AN: Hey everyone, Story's Shadow and I are back with a brand new chapter for Vixen. I want to apologize for the delay in our updating schedule: I just moved from Southwest Florida to the Northern Panhandle of my state, so it's been madness for a while moving everything in and learning a new area. But with that said we are back. A VERY special shoutout goes to Story's Shadow who wrote this entire chapter while I've been stuck with he moving process and all that comes with moving from one house to another. Thank you my good friend.
Also be sure to check out Story's Shadow and on his YouTube Channel: "Lost in the Story with Jeremy Mize" as he's a really rising movie and tv show reviewer. I'll also be filling the guest critic chair in his next review where we review an interesting movie to say the least ;)
I also want to make this special announcement: I want to give a special shout out to a great story titled: "Marvel Champvengers Season 1" which is an excellent story on Wattpad and is written by XMsMarvel18 who is a great Youtuber herself: StrongAgentMarveling I want to give her story an endorsement. I'd highly recommend everyone give it a read ;)
Unto the calm before the storm that begins next chapter... and trust me... it's a hurricane...
-Secret Warriors' Base, Doreen's Room, A Couple Of Days Later, Midnight-
Doreen sighed as she brushed her teeth in her quarters' bathroom. Despite having felt arguably content even with the upcoming invasion, something gnawed in her mind about there being this...well, she wasn't sure what it was. All she knew was that something felt off. Still, she needed to get some sleep. Daisy had instructed for them to having training every day and they could not be present if they were sick, had a family emergency, or something else drastic.
She eventually crawled into her bed before she turned to her nightstand as she laid on her pillow. Photos of her and her friends, human, inhuman, squirrel, and more. Doreen smiled at this before her eyes closed and she started to fall asleep.
Doreen grumbled and grunted as she tossed and turned in her bed. Sweat poured down her face as she twitched and moved fast back and forth on the same spot she laid on. Though she was asleep, one could've mistaken her for being sick given her face was burning and a puddle of sweat stained her pillow.
But she didn't feel or notice any of this, what she was experiencing while she slept was what held her attention. The dream or nightmare she was in had her in a position she always feared she might be in even if she never admitted it.
Squirrel Girl breathed heavy as the weight of her normally light bow and arrows felt heavy in her hands. Her tail was bristled and hairs stood up on every part of her body as she raced across a building. Her dark eyes focused in on a particular place on a destroyed street. Her friends and teammates fought against a horde of the skeletal soldiers that served Imperious. Even though they cut down several soldiers as they marched towards them, they were surrounded and extremely outnumbered.
"Hang on guys!"
She drew back the bowstring and an arrow took its place there before she fired. The missile flew forward and destroyed one of the soldiers in a small blast of light. Some of the skeletons turned and hissed at her. They raced towards the building in front of her and began to scale it, their bony fingers cut into the steel frame of the building with grips one would think wouldn't be that strong. Her eyes widened at the sight of at least a dozen of these soldiers moving in the direction she was headed.
Her nostrils flared as she leapt forward and fired another shot. Another skeleton was destroyed though more came forward. She leapt down and slammed her feet into the skull of one of them, knocking down. Squirrel Girl screamed as she fired off more arrows, destroying the skeletal soldiers one after another as they made to lunge at her.
She saw that the street was getting closer and closer, so she swiped a sword out of one of their hands and kicked them towards the ground before she stabbed the blade into the building. The horrific screeching sound of metal cutting metal rang in her ears. Her eyes winced and teeth clenched. Despite wanting to cover her ears, she bared the audible pain as her descent slowed before she finally let go and dropped to the ground.
Squirrel Girl grumbled as she hurried forward, firing more arrows as she raced to aid her friends. Her suit was slick was sweat and every step she took increased her discomfort, but she blocked it out as she continued to draw her bow and fire more arrows. Each one struck down a skeleton soldier. Then as she got within a few dozen feet from the main horde, a dozen materialized in front of her. They hissed as they raised their blades. SG's eyes widened then narrowed as she drew her blade again with a scream.
Doreen woke up, her forehead dripping with sweat.
"...What?...What was that dream?...Wh-What happened at the end?..."
She clutched her head as she tried to remember what occurred at the end, but for the life of her she couldn't remember.
-S.H.I.E.L.D. Facility, Exact Location Unknown, The Next Day-
In a martial arts dojo, Vixen sat in a circle with Metatron, Cassandra, and Jacob. The young Fox's ears dropped a little as she waited for the Old Wolf to speak. They had just sad down to discuss what awaited. Meta sighed.
"I must admit, I never thought I'd walk this path again after the false Dragon destroyed our home."
"W-What?"
"A teacher, if you accept me and my former students."
"If I accept you?"
The Wolf nodded.
"You must consent to this, I cannot force you to listen to me and follow what I have to teach. It is your choice to accept what I feel you should learn, to connect with your heritage."
"What?"
"Our combat techniques, our forms of strategy, our philosophies, and our magic...your magic."
"Father said that I had power in me...but I wasn't sure."
Her three elders gave her sad smiles before the Cat spoke.
"It takes time for us to understand and embrace our individual powers."
Jacob nodded.
"It's self discovery and understanding your people's power."
"Like each of you have...fire, telekinesis, and shape shifting."
Metatron sighed, shaking his head.
"All the bloodlines could change into the full form of the beast...the Wolves kept it and we'd hoped to help the others relearn it...perhaps if we did, our magic may have been strong enough to defeat Imperious...still, your power is only in hibernation. We must help you awaken it."
"How?"
"I know...Vulpine, taught you parts of your heritage and your ancestral home...now there is more for you to learn. If you accept."
Metatron then stood, as did Cassandra and Jacob. The Wolf reached out a hand, to which Vixen looked at then to him as he spoke.
"Do you accept to walk the path of your ancestors?"
Vixen looked from him then to Cassandra and Jacob, who held out their hands beside their sensei's and smiled. The young Fox was unsure of what she felt at that moment, all she could understand was that she should take their hands. Vixen reached and placed her hands in theirs.
"I do."
A soft smile appeared on the Wolf's face as he and the others helped lift her up before he spoke.
"Then let us begin."
After a few minutes, Metatron stared into Vixen's eyes. His luminous eyes seemed to stare beyond Vixen's eyes, to which her widened a little and her ears dropped a little.
"W-What are you looking at?"
"Your power...aura magic."
"H-How did you-?"
Meta pulled his head back.
"Each person has an aura that is at the very least an indication of their personality and for Faunians, their personal magical affinity. Your aura has a greater deal of radiance than one would suspect given you were raised for most of your life in your ancestral home. It also has a little more than a spark, so you've spent some time meditating or training on it...or a bit of both."
Vixen rubbed the back of her neck.
"My dad gave me some training in magic as well as physical combat."
Metatron scratched his beard.
"Let's see what you already know."
"What?"
Metatron took a few steps back.
"We're going to spar and reveal to me what skills you have in combat.
"F-Fight you?"
"No young kit. Simply sparring. Fighting and sparring are similar yet there are key differences. Sparring helps you prepare for the other and it helps with understanding your physical power and growing it. Now come."
Cassandra and Jacob moved to the side of the dojo, both sharing a smile before returning their gazes to the mat.
Vixen sighed then rushed forward. She lunged forward, shouting as she threw a punch. Her attack had been brushed to the side by one hand from the Wolf, but the young Fox quickly followed up by throwing a jab at her opponent's waist. Metatron slid out of the way as Vixen hit air. She quickly ran at him, pulling one hand back and then throwing it forward. The Wolf caught her by the wrist, but then his new student aimed for an uppercut towards chin. But he then slid around and tossed her, gently, to the side.
Vixen grunted as she caught herself with one hand and slid across the mat. Her ears flattened as she charged, her teeth slightly bared. She grunted as she aimed a jab at his lower torso, but he pushed the strike away with one hand. Vixen used the momentum to turn her body in a 180 degree turn and swung her other hand back towards his other arm. Metatron caught that hand as he raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm."
Cassandra grinned at this.
Vixen grunted as she grabbed the wrist of the hand that held with her free hand. She moved her back towards the Old Wolf then tried to strike her elbow against his lower torso. Her attack was caught again. Vixen grumbled as she then tried to kick at one of his legs, but she found herself on the floor. Her eyes were wide and ears erect. She hadn't felt the strike, though she felt as if he'd let go and struck her back with his feet rather than one of his hands.
The Wolf stood before her, arms crossed behind his back. His face revealed not hint to his thoughts or feelings. The young Fox grunted as she rushed at him again. She aimed a swing at her opponent's face but then she twisted around, aiming for a haymaker. The Wolf had caught her by her wrist.
Vixen gasped.
"H-How did you-?"
"I believe I've seen what I needed to of you hand to hand skills."
He released her hand and Vixen took a step back before the Wolf explained.
"You have some formal training, I see though it wasn't completed or at the least you left before it could be. You also revealed you think on your feet, creating new techniques and tactics in battle along with methods you've been trained in."
Vixen's eyes widened.
"I see your teacher did well to encourage your natural adaptation and cunning, this is good. Each of the bloodlines were more well known and more effectively trained using their natural gifts. For the Tigers, it was honing their incredible strength and sharpening their ferocity into a weapon, for the Monkeys it was encouraging their agility and bursts of speed through intense energy, and for the Foxes it was your natural affinity for speed and their quick witted strategies in various battle scenarios."
Vixen smiled.
Metatron chuckled a little.
"Now, there's much to teach you and much for you to learn."
"Have you ever trained Foxes?"
"I have, I've also been trained by some."
"Really?"
"My wife."
The Faunians all laughed.
"She would've liked you, kit. She would've been able to train you better than I could...perhaps this will also be a way of honoring her as well."
"Thank you...uhh...what's the word again?"
Jacob chuckled.
"Sensei."
"Oh...thank you...sensei."
Meta nodded.
"Now, what do you know of Faunia?"
"Ummm...Vulpine told me about the gods and some parts of the history."
The trio's smiles slowly faded at hearing his name, but Meta nodded. The Wolf rubbed his beard.
"Let's see what we can build off of that."
Vulpine had been silent as he listened to Vixen's training. The Wolf had agreed to his presence if it helped the young Fox learn and grow. Even though he knew Metatron had sought to kill him, he would tolerate him to defeat Imperious and for the young Fox's happiness and health if it meant the one she'd come to love was still alive.
His ears dropped as he walked away.
Even though he wanted to be there with and for Vixen, he felt...he knew he was unworthy to further teach her, especially with Metatron of the Arch Wolf Clan now being her sensei. He simply hoped he'd did some good for her from what he'd taught her.
-Manhattan, Unknown Location, Hours Later-
Captain Marvel hovered high in the sky, just above anyone's vision. Her gaze was locked down on a specific place, one that she had been led to by intel and hunches. She saw a few people walking under a bridge and not coming out the other side. She rubbed her chin before then tapping something around her ear.
"Fury? You seeing this?"
The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. responded.
"Affirmative. So this is where our Faunian friends' new associates live."
"How did you discover it without them telling you?"
"Vixen informed us after Cassandra informed her about the incident at the circus."
"You think they're the supposed faction we've heard about?"
"I'm unsure. With the rumors speaking of a group of Inhumans soon to join some 'alien invader', we have to be making sure we don't leave any stone unturned. However, we don't have confirmation they're this group. We can't go busting in and attacking people just because we're afraid."
"I can do the diplomatic approach."
"Appreciate the offer, I feel that a different approach may be warranted here. Return to base and we'll discuss it without our hopefully cooperative diplomats."
"Understood."
-S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ, Director Fury's Office, 10 Minutes Later-
Director Fury sat in his chair with Captain Marvel standing beside him. Across his desk stood a stunned and more than a little annoyed Metatron, Cassandra, and Jacob. The Hedgehog shook his head.
"We cannot simply invade their home like what you're suggesting. From what we understand of this world, even those who aren't human being sent to a place to 'secure peace' for humans isn't the most considerate approach to coexistence and safety."
Cassandra nodded.
"Not to mention I told Vixen the matter of the Inhumans in confidence!"
Captain Marvel sighed.
"Don't blame her, she's simply doing what she believes is best for our world."
Jacob shook his head.
"Regardless, I don't believe the people we met that night would join Imperious. Their leader acted with such compassion for the victim and protected her with true strength. Someone like that wouldn't join someone who destroys worlds who don't join a tyrannical rule."
Director Fury remained quiet, which gained the notice of Metatron.
"You don't believe they're the ones who've considered joining him, do you?"
Director Fury didn't respond for a moment or two, but he finally nodded.
"I am admittedly concerned they might join Imperious, given they've experienced the cruel parts of humanity...the chance to remove humans from having control might be appealing. Despite that, my gut's telling me they aren't...the brass won't trust my gut on this, they need proof...or at least the most accurate intel possible. Which is why I'm asking for the three of you to approach them and discover the truth. You're not official agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or anything of such a matter."
"Yet you still might want us to encourage them to join you? Or at least help fight Imperious."
"Exactly. The more people we have fighting him, the better."
Meta turned to his students. Cassandra was quiet for a moment, but then nodded. Jacob sighed.
"I still don't feel good about coming to their home without invitation...that wasn't what my family taught was the most respectful thing to do."
Jacob shook his head before he nodded.
"Though I feel they'd feel this would be a necessary exception."
Metatron nodded before turning back to Director Fury.
"We'll go to them, you must give me your word that you won't interfere."
"My word?"
"Even though you are a spy, you strike me as a man who sees value in honoring one's promises when it comes to securing and protecting peace. Do I have your word you won't interfere?"
Captain Marvel's eyes widened a little at this statement before looking to Director Fury. The man nodded. The Wolf nodded back.
-Manhattan, Several Minutes Later-
Metatron, Cassandra, and Jacob walked towards the bridge Captain Marvel had sighted earlier, wearing the veils they'd been gifted by S.H.I.E.L.D. The trio stopped for a moment, gazing at the bridge. Jacob sighed.
"I still don't feel this is right. We're coming to their home without their prior knowledge."
Cassandra patted her friend's shoulder.
"Well...they did invite us after we met."
"Not in accordance with these circumstances."
Metatron nodded.
"We will need to be honest about our reasoning for being here."
His students nodded and followed him to the bridge. Beneath one end of it was a crude door though they saw familiar flecks of light around its perimeter. Metatron chuckled.
"They've taken precautions to protect themselves, very wise."
Metatron then looked down to a black shape on the ground.
"May we enter?"
There wasn't a response. Metatron sighed and he knelt down.
"Young pup, I know you're this shadow. Let Cornelia know it's us."
The trio heard a gasp though they didn't flinch.
"Ummm...sure?"
The black mass retreated beneath the door. Cassandra giggled.
"I think you scared him, sensei."
Metatron rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'll need to apologize for that."
The door opened and the trio entered.
They walked down a flight of stairs before they came into a hollowed out space in the ground. A group of people gathered together, with the familiar face of Cornelia at their front. An amused smile was spread on her face as she greeted the trio as they removed their veils.
"Silhouette isn't used to anyone noticing him when he's sneaking around like that.
Meta sighed.
"I apologize for that. He wouldn't respond, so I thought I'd ask more directly."
The dark mass beside Cornelia extended from the floor and took the form of a young man. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"How did you know it wasn't a shadow?"
"Our people have...had our ways of seeing."
"So you're really not from Earth?"
The trio shook their heads. Jacob then turned to Metatron, whom nodded.
"I must be clear with all the reasons we are here."
Cornelia raised an eyebrow.
"This should be interesting."
"The human organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. has asked us to meet with you given our previous meeting."
The Inhumans gasped and started whispering, many with worried looks on their faces. Cornelia chuckled.
"You guys really don't beat around the bush, do you?"
Cassandra cocked her head a little.
"What?"
"Sorry, Earth expression. It means you guys get right to the point."
Metatron nodded.
"They've heard rumors of a group of your species are considering joining with an incoming invader to your world."
Cornelia's eyes widened.
"What?"
"His name's Imperious...he...destroyed our home."
Cornelia gasped.
"What?!"
Jacob nodded.
"We wouldn't bend the knee to him, so he razed our world in a brutal war he started. Now he's coming to claim this world to add to his empire."
Cornelia frowned.
"I can assure you, we don't plan on betraying our home world."
Cassandra smiled.
"We didn't believe you would nor actually did the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Seriously?"
"He needed to be sure."
"And he'd trust you? Why would you even trust us?"
Metatron looked from her to another familiar face, the girl they helped save at the circus.
"Because someone who'd fight tyranny to save someone wouldn't join a tyrant. Hello again, young one."
Mirage slowly waved to him. Cornelia turned from him to her then back to him, smiling.
"Seems we have that in common than."
The Wolf nodded.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. would like to know if you're going to fight against the invasion."
"Hopefully it won't come to that."
Jacob chuckled.
"The Cranes would've liked her."
Metatron and Cassandra smiled, though he only got confused glances and responses from the Inhumans. Cornelia rubbed the back of her neck.
"The who would what?"
Metatron chuckled.
"Perhaps we could explain more over a cup of tea?"
"Tea?"
"Yes, I could make some if you'd like."
"You carry tea making supplies on you?"
"Only when it's necessary. I had a feeling it might be for this."
Cornelia looked to the others, who shrugged.
The Inhumans sat on old couches or chairs around the main area of their lair. Metatron sat as he pulled out ingredients and a kettle from his bag. He started mixing them together, Cassandra and Jacob sitting beside him. The Wolf eventually turned to the Cat who took a gentle hold on the kettle, a little bit of steam rose from it.
"Thank you, Cassie."
The Cat smiled.
Metatron poured the liquid into cups Cassie and Jacob held out. They sipped, smiles on their faces. The old Wolf turned to the Inhumans.
"I have enough for everyone."
Cornelia chuckled as she went to a makeshift pantry and used her powers to move cups over to her guest. Metatron poured the tea into each cup and Cornelia moved the cups to her and her friends.
"Bottoms up."
"I'm sorry?"
"Another Earth expression."
The Inhumans began to drink, warm smiles on their faces with some licking their lips. Cornelia chuckled.
"Ok, this is really good. How have you not started a tea company here?"
"It's a traditional tea from our world, my parents taught it to me when I was a pup. It's something I always shared with others whenever I could. For occasions such as this, it would be used to offer truces or create the beginnings of bonds with new friends. Another thing the Cranes would've enjoyed sharing with you especially."
Cornelia smiled as she took another sip.
"What about art?"
Metatron raised an eyebrow.
Eventually Metatron sat on a cot next to Cornelia as she painted on a canvas, her cup of tea on a table close to her. Meta studied what she had been creating. The young woman slowly moved her brush dipped in a dark bluish hue across her creation. The incomplete form of a sky and sea was being formed.
"You have a great talent for this."
"Thanks, still not finished though."
Metatron chuckled.
"Art takes time, patience is an integral part of creation."
"Do you always have a zen thing to say?"
"Zen?"
"Ok, you can catch us up on this Imperious and your world stuff, we'll catch you up on Earth stuff."
Metatron smiled, nodding.
"What is the purpose of you making this?"
"I just love painting."
"That is a good reason. I feel there is more, to be honest."
"Well, it's something that's under appreciated I think...like us Inhumans...and I feel there's so much to explore and discover from within ourselves and what we can achieve or make."
"Your wisdom does you credit."
They were quiet for a time before Cornelia asked something that had been nagging her.
"So...do you guys really want us to fight?"
Metatron's smile slowly receded as he finally sighed.
"That is up to you."
Cornelia put down her brush and took another sip of her tea.
"To be honest...I don't want to fight...I mean...I'll fight if I have to...I just want to try and find another way."
"With Imperious there's only servitude or die. It doesn't matter if you don't fight him, he'll ruin your home if you don't bend the knee. The Cranes counseled for peaceful negotiations and ends, to spare our world and people from bloodshed. To their credit, their love for both was absolute and without question."
"But you chose to fight?"
"We were confident in our strength...and we did win many battles...but...a creation of Imperious had been used to destroy us, one we didn't suspect until it was too late...and even that thrall was betrayed...discovered he too had been manipulated by his master...but our home was destroyed...my students and I, the former thrall, and one who had been rescued from our dying world are all that remain."
"But what do you think our world's chances are?"
The Wolf frowned a little.
"From what I've seen, your world is so divided...these humans are perhaps just as prideful as Imperious, or some of them are at least. They're so certain of their power that they don't see they face a foe beyond them."
"So you think those of us with powers can do more?"
"You are capable of more in some manners...I fear though because the spirit of this world is so much decayed that it will take more than just physical strength to win...if our world had been in harmony, the root of the deep magic had been as strong as they once were...Imperious would have fallen..."
"So you think it's hopeless?"
"No...I just say we will do what we can to help your home."
"...Thanks..."
Metatron's ears and nose twitched.
"You have more visitors it seems."
Cornelia's eyes widened then narrowed.
"Silhouette!"
The familiar dark mass moved towards them from another room then morphed into the young man.
"Yes?"
"Check the door, I think they're back."
The young man's face hardened though his anger was present.
"Got it."
He shifted back into a shadow and moved off.
Cornelia soon gathered Cassandra and Jacob with Metatron.
"I think I know who's at the door...but to be certain...do they smell...like us?"
Metatron nodded. Cornelia groaned.
"...Just great...Ok, please listen: please try to not interfere with what's happened. My group knows these guys and things can get pretty heated. So to keep things as calm as possible, please just let me and my guys handle this. I'm grateful to you three, but this is Inhuman business. I don't know if they know you, because there's some bad blood between them and the people you know. So I'm just asking, can you let us work this out?"
Before the trio could respond, they heard a voice call out.
"Force! We need to talk!"
After a few seconds of silence a second voice shouted as assertive as the first.
"Now Force!"
One of Jacob's eyebrows raised as he looked to Cornelia.
"Force?"
The young women half chuckled.
"Gravity is my power and gravity is a fundamental force of the universe. It stuck."
"Do you prefer Cornelia or Force?"
"...I guess that depends on how this all works out...still, please let us handle this."
Metatron sighed and nodded. Cassandra frowned as he looked at him.
"I'm not sure I like this...if these are the ones-"
The Wolf rested a hand on her shoulder.
"We must show trust in her friends."
Jacob shook his head.
"If these really are the ones who are joining Imperious, we have to-"
Metatron turned to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I know you hold true to your beliefs, Jacob. And I know you may speak at times, this is something we must let them work out if we are to prove our trust and friendship."
The Hedgehog grumbled.
"...If these new ones say Imperious is truly good, I'll-"
Metatron slowly raised his other hand, causing Jacob to sigh and nod. Metatron turned to Cornelia.
"We will follow you and listen, I hope you will be able to resolve this."
Cornelia nodded.
"Thank you."
She walked to the central hub of her group's lair, the trio and other Inhumans following her with the rest already present. Cornelia's eyes narrowed though not out of anger or aggression as they fixed upon a small group of newcomers with two people at their head. One was a a young man with short brown hair and dressed in green plated armor, a smug smile spread across his face. The other was a woman dressed in teal green and black clothes with a thin sort of mullet looking green hair smoothed back (in a shape one might think were spikes almost). Her eyes were surrounded by thick black makeup and she had lipstick that matched the color of her hair. A frown was planted on her face.
Cornelia sighed.
"Exile...Sheath...we weren't expecting guests."
Exile chuckled.
"Forgive us, we didn't have your number or we'd have called ahead."
Sheath scoffed.
"Look, we're here to offer a deal to you and your group."
"What kind of deal?"
Now Sheath grinned.
"A deal that would put the world in the palm of Inhuman hands...or at least, we'd have a say in how its run."
Cornelia shook her head.
"What?"
Exile sighed.
"We were approached by someone who said the one they worked for could help Inhumans take their rightful place on this planet. Those with power would be in power. We wouldn't be hiding in gutters or running through alleyways to stay alive."
"How would this happen? Some kind of coup against the human race?"
Sheath crossed her arms.
"This world is imperfect, corruption and cruelty infect the planet like a cancer. We'd be the agents to stomp it out and wipe it clean."
Jacob frowned, hands clenching into fists.
Sheath raised an eyebrow, noticing the Hedgehog's trembling frame. She chuckled under her breath.
"Oh, so you three are the ones we were told about. A last trio that have been harassing our partner after he beat your empire."
"Say his name! It's Imperious! He offered you a demon's bargain!"
Exile chuckled.
"You're correct. Imperious, the Dragon Emperor, he's an artist that strives for perfection in all of existence. He sees how this world would thrive under Inhuman rule, we would make our home into a paradise for those like us."
Jacob scoffed and was about to retort, but Cornelia turned to him. She pleaded with him to be quiet without saying a word. The Hedgehog grumbled before nodding. She then turned back to face them.
"We're not interested in turning the entire planet into a war zone. How many people, human and inhuman, would die in the process? I want to live in a world that isn't a burning chunk of rock."
"Aren't we headed that way already? The humans continue to fight amongst themselves, backstabbing and bombing one another. We can heal this world, take it out of the hands of those who don't care how rotten it is."
Sheath looked to the Silhouette, who had been quiet as he stood in the crowd. She scoffed.
"Or is your whole group full of cowards?"
Cornelia frowned.
"I might not like fighting, but I won't tolerate you harassing my guys."
Sheath scoffed.
"Little Miss Artist would actually get her hands dirty in something other than paint?"
"Stop this you two!"
The group turned to Silhouette who walked to stand beside Cornelia.
"I came to Cornelia's group because I didn't want to keep fighting the humans at every step. That doesn't mean I don't see you two are willing to fight against people who look down on us or are afraid to be yourselves."
"But now we have a chance to end all the fighting, to show the world what we can really do."
Cassandra's hair bristled as she fought to keep her claws in.
Exile sighed.
"I know what we were offered may not be entirely appealing...but you must know that this is an opportunity that Inhumans have never truly had. A being with truly limitless power offers to make our world pure and perfect."
Jacob growled.
"If you know of the three of us, you should know what he did to our world!"
Exile frowned.
"...He said he defeated you and your world to add it to his vision..."
"He destroyed our home...burned it to the ground! I LOST MY WHOLE FAMILY BECAUSE OF HIM!"
One could've mistaken Jacob for a Lion for the roar that emerged from him, his teeth bared and fists shaking.
"Our world was once a paradise...not perfect, but she was beautiful. A world of culture, love, passion, and art...and he destroyed it because we wouldn't surrender our freedom to be another world that bowed to him. His twisted vision of perfection is nothing be total dominion over all existence!"
Cassandra rested hands on her friend's fists as he shook, tears flooding from his eyes. The Cat turned to the new Inhumans.
"...I lost my daughter because of him...all my other friends I had made and known...they're gone! That's what he'll do to this world!"
Cornelia gasped, eyes wide with horror. She turned to Sheath and Exile, frowning.
"You would serve someone like that? A tyrant who destroys what he can't control?!"
Exile sighed as he took a breath.
"He promised us the world...he gave us his word, a sacred oath that he can't break."
Cornelia scoffed.
"Someone who would destroy a world would lie without hesitation."
Cassie frowned.
"As monstrous as he is...Imperious actually do keep his word."
"What?!"
"When the Elders and the Emperor were met by him...they sensed the truth he spoke...one of the Owl Elders saw that within his soul he was being true...his essence was about being true to his word...before he launched his invasion, he gave a final offer of 'peaceful' coexistence...but the Emperor would not agree if it meant our world was to be influenced by a being who didn't understand or respect our values of freedom and walking our own paths."
Exile shook his head.
"We were told he respected your people's strength and passion, that you were amongst his greatest and most honored adversaries...you and your gods."
Cornelia raised an eyebrow.
"Gods?"
"...He killed them...they weren't at their full strength...and because of their deaths...their sacrifice to try to save us...the magic of our world and in ourselves wasn't what it once was...and because of it...we lost."
Cornelia gulped.
"He...He killed gods?"
Exile sighed.
"Tragic as that it...as he is true to his word...if we help to shape the world to a matter of greatness and power, ours will flourish because of his influence and generosity."
Jacob snarled.
"He is anything but generous!"
"Sheath grumbled.
"Look, I don't like being ordered around and told what to do. But even I see this is a chance for a life that Inhumans have never known, one where we don't have to be harassed and hunted for king who we are."
Exile nodded.
"Imagine a world where Inhumans aren't getting by by living in alleyways or running from mobs of hateful, small minded humans-"
He turned to see Mirage.
"-, one where Inhumans aren't blackmailed and enslaved to do humans' bidding...to be their entertainment like this poor young woman has been."
Mirage gasped.
"How did you-?"
"We have our ways. Think of it, one where humans don't rush to put you in a cage or want to use you for their own self improvement or want to wipe us out because they see us unworthy to be alive."
Mirage was crying, the memories of what the ringmaster had forced her to do ached in her mind.
"I do want that world...one where those like us aren't hated and hunted, where we can simply be ourselves."
Exile smiled.
Then Mirage looked to him.
"I also know that's not how all humans are...yes, some are evil...some are prejudiced ...monsters...that doesn't mean that's true of all of them...we shouldn't condemn the entire species for the actions of some."
Exile shook his head.
"Yet they do that to other races. Look at how they call out for the deaths of our race when even just one of us hurts one of theirs! How many times in their news reports or in their books or movies do they seek the deaths of an entire species for what a handful of that group did to some humans. They are guilty of what you say we shouldn't do to them!"
Mirage gasped, eyes wide. Many of the Inhumans nodded at this, whispering.
Metatron sighed as he took a step forward.
"You are correct. Since we've been to this world, we have seen the hatred and cruelty humans are capable of. From the literature I've taken in since I've been here, humanity does push for its seeming superiority and the destruction of other races. I've heard them on the streets speaking such things, I won't deny the truth of this."
"...I suspect that isn't all of what you have in mind."
"Many centuries ago on our world, the balance of power had shifted to those who held sway over the governing bodies of our home. Those who had power in their families or were linked to it for years had taken its sway away from the people. A rebellion had emerged to undo the corrupt regime. The leader of the rebellion, Keyon the Eagle, freed our home. When it came time to confront those who held the power, he saw that it while some were guilty of the injustices of their regime others weren't. Some who had come to regret what they had done or those amongst their number came to understand the cruelty helped the revolution in secret. Such matters aren't black and white, there are gray areas that one must see and understand. Keyon became our first emperor, he helped shape the way for change along with his friends that fought alongside him whether on the battlefield or in the shadows. What your master seeks isn't what Keyon sought and neither does what you seek...and I feel you don't truly care for your species, you only say what you've said to gain power. If you did truly care, your words might carry more power as you would be against such injustices."
Exile was quiet and only frowned. Sheath turned from the Wolf to Exile, glowering. She then turned back to Cornelia and the group. Sheath pulled out a card from her green jacket and tossed it to Cornelia. Her power halted the momentum of the object, before she spoke.
Sheath shook her head.
"When you and your guys decide, you let us know."
Sheath, Exile, and their group then left. Cornelia took the card in her hand then looked to Metatron.
"That was some speech."
"Apologies, I hope I didn't betray your trust."
"No...I just didn't think anyone could give speeches like that except Captain America."
Cassandra grinned.
"The Wolves always knew how to inspire and lead others."
Cornelia grinned.
"Thank you for what you did...I hope you three will stay for dinner, we'd love more of your tea."
Metatron smiled.
"I could cook too, if you wouldn't mind a Faunian meal...or as close to one as I could make here."
"Thank you, you've done more than enough. Allow us to make you something."
"We'd like that."
-Meanwhile: Secret Warriors' Base, Training Room-
The team remained silent as they stood their ground against a group of L.M.D.s in the form of the skeletal soldiers. Daisy turned to her team, weapons in hand.
"You know what to do guys, training session begin!"
The L.M.D.s hissed as they charged, blades in hands. Daisy turned to her team.
"Go!"
Squirrel Girl and Ghost Spider leapt to far sides of the room, readying their weapons as the others raced into the fight. Quake shouted as she slashed down with her katana, cutting through one L.M.D. with a single slice from the shoulder to the hip while Inferno literally blazed forward as he chopped the head off another L.M.D. then he threw one hand forward, fire racing at another L.M.D. and melted its weapon. It looked at its melted weapon then looked up, seeing America Chavez dropping down from one of her star portals and fell onto it. She yelled as she stabbed with her daggers into its head and back.
The skeleton hissed as America continued to stab the machine repeatedly until it finally fell to the floor. Another skeleton raced at her, axe raised to swing down at her. It only made it a few feet before an arrow and a crossbow bolt, Squirrel Girl and Ghost Spider nodding to their friend. Chavez chuckled at this before rushing at another skeleton.
Ms. Marvel grunted as she elongated her body around another skeleton, swinging her kusarigama as it cut the skull off another skeleton at the point where the spine connects to the chest.
"Yikes! This is still kind of chilling to use!"
Quake shouted as she cut the skull off another skeleton, the katana held with both hands.
"We have to use them, they're our best shot at saving our world."
Patriot and Iron heart stood back to back, striking with their respective polearms to keep the skeletons at a distance with the forming blocking strikes with his shield and Iron heart struck out with her repulsor blasts. Patriot blocked a strike from a sword as he added his voice.
"I guess my spear completes my medieval set with my shield!"
Iron heart laughed as she cut through a skeleton's blade with the blade of her naginata.
"Gotta admit, these weapons are sweet!"
Ghost Spider grumbled as she ran along the walls, firing crossbow bolts.
"I'm still not getting used to lethal weapons!"
Squirrel Girl laughed as she fired off arrow after arrow, the missiles cutting into the skeletons as she dodged around their attacks. Ghost Spider's eyes widened at this.
"How are you hitting every single shot?!"
Squirrel Girl grinned as she slid under the strike of another skeleton and then fired off another arrow.
"Vixen told me after we got them from her father, that I needed to trust the weapon. That's how the magic works. Why?"
Ghost Spider groaned as shot punched a skeleton as it rushed at her.
"I'm still not comfortable with these things."
Quake grunted as she cut down another skeleton as it rushed at Ghost Spider.
"Like it or not, we need them and we have to think what's best for this world."
"This war is madness though!"
"No argument here!"
They turned to see Inferno chopping down another skeleton, fire covering the axe that gave it a terrifyingly ferocious aura.
"Unfortunately, our only choice is to fight."
He turned and threw a hand forward, fire bursting from it and scorching another skeleton. Quake nodded as she cut down another skeleton as it rushed at her and Ghost Spider. Soon the team defeated the rest of the L.M.D.s which returned to their base form and began to slowly repair.
Quake sighed as she sheathed her katana as the others holstered their weapons.
"That's enough for today. Almost time for supper, hit the showers."
The others nodded as they exited the training room.
-One Hour Later: Secret Warriors' Dining Room-
Daisy chewed into her apple as the others dug into their own food as they sat at the same long table. Her focus was on her food as the others chatted and laughed. She took a sip of water before she continued to eat her fruit. The others were soon switched their focus to their leader's silence which slowly silenced them. As Daisy began to bite into her apple again, her eyes moved to her teammates. The others stared at her, some visibly concerned and confused.
"Um...what's wrong guys?"
Dante sighed.
"You're more quiet than usual."
"I'm just hungry."
Chavez scoffed.
"C'mon girl, you know that's not true."
Daisy turned to America, whose face was a mix of amusement and skepticism. Daisy turned to the others, who nodded. Their leader sighed as she put down her apple and leaned back in her seat.
"I'm not sure we're ready for this. Yeah, we've fought villains and criminals before...but this...this isn't like anything we've faced. We barely survived against this invader's generals...what can we do against him?"
Kamala rested a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Hey, we're not in this alone. The other heroes, our mentors, will be fighting beside us and leading the fight."
America Chavez nodded.
"And we have the weapons Crusader gave us, he hasn't faced an Earth like ours before."
The others nodded. Daisy remained quiet though where Rayshaun turned to her.
"Hey, we've got this. Whatever it takes, we can do this."
Daisy chuckled for a moment.
"Cap's gotten to you hasn't he?"
The young man grinned.
"He's a good role model."
Quake smiled and nodded.
Chavez chewed a piece of steak she'd cut up as she looked to her teammates. She saw Kamala and Doreen whispering to one another.
"What're you two gossiping about?"
The two turned their heads, eyes a little wide before Kamala spoke up first.
"Us? Oh, nothing important."
"Yeah, everything's good."
Chavez raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
Dante broke a roll into two pieces and spoke up before he took a bite.
"They're hiding something."
Kamala blushed slightly.
"What?! Us?! No!"
Dante smiled and turned his gaze to her, as did the others.
"You two aren't very good liars."
Rayshaun turned to Doreen.
"SG, what's up?"
Doreen looked to the others who stared back. She gulped slightly as she turned to Kamala, who sighed and nodded. She groaned and rustled a hand through her hair.
"Ok fine! We promised Vixen we wouldn't tell...but I guess you would've found out sooner or later...and would've chewed us out for not telling you."
The others almost slid closer to them, nearly dropping some of their food to listen in. Doreen groaned.
"Vixen's been getting busy with Vulpine."
The others that had been chewing or raised their food their mouths to eat stopped or dropped their food. Their eyes were wide and mouths agape. Chavez herself almost seemed to twitch at the news.
"WHAT?!"
The others began asking quick questions, some were mad and others confused. Kamala elongated a finger to shush them all at once.
"Vixen wanted this to be a secret...but I figured it out after talking with Vixen about Vulpine before."
Doreen grimaced.
"And I...sorta...caught them in the act."
Rayshaun nearly spit out his food.
"HUH?!"
"Shhh!"
Doreen almost clenched her fists at his reaction.
Rayshaun gasped at the news still.
"This is...heavy stuff."
The others nodded.
Quake looked to Kamala.
"Did this happen before or after the truth came out about Vulpine?"
"I believe it started before."
Quake's hands clenched into fists and the table began to vibrate.
"The little-"
Kamala raised her hands up.
"W-Wait! Wait! I think she still has feelings for him."
Doreen nodded, slowly.
"Even after he was revealed to be a literal creation of the one who murdered her world...she still cares about him, even if she won't admit it to us."
Rayshaun sighed.
"What should we do?"
Doreen shook her head.
"Let Vixen handle this."
"But-"
"We can't interfere in her personal life unless she's in danger...this...I feel she needs to handle this on her own."
"But it's Vulpine! Or the clone!"
"I know...but Vixen feels her own way about this. Whether we agree with this or not, it's her life and she'll do what she feels is right for herself."
Chavez grumbled.
"...I can...understand that...but if that little bastard tries anything-"
"I don't think he will...not after everything he's found out and learned. Besides, I think Metatron, Cassie, and Jacob have arguably more right to do something than we do...given everything that's happened."
Dante sighed.
"Maybe we should discuss it with them when we start training with them?"
Quake nodded.
"They'll need to know about this."
Kamala sighed.
"Vixen's gonna kill us for this."
-Secret Warriors' Base, Vixen's Room, A Couple Of Hours Later-
Vulpine entered Vixen's room, his ears lowered thought not completely. He found her sitting on her bed, her ears completely lowered and partially averting her gaze from him. He took a slow, unsure breath before he spoke.
"Y-You...wanted to see me?"
"Y-Yes. We need to talk."
Vulpine sighed.
"I wasn't sure when this would come."
Vixen scooted a little on the side on her bed and slowly patted the bed.
"Please...sit...I feel this will take some time."
Vulpine nodded and took a seat beside her.
"So...what are you feeling?"
"Conflicted."
"About us?"
"About...everything I guess...but yeah, mainly us."
"What's on your mind?"
"Do you see...anything for us?"
"What do you mean?"
"Our relationship...our future."
Vulpine was quiet for a moment, pondering this. He eventually let out a sigh.
"When I...still was under the thrall...and was working for Imperious...I had hoped to offer him a deal...not wanting power and glory anymore...I just wanted to be with you, for us to have a peaceful life where I no longer served him after helping him take this world...but now with everything that's happened...what you've learned...I don't know what's going to happen. I don't deserve a peaceful life...or any kind really...at least until this war is over...or I'm killed by Imperious or one of his soldiers."
Vixen rested her hands on his.
"I won't let that happen."
A sad smile briefly appeared on Vulpine's face.
"That's kind of you to say...but you've begun training with the Wolf...and he'll tell you more specific stories of what happened on Faunia...I'm responsible for what happened to his wife, his clan, his bloodline...all of it. He only tolerates me being alive because of my use in fighting or strategizing against Imperious."
"I-I...I can't speak for Metatron...and he seems like a good person...he clearly loved his home and I admire that about him..."
"'His' home?"
Vixen sighed.
"I know I was born there...but I was raised by the Continuum...their home is my home."
"I thought you agreed to walk the path of your ancestors?"
Vixen nodded.
"I feel a responsibility to Faunia and its people...even though it's world and a life I'll never know...what Imperious did to it and them...is monstrous...sometimes I wonder what my life would've been like if he hadn't destroyed Faunia...how things would've been different."
"I feel the real Vulpine would've loved you as well."
Vixen smiled.
"Just because you're a clone doesn't mean you're not real."
Vulpine sighed.
"But because of me as well...you never really knew your birth parents...our bloodline...the beauty of Faunia...the love and harmony of her peoples...the power and warmth of the deep magic...it's my fault."
Vixen inhaled and exhaled slowly.
"It's something I guess wasn't meant to be."
Vulpine shook his head.
"It should have been."
Now it was Vixen's turn to have a brief sad smile on her face.
"We don't get to dictate how life plays out...or not totally at least."
Vulpine shook his head again.
"It feels like a rotten scheme."
Vixen sighed.
"We must do what we can with what and who we have."
Vulpine ran one hand along his face.
"It doesn't feel right...after what I did, manipulated or not...I don't deserve to be walking around like I am...I don't deserve to be eating the food and breathing the air like I am..."
His ears completely dropped and his gaze shifted away from her.
"I didn't...and don't deserve your love...I didn't deserve our first night."
A tear rolled down Vixen's face as she heard this and continued to listen as he continued.
"It...It was the best night of my life...and that happened while I was lying to you...you were literally sleeping with the enemy..."
He turned back to her, his face nearly drenched from tears.
"I did that to you. That's something you should kill me for."
Vixen raised her hands to his face, her ears lowered.
"I sparked that night, not you. Despite whether it was right or not, it's something I feel created something special. Because of what we have...you chose to no longer serve him."
Vulpine almost laughed.
"Yes...but I don't think anyone else will find this acceptable...and they shouldn't...I helped end our home...it's taking all of Metatron, Cassandra, and Jacob's wills not to kill me for what I've done. They know I was manipulated...but that doesn't take away that I was a significant part of the loss of their friends and family. The Wolf lost his wife, the Cat lost her daughter, and the Hedgehog lost his family...I'm responsible for all that death and loss. If we somehow win this war they will kill me and it will be just."
Vixen's breath shuddered for a moment.
"I won't deny what you've done, I can't...you did bad things regardless of being having string pulled. As hard as it has been for me...and it will be for me for forever...I forgive me...you are doing your best now and you're truly remorseful of what you did...and I still cannot deny what I feel."
Vulpine was silent, ears perked up.
Vixen smiled as she hugged him and he slowly returned the hug, both crying softly.
Vulpine had a sad smile on his face as he retracted from the hug.
"I know how you feel now...but what of the others?"
"What do you mean?"
"What about your adoptive father? How will he feel about this?"
Vixen's eyes widened a bit as her ears fell.
"...He...a part of Continuum culture and way of life is the respect of matrimony and the devotion that comes with it."
"So, no passion before being wed?"
Vixen slowly nodded.
"I have heard here that's how some humans feel as well."
Vixen nodded.
Vulpine sighed.
"What will he do?"
"I'm not sure...if he learns of everything...about you...about what I started...I don't know."
Vulpine couldn't help but laugh.
"You are more Continuum than Faunian it seems."
"What?"
"Even though weddings were a time of great joy when those being wed truly loved one another, passion before wasn't looked down on by our society as a whole."
"What?"
"Sensija never wed Onaju, she saw that passion and love was a matter of freedom and one's own feelings. Unfortunately, many twisted the words of her and the other gods because of and for different ends. What one did freely of their own will in passion was cherished by Sensija...she would've, though, unleashed her fury upon me for my deceit in our relationship before."
Vixen sighed.
"What of Metatron and his wife?"
"Unions between the bloodlines were uncommon though not looked down upon, often it was between those of similar bloodlines or were kin: Wolves and Dogs, the Snow Leopards and Tigers, etc. Metatron and his wife had known one another for some time, she always got the better of him in games of strategy and she always teased him about his stubbornness. He loved her dearly."
Vixen had a sad smile on her face.
"I would've really liked to have met her."
"She would've like you."
"Thanks."
"In some ways, I think he sees her in you."
"Wait, is he?...Was she?...Are they my-?!"
Vulpine shook his head.
"They never had kits or pups that I know of. And hybrid children typically had traits from both bloodlines, you're a pure Fox."
Vixen sighed and nodded.
"Besides, both of you would've known one another by scent and by what you felt in your heart."
"But I haven't trained my senses much, I-"
"It is something innate with us, you cannot be Faunian without it. You are one of us...them."
"Thanks...I just hope my father understands."
"If he truly loves you, he will."
Vixen smiled and hugged him.
AN: This chapter ends on such a happy moment doesn't it... well it is the literal calm before the storm, and that storm has a name: Imperious. His invasion begins next chapter, and oh boy are you all in for some shocking moments, and nobody is safe from his hellish wrath, or corruption ;) and someone(s) is already particularly vulnerable, and it's already begun... who is it, take your guess as to who it is, how and why. Story's Shadow we both know so sadly you can't guess, sorry my man ;)
Next chapter begins the invasion, gonna be another long chapter. After that chapter we'll most likely return to War Of The Realms. See you all next time.