AN: Story's Shadow and I are back, hope ya'll enjoy this action packed, yet emotional chapter.
-Unknown Location, A Couple Of Days Later-
Metatron, Cassandra, and Jacob found an old abounded building less than a mile from Central Park. Meta laid out blankets and pillows he'd stolen from a nearby store for his students. He had decided to not steal anything for himself. Knowing that powers at be in this new world were hunting the three of them, he wanted to be sure that they didn't track his movements. Or he hoped this, at least.
Jacob bowed his head to Metatron as he was gifted his sleeping equipment. Cassandra did the same, but her mind was on something else.
"You and Jacob can rest, Sensei. I will hunt for the traitor on my own for now."
"No. We hunt him together, we're safer that way. I won't have you risk your freedom and possibly your life to go on your own for now."
"Sensei, please. You know I can hunt fine on my own."
"I know...but in this other world...where the people here will try to attack you on sight...you'll put yourself in constant danger."
"When are we not in constant danger? The traitor is with powerful warriors, if I can get him alone, I can-"
"No, it's too risky to do so alone. We can try to lure him to us on his own, but I won't have either of you going off on your own like that. For food and supplies, perhaps. Not for him."
Cassie opened her mouth to retort, but Jacob put a hand on her should.
"Sensei's right...it's too risky...you have good intentions, Cassie...but the risk is too great."
Cassie grumbled, ears flattened.
Metatron sighed.
"I want to catch him to...I just don't want you to take such a serious risk. It's too dangerous."
"...Fine sensei..."
The Wolf nodded.
"Now get some rest, we will continue our hunt tomorrow."
The Cat and Hedgehog laid down to sleep while Metatron cleared some of the floor to sleep. After close to an hour, Cassandra opened her eyes.
-Secret Warriors' Base, A Few Minutes Later-
Vulpine walked through the base, coming upon Squirrel Girl who was going over a white board with a marker. She was listing down words, an anxious visage plain on her face.
"Ms. Green? What's going on?"
Squirrel Girl turned to him, hand trembling.
"Oh! Vulpine! Maybe you can make sense of this."
Vulpine looked over the words.
"I remember them saying something about a dark building...looking over a shire? A shire? Sorry, this is all just flooding back to me."
Vulpine rubbed his chin.
"Yes...I see."
"I just heard one of them mention it while they held me hostage."
The Fox slowly grinned.
"I think I know where that is."
"What?! How?! I've been going over what that could mean!"
"I'll scout out the location."
Vulpine started walking away.
"But at least Vixen should-!"
"Don't worry, I'll sniff them out."
-Just Outside Central Park, Several Minutes Later-
Vulpine walked onto the roof of a building looking over Central Park. The Fox's ears perked up and his nose twitched. He frowned.
"Of course."
He turned to see Cassandra step out of the shadows, eyes staring daggers at the Fox. Her ears were flattened and she bared her teeth at Vulpine.
"Traitor."
The Fox turned towards her.
"As soon as I arrived I thought something was amiss."
Cassie glowered at him.
"Is that all you have to say?"
"I must admit, it's impressive you got me here alone."
"Quit avoiding the obvious."
"Come again?"
The Cat snarled, her head shaking.
"You helped burn our world to the ground! The five of us are all that's left! Countless generations of our people gone in just one war! Or should I call it a massacre?"
"...That's up to you..."
"You were at the direct service of the emperor, you tricked him into disastrous battles...our greatest warriors did what they could to defend us...but the demons at the service of your master destroyed them and then everyone else...our beautiful cities, the natural world...gone...turned to ash!"
"...I did...in service to the vision of order to his eminence."
"His eminence was the real emperor! Not that genocidal maniac! All our people...gone...Never to return..."
"...It's for the better of the cosmos..."
Cassandra's eyes blazed.
"Do you know the horror you inflicted?!"
Vulpine didn't reply.
"Not only did people lose their own lives, the lives of their loved ones were taken! I...I..."
Tears rolled down Cassandra's face.
"I lost my daughter because of you!"
Vulpine's ears slowly raised.
"...You...You had a daughter?..."
"My little girl...I'll never see her again...BECAUSE OF YOU!"
Cassie lunged forward, claws flying towards Vulpine. The Fox rolled under the strike. He turned, only to see Cassie lunging at him again. She screamed as she slashed her claws, aiming for Vulpine's face. The Fox brought up his hands, pushing aside the attacks as he continued to step back.
The Cat leapt up, kicking out at her foe's face. Vulpine moved his head to the side, narrowly avoiding her attack. As Cassie landed she positioned herself on leg while she threw out the other in a flurry of swift kicks. Vulpine winced as a couple of the strikes hit home, slamming into his lower torso.
The Fox grunted as she skidded back slightly, the Cat racing forward. Cassie slashed her claws forward, but Vulpine managed to roll away from her attack. He grunted as he raced forward. He struck out with a jab, but Cassie pushed the strike to the side with one hand then threw her own jab. The blow struck the Fox across his jaw.
Vulpine grunted as he turned with the punch and quickly lowered down and threw a sweep kick at the Cat. Cassie grunted as she back-flipped over the attack. As she landed on her feet, Vulpine rushed forward. His flat handed strike flew at Cassie's shoulder, but the Cat ducked under the attack. She attempted to throw a jab at the Fox's hip, but Vulpine moved his body to the side.
He grabbed her wrist and moved behind her, locking her arm against her back. Cassie winced at Vulpine pushing against her back.
"You lost...yes...but the emperor's-"
"I lost?!"
Cassie threw her other hand back, her claws slashed against the Fox's cheek. Vulpine winced as growled in pain. The Cat then managed to rake her free claws against the hand holding her other arm in a lock. The Fox grunted as he pulled that hand back. Cassie then flipped around, one foot flying towards Vulpine. But the Fox raised both arms and blocked her attack.
Cassie quickly then dropped to her feet then threw a sweep kick at Vulpine. But the Fox stepped back before the Cat lunged at him. Vulpine blocked and pushed aside the flurry of her jabs and slashes. He moved around behind her to try to grab her arm again. Cassie dropped to her feet and threw another sweep kick. Vulpine grunted as fell back, but caught himself with both hands and pushed him back up. He grunted as he landed on his feet.
Cassie frowned.
"You think I'd let you do that again?! You don't learn, traitor."
Cassie snarled as she raced forward as did Vulpine. The Cat threw swift slashes at Vulpine's face, but the Fox pushed aside her attacks. He struck out with a flat handed strike at her shoulder. Cassie twirled around the attack and slashed at Vulpine's arm that he threw forward. The Fox winced and growled as the Cat's claws left their mark below his elbow.
Vulpine grunted as he turned to Cassie, both with their ears flattened. Then their ears perked up and they turned their gaze to the buildings across the street. Vixen, Ms. Marvel, and Inferno raced across the rooftops. Vulpine's eyes widened. Cassie scream was a mix of a cry of frustration and a hiss. Vulpine turned towards her only to see her claws rake across his face. He growled as he turned with the scratch. Cassie leapt to the edge of the rooftop.
Vixen and the other got to the other rooftop, the former going to Vulpine's side. They all turned their gaze to the Cat. Tears flooded down Cassie's face. She pointed a damning finger at Vulpine.
"This isn't over."
She then threw one hand down, fire burst from the part of the roof where her fist pointed at and jumped up with a roar. When it receded, Cassandra was gone. Then he turned to Vixen as she spoke while Ms. Marvel and Inferno looked over the edge of the building, unable to find the Cat.
"Are you ok? Doreen said she-"
-Yes...I'm...I'm fine."
Vixen sighed and hugged him. Vulpine just stared at the place where Cassandra had been, his ears dropped slowly as his mind went to what Cassie had revealed to him.
To Be Continued...