Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Fist or anything else you may recognize
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
And this is the 'Season finale' now, I thank everyone for sticking with my version of the show until the end.
Let's hope the finale ends things with a blast.
Chapter 13- Fist of Unicorn
Months ago, K'un-Lun
Danny slowly walked through the dark cave, his hair standing as he knew this was it- his final test to become the Iron Fist at long last!
After all the training, and this Tournament, here he was, at the final stage of this journey, or so he thought at the time.
It was pitch black, so Danny just used instinct and sense, avoiding any rocks in his way, and not walking into the wall by accident.
Finally, he felt an open area before him, and found himself in a wide-open cavern, which was just as pitch-black as the rest of the cave.
He stood there, feeling something move near him, as a growl was heard.
Then, two eyes lit up in the room, red eyes, that were glowing. Danny felt his heart stop briefly as he looked at the eyes, before taking a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
'Its just another opponent….who is huge…and can breathe fire…and is a Dragon!'
Okay, didn't work THAT well then.
The figure breathed fire out of its mouth onto a pyre, illuminating the cavern finally, and that was when Danny saw it at last.
An Asian Dragon, a long serpentine body, with red scales and a paler coloured underbelly, and the symbol of the Iron Fist upon its chest. The symbol that he would have upon his own if he won and earned the power.
This was Shao-Lou, The Undying!
Iron Fist intro plays and is shown, displaying a shadowed figure doing martial arts with a dark-greenish background, and it ends with the title screen.
Present Day, New York City
Master Khan stood before the portal himself, smiling as he raised his hands to either side, glowing with his purple chi that he'd formed by fusing his magic with human chi, and then he glowed alongside the portal with its energy too, due to the power he'd taken from it. He was now the master of this portal, and could open and close it on will.
Chikara Dojo
Danny and Colleen had just returned, the latter opening the door as they saw Ward and Claire stand up to greet them, Kyle just giving them a little wave with a grin.
"So, did you win?" Claire asked, when the ground shook once more and the lights flickered. "I'll take that as a no."
"The Hand has been defeated, for now", Colleen told the two of them.
"Then why is everything still shaking?" Ward inquired, and Danny looked at him as well as Claire grimly.
"Because they'd help….from a Master who betrayed K'un-Lun", Danny said sadly, the two looking at him in shock and sympathy now. "He is the one who convinced me to come back here, but he was just trying to further his own goals, as he was helping The Hand."
"I'm sorry", Ward said, putting a hand to his shoulder as Claire gave him a nod too, Danny just smiling in appreciation.
After that, he went inside with Colleen, who said. "He has called Danny to the portal site for the big fight with him."
"And I will go", Danny finally declared as he looked up, and turned around, seeing the sky, and then the poles which crackled with electricity. "Me coming back here to fight The Hand might have been part of his plan all along", determination was written across his face, "but everything I do from now on, it shall be all me." And with that, he declared. "I am the Immortal Iron Fist, and I shall protect both New York and K'un-Lun from Khan, no matter what it takes."
Colleen nodded, ready to go with him, as Claire narrowed her eyes at Danny, then commented. "You know, for a guy calling himself the Iron Fist, you look kind of plain."
"What?" Danny asked, looking confused.
"I think you could use a bit of a superhero wardrobe", Kyle of all people said while raising his hand.
"But…" Danny trailed off. "I'm not really a superhero…right?!"
"Really?" Colleen asked with a chuckle. "You're literally protecting this city from an evil organization's plans, and you've superpowers, you're a superhero."
"Oh come on!" Danny groaned, the rest chuckling.
"Hey, maybe you could wear something colorful", Ward added playfully. "And a mask to go with it."
Danny was about to reply something, before thinking about it. Even when he would beat Khan, it wasn't like his job would be over. If he was going to call himself protector of New York, he needed to actually protect it, and not just from The Hand or Master Khan.
The Hand had used the Triads to come at him first, so they were one of the many criminal organizations in the city, and there would be many more, which wouldn't even be affiliated with The Hand.
Not to mention, if The Hand had dealt with Rand Enterprises by using Harold, then there was work to be done in the company too. The Hand being crippled did not mean their influence in Rand Enterprises had been wiped out, as the heroin trade, and any other trades they'd set up, might still be going on, with the company unknowingly protecting the dealers who were associated with The Hand.
There would be a lot of work to do in the city, even after defeating Master Khan.
Perhaps wearing a mask and dressing up wasn't such a bad idea, because while he did not have any experience running a business, he did know that being seen fighting crime on the streets would raise questions about him, put his loved ones in danger and just bring unwanted attention to the company.
Well, that was that.
"You know, that's not actually a bad idea", Danny finally admitted to the rest of them, which surprised them as they figured he'd still protest a bit, and besides, they were mostly teasing anyways. "But I'll do all this after Master Khan is beaten."
With that, he took a deep breath, then began to march forth, alongside Colleen, who had her katana with her, and she marched with him.
"Good luck", Ward said to them.
"Thanks", Danny said in reply.
"Beat this guy", Claire added.
"Oh we will", Colleen told her too.
As they walked forwards, Colleen looked at her katana, remembering how it had glowed during the fight with Bakuto, because of which she had finally defeated him.
Danny remembered seeing that too. "Remember, I'd told you a while ago that I sense chi in it."
"Yeah, makes me think more about it", Colleen confessed, holding it up and giving it a practise swing before sheathing it as they continued walking. "This sword has been in my family for generations. I knew it was special, but I did not know just how much."
"Well, we'll try and find out more about it after this is done", Danny assured her, both of them sharing a smile and kiss before continuing to walk.
Finally, the two made their way to the top of the building, where Master Khan stood in front of the portal, glowing purple, and that was when Danny finally sensed his chi for the first time. Now his chi wasn't just a purple aura around him, it was even cracking with electricity, just like the portal.
"You mixed your chi with magic", Danny noted grimly. "And now the energy of this portal."
"Are you afraid?" Khan asked tauntingly. "This is your doing after all. But then again, you always were afraid of yourself."
At that moment, everything around them seemed to warp, as Danny and Colleen closed their eyes and shook their heads, before the warp ended, and Danny saw that he was surrounded by many of himself.
"What the…" Colleen muttered, when a shadow struck at her but she dodged by spinning as her katana glowed, and she struck the shadow, dissipating it.
"You are still weak", one Danny said to the real one, and threw a punch but this time, Danny side-stepped to dodge, grasped his hand, then turned it around, making him punch himself as he was sent back, after which Danny leapt and kicked him into another one, making both roll on the ground.
"There is no conviction in you!" Another screamed, leaping at Danny with a kick but Danny spun and kicked him down instead.
Colleen leapt back to avoid being hit by a shadow before rushing forth and impaling it as it dissipated.
"You let yourself be manipulated, now look where that has gotten you", another Danny said, trying to spin and elbow the real Danny who blocked by grasping his elbow.
"That does not matter", Danny said before pushing the fake one off as he flipped and landed. "What matters is what I do now."
Colleen leaned backwards and swung her sword in that direction, taking out two more shadows who were behind her, before stabbing another and then slicing at another, dissipating them too.
The various Danny Rands all leapt at Danny together, only for his Iron Fist to glow as he punched the ground the lightly, shaking everything and causing some more rubble to collapse due to the shaking, while a shockwave emanated and took out all his doubles in one go.
He then flexed before looking at Khan with a smirk. "This move has gotten old, why don't you show me something new?"
Suddenly, a figure leapt through the window, and then landed on his knee, putting a fist to the ground as he looked down, growling, before raising his head up.
Davos!
He stood up, standing next to Danny while glaring at Master Khan. Danny smiled at him. "Davos."
Davos scoffed as he looked at Danny. "I am not here for you." He gestured to Khan. "I am here for him."
Danny sighed sadly, realizing that Davos still hated him. But at least in this moment, he had his priorities right.
Khan had to be stopped. After that, they would go back to being enemies, Danny realized with a heavy heart.
Seeing them stand side-by-side, Khan let out a sardonic laugh.
"Oh the irony. The boy who wanted so much, with the one who took it all away from him. How does it feel, Davos, to know this outsider took everything you held dear?"
"K'un-Lun is dearest to me, and that has not yet been taken, nor will I allow it." Davos responded passionately.
"This is going to be interesting", Khan noted as he took his fighting stance, and then Danny and Davos took theirs too, while Colleen pointed her katana forwards, all of them ready to battle.
Months ago, K'un-Lun
"You do not belong here", Shao-Lou declared to Danny, who looked up at the Dragon while gulping. "I have guarded this power against enemies and outsiders since the beginning. And for a thousand years, I have seen the greatest Champions try and fail." As Danny continued to look at him, the Dragon finally said. "But never have I sensed one as unworthy as you. You dare come here with your tainted blood of those immoral outsiders to claim this great power?"
Danny looked at Shao-Lou, narrowing his eyes, then charged, leaping up, only for the Great Dragon to strike him with his tail, sending Danny flying off and crashing onto the wall of the cavern. The only reason he wasn't a splatter was because of his human chi that was enhancing him in this moment.
"So be it….outsider."
Shao-Lou breathed flames in Danny's direction as he leapt and rolled away to avoid those, only for Shao-Lou to twirl and strike Danny with his tail again, sending him crashing into another part of the cavern, as he groaned in pain.
He got up as Shao-Lou fired flames, and he ran to avoid those. Then suddenly, Shao-Lao's tail wrapped around him, then slammed him to the ground, breaking it as he gasped in pain, while Shao-Lao let go and walked around him.
"You thought yourself worthy? You thought yourself the Iron Fist? You dishonor this land with your presence."
Shao-Lao made to slam his tail down on Danny, only for Danny to raise his chi-enhanced hand.
"Stop!"
Shao-Lao's tail was just barely stopped by Danny, to his own surprise, as it got pushed back, while Danny looked at the Dragon.
"You are right, I am an outsider, I am a nobody. But I did not come here because I thought I was worthy. I came here because my master, Lei Kung the Thunderer, saw something in me that I do not see myself. In fact, I think there are worthier candidates, such as Davos and Chu, yet, I am here", he looked at Shao-Lao with determination in his eyes, "so that I can honor my master's faith, to show everyone that his faith in a foreign outsider was not in vain. All I've ever wanted to do, is help people and protect them. Now, after my parents are dead, I want to do that even more."
For a few seconds, neither spoke or made a move. And for a flicker of a second, there was respect in the eyes of Shao-Lao.
Present Day, New York City
Khan's power crackled around him as he smirked. "Let me teach you three a lesson…..Iron Fist, failure, and traitor."
Danny, Davos and Colleen just glared, before Danny said. "You won't have that chance."
He glowed with his chi energy as both his fists lit up, and he held them up, ready to fight. With that, both Danny and Davos leapt onto either side of Khan, and Danny held out one palm, gathering chi as an orb, then hurled it at Khan, who held out his hand, grabbing the orb, and after a few seconds, it dissipated.
With that, he charged at Danny with his power, forming a shape of a fist with his magic as he was about to strike Danny, who held out his palm, using chi to block it, even though he was pushed back and his foot dug into the ground.
But then he used his other foot to kick Khan back, after which Davos leapt at him with a chi-enhanced punch. He dodged, before striking at Davos who blocked, and then he ducked to avoid a spin-kick, before punching Khan twice and then kicking him, which pushed him back, but Khan didn't look phased either way.
Davos then breathed in as his chest expanded, and then he breathed fire at Khan, who leapt up to avoid it, only for Danny to take the opportunity and hold out his Iron Fists before punching the air, sending out blasts of chi which struck Khan and sent him flying off as he gasped in pain.
But before he could fall, he aimed his palm in Danny's direction and dark crystals sprang out of the ground, striking his face as he was sent back, while Khan suddenly teleported in front of Danny and punched him, sending him flying off and crashing into the wall, and through it.
And then, he leapt off, punching Danny twice before throwing him down, when Colleen leapt at him with a roar, katana raised, only for him to hold out his palm as his sorcery blocked it, and then he kicked Colleen hard, sending her flying off.
She rolled away, groaning, but got back up, charging again, only for him to hurl flames in her direction. Colleen put her glowing katana in the way, and it blocked the flames, but the impact sent her flying off and falling down still.
That was when a blast of flames from Davos hit Khan from the side, sending him down once more, and as he stood up, Davos leapt at him to strike, but he formed blades with his sorcery, and struck at Davos, who used a chi blade to block before ducking to avoid a swing and then flipping onto his other side, before clashing, but the impact sent Davos back.
As both leapt in the air, Davos kicked Khan away, and as they landed, Khan sent a blast of dark crystals at Davos, who blocked but was sent flying back, and then Khan charged him, slamming him into a wall and punching him repeatedly, before his punches shattered the wall and he was about to stab Davos with two sorcerous blades, but at the last moment, Davos ducked and grabbed his hands from underneath, trying to hold him in place.
As the blades inched closer to either side of his neck, Davos breathed out fire again, striking Khan right on the face as he was sent back, but as Davos stopped, Khan struck him on either side of his head with his fists, sending him staggering on his knees as he bled.
At that moment, orbs of chi hit Khan, staggering him back, before he used sorcerous blades to deflect some more, and that was when Danny charged at him again, alongside Davos, and Colleen.
Khan deflected all their blows simultaneously via his magic, deflecting Davos' flames towards Colleen at one point as she used her katana to block, but at that moment, Danny punched Khan on the face with his Iron Fist, sending him flying off.
Danny and Davos then ran towards him, avoiding his blasts of magic, before Danny leapt and kicked his face, making him crash to the ground where he rolled away and stood up.
Danny and Davos then charged him from either side, trying to punch, but he blocked with his magic and sent both flying off.
Before Danny could recover, Khan hurled the dark crystals at him and they wrapped around his body, his chi aura slowly fading, to everyone's horror.
And then, Khan hurled a swirling mass of his dark sorcery towards the trapped Danny, but at the last moment, both Colleen and Davos jumped in the way, the former swinging her glowing katana as the latter swung his chi-enhanced blades, and they managed to cut apart most of the magic, and then Colleen gave one fast swing which cut most of it apart.
Khan hurled blasts of magic at Colleen and Davos, the former using her katana to block even though it still sent her flying off, while the latter was struck and sent flying off too.
At that moment, Danny's chi rose up again, surrounding his body as the dark crystals were blown apart, and then golden fire surrounded his body, burning his shirt off as the Dragon brand on his chest lit up.
The golden fire briefly took the form of a Dragon around him, before he aimed his palms, then charged the surprised Khan, striking at his chest many times as he staggered back and spat out blood, before holding out one palm as powerful Dragon fire shot out of it.
Khan tried to block using his dark sorcery, but the Dragon fire managed to burn down his barrier, and then burn him badly as he gasped in pain, and staggered back.
He spat out some blood, before screaming in rage as dark crystals shot at Danny, but he struck them with one Iron Fist, shattering them, before leaping at Khan and punching his face, sending him flying off while he spat out blood.
As he tried to get up, Danny leapt high into the air, then shot down and forwards right at him, and struck his chest with the Iron Fist, sending him flying off while spitting out blood, right into the portal.
As Khan fell into the portal, the power with which Danny had punched him caused it to shatter around him, making him scream in horror.
"NO! DANNY! HELP ME!"
Danny just stood there, glowing with golden fire. He shook his head.
"No."
And then, there was a rip in reality in the portal which imploded, taking Khan away as the portal finally shut down.
Davos and Colleen staggered up at that moment, having seen the ending stage of this fight.
"He is gone then?" Colleen inquired, Danny nodding.
"Yeah, he is gone", he confirmed.
Danny panted, the golden fire around him dissipating as he fell to his knees, though one Iron Fist of his was still lit up, before Davos snarled. "Danny."
Danny looked up, then turned around, seeing Davos ready to fight, and staggered up himself, looking both shocked and resigned at the same time.
"Even now, after all this?"
"Nothing has changed."
Months ago, K'un-Lun
Shao-Lao slithered around in the air, then shot at Danny who jumped back to avoid and managed to strike his face with a chi blade, making him screech.
His tail struck a big boulder, causing part of it to crash upon Danny but he used his chi enhanced fist to break it, before the Great Dragon charged him again but Danny struck his face with his fist, making him screech once more.
As Shao-Lao tried to strike with his tail, Danny spun and hit it, making Shao-Lao move the tail away, and then he spun and struck Shao-Lao on the face again, making him back by a little.
After that, he ducked to avoid a tail strike, before Shao-Lao breathed flames, Danny rolling away to avoid those.
Then, he stood up, looking at the Great Dragon with determined eyes as he marched forwards. "Come on."
Shao-Lao struck with his claws, Danny using chi blades to block before striking his face as he screeched, and then Shao-Lao used his tail to break a boulder, Danny again using his enhanced fist to shatter the rubble coming his way.
As Shao-Lao came closer, Danny leapt and struck at his head as he staggered back. Then, Shao-Lao struck Danny's feet with his tail, making him spin and fall down.
As Danny tried to get up, Shao-Lao's tail struck him again, sending him flying off. He rolled over, then got up again but Shao-Lao's tail struck at his face and he was sent flying off again.
Danny staggered up, looking at Shao-Lao who flew at him. Danny, feeling a burst of energy, literally blurred towards Shao-Lao, his human chi erupting around him.
And then, he ended on Shao-Lao's chest, and plunged his fist into the chest, right into Shao-Lao's burning heart as he felt the heat on himself and gritted his teeth.
Then, he looked up at Shao-Lao, and saw no anger or pain on the Great Dragon's face.
All he saw was approval.
"The power of the Iron Fist does not come from sheer might, but from truth. Your heart is true, Daniel Rand. Now, I give you mine."
Then, Shao-Lao started glowing with a golden fire, and slowly dissipated away into nothingness while Danny glowed with the golden fire instead, feeling its power surge through him as his shirt was burnt away, and then, he grunted in pain as the brand of the Great Dragon now appeared on his chest, glowing briefly before the glow faded from it.
"You need to believe, Daniel Rand."
Danny looked up, the flames around him dying down as he saw Shao-Lao in a spectral form slithering around him.
Danny nodded in determination. "I promise, I will always believe."
Shao-Lao nodded. "My time has come. You must continue your journey on your own, young Dragon," Danny watched in shock as the spectral Dragon that was Shao-Lao the Undying began to fade in his spectral form, and the reason for Danny's shock was that this legendary being was "dying" in front of him, because of having been defeated by him, "And remember: believe."
That was the Dragon's last word of advice, for Danny Rand to believe in himself, and then he was gone.
Danny nodded, before lifting up his closed fist, and saw it glowing with Dragon chi.
Present Day, New York City
Danny and Davos looked at each other, before Danny charged with a kick that Davos blocked, and then he blocked a punch, before blocking more punches and strikes as well as a knee, and then he punched Danny's chest before kicking him back.
Davos then marched towards Danny, throwing a punch which he dodged as it shattered the wall, and then he threw another punch that Danny dodged, the wall shattering while Danny kicked Davos back, before kicking his chest twice and then his face as he was sent back again.
After that, Danny gave Davos a spin-kick, sending him into another wall as he gasped, then glared at Danny. Davos then growled, cracked his neck, and charged at Danny.
Danny blocked some blows, then threw a kick which Davos blocked, before kicking Danny's foot, then kicked his chest as he was sent flying back into a wall.
Colleen just watched in shock, as Danny's back hit the wall, cracking it, and he fell down, Davos marching towards him, only for Danny to lift himself up using his hand and kick Davos' chest, staggering him back.
Then Danny got up and tried to punch with his Iron Fist but Davos grasped his wrist, only for Danny to punch him back with his other one, but as he punched again, Davos blocked, grasping his wrist, and then Danny tried to punch again, Davos grasped that wrist too, lowered them both, and headbutted Danny twice.
Danny tried to knee Davos but Davos punched him back, before marching towards him. He grasped Danny's wrist as he tried to punch again, and punched him twice before kicking his face, staggering him back.
He then marched towards Danny and punched again but Danny grasped his wrist and kicked his face, before elbowing him as he was sent back, and then Danny threw some punches with his normal fist that Davos blocked.
Then, Davos punched Danny's chest as he was sent flying back and crashing to the ground. Danny looked at Davos' feet, then up at his face before picking himself up, ready to fight more, and beckoned Davos to come closer.
Davos charged angrily as Danny blocked his blows, and grasped his wrist, punching his face with his normal fist, and as Davos tried to punch with his other one, Danny grasped that wrist too, and headbutted Davos twice, dazing him.
After that, Danny pushed Davos back while giving him an uppercut with his normal fist, before giving him some bicycle kicks.
Then, Danny landed and tried to punch Davos with his Iron Fist, only for Davos to grasp his wrist, but Danny opened his fist, touching Davos' throat with his fingers and pressing them deeper as Davos gasped in pain.
After that, Danny punched Davos off with his normal fist before kicking his face as he was sent back. Danny threw another kick but Davos blocked, as Danny punched twice with his normal fist, and then Davos grabbed Danny's foot and hurled him into a wall, cracking it as Danny fell down, and Davos angrily walked towards him, before throwing punch after punch at Danny's chest and abdomen.
"Lei Kung knew I was the next Iron Fist! He always knew. But when you landed at our gates, what did he do? What did he do?! Abandon me, FOR YOU!"
Danny spat out blood and looked at Davos who briefly paused.
"You were not meant to be the Iron Fist! That's not my fault!"
Davos angrily began punching Danny again. "Not your fault?! My father filled my head with dreams! I drove myself to train until my bones cracked! But you denied me my DESTINY!"
Davos then grabbed Danny by the collar and punched him away through the wall, sending him to the ground. After that, he grabbed Danny by the foot, dragging him away, and threw him into another wall, cracking it as Danny fell down.
Colleen made to charge Davos, but he leapt and punched her abdomen with his chi enhanced fist, sending her flying off as she spat out blood and rolled away. Then, Davos grabbed Danny in a chokehold.
He tightened his grip, not letting go, as Danny slowly felt himself pass out, the glow in his fist reducing.
But then he remembered Shao-Lao's words, telling him to believe in himself. And he was doing just that, believing in himself, believing that he was the Iron Fist, that the power belonged to him for he had earned it.
And he remembered Lei Kung's words as well.
"The Iron Fist is not just a weapon, Danny. It is a protector of balance between the physical and mystical realms."
And then, Danny grasped Davos' arms and threw him to the other side, making him roll away on the ground, while Danny got up, ready to fight more. Davos stood up to fight him as well.
With that, the two charged each other as Danny threw an Iron Fist punch but Davos dodged, grasped his arm and struck his nerve, Danny gasping before freeing himself with a flip and blocking some blows while backing off, only for Davos to kick him down.
However, Danny stood up, and then struck at the arm with the nerve damage using his other hand, striking at his nerves and regaining use of the limb.
And then, Danny adopted the praying mantis stance, Davos glaring in rage since that was HIS fighting style!
Charging forth, he threw a kick upwards which hit Danny's chin, sending him back, but as he tried to strike again, Danny grasped his wrist, not letting go.
Davos angrily freed himself and tried to strike a few more times, Danny blocking before flipping up in the air with a flourish as he landed a few feet away. Davos charged at Danny angrily but he leapt to the side to avoid.
Then, as Davos tried to strike with his arms, Danny deflected and struck Davos on the nerves with his strikes, making him gasp as he felt himself weaken. Then, Danny struck Davos' nerves on the side of the neck, staggering him, before kicking his face as he was sent back.
And with that, Danny gave Davos a really hard punch with his Iron Fist that sent him smashing through the wall, and he fell to the ground, groaning in pain, while Danny marched towards him. Davos tried to get up but fell back down, as Colleen staggered next to Danny.
Danny then asked. "Had our roles been reversed, that you stand in my place, and I in yours, would you grant me mercy?"
"To a traitor?" Davos asked incredulously.
Danny sadly shook his head, "That is why you are unable to see." Danny sighed, looked at Davos one more time, then walked off, Colleen walking with him as Davos grunted and tried to get up but failed.
As Danny and Colleen walked off, the latter said to him sadly. "I'm sorry."
"Its fine", Danny assured her, thinking about the portal. "I wonder if there is another way to get back into K'un-Lun."
Colleen had an idea of what he was saying. "You wanna go back?"
"To apologize", Danny said to her. "While I'm glad to be back here, and I am glad to have crippled The Hand, the way I left was not the right way, and they deserve an explanation, especially Master Lei Kung."
"Maybe there will be a way later", Colleen muttered, grasping his face as Danny looked at her, and they smiled before sharing another kiss, and then walked off together.
Few days later
Danny, now in a formal suit, was led to what was supposed to be his office by Ward. He hadn't even needed Jeri's help, as Ward had now happily reinstated him into the company and given him his position back, and due to being the heir of Wendell Rand, he'd a 51% share here.
Ward opened the door for Danny, and Danny looked at his father's old office with a smile, knowing that it was his now.
"Its yours", Ward assured him as Danny turned to Ward.
"Thank you, Ward", Danny said genuinely.
"No", Ward shook his head. "Thank you." He held out his hand that Danny shook. "Now, we can be the kind of business partners our fathers should have been."
"Yeah, and The Hand's influence is still in this company, we need to clean that up too", Danny noted. "Both here, and on the streets where the illegal heroin trade they established is still going on, protected by Rand Enterprises unintentionally."
"Well, our work begins now", Ward said, as they saw Jeri Hogarth arrive. Danny and Ward dropped hands as Ward walked off, sharing a nod with her, and then Danny walked into his office, sitting down, Jeri standing near him.
"I'm guessing you're not putting our firm on retainer since Ward gave the company back to you", Jeri commented to Danny. "Then why did you call me here?"
"Because it's the intention that matters", Danny said as he held out a paper to Jeri, who took it and read, narrowing her eyes. "You were willing to help me either way, so I'm putting your firm on the retainer. Got the paperwork prepared already, and signed it." He held out a pen to Jeri. "Just need yours now."
"With pleasure", Hogarth said as she took the pen and signed the paperwork, before giving it back to Danny and shaking his hand. "Pleasure doing business with you."
"You too."
Later
"I know I don't have much experience", Danny said to the board members, before gesturing to Ward and Joy, the latter who just looked down at that point. "But they do, and I trust them. They shall help me get the drift of this, and I promise you, this company will continue and get even bigger."
They all nodded, hoping Danny could deliver on what he'd promised, before Danny said. "Meeting is adjourned."
All got up, as Ward tried to talk to Joy. "Hey, Joy-"
Danny tried to stop her too. Joy, listen-"
Only, she didn't, walking off without a word to either of them, and they shared a look sadly.
"What have I done?" Ward muttered, feeling guilty for not having told her before, which had caused all this. "I should have trusted her."
Danny sighed sadly. "I just hope she comes around, man."
But for now, they'd lost her.
Later, Chikara Dojo
Danny entered the dojo, seeing Colleen's students leave, as she put her katana away and asked him. "So, how was the first day back at the company?"
"As well as it could be", Danny shrugged, before telling her. "But, that suggestion about the mask and costume….I think its not bad."
"So, you're gonna be a costumed crime-fighter then?" Colleen asked jokingly as both chuckled, before she said. "Guess you can be a Hero for Hire or something."
"Really?" Danny asked.
"Nah", Colleen shook her head. "You're rich now so I guess you can do it for free."
"Good point", he said before stepping closer to her as he held her by the face. "I want to thank you for everything you've done for me."
"You did no less", Colleen assured him. "You opened my eyes to the truth, Danny. And for that, I'm always grateful."
With that, they shared a loving kiss, and it got steamier before they parted, Danny taking off his shirt, exposing his muscled physique, and Colleen ran a hand over his chest before taking off her own shirt, leaving herself in her pink bra as Danny looked at her muscles, and they shared another kiss before moving to the bed, where Colleen was over Danny, the two kissing each other happily before he turned them over, and kissed once more.
They parted briefly as Danny asked. "You sure?"
Colleen nodded. "Definitely."
And then, they kissed and continued.
Davos sat across from Joy in a café, as he was saying. "Even though Danny Rand physically survived the plane crash, it seems the boy you knew died that day." Joy listened while Davos continued. "Becoming the Iron Fist changed him."
"Maybe", Joy noted.
"He destroys everything he touches", Davos told Joy before asking. "Isn't it true your world fell apart after his return?"
Joy admitted. "Things changed for me."
Davos then said to her. "And you know that if you have any hope of returning to your old life, he must be removed."
"Removed?" Joy asked, wondering where he was getting at.
"Killed." Davos clarified what he meant, then added. "I can help you with that."
Joy nodded, agreeing.
"I'm listening."
Night time, Chikara Dojo
Danny stood up, wearing his pants, as he watched Colleen, naked except for the bedsheets, sleeping peacefully, and smiled as he knelt down and brushed some hair off her face, kissing her on the cheek, before standing up, his face hardening.
A little while later, Danny crouched down on a rooftop, wearing a yellow mask with eyeholes he'd made. It was just an ordinary mask, but it was a start.
Wearing a dark-greenish shirt, and black pants, Danny looked down, seeing a woman running from two men with knives.
His fist glowed for just a second, and then he leapt onto the ground, ready to defend New York City from the evil within it.
Unknown location
Madame Gao, now having regained some of her usual look, sat across a table from someone. Her hair was still completely white, but the lines were gone from her face and hands.
"The Iron Fist has decimated our factions in New York City, and is most likely cleaning up everything we set up with Rand Enterprises", Gao said in anger. "The portal to K'un-Lun has been closed as well, and Khan is lost somewhere between the Dimensions."
The woman sitting across from Gao let out an unconcerned chuckle.
"It does not matter", Alexandra Reid said. "I have nearly brought the Black Sky back, and our true plan is only beginning." Alexandra smirked, and Gao did too.
"Let them think they've won. The true battle is coming."
Ending credits play.
And with that, my version of 'Iron Fist' Season 1 comes to an end. The battle against Shao-Lao and Khan would obviously have CGI, which people don't like, but there was no other way.
However, the final emotionally charged battle with Davos would be pure H2H, and would make up for that.
Colleen didn't do much against Khan because overall, she is really only a Badass Normal, and while her katana would have harmed him, she can be separated from it.
The fight with Shao-Lao was taken from Arthur's fight with the Karathen Kraken from the 'Aquaman' movie and the fight between Keanu Reeves and the Dragon from '47 Ronin'.
While the fight against Master Khan was from the final fight of Xuan and Jong against Final Form Shanchu from 'Fog Hill of Five Elements', and then Danny vs. Davos was from Neo vs. Agent Smith in 'The Matrix', and Hundred Eyes vs Jia Sidao from 'Marco Polo' 1x10.
Thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for all the fight scene suggestions and how they could be implemented in this story, couldn't have done all of that without his help, so thanks a lot man, really appreciate it.
While I liked Danny/Colleen in the show, they were rushed, and the reasoning for getting them together was so stupid. A writer legit said- "There is not enough sex in the show. We've two pretty leads, let's have them sleep together." Like…what?! But I hope I built it up better.
And now, Danny has a proto-version of the Iron Fist suit. I'm thinking in a hypothetical version of 'The Defenders', during the midpoint, Danny shall finally wear the comics-accurate suit properly.
So, in writing my version of the show, my goals were to- show Danny as an expert combatant, show his training and friendship with Davos in K'un-Lun, keep Colleen's and Ward's arcs as good as they were in canon, give Joy's Face-Heel Turn some depth, have Bakuto be more threatening and keep his skills consistent, and make The Hand as threatening as they were in 'Daredevil' Season 2, as 'Iron Fist' and 'The Defenders' made them bland, while in 'Daredevil' Season 2 they were legit scary and in 2x11 they even gave me horror movie vibes.
I hope I succeeded in all these goals.
And I hope this did not come off as a poor man's 'Arrow' Season 1, other than when Joy found wreckage of the Rands' plane, which was an intentional reference.
So, out of Master Khan, Madame Gao, Bakuto, Davos and Harold Meachum, who do you think was the best-written villain here?
For a hypothetical Season 2, the Davos/Joy/Mary Walker plot would be a thing for the first five episodes, and after that, a version of the 'Tournament of Heavenly Cities' would happen, and since I'm not sure five episodes could do it justice, I might have that as a 13-episode Season overall, so five for Davos/Mary/Joy, and 8 for this Tournament.
Danny's training and triumph against Shao-Lao eventually was the culmination of his growth, but Davos rejecting him killed his growth, and so, his arc in present day involved him growing once more, by himself, and learning to make his own decisions as he battled The Hand, and became more proactive as a person and fighter, rather than just thinking about a certain destiny for himself, and accepting his role in his own way.
In the show, even after 13 episodes, if you asked me what Danny wanted, I couldn't give you a single answer because the writers just had it that he returned to New York City because…..he felt like leaving K'un-Lun?
And I also gave importance to martial arts and mysticism while keeping the business thing as a subplot. Now, obviously, my job involves being a data manager in a corporation, but I'm not involved on the corporate side so I don't know much about business for now, something that will change two years later, but even if I did know about business, I will keep it as a subplot because the show is called 'Iron Fist'!
Now, in my 'When Legends meet' series, when the time comes for 'Iron Fist' Season 1, I'll pull from here rather than canon, while involving the larger MCU and Marvel Universe in general and crossing it all over with other fandoms, then have it lead into 'The Defenders' in that series.
So, those who are into 'Iron Fist' in the comics, what do you all think? Do you think I did the character and his lore justice here? Let me know.
Only character I feel I sidelined was Claire, but then her arc of getting involved with the weird across the Netflix MCU shows is consistent.
And before I go, here's a question- if Netflix Daredevil at his peak (meaning the second half of 'Daredevil' Season 2 and 'The Defenders') fought this version of Iron Fist, without him using the fist of course, who will win in your opinion?
Anyways, I thank everyone who read my version of this show's Season 1, and I hope you all enjoyed it, as it was written with a desire to do right by the character as well as his lore.
Thank you once more to Brainstorm Sorcerer for all his help with the fighting scenes.
Thank you, all of you, for your support.
See you all next time with some other story.
Until next time.