Hey everybody! It's me, Dr. Indigo! And I'm here to give you yet another amazing chapter of Lost Girl. Now I know there are a few of you out there who think that this Arc is going on too long, and quite frankly I agree with you. Which is I'm glad to say that Arc 5 is almost over! After this chapter there should only be about four chapters left. Then it's on to Arc 6, which I promise will be much shorter. As usual, Legend of Korra is owned by Nickelodeon and Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is owned by Marvel and Disney. So without any further delay, ON WITH THE SHOW!

Chapter 36: An Adventure Cut Short.

The Negative Zone…

A parallel universe composed entirely of antimatter.

An endless void filled with stars, planets, moons, comets, asteroids, nebulas, and galaxies; In other words, it was almost an exact duplicate of our universe, save for a few… minor differences.

Deep within the emptiness of Negative Space, about a thousand light-years from the nearest star system, a small platform-like asteroid drifts aimlessly through the inky blackness; like a lifeboat adrift at sea.

On one end of the rock sits the recently fattened Avatar Korra, her face a mask of despair and hopelessness. On the opposite end, the injured Doctor Doom lays on his back in silence, despite the overwhelming in his… well, everything.

Both travelers have valid reasons to just breakdown and cry, but neither of them will; there is no point. There is nothing either of them can do to get themselves out of this mess.

All they can do now was sit there and wait for the end.

XXX

One Hour Earlier

Slowly and carefully, the injured Lord of Latveria limps his way toward the swirling black vortex in front of him. Every step he takes sends a new wave of pain through his battered body, but the metal monarch simply ignores them. He has come too far to let a little thing like a broken arm or a fractured pelvis or five cracked ribs stand in the way of his destiny.

'Yes… not much further now.' The weakened tyrant thought to himself as he reached the edge of the Shadow Gate. 'I just need to hold on a little longer. Then Latveria's future will be secure.' He would've let out a chuckle of self-satisfaction, but he feared the effort might cause him more agony.

Standing beside the battered monarch is the pleasantly plump Avatar Korra; her face a mask of bold determination, in spite of new physical handicap. She knew there was no sense in crying over her lost physique, at least not yet. If all went according to plan, then she wouldn't have to suffer in this body for too much longer. All she had to do was stay on Doom's good side until the Nexus was secure and then everything would go back to the way it should be.

"So… we gonna do this or not?" Korra asked the injured monarch, her voice dripping with gusto.

"After you… my dear…" Doom replied wearily, his breathing growing more labored by the second.

However, Korra ignored her companion's worsening condition for the moment and just dived right into the spiraling gateway.

XXX

Several Moments Later

"What… the… ****!" Korra exclaimed as she exited the Shadow Gate. "This… this is impossible."

And indeed it was. For you see dear reader, unless Korra was very much mistaken, she was somehow floating in… Outer Space!

"Wha… what the hell is going on here?" she asked herself aloud in total astonishment. "I'm… I'm in outer space. How the hell is this possible? How am I even still alive?"

Fortunately her confusion was only short-lived; for Doom had exited the portal only seconds after her.

"Did you learn nothing from your time with the Avengers?" the metal monarch asked in a weathered yet condescending tone. "This is the Negative Zone child, an alternate universe with physical laws all its own. Or in other words, things that are impossible in our home universe are quite possible here."

"You mean like… being able to breath in space?" the young Avatar inquired, despite having already deduced the answer.

"Very astute, little Avatar." The tinplated tyrant replied with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Now, if you are done taking in the sights, I suggest you locate us a means of transport before the welcoming committee arrives."

"Sure, no problem, I'll just pull a rocket ship out of my ass!"

"Watch your tone child!" Doom said threateningly. "Do not forget that I alone hold the keys to your salvation." He pulled out Plunder's Compass to emphasize his point. "Another crude comment like that one and you will be stuck in this realm and in that body for the rest of your very short life!"

A split second later Doom let out a sharp gasp and started clutching his chest, but it didn't matter, his point had been made.

"No… please… don't… I mean, I'm sorry… sir." Korra stuttered; her mind riddled with a thousand unpleasant thoughts. "But I still don't understand how you expect me to get us a ride."

The metal monarch rolled his eyes. "Must I explain everything?" he asked with an exasperated sigh and then pointed to the left. "Do you see the cluster of asteroids over there?" Korra looked in the direction he was pointing and nodded. "Good. Now use your airbending to bring us closer to them, and then use your earthbending to capture one. We can use that as a means of transport until we reach the Nightmare Gate."

Despite Doom's annoyingly condescending tone, Korra had to admit that it was a good idea. So instead of giving her standard sarcastic response, Korra just nodded and went into her airbending stance. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and made the necessary motions to form an air bubble around them. However, when she opened her eyes… nothing happened.

"What… the hell?"

XXX

Meanwhile, in a system several thousand light-years away

A lone figure kneels atop a massive stone altar. He bows his head in respect and begins to speak to some unseen authority.

"Master, why have you summoned me?" the figure asks respectfully. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a voice answers.

Doctor Doom and the Avatar have entered your realm in search of the Nightmare Gate. Go forth my Champion, capture them and bring them to me so that I may pass judgment. I shall send the Swamp King to assist you.

"I understand." The figured replied to his invisible master as he slowly began to stand up. "I will not fail you… Lord Beyonder."

XXX

Forty-five Minutes Later

With a loud thud, the plump and exhausted Avatar collapsed onto the hard surface of the flattened asteroid, panting heavily and sweating like a hog.

"W… Wha… What's happening… to me?" she asked herself aloud, and for good reason. For some strange reason, Korra's bending wasn't working properly. It now took three times as much effort just to launch a simple air blast, let alone form an air bubble. So the seemingly simple task of moving herself and Doom fifty yards in zero gravity felt more like pushing a ten-thousand pound boulder up Mt. Everest. "Hey, Doom… any… theories?" she called to her injured companion lying on the opposite end of the space rock.

"Well… it is possible that the excess psychic energy merged with your body may be disrupting the flow of your chi." The metal monarch mused before stopping to wince in pain. "Or… it could simply be that you are not used to your new body structure." He paused yet again as his vision began to blur. "Either way… I should have foreseen such a development. And now my oversight has cost us precious time."

"Hey… don't worry about it." Korra replied in a weathered but sympathetic tone. "It may take a little longer but will make it to the last, no sweat."

"Are you really that stupid?" the tinplated tyrant shouted as loud as he could, but then quieted down once he remembered the danger. "Child, didn't the Avengers ever tell you about the unspeakable horror that dwell in this universe?"

"You mean Annhilus?" Korra asked thoughtlessly. "Yeah, Cap told me about him, but so what? I mean he's dead right?"

"Fool! His death was never confirmed! The Avengers never bothered to search for the body." Doom replied in a hushed yet grave tone. "Besides, even if that loathsome insect is dead, his deadly swarm, the Annihilation Wave, is still active in this realm. Make no mistake, even without their master; those filthy bugs are more dangerous than anything you've ever faced before." He paused a moment to cough, barely even acknowledging the droplets of blood that flew out of his mouth. "Unfortunately, in our weakened states, neither of us are a match for their numbers. Our only hope is to reach the Nightmare Gate before those beasts take notice of us."

"That's pretty damn risky." Korra said with a sudden gulp.

"I know but it is our only…" the words suddenly died in his throat before he could finish. He just sat there staring off into space; were it not for the mask Korra would've seen a look of absolute horror on his face.

The young Avatar was about to ask what was wrong, but then she heard it; the buzzing.

Korra quickly whipped her head around and that's when she saw them; ten of the largest and most terrifying bugs she had ever seen. Each one of them was looked like something from a nightmare; like a mix cross between a wasp, a scorpion, and a komodo dragon. They were really quite horrific.

Within seconds the horrible beasts were swooping down on them; snapping their hideous jaws and whipping their barbed tails. Korra, with great difficulty, was able to keep most of them at bay with her firebending, but unfortunately one managed to sneak past her and went straight for Doom.

The metal monarch howled in agony as the creature's mandibles pierced his broken armor and dug into his scarred flesh.

"AAAAHHHH!" the metal tyrant screamed. "AVATAR! HELP ME!"

"I… Can't… Right… Now… I've… Got… My… Hands… Full…" Korra shouted back between fireblasts. These bugs were growing bolder; the last one nearly took her head off.

However, just when things look their bleakest, the bugs suddenly gave up their attack and began to fly away.

"HA! You stupid bugs!" the plump young Avatar taunted the retreating insects. "Not so tough without your boss are you, you overgrown mosquitoes!"

"NO!" Doom howled like a wounded animal, earning the Avatar's attention.

When she turned around she saw her ironclad companion lying on his back, coughing up blood and desperately grasping at thin air with his good hand. She was about to ask what was the matter, but a sudden, loud crunching sound cut her off. And what she saw when looked up nearly made her heart stop.

Hovering several above the two travelers was the last of the bugs; shards of metal and glass falling from its drooling maw.

"No…" the young Avatar said in a small and frightened tone as realization dawned on her. "…oh… God… no…"

With its task done, the nightmarish insect flew off to join its comrades, leaving the two wounded and weary travelers alone to wallow in their defeat.

"So… what now?" Korra asked her injured companion hopefully. "What's the plan?"

"There is no plan, Child." Doom replied in an uncharacteristically hollow tone. "Without the Compass, we have no hope of ever finding the Nightmare Gate, and we cannot go backward because the Shadow Gate does not open on this side. Our situation is hopeless."

"So what, you're just giving up?" asked the young Avatar with a mix of fear and disbelief. "What happened to Mr. Great and Powerful Doom? Just use one of your spells or something."

"Child, even if I knew of a spell that could get us out of this mess, I am much too weak to cast it." The metal monarch replied as he let out a deep, defeated sigh. "I hate to say it Avatar, but I'm afraid this is where our journey ends."

XXX

Now

"Hey… Doom." The young Avatar called to her armored companion in a dull and lifeless tone. "This is really it, isn't it?"

"Afraid so…" Doom replied with a bloody cough. "Any moment now… the rest of the Annihilation Wave… will arrive and tear us both… to shreds."

"I see… well, since we're gonna die anyway, I might as well tell you," Korra took a deep breath before she continued. "…that out of all the people I have ever met in my entire life… I HATE YOU THE MOST!"

The metal monarch just laid there for several moments, saying nothing. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he finally replied.

"They're here."

A split-second later, the deadly swarm appeared in an explosion of stingers and teeth. Billions and billions of the winged devils poured in from all directions; forming an enclosed perimeter roughly two miles high and half a mile wide. Though strangely enough, not a single one of the horrid creatures tried to attack. They just hovered there; waiting.

"What the…" the plump young Avatar began, only to be cut off by a deafening sound; like that of thunder.

"What the **** was that?" Korra asked with an edge of fear in her voice.

"It seems… that I was… mistaken…" Doom replied with a cough and a slight chuckle. "It appears… that these creatures… serve… a new master."

Before Korra could even ask, the bugs formed an opening in their perimeter, and what came through that opening was an even greater horror.

"No… it can't be." Korra said in a frightened tone; her eyes wide with terror.

For you see dear reader, Korra had seen this monster before; many months ago, in the memories of Fin Fang Foom. Yes, that's right, loyal follower. This was the monster that destroyed Kakaranathara. This was the titan that nearly defeated Earth's mightiest heroes. This was the Devourer of Worlds himself. The one, the only, Galactus!

"Holy ****!" the young Avatar exclaimed, ever so eloquently, But Galactus did not respond. No, the great titan just looked down at the two frightened travelers; his face indifferent and unreadable. Then, without saying a single word, the terrible giant raised his right hand over the companions and prepared to obliterate them with a single cosmic blast.

Korra closed her eyes and waited for the end… however, the end never came. Just when Galactus was about to unleash his fury, a voice cried out from nowhere.

"Whoa! Easy there, Big G!" the voice said with a strange yet familiar twang. "The Boss wants these two suckers alive, remember. Just take five and I'll handle this."

Just then Korra heard something land directly in front of her. She opened her eyes and there he was.

"T… T… TAHNO?" she yelled in disbelief.

The former waterbender shot her a playful smile and replied; "Hey Baby." then delivered a swift kick to the side of her head.

Then everything went black.

XXX

First the Seducer leads her astray and brings her to the King.

Then the King takes her on the Royal Quest and leads her to Heaven's Gate.

At Heaven's Gate she will become the Soldier and be cast down back to Earth.

After that she will be tempted by the Black Art and it will consume her soul.

Then after the battle between the Father and the Son her mind will give way to madness.

Next she will struck by the Curse of the Mariner and she shall bare the Albatross for the rest of her days.

Fortunately she will not have to bare it for long, for soon after the Three-headed Monster will appear and throw her into the Viper Pit.

Such an unfortunate waste, but this is the path she has chosen.

End Notes: Well that ends another one folks. I hope you've all enjoyed it and please leave a review before you go. They really mean a lot to me. Just 4 more chapters until Arc 6. See you next time. ;)