Wendy opened her eyes rather hard after spending her first, short night in this new world. For the night, agent named Phil Coulson had brought him to this empty little room with metal walls, simply containing a bed. Although she hadn't been handcuffed, Wendy felt like she was in a jail cell. In addition, two guards had been posted outside her bedroom door, to make sure she did not attempt anything during the night.

Pulling the blanket away from her, Wendy straightened up, to see that Carla was already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed and looking grave, lost in thought.

_ "Carla? Didn't you manage to sleep?" Wendy asked, rubbing her eyes.

_ "Not really ..." she replied in a morose tone "... I preferred to let you regain your strength and watch ... I still do not trust these people of this world ... this man, Coulson, don't inspire me with much sympathy."

Wendy couldn't really blame her, knowing her friend's character. It is true that this Coulson, along with the folks in that organization, SHIELD, appeared cold and suspicious, especially of beings deemed supernatural like them. Obviously, this world was not used to seeing mages. Wendy could feel it too, in her body and in her mind. There was very little magic here, but still allowed her to be able to summon some spells.

_ "It's not just that, is it?" Wendy said as she came to sit next to Carla, who then confirmed the question with a sad nod.

_ "Our friends ... when we were brought here, the battle against Tartaros was still raging ... I really hope all is well ..."

_ "I understand your concern, Carla, but I choose to keep hope ..." said Wendy taking her gently by the shoulder "... don't forget ... we are Fairy Tail. So many enemies have tried to destroy us, and each time it is our unity and our strength that has enabled us to triumph ... they will succeed, just as we will manage to come back to our world."

Seeing Wendy smile at her like that, Carla could only do it too.

_ "You and your eternal optimism ... thank you ..." Carla said sincerely.

But suddenly the discussion was interrupted by the automatic opening of the cell door. The two guards on duty outside the door, in their military uniforms and weapons in hand, entered, their faces hidden under their helmets. Immediately, Wendy lost her smile and became shy again, pulling back a bit on the bed. Carla, she resumed her authoritative face and stood in front of the guards.

_ "What do you want? Stay away." Carla warned them threateningly.

_ "You must follow us. Agent Coulson wants to see you." replied one of the two guards, with some authority but without threat in his voice. Carla was tempted to tell her to go and show off, but she felt Wendy's hand rest on her shoulder. The latter made him understand by her gaze that it was better not to look for trouble, especially in an unknown world.

Wendy agreed to obey and walked out of the room with Carla, the two guards following closely behind and keeping them in sight constantly.

Their clothes having been damaged during the battle against Tartaros, Wendy and Carla had received new clothes from SHIELD. Wendy was now dressed in a black t-shirt and a red leather jacket, as well as a navy skirt, black tights and black boots. Carla wore a scarlet and yellow tunic, as well as a black skirt.

The two women from EarthLand, escorted by SHIELD guards, walked for long minutes through several hallways of what appeared to be a military base. On their way, they saw several other people, some in soldiers' clothes, others with white scientific jackets. All those curious looks towards them made Wendy uncomfortable and she did everything not to look at them.

Finally, they arrived in a large spherical room, where there were dozens of SHIELD members, all dressed the same and working on screens showing various things looking really technical and complicated. Some of the agents wore communicators and addressed directions to others, under the supervision of other agents appearing to be their superiors.

A little out of the way, was Agent Coulson, still dressed in his black suit and tie, and was busy on the phone.

_ "Agent Coulson, here are the two strangers, as you requested." one of the guards announced. Coulson nodded to them and told them to leave, which they did. The guards left and Wendy and Carla stood there, puzzled, seeing that Coulson hadn't looked away and seemed very focused on his phone conversation.

_ "We need you to come in ... this takes precedence." Coulson said on the phone. Wendy and Carla watched, wondering who he was talking to and not daring to interrupt.

_ "Natasha ... Barton's been compromised." Coulson announced in a dark voice. Natasha? Who was it? Wendy and Carla wondered. They then saw Agent Coulson wait without saying anything else, the phone still on his ear. However, over the phone, quiet sounds of fighting seemed to be heard.

_ "Well, are you going to tell us what you want from us, yes or no?" Carla asked at the end of her patience. Wendy feared the worst, but Agent Coulson was not really offended, still very calm and pointed to Director Nick Fury who was coming out of a room and coming towards them. The man looked a little disappointed and breathed softly, massaging his temple.

_ "Director Nick Fury will explain the situation to you ..." Coulson told them as he walked away a bit, resuming his conversation with this woman, Natasha, and starting to talk about someone else, the name of Tony Stark ...

_ "Uh ... are you okay?" Wendy asked as Fury stood in front of her.

_ "It's nothing ..." he replied "... let's say that being at the head of operations is not easy, especially when you have superiors who are less competent than wouldn't have believed it. "

_ "It's not much different from our world, you know ..." Carla commented openly, arms crossed, referring to the Council of Magic.

_ "Carla, stop, this is not the time!" Wendy told him, annoyed.

_ "Anyway, back to our main concern ..." Fury told them, ending their discussion. "This man, or should I say, this madman, Loki, poses far too serious a threat for our organization to face on its own ... especially if he has the Tesseract in his possession ... that's all our planet which is now in danger ... then, there is also the subject of your arrival to both ..."

Wendy and Carla got a little suspicious towards the end of the sentence, especially seeing him looking at them like that.

_ "And ... what are you going to do with us? ... You think we are accomplices with this Loki, right?" asked the young dragonslayer, who began to take a step back.

_ "No ..." Fury stated calmly, his arms crossed. "From what I saw, he doesn't know you and vice versa. Besides, I know how to recognize liars when I see them ... To tell the truth, your unexpected coming could well be a providence. I could see what you are capable of, young girl ... your powers could well serve the project that I am about to resurrect ... "

Wendy and Carla raised an eyebrow, puzzled, but still remained suspicious.

_"Which project?" Carla asked.

_ "A project to bring together a team of people with exceptional gifts, who all together would be able to fight in battles we could not win alone ... this project was abandoned in the past, but today I fear that 'he is not our only hope ... the World Security Council told me that you don't win a war with feelings or hope ... and you know what I said to them? ... That we will win this war with soldiers."

_____________

A few hours later, Wendy and Carla found themselves sitting side by side in the backseat of a large black car with tinted windows. Fury sat with them, silent and contemplative. From their seats, the two women of Earthland could then contemplate, in amazement, the streets of this city with immense and illuminated glass towers, the largest of which seemed to almost touch the sky. Hundreds of cars were driving this early evening, as thousands of people were walking the sidewalks and crossing the streets, most having finished their working day and eager to return home.

_ "It's amazing ..." Wendy sighed, her eyes shining with fascination.

_ "New York ... the city that never sleeps ... that's what it's called." Fury told him, looking up from his cell phone.

The SHIELD director then instructed the driver to lead the vehicle into a side street, which led to the backyard of a small building, apparently a combat sports training hall.

Once the car was parked in the small, deserted backyard, and after making sure he was out of sight, Fury opened the door, and invited Wendy and Carla to follow him into the room. Warmly covered with their coats lent by SHIELD, Wendy and Carla followed without saying a word, while the driver and guard who escorted them stayed outside to watch the vehicle and the surroundings.

Although the metal back door was marked with a small sign indicating no entry, that didn't stop Fury who smirked, managed to release the lock without pressure, and pushed the door open with a metallic squeak. Rather admiring, Wendy entered in turn, followed by Carla, much more closed emotionally.

After a few corridors in this building that looked deserted, the trio finally arrived in the main training room, where was a boxing ring and other accessories for the fights. But it wasn't the equipment that was worth it. Wendy and Carla, standing behind Fury, took a curious look.

Towards the center of the room stood a man, alone, busy hitting a punching bag. He had a square face, short blond-brown hair, a hard look and a soul scarred by combat, it felt. He had substantial musculature, and was dressed in a simple white t-shirt, beige pants, and bandages wrapped around his hands. As the seconds passed, his strokes grew faster and more powerful, and his face grew darker ... it was as if he was reliving vivid memories, impossible to erase ... Wendy felt it clearly but did not dared not speak ... finally, after a final punch, the punching bag was thrown several meters further, torn and its sand spilling on the ground.

What strength, Wendy thought, still looking at him without a word. She didn't feel any magic in him though... no, he was only using his own physical strength... truly amazing.

Breathing hard and his face sweaty, the strong man went to pick up another punching bag on the side, hanging it in the same spot as the previous one, and visibly preparing to resume training. It was then that Fury decided to move on.

_ "Trouble sleeping?" he asked breaking the silence and attracting the attention of the strong man who ceased his activity and turned to him, looking a little, but not so much, surprised to see him here.

_ "I slept for 70 years, sir ..." replied the strong man, giving the bag a few more blows "... I think I've had my fill."

70 years! Wendy and Carla shared the same astonished look. Both had remained at the entrance of the room and had not been noticed for the moment.

_ "And you should be out, celebrating ... seeing the world." Fury added, coming closer to him. The strong man once again stopped hitting and catching his breath, decided he had had enough and started undoing the bands around his hands and walked over to his gym bag.

_ "I went under, the world was at war. I wake up, they say we won ... he didn't say what we lost." he said in a rather gloomy voice.

_ "We've made some mistakes along the way. Some very recently." Fury explained, as if to justify himself, and holding in his hands a file that the other man noticed as he put his things away.

_ "You here with a mission, sir?"

_"I am."

_ "Trying to get me back in the world?"

_ "Trying to save it." Fury said closing the conversation, opening the file and handing it to the man, who immediately looked on with a rather wary look. One photo in particular seemed to bring him back to those dark memories. A photo of the Tesseract.

_ "Hydra's secret weapon ..." he whispered in a dark voice, as if he saw in front of him his worst enemy.

_ "Howard Stark fished that out of the ocean when he was looking for you ..." Fury explained to him "he thought what we think. The Tesseract could be the key to unlimited sustainable energy. That's something the world sorely needs."

The strong man looked at the file, closing it and giving it back to Fury.

_ "Who took it from you?" he asked.

_ "He's called Loki, and ... he's not from around here." Fury replied, taking the file back in his hand. "There's a lot we'll have to bring you up to speed on if you're in ... the world has gotten even stranger than you already know."

_ "At this point, I doubt anything would surprise me ..." replied the strong man, not really convinced and getting up to take his things.

_ "10 bucks says you're wrong ..." Fury retorted taking the bet, and then turning, his gaze to the entrance of the room and motioned. The strong man saw him do it and intrigued, turned his attention. He then saw something he never thought he would see in his life.

A young teenage girl, with blue hair dressed in long quilts, accompanied by a small female white humanoid cat, also dressed.

_ "Ladies, this is Captain Steve Rogers, one of the greatest heroes in our world." Fury said addressing them.

Wendy stepped forward first. A little intimidated, her hands behind her back and her cheeks flushed, she bowed a little and wanted to be friendly.

_ "Nice to meet you. My name is Wendy Marvell. And this is my friend, Carla."

Carla remained a little distant and cold, but to be polite, nodded with a simple nod. S

_ "Um ... delighted too ..." Steve replied, a little bewildered, and seeing Fury's gaze that seemed to scream at him without a word "I told you so."

_ "Fury, what's the matter with you? SHIELD is starting to recruit kids and cats now?" Steve asked, trying to understand. Carla was annoyed that she was compared to a simple cat, but Wendy motioned for her to stay calm.

_ "Like I told you, Cap. The world has gotten a lot stranger ..." Fury said. "Wendy and Carla are in the same situation as Loki ... they're from another world, but that's the only thing they have in common. Without them both, I wouldn't be alive right now... this girl has powers that could be described as exceptional ... "

The director of SHIELD invited the wary Steve Rogers to take a few steps back, and with a gaze, allowed Wendy to give a not too brutal demonstration of her magic. Wendy agreed and Carla pulled back a bit too. In order to give a glimpse without causing too much damage, Wendy decided to focus her attack on the still hanging punching bag. Closing her eyes, she inhaled, concentrating her magic and gradually surrounding herself in a halo of stronger and stronger wind, causing her hair to float.

Seeing this phenomenon, Steve already seemed more perplexed and observed better.

Then suddenly Wendy opened her eyes, firm and determined to cast the spell.

_ "SKY DRAGON ROAR!" the young woman yelled forcefully. A powerful, swirling torrent of air was spit out of his mouth, gently shaking the room, and under Steve Rogers' stunned eyes, hit the bag full force, which was literally cut in half and thrown against the wall with great violence, so much so that it broke into several pieces.

_ "But ... how is that ..." Steve asked.

_ "Another world, captain ... another world ..." Fury replied simply, patting him on the shoulder.

_ "That's enough ..." Carla interjected "... Wendy's power is not a distraction. The magic of a dragonslayer should never be taken lightly."

Dragonslayer? This whimsical word remained in the captain's ears, who then advanced towards Wendy. The young woman, still so shy, looked at him with an embarrassed smile.

_ "I ... excuse me for the bag, I ..."

_ "It's nothing ..." Steve replied with sincere admiration "... you have a truly remarkable gift, but obviously very dangerous ... listen, I don't know where you come from and why you are here, but you need to know that what might happen because of the Tesseract could be more than dangerous ... Wendy, you are very young, I am not sure it is wise to run you like this risks. "

_ "Thank you for your solicitude, Mr. Rogers ..." Wendy replied, not offended and smiling, coming to take his hand in his. "But you don't have to worry about me. I am a Dragonslayer, and a member of the most powerful mage guild in my world. With them I was able to strengthen myself and take part in many battles. Confrontation does not scare me, not when I have to fight for what is close to my heart ... and if this cube, this Tesseract, is what will allow, Carla and me, to return to our world, then I am willing to help you get it back and defeat this Loki ... for that is the way and belief of a Fairy Tail mage."

Steve Rogers had listened intently. Although he had no idea who this Fairy Tail guild was, he could see in the young woman's determined gaze that she was very attached to them. Her voice also clearly indicated his desire to see them again, and to fight if necessary to be able to find her world. Such strength for such a young age ... Steve admired it and smiled softly ... he almost recognized himself in her, when he was small and thin, but possessed by an unparalleled determination that had allowed him to achieve that strength that characterized him today ... further back, Fury had watched, arms crossed, and gave a brief wedge of a satisfied smile.

Carla, as usual, remained unmoved, but had to admit having the same determination as Wendy to see their world again.

Steve then extended his hand to the young dragonslayer.

_ "In that case, it will be an honor for me to fight alongside you, Wendy Marvell." he said with a smile. Touched, the young woman squeezed his hand, officially joining the war against Loki, and also this famous team project.