Everyone who had seen what had happened were in various state of shock.

The kid who could turn into an adult, turning into dust just moments after Thanos and his army did.

"Spider-Man, create a stretcher using your webs." Doctor Strange ordered as soon as he recomposed himself.

Peter nodded as he worked on his task. He used two large slabs of rocks as foundation for the makeshift stretcher.

Once Peter was done, Pepper and Rhodey worked on loading the unconscious Stark up on the stretcher made of web fluids. They began to carry the stretcher when Doctor Strange's cape attached itself under the makeshift stretcher and carried Ironman's unconscious form.

Despite the sentient cape's delicateness, Tony Stark's wife and best friend refused to let go of him.

"King T'challa, can we use the facilities in Wakanda to treat Tony?" Professor Hulk asked for permission.

"Right this way" The Wakandan King nodded as he led the way towards the portal.


"What in the seven realms just happened?!" Valkyrie exclaimed.

"We won." Carol answered bluntly. "With a single casualty." She shrugged. "Considering the circumstances, I'd say we got off scot-free."

"That casualty was a freaking kid!" Hawkeye yelled. "I don't know who you're supposed to be lady but we don't just go willy nilly about casualties."

"Barton, stand down." Captain America ordered. "Let's let everyone process what happened." He continued.

"You don't understand cap." Clint replied. "Any good father, good parent would be understandably pissed and this lady just shrugs it off." He yelled as he gestured towards Carol.

"Danvers hasn't been with us for a very long time." Captain America came to her defense. "I don't exactly approve of her words but she just said how things were."

"It's okay Rogers." Carol stated before turning her attention at Barton. "You don't seem to understand that we were at war." She looked into the archer's eyes. "Casualties are inevitable, we should be thankful that the only casualty we have was the kid."

"I would have to disagree." Okoye interrupted the conversation as she got inside the lounge area. "Wakandan soldiers and the Sanctum's sorcerers are dying as we speak." She informed the group. "I would hope that you cease your squabbling right this moment and let the injured rest."

After saying her piece, the Wakandan general left the group to their own devices.

"Danvers is right Clint." Rogers sighed. "We were at war and casualties cannot be avoided."

"It's not about why there was a casualty cap." Clint sighed. "It's the fact that this lady, who came out of nowhere, simply shrugs off a young casualty like some molded bread."

"I think everyone has yet to process what's happened." Sam offered. "I'm still wrapping my head around the fact head that we were dead for five years." He admitted. "Then some new guy showed up with powers like Thor's and then that new guy was just a kid then when Stark ensured us our victory, that same kid just crumbled away."

"I know Sam." Captain America nodded.

"I think we shouldn't tell Stark about this." Sam told everyone in the room. "After much thinking since the Civil War." He began. "Stark was ridden with self-guilt when he urged us to sign the accords." He added. "I once heard Wanda and Vision talk about the casualties in Sokovia and how one mother blamed Tony, not the Avengers as a group just him, for the deaths in Sokovia."

"Didn't he though?" Wanda asked.

"We all share the blame Wanda." Sam answered. "People only cared to blame Tony about it." He added. "I think this casualty would finally break the camel's back."


"Mrs. Stark." Doctor Strange got out of Tony's Intensive Care Room. "I've got some good news and bad news."

"Let's hear it." Pepper nodded.

"The Good news is that with the assistance of Professor Hulk and Princess Shuri, we were able to dislodge the infinity stones from Tony Stark's hand." Doctor Strange reported. "He's also stable after a successful operation."

Pepper just nodded anticipating what the bad news could be.

"However, he'd still need some rehabilitation time to fully regain his movement." Doctor Strange continued to report. "Due to the damage his nerves had acquired when he wielded the infinity stones."

"But he's going to live right?" Rhodey asked as he stood beside his best friend's wife.

"Yes." Doctor Strange nodded.

"So doc, as I understood you're the big magic hotshot, Tony's words, in the world." Pepper started. "Can you tell us what happened?"

"Let me be frank with the both of you." Doctor Strange replied. "The victory I foresaw came with Tony Stark's demise." He admitted. "It was through Tony Stark's sacrifice that we won against Thanos and his army."

Rhodey simply engulfed Pepper with his arm and held her tightly as the both of the processed the sorcerer's revelation.

"There's only one possible explanation for what happened after the battle" The doctor continued. "The lightning based hero cast a spell and took Stark's place as the sacrifice."

Both Pepper's and Rhodey's eyes widened at the revelation.

"Thank You Doctor Strange." Pepper expressed her gratitude after she recomposed herself. "Are visitors allowed with Tony now?" She asked.

"Yes, Peter's already in there." Strange nodded.


It took a few more weeks for Tony to be able to gain consciousness and one more for him to be coherent enough to be able to communicate with his visitors.

There were questions that Tony asked as soon as he was able to communicate. One of which were about his daughter, Peter and Harley.

"Harley and Peter are both in school." Pepper answered her husband's query. "Morgan's with Happy, sleeping at the lounge." She added. "Rhodey's been summoned to the UN to represent you and the other Avengers." She continued.

After Pepper visited, the other Avengers visited him. Everyone from the other team in Civil War were inside.

"Any casualties?" Tony immediately asked them.

Everyone looked at each other at the sudden question.

"We have only one casualty." Steve decided to answer the question.

"Anyone we know?" Came Tony's next question.

"It was just one of those guys with orange rings." Sam immediately answered.

"Does the Wizard know?"

They just nodded in response.

"I see." Tony merely sighed. "Could you guys leave?" He asked. "I think I need to rest."

"Rest well Tony." Steve acknowledged as they filed out of the room one by one.

Tony wasn't able to rest well as he kept on thinking on that one unfortunate soul that was the only casualty.


A few more weeks passed and Tony was finally in rehabilitation after weeks of bed confinement.

"Whatever happened to that kid?" Tony asked during one of his rehabilitation sessions. "The adult that turned into a kid when lightning hit him." He elaborated.

"You mean to tell me they didn't tell you?" Pepper questioned.

"Unbelievable." Rhodey sighed.

"Tell me what?" Tony asked.

Rhodey and Pepper looked at each other. The both of them weren't really sure how to break this information towards Tony. They both knew of Tony's propensity to blame himself on things out of his control.

The both of them also knew how one measly lie lead to Civil War.

"Tony, we need you sitting down for this." Pepper began.

"What?" Now Tony was really confused.

For all of Tony's genius, he can't get why the information he was about to hear needed him sitting. He can hear fine while standing, thank you very much.

"What you're about to say, you can say it while I'm standing."

Rhodey immediately went by his best friend's side as he knows for sure what's going to happen when his best friend hears the information.

"That kid you were asking about." Pepper began. "He was the sole casualty during that fight against Thanos."

The expected reaction from Tony came, he stumbled down midstep as he heard the information everyone was reluctant to share. Thankfully, Rhodey was there and was able to catch Tony in time before he hit the ground.

"I-I see." Tony managed to stutter.


After regaining his mobility and finishing his rehabilitation, Tony immediately set to work on the construction of a monument to honor the only casualty in this whole mess. After his offer to resurrect the child was rebuffed by everyone, including the ex-vengers, Parker's words, and forced him to compromise.

Tony supposes he can't blame them, especially his wife, best friend, body guard and pseudo-sons. As he would do anything and everything for them, so would they if given the chance.

The design of the monument was according to how everyone remembered the emblem on the hero's chest when he first appeared: a golden lightning bolt.

No one knew who the boy was, even having an adjusted BARF to give him how the boy looked and asked anyone and everyone about him. This was the only way he could atone for letting the boy die in his place.

The crew that Tony hired were just about to install the monument in front of Stark Industries when lightning struck and out came two figures, one male and one female.

"Lightning Lad." One of the new arrivals commented. "Not bad." He nodded. "I must admit, that did not cross my mind."

"Oh hush you." The woman chided. "We're here for the heroes and explain things to them." She reminded. "Not think up of hero names ala Nightwing." She continued. "Besides that name's already taken.

"Yeah by like thousands of years into the future." The boy argued.

It just so happen that Tony Stark was supervising the installation of the monument when the two new people arrived via a lightning strike, donning the emblem of the hero, lightning lad, as the Princess of Wakanda had dubbed him.

The hero who died in his place.

The two new arrivals were Billy's twin and best friend, in their champion forms.

"Are you here to deliver retribution, exact revenge, you know the usual?" Tony quipped as he approached the duo. "You know the normal, you killed my friend spiel?"

The new arrivals looked at each other laughed at his face. From all what they have experienced as heroes, this was the first time they had encountered something such as this.

"I'm Mary Marvel, and he's Captain Marvel Jr." Mary introduced herself and her companion. "I'm guessing the person who you're honoring with this monument is my brother, Captain Marvel?" She asked.

"You know big guy, huge muscles, wears a red spandex and white cape with golden cuffs and boots?" Freddy described his best friend's champion form.

"Stay away from Mr. Stark!" Spider-Man interrupted the conversation as he landed beside Tony.

"Stand down Underoos." Tony ordered. "If they were here to kill me, they would've just directed the lightning at me." He reasoned.

"That's inaccurate." Mary pointed out.

"But we'll go with it." Freddy shrugged.

"What do you want with Mr. Stark?" Spider-Man glared at the Marvels.

"Whoa, whoa kid, where's the fire coming from?" Tony questioned. "They're not a threat."

"We didn't come here to fight Spider-Man." Mary assured the spider themed hero. "Rather we came here to inform."

Spider-Man's eyes widened. He never mentioned his name and Tony Stark did not mention it as well. There was no way that these people weren't here to kill Mr. Stark.

"Name your price." Tony declared.

Mary and Freddy looked at each other.

"Mary said inform Mr. Stark." Freddy pointed out. "We're not here to exact vengeance or even ask for compensation." He added. "We just want to inform, that's all."

"Inform Mr. Stark of what exactly." Spider-Man asked with hostility in his voice.

"Spider-Man, I'm not in distress okay?" Tony reassured the costumed hero. "I'm injured but not in distress." He pointed out as he gestured towards his still healing hand.

"Mr. Stark they arrived via lightning!" Spider-Man reasoned out. "The ex-vengers and the Avengers all knew that someone was going to ask retribution because of Lightning Lad's death." He rambled as he placed himself in front of his mentor. "War Machine and Hawkeye are already en-route from the UN."

"Looks like we're in trouble Mary." Freddy stated nonchalantly. "Now I know how Osiris felt."

"Like you're any help Junior." Mary rolled her eyes at her companion's words. "If everyone would just let us finish?" She exclaimed as she turned her attention towards Stark and Spider-Man. "This hostile welcome isn't really all that necessary."

Before Mary could even utter out another word, War Machine descended in front of Spider-Man while Hawkeve landed a few paces away from the group.

"Seriously?!" Mary yelled in exasperation.

"What's the situation Spider-Man?" War Machine questioned.

"Nothing happened yet." Spider-Man answered. "They have yet to make a move."

"Really?!" Tony exclaimed. "I appreciate the sentiment and all." He continued. "Isn't this a bit excessive Platypus?"

"Says the guy who programmed a training wheels protocol." War Machine bit back. "Seriously Tony, let us handle this."

"I think the fact that we're still in our champion forms might be giving them the wrong idea." Freddy pointed out. "We do crackle with electricity from time to time." He added. "I think we should transform back to our mortal forms." He offered.

"Is it safe though?" Mary questioned, warily glancing at the heroes converging around Stark.

"Remember what Zatanna said." Freddy replied. "Billy transformed back when that Thanos person did what Superman had done to him five years ago." He continued. "It should be safe."

As the group trained their eyes on the odd group as they conversed, Spider-Man's eyes widened as he suddenly sensed something was amiss. He looked around and saw nothing out of the ordinary was happening, the workers were safely evacuated when War Machine and Hawkeye arrived.

However he then noticed that the clouds begun to darken and had converge in their general location.

"FRIDAY Activate Rust Proof Protocol"

"Kid what the hell!" Tony managed to exclaim.

"As you wish Spider-Man." FRIDAY replied

A few of the previous Iron Man suits descended from above and began to conjure blue translucent shield in front of War Machine and the rest.

"Shazam!"

"Captain Marvel!"

Lightning struck both Marvels. Instead of disappearing or anyone new coming in, the both of them transformed back into their mortal forms.

Mary was simply wearing a white blouse inside an open blue cardigan paired with blue jeans and cute blue sandals.

Freddy simply wore a red long-sleeved shirt paired with black jeans and green sneakers while standing on his good foot and holding unto his silver crutches.

"They just changed clothes." Rhodey commented as his jaw dropped. "All that and they just changed clothes."

"We've put ourselves in a vulnerable state." Mary informed the heroes behind the translucent shield. "Maybe you could drop your weapons now?" She asked.

"They are not crackling with electricity." War Machine pointed out as he removed his helmet. "FRIDAY?" He asked the building's AI.

"You are correct Col. Rhodes." FRIDAY replied. "Both children are not showing signs of electrical surges in their personal spaces." She continued. "The boy himself is disabled from the waist down and needs the aid of his crutches to get around."

"That is both creepy and awesome." Freddy commented.

"Barton, stand down." Rhodey commanded. "Yes I'm sure, no one was harmed in the lightning strike." He reassured someone on the line.

"FRIDAY be a dear and get these suits back from where they came from?" Tony announced.

"Of course Boss." FRIDAY replied as the Iron Man suits began flying back from where they came from.

"Can I get you both inside?" Tony asked as he turned towards his visitors. "Sorry for the hostile welcome, I can't exactly control these mama bears." He quipped as he gestured towards the heroes behind him.

"Oh no, the hostile welcome was expected." Freddy shrugged. "It's the fact that everyone seemed too keen on interrupting us when we were about to say something important." He admitted.

Mary cleared her throat as she glared at her companion.

"Sorry."

"I was about to tell you Tony Stark." Mary began. "The person you dubbed as Lightning Lad, my twin brother, is in fact not dead." She revealed.

"He, he's not dead?" Rhodey's eyes narrowed.

"Don't get us wrong, we're not here for compensation either." Freddy interjected. "We're just here to inform, that's all."

"If he's not dead, why can't he tell us that himself?" Spider-Man questioned.

"Well he's currently in a coma." Freddy replied.

"Freddy!" Mary hissed. "They did not need to know that."

"Umm excuse me, I think I needed to know that Lightning Lad is in a coma." Tony interjected.

"Look, we're just here to inform and nothing else." Freddy responded. "A psychiatrist told us that we should inform you, Tony Stark, that my best friend is alive because you might blame yourself for the self-sacrificing shit he does."

"Don't get me started on the bullets he took meant for someone else." Mary groaned. "And that someone else was bulletproof."

"You're not wrong about that." Rhodes replied. "The monument was built to honor Lightning Lad." He added. "He started this to atone for what happened."

"I see." Mary looked down in contemplation. "What are we going to do Freddy?" She questioned her companion.

"I think we should leave this be." Freddy shrugged. "It'd be a shame to scrap this after all the work that was put into this." He gestured at the unfinished monument.

"But he's not dead." Mary argued.

"Won't really a change a thing Mayr." Freddy pointed out. "As far as I know, no one has been able to identify Billy." He continued. "Considering how advanced the AI is, I have no doubt that they tried using a facial recognition program to try and find someone who knew him."

Tony and Rhodes were impressed at the boy's deduction from the little information he had.

"In any case, we really just came here to inform Tony Stark and alleviate his feelings of guilt." Mary shared. "You can go on with the monument's installation." She continued. "Freddy and I are in agreement that nothing would change if you knew he's alive or not."

"You said he was in a coma." Spider-Man voiced out.

"Don't worry about that." Freddy dismissed the concern. "Billy needs to heal from the stunt he pulled." He shared. "Let us worry about him and you worry about how you guys rebuild from the miracle you just pulled."

Freddy and Mary gave the group a parting smile before they turned their backs on them.

"Wait."

The Marvels took a deep breath and were about to shout the words they yelled earlier when Peter stopped them.

"If that's the case, could you give him our thanks?" Peter voiced out. "Because of him, we did not suffer any casualties." He continued. "For the longest time, some of us felt guilty that a child was lost in battle." He continued. "From the bottom of our hearts, thank you." He rambled his gratitude and bowed in appreciation.

"Dude that was so cheesy!" Freddy snickered. "Gotta say tho, the bowing's a bit over the top." He continued. "We're not gods or anything." He shrugged.

"Freddy! That's not nice!" Mary chided her companion. "But Freddy's right." She confirmed his statement. "We are not gods that deserve that kind of treatment. "Besides I'm sure he knows how thankful you are with the miracle he helped you guys attained." She added.

"By the way, his hero name is Captain Marvel." Freddy grinned.

Lightning struck him as he disappeared from everyone's view.

"That guy." Mary shook her head in exasperation. "In any case, it was nice meeting the people my brother helped." She smiled at them.

Mary looked at the group and gave them one final wave before yelling.

"Shazam!"

She too was struck by lightning and disappeared promptly.

"Rhodes, do you read me!" War Machine's communicator blared. "There were two more lightning strikes and the targets disappeared." Hawkeye informed through the communicator. "Is everyone alright?" He questioned.

"Y-yeah." Rhodey managed to stutter. "Yeah no one was harmed." He relayed. "You can remove yourself from your position."

"Roger that."

"That happened." Tony commented. "Would've liked if they did not singed the grass when they arrived and when they left." He continued as he gestured towards the burnt marks on his pavement and grass where the Marvels stood.

"At least they only left singes." Rhodey offered. "Thor's method of transportation left a miniature crop circles on the grasses and that caused a lot of conspiracy theories."

"I've read a lot of those." Spider-Man chimed in. "Some say that Thor was a part of an alien species that kidnapped humans." He continued as the mask retracted and revealed the boy under it.

"Pete." Tony called his mentee's attention. "Pete." He repeated.

"Yes Mr. Stark?" Pete cut his story short.

"You're rambling." Tony informed Spider-Man.

"O-oh." Pete replied as he blushed. "Sorry Mr. Stark."

"What happened here?!" Pepper's voice rang as she stepped outside the building. "I was just in a meeting for a few minutes and suddenly the Rust Proof protocol was activated, windows were smashed and a lot of the workers are cooped up inside." She ranted. "Rhodey?"

"I'm hurt." Tony immediately jabbed. "I'm your husband and you ask for my best friend's opinion?" He sniffled in a playful manner. "I am absolutely devastated."

"Oh please." Pepper rolled her eyes at her husband's antics. "You'll recover." She shrugged. "Rhodey?"

"It was just a case of miscommunication." Col. Rhodes admitted. "Some people who had the same powerset as Lightning Lad arrived." He started. "We immediately assumed, as what the Avengers had agreed on, that they were here for retribution."

"What did they want then?"

"They just wanted to inform us that Lightning Lad isn't dead but in a coma." Rhodey continued. "Although I don't think they meant to share that last bit."

"He's alive?" Pepper asked. "That's great!" She exclaimed. "Where is he?"

"Despite their chatty nature, they were able to keep mum about that." Rhodey shared. "Although from their conversations I think they implied something." He admitted.

"So you caught on that too eh Platypus?" Tony inserted himself back into the situation as soon as Spider-Man left to return to class. "Nothing concrete but their conversations seemed to imply that they don't exactly operate in this reality." He continued. "Or at least this planet."

"I see." Pepper nodded.

"What are your plans on the monument?" Rhodey asked his best friend. "They did say that Lightning Lad is still alive." He continued. "And apparently he's not Lightning Lad."

"What do you mean?" Pepper asked.

"Before that boy disappeared he said that the hero's name was actually Captain Marvel." Rhodey informed his best friend's wife.

"I won't change it." Tony answered. "They did approve of the name." He reasoned. "They also gave the blessing to let us continue on installing the monument." He added. "Besides Col. Danvers is this Earth's Captain Marvel." He finished.

"Fair point." Rhodey admitted.

"FRIDAY be a dear and get someone to send the construction people home." Tony ordered his AI.

"No need FRI." Pepper interjected. "I'll handle that and more."

"You're the best Pep." Tony praised.

"I know."

"Get a room!" Rhodey playfully gagged.