Sera guided Spider-Man and his team into the grand hall of her palace, its celestial glow casting dancing reflections on the polished obsidian floor. The throne room was alive with a quiet buzz of activity, servants flitting in and out while Gojo and Zeuls stood near the White King, who was deep in conversation with one of the HiveWing envoys.

The White King bristled at the sight of the humans, his tail curling in displeasure. "Human reality invades our own," he muttered under his breath.

Sera, unbothered, flicked her tail dismissively as she ascended the steps to her throne. Settling herself with regal poise, she fixed her gaze on Spider-Man and his team. "Now speak," she commanded, her voice calm but firm.

Iron Fist stepped forward, bowing slightly in respect. "Great Dragoness, we mean you no harm. We found ourselves here accidentally while investigating an anomaly—"

Spider-Man interrupted, his lighthearted tone cutting through the formalities. "Basically, we thought it'd be fun to see where the portal led, and here we are!" He shrugged with a nervous chuckle.

Sera tilted her head, her talons tapping against the armrest of her throne. "I see. Humans meddling with dimensions... how unsurprising," she said, her tone laced with dry amusement. "Though I will say, you're the first I've seen here—other than the Avengers."

At the mention of the Avengers, Spider-Man perked up, his mask barely concealing his excitement. "Wait, the Avengers? They're here? We've been trying to track them down back on Earth!"

Sera nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, they've established a base near our southern beaches. If you wish, I can arrange for you to visit them tomorrow."

Spider-Man turned to his teammates, who nodded in agreement. "We'd appreciate that, Your Majesty," Iron Fist said, his tone grateful.

Zeuls, who had been silent until now, sighed and crossed his arms. "Why are we entertaining another group of roaming humans?" he said coolly, his tone biting as he adjusted his cloak.

Sera's gaze sharpened, her tail flicking with irritation. "Zeuls, do not speak of our guests that way. They mean no harm, and they are under my protection while they are here."

The HiveWing guard didn't respond, merely turning his head away with a low grumble.

Gojo, who had been leaning casually against a pillar, finally stirred. Rising to his full height, he loomed over the humans, his piercing eyes studying them intently. He sniffed the air, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "They smell like New York's filth," he muttered, his crystallized tail lashing behind him.

"Well, it's not my business," he added, stepping closer to Sera and nuzzling her affectionately beneath her chin. "Just be careful, love."

Sera hummed, her expression softening briefly before returning to a regal calm. She watched as Gojo wandered off, his imposing form disappearing into the shadows of the palace.

Turning her attention back to Spider-Man and his team, she said, "You'll rest here tonight. Tomorrow, we'll see to your reunion with the Avengers. Until then, try not to disrupt the peace of my kingdom any further."

Spider-Man raised his hands in mock surrender. "No promises, but we'll try our best!"

The faintest smile tugged at Sera's lips. "See that you do."

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As the first light of dawn painted the horizon in hues of gold and lavender, Sera stirred from her slumber, her cloud-like bed softly cradling her as she rose. Stretching her wings, she let out a contented sigh—only to freeze in shock when her eyes met the masked face of Spider-Man, mere inches away.

"Whoa!" she yelped, her talons skidding on the smooth stone floor as she stumbled back toward the edge of her chamber. Her wings flared instinctively, balancing her as she glared at the intruder.

Spider-Man, realizing his mistake, performed a quick somersault and landed gracefully on the floor. He raised his hands in a gesture of peace, his voice hurriedly apologetic. "I'm so sorry! Didn't mean to scare you—I just, uh, got curious and..." He trailed off, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

Sera exhaled sharply, a plume of smoke escaping her nostrils as she regained her composure. Standing to her full height, she loomed over the human, her golden eyes narrowing. Despite her initial irritation, her tone remained measured. "It's alright," she said, her voice carrying the weight of authority. "But please, leave now. I need to prepare for the day."

She turned, the faint glow of her scales catching the morning light as she gestured toward the oak door with a sweep of her tail. "We'll leave for the southern beaches this afternoon. Until then, I have matters to attend to. Go and explore my kingdom—but stay out of trouble," she added, a hint of a warning in her voice.

Spider-Man nodded, adjusting his mask as he backed toward the door. "Got it. No more sneaking into the queen's chambers," he quipped, his tone light despite the lingering awkwardness. With a quick wave, he slipped out, leaving Sera alone in her chambers.

She let out a sigh, shaking her head as she turned back to her mirror. Humans, she thought, were far more unpredictable than she had anticipated. Brushing aside the encounter, she refocused on the tasks ahead. Her kingdom awaited, and a queen's duties were never done.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

Sera soared through the sky, her wings cutting through the air with graceful power. The morning sunlight shimmered off her scales, creating a spectacle as Spider-Man and his team clung to her back. The wind whipped through their hair, and at first, they were tense, unsure of how they'd manage to stay on this massive dragon's back. But soon enough, they found their footing, each of them settling along her spikes for balance.

"You never told me your back would be this slippery!" Spider-Man shouted, his voice carrying over the wind. He shifted, trying to find a secure grip on a spike that looked like polished obsidian, but it wasn't easy. Power Man steadied him with a firm hand against the spike, glancing nervously at the sky.

Sera, her voice light with amusement, glanced back at them over her shoulder, her golden eyes twinkling. "Didn't think I'd have to carry you the whole way," she teased, a puff of smoke escaping from her nostrils.

Spider-Man waved his hand, coughing slightly as the smoke swirled around him. "Well, it's a good thing we didn't decide to leave our jets behind," he quipped, trying to keep his balance.

Sera let out a hearty laugh, the sound ringing through the sky as she spread her wings wide. With a powerful beat, she banked, changing course toward the beaches.

The team let out a collective shout as she suddenly twisted through the air, performing an acrobatic spiral that left everyone holding on for dear life. A few of them, caught off guard, nearly slipped off her back, but Nova was quick to grab them, his body glowing with cosmic energy. "You can't barrel roll on us!" Nova exclaimed, his voice a mix of disbelief and amusement. He pulled White Tiger and Spider-Man back onto the dragon's back, steadying them with his powers.

Sera chuckled, the sound rich and rumbling, and then spread her wings wide once again, slowing her descent into a more graceful glide. "You'll get used to it," she said with a playful grin.

As they neared the southern beaches, the team could see a familiar figure standing by a beach hut—Tony Stark, accompanied by Captain America and Black Widow. The moment they saw the group approaching, Tony's face broke into a wide grin. Captain America smiled warmly, and Black Widow offered a small, knowing nod.

Sera gently touched down, her massive wings folding neatly against her sides as she landed with surprising delicacy for such a large creature. The team dismounted carefully, with Spider-Man making a dramatic leap off her back. He landed with a flourish, giving a mock bow.

"Well, that was quite the ride," he said with a grin, brushing off the remnants of dust from his suit.

Tony approached, clapping Spider-Man on the back. "Glad to see you survived the dragon ride," he said with a smirk. "You know, we were worried you'd fall off and become a permanent part of her collection."

Captain America's gaze shifted to Sera with respect. "It's good to see you again, Your Majesty," he said, his tone sincere.

Sera gave a gracious nod, her wings folding slightly as she straightened. "It's a pleasure to have you all here. Welcome to my kingdom," she said, her voice warm.

The team exchanged looks, the tension from their earlier journey fading away. For the first time since stepping into this world, they felt like they might just be in the right place.

Sera stretched her wings again, the muscles rippling beneath her shimmering scales as she prepared to take flight. The sun reflected off her wings like molten gold, and she stood tall for a moment, the air around her humming with the power she possessed.

"Well," she said, her voice warm yet tinged with the weight of responsibility, "I better get back to the palace. Duty calls." She turned toward Captain America, offering a respectful salute. "See you all soon."

The Avengers and Spider-Man's team stood together, returning the salute with a mixture of admiration and camaraderie. Tony gave a half-hearted wave, his eyes still glinting with curiosity about their next steps in this strange new world. Captain America nodded, his expression stoic but understanding, while Black Widow gave a small, approving smile.

As Sera pushed off from the ground with a mighty flap of her wings, the air swirled around her, sending a gust that ruffled the heroes' hair. She soared higher, the power and grace of her movements awe-inspiring as she ascended into the sky, her form quickly becoming a dark silhouette against the brightening horizon.

Spider-Man looked up at her with a grin. "Man, that dragon can really fly," he muttered, turning to Tony. "So, when do we get one of those?"

Tony chuckled, adjusting his suit. "Let's focus on not falling into any more portals for now, Spidey."

With a final glance toward the team on the beach, Sera vanished into the sky, her wings carrying her swiftly toward the palace. The wind carried the faintest trace of smoke, a reminder of her power, as she left the group to their own plans for the day.

It was clear now: no matter how strange or dangerous this new world was, they were in for an adventure like no other.