A Touch of Cosmic Destiny:

By: Sandreline

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback, as you always do! I hope you will enjoy what I have in plan for our Avengers!

Just a reminder, because my muse cannot handle the constant curve-balls of Marvel, from this point on pretend that any move after Captain America: The Winter Solider does not happen! Thank you!

Chapter 11: A Touch of Reunion

"So you still haven't told me where we are going." Natasha told the silent woman riding shotgun.

"Tokyo." Serenity answered her.

"That's going to take awhile," the red head answered. "How do you expect me to get on an international flight without creating a new cover?"

The goddess turned to look at the Russian, with an arched eyebrow. Clearly this woman did not remember who she was speaking to. "Who said anything about flying?" Natasha did not have time to questions the look in Serenity's eyes before a large, black tear appeared in front of her car.

"What the he-" Natasha cried out as she slammed on the brakes. It was futile. The car was completely engulfed in the portal, and Natasha felt as if she passed through a freezing cold waterfall. It was only a moment, but the scenery instantly changed. The black corvette stopped perfectly in front of a white, two story house in what Natasha undoubtedly knew was Tokyo.

"Warn me before you do something like that!" The Russian snapped as her emotions got the best of her. She was not one to be taken by surprise, and she found herself not liking the feeling.

Serenity, for her part, simply opened the door. "This is my house," she informed the assassin, who also climbed out of the vehicle. "We start here."

Natasha slammed the driver door closed, and looked at the quaint looking two-story. It was something out of what the American Dream was to look like, with a grass front yard with bushes of flowers, and what she assumed to be a decently sized backyard. The second story even had a balcony that was shadowed by a large tree. "So this is where the goddess lives while on Earth." She stated with a straight tone.

The Lunarian looked over her shoulder at Natasha. "This was my parent's home, they willed it to me." Turning her gaze away, she walked to the front door and unlocked it. Natasha did not need to be told that everyone that Serenity had cared for in the past was gone, so she left it alone. Instead, the redhead closed the front door behind her, looking at the modernly decorated home.

"Luna? Artemis?" She called out.

"Serenity!" A feminine voice cried out in desperate relief. The Russian turned to see a black cat and a white cat come dashing down the stairs, leaping into the arms of the Lunarian. "Are you alright?"

"We were worried about you." A male voice sounded.

"Those cats are talking." Natasha stated with wide eyes, though her deep voice was deceptively calm.

Three sets of eyes turned to look at her before Serenity set the two felines down. "Luna, Artemis, this is Natasha Romanoff, known as Black Widow."

"Ah, yes." The black cat's maroon eyes landed on the stranger. "We've seen her file."

"Hello." The white cat greeted, before turning to his monarch. "We've kept an eye on everything as best we could, but we wouldn't mind some clarification."

"S.H.I.E.L.D. is no more." Natasha spoke out. "Hydra had infiltrated our organization, staying in the background this whole time."

"Did you get a hold of Steve?" Serenity's soft voice asked the cats.

"I left him a message," Artemis answered with a tone of regret.

Serenity closed her eyes for a moment. She had a feeling that he had not received it, and she could not reach out to him just yet. "I have a plan."

"Which is?" Luna asked.

A look of complete seriousness settled across her features as she held her head high. "We are going to re-assemble the Avengers; in essence, they will be the new replacement for S.H.I.E.L.D."

"How will we get missions?" Natasha stated. "Anyone that is a former member of S.H.I.E.L.D. is on the run from the American government, or seeking employment elsewhere."

"The only mission will be defense." Serenity spoke. "There will be no more spying, no more undercover work." She leveled in her regal tone. "The world is going to be very wary from this point in time on, and watching every move any of you make with a critical and judgmental eye."

"I'm no stranger to that." Natasha stated while crossing her arms over her chest.

"The point is," Serenity continued on, "that trust has to be re-established, and that is going to take a long time. Thankfully, however, most of the world is aware of the Avengers and trusts them already."

"So you plan on bringing the team together again, and take the lead." Natasha summed up. "You'll just use whatever magic you have to tell us of any threats that we need to take care of."

"Yes, I will assist with monitoring the world. No," Serenity continued. "I will not be the leader."

"What?" Artemis asked in surprise.

Natasha frowned. "I'm as surprised as the feline," she spoke. "Why not?"

"Because," Serenity answered as she moved to lean against the wall in the hallway. "My identity has been well guarded, and only S.H.I.E.L.D. is aware of Sailor Cosmos outside of Japan. The leader must be someone that the world both knows and trusts; someone who has been proven of good heart and judgment, someone they have unwavering faith in."

"Captain America." Luna spoke up confidently.

Serenity nodded.

"Well," the redhead smirked. "First things, first. We need a base; somewhere we can easily access, but is impossible for others to find."

Serenity looked at her guardians, and the two cats exchanged glances. After a moment they looked back to their monarch and gave a nod. "We have better than that." Luna spoke.

"We do?" Natasha asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We have a home," Serenity replied as she pushed off the wall. "Somewhere everyone can live and feel safe, without any worry from the outside world."

"Nothing on Earth comes to my mind," the Russian replied smartly.

"Exactly." Artemis answered. The smirking cat unnerved the assassin. One, because the cat could smirk; and second, because of the twinkle of mischief that was in its eyes. She had a feeling she would be taken by surprise a lot in the coming days.

888888

"You've got to be kidding me. The Moon?" Natasha stated. "How am I even breathing right now?"

Serenity stood at the base of the palace steps, looking at her companion. "A thousand years ago, all of the planets were inhabitable, until Queen Beryl attacked and destroyed my home. I have been able to revive my kingdom, though the palace sits empty and unused aside from my visits."

"How has NASA or the government never found this place?" Black Widow asked, slowly taking a few steps. It wasn't a figment of her imagination, it was real. She was really on the moon, in a palace made of crystal and ivory, and that was really Earth in the distance.

"Magic." She answered with a smile. "We get an alarm that is triggered by a satellite or rover every once in awhile, but it's easily taken care of."

"So you expect the Avengers to just agree to come and live here, watching over the Earth?" Natasha asked as Serenity led her inside. She was doing her best to hide her awe, but she could feel how wide her eyes were.

"No, but it is here if they need it." She answered. "If you like, you can call this your home, too."

The red head looked at the goddess. "You're telling me that I can have my choice of rooms, and live like a princess on another planet, while still doing the job I love?"

"Yes." Serenity smiled warmly, realizing that she had won.

Natasha hesitated. "What about technology? I doubt you have internet here. And how the hell are we supposed to get around?"

The goddess gave a laugh. "Oh, the things I have to show you."

So she did. Serenity took Natasha on a grand tour of the palace and gardens, showing her everything from the Control Room (which allowed her to hack any computer on Earth, no matter the security without getting traced), to the portal room. It would allow them to be teleported anywhere on Earth from the Moon, and their communicators doubled as portal activators.

"You really have thought of just about everything," Natasha commented after a whistle.

"Not really, which is why I still need your help." Serenity answered. Her eyes seemed to darken as she spoke her words next, and Natasha realized that she felt guilty for leaving, despite it being against her control. "We need to contact the others and get them here."

"Well, Thor shouldn't be a problem," Natasha brought up. "He has his own teleportation that takes him world-to-world." Serenity nodded. Natasha continued to think. "We should start with Bruce; right now, he is the one who is the least occupied, and it would be safest for him to get away from Earth."

Serenity's answer was to shift into Sailor Cosmos. "Then let's go."

8888888888

"You've got to be kidding me," Bruce Banner commented as he slipped inside his current refuge.

"Have you ever known me to kid, Bruce?" Black Widow asked as she smirked.

The human form of the Hulk shook his head. "What do you want, Natasha? S.H.I.E.L.D. is gone, caput. You have no one's orders to follow, so why are you here?"

"I'm here because of her," Natasha answered as she gave a nod of her head towards the silver-haired woman sitting in a dinky chair in the corner. Bruce had no idea how he had not seen her before.

"Serenity." Bruce gave a nod of his head in greeting.

"Bruce, it's nice to see you again." Her melodious voice answered. Just the sound of it gave the monster inside of him a slight feeling of peace.

"To what do I owe the honor?" He asked, taking the glasses off his face and crossing his arms over his chest.

Serenity motioned for him to take a seat in the chair before her. After a slight hesitation, he approached her slowly. Once he was seated, she spoke. "We are going to bring back the Avengers."

"Why?" Bruce asked.

"Because the world needs to know that despite everything, they will still be protected; that they still have a place to turn that they can trust." Serenity answered.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. is gone," Natasha spoke up.

"I heard," Bruce answered. "It's everywhere; Hydra was hidden inside, and took control."

"That's the short version, yes." Natasha answered.

"The fact remains that Hydra is still out there, and now that they have come so close, they will not be ready to give in so easily." Serenity continued. "It order to keep Chaos at bay, we need to take the incentive. The world needs to know that no matter what, they will have people that they can turn to who will do what is right."

"And where exactly to you plan to have our little clubhouse?" Bruce asked. "We can't exactly hole up in a helicarrier or at Stark Tower."

Natasha smiled wickedly. "Please let me tell him."

Her tone made Bruce a little nervous.

888888888

Tony Stark let a broad smile stretch his lips at the sight of the silver haired goddess as she entered his private abode using one of her portals. "Hello there, angel." Tony grinned. "Natasha." He added with a nod. "To what do I owe the beautiful pleasure?"

The red head rolled her eyes. "Please Stark, you know why we are here." Natasha went on.

"Well of course, but there is always the non-existent chance that I am wrong." He replied. "So, my theory is that we are bringing back the Avengers after Cap's little adventure." The billionaire sent a wicked smile to Serenity. "So, does he wear boxers or briefs?"

Sailor Cosmos' face enflamed with embarrassment, and she clutched her staff tighter. "Are you in, or out?" She asked in a cold tone.

Tony held up his hands. "I get it, keep off the 'Captain Hot Pants' topic." He admitted. "I've a full team of workers taking care of any trusted former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that are coming to my company, including Maria Hill." He added. Both Serenity and Natasha were relieved to hear that their friend was alright. "So, since they are taking care of everything for me, that has left me with nothing to do but see just how deep this Hydra thing goes, and where they are taking it to."

Sailor Cosmos sent Natasha look, and for a moment, the former assassin actually seemed to fidget. "There is something that Steve and I found out about your parents, Stark." She told the billionaire.

"What?" Tony asked, actually slightly confused.

"It turns out," She began, her blue eyes looking at the ground, "that your father found out about Hydra infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D. It wasn't an accident that killed them… it was an assassination."

Silent filled the air, and Cosmos could see the anger rise up and surround Tony's form as his aura glowed a bright red. Outwardly, he was able to appear surprisingly calm, though his tone could rival the coldness of the planet Pluto. "When do we strike." He stated more than asked.

"Come with us," Cosmos answered as she opened up a portal. Tony did not hesitate as he entered first.

8888888888

Sailor Cosmos took a deep breath to soothe her nerves. Natasha had gone on her own to bring Cliff, otherwise known as Hawkeye, to their new base of operations. It was an opportunity that she would not turn down, as it meant that she would be going to retrieve Thor.

She took another deep breath. Queen Frigga had passed on, and had joined those before her in Elysium. She knew that Thor would be angry with her for not stopping the death of his mother, and the loss of the woman was a chip in her own heart as well. She did not want anyone to witness the explosion that was sure to happen at her reunion with the thunder god.

With steel resolve, Sailor Cosmos opened a portal, slightly surprised to find that the male she was seeking was already on Earth.

"What the hell is that?" She heard a female's voice just as she emerged.

When she stepped completely through, her blue eyes settled on the surprised eyes of Thor, who was standing beside who she assumed was the female he had fallen in love with, Jane. As she predicted, it only took a few moments to register to Thor that she was, indeed, standing before him, and his rage consumed him. With a roar, he moved Jane behind him and charged Cosmos at the same time.

Her deep blue eyes softened with sadness. Lifting her staff, she froze Thor in his place, his fist pulled back as he prepared to strike her less than a foot from her person. "Thor," her tone was void. "Cease this foolishness that your anger causes."

Jane Foster's eyes were wide as she observed this unknown and frighteningly beautiful woman effortlessly stop her boyfriend. Who was she, and what was going on? Slowly, she moved closer as her curiosity got the better of her.

"You could have stopped it," Thor's angry voice spoke, free from the freezing of time. "If you had been there, she would be alive!"

Sailor Cosmos let her eyes lower slightly as she fought off tears. "Even I have rules that I must abide by, Thor." She told her fellow immortal. "If it is the will of Fate and Destiny that I do not interfere, because the events must take place, then even I am unable to defy their will."

Thor did not care. "She shouldn't have had to die!" He growled.

"Thor..." Jane's worried and cautious voice called out.

The silver haired woman turned to look at the female in question before turning back to the blonde male. "If you are able to control your temper, then and only then shall I release you."

He was silent in answer, his eyes still shining with fury and the feeling of betrayal. Sailor Cosmos could not blame him, for she also felt that she had betrayed the Asgardian. However, that did not make her words any less true. "I am terribly sorry for your loss, Thor, son of Odin," Cosmos spoke softly to him. "If it had been within my power to prevent the loss of such a shining star, I would have not hesitated."

Thor's bright blue eyes landed on her darker ones, and being so close to the goddess he was able to see the universe swirling in their depths, and her sincerity. He felt the anger slowly drain from his body. She was right.

Sailor Cosmos, sensing his calm, lifted the powers of Pluto from him. His arms went slack at his sides as he stood before her. "It's strange to see you in Earth clothing." Cosmos pointed out in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Who are you?" Jane spoke out.

Thor moved to wrap his arms around the waist of the brunette. "Allow me to introduce Sailor Cosmos, the Keeper of Balance and a goddess of the highest standing." With a small yet warm smile to the human at his side, he continued, "Your highness, this is Dr. Jane Foster."

Wide brown eyes landed on the silver haired woman in the short white dress. "Oh," She stated softly, "It's nice to meet you."

"You as well," Sailor Cosmos replied before once more looking Thor in the eyes. "The Avengers need you."

"Is everything alright?" He asked.

Sailor Cosmos shook her head. "Are you aware of what has occurred in the last week?"

Jane answered for him. "We returned from Asgard not that long ago…"

"Then there is much to fill you in on. She can come with us, as they may look for her out of association with you." Sailor Cosmos ordered. "There is much that you will need to know."

8888888888

Alright, I think I will stop there for now! The only missing puzzle piece is Steve. So next chapter, we will get some of his side.

Important note: Remember, after Captain America: TWS, everything that occurs will be my version and not whatever Marvel may come out with. I don't think my muse can handle so many curve balls! Haha. So, for the sake of my story and the plot, pretend that anything else Marvel does in the movies that have been yet to be released have nothing to do with ATCD!

Thank you all so much for your support! I hope you enjoy!
~Sandreline