AN: Story's Shadow and I present the climax for Foxes Of War. Please give Story's Shadow a round of deafening applause for all the hard work he put into this chapter. Unto the show my friends.


-Secret Warriors' Base, Several Minutes Later-

Ms. Marvel panted as she ran into the base, moving through the debris. Her gaze fell on Metatron, Cassandra, and Jacob. She grinned, rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment.

"H-Hi...Sorry for attacking you guys...and hunting you...and-"

Metatron took the dirt handed to him by Jacob and moved it in a line in front of him.

"We've already gone through your friends' apologies, for now I must prepare the spell."

"Uh, ok...why are you using dirt?"

"This spell requires one to connect to the elemental essence of the Earth. It is better to use the Earth of the world where the spell will take us to."

"Oh...cool."

Meta whispered something in a language Ms. Marvel didn't understand as he ran his hand through the dirt. Cassandra and Jacob stood to either side of their sensei.

"Okay, I'll just go over here and-"

Ms. Marvel started to walk away until she saw Vulpine and the others. Her embarrassed visage shifted into disgust, her hands growing larger.

"You!"

Gwen walked over to her friend.

"I know...but we need him. Him, Doreen, the Wolf, and I will go after Stalker to distract him while you, Chavez, the Cat, Rayshaun, and the Hedgehog will go find our friends and get them out, quietly."

"But I can help stop Stalker!"

"The Wolf...Metatron says your abilities are better served getting our friends out."

Ms. Marvel scratched her head.

"Is he the team leader?"

"Doreen pointed out he's the most experienced one here who has also faced these guys more than us. We need him to help our friends."

"Ok...I'm just uncertain of all of this."

"It's the best option we have. Here."

Gwen handed her friend the kusarigama Crusader had gifted her.

"We'll be needing our weapons in this."

"But I thought you said we were doing this quietly?"

"Better safe than sorry."

Ms. Marvel nodded.

The group walked over to the trio, before the Cat spoke.

"You said you know where your friend is?"

Ghost Spider tapped some buttons on her communicator. Her eyes widened.

"Niagara Falls?"

Doreen groaned.

"Of course, the first time I get to go there it's because of some creeps that captured our friends. I'm gonna make that stupid samurai pay for this...well, mostly for our friends."

Jacob turned to the group.

"The three of us must do one more thing before sensei draws upon the spirit of this Earth and the energy used to move from this location to where your friends are being held."

Cassandra and Jacob started to kneel down, only to find their sensei not joining them. They saw the grim look on his face. Cassie's ears lowered.

"Sensei...aren't you going to join us? To pray for victory?"

Metatron's ears lowered.

"I fear the Gods will not aid us...like with when our world was destroyed...because they can't."

Chavez raised an eyebrow at this.

"What do you mean?"

Meta sighed, his breath shaking.

"I fear they're dead."

Cassie and Jacob's eyes widened, both stuttering as they tried to reply. Metatron shook his head.

"They wouldn't have abandoned us in our time of need, not when our world was being seized and razed."

Cassie shook her head.

"No, they were too powerful for anyone to kill."

"Over time, our worship of them became less prevalent as we began to explore our own strengths. As you know, while a god is mighty...belief and sacrifice can strengthen them more. That is why many believed they couldn't connect to the deep magic that was the foundation of our world."

Jacob grimaced.

"They were a mighty pantheon! How is this possible?!"

Vulpine's ears fell. Jacob saw this and sneered.

"What do you know?"

"...Imperious killed them...had some of the stones that held the essence of the foundational elements of the universe...he told me the Gods nearly defeated him...but he deduced their power had waned when he fought them."

Meta grumbled.

"A god's strength is partially powered by their believer's faith and acts of worship. At the time our world was being invaded...acts of worship and the people's faith had become less common...it appears we failed our people and our Gods."

Vulpine shook his head.

"Imperious had also revealed that the Gods had revealed that they had accepted their creations were going on their own paths and it was up to the individual to how we chose to view the world and what we placed our belief in. They wanted us to be our own people. Imperious respected their belief in us and their power even though that had waned. He admitted in had been one of the most challenging battles in his life, he even thought they could have defeated him...but they had been so focused trying to protect one another and us."

Tears flowed down Jacob's face as he slammed his fist onto the ground.

"He will pay for this!"

Cassie placed her hands on her friend's shoulders.

"He will...first we must free Doreen's friends while sensei faces Stalker."

Jacob's breath shuddered before he nodded and stood up.

"...Right...We're ready, sensei."

The Wolf nodded. Metatron began to chant in foreign language, his hands moving above the Earth on the ground as he spoke. The dirt began to shake and before the Wolf a swirling portal of energy appeared. He inhaled and exhaled.

"Come, we must move fast."

He walked through the portal with everyone present following behind him.

-Flagship Of The Dragon Emperor, Niagara Falls, Moments Later-

The group appear from the portal and stepped into the shadows of the ship. The hallways were lined with dark red columns that linked between the marble floors and ceiling. Metatron turned to Doreen.

"Do you still know where your friends are?"

Squirrel Girl looked at her communicator and typed in commands, which her other friends followed suit. She looked to her friends there with her, whom nodded back.

"Yes."

The Wolf nodded before turning to his students.

"Cassandra, Jacob you know what to do. Be careful."

They both nodded. The Wolf then began to sniff the air and his eyes narrowed as he found the familiar scent.

"I have his scent. We will hold him off as long as we can. Just be wary, Stalker is no one's fool and he will realize once those of us heading for him engage in battle, he will soon realize our plan."

Chavez grumbled.

"I still want a piece of that jerk."

Ghost Spider patted her friend's shoulder.

"I'll give him a punch from you."

Doreen chuckled, cracking her knuckles.

"Me to.."

Chavez scoffed but smiled. Meta turned to those under his command.

"Be careful."

They nodded.

Ms. Marvel moved beside Cassie, the Cat getting directions from the young Inhuman to their captured teammates while she directed the group through the darkness. They saw skeletal soldiers as they marched through the ship, though never saw the group as Cassandra quietly and carefully tutored them on the fly as they moved through the shadows. The Cat looked at the tracker Ms. Marvel was using.

"They're still a little bit away...there might be guards and we can't afford to be noisy."

Cassie motioned for them to follow her. The Cat's ears perked up as she heard the sound of grunting and groaning. She turned to Ms. Marvel, Chavez, and Patriot.

She spoke in a whisper.

"I can hear your friends. You're right, they're still more than a leap away, we have to keep moving."

Cassandra moved slowly through the shadows, every step she took she hardly made a sound at all. Her gaze fell upon the space where the soldiers continued to march through. Every footstep wasn't the softest she'd ever heard, though she knew they were quieter than many of the humans when they moved

The Cat looked back at the group. Jacob was at the rear end, keeping an eye out behind them in case any guards inadvertently moved near them. Cassie turned her focus back to the moving ahead. With her ears up, she tried to listen for anyone near them as she slowly put on foot in front of the others.

Ms. Marvel and her friends followed the Cat's movements as best as they could. Patriot was the most successful at this given his training with Captain America. But he had to admit, Cassandra's affinity for stealth was greater than the iconic hero's or any other person he'd ever met. Her movements were graceful even when as gently moved through the shadows. Ms. Marvel bit her lip, trying not to make a sound as she tried to mimic Cassandra's movements.

America Chavez began to trip as she stepped on her other foot. Cassie's ears turned back to this and she moved quickly back toward her. The Cat caught the young woman with one hand and covered her mouth with the others. America's eyes went wide as she almost gasped, but the Cat gently shushed her. Ms. Marvel gritted her teeth, eyes wide. She thought soldiers would surround them within moments at this, luckily this wasn't the case.

The Cat released America and continued to lead the group through the shadows. Her gaze fell upon a turn in the ship, catching a glimpse of a the edge of a skeletal soldier's armor around it. Cassie turned back to Ms. Marvel and looked at the tracker Ms. Marvel had up. The Inhuman heroine's heart was beating and she was sweating. But she looked at the markers for her captured friends and where they were presently.

Then she began to whisper as quietly as she could.

"Just around that corner, that's where they're keeping them."

Cassie nodded.

"We just have to wait for sensei's part to start."

-Another Part Of The Ship, Moments Earlier-

Metatron, Squirrel Girl, Ghost Spider, and Vulpine swiftly made their way through the corridors of the Flagship. The Wolf's ears were up as he followed his nose.

"Stalker's close, be ready for what's about to happen. Doreen, Spider take your positions as high up as you can and cover the arena we shall create once we have Stalker alone. Don't be complacent though, you will need to move firing positions as to adapt to the fight ahead."

Ghost Spider grunted, running right beside the old warrior.

"You and Vulpine are going to take him head on?"

"This combat will need to keep him off his guard, unable to take a space where he can hold his ground."

"But only Vulpine has the sword he took! You didn't bring any!"

Metatron sighed.

"I will do what I can without-"

The Wolf stopped, eyes wide. The others gathered around him. Squirrel Girl rubbed the back of her neck.

"Um, is everything ok?"

"...Can...Can it be?"

Vulpine's ears perked up.

"The Hall...I'd forgotten."

Metatron looked over to him.

"Where?"

"Follow me."

The group moved behind the Fox, moving through the ship till they came near a door that had a skeletal soldier standing on either side of it. Vulpine nodded to Metatron and the Wolf leapt forward. The soldiers tried to draw the blades, but the old warrior struck fast. His body morphed into a golden light and from it, came a large white and gray wolf. The beast growled as it tackled both soldiers, its large jaws crushing the neck bones of both before the soldiers turned to ash.

Ghost Spider's and Squirrel Girl's eyes went wide. Before they could say anything, the wolf's body morphed into golden light and Metatron walked out. Squirrel Girl's jaws dropped.

"H-How?"

Metatron opened the gleaming jade doors. He walked in with the others following. They came into a large hall, paintings of were laid above or around pedestals and hangers that held various weapons and armor. Vulpine sighed.

"Imperious kept the armor and weapons of warriors he came to respect...the ones that weren't damaged or destroyed."

Metatron looked around then stopped when his eyes fell on something he thought he'd never see again. The Wolf approached a pedestal that held what appeared to be a guandao. The guandao's handle was black as night while the blade was a common gray steel. Along the length of the blade were markings on the Wolf and the Fox could read.

Squirrel Girl and Ghost Spider looked up at the painting, an image of Metatron wielding the weapon that laid before them painted in an exact likeness. The two looked at the weapon, the latter speaking.

"This is yours?"

Metatron took the weapon in his hands again, tears moving down his face.

"My family's. Jiānhùrén, the ancestral weapon of the Arch Wolf Clan. My mother wielded this weapon before me."

Metatron moved one hand along the blade.

"My old friend."

Squirrel Girl looked at the writing on the blade.

"What does that mean?"

"Guardian of the People and the Faith."

Metatron's ears fell.

"And I failed at both."

Ghost Spider looked from the weapon to the Wolf.

"And...the shape-shifting?"

"A gift from the Gods...given to all the bloodlines when we were created. Over time, many of the various bloodlines lost or rather forgot this gift...the Wolves held onto it...and we tried to help the others to relearn this...but Imperious came...and took everything and everyone from us..."

The Wolf turned to the Fox, the bottom of the handle hitting the floor.

"It's time to start to repay that."

Vulpine nodded.

The group hurried through the hallways of the ship, tracking Stalker's scent. Meta's eyes narrowed as they turned a corner and came into a larger meeting center between the hallways that was a few dozen feet long and wide with stone protrusions that partially curved out from the sides of the room near the ceiling.

But the group's gaze was on the small group of soldiers that moved through the room. Squirrel Girl and Ghost Spider leapt out to either side of the room. They aimed their bow and crossbow and fired, each shot slew one skeletal soldier each. Vulpine grunted as he rushed forward, slashing down with the sword he'd taken. The blade cut through one soldier then he ducked under the strike from another then stabbed the soldier through its rib-cage before it turned to dust.

Metatron grumbled as a few soldiers rushed at him. He twirled the weapon in his hands as the skeletons jumped at him. The Wolf slashed with his guandao, the blade cutting the skull off one soldier then cut another in half. He blocked the strike from another soldier as he brought down the blade then slashed back at his foe, cutting it in half.

Ghost Spider chuckled at this.

"Wow, nicely done."

"I'm a little out of practice."

They then heard footsteps. The group turned to see the figure of Stalker walking out of a portal that appeared before them. The portal disappeared once the samurai stepped into the room.

"I must admit, this is quite a surprise. By his eminence's orders, you were supposed to be hunted by Vulpine and these young warriors."

He then turned to the Fox.

"But it seems he's betrayed his master."

Vulpine's ears flattened and pinned back. Stalker sighed, shaking his head.

"His Highness had such hopes for you."

"Did you know?"

"Pardon?"

Vulpine's bared his teeth slightly.

"Did you know I was a clone? That Imperious created me to help him take the original's home?"

"...Yes..."

Vulpine's hands trembled.

"And here I thought you prided yourself on being 'honorable'."

Stalker didn't respond to him, turning from the women present, to Metatron.

"Metatron Arch...renowned sensei and warrior of Faunia. I see you found your weapon, a truly incredible tool of battle. His lordship sought to honor fallen enemies that portrayed true courage, loyalty, sacrifice, and honor."

"...You destroyed our home...our land...our people...our Gods...you think that was honorable?"

Stalker sighed.

"Faunia was one of the most beautiful of all the worlds I'd ever seen. This world can hardly match it. There are glimpses of the natural and mystical beauty that it still does have that could rival your home world...but it has sadly been nearly destroyed...and once his Highness takes command of this dimension...he will restore both to their former glory."

Metatron's eyes widened.

"What?"

"I am a lover of natural beauty...your world was sadly ravaged by the sadist, Wraith. His lordship understood what his general was or had become...and he saw the true heart of your people and your world. He will bring them back."

The group stood wide eyed at this. Metatron shook his head.

"You expect him to undo what he did? To replenish our home and our people, both crafted from the deep love and magic of our Gods? You can't undo what you've done!"

Stalker shook his head.

"My master is gaining the most powerful conduits of universal elements one by one. He will be a god, he will heal everything that has been destroyed. Your world, your people will live in a time of peace and prosperity that they've never known."

Metatron's eyes welled with tears.

"Your master and his minions killed my wife, my clan, and my people...razed Faunia...would they want me to accept your master's plan and actions? Would they?!"

Stalker sighed, putting his hand on his sword's handle.

"As you wish."

Ghost Spider and Squirrel Girl leapt to the protrusions from the walls above them. Ghost Spider aimed her crossbow while Squirrel Girl pulled back on the string on her bow then both fired. Stalker drew his sword, the blade cutting through the arrow and the bolt as they neared him. He then turned to Metatron and Vulpine, both canid warriors rushed forward.

Stalker grunted as he lunged at them. He brought his down his sword at Vulpine, the Fox dodging to the side. Metatron twirled the weapon before he slashed at the samurai from the side. Stalker grunted as he held his blade against the one of his opponent. The Wolf snarled, baring all his teeth as he pushed his foe's sword to the side. Metatron growled as he then kicked out with one foot. Stalker skidded back, one hand dragging along the floor.

Vulpine growled as he lunged forward, bringing down the sword and aiming for Stalker's neck. But the samurai quickly parried the strike and sweep kicked the Fox. Vulpine grunted as he jumped off his hands then onto his feet. Metatron raced forward, slashing his weapon at a sharp angle from the side towards the samurai. But Stalker flipped over the attack then after he landed on his feet he lunged forward, aiming his blade to stab into the Wolf's hip. But Metatron placed the end of the polearm against the floor and lifted himself up and over the strike. He then landed and lunged forward, flipping at an angle and cutting down with the glaive of his guandao.

Stalker grunted as he slid away from the attack. Vulpine lunged forward, slashing down with the sword he'd taken again and again. The samurai grunted as he blocked the strikes or evaded them. The Fox went for a stab at Stalker's throat, but the samurai moved to the side then moved around and slammed one elbow against the Fox's back and sent him stumbling forward.

Squirrel Girl and Ghost Spider fired again, aiming for the samurai's feet. Stalker cut through both the arrow and the bolt once again. In response to this, Ghost Spider leapt over Stalker several feet above him and fired multiple web shots at him. Stalker cut through several of these yet a few managed to hold one of his feet against the floor. Squirrel Girl fired another bolt, but Stalker cut through it again. But the warrior quickly realize this was a distraction as Vulpine raced at him again.

Stalker quickly blocked the Fox's strike was his own blade before he pulled a dagger from its sheath. He then slashed it at the Fox, the steel cutting across Vulpine's sword hand. Vulpine grunted as he pulled back, his other hand moving to the cut. Metatron had leapt forward before Stalker cut himself free. The Wolf brought down the glaive as Stalker dodged to the side. He held the blade down with his sword then threw the dagger at Metatron's shoulder.

The Wolf caught the dagger with one hand. He pulled the glaive free and twirled it around in the one hand that held the polearm as he lunged forward, trying to stab Stalker with his own dagger. The samurai blocked it with the armor on one hand and pushed up, tossing the the dagger up. Ghost Spider grabbed it as she watched Metatron and Stalker duel.

The Wolf twirled the guandao, striking out at Stalker. The samurai grunted as blocked and parried the strikes, his sword pushed against the large glaive as Metatron swiftly slashed his weapon around. Stalker grunted as he dodged around the strikes as Metatron growled as he continued to slash his weapon, to which Stalker dodged around or parried the strikes.

Vulpine growled as he lunged forward, the sword slashed down as the Fox leapt forward. Metatron snarled as he slashed down with his polearm. Stalker quickly brought up his sword, blocking the attacks of both his foes. He held the blade up with both hands, one on the handle the other pressed against the blade.

Metatron and Vulpine both glowered at him, all their fangs bared at him as they snarled. The samurai managed to look behind him, seeing both Ghost Spider and Squirrel Girl aiming at him.

The two young women fired, aiming at his shoulders. But the samurai pulls himself back, the blades of the canid warriors cutting through the arrow and bolt. Stalker grunted as he leapt onto the wall and started to race up it at the young women, who stared wide eyed at this. Metatron growls as he leaps forward and up. His swings his weapon and cuts off the samurai's attack as he tried to slash his blade at Ghost Spider's crossbow. The glaive of the guandao blocked Stalker's blade within moments. The Wolf then leapt towards the samurai, throwing one foot out and kicking his foe across the face and sent him flying towards the ground.

Vulpine grunted as he moved beneath Stalker, leveling the sword he held towards the samurai. Stalker grunted as he flipped around and skidded across the wall as he pulled out another dagger that sliced down the wall. He leapt across and over the Fox, landing on the floor then rushed at Vulpine. As Metatron dropped to the ground, Vulpine and Stalker's swords collided. They both slashed at one another, their blades blocking and parrying one another.

Squirrel Girl grunted as she fired several arrows at Stalker after she checked to see if Ghost Spider was alright. Stalker saw the gleam of the light arrows and swiftly turned and knelt down, stabbing the dagger he held into Vulpine's left leg. The Fox yelled in pain as he staggered back. The samurai cut through the arrows one after another.

Metatron growled as he rushed forward. He leapt in the air, turning at a diagonal angle and slashed down with his guandao. Stalker jumped back slightly, the glaive narrowly missing him, before he slashed down with his sword to force the glaive down then quickly struck out with his sword. The Wolf turned to the side and ducked down, pulling the guandao with him and around his body then struck out at the samurai. The blade of the polearm was blocked by Stalker who quickly pulled his sword back to block the blade of his enemy.

Vulpine grunted as he pulled out the dagger and held it in his other hand. He winced and grunted, his hands gripping the sword and dagger tight as he tried to rush forward. Stalker grunted as he ducked under the slash from Metatron and slid over to the Fox, leaping up knocking one of his knees into the Fox's face. Vulpine growled as he dropped to the ground, blood covering his mouth. The samurai prepared to plunge his sword into the Fox's chest.

Metatron rushed forward, thrusting his guandao at Stalker. The samurai grunted as he slashed down with his blade and knocked the glaive down. But the Wolf twisted as the samurai did this and as he turned, the pommel of the gunadao slammed into Stalker's face. The samurai yelled as he dropped to the ground, one hand going to mask over his face. It was cracked. The Wolf stood in front of the Fox, twirling his weapon in his hand then pointed the glaive at the samurai.

Stalker chuckled as he stood up, holding his blade in both his hands.

"It's almost as if you never lost your weapon."

The Wolf's eyes narrowed at the samurai. Ghost Spider and Squirrel Girl fired again while Metatron rushed forward. Stalker rolled away from the arrow and the bolt before cutting through the next ones fired at him. Ghost Spider and Squirrel Grunted as they continued to fire off as many bolts and arrows as they could, now the Metatron and Vulpine were a somewhat clear distance away from the samurai. But the warrior continued to cut through each arrow and bolt.

Squirrel Girl shouted in frustration.

"HOW DO YOU KEEP CUTTING THROUGH THEM?!"

Stalker didn't respond, instead turning back to the canid warriors. Vulpine grunted as he got back onto his feet, hands shaking despite still holding the sword and dagger. Metatron and Vulpine's ears perked up before they both grumbled. Ghost Spider and Squirrel Girl then detected the sound both of the men heard: running. In the small area, several skeletal soldiers rushed forward from the different hallways.

The samurai stood erect, sword leveled at the canid warriors.

"Surrender, this is your only chance."

The Wolf's ears flattened and laid back, as did the Fox's before the former spoke.

"As is yours."

Stalker didn't answer with words, he only rushed forward with the soldiers beside him.

-Flagship, Jail Cells, A Few Minutes Earlier-

Cassie slowly crept forward, eyes on the skeletal soldiers that stood guard before the doors to the cells. She nodded to those behind her then lunged forward at the guards. She pushed them together and then blasted fire through their skulls before they disintegrated. All but Jacob stared at this wide eyed.

Ms. Marvel gulped.

"W-Whoa."

America grinned.

"Ok, I gotta admit, that was metal."

Cassie raised an eyebrow at this.

"Metal?"

America sighed.

"I'll explain it to you later."

Cassie burnt down the doors with a single finger. Ms. Marvel, Patriot, and Rayshaun rushed in and freed their friends from their shackles. They stared wide eyed at seeing Cassie and Jacob before them. Daisy grunted and winced.

"W-What're they doing here?"

Ms. Marvel chuckled.

"Helping save all of you."

"What?"

Rayshaun held one of Dante's arms over his shoulders. The pyrokinetic rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed smile on his face as he looked at the pyromancer.

"S-Sorry about attacking you."

Cassie looked from them to peering outside before coming back to them.

"We don't have much time, sensei and the others will be seeking if not battling Stalker now."

Vixen grunted as Chavez helped her and Riri up. The Fox turned to the Cat.

"They can't...he's...too strong...and he has our weapons...the Blade! He has the Blade!...wait...Vulpine...he-"

Chavez grimaced.

"He's...better...but first we have to get you out of here."

"Vulpine? He's ok?"

"Sort of."

Quake grunted.

"We need to get our weapons...if Imperious is able to harness the power of Vixen's blade..."

Those words hanged in the air and everyone dreaded what could happen. Jacob turned to Cassandra, both nodding and the former spoke.

"You can sense the Blade, yes?"

"...Yes..."

"Lead us there and we get all of you out."

"W-Why?...Why are you helping us?"

The Cat and Hedgehog gave one another a mournful look before turning back to the Fox, the former replied.

"Let's get your weapons then all will be explained...more than any of us could've realize before."

Vixen turned to the others and those that knew gave her an uncertain look.

The group hurried through the ship, Vixen's eyes closed as she concentrated on finding the Blade. They managed to dodge more soldiers as they quickly made their way through the ship, the Fox advising them that they had to make every second count. After a few minutes they came upon a set of doors guarded by several skeletal soldiers.

Cassie nodded to Jacob who nodded back. The soldiers hissed as they were level in the air by an unseen force. They turned to see Jacob holding them up with his magic before Cassie lunged forward, firing bursting from her hands and incinerated them as they screeched.

Cassie turned to the group.

"Get your weapons and we'll get you out to meet with sensei and leave."

They nodded. Vixen and her friends took the weapons gifted to them by Crusader and Riri retrieved her emergency nano-tech. Cassie led the way while Chavez helped her injured friends up and Ms. Marvel raced by their side and Patriot and Jacob covered the rear. The Cat's ears perked up and she turned to the side and then looked behind them. Skeletal soldiers from different hallways rushed them.

"Defend yourselves!"

Ms. Marvel turned to see the skeletal soldiers rushing them. She shouted as she stretched one hand forward and swung her kusarigma. The blade cut through several skeletal soldiers while Cassie blasted fireballs at them. The young Inhuman heroine stretched her legs up to just be a little shorter than the height of the ceiling and threw both hands forward. Her blades carved a swift and swirling path through the soldiers though the archers that approached fired their arrows with some of them nearing her hands.

Jacob thrust one hand up, freezing the arrows then telekinetically throwing them back at the archers. Some slayed some of them while others dodged them. Ms Marvel turned back to the Hedgehog.

"Thanks!"

Jacob nodded and turned his head to look back at their pursuers.

More of the archers raced after them while foot soldiers moved behind them. Arrows flew towards the group. Patriot grunted as he blocked several of the projectiles with his shield and Jacob froze them in the air and threw them back, slaying more of the skeletal warriors. Ms. Marvel grunted and shouted as she slung her blades at more attackers that came from another angle.

"How much farther?!"

Cassie grunted, incinerating another soldier as they got close.

"We're close! Sensei and the others are still fighting in the distance. We still have more enemies here, defend yourselves!"

Ms. Marvel grunted as she slashed her blade through another soldier.

"Keep it up guys! We can do this!"

She shouted as she slung her blades again, cutting through another skeletal soldier.

-Another Part Of The Flagship, Present-

Ghost Spider and Squirrel Girl shouted as they fired their arrows and bolts, destroying several of the soldiers while Metatron and Vulpine fought Stalker and them.

The Fox parried a sword strike from one of the soldiers with his own before stabbing the dagger into its skull before he leapt forward and plunged his sword into another skeletal soldier. He quickly turned and blocked the strike from another soldier, his teeth gritting as he struggled to balance himself with his injured leg.

Metatron rushed forward, cutting down one soldier and then another. Stalker lunged forward to meet the Wolf, both their blades clashing against one another. The samurai slashed with his sword in several arcs coming from different angles, but the Wolf blocked each attack with his glaive.

Ghost Spider fired off multiple web shots at the samurai, but the warrior continued evade or cut through each of them. She growled, one fist slamming into the wall beside her and making a dent.

"Stop moving!"

Squirrel Girl grunted as she continued to fire more arrows, aiming for different parts of Stalker's body. The samurai cut through each one as he evaded Metatron's strikes as the projectiles focused more on him. Stalker grunted as he rolled around the arrows and bolts, throwing a dagger at Ghost Spider and Squirrel Girl when he cleared a more considerable distance between himself and the Wolf.

Ghost Spider fired web shots at them, incasing them in the webbing before they could get near her or SG. Squirrel Girl grinned at her.

"Thanks Ghost!"

"No problem! Just keeping firing!"

SG grumbled as she continued to miss or her arrows were sliced by her target.

"Focus on the soldiers! More keep coming!"

Ghost Spider nodded as she refocused her aim at the soldiers that rushed towards Metatron and Vulpine.

The Fox grunted as he blocked the slashes of the soldiers, pushing their blades away before he cut through them with his blade. One soldier tried to stab his injured leg. Vulpine managed to jump away on his good leg and cut off that soldier's bony hand. He picked up the sword that dropped to the floor. The Fox winced and groaned as he stood on both legs, blocking and parrying the strikes of more soldiers. He pushed the blades back and shouted as he cut off their skulls. The Fox gasped as he dropped onto one knee, panting.

The Wolf grunted as he blocked a slash from the samurai, sidestepping his wide cuts and stabs. Stalker grunted as he slashed down, both hands on his sword. Metatron slashed with his weapon from the side, the glaive pushing the sword aside before he swung it back at Stalker. The samurai ducked under his attack and as he slid across the ground he slashed his sword at Metatron's feet. But the Wolf jumped over the strike and back a few feet, slashing with his guandao and cutting off the skull of another soldier. Stalker stood up, leveling his blade at his opponent.

"Sensei!"

Metatron and Stalker turned, seeing Cassie leading the rescuers and the rescued towards them. The samurai hissed.

"NO!"

He lunged forward, aiming to stab Metatron's throat. The Wolf moved his body to the side, his right shoulder facing his enemy. Stalker grunted as he advanced, stabbing and slashing repeatedly at his target. Metatron continued to dodge the strikes.

Vixen's eyes widened, seeing Stalker's sword slashing at the Wolf's throat.

"NO!"

Stalker turned, seeing the rescuers and rescued now almost in the space the small battle was being fought. The samurai's gaze focused on the golden blade in Vixen's hands. He hissed as he lunged forward, Cassie and Ms. Marvel stepping in front of the others and knelt slightly, ready to lunge forward.

But Metatron jumped forward, the glaive pushing down the samurai's sword.

The Wolf growled lowly at the samurai, who focused his attention on him once more as Metatron spoke.

"I'm your opponent, not her."

The samurai grunted as he pulled his blade back and advanced on his opponent. Stalker shouted as he slashed at the Wolf, his blade moving in short and swift arcs aimed at Metatron's upper body.

The Wolf twirled the guandao around, slashing and stabbing at the samurai. Stalker grunted as he blocked and parried the glaive with each movement. The samurai pulled back then lunged forward, aiming a stab at the Wolf's chest. But Metatron slid to the side, twirling his weapon around before moving behind the samurai and striking out with an open palm strike. The attack sent Stalker skidding back and Metatron advanced. The samurai grunted as he rushed forward, but the Wolf threw a low kick and knocked his foe back. The Wolf then twirled his weapon around then slashed down.

Stalker grunted as he blocked with his sword, both hands pushing against the glaive. The samurai kicked out with one foot, striking his opponent's leg. Metatron's balance was thrown off at this and this was followed up by Stalker pushing the glaive to the side then tried to stab his opponent's chest. But Metatron quickly jumped back and landed on the one foot that had been struck then quickly brought down his weapon and shattered Stalker's sword.

The samurai looked up from this, gasping. Metatron grunted as he twirled around, striking his foe with the pommel of his guandao. Stalker grunted as he hit the floor. The Wolf looked up to see a last few skeletal soldiers rushing him from out of one of the hallways. Metatron grunted as he twirled around, moving his guandao as he turned and face the skeletal soldiers. As he faced them and turned more to the side, his weapon slashed forward and decapitated every one of his would be attackers.

All those except Cassie, Jacob, and Vulpine stared wide eyed at the last few strikes that had destroyed the samurai's sword, knocked the warrior down, and slayed the soldiers before them. The Wolf inhaled and exhaled slowly, before turning to his students.

"Well done."

Cassie and Jacob bowed to him.

They turned to the sound of growling and groaning. Vulpine approached Stalker, leveling one of the swords at the fallen samurai.

"You...You and your master...what you did..."

"To seek his vision of order."

"Destruction! Their world burned to the ground! Myself a damned puppet! And this world now is set to be razed!"

"For the greater good...in time, all will be healed!"

"And what of those that have fallen?! That you, Wraith, and Imperious have taken! World gone! Lives lost! Both mortal and immortal!"

"In time, it will be worth it."

"...Even if he wins...you won't live to see it!"

Vulpine raised the blade.

"Stay your blade."

Vulpine turned, his wide eyes visage turned to Metatron.

"What?! You off all people want him alive?!"

"Don't misunderstand...I would take his life for what he and his master has done to Faunia...for this world...to save it, Stalker must be kept alive at least to question him, to learn his master's plans and tactics, his secrets. This world has a better chance of survival if Stalker is questioned so a plan can be crafted to better defend it and defeat the false dragon."

"But what's been done...what happened to Faunia...and already to this world...and Stalker won't give up his master's secrets!"

"Perhaps not...and perhaps there is a way to discover this...for this world...they need his knowledge to better save themselves."

"...And what of Faunia?..."

"Faunia and our Gods will be avenged once the false dragon is brought down...never to possibly rise again. I ask you: what would he do?"

Vulpine didn't need to ask who Metatron meant. The Fox knew the mind of the original all too well and knew what he would do. The Fox growled as he used the pommel of one of the swords to knock out the samurai. He turned to Metatron, tears falling down his face. The Wolf slowly nodded. Vulpine and Vixen's gazes met for a moment. She smiled yet he couldn't bear to meet her gaze any longer. His ears dropped while Vixen's face shifted with confusion. The Wolf grunted as he took the samurai over his soldier before turning to everyone.

"Come, let us meet with your masters."

The Wolf spoke a soft chant and another portal appeared before them, with all entering it.

-Niagara Falls, Moments Later-

The group walked out of the portal and stood near the edge of the Falls. Ms. Marvel's eyes widened at the incredible natural beauty.

"I've always wanted to come here...just not under these circumstances."

They heard a roar and turned to the Flagship that had decloaked for a moment then entered a giant portal that manifested in front of it before the portal and the Flagship disappeared. The group then focused on the sound of whoosing and another roar. They looked up to see a S.H.I.E.L.D. Hellicarrier flying above them as well as Captain Marvel, staring with rather wide eyes at them and Captain America riding a Sky-Cycle. The former grinned and spoke first.

"Oh, I've got to hear this story."

Captain America smiled at the young heroes. Some grinned back at him. Both captains turned to the Wolf, Cat, and Hedgehog before turning to one another and back to them. Captain America nodded and the Wolf nodded back before the First Avenger addressed all of them.

"Alright soldiers, let's get you all patched up. Well done."

To Be Continued...

AN: We hope everyone enjoyed this epic Climax for Foxes Of War. Once again please give Story's Shadow a thunderous roar of applause for all his hard work. Only one chapter remains in this story... then war comes for book 3.