Iron Against Cinder

In another time, in another world, Pyrrha Nikos was destined to die that night.

She entered the battle knowing that she would lose, with her only intention being to buy time for someone more capable of fighting the false Maiden to arrive.

In another time, in another world, help arrived too late by mere moments. In that other time, in that other world, not even a body was left to bury. A young girl had to watch her friend fade into nothing, killed and erased by who she had believed to be a fellow Huntress in training.

But this isn't that other time, that other Remnant.

The people of this Remnant had been blessed with something the other Remnant lacked. Another line of protection against the evils of both man and Grimm. This Remnant had heroes.

Heroes ripped straight from the pages of comics, determined to prevent any more deaths on this tragic night.

"CINDER!!!"

Pyrrha's eyes widened as her would-be killer vanished from right in front of her. A flash of red, gold and blue and the sound of a rocket taking off was the only proof that she hadn't just popped out of existence.

Cinder's glass bow clattered to the floor and Pyrrha, along with a silver-eyed rose, watched as the pair of warriors zoomed into the night already too far to make out.

Cinder Fall screamed as the metal hands wrapped around her wrists tightened, crushing her bones even through her Aura. She let out a wild scream but even she couldn't tell if any sound came out of her own mouth.

All she could hear was the wind in her ears and the jet engines disguised as boots rocketing her and the rich manchild over Vale.

She could barely hear the man screaming into her ear in that infuriating mechanized voice, "Did you really think you would get away with all of this?! You thought you could come in here with an army of Grimm and terrorists, have my niece killed and then run away with the power you stole. No. You aren't. I'm putting an end to you, right here and right now!"

"Shut... UP!"

A burst of flame, like gas catching fire, erupted from the Maiden. Tony grunted as he was knocked, hissing in pain as the heat broke through the armour's insulation.

'So it's going to be one of those fights, huh? Good. It's been a while since I had a real challenge.'

The hidden thrusters on the back activated, automatically stabilising Tony's flight. Arms glued to his side and the palms of his hands aimed down, Tony stared down his foe.

Unlike his seemingly rigid position, Cinder's arms were open wide, as if she were inviting his challenge. A vortex of fire danced around her as she glared at the Armoured Avenger, hollow flames being emitted by her eyes. Dark clouds began to gather around her, thunder and lightning racking around her.

They weren't nearly as powerful as Thor's but they could still be a threat.

"You speak as if you will be the one to stop me, Stark." Cinder began, venom laced in every word and the illusion of elegance cracking by the second, "But you are nothing more of an arrogant fool. You are scared of how insignificant you truly are, so you build toys to try and compensate. You are a fool if you believe that armour won't simply melt off your charred corpse when forced to withstand true power."

Tony rolled his eyes. He was already tired of her voice. He simply raised his hand, the repulsor at its centre aimed towards the fire chick.

"Why don't we test that theory?"

With two equally ferocious roars, the two combatants rushed towards each other, colliding like a blacksmith's hammer against a heated piece of metal.

Back on what remained of Beacon Tower, the two girls stared in awe at the battle between hero and villain. Trails of orange and blue collided with each other, releasing explosions that lit the night sky. Wild, barely controlled fire of a freshly made Maiden against fine-tuned, highly concentrated repulsors of the Iron Man Armour.