AN: Story's Shadow and I are back. Please give Story's Shadow a round of applause for all his hard work. Unto the show, as it is time for Meta's trio to learn the truth.

-Secret Warriors' Base, Several Minutes Later-

Metatron, Cassandra, and Jacob walk through the rubble of the room the Chavez, Gwen, Doreen, Rayshaun, and Vulpine were gathered. The three glowered at the Fox before they turned to Doreen, the sensei moved to speak before he sniffed the air. He grumbled.

"Stalker."

Cassie and Jacob's eyes widened at this, sniffing the air to confirm this for themselves.

Doreen nodded.

"He cut through us so easily."

Meta turned, seeing the cuts on Chavez's body. She winced, hands shaking.

"His blade is sometimes coated with a powerful mystic poison, used to fight more powerful foes. Lay down and I will heal you."

Chavez grunted.

"I'm...healing...on my own."

Meta approached her, his gaze focused on the cuts and he inhaled softly.

"Yes, I sense that. The poison will just delay this and you will be in more pain. Please, lay down. Cassie, Jacob watch the traitor."

"I won't-"

"Be quiet before I rip out your tongue."

Vulpine nodded.

The Cat and Hedgehog stood between the Wolf and the Fox as the former gently helped Chavez onto the floor. Metatron pulled something from the sack tied to his hip, a vial was revealed. He whispered something as opened it and moved for the young woman to drink it. Chavez grimaced slightly.

"H-Hey easy now."

Metatron gently shushed her and poured the contents into her mouth. Chavez gasped and relaxed. The Wolf spoke in a language only his students and Vulpine understand, his hands moving around in the air and began to glow as when he healed Doreen. The others' eyes widened at this while Doreen smiled. His hands gently touched the parts of her body where the cuts laid and against her head and heart. Chavez gasped as she felt the pain disappear. The Wolf's hands stopped glowing.

"The poison has been purged. Your own healing will do the rest."

"T-Thanks."

Metatron turned to the others except for Vulpine as he spoke.

"Come, the rest of you must be healed."

One by one the others were healed, Gwen awkwardly thanking the Wolf who simply bowed his head. He stood up as Doreen approached him.

"Stalker took our friends, we have to rescue them."

"We will help you, after we deal with the traitor."

"W-Wait...you also need to know...he told us the truth about what he did...everything...what he helped do to your world."

Cassie hissed.

"Then why isn't he dead?"

"Because...he's not the original Vulpine."

The trio's eyes widened at this before Jacob spoke first.

"What? How?"

"...Imperious...he killed the original Vulpine and in the process created a perfect clone of him, this is the Vulpine that helped him. The original was killed after he refused to betray your world and tried to attack him."

"This is just another lie! He wasn't hurt like the rest of you! He means to lead you into an ambush!"

"...He was...Stalker stabbed him with his sword...but...somehow he healed."

"How?"

"I-I don't know."

The trio turned to the Fox as he answered. Vulpine's ears lowered.

"I was on the edge of death...but I saw visions...Imperious used the original's body to create me with his memories and feelings...he also gave me false ones...the real Vulpine never betrayed you."

Jacob scoffed.

"Liar!"

"...I was...and yes what he tricked me into doing compelled me to do as he wanted...but I still did it...I deserve whatever you will inflict on me...I helped destroy your world...your people...it's gone because of me...the Gods will pass their judgment on me as will you...before that happens, I am not lying about my identity and what has happened."

Metatron's ears fell slightly as he stared into Vulpine's eyes.

"By...by the Gods...He's...He's not lying..."

Those gathered shared a look of bewilderment. Jacob shook his head.

"Sensei?! How of all people can you-?!"

"You know why...my beloved wife...Akane...she was of the Fox line...she told me and showed me when one of their line was being truly honest. And he is."

Vulpine's eyes widened.

"S-She showed you?"

Metatron walked up to him, the Fox's ears lowered.

"She did...her death is what deepened my hunt for you. I see now you are telling the truth."

Vulpine nodded.

The Wolf turned to his students. Cassie studied Vulpine, her gaze going to the look in the Fox's eyes. She inhaled deeply as her eyes closed and her hands clenched into fists.

"...I believe him...that doesn't mean I will forgive him or that he deserves it."

Metatron nodded.

"I agree."

Jacob slowly nodded.

Metatron turned to Doreen.

"Squirrel, for the time being we will tolerate him to help you save your friends."

"It's Doreen...but thanks."

"Do you have a plan?"

"We were hoping to ask you. You're more experienced than any of us and you know who and what we're facing far better."

Metatron nodded.

"The magic that I feel here can be drawn upon to create a spell that will lead us to your friends. When we are there we must move in silence. My students and I will track them, we have their scent from here. Cassandra will lead the mission to find them while trying not to be found given her natural affinity for stealth."

Cassie nodded.

"I won't fail you, sensei."

Chavez grunted as she cracked her neck.

"Well, I want another shot at Stalker. I'm gonna shove that sword up his-"

"The blade he carries brought you down and from what...Doreen has informed us, he did so with the rest of you in a short manner. You cannot face him unless he doesn't have that blade."

"I can take him!"

"You will once his weapons are taken from him, just don't underestimate him. I will hold him off with the Spider."

Gwen's head popped up.

"Why me?"

"You were the least injured amongst your friends and from what I've seen of your talents and skills, you can possibly immobilize him for at least a time for his weapons to be removed."

Gwen nodded.

Rayshaun stood up.

"What about me?"

"With your shield and Jacob, you will cover the escape once your friends are rescued."

The young man nodded as did the Hedgehog.

Doreen walked forward.

"Well I'm not just gonna sit this out.

"You won't. You and the Fox will join us as we seek to occupy Stalker and the immediate forces that will respond to the battle."

"What about Imperious?"

"We must escape before he arrives."

"But we can stop him!"

"The lives of your friends are more important than fighting him. And to attack him in his territory will give him the advantage. I want to end him as well for what he did to my home. Our strike against him must be as careful as possible."

Chavez shook her head.

"No, we can ambush him and stop him and prevent all this mess!"

"The false Dragon will not fall easily. And if Stalker was able to defeat your group on his own, to challenge his master would only end with you being captured, tortured for information, and killed."

Rayshaun rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke.

"Then why are the three of you still trying to fight him?"

"Our people are gone...our home is nothing but ash...Fukuseigi tasks us with avenging our people."

"Who?"

"The goddess of justice and vengeance."

"Those aren't the same thing."

"Perhaps...they just are the same here."

Gwen shook her head.

"You three will just throw your lives away for revenge?"

Cassie walked up to her.

"There is nothing left except to avenge our world and our people."

Rayshaun nearly jumped as he heard his phone ringing.

"Crap!"

Rayshaun's hands shakily pulled out the phone before he answered.

"Hello? Captain Marvel!"

Rayshaun explained what had happened with Stalker, Vulpine, and the trio.

"Ok, ok. Got it."

"S.H.I.E.L.D. will take time to mobilize, they won't have a strike team ready for several minutes and Captain Marvel is on the other side of the world right now."

Cassie turned to Metatron.

"Sensei, we must move quickly."

"Yes, gather your tools and weapons. I shall prepare the spell."

Rayshaun almost jumped again as he got another call. He pulled out his phone and checked the caller ID.

"It's Kamala."

Gwen sighed.

"I'm kinda glad she wasn't here for the fight. We could've used her help...but I fear she would've been hurt too. Glad she had that family meeting or whatever."

Rayshaun nodded and answered. He filled her in on everything as he did with Captain Marvel.

"Yeah, the Wolf is about to do a spell that-Huh? Their locators! Right! Hold on with the spell, we can track our friends with their indicators. In all the mess we forgot about it."

The other Secret Warriors nodded. Meta turned to them.

"Very well, what of her?"

"Kamala, where are you? Really? Ok, hurry here. We're about to leave. Ok, got it."

Rayshaun turned off his phone.

"She's nearby and heading here."

"Good, she's the one that can shape-shift correct?"

"Yeah."

"She can help with Cassandra and the others, she might be able help with slowing down any pursuers as well or carry them out of the way."

Rayshaun nodded.

Metatron turned to his students who nodded.

"Whatever you feel will be needed, take them. We cannot head there unprepared."

The Secret Warriors present hurried to get the weapons gifted to them by Crusader, as they knew they would need them.

To Be Continued...

AN: It is time for a rematch with Stalker, will the outcome be different this time?