Avengers: Battleground

Author Note: Please note this chapter hasn't been beta'd. I apologize in advance for any grammar mistakes.

Chapter 21: The Aether

Jane Foster opens the door to her apartment and removes her coat.

Darcy looks up from her computer. She was chewing on a pencil vertically as she was working. Her glasses on as she was looking at Eric Selvig's work. She turns to see who enters and her pencil fell from her mouth. She catches it as she calls out "Jane." She gets up to greet her boss.

Harry, Morgan, and Thor walked in. Thor stops to hang Mjølnir on the coat rack.

Eric Selvig greets Jane before Thor greets Eric. The first thing Eric asked was if Loki was coming before Thor responds that Loki was not on Earth.

Jane quickly goes through the information Eric Selvig had before comparing all the notes she could before speaking up.

"Malekith is going to unleash the Aether at a spot where all the nine worlds are connecting," Jane said.

"We know it's in London. London is the only place that has been having rifts forming up. The question is, where in London." Morgan said.

"London is a big place. One of the largest cities in the world. We need to know the exact place and time." Harry said.

"The timing is easy to get a hold of." Doctor Eric Selvig said as he was looking over the notes. "The question is the location."

"That help getting us ready, but we still have to know where the Convergence is going to be, exactly," Harry said.

"This presents a problem. None of us can sense the convergence or see it." Morgan said.

"The moment Malekith releases the Aether he'll be able to destroy all nine realms with ease," Jane said.

"Amplifying the weapon's impact." Doctor Eric Selvig said. "For each additional world, the power will increase exponentially. The effect will be universal."

"Yes, but the Alignment is only temporary. He must be in the exact right place at the right time." Thor said.

"So how do we know where to stop him?" Darcy asked.

No one said a word. None of them knew where the Alignment was going to be.

"We follow the directions." Doctor Selvig said suddenly. He gets up and quickly grabs a red marker, a ruler and a map of England. "This has happened before, thousands of years ago and the Ancients were there to see it. All the great constructions" he said as he clears the table. "the Mayans, the Chinese, the Egyptians. They made use of the gravitational effects of the Convergence. And they left us a map." Everyone gathers around him to see him mark the map.

Slowly he begins marking the map before he looks back up.

"That's where the Convergence will be." He said.

"Greenwich," Harry said as he looks at the map.

"The walls between worlds will be almost non-existent. Physics is going to go ballistic. Increases and decreases in gravity, spatial extrusions. The very fabric of reality is going to be torn apart." Jane said.

Thor summons Mjølnir from the coat racked.

"I better get my pants." Doctor Eric Selvig said.

"Thor, can you beat Malekith?" Harry asked.

"I can," Thor said.

"Alright, we'll be splitting up into three teams. Jane, you will take Selvig, Darcy and the intern to detect the anomaly. Thor will take on Malekith, while Morgan, Sif and myself will handle the Dark Elves." Harry said.

"Where do you think they will strike. We need to be in position before they arrive." Morgan asked.

Harry sits down and thinks hard.

"None of us can see or sense the Convergence. However, as the Alignment comes together, we should see hints of the Alignment forming up. that means we can move in position in an hour before the alignment is formed. We should be able to see hints of it forming in Greenwich." Harry said.

"When will the Convergence take place?" Morgan asks.

"In seven hours," Selvig said.

"Then we have should get some rest and make what preparations we can. This is one battle where we need to be sharp as much as possible." Morgan said.

Harry conjures a hammock and quickly lies down. He was quick to fall asleep. It couldn't be helped, he has been up for thirty-six hours. He was tired, and need much-needed sleep.

Harry was barely asleep when he felt Morgan climb in the hammock with him and place her head on his chest before falling asleep beside him. Harry could only imagine the looks and faces everyone in the room had.

Thor and Sif didn't look like it meant anything. While Jane was a bit confused and surprised at this behavior. Darcy and Ian looked very confused by this sudden behavior. Selvig looked momentary confused.

The next morning, Harry and Moran took the gravity anomaly devices and moved them to Greenwich. After an hour of searching, they finally find where the Convergence was going to take place. Greenwich Royal Naval College.

Darcy and Ian were going around the college placing the gravity anomaly around the site for Jane and Eric. Jane modified the settings so she could gain some control over the gravity anomaly to interfere with the Dark Elves plan.

Harry, Thor, Sif, and Morgan were scattered around the college in hopes to look for Malekith.

Above them, they could see rifts forming and the plains of other worlds appearing.

Just as the Convergence was winding down to ten minutes, did the Dark Elf mothership appear. It cut across the water before tearing up the land in front of the college. It stood in all glory and was taller than London's tallest building.

Harry Disapparates as did Morgan and reappears in front of the ship just as Thor came lands before Malekith. Sif runs and quickly joins them. The four of them stood before Malekith and the Dark Elves.

"You needn't have to come so far, Asgardian. Death would have come to you soon enough." Malekith said as he walks towards them.

"Not by your hand." Thor declares as he walks towards Malekith.

"Your universe was never meant to be. Your world and your family will be extinguished!" Malekith declared as the Aether appears around him and Malekith sends it at them.

Harry and Morgan Disapparate before reappearing behind the Malekith towards all the Dark Elves. Thor raises Mjølnir to block the incoming attack as Sif raises her shield. Their weapons weren't destroyed but they were forced back a few feet.

Harry and Morgan were quick. Before the Dark Elves could take in what just happen, Harry and Morgan attacks. Harry struck the nearest Dark Elf before turning to the next one. Morgan banished a short sword in her hand and she attacks with fury. Cutting the Dark Elves to pieces.

They quickly registered what was going on and attack Harry and Morgan. Harry quickly summons his magical swords and they quickly appeared, cutting through the Dark Elves quickly. They started falling by the numbers, but more kept appearing, appearing in the hundreds.

Harry could only keep his magical swords up for thirty seconds. That's how long they lasted before they dissolved. Every time they would dissolve Harry would just summon more. He still couldn't summon more than five, but he was increasing their time frame. During the Battle of New York, they only lasted for ten seconds.

One factor that was kicking in, was his new Fairy Magic.

Morgan le Fay was right, her magic which merged or fused with his own allowed him to cast so much magic and rejuvenate so quickly. The one problem he was facing, was stamina. He's done Quidditch training before and was in somewhat decent shape. However, it was nothing like the high demands of long term combat.

Granted he was lasting longer than the Battle of New York, which was a good thing. However, his could feel his stamina dropping.

His magic was successfully rejuvenated but he had weak stamina.

He was going to take Morgan's advice and start muggle exercises and workout. Running in particular.

This is the second time he's felt so drained of physical energy.

Hard to believe after a thousand years of practicing magic and no one noticed that wizards and witches had weak stamina, but had great spirits. He wasn't going to make the same mistake that could have cost him his life. He remembers all too well that his fellow students defeat the Death Eaters by skills, but because the Death Eaters tired themselves out and couldn't cast magic anymore.

If they survived this he was going to redo his training he learned from Henri Ducard. All those basic training gear that help him get whip into shape. He knew Captain America was perhaps the fittest guy on the planet. Maybe he could train with him to get just as fit.

Harry cast a magical shield that absorbs the red energy blast. Harry changed his shield charm into a magus shield. The pentagram image appeared on the shield as the red energy bolts hit it. The effect was almost instant. The red bolts of energy hit his magus shield before reflecting the bolts back upon his attackers.

Sif gave a cry out and Harry turns to her. She had taken a hit and fell to her knees.

At this point, the Dark Elves numbers were becoming too much to handle. They were in the hundreds and had them completely surrounded. It seemed the ship had empty itself to fight the trio.

A sudden strange wave appeared causing some of the Dark Elves to disappear.

Harry turns to look up to see Jane Foster and Eric Selvig looking up holding a device in their hands.

Harry turns to Sif and sees that her armor had absorbed most of the damage.

"You alright?" Harry asked as she climbs to her feet.

"Death will not grace my presence. I will fight for all worlds. For Asgard." Sif declared.

Before Harry could say a word Malekith appeared from thin air and punches Sif in the face sending her flying away. Harry turns to face Malekith but he backhands Harry sending him flying away as well. Malekith turns to Morgan but she wisely disapparates before Malekith could attack her with the Aether.

Morgan reappears by Harry side and helps him get back on his feet.

Sif climbs to her feet and quickly jogs to join them.

"We got incoming," Harry said as the Dark Elves run towards them.

At that moment, a dark red energy began to enter the rift of the Nine Realms.

"We're running out of time. We have to stop Malekith now." Harry said.

"Harry you get the Malekith, we'll hold back these guys," Morgan said.

"You sure about this?" Harry asked.

"Go, defeat Malekith and save your world. Save all nine realms." Sif said.

Harry nods his head and disapparates.

He enters in the middle of the storm and could feel his robes being blown from all directions. Making movement hard. Visibility was also hard to see as all Harry could see were red… shards he guesses they were – blowing around making it hard to see an inch in front of him. Harry brings his hands up to protect his eyes from getting dust in them.

Harry walks forward and quickly spots a figure through the storm. Harry walks to him and quickly could see it was Malekith. Holding his arms up as he was unleashing the storm. Harry walks up to him and quickly throws a punch to his face.

Malekith eyes open as he was momentarily stunned.

Harry quickly gathers a force in his hands and launches it into Malekith's gut. He didn't sail backward as Harry had hope. But he did stumble a bit away from his spot.

At that moment, one of Jane's devices pierces through Malekith before his arm disappears.

Harry looks to see Thor had entered the melee and launches another device causing Malekith's other arm to disappear.

Malekith looks at Thor and holds his head up high.

"You think you can stop this? The Aether cannot be destroyed." Malekith declares.

Thor charges forward with Mjølnir fully electrically charged with a thunder strike. Thor strikes Malekith, hitting him with full force sending Malekith flying back into his ship. It was only thanks to his ship that prevented him from flying across the water and possibly the landscape. The Aether also cease its attack and slowly disappeared.

Harry reaches out and summons the Aether out. Harry brings out the container and traps the Aether inside. Just as Malekith was sent to another plane.

Harry grabs the Aether and suddenly, something very strange happens.

Memories that weren't his own began to surface within his mind.

He saw that the magical world and the Daily Prophet headlines. Reports that he was leaving the magical world for a time.

Yet the timeline was wrong. Harry couldn't understand what was going on.

Harry was brought back out memories as he quickly stood there and saw Thor getting back up.

Sif walks up to him and she silently asks Harry to hand over the Aether to her with her outstretched hand. Harry does so. Knowing he didn't have the means of ability to contain the Aether.

Something was very wrong, Harry realized as he looks up to the sky to see the Alignment was disappearing and the Convergence was over.

Harry looks at Morgan and grabs her before disapparating. Leaving the scene.

Harry, immediately headed to number twelve, Grimmauld Place.

When he first arrived in this realm, he immediately took note of how much of the magical world was missing.

Now he was standing in front of his house.

People walked by and Harry could tell they could see it but believed it was in ruins. A fire had burned it and the owners were just keeping with plans to fix it.

Yet for Harry, he could see past the magic and see that the wonderful house was still in magnificent condition.

Harry takes a deep breath and walks forward and enters the house with Morgan behind him.

"Why are we here?" Morgan asks.

Harry didn't answer as he opens the door and enters.

Yes, the house was exactly the same as he left it in his original world.

"Kreacher," Harry called out.

With a soft crack, Kreacher the house elf appeared.

"Did master summon Kreacher." The House Elf asked.

"Have you've been taking care of the house in my absence?" Harry asked.

"Of course Master, I live to serve." Kreacher said.

Yes, this was exactly the same.

Morgan looks at Harry with a careful look in her eye.

"Kreacher, this is Morgan le Fay. I expect you to give her the same respect as you give me. Now, please give us some privacy." Harry said.

"Yes, master." Kreacher said as he turns to return to care for the house.

Harry leads Morgan into the living room where he sits down. Morgan sits down as well and eyes him carefully. As if silently asking him to explain what was going on.

"Something happened when I touch the Aether," Harry said slowly. "I have memories, of events that have never happened yet are there. Something happened, now… if my suspicions are right, I have… unintentionally brought back the magical world."

Morgan was silent.

"You're saying, after briefly touching the Aether, you have brought your own world back into this world. That means you for a brief moment, rewrote reality. The Aether must have great power to bend reality that way."

"How much of the magical world do you think has returned?" Harry asks.

"I can only guess. My guess is the Aether responded to your deepest desire. That was your wish to see your world again. Then it must have replicated or created it base off your memories. Memories are like threads. They have a tenancy of connecting with one another. The moment it connected with your memories of what you knew of the magical world it created more threads. From the countless people you interacted with to the people, they've interacted with." Morgan says.

"So are they real, or just copies?" Harry asks.

"Most likely they're real. They're all based off your memories. When you remember your friends and associates, so too did their memories of people they knew came to existence. You just brought back the magical world without even realizing it." Morgan said.

Harry shakes his head.

"I didn't think such power could ever exist. Is this safe? Or is there dangers I should know about?" Harry asks.

"You should be perfectly safe. I don't think this is a temporary thing. You missed the magical world and wished to return. Instead, the Aether brought the magical world to you. As far as I'm aware, no one is aware of the truth and it would be wise to keep the truth quiet." Morgan said.

Harry didn't need Morgan to explain why. If it was possible to bend reality to one's own image then the world would face dangerous changes of events. He was sure countless parties would have sought the Aether to do the same and rewrite reality to their own image.

Harry's phone starts to buzz and ring in his pocket. Harry pulls it out and takes a look at it; he sees it was a number he didn't recognize. Harry presses the green phone to answer the call.

"Hello," Harry said as he answers the phone.

"You disappear for over a year without a word, then you suddenly reappear in Greenwich battling aliens. Did I miss anything?" The voice of Jessica Drew said on the other end.

Harry smiles at the voice of Jessica Drew.

"I guess that's your way of saying you missed me. So I guess, you need to debrief me." Harry said.

"I'm on my way to London. Coulson has also been called in to take care of cleanup detail. I need to know what is going on. Nick Fury wants a report." Jessica Drew said.

Harry suddenly hears the front door opens and close.

Harry stands up. Not sure who just enter his home.

Morgan and Harry stand up.

"Harry, you there?" Jessica Drew asks.

"Give me a second," Harry said into his phone. Harry could see the persons shadow from the hallway.

The person walks in and Harry was taken back by the person's appearance.

It was Hermione.

"Harry," Hermione said in surprise.

"Hermione," Harry said in equal surprise.

"Your back, I thought you were staying in the muggle world," Hermione said.

"I am," Harry said.

"What brings you back?" Hermione asked, hope in her face.

"I was in the neighborhood, my work brought me back for a bit," Harry said.

"You work? What kind of job did you get?" Hermione asks at once.

"I'm an Avenger," Harry said simply.

Hermione was confused. Harry knew she was searching her memory to know what Harry meant. After standing there for nearly a minute and trying to think hard of what Harry meant. She admits defeat.

"What do you mean by you're an 'Avenger'," Hermione asked.

"The magical world doesn't really keep track of what goes on in the muggle world. The Avengers is a specialized team of remarkable individuals. Our recent battle was last year at the Battle of New York. When we fought off an alien invasion."

"Harry, your phone," Morgan said.

"Right," Harry said as he picks up his phone and sees Jessica Drew was still on the line. "Sorry, Jessica, you still there?"

"Yeah, you busy?" Jessica asks.

"Nothing I can't handle. When will you be in London?" Harry asked.

"I'll be there tonight. There is much we need to discuss. Truth be told, I should have done this with you after the Battle of New York, but I was giving your team time to recover. I need to know when you're going to disappear. And where you're going so I know how to reach you. Keep your phone, I'll be able to find you that way."

"I don't think you'll be able to. Just call me when you arrive, I'll come to you." Harry said.

"Understood," Jessica said before she hangs up the call.

Harry turns to Hermione with his attention on her.

"Is Kingsley still the Minister of Magic?"

"Yeah, after you left he was elected as the Minister of Magic," Hermione said.

"I think I need to talk to him," Harry said as he gets up.

Hermione nods her head, knowing the many answers she wanted would be answered with Kingsley.

"Who is she?" Hermoine asks.

"Morgan le Fay." Harry answers.

Hermione's face showed a bit of shock before she recovers. Thankfully, she didn't say anything and knew she would get the story from Harry later.

"Let's meet with Kingsley, then we can deal with Agent Drew," Harry said as he gets up and disapparates with Morgan. Hermione follows, heading straight for the Ministry of Magic.

New York, Stark Tower

"Okay JARVIS, you know the deal. Tell me what I want to know." Tony Stark said as he enters his office where he was surrounded by window glasses on all sides. An image appears of Harry in his black robes. Tony Stark sits down and pours himself a drink and looks the image.

"The city of New York has returned to complete normally. It would appear Mr. Potter's magic is truly remarkable and was able to restore everything back to normal. I had difficulty recording the energy he was able to produce."

"What of S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Tony asks.

"Officially they have laid claim over the Avengers. They've scattered the area to find hopes of a weapon or piece of Chitauri tech, but all search so far has been in vain. It would seem, Mr. Potter magic did indeed send every piece of Chitauri back to space. While no official statement has been given, the U.S. Government is most displeased at this development. General Ross, in particular, wants Harry arrested in hopes he can send that equipment back to their hands, as well as possibly experimented on."

"We can't have that. What is Fury doing?" Tony asks as he takes a sip of his beverage.

"Taking the heat for Mr. Potter. He's using every legal channel and back channel to have the U.S. Government stay away from Mr. Potter." JARVIS said.

"Any news from the rest of the Avengers?" Tony asks.

"Mister Potter and his companion were spotted fighting aliens along with Thor in Greenwich," JARVIS reported.

"What is the press saying?" Tony asks he looks at the images and photos from the scene.

"They are unsure how to describe the Battle of Greenwich. They just know Thor and Raven were there."

"He honestly needs a better code name than Raven. He's not a bird. Doesn't have avian abilities. Plus it sounds so uncool. Trust the reporters to ruin his image. Hit me, give me something snappy that could boost his image. Something that tells the world he's a wizard without telling them he's a wizard."

"The Magician," JARVIS said.

"Lame."

"The Sorcerer?"

"Not catchy enough."

"Sorcerer Supreme."

"Too Long, but no… it has to be…I don't know… like a baza."

"Mage?"

"Not helping your case JARVIS," Tony said.

"What do you expect? I'm just a U.I. I can enter the list of names in front of you." JARVIS said as a list of weird yet magical names appeared. Tony scans at the list of the names and many of them were indeed lame. He spotted one name, Wiccan, but it didn't feel Harry-ish.

"Wait," Tony said looking at the name underneath Wiccan. "What you said, Mage. That's it."

"Yes, Mage should help his public image," JARVIS said in a sarcastic tone.

"Not Mage, Magus. It has that magic feel to it and makes the users the sound tough. JARVIS leaked this to every news reporter covering Harry and Thor adventure in Greenwich."

"At once Sir," JARVIS said as Tony gulps the rest of his beverage. "Should I begin… the Assembly Protocol?" JARVIS asks.

"I don't know what do you got for me?" Tony said.

"Not much I'm afraid. Agent Drew is on her way to London to speak to Harry Potter. Should you give him a call to see what else needs to be done?"

"Let's wait for him to come to us. He is the leader of the Avengers. That means JARVIS we have to follow his orders."

"You're not the type to follow orders," JARVIS remarked.

"No," Tony said softly. "I'm not."

"You're going to have to. When the Avengers are reassembled, Harry is going to have us run through drills to improve our teamwork. In the meantime, you should prepare for your Iron Mark V2 Models." JARVIS said.

"How are the V2 versions?" Stark asks.

"As expected they'll be handy in a when the fighting comes down. You need to prepare yourself when Harry reassembles the Avengers." JARVIS said.

"Any legal trouble on our end?" Tony asks.

"As instructed our lawyers immediately seized all profit and names brands. The battle your lawyers put on convince the federal government to allow Stark Industries to own all merchandise products of Avengers. Right now we should see a five point seven million dollar increase. Several toy companies wish to ask for rights to produce Avengers toys." JARVIS reported.

"That's good," Tony said.

"Should you inform Mr. Potter?"

"I want to be the one to tell him. Until such time, let's get to work on Mark Forty-Four kicking."

"I'm not sure Mr. Potter would approve," JARVIS said.

"Fail-safe JARVIS. Harry will understand. Let Banner know I'm about to begin Phase One of Mark Forty-Four."

"What of Mark Forty-Five?" JARVIS asks.

"Still in the planning stages," Tony said as he gets up to go to his workshop.

"Understood sir," JARVIS said.

Author Notes: There is a reason why I brought back the Magical World. I won't say why, only that it will be useful for later down the road. Especially during the Sokovia Accords. Which I'm sure many of you will realize, war between the muggle and magical world. More surprises to come and I hope you guys enjoy!

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