OLD MAN SHINZOU
Chapter 1 – …And Evil Inherited The Earth
No one knows what happened on the night the heroes fell. All we know is that they disappeared and evil triumphed and the bad guys have been calling the shots ever since. What happened to Iron Man is the biggest mystery of them all. Some say that stepping into the armor hurts him. Others say he just grew tired of all the fighting and retired to a simpler life. Either way he hasn't raised his voice or wielded his armor in twenty years. His old friends would barely recognize him now.
Ku Wong, Kingdom of Doom
Too many years have passed…twenty years right? Feels like ninety, ever since that miserable day I've lost count anyways. I've been wandering through the dunes, forests and urban jungles looking for peace, none to be found. Luckily for me, Vifung Vun Doom, tyrant ruler of the former Earth Kingdom isn't a raving lunatic like the Kingpin in what once was Republic City. He allowed me residence as long as I stayed out of his way…like I'm going to put some kind of resistance.
I've fallen into the bottle's control; the only thing keeping my body alive is the device in my chest. Heck, I've forgotten its name…and how to create more. My days as Iron Man are far behind me…or are they?
The greying hairs in my head, and the lines on my forehead would say otherwise. Living in this spirit forsaken land, paying Doom's taxpayers with money I barely get from working in the fields. I hear that my old friend, Wolverine, has it worse down south, in the Hulk Domain. Can't be any worse than up here, then again…
But this night would be different than the others…in this night I would be useful once more.
That Night….
The sleeping Kuro Shinzou, the former iron avenger, the Invincible Iron Man, slept almost calmly. The dark room in which he slept in had only one light…moonlight. He tossed and turned, not finding solace in sleep, for he was being contacted within his dreams.
"Shinzou…" A voice said.
"W-what?" Kuro asked around the dark and void space. The only thing around was just the blackness of his own mind. "Who are you?!"
"The world needs the Avengers…it needs its heroes back." The voice said.
"The Avengers are no more…I am no more than a lonely alcoholic." Kuro responded.
"The hammer…the raw power within…the heroes…the Avatar. You must find them." The voice said.
"But…but Thor has been long dead…and Korra…I don't know." Kuro said with sorrow in his voice.
"But Kuro…gods don't die." The voice said, and with that a white light appeared and Kuro woke again. His face full of sweat…
"Gods don't die…" Kuro repeated.
The Next Day…
Shinzou didn't know why, but he had to follow the voice's commands. Whether they were part of his alcoholic illusion or not, he had to do something…to undo his past sin. And so he embarked on his journey away from his poor home in Ku Wong and into the destroyed areas of the United Republic.
Road To Hammer Falls, Kingpin's Sovereign Land
Traveling throughout the ruined buildings of the now forgotten cities within the old United Republic was hard for the old avenger. The concrete blocks scattered through the streets and the skeletons of destroyed satomobiles only added to the experience.
Shinzou held onto his baggie, he carried extra clothes, and the single piece of his old armor that carried the right gauntlet. His face was full of dirt; it stuck to his skin and onto his beard. He thought of the things he had done across the years…the coming of Galactus, the formation of the Avengers, Surtur…and that dammed registration act. Most of them his doing…then he found someone across the hills of concrete and steel.
"Who goes there, who travels across this derelict place?" The man asked.
"That depends on who asks." Kuro replied.
The man came down from the rubble…Kuro couldn't see him correctly since the rays of the sun were blocked by dark clouds…they had been formed on top of Hammer Falls. "You old tin can, long since I've seen ya."The man said.
"I'll be dammed…" Kuro said once he saw who it was. It was none other than former hero Prodigy. It looked that he too, was looking for a purpose. "What are you doing here?"
"I travel around the world, looking for one single spark of hope and it seems that I've finally found one." Prodigy said.
"What happened to your suit?" Kuro asked.
"I could ask you the same thing, but that would just spark old wounds. We haven't seen you and Wolverine in years…some of us died in the wait." Prodigy answered.
"It's just the pain…from that day." Kuro said.
"You still remember?" Prodigy asked.
"Like it was still yesterday." Kuro responded as they walked together.
…Flashback
The day was like one any other, the sun shined and the birds singed. The people went on their daily business and the heroes patrolled. The Mighty Thor and Avatar Korra patrolled the city along with the Invincible Iron Man.
They had already finished with their patrol and were returning to the mansion. Once they entered they were welcomed with a worried Hang who told them that they just got reports of something terrible.
"I am serious, something's up." Hang said as they all followed him towards 'The Basement'.
"But we were just out, nothing happened." Korra said.
"I don't know but…" Hang said but was interrupted as several radios began to flicker on. They exploded, and the screen turned on, showing the visage of Dr. Doom.
"Doom." Iron Man said with disgust.
"Evening heroes, I see that all goes well?" Doom asked.
"What is it Doom?" Hang asked the metal monarch.
"Oh nothing, I am just here to inform all of you…yes all of you, the Avengers, the Fantastik Four, the X-Men and several other teams, are now to be informed by me, Vifung Vun Doom that the Masters of Evil are to attack now." Doom said.
"But thou work with the Masters of Evil." Thor said. "Revealing thy plans is not a good thing to do for thee and thy partners."
"It doesn't matter because I know that you all will fail." Doom said, and then his face vanished and the picture of the city came up. Burning and people screaming, several X-Men already deployed in the area.
"What the!?" Iron Man exclaimed.
"This isn't good…look." Korra said as she pointed towards the screen.
It showed how Wolverine was being poisoned by the super-villain known as Mysterio and attacked the other X-Men.
Hang turned the screen off…the gruesome act was not to be watched.
"Did he…" Thor said.
"Avengers Assemble!" The Captain said as several Avengers were heard running to the streets. The four heroes ran outside to watch the peaceful streets of the city be turned into an all-out warzone. Thor quickly swung his hammer high and took to the air, while the others followed the Captain into battle.
Not only was it the Masters of Evil attacking but several Asgardian beasts, and the several other super-villains. Spider-Man swung through buildings along with Daredevil, avoiding the attacks of the man-machine known as M.O.D.O.K. The Punisher came out blasting gunfire through the streets, bringing down several thugs and henchmen.
Loki, God of Fire, became a gigantic giant, his true form and began fighting the Giant-Man. Thor fought waves and waves of several Doom-bots and the other reserve Avengers were caught off-guard by the power of the incoming Juggernaut.
Korra and Hercules stood their ground as the Hades, and Blackheart attacked them with their hellish monsters.
Iron Man and the Captain worked together to avoid the attacks of the machines and men alike, that was until the Goblin and Hobgoblin came gliding down and struck Iron Man away from his comrade. Iron Man landed far away from The Captain, and went through several buildings.
The Captain was then surrounded by a mob of thugs and super-cretins; the Man out of time was able to hold them off until someone broke through the men. It was Baron Zemo, he had his sword with him and struck the Captain on the back. The blade went through the Captain's armor, bringing down to his knees.
Giant-Man was struck in the head with a boulder delivered by Loki, cracking his skull and killing the giant avenger. The Hulk was driven away and away by the Juggernaut, so far as to outside of the city.
Then, Doom launched experimental bombs at the area, created with gamma radiation. The blast destroyed the around, incinerating both men-beasts. But the Hulk stood, up and so did the Juggernaut. The Hulk, even madder and stronger than before grabbed the mighty Juggernaut by his legs and swung him away. The Hulk screamed in anger as he began to bulge up…
Doom came down to the city; he grabbed Nova by the throat.
"You'll…never win…" A bloody Nova said.
"I already have." Doom said as he cracked Mako's neck and threw him away. He walked towards the incoming carnage...several bodies littered the battlefield. And the one's standing fought off the villains.
Daredevil was shot in the chest by the Hood, who was then smashed by the Thing. Ultron, defending the mansion, made it blow up when several gamma monsters entered to steal the technology. Iron Man stood back onto his feet; he flew towards the incoming barrage of daggers thrown by Bullseye. Iron Man easily took him out and focused his attention to the other Avengers, they needed help.
Then as he flew he heard thunder and down it came…the hammer. Mjolnir struck the concrete ground, making a mini earthquake and shaking the entire world. Iron Man couldn't believe what he just saw…then the Shinzou Towers, the biggest building of the city was brought down.
Iron Man glided down towards the hammer, and there he saw an already dead Wrecking Crew, all hammered to death. But he couldn't see the Son of Odin's body anywhere…nowhere to be seen. He then ran towards the mob, using his firebending to blast of the bad guys away.
Spider-Man swung to help Iron Man but was attacked by the vicious Goblin, and was brought down to several alleys. Spider-Woman went to help the wall-crawler…but then an explosion was heard across the battle. It was the Zuko Building; the place was blown up by the Doom-bots.
Iron Man, with almost all of his hopes vanished, went to look for Korra, he couldn't let her die at all. He flew and blasted his way to find a lone Hercules on the ground. In his hand was the famous golden mace of Olympus…bathed in blood. Next to him was a dead god…Hades had been struck down along with Blackheart…but then stomping was heard.
"Mortals! War is here!" Ares, the God of War, came and began to kill both villains and heroes alike. He was promised territory and a good life by Doom if he cleaned up the battlefield. Iron Man tried to carry Hercules up, but soon found himself surrounded by several War Mongers, minions of Ares.
But they were all blasted away with air…The Avatar came down to help them.
"Get out of here!" Korra yelled, her face soaked in sweat and blood. Her water tribe clothe ripped and bloodied.
"But..!" Iron Man tried to say.
"GET OUT!" Korra screamed as she was grabbed by the pony-tail by Ares.
"War trophies!" Ares yelled as he smiled wickedly behind his warrior helmet.
"GO!" Korra screamed again to them, she could barely move as she was lifted up in the air by Ares and was completely surrounded.
Iron Man couldn't do anything…he had to take Hercules to somewhere safe. And so he did...but in mid-flight, he was stopped by Magneto, Lord of Magnetism.
"Where do you think you're going, Shinzou?" Magneto asked.
"Magneto! Get out of my way!" Iron Man yelled.
"You are Iron Man…I could easily squash you like a bug…but I won't." Magneto said.
"Why?" Iron Man asked.
"This war is not my doing…Doom has made himself ruler of the earth now that he has taken down the council and plans to repeat the attack in the other capitals of the world." Magneto said. "I do not wish to share this world with someone as he…he kills my kin to gain power. I will let you go Iron Man, for I admire my enemies."
Magneto allowed Iron Man and Hercules to flee the battle, they couldn't do anything anymore. Iron Man looked back…the smoke clouded the sun. Then he saw from the distance the waves coming up…it was probably the Sub-Mariner…but he wouldn't stand a chance against the combined forces of the villains.
Iron Man's armor began to fail and they both landed into the mountains. Hercules regained consciousness, and rubbed his head. He looked around…
"We've failed.' Iron Man said. Hercules looked at him as he stood up…"The world is theirs now."
Hercules looked at the city beyond…explosions could be heard from there. Hercules looked at the snow in the ground…and fell to his knees. "Zeus in the sky have mercy…" Hercules said.
"I think that the gods have abandoned us, Herc…Odin and Zeus' ears have fallen deaf with Thor's death." Iron Man said. Hercules looked at him again…the end of their world had come.
…Flashback ends.
"Maybe we can do something to fix this." Kuro said as he looked at Prodigy again. "But we both can't do it alone."