick figure loomed above her, yellow beak clicking, clawed hands stretched towards her menacingly.
She was too dazed to react in time and raised her hand weakly.
Suddenly the creature was blasted away to one side by a bolt of blue flame. It fell on its back, yowling in pain. Tony stepped into her view, raising his sword in both hands and plunging it into the creature's chest.
A fountain of black goo gushed upwards towards him and sprayed him lightly. He didn't even flinch, he just twisted the sword even harder into the creature and finally it gave a loud gurgle and died.
Then he removed his sword with a loud 'swhuck' from its body, came to her side and knelt.
Her heart was still racing and he gently pushed back her hair from her forehead.
"Pep, I am here, tell me, where does it hurt?" Tony asked with worry, his hands on her shoulders.
Pepper just shook her head and said, "I just fell hard. My back aches slightly."
"You stay here. I will handle the other two."
"Two are left? How many did you kill?"
"Two ... well... three now..."
She leaned forward into him and sighed, feeling comforted by his warm body pressing into her.
"Tony..." she whispered, nuzzling his cheek. "Thank you for saving me..."
"Pepper" he whispered back, "I nearly had a heart attack when that creature knocked you off Balthazar."
"I am alright." She kissed his nose and then tried to stand.
He helped her up. Pepper looked around and saw the snouted creature running after Tigliath. The dark-haired woman was still lying on the snow.
She narrowed her eyes in confusion. "Where's Red?"
"Red?"
"Yes, there was a large red beaked one. Where is it..."
Then she gasped loudly as she saw Red charge towards them, shrieking loudly.
Tony raised his sword but Pepper closed her eyes lightly and raised her hand. A stream of bright orange fire gushed out of her palm, straight onto the red beaked creature.
It yowled loudly as she ruthlessly showered it with fire, not letting up. Pepper raised another hand and began to slowly walk forward, burning the creature all over.
Tony said, "Good job Pep! Let me finish him off."
She stopped firing and Tony ran towards Red, who was cowering on the ground, its skin blistered badly from the fire.
At the sound of Tigliath growling, Pepper picked up her sword and ran to his aid.
The snouted creature was harassing Tigliath and she gasped as she saw it had scratched the cat badly.
Pepper saw red and felt a surge of rage pass through her hands. She felt her fire spill out of her hands onto her sword and cover the blade.
She turned towards the creature who had left Tigliath and was bounding towards her on all fours.
Pepper threw her sword straight at its head, piercing it squarely. The snouted one screeched in pain and halted in place, falling to its knees. Then she ran at it, hands raised and blazing fire and fired multiple bolts of flame at it.
The being writhed in agony as it was set ablaze. She walked closer and managed to pull her sword out of the burning mass.
Tigliath limped over and she ran her hands over his chest, gasping as she felt the deep gash. The big cat lay on his side, chirruping loudly.
Tony came over and knelt too, patting Tigliath's head. "It is okay, it is okay. It is just a cut, don't worry. You did good, boy."
He looked at Pepper and took her hand, leading her to the fallen woman.
"We need to get the young lady out of the cold. She is at death's door. I will hoist her onto Balthazar and stay back with Tigliath. Take her to the village. Keep her somewhere warm and send Happy back with a cart for us."
She nodded and walked over to the woman, who was unconscious but breathing. She felt very cold to Pepper's touch. Tony whistled and Balthazar came close to them.
He helped Pepper into the horse's saddle and then gently picked the woman up and arranged her face down over Balthazar's back. Pepper started to shrug out of her coat.
Tony glared at her and she said firmly, "Tony, she is freezing! She needs it more than me. It is just a short ride!"
He made a face and then shrugged off his coat. "Take mine, it is bigger. Besides I have my chest plate."
Pepper shook her head at him but took the coat and draped it over the young lady.
She then took the reins and turned Balthazar towards the village. "I will send help, Tony! " She said, looking back at him as she rode away.
