The Avengers of Arda
I don't own The Lord of the Rings or the Avengers. They belong to John R.R. Tolkien and Marvel Comics respectively.
Chapter I: Lost in the Aether
"These Avengers may yet prove troublesome." Thanos' bass rumble was contemplative as he considered the issue before him. The Avengers, in and of themselves, were no real threat to his power. Even the likes of Thor and the Hulk paled before his power. Still, Thanos had not survived for so many centuries by underestimating his foes. Each of the Avengers, particularly Captain America and Iron Man, had the capacity to draw yet more superhumans to their banner. And the fact was that a sufficiently powerful team could actually be a threat to him. They weren't there yet… but it was within them to do so.
"Perhaps we should simply kill them, Master? Surely that will end the threat?" Corvus Glaive, known to some as the Other, spoke with a chilling rasp that made many lesser men quail. Thanos was not a lesser man.
Thanos considered the idea briefly. He certainly was not afraid to bloody his hands or the hands of his various disciples. "No, Corvus, that will not do. To kill the Avengers would rally all the rest of their people against me. No. Better to introduce confusion in their ranks. I believe that the best road forward is in banishment from this reality."
Gamora's smooth voice penetrated the lingering silence. "Will not the Asgardians react to the loss of their favoured son?"
Thanos leveled an approving smile in his daughter's direction. "Very good, Gamora. Yes, they will. Which is why Thor will not be sent with them. Better to have scrambling about attempting to save his precious team."
"But will not the Asgardians assist him in finding his lost team. Depending upon where you send them, they will be easy enough for Asgard to reach with the Bifrost repaired." Nebula opined.
"The Bifrost is not an issue. The reality I have in mind is beyond the nine realms, which places it out of the reach of the Bifrost." Thanos silenced Nebula's reply with a raised hand. "As for Odin, he will not lift a single dainty finger to help any mere mortal, even ones his son calls friends. He would sooner risk his life to save his horse then lift a single finger for a mortal."
Corvus Glaive licked his lips nervously as he worked up the courage to bring the uncomfortable subject. "My master, your power truly is boundless, but is it sufficient to fling these pitiful beings to a realm that even the Bifrost cannot reach?"
The remainder of Thanos' court froze at that question. To question Thanos' power so blatantly was incredibly risky. Thanos rewarded the Other's audacity with a throaty chuckle. "Yes, Glaive. Such a task is beyond even me. But have you noted the time?"
"The Convergence of the Nine Realms…"
Thanos offered another proud grin to Gamora. "Precisely. With the Convergence occurring, the Aether is available once more. We simply have to get to it before that troublesome fool Malekith does."
"It would be an honour, Father."
"I'm sure that it would be, Gamora, but you will not be accomplishing this mission. This is a mission that needs to be done in stealth. Your appearance is much too exotic to be missed on Earth. The same is true of you, Nebula…" the Titan whispered, offering a subtle head-shake to his other daughter. "No, for this I would send you, Maximus."
The human-looking servant stood tall and proud when he heard his name being spoken. "It is my honour to serve you, Lord Thanos. Perhaps, when it is done, I might remain on Earth and see to my brother?" More then one of Thanos' court shuddered at the hatred that the man inflected into his brother's title.
Thanos stared at the man for a long moment. "The Aether first, Maximus. Then, if I am pleased, I will consider your request. Your presence on Earth might prove to be a convenient distraction, in addition to the loss of the Avengers."
"Your graciousness is truly limitless, my Lord."
Maximus sneered at the human children that were gathered about the Aether's hiding place. Oh how he longed to simply strike them down and have done with. But no, that would not do. Thanos had ordered a mission of stealth. He was here on business… pleasure could come later.
Maximus slipped past the children without too much trouble, his mind powers easily clouding their microscopic little minds. And then he was into the hidden pocket between realities where the Aether had been hidden. Bor had thought himself so clever. Really the Asgardians should be thanking Thanos for sparing them the horror of what the dark elves would have done to them if they had gotten the Aether first.
A gesture from Maximus saw the Aether emerge from its prison and converge into the top of Maximus' scepter. He glanced at the blood-red gem with covetous love and briefly considered attempting to keep it for himself. He quickly put the notion aside. Thanos was not one to be trifled with. "And now, my sweet Aether, we must away to our master. He has use for you…"
Thanos held his new scepter aloft, smirking faintly at the sight of it. It was truly magnificent. The loss of the mind gem scepter still rankled something awful. He was still working on isolating where it had been hidden after that patsy Loki had bungled the invasion. Still, the reality gem scepter was a lovely bit of compensation. He was actually on Earth, at the moment, though heavily cloaked by magic to avoid Heimdall and any other meddling watchers.
Thanos slammed the scepter's handle into the ground and focused his concentration on the task at hand, trusting Maximus to keep unfriendly eyes looking elsewhere. The first he located was the one called Hawkeye. The mortal had been under his influence through the mind gem. That was one. In quick succession he located the Black Widow, Captain America, Iron Man and the Hulk. He considered simply sending them on, but no, that was not confounding enough.
Thanos focused his will and picked out five random individuals from the target reality that he would send the Avengers to. Five lives for five… that would make the magic easier because the exchange was equivalent. It also had the benefit of sowing the most confusion.
Steve Rogers was driving down a street on his motorbike, exploring his new modern world. A red haze flashed before him and suddenly an elf was sitting astride the motorbike that Rogers had been riding. Having never driven a motorbike before, it is perhaps understandable that the elf's end was swift and messy, smashing headlong into an oncoming truck. So ended the life of Thindrulas of the Woodland Realm.
Natasha Romanoff was sitting opposite Nick Fury, the Director of SHIELD, discussing the possibility of recruiting Captain Rogers into STRIKE. A red haze again descended and the woman was replaced by a blond man in armor, bleeding from numerous wounds. Fury paused, torn between shock at the man's appearance and outrage at his trust spy's disappearance. Finally reason won the day and Nick called for medical to treat the man. After all, dead men told no tales…
Clint Barton was asleep in his bed, his wife beside him, when the red haze descended. Laura Barton's outrage at the strange little man in her bed was a sight to behold. Gimli's sputtering apologies, in every language he knew, did little to ease her temper.
Tony Stark and Bruce Banner were discussing the incident with the so-called Mandarin when the red haze descended upon them too. And so, in the sitting room of Stark Tower, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and Khamûl, of the Ringwraiths, appeared across from one another. It was mere seconds before both reached for their swords.
Oops…
Hope you'll all enjoy.
Jasper
