Manhattan, New York
6:27 a.m.
“Good morning, Manhattan. Breaking today, we are following up on the recent travesties that occurred in Vienna, Austria recently. During the UN meeting, a bomb squad had located an explosive device within a news van, but were unable to disable it in time. The result left several wounded following the explosion in the UN building, including the death of King T’Chaka of Wakanda.”
A plate of poorly made scrambled eggs and burnt toast was gently placed on the foldable dinner tray. A small, dirty glass of milk was added, followed by an empty Beretta M9 placed on the edge. The ghostly glow of the TV offered every bit of light to the dark apartment living room. A tall man stepped back into that ghostly light, placing the Beretta’s clip next to the pistol.
He took his seat, his breakfast laid out in front of him. The news anchor droned on. Looking down, he prepared to have his meal.
No fork. No knife. Mumbling something, he got back up and walked all the way over to the kitchen ten feet away. As he pulled out the kitchen drawer and searched for a clean fork and knife, he could hear the anchorman talking more about Vienna, more about the bombing.
“Eyewitness reports, as well as camera feed, have officially identified those responsible for the bombing. It appears that it was only one individual who seems to have planted the bomb within the van before he made his escape.”
His attention was caught once it mentioned “officially identifying those responsible”. He returned to the living room rather quickly. He didn’t even bring his fork and knife. Instead, he watched as the news report shifted to a camera’s view of what appeared to be some sort of parking lot, cars scattered within the film.
And forward came a hooded individual, the video pausing once his face came into view.
The anchorman started talking again. He rarely paid him any attention. He was far too focused on the suspect’s face… and just how familiar he looked.
All he really heard from the news anchor was…
“Facial identifying software have confirmed the identity of the suspect in connection to the bombing. It appears to be James Buchanan Barnes, more so known as ‘The Winter Soldier’. We know this due to leaked HYDRA files…”
Every other word was completely drowned out. Standing straight, staring forward into the still image of the Winter Soldier, his mind was already putting the pieces of the puzzle together. He had remembered reading those HYDRA files mentioned earlier. He read them years ago after they were leaked, hoping that some other HYDRA agents lived near him, or so he could find them.
Nazi war criminals. Soviet agents from a war already lost. Worst of the worst. They’d been hiding for years, living in the shadows, trudging through life as if they could hide away from the lives they once lived. The ones he had managed to find didn’t last too long. The ones he hadn’t found yet, well, they just haven’t been found yet.
But still, there was always one, one he could never find. His file, his locations, everything had been either false or he just got out before he could get to him first. The one that managed to get away, the one that killed yet again, this time in Vienna, the mass-murdering ultimate weapon of HYDRA…
“The Winter Soldier…” Frank Castle muttered to himself.
He stared at that still image until it vanished, other news flashing by.
Even then, his shattered mind kept the image of James Buchanan Barnes fresh, waiting for later use. He couldn’t focus on that with the TV rambling on, with his breakfast getting cold. Shaking his head, Frank grumbled, “Can’t be.” He turned to his laptop resting on the dining table, scattered newspaper, empty bullet shells, and numerous other weapons surrounding it.
He pulled out the chair and took a seat, booting the computer up. As it asked for his password, Frank quickly typed it in, watching as several files from the other day remained opened. He clicked out of every single one of them. Every single one… except for the last.
The closed chat.
The final message, the one from days ago, was from the user “Micro”, simply saying, “Good luck with that”. Frank hadn’t spoken to him since. Still, he felt he needed to. It had been over a year since he’d chased the ghost. If what the bombing in Vienna told, and who the suspect truly was, then Frank basically only had once chance to get as much information as possible before it was pulled.
Micro may have been smart on the keyboard, but he wasn’t that smart.
Wasting time. Frank quickly typed out a message: You there?
He pressed “Enter”.
And waited.
Almost five seconds later, a new message popped up.
Always.
Three seconds this time.
You got something?
Frank eyed the blinds, the peeking sunlight hidden behind. He typed away. You see the news recently?
He got a reply. Yeah. Big stuff.
Frank cracked his knuckles and continued to type. I want everything on James Buchanan Barnes, the Winter Soldier.
Everything?
EVERYTHING.
Alright, I got you. Micro didn’t reply for nearly thirty seconds afterwards. Frank just sat there staring at the white screen, his mind trained on the image of the ghost. Caught in his line of sight.
A minute later, and Micro replied. Okay, it may have taken some digging, but I got some of the more important HYDRA files saved. Counting that to the new sightings we got today. Basically, everything you need to find him. You can thank that Romanoff chick for spilling HYDRA’s secrets.
Castle didn’t type anything in response.
Almost ten seconds for another reply. I’m sending you the info now.
Frank checked his private email, spotting the new message. Opening it, it was filled with information. Everything he needed. Maps. Locations. Times. And a single image of the video frame Castle had seen earlier. The hooded figure strolled right through and took one glance at the camera, giving little but losing everything.
Not smart.
Castle had him.
Finally.
It had been so long since he had been chasing that ghost. The first time he had seen him, even before the chase had started, was that day on the highway in Washington. He remembered seeing that man with the metal arm hop on the hood of the speeding vehicle, ripping a human being out of the car as if he was nothing. He remembered seeing the ghost fling the man directly in front of him, the man meeting the front of Frank’s truck.
He almost completely ignored the new message popping up.
Need anything else?
Frank leaned forward and began typing. I need some cash for the trip, a fake ID, and some weapons.
Got the cash and the ID. You won’t get any weapons on the plane. I’ll send them to you. I already got a list of what you’ll need to get the job done quick and clean. Check them out.
Another message followed, a link being the reply. Frank clicked on it, the screen shifting to a new tab with images of weapons and equipment. His primary weapon was a Barrett .50 caliber with a silencer. Secondary was a Glock 17 pistol, no silencer. Knives were also added. Never could go wrong with those. Equipment consisted of grenades, flash bangs, and a grappling hook, a launcher to go with it. Top notch. Military grade.
Frank nodded and typed. Good pick. How did you know?
He only had to wait two seconds this time.
Just a hunch.
With that, Frank closed out of the remaining tabs he had, letting the chat being all that remained open. Just as he was about to close his computer, another message popped up, stopping Frank right where he was, gripping the top of the computer screen.
It read: And Castle…
Three blinking dots. New message.
Don’t miss.
Frank closed his laptop.
Interesting
Not sure who Frank is, I assume he is someone from the other Marvel shows.
Guess we'll see how that changes things, if it does of course.
7978254
Frank Castle is the Punisher, who is seen in the Marvel show "Daredevil."
Oh shit, the Punisher is on the hunt...
7978277 ah ok that makes sense
"One Batch, Two Batch, Penny and Dime."
You're throwing the Punisher into the mix?
oooohhh... REALLY kind of concerning now that the Punisher is entering the mix.
Keep in mind, JD, the last time someone mixed Frank Castle with MLP, it resulted in a rushed, predictable and unmemorable fic that I'm STILL angry with Onomonopia about for some reason. Tread lightly.
Yeah, the more the merrier. I guess?
Well Twilight, If you make it out of this, it will be one hell of a friendship lesson.
But with this new information, my inner Deadpool must once again be released.
Silverquill would be proudvignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/the-rift-cafe/images/9/9c/MLP-Silver-Quill.png/revision/latest?cb=20150312212535
7978450
It's JD whose writing him, chances are he'll stay true to the character. Everyone introduced so far has been completely in character. I would assume Frank is going to be the Punisher we all know and love.
7978648 Love is a very strong for me when describing my interest for Frank Castle. I don't love what he does or what he has become. If there's a more accurate descriptor, he... facinates me. The Marvel Netflix version is the one I'm REMOTELY attached to, so unlike the comic version used in Damned are the Guilty, I MAY find myself pleasantly surprised.
Wait...who...
NO! NO MEANS NO! LEAVE HIM ALONE, FRANK, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!
Holy Shit! The Punisher vs the Winter Soldier!? I...I...I don't know who to bet on. On the one hand, Bucky has years of experience and training from HYDRA but his fighting style is "punch something with the metal arm until it stops moving" and on the other hand Castle doesn't take prisoners and has insane durability and firepower.
7979176 Frank's greatest power is his will and determination.
7979176 Except there is no way in Hell he's dying. At best, Frank will get pissy at him for the people he's been associated with that died and try to do what he does, and when he finds out the truth, he'll give whatever is his version of an apology and piss off back to New York.
Another suspenseful chapter! No more delays from hereafter, the war is ON!!!
Nice job on nailing Frank Castle's character.
Well, shit. Seems ol' Frank Castle is going on a manhunt. Hopefully Daredevil notices and chases him sooner rather than later. Because with Bucky's current status as guilty, and with T'Challa already after him, things are gonna get bloody.
I love how you brought him into the mix and bringing back Micro. Let's see the Avengers and Equestrians deal with a stone-cold killer like him, who unlike Bucky has no remorse.
Also, depending on how long he's around; Spider-Man, Daredevil and the Punisher can meet! That's something I've always wanted the MCU to do. The three big New York vigilantes meeting.
7978285 He ain't taking any prisoners, either.
7978366 Bang...
7978385 It seems like it.
7978450 I've read Onomonpia's story, and though I see where you're coming from, you won't have to worry. I'll be keeping the Punisher very close to the character we've seen in the Netflix series.
7978515 Might as well.
7978801 You can't keep anyone safe from Castle.
7979298 I wouldn't bet on that.
7979176 My money's on Deadpool. It's always on Deadpool.
7979795 Thanks a ton!
7980992 Just wait for the airport sequence.
7982078 Bu- bu- bu- but it's Bucky! He's an innocent little metal armed angel! I'm sure once Frank understands what he's been through, even HE would give that poor man a hug.
7982078 Oh.... ok then.
7982091 It doesn't matter if he was brainwashed or not, he still killed innocent people. He's still a murderer one way or another, and Castle has plenty of reason to take him down.
7982078
Well there's no way Cap's gonna tolerate his foul mouth. So I guess he's gonna kick the Soldier's ass nine ways from Sunday.
68.media.tumblr.com/74f6ccd20cee1d9bfa7f7256f96fe6df/tumblr_o3oxopbpR61udh5n8o1_500.gif
7982131 Is that the M/O of the COMICS Punisher? Because this is a different version than what that is. What was his "policy" on mind controlled assailants? Do THEY deserve punishment in his eyes or do their PROGRAMMERS?
7982131 In Frank's eyes. In reality, Bucky was a POW for SEVENTY FRIGGIN' YEARS!
Not to rant here, but Punisher, at least in the MCU, is a giant asshole. Seriously, he's so self-righteous about his methods, he clearly doesn't care about collateral damage, and he forces Daredevil, a guy who did nothing wrong, into a sadistic choice for no good reason.
7982131 I have a feeling Punisher will be Team Iron Man. Can't wait for everyone to meet him.
7982078 You're welcome.
We got the Punisher showing up now and he wants Bucky. Though he's going to have some competition with Black Panther, because I'm sure he wants him to himself.
I was wondering what side Frank was going to be on. On one hand he sided with Cap in the original comic story, but since this is about going after Bucky it would make sense on why he would be on Iron man side because to Frank Bucky is a murderer who needs to be put down.
So it looks like he's on Iron man's side... even though I doubt Tony wants him. Though this does make me think Daredevil is going to be on Cap's side.
Holy shit, just returned to finish this fic, now I just read that the Punisher is bent on killing Bucky. It’s impossible to avoid commenting this.
Ah shit. I don’t watch the Punisher. Looks like imma have to get into it.
If we thought the brief appearance of 'Daredevil' was a surprise, considering we didn't see him in the original feature, the appearance of Frank Castle a.k.a. 'The Punisher' is going to be a huge curveball. We know just how dangerous The Punisher can be, showing 'no mercy' to even the lowest of criminals all because of the death of his family. So dangerous is that guy there was a comic dedicated to how he managed to kill EVERY Marvel hero in existence, punishment that would kill a normal man but to The Punisher it's just another day of doing his work. If the UN were more worried about 'vigilante' actions without their supervision, they better keep a special eye on Frank... He doesn't answer to anyone but himself.
Wasn’t it The Punisher’s truck that smashed the HYDRA blockade during Nick Fury’s assassination attempt?
9682211 Yep!
Hmm, I hope the characters from the series don't play a bigger role than the ponies, cuz I don't even watch the shows
Wow, the Punisher. So now he is after Bucky too. I can understand the reason he is fighting this war on criminals, but I’m not sure his efforts are worth it at times. He doesn’t always seem to care who he saves so,etikes, just who he kills, same with who gets caught in his crossfire at times. Plus there are times when he goes after someone who is completely innocent due to bad info he got, such as what he is doing right now.
If the magic of friendship can reach him, it will be a miracle.