A year later, Tony sat up on the highest peak of the manor roof and watched black smoke billow in the distance. Prince Loki's forces were slowly inching toward the city. He had gathered an army of ice demons and other undesirables and was working his way toward the capital. If he could not have the throne of Asgard, then he would take the throne of Midgard by force. Asgard warriors mixed in with the Midgard soldiers, hoping to stop his advance. Pepper's office had turned into a war room and the manor now housed several officers and a general. Some of them Tony liked and some of them Tony hated and took extra special care to puke in their boots.

At Tony's back rose the mountains and the forest. Tony refused to look. He'd spent too long staring up at the hulking shape with a broken heart to waste time now pining for someone who didn't even love him anyway. The forest had changed since its patron had left. It was dark and malevolent without the golden fox to look over it and now the people of Tony's city were wary and nervous of the spirits and demons that lived there when once they had lived side by side without problems. Now beasts snuck out of the forest during the dark of the moon and scratched and howled at the southern wall. Pepper and Chief Rhodes had added more patrols, although the creatures had no hope of getting into the city while Tony protected it.

Tony blinked wetness away from his eyes and focused. He could feel the ice demons and the Asgardians a couple of miles beyond the farm fields. If he strained his hearing, he could just make out the screams of dying men. The howls of the ice demons were easier to hear. The people in the city were panicking, packing up their homes and making ready to flee. Tony could hear his human's voice ordering the clerks and pages to store the manor's important papers and documents in the cellars and instructing the servants to pack a travel trunk in readiness for leaving the city.

Tony breathed deeply and stared at the rising column of smoke. He began to purr, a deep rumbling in his chest. This was his city and it was his responsibility to protect it. An hour later a messenger arrived at the manor to inform Lady Potts that the battle had turned to the west and was moving away from the city.

That evening the manor received guests in the form of Prince Thor and his warrior companions. The blond prince was boisterous even if he was covered in mud and soot. Baths were arranged and then the group dined out in the garden. Tony climbed wearily down from the roof and lay on the porch next to the lit brazier to warm himself. He felt cold and old. Across the city people rejoiced that they had been spared but all Tony felt was drained.

Pepper looked at him in concern as he joined her for bed that night. She stroked a hand down his spine gently. "Are you alright, Tony?" she muttered. "You're not ill, are you? You seem so lethargic lately." Tony licked her fingers and purred for her. His human was the only one he had left in the world and everyday it seemed she grew older before his eyes. Her strawberry blond hair was mostly grey now but her body carried her age well, her back still straight and skin still soft. "My poor lucky cat," cooed Pepper. "You really have brought us luck today." She rubbed at his ears and Tony closed his eyes in appreciation.

In the morning Pepper bid farewell to Prince Thor and his companions on the front porch. Tony came out and sat beside her, feeling tender deep in his bones. Turning aside the ice demons' advance had taken more out of the cat than any other protection had before. The prince's eyes dropped to the cat and Tony was reminded of another blue eyed and blond haired man. The cat turned to go, unable to handle such a physical reminder of Steve, but Prince Thor was already bending down to scoop the feline up. "Ah! So it was you that turned the tide of the battle yesterday! You have my thanks, feline!" he exclaimed into Tony's face.

"Your city is very lucky to have such a protector, Lady Potts," commented the dark haired female Asgardian.

"Don't tell me you actually believe in that lucky cat nonsense?" said a Midgard officer in disbelief. "It's just a cat."

"For someone who just fought demons that spit ice, you are very quick to dismiss the supernatural," Thor scolded.

"I do not believe this man was on the field of battle with us yesterday," another blond Asgardian observed blandly.

Prince Thor gave the officer as dismissive glance. "I believe you are right, Fandrel." The officer's face tightened and went red. Prince Thor handed Tony to Pepper with a big grin. "Thank you for the assistance, good cat."

Pepper curled her arms around Tony and smiled. "Our thanks to you as well, Prince Thor. Luck be with you."

When the Asgardians left, Tony jumped the garden wall and hurried after them. He tailed them through the city gate and through the farm fields, slipping through the plants silently until they were some distance from the city. When nobody else was near, he stepped out onto the road. "I wondered if you were going to reveal yourself or not," said Prince Thor, pulling his horse to a stop. "What may we do for you?"

The Asgardians eyed the feline with faint interest and Tony shifted awkwardly. "Have…" he said hesitantly. This was the first time he'd ever spoken to a human before but then he didn't think these warriors were completely human. When they didn't act shocked when he spoke or began shouting in alarm Tony continued. "Have you seen a golden fox during your travels?" Tony asked, hating himself a little.

"A golden fox?" mused Prince Thor. "I do not recall seeing such a creature. What of you, Sif?"

The dark haired woman shook her head. "Nay. I have not noticed a fox."

"Are not golden foxes rare?" asked a heavy set man with a full red beard.

"Indeed," Fandrel replied, leaning forward in his saddle. "Only the most ancient of places are said to have golden foxes as their protectors. Tell me, good cat, do the mountains south of your city have a golden fox watching over them?"

Tony hunched his shoulders. "They used to," he muttered. The Asgardians glanced at each other. Tony shook himself. "Thank you for answering my question and thank you for your help against Prince Loki and his army."

Prince Thor's face clouded. "Do not thank us on the score of my brother. He should have never troubled the Midgard kingdom."

"We shall keep an eye out for your golden fox. Shall we tell him that you are seeking him?" asked Sif.

"No," Tony replied softly. "He left me of his own choice. I was merely curious. Safe travels. Luck be with you." He turned and disappeared into the plants, tears blurring his vision as he made his way back to his city. He didn't know why he asked the Asgardians if they had seen Steve. There wasn't anything he could do even if he did know where the fox was. His traitorous heart was just looking for more pain.

"The golden fox left his mountain?" Fandrel asked in confusion.

"I did not think foxes could leave the places they were bound to protect," commented Prince Thor.

"They cannot. That poor cat; his heart is broken," Sif said sadly.