I don't own anything except any original/own characters and any original plot.

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Chapter 37 - Master of Reality

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Appearing on a random planet years ago was disconcerting. The group of 5 heroes (and one former Child of Thanos) were quick to unshrink the spaceship Rocket had stored in his pocket and take it to their first destination. Morag. It was only a jump away plus a ten minute flight. When they reached the desolate land (Y/n) closed her eyes. She could feel the Power Stone. She wanted it- needed it. Her entire being cried out for what her mind called a sibling.

Rocket, Nebula, and Rhodey left the ship. Shaking her head to rid herself of her longing, (Y/n) flipped the switch that would lower the pod the trio would take the rest of the way.

"Vormir's coordinates are loaded into the computer," Rocket reminded the trio when the ship detached from the line.

"Good luck," Rhodey added.

"Same to you guys."

With Nat now in the co-pilot seat, (Y/n) started the auto-pilot and leaned back to let the system do its work. Behind the women, Clint let out a small laugh.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just... we're a long way from Budapest."

"Further every second," Nat motioned to the space around them.

Smiling at the pair, (Y/n) wasn't sure how to feel. She was far from her girls, in time and space. Far from Loki and Thor too. But she was close to the Infinity Stones. They were deadly, uncontrollable, and a part of her. Her and the Reality Stone had become one years ago, and so the stone's loneliness was her own. Though, it was easily stemmed when surrounded by so many loved ones. The original Reality Stone owner lived the longest, and took their own life because of loneliness. She'd never damn herself to the same fate.

Without any possible jump points, the flight to Vormir was comparatively longer than their flight to Morag. Every second counted, but they'd all return with the stones at the same time anyway. Rocket, Nebula, and Rhodey likely already had the Power Stone and were back in the future with Nat, Clint, and (Y/n). (Y/n) didn't think about it too deeply.

Eventually, the ship landed. Vormir was a beautifully dark planet, with a forbidding energy that struck (Y/n) right in the chest as soon as she stepped off the ship.

"You alright?" Nat asked, picking up on (Y/n)'s slight stumble.

"Fine, fine. Let's move, I can take us to the stone."

Not straight to the stone, rather to the place where they could get it. The stone itself felt like it was in a pocket dimension, unattainable until the dreaded sacrifice.

"Under different circumstances, this would be totally awesome." Clint breathed out as they climbed a hill and got a good look of the world around them.

The archway leading to the sacrifice drop was ancient stone etched with even more ancient markings. (Y/n) paused to run her hand over them, sucking in a deep breath as her mind filled with memories of a past life. She'd created this place, along with the other stone holders. Soul had always been stubborn, and the fairest of the bunch. This was a final gift before the Stones seperated.

"Really starting to regret my choice here," Clint looked at the archway with wide eyes, breathing ragged from the hike it took to get there.

"Yeah. I'm gonna bet the raccoon didn't have to climb a mountain."

"I don't think technically he's a raccoon..."

"Whatever. He eats garbage."

A rustle came from inside the archway, and the trio pointed their weapons at the hooded figure that suddenly appeared.

"I assure you, you have nothing to fear from me."

"Creepy."

"Welcome Natasha, daughter of Ivan. Clint, son of Edith. (Y/n), your exaltedness."

"Why do you get a formal greeting?" Nat nudged (Y/n) with her elbow.

"Creepier."

"Who are you?"

"Consider me a guide. To you, and to all who seek the Soul Stone."

"Great. You show us where it is, and we'll be on our way."

The figure removed their hood, revealing a deep red skull. Faintly (Y/n) recalled a story of Steve's. A piece of Earth's history she should know.

"Oh, liebchen. If only it were that easy..."

Red Skull turned and floated further up the way, the group behind him eager to follow. The staircase led to a large dropoff. An altar. (Y/n)'s gut clenched, and she refused to look down the cliff. None of her friends would lose their lives if she had any say in it.

"What you seek lies in front of you. As does what you fear."

"The stone is down there?"

"For two of you. For the other... The Stone demands a sacrifice. In order to take it, you must leave behind that which you love. A soul for a soul."

(Y/n) watched as Clint and Nat's faces paled dramatically. Before either of them could attempt to argue, she pulled them away to talk privately.

"He's telling the truth. Thanos and Gamora came and only Thanos left. Stones are fickles. Up until five years ago, I was kept from my full potential. Neither of you are getting anywhere near that cliff. Understand me?"

"Neither are you," Clint frowned, "You have kids."

"You seem to be forgetting that you do too. They can't come back with no father," (Y/n) looked to Nat, "There's so much light in your future. To snuff it out would be devastating. I've been thinking ever since I figured out the price, and I know what to do. None of us will be dying today. I just need your trust."

The pair nodded almost instantly. Sighing in relief, (Y/n) stepped back and moved away from the altar. When she had ample room, she thrust her hands out in front of her and closed her eyes.

Like neurons in a brain, billions of realities flashed before her eyes. Realities where a different choice led to ruin or paradise. Realities where they were simply characters in movies. Realities where superpowers made up 80% of the population. The one she needed-

"Wade Wilson," she whispered, her voice slipping from her tongue like a hiss. Smoke poured from her lips, every color known and incomprehensible flashing within it. The smoke filled the area, and Clint and Nat took cautious steps back when it gathered around their feet.

Pop!

With an unceremonious flash, a man appeared. His face was as disturbing as Red Skull's. Donned in a magenta hoodie and jeans - and crocs that everyone chose to ignore - the man seemed terribly confused.

"Wade Wilson," (Y/n) repeated, the words much kinder and more gentle than before. Her eyes were a deep red, no trace of their natural state available, "You have been brought to this reality with great purpose. Your trust has not been earned, but it is needed. Your sacrifice will change-"

"Can you cut to the chase? I was in the middle of watching Avatar the Last Airbender. Toph just came in and she's my favorite," Wade cut in, not at all freaked out like he should be.

"Jump off the cliff," (Y/n) stated, then, after a small pause, "Please."

With a shrug, Wade turned and casually walked towards the cliff edge.

"The sacrifice must be of someone you love-" Red Skull tried to argue, but he immediately stopped talking when (Y/n) turned her gaze on him.

"I love all beings in every reality," her voice shifted again, this time sounding like many layered on top of each other. Later, Nat and Clint would theorize that it was the past Reality Stone holders coming together (Loki would reveal that there had only ever been two true holders. The Original and (Y/n)). At the moment, however, they were trying to stay calm, "I feel their pain and their joy and everything in between. I am them and I am nothing. I am love and I am hatred. Reality is me, and the Soul Stone is mine."

"Well, fuck. That was badass," Wade mused, before falling backwards off the cliff. There was the telltale sound of his body landing, followed by silence.

Clint, Nat, and (Y/n) simultaneously popped out of a deep pool of water. Holding out her hand, (Y/n) revealed the Soul Stone. Laughing joyously, (Y/n) held the stone close to her heart. In a weird way, Clint and Nat felt like they were intruding on something personal.

"Oh my god, that was weird!" Another body popped out of the water, "Also, God is a woman, confirmed."

"Thank you, Wade Wilson." (Y/n) snapped her fingers and the mysterious man was gone.

Leaping forward, Nat trapped (Y/n) in a tight hug. She wasn't crying, but she was close.

"None of us had to die," the smile in her voice was obvious, "All of us would have fought to see who could fall, but instead you found a way to- god, (Y/n), you're amazing."

"As are you. All of us are returning home. I promised myself that no one would die and I meant it. Now, let's get home."

But (Y/n) didn't mean Earth in the future. No, no. As she secretly adjusted the machine on her wrist, (Y/n) knew she had another stop to make. The trio exchanged another round of excited glances before they pressed the buttons on their wrists.

~*~

Asgard. (Y/n) missed it. She wished she could bring it back, and maybe one day she would. As a parting gift before she moved on to Valhalla. There'd be no Watchers to scold her for her behavior when she was dead.

She had popped into an alleyway right next to the market. The hustle and bustle of Asgard's weekly life brought a small smile to her face. Transforming into clothes more accurate for the situation, (Y/n) stepped onto the street.

Her face markings had always gotten her strange looks. Especially on Earth when they were easily mistaken for face tattoos, but (Y/n) couldn't care less. She had a destination in mind and she would get there as quickly as possible.

Taking the shortest route, it didn't take long for (Y/n) to appear in front of her childhood home. Well, the home her parents lived in before being moved to the palace. With the Soul Stone clutched tightly in one hand, (Y/n) knocked with the other.

"Heimdall, we've decided that-"

(Y/n) stared into the eyes of her father. Blinking back tears, (Y/n) gave what she hoped was a polite smile, "Hello, Father."

"What?"

"Oh, um, I'm sure this is confusing. But I'm (Y/n) from the future. I wanted to see you," (Y/n) tried to give the simplest explanation possible.

"You look just like your mother," (Y/n)'s father stepped aside to allow her into the home. (Y/n) had forgotten how accepting Asgardians were of new magic and strange experiences. The culture was drastically different than that of Earth, "The markings are the same too."

"Pretty identifiable," (Y/n) agreed, then looked into the crib in the center of the room. Looking at herself as a baby was weird, "Strange."

Her parents took seats on the couch, while (Y/n) took the chair across.

"You're visiting us because both of us will die, right?" Her mom cut straight to the point. She was always the more straightforward of the pair.

Nodding, (Y/n) looked down at the stone in her hand, "The future is hard. And I had to go through it without you two. You were there for me for so long, and then suddenly it felt like there was no one but me, Loki, and Thor."

'The two princes?" Her dad asked to clarify.

"Yeah. I married Loki, actually," reaching into her pocket, (Y/n) eagerly moved forward to show her parents the wedding photos that Darcy had taken, "I wish you could have been there. It was beautiful, and one of the best days of my life."

"And what of the children?" Her dad questioned with a bright smile, "I can see it within you. We may be first time parents, but we recognize it."

"Iona and Kari," (Y/n) switched albums to show off the girls, "The lights of our lives. Clever and beautiful. They would have loved you two."

"We would have loved them as well."

Baby (Y/n) began to fuss and (Y/n) took that as her time to leave. She wanted to spend more time with her parents, but she could always come again. They wouldn't remember her, or the conversation they had, but she would explain things to them forever if it meant seeing them once more.

"I should go. I'm on a mission."

"Of course," (Y/n)'s mom hugged her tightly first, "I'm so proud of you and everything you've accomplished. I've never been adept at magic, but I can sense the power you've gained. I love you, my darling girl."

Smiling tearfully, (Y/n) gave her father a hug that was equally as tight, "You grew up to be beautiful and smart, and we couldn't have asked for more. I'm sorry we couldn't be there for as long as any of us would have liked. But this chance means the world to us."

"I love you. Cherish every moment we have together, please. I'll see you soon," (Y/n) motioned to her baby self, "Wish me luck."

Shifting back into her mission suit, (Y/n) pressed the button that would take her back to modern times.

Everyone else arrived back at the compound at the same time she did. They all exchanged nervous glances that went to people's hands to see if they were holding a stone (or the vessel for a stone. To hold an actual stone would destroy someone). Sure enough, every group was successful.

"Are you telling me that actually worked?" Rhodey questioned.

"Oh my gods," (Y/n) whispered, the feeling of completeness was overwhelming, and she fought not to cry again. Loki was suddenly next to her, hugging her tight, "We did it."

"We're getting them back."