DISCLAIMER: I own Derrick Bolris and Ri'ann Parrn. The Misfitverse this takes place in belongs to Red Witch, the characters of G.I. Joe belong to Hasbro, and everything else belongs to Marvel.

Chapter 16: Super-Skrull Duels-day

Xavin and Ri'ann stared each other down, each one waiting for the other to make a move. With a smirk, Ri'ann made that first move, using Quicksilver's speed to strike Xavin in the stomach with a sudden punch. The Skrull Runaway quickly countered by coating her arms in the Thing's rocky hide, blocking a flurry of super-fast punches and kicks from Ri'ann and bowling her assailant over with a punch of her own.

Ri'ann switched his powers to that of Toad, using the frog-like mutant's agility to land safely on all fours. As Xavin charged, Ri'ann spat a wad of slime at the ground in front of Xavin, melting a pothole that Xavin tripped in.

"A little bit of trivia for you," Ri'ann smirked. "Some species of Earth toads can spit acid, including the Misfit one."

"You said it was a fair fight, you big jerk!" Molly roared.

"I did, hatchling," Ri'ann replied, "but in the Skrull Empire, a fair fight consists of being on the same power level as one's opponent, not the tactics one uses."

Xavin quickly set her body alight with the Human Torch's flames, rising into the air and throwing a stream of fireballs at Ri'ann. Again using Quicksilver's powers, Ri'ann evaded each one before switching his powers to that of Toad again, using his tongue to latch onto Xavin's body. This, however, proved to be a mistake, as Ri'ann's tongue was quickly burned by Xavin's flaming body.

"You never could get out of that habit, Ri'ann," Xavin said.

"At least I didn't leave my friends and family back on the Throneworld!" Ri'ann snapped.

"I am an exile, Ri'ann," Xavin said. "My family is dead, killed in the war with the Majesdanians. The Runaways are now my friends, and by threatening them, you are my enemy."

"Good!" Ri'ann cried, shifting his powers to that of Blob while Xavin donned the Thing's skin again.

Ri'ann's now bulky arms were spread wide as he charged Xavin, the Skrull Runaway doing the same. The two Super-Skrulls-in-training locked arms, each one trying to outdo the other in strength. Neither dared to switch to another power, for fear that their opponent would gain the upper hand.

"How long are they gonna arm-wrestle?" Molly asked.

"Long enough to do this!" Ri'ann cried, snaking his arm under one of Xavin's and throwing his foe over his shoulder.

"XAVIN!" Karolina cried.

In response to his partner's call, Xavin once again utilized Johnny Storm's powers again, this time soaring straight into Ri'ann and bowling over the Skrull in red-and-black. The two tumbled on the ground before Ri'ann used Toad's leg strength to kick Xavin off. Xavin quickly recovered, circling around in mid-air and then landing.

"Like I always said," Xavin smirked. "If you can fight the way that Earthlings call 'dirty', so can I."

Xavin then turned invisible.

"What?!" Ri'ann yelled, spinning around wildly with Blob's strength and indestructible skin bulking up his arms. "Where are you, traitor?!"

"Right here," Xavin replied from behind Ri'ann, turning one arm into a Thing arm and then punching Ri'ann in the jaw.

Although initially stunned, Ri'ann recovered and then countered by shrinking his arms back to their normal size, extending his hands out, and activating Avalanche's powers. From the earth beneath Xavin's feet, a dome emerged, threatening to close around her. To escape, Xavin stretched herself through the cracks in the closing dome, forming herself into a wheel and running over Ri'ann.

"Just give up, Ri'ann," Xavin said as she unfolded herself.

"Never!" Ri'ann bellowed, performing an impressive leap over Xavin's head, landing just behind her, and then swiftly kicking her in the back.

Xavin grunted, falling forward onto her face. She tried to rise, but Ri'ann pinned her down with his foot.

"And so it ends," Ri'ann said, arms enlarging again and drawing back one fist.

"NO!" Karolina cried, tears coming from her eyes. "XAVIN!"

"It seems she truly cares about you," Ri'ann observed. "And here I believed she would despise being engaged to a Skrull, as her wedding to her people's sworn enemies was essentially for nothing."

"It was not for nothing," Xavin growled.

"How so?" Ri'ann asked. "The Skrulls and Majesdanians are still waging a war with no end in sight. You have been exiled from the Throneworld. There is no place for you. How could that wedding have been worth anything?"

"Because, as you know, I am no longer a part of the Skrull Empire," Xavin began, slowly turning her arms into orange rock once again. "Despite this, there is still a place for me. In the Empire, I endured much for my people and my allies, only to be eventually cast away. Now, my people are Earth's people. My allies are six children who have suffered similar betrayals by their own families."

"And what might be your point?" Ri'ann asked.

"My point, Ri'ann," Xavin said, "is this."

She flung Ri'ann off of her and into a tree, where he was pecked on the head several times by a bird and then fell onto the ground with a painful splat.

"I am a Runaway," Xavin finished.

A chorus of cheers from Xavin's team rang through the air. Karolina ran to hug her partner, and the remaining Runaways crowded around Xavin. As words of encouragement ran abound, Ri'ann Parrn rose to his feet.

"This is not over, Xavin," Ri'ann growled. "You may have won today…but someday, when the Skrull Empire invades…you and the rest of this planet will perish."

In a blur and a rush of wind, Ri'ann was gone.

"Is that the last we'll see of him?" Nico asked.

"I doubt it," Xavin sighed. "Ri'ann was always stubborn. He will most likely appear again, and when he does, it will be when the Skrulls invade Earth. And he will definitely be on their side."

"So, what do we do about him?" Derrick asked.

"All we can do is hope that being among Earthlings will somehow change him," said Xavin. "Hopefully for the better."

"Meantime, we need to book," Chase said. "I saw some people calling the police on their cells."

"Which always means the looming threat of foster care," Gert groaned.

****

Back in the Hostel, something was about to happen.

The Runaways had just reentered the Hostel. When they came out of the Leapfrog, a yellow machine suddenly appeared in a burst of mist.

"It never fails!" Derrick cried, throwing his hands into the air. "We just got back, and already something weird happens!"

"Okay…that's definitely Derrick," said a voice from the machine, "I'm in the right time period."

Out of the time machine stepped an older version of Gert, darker hair being the main difference. By her side was a larger version of Old Lace. She was clutching her side, as if there was a wound there.

"There's something I need to tell you all," said the older Gert.