Avengers: Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Black Panter, She-Hulk, Leviathan, Mantis

Fantastic Four: Mr. Fantastic, The Invisible Woman, The Human Torch, The Thing

Kree-Skrull Alliance: Emperor Hulkling, Super Skrull, Captain Glory, Mur-G'nn

Cotati: Quoi, Swordsman
-----------
Kree-Skrull Command Ship...

Y/N: Maybe I do need some sleep.

You were leaning against a wall as everyone discussed everything going on. Cap had gone radio silent on you so you were left with either staying here, or heading back to Wakanda. In your current state, you doubt you could be much help in a fight.

Sue had you on the coms ready for when they would confront Quoi and the Swordsman. They figured you could help them since you were having such odd visions. You had seen Quoi's past. Mantis' relationship with Jacques. The slaughter that started it all. Even their ultimate endgoal. It was all coming together now. The end was drawing closer than ever.

You had tried to contact Nikki, but got no response. Nothing from Nadia either. Janet was in Wakanda fighting off the invading forces while Bobbi was in Mexico somewhere dealing with the situation. Tony and Reed were still back in the Avengers Mountain. You were just stuck here with Carol and Johnny.

Mur-G'nn: You seem troubled.

You looked up to see the young space witch. Timber sat beside you, ready to go when you were. Even he seemed tired from teleporting everywhere.

Y/N: Just thinking. I've never dealt with something this large before. I've save Earth before, it wasn't ever like this though.

Mur-G'nn: Have you been an Avenger a long time?

Y/N: No. Just got recruited before you guys showed up. So, four days now? I have no idea how long it's been. I've only gotten a few hours of sleep. Bouncing around was started to tire me out but your magic seemed to help.

Mur-G'nn: I am glad I could be of assistance. Perhaps you should sleep now. My Emperor is doing so as we speak.

That's right. Carol and Super-Skrull had to practically beg him to get some rest. Skrulls didn't really get tired and Carol was the Accuser now. She didn't need rest. Johnny had caught some sleep while you were out and judging by the looks Carol was giving you, she was about ready to send you to get some rest as well. Bad news was, you ran out of Nadia's Sleep Serum.

Y/N: Nah. I'm fine.

Mur-G'nn looked at you for a moment.

Mur-G'nn: I can always preform my magic on you, but it cannot substitute sleep.

Y/N: I appreciate it regardless. So, thank you. I mean it.

Mur-G'nn looked at you oddly for a moment.

Mur-G'nn: I cannot say that anyone has thanked me as much as you have.

Y/N: Well, maybe they should.

You could swear that you saw her cheeks turn a bit purple before she smiled.

Mur-G'nn: May I do something?

Y/N: Uh, sure. Go ahead.

Mur-G'nn closed her eyes and said a silent chat to herself. You watched as her body slowly began to glow a beautiful blue before she opened her eyes.

Mur-G'nn: Protection.

She leaned in and kissed your cheek suddenly. You could immediately feel the magical effects on you body as you suddenly felt, safer.

Y/N: What was that?

Mur-G'nn: A protection spell. Now, you are safe from harm.

You gently touched the spot on your cheek that she had kissed you. Maybe you shouldn't tell Nadia about that one.

Y/N: Why?

Mur-G'nn: I wish to protect my ally.

You just smiled before the conversation caught your attention.

Carol: We have word from Captain America. Apparently he's had trouble getting the human forces to pull together.

Well, that wasn't good news. You and Mur-G'nn moved to rejoin the others.

Super-Skrull: I can emphasize, Captain Marvel. Our Kree-Skrull Alliance proves, fragile. Our troops bicker on the battlefield, distracted by age-old grudges. An army divided. Even Tanalth the Punisher has sequestered herself away from the command deck. Some Kree ritual that won't wait. We should wake the Emperor...

Carol: After all the time we spent convincing him to get some sleep? We need him fresh, Kl'Rt. Leviathan to but he at least has Mur-G'nn's magic to keep him going. The Cotati are massing in Wakanda for a major attack.

Y/N: If they take the Vibranium Mound, with its hyper-enriched soil, the Celestial Messiah will control all plant life throughout the galaxy.

Hulking: Sounds like I've slept enough.

You all turned toward the hall where Teddy and Captain Glory suddenly appeared.

Hulking: Super-Skrull. Captain Marvel. Thank you for holding the fort.

You looked at him for a moment. He didn't look right. Was it just because of your headaches? No. This was different. This was, like he wasn't Teddy. They way he spoke, wasn't right.

Hulkling: But I'm ready to take over. You were right, Kl'Rt. In a fight like this, where the fate of the galaxy is at stake, there are bo civlians. Only warriors. If it comes to it, I'm ready, and willing, to make what sacrifices must be made.

What?!

Y/N: I'm sorry, do you want to repeat that? Slowly? The hell is going on here? Sacrifices? What are you saying Teddy?

Hulkling turned to you and glared. His soft gaze was no longer there. This was, much different.

Hulkling: Dorrek VIII. And I'm saying, Leviathan, that the Cotati must be stopped. At any costs. I'm ordering deployment of the Pyre. I hope it won't become necessary to activate it. But if it does, I won't hesitate to detonate this system's sun.

Y/N: The f#@! Teddy?!

Johnny: Holy crap. Someone got out of bed on the arong side.

Carol stepped forward and held up her weapon which began to glow.

Carol: Universal Weapon! Give me a full genetic scan on subject! Cross match against all known Skrulls, space phantoms, and other shape-shifters! Tell me who I'm talking to!

Captain Glory clenched his fists as he began to step forward.

Captain Glory: You dare turn that hammer on a superior officer...

Hulkling: No, no. Let her scan.

Hulkling smirked smugly as ge placed a hand on the hammer. You looked over to Mur-G'nn to see that she was also confused at the sudden turn of events.

Universal Weapon: Scan complete. Kree-Skrull hyrbid DNA detected. 100% match, Dorrek VIII, alias Theodore Altman, alias Hulkling.

Carol: No.

Hulkling: There. That settles everything, I hope?

You activated your helmet while Johny began to coat himself with flames as you bkth rushed forward.

Y/N: It really doesn't.

Johnny: But if you want something to burn, can I get a "Flame on"?

Y/N: I don't know what's happened to you, "Dorrek". Maybe the stress of the job is too much for you. I get it, trust me. Or maybe you've been listening to the wrong people. But destroying Earth, even as some last resort, is not on the table. You're talking about billions of lives...

From behind, Captain Glory leaped at you before delivering a hard hit to the back of your head which threw you down.

Captain Glory: No. We're talking about quintillions! If the Cotati take this world, they'll gain the power to kurder the galaxy! All because you were too weak to...

You caught his second punch and turned your body to throw him over your shoulder with an extra jolt of electricity. Johnny even added a blast of flames to send him away.

Johnny: You think the Fantastic Four haven't dealt with ticking clocks before, dude? You can't think the Avengers can't handle a little garden? We are on this...

Super-Skrull: Really, John Storm?

Johnny was suddenly grabbed from behind and you watched as his flames began to vanish as Super-Skrull held him.

Johnny: Hey! My flame...

Super-Skrull: Like you were "on" Throneworld? Remind me, where was your Fantastic Four when Galactus came for us, Human Torch? Where were you when my world died?

He pushed Johnny away as he tried to get his flames back.

Johnny: Nice trick, Super-Skrull. Using your powers to siphon mine. But I'll have my flame back in two seconds. And this time....I'll..see..you..coming...

Y/N: Johnny?

Johnny began to sway as he looked very dizzy.

Super-Skrull: Yes, look closely, Storm....

You turned to the alien to see that his eyes were wider.

Super-Skrull: And remember by hidden fifth power. The power of irresistible hypnotism! You will cease this foolish display at once and...

Suddenly, a blast of green energy sent him and Captain Glory flying across the bridge. Carol stood the with the hammer on her shoulder.

Carol: Try that on me, Kl'Rt. See what happens.

You rushed over to her and readied yourself for a fight.

Captain Glory: I'll take your head, you insubrdinate...

Y/N: You want a round 2?! Bring it!

Hulkling: No. Let's cut this short. Mur-G'nn, use your magic.

Mur-G'nn looked at you with wide eyes.

Mur-G'nn: I...They're our allies...

Hulkling: No longer. Remove them. That's a royal command.

Mur-G'nn looked at you as you shook your head.

Y/N: No. Mur-G'nn...

Mur-G'nn: A-Alright.

She raised her hands and began to chant as blue energy surroundes her. You moved to stop her as you felt your body change.

Y/N: Mur-G'nn, don't....

Suddenly, you, Carol, Johnny, and Timber were gone. Mur-G'nn sighed as she closed her eyes.

Mur-G'nn: All I had prepared was a teleport spe. I was saving it in case we needed to evacuate.

Captain Glory: Not good enough, solider. You should have executed them for treachery. And you let Danvers keep the Universal Weapon?

Hulkling just smiled.

Hulkling: Let her. After the final victory, we'll retrieve it. From her corpse if need be. Though I am curious, Mur-G'nn. Where did you send them.

Y/N: Listen to them!

You suddenly found yourself somewhere else entirely, reaching for thin air. You were in an apartment in New York.

Johnny: Too late, we're already here. In what's either a very tasteful space prison cell...or...a random apartment? In what looks like New York? Kind of weird to send us home...

Carol: Depends on whose home.

You looked around confused. It looked like the size if your apartment. Then again, you didn't have a gay pride flag on the wall. Also there would be a lot more tech laying around. Maybe something smoking. You just shook your head.

Y/N: Why would she send us here? Mur-G'nn, did she, make a mistake?

Was she supposed to send you to deep space? Why would she send you somewhere that was, safe?

Carol: From what I know of magic, it responds to intent. If she had doubts about Hulkling as well...

Timber suddenly began fo growl toward the darkness of the apartment.

???: Captain Marvel?

You and Johnny turned around. His eyes were already on fire while your helmet was activated.

Y/N: Who...

You just found a man standing ther with a carton of milk in his hand. He had on a red cloak and his body looked to be covered in stars up until his neck. He looked tired.

???: It's me. Billy Kaplan. Wiccan, remember?

Billy Kaplan. Wiccan. Former Young Avenger. Teddy's fiancé.

Y/N: Yeah. We know you.

Billy: I just got back home...sorry, it's a mess. I've been up all night fighting plant people, I wasn't expecting...wait, back up. What are you guys doing here? Did Teddy send you?

Oh. This was gonna be weird. How do you tell someone that their fiance is now a crazy warlord?

Johnny: Yeeeah...actually, I'm gonna rip the bandaid off. Your boyfriend wants to blow up the sun. Sorry. Can I use your phone real quick?

That works to. Billy, understandably confused, handed Johnny his phone as Carol began to fill him in on what happened.

Y/N: Yeah. Uh, I should go to Wakanda. See how things are going there. If you need me, just call.

Carol: Stay safe, kid.

Y/N: Don't I always?

You the turned to Billy and waved.

Y/N: It's been nice meeting you and we'll have more time to talk later. Oh! I'm Leviathan, by the way.

Billy: Oh yeah. Nadia's boyfriend.

Y/N: I was Leviath...you know what? Yeah. I'm Nadia's boyfriend.

You grabbed onto Timber and you were teleported to Wakanda. Looking down at the battle, you couldn't even tell if you were winning or not.

The Cotati have breached the defenses through a mix of telepathic manipulation and brute force. They attack in formation. Communicating at the speed of thought. They were one step behind. Below, you could see Black Panther weild the Star-Sword against the opposing forces.

Sue: Leviathan?

You turned around and spotted Sue, She-Hulk, Thing, and Mantis.

Thing: You came just in time. We're about to head out to speak to the kid.

You stood back up and sighed.

Y/N: Sounds good. I'll catch you up on everything else. We might have some even bigger problems now.
--------
Lake Victoria....

Quoi: The battle should be over. The enemy defenses are in tatters, their soldiers are outnumbered, our cannot tire. Wakanda should have fallen, yet it stands.

Quoi was becoming frustrated. His plans were not going the way he wished. They stood on the platforms created around the trees as the Swordsman watched the battle on his orb.

Swordsman: I told you, Quoi. T'Challa's a master of strategy. That extends to the battlefield. He'll have strategies we can't see either. Perhaps literally.

He held the orb for his son to see.

Swordsman: Who was missing from the battle? The Thing, their Hulk, Leviathan, the Invisible Woman.

Quoi looked at him concerned.

Quoi: Should we expect an attack here?

Mantis: No.

The two turned around to see the platform Sue had created to carry you all across the waters.

Mantis: Not from me. I did not come here to fight you, my son. I only want to talk.

Swordsman pulled out his sword as he narrowed his eyes at his former wife.

Swordsman: There's nothing to say, woman...

Quoi: Stand down, Swordsman. Mantis may be our enemy...but she is also my mother, as you are my father. We'll hear her out.

Sue flew the platform up to face the Cotati invaders.

Ben: Smart kid.

Quoi: She is speaking to me in person this time. Not through some construct. Well, mother? Another appeal to my human nature, is it?

That's right. You had witnessed their conversation and had seen the past. You knew Quoi better now than ever. You, as much as you hated to admit it, related to him. You all landed on the Cotati's platform as the two talked.

Quoi: Another hypocritical speech about the greater good? About not turning out like you?

Mantis: Perhaps I did not always do what is best for you, Quoi. Or for others. But my wrongs do not, they cannot, justify yours. If you choose this path, the path of genocide, it's you who'll carry that choice. For all your days.

Quoi: And that burden will be light, in days of peace. A thing you animals are incapable of.

Mantis: Are we? The Kree betrayed the Skrulls, as surely as they betrayed the Cotati. Yet the Kree and Skrulls have united now. Their hate us finished and forgotten. Why must you hold on to yours?

Quoi just laughed as he turned back around and extended his arms into the sky.

Quoi: Of course! Such peaceful races! No doubt they only united yo bring their fulsome apologies to us!

Y/N: Ah, shit. He has a point.

Quoi: I remember how apologetic they were in the Kral System. When they blew up the sun and burned them worlds alive!

He turned back to you with a hateful face.

Quoi: And they'll do it again. They're planning it as we speak, aren't they?

Y/N: Uh....yeah. Yeah they are.

Quoi: How am I the evil one, mother? How am I not this world's savior?

Y/N: Well, genocide comes to mind. But nobody's done anything yet, Quoi. We can still talk this out...

She-Hulk: It's a lie.

You all turned to the large woman as the glare appeared in her eye again. The same one you saw back on the Blue Area that made you and Thor uneasy.

She-Hulk: The Kree-Skrull Alliance had deployed the Pyre, their star-killer. More talk will only give them time to use it. You should press your attack immediately.

You looked at her and sighed.

Y/N: Really? Is everyone just turning evil today or something?!

Thing: What? What th' heck wuz that, shulkie? You lawyerin' for the bad guys now? Whose side are you on?

Y/N: Please be on ours. Dear God, please be on ours.

You really didn't like the idea of having to fight a Hulk.

She-Hulk: You're such a stupid animal, Ben. It should be obvious. But maybe this will help.

You watched as gamma energy surrounded her fists as you just sighed.

Y/N: God damnit.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

Sue summoned up an invisible force field around her and Mantis while you and Ben were too far for it to reach. As you flew, you wondered how your bones weren't shattered from the blow. It felt like you were just hit by a train yet, your body felt like it was just swung away.

Suddenly, you recalled Mur-G'nn's protection spell. Maybe, she was still your ally after all. Maybe, she was on your side still. You and Ben finally landed as you rolled to a stop.

Mantis: What...Whay just happened?

Sue: Hulk's gamma blast. I put a bubble around us to block the radiation, but the Shockwave sent us flying. And I couldn't reach Ben or Leviathan. They landed over...

Sue and Mantis looked into the sky to see another large figure bounce over them.

Sue: There. Oh no...

You slowly pished yourself up as She-Hulk landed in front of you and Ben.

Ben: Unnhh...J-Jen..?

Y/N: Why....? What the hell?!

Jen slowly lifted herself up and you could finally see what was controlling her. Vines and flowers were crawling out of her mouth as her eyes looked just about ready to pop.

Y/N: T-This is the Cotati!

Jen: Why is your friend betraying you? It's because she was green. Hhoorp!

Ben: Huh...?

"Jen": When we take over desd humans, fill their vacant shells with our essences, they turn green. The chlorophyll dyes the corpse-flesh. Our most powerful wizards can sometimes finesse it, but generally it's not practical for infiltration.

Y/N: You, you used it to take over her body. Back when we still trusted you. It was too good of an opportunity for you to turn down.

Ben: No...

"Jen": Oh yes. I'm wearing her body, like a suit of clothes.

She continued to stalk towards you as you tried to pick yourself back up while Ben was still recovering.

"Jen": But the Jen you know is very, very dead. You can see for yourself, WHEN I SEND YOU TO MEET HER!

Y/N: Ahhhhhh!

Now with her head completely covered in the Cotati plants, the monster punched Ben across the jaw before she swatted you away. You slammed against a nearby rock formation before sliding down. The protection spell was helping a lot, but you were still getting hurt. You pushed yourself back up and looked over to where Quoi and the Swordsman were. There, you saw them enter a portal. They were gone.

You stood back up and sighed as Ben finally got back up.

Ben: Get outta here, kid! Go!

Y/N: But...

Ben: She'll kill ya! I got this! Go!

You hesitated. You couldn't just leave. You had to do something. Anything. But, what could you do?

Y/N: Damnit!

You pulled out two knives and rushed toward the monster with a yell.

Sue: Y/N!

Timber suddenly appeared above you. He bit down on the back of your coat and you suddenly found yourself tripping over a carpet causing you to crash into a coffee table. The wood ended up breaking under your weight and the commotion made everyone in the apartment turn to look at you. You rolled over and pushed yourself up as your helmet deactivated and your hair fell over your eyes.

Y/N: DAMNIT!

Carol: Kid?! What are you doing here?!

Y/N: Jen is dead! The Cotati took over her body! She's, she's gone.

You sat on your knees as you caught your breath. Mur-G'nn's spell may have protected your from the monster's attack, but the mental and emotional damage was done.

Johnny: Come on, kid. Take a breather.

Billy: You can use the couch.

Johnny helped you up and lead you to the nearby couch where he set you down.

Carol: Ok. Look, things are getting worse. Much worse.

Billy: Right. Okay. Oof. Well, from what you've told me, that was unspeakably horrible. But I'll tell you what it wasn't. It wasn't Hulkling.

Carol: No?

Y/N: Yeah. No shit.

Billy: The way his mouth twitched, the way he held himself, the look in his eye....yeah. Total stranger. I know Teddy. Even possessed or mind-controled. I'd see something of him. That's not him.

Johnny: We thought so too. But Carol scanned him with this alien-tech hammer doodad...

Carol: It verified his identity, Wiccan. At the genetic level.

Y/N: That doesn't mean anything. They fooled the tech, knowing that'll fool the Royal Guard. But it can't fool you, right?

Billy turned around with a look of certainty. You knew that he knew. He had to. He loves Teddy. Just like how you love Nadia. You knew her better than anyone else in your entire life. Better than you knew yourself sometimes.

Billy: I know Teddy Altman better than anyone else, on this Earth or off it, and that guy up there, that us not the man I married.

Billy Kaplan. Wiccan. Former Young Avenger. Teddy's Husband.