'Ello, again... i'm going on vacation for about 2 weeks, so I'm going to get this chapter over with...

Disclaimer: dont own IM:AA... when is that 2nd season coming out?

*New Author's Note* Hey guys! I would just like to thank you again for supporting me and this story. After polishing and editing, I realized that this story really makes a good start point for In 'Search of the Makluan Rings'. So once again, thank you for reading (again!).

You guys are the best :)

Gene rubs his wrist and walks towards Tony. He laughs as Tony shoots a death glare at him. "Stark." Gene menacingly slurs. Tony shoots his head up trying to look confident, but fail to do so.

"Gene, how did you-"

"Oh, this ring-"Gene showed Tony his ring on his 4th finger. "-can let me shape-shift. Cool, huh?" Tony on the other hand, was skimming the ring with his blue eyes for detail, but Gene noticed and put his hands in his pockets. "So Stark, you are going to help me find those rings. The sixth one is in a small island in Indonesia-"

"Where's my dad?"Tony asked darkly. He didn't even care he interrupted Gene. Gene smirked, leaning on a tree. "Your dad is fine, Tony-"

"Where is he?" Tony shouts. Looking him straight in the eye, Tony grabs Gene's collar. Gene frowns. "I can't tell you until you help me retrieve those rings-"

Tony punches him on the face, leaving a bruise on Gene's left cheek. Gene spits out blood on the floor, then stands up. He points a glowing ring at Tony. Tony doesn't back away. He wans to know how the ring works. "You punch me one more time, and you're not going to see your dad again." Tony grunts, but stays silent to let Gene continue. Gene walked towards Tony.

"As I said, the first ring is in a small island in Indonesia. There is said to be a temple there, but Stark Inernational is using it for reasons." Gene said, rolling his eyes. "So I want you to hack into their security codes and, I don't know, distract them while I go inside the temple."

"Stark International abandoned all testings ground in Indonesia months ago." Tony corrected. Gene blinked. "If that's so, then the plan will be simpler than I thought..."

Tony thought about the plan. "Can Rhodey and Pepper come?"

Gene looked at Tony as if he was crazy. "Are you serious? You can't really be that dumb, Stark-"

"This is one thing I'm asking for, Khan." Tony pleaded. Gene looked at his rings, then back at Tony. "We'll make this a field trip for Mr. Myer's history class so they won't miss school. Pepper said she needs to ace her history class in order to pass." Tony's brows furrowed as he crossed his arms. "Since when did you attend Tomorrow Academy? And since when did you know about Pepper?"

"Stark, are you this slow in remembering?" Gene evily smirked as he shape-shifted back into Sam, seeing Tony's eyes widen in horror. Tony then asked another question. "What are you going to do with those rings, anyway?"

Gene helding up a glowing ring. "None of your business," he said, getting ready to teleport. Tony was in rage. "IT'S MY BUSINESS TO KNOW-"

Woosh. Gene disappeared, his evil laugh filling the silent park.

*Next Day -School- History Class*

"Okay, class. Mr McGillan here and Mr. Stark suggested to us that we should have a field trip to Indonesia, to learn more about our topic. The school has agreed to this, and we are leaving on Thursday, which is 3 days from now," as Mr. Myer continued, Tony looked around the room. There was the usual: Happy, Rhodey, this guy named Clark, this girl named Beth, these other people, 'Sam', and Pepper, who was looking at 'Sam' smiling. It made Tony frown. Pepper then turned to Tony. It felt as if her turn was slow-motion in Tony's mind. Man, how he missed that smile. She looks at him for a while, gave him a small smile, then turned back to Mr. Myer. Tony smiled to himself.

"She doesn't hate me." Tony accidentally said out loud.

"Did you say anything, Mr Stark?" Tony just smiled. The whole class, including Pepper, turned around. "No, Mr Myer... just, happy we could have this field trip." Mr Myer smiled back at Tony, then continued on with his rambling on ancient discoveries. Rhodey, who heard what Tony said, looked at him surprized. Pepper on the other hand, tried to hide the fact that she heard Tony, so she place her history book in front of her so no one could see her smiling big. Sam could still see Pepper from behind her history book and did a death glare at Tony.

'Soon, Tony..."he thought to himself.

'Pepper will be mine.'

At Rhodey's House

Rhodey and Pepper were walking to Rhodey's house, until Tony came up to them. "So, what do you guys think of the field trip?" he asked, with a forcful smile. Rhodey nodded his head. "It's... not a bad idea." Tony then turned to Pepper, who was facing forward. "By the way Pepper, someone left you something in your locker. I think you better go check it out first." Pepper looked at Tony, confused, but shrugged. "Okay, see you later guys" she said, waving at Rhodey and Tony.

Rhodey waved back, then continued walking with Tony. "Okay Tony: Explain this so called "field trip" Rhodey seriously asked. Tony gulped.

At Pepper's locker

Pepper ran to her locker. 14... 30...24...

It opened, and inside was a bouquet of roses, with a little note. "I wonder who's it from,"she gasped. Reading the card, it says:

Dear Pepper,

I heard it was your birthday last week, so here is a bouquet of roses. I know my friend has been a jerk, and he's really sorry, but at least I tried to come up with something :)

Happy Birthday.

From your favourite hero,

Iron Man

Pepper wiped away the tears in his eyes, and sighed happily as she skips to Rhodey's house.

awwww... I just HAD to add that bit 3 R&R PLZ! :):)

*New Author's Note* In Search of the Makluan Rings: Book 2 is now out and about! Please read Pepper's Not So Happy Birthday's sequel! :)