Chapter 37: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
The Avengers
Captain America (Steve Rodgers) - Sentinel of Liberty
Thor (Jane Foster) - Goddess of Thunder
Hulk (Amadeus Cho) - Strongest There Is
Hawkeye (Clint Barton) - Unerring Marksman
Black Panther (T'Challa) - King of Wakanda
Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff) - Mutant Speedster
Antman (Scott Lang) - Size Shifting Superhero
Nova (Richard Rider) - Galactic Champion
Human Torch (Johnny Storm) - Fantastic Adventurer
Deadpool (Wade Wilson) - Mutated Mercenary
Ebony Surfer (Norrin Radd) - Herald of Death
Smasher (Isabel Kane) - Superguardian Elite
Doctor Spectrum (Nenet Ledger) - Wielder of the Power Prisim
New York. Magus Tower. Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Doctor Spectrum, Quicksilver, Deadpool and Smasher all clad in their Celestial armour surround the Magus.
Magus: You do know I have the power of many godly pantheons yes?
Hawkeye: Our god has two hammers.
Captain America: It's over Magus. Your crimes end here.
Magus: And what crimes would those be? I have simply used my power as a god should. In judgement of all those beneath me. And you are all beneath me. But if you want to die early feel free.
He fires a large blast of energy at them but the Avengers armour protects them. The Magus' grin falters.
Captain America: Take him down!
The Avengers opens fire on the Magus; arrows, lightning, penta vision, energy blasts and vibranium daggers are thrown at the Magus and shatter against a forcefield generated by the Magus. The Magus thrusts his palms forward and the Avengers are thrown back. Except for Thor, both hammers in hand she jumps into the forcefield and with a combined blow from Mjolnir and Stormbreaker the Magus' forcefield shatters. She then throws Stormbreaker at the Magus but the Magus waves his hand, the hammer simply flies around him and back into Thor.
Thor: UUHH!
The Magus laughs but he doesn't see what's behind him. The Hulk punches him to the ground.
Hulk: HULK SMASH! HULK-
The Magus holds up a hand and the Hulk freezes in place.
Magus: No.
He flicks and the Hulk is thrown out of the tower.
Smasher: Hit him hard!
Smasher and Doctor Spectrum fly at him; the Magus fires a blast of energy at them but their armour protects them. Doctor Spectrum creates a brass knuckle construct around her wrist and the two of them punch the Magus in the face. Magus staggers back but then creates a large energy fist of his own that punches the two heroines to the ground.
Magus: So that's what the armour is for. Clever. I'll burn through it though. And you do know I'm toying with you right? Just a bit of fun before-URK!
Deadpool stabs the Magus in the back, through the heart and out the other side.
Deadpool: You talk too much.
Magus: Huuu...uhhh...
Magus sways on his feet, then his head spins around to face Deadpool.
Magus: Any other smart ideas?
Beams of energy fire out his eyes and burn Deadpool's face.
Deadpool: AAAH! HOT!
Above New York the Ebony Surfer, Human Torch, Antman and Nova fly towards the tower.
Ebony Surfer: I can sense the Magus. He is within the tower.
Antman points to Hulk who is flying through the sky towards them.
Antman: Is that Hulk?
Nova flies and catches Hulk.
Nova: I got you.
Hulk: Nova? Torch? You guys are alive?! We thought you were dead!
Human Torch: We'll explain later. We have a way to stop the Magus!
They fly back towards the battle, they burst back inside the tower.
Ebony Surfer: Adam Magus! Your crimes against the Universe will not go unpunished!
Magus: Surfer? You look different. Wait...is that Death I smell on you! You did not! You became the Avatar of Death? I did not see that coming! Does Thanos know you're working for his girl? But it doesn't matter, you aren't the only ones with reinforcements.
He snaps his fingers and the Zodiac appear in the room.
Taurus: We're back!
They attack the Avengers. The Ebony Surfer flies at the Magus who blasts him off his board. The Surfer hits the ground and Taurus stands over him.
Taurus: Get ready baldy. I've kicked the crap out of the Hulk and now it's your turn.
The Surfer catches his punch with ease and then backhands him knocking Taurus out.
Surfer: You overestimate your chances.
The Human Torch surrounds the Magus with fire and throws the dagger to Nova.
Human Torch: Now do it!
Nova flies from behind the Magus but the Magus absorbs the fire in his hand, he then turns around and throws the fire in Nova's face. Nova falls to the ground and drops the dagger.
Magus: Didn't I kill both of you? Why are you back? How are you...wait...that dagger what is-
He is cut of as both Mjolnir and Stormbreaker slam into his face. The Magus crashes to the floor. He gets up but notices some blood dripping on the floor.
Magus: AAAARRRHHHHH! You DARE?!
Thor flies towards him both hammers in hand but he grabs her by the throat and slams her to the floor. She drops both hammers and the Magus goes to grab Mjolnir.
Magus: I'll smash your head in with your own UUUHHH!
He can't lift it. And then the Ebony Surfer blasts the Magus in the chest.
Ebony Surfer: You must be worthy. Something you will never be.
Captain America helps the Human Torch to his feet.
Captain America: Good to have you back Johnny.
Human Torch: The dagger! It can take the Magus' power away! Someone get it!
Quicksilver: Consider it-
He is cut off as Aries speeds past him punching Quicksilver in the face as he does. He picks up the dagger.
Aries: Where you going to say got? Because I-AAH!
An energy arrow takes him in the back and explodes. Aries falls to the floor dropping the knife as he does so.
Hawkeye: Word of advice; don't stand still. I can hit you then.
Hawkeye is then lifted up telekinetically by the Magus who then slams him into a wall.
Magus: Good advice.
Black Panther and Captain America leap at the Magus from behind but the Magus simply pushes them away. The two crash through a wall and come to face to face with the antimatter bomb. Black Panther looks at the ticking down timer.
Black Panther: No!
Captain America: You kept one?!
Black Panther: I did. In case my people were threatened. I will not allow the Earth to suffer for my mistake. I can disarm the bomb. Keep the Magus away from me.
Pieces peeks around the hole made in the wall by the two. Captain America spots her and goes to throw his shield at her.
Pieces: Stop. Throw the shield at Panther.
Captain America cannot resist. He turns and throws it at Black Panther. But Quicksilver speeds in and catches the shield.
Pieces: Ok fine. You'll take the shield and shove it up-
Quicksilver moves at speed and slams into Pieces. She is flung against a wall.
Quicksilver: I think faster than anyone. You can't control me.
Magus then blasts the ground that Quicksilver was standing on, he is flung into the air and caught by Smasher. But then the Magus grabs them with his telekinesis. Captain America, Human Torch and Hawkeye charge forward but the Magus sweeps them aside. Magus begins to squeeze on Smasher and Quicksilver and the two scream.
Magus: That armours helped you all last longer then you should have. But I'm getting through it, I'll make your deaths last until your final failure. Unless you surrender. Say it. Magus we're sorry for daring to defy you. We're sorry we-
Thor, Hulk and the Ebony Surfer all attack the Magus at once.
Ebony Surfer: Surrender? Avengers do not surrender. We will fight until the end. Ours or yours!
Together the three have enough power to knock the Magus to the ground. But as he hits the ground he sees the dagger. And Antman picking it up.
Magus: Wait! That dagger is toxic! And you planned to use it on me. Good plan until I
The Magus fires a blast of energy at the dagger that destroys it. Antman leaps back in pain, his hand is burning.
Antman: AAAHH! HOT! HOT! HOT!
Magus: And just like that your last hope died. Earth's Mightiest Heroes, heh, Earth's mightiest morons more like.
Doctor Spectrum: You said that dagger was the only thing that could hurt the Magus. What do we do now?
Nova: We fight to the end.
The Avengers charge at the Magus and his Zodiac. Libra stands over Captain America.
Libra: Why bother? You are clearly outmatched. Just surrender. The Magus is going to remake it all, it will be a new Eden. Why do you fight against it?
Captain America: I thought you were supposed to be smart Libra. You say the Magus is going to do all these great things. But what has he done? Stolen power that isn't his and enslaved the Earth. From our conversations I got the impression that you were a good man once. But if you really believe that all this is for the greater good then you are more lost then I thought.
Libra: He's going to bring them back. He hasn't because you've been keeping him from that. Because you're too arrogant to-
Black Panther: GET DOWN!
A stray blast is going towards Libra, Black Panther tackles Libra to the ground and the blast narrowly misses him. Libra stays on the ground shocked as Black Panther runs back to the bomb.
Libra: He...
He looks around, another blast misses Doctor Spectrum but hits Aquarius blowing her in half.
Libra: Aqaurius...Sophie...we gave it all to him. Why would?
He then sees the bomb, Black Panther and Hulk desperately inspect it to try and disarm it.
Libra: What is that?
Hulk: A bomb, he's going to blow the whole planet unless we stop it.
Libra: No...no...it was...I...I am a fool. I never mattered. We never mattered.
Libra turns, his hands glow.
Libra: Zodiac. I gave you your power. I now have a better use for it.
The remaining Zodiac glow with energy and then the energy is ripped from them. They revert to normal and the power flows back into Libra. Libra then aims at the shattered pieces of the dagger. It reforms and then it flies into the Magus hitting him right in the chest.
The Magus screams as the power explodes from him. The energy forms into the shape of a Celestial and then turns to dust. The last traces of the Celestial host are gone.
In New York the battle still rages. Star Lord is knocked to the ground by a controlled Spiderman. But before Spiderman can finish him the purple glow in Spiderman's eyes fades and Spiderman steps back confused.
Spiderman: What's going on? Who are you and why am I beating you up?
Inside the tower the Magus falls to his knees. Captain America stands over him.
Captain America: You called it didn't you? This would end with you on your knees and us standing over you.
Magus: It's...not...over...yet. I'm a quantum magician remember?
The Magus stands up and begins making various gestures with his hands, runes of energy appear and float in the air in front of him.
Magus: Reality is mine to play with and with enough power I can correct it. And this failure has what I need.
He points at Libra. Energy is ripped away from Libra and flows into the Magus. Libra is disintegrated leaving only ash.
Libra: I'm sorry.
Magus: And now with that power let's correct the course of history.
The Celestial image reforms from dust and then flows into the Magus. Outside the tower the freed heroes eyes glow purple again and they resume attacking the Guardians and the Imperial Guard.
Magus: NO MORE GAMES!
He snaps his fingers and the Avengers are all trapped inside unbreakable glass bottles. Outside the tower the cosmic heroes suddenly find themselves wrapped in unbreakable chains.
Inside the tower. The now human Zodiac wave at the Magus.
Taurus: Boss! Hey! We never liked Libra anyway! Can we have our power back?
Magus: What was I thinking? Giving power to you useless idiots.
He points at them and they all fall to the ground dead. The Magus then walks over to the bomb and checks the timer.
Magus: How long do I have? Hmm thirty minutes. Enough time to torture a few of you before the-
Human Torch: Hahahahaha!
The Magus' face twists in rage. He walks up to the Torch.
Magus: Is something funny?
Human Torch: I just figured it out. I didn't get it, I thought the dagger was going to kill you but it never was. We could never beat you. But it's like Franklin said you're hiding. We just had to get him to notice. Destroying and then reforming the Celestials? How could he not notice that?
Magus: That's not-
Living Tribunal: ADAM MAGUS!
Suddenly the faces of the Living Tribunal loom over the tower. The Tribunal has arrived, almost five kilometres in height he glares in pure rage at the Magus. Of the three faces of the Tribunal one is exposed while the other two are behind hoods. The exposed face is that of Adam Warlock.
Living Tribunal: You have perverted universal law. Stolen power that is not yours, taken lives with no regard. You are a disease. You will be purged.
Magus: Purged?! I'm a part of you Adam, you can't kill me. But I can kill you!
The Magus fires a massive blast at the Tribunal but as it hits the Tribunal it simply turns to a swarm of butterflies.
Living Tribunal: The power you have stolen will be returned.
Power is ripped away from the Magus. Not just the Celestials but also the pantheons. Asgard, Olympus and the other godly cities pillaged by the Magus find themselves restored as if nothing ever occurred. The Avengers are freed from their glass prisons and the chains on the other heroes vanish. The Magus then runs to the antimatter bomb.
Magus: Take something from me, I'll take something from-
He finds he cannot move. The bomb then turns to dust and blows away.
Living Tribunal: You are correct Magus. You are part of me, when I was reborn in this form I subconsciously shredded all my negative aspects. I was not aware that you would take form and be capable of such wicked acts. But all you have done will now be undone. The lives you have taken will be restored.
The Living Tribunal waves his hand and just like that the damage is undone. The heroes of both Earth and space cheer together. Hyperion sits up, the hole in his chest from Mjolnir gone. He looks around confused but alive. The few remaining Universal Church of Truth ships fly away as fast as they can.
On the top of the tower.
Living Tribunal: And as for you Magus. You will serve the cosmic balance. The Tribunal must have three faces. Adam Warlock is one, Goddess Eve is the second.
One of the hoods fades away to reveal the female face of the Goddess, the good side of Adam Warlock.
Living Tribunal: And you Adam Magus will be the third.
The Magus fades away screaming.
Magus: No! NNNOOOOOOO!
The third hoods fades and the face is now that of the Magus.
Living Tribunal: Judgement must be impartial. Both good and evil are required for that. Do not fear Avengers. The Magus as you know him is now gone, the three faces are simply sides of my whole being. His perception of reality will combine with that of Warlock and Goddess to form a truly impartial judgement. You have nothing to fear from us. I am sorry for what the Magus did to you all, I will permit your actions.
The Tribunal then vanishes.
Smasher: What actions was he-?
Galactus then appears before them.
Galactus: Mine.
Deadpool jumps back in fright.
Deadpool: What is it with you cosmic types and teleporting in and making me have brown pants? What's wrong with walking?!
Galactus: You have all been instrumental in averting multiversal war. For that you will be rewarded. Scott Lang. Jonathon Storm. You are dead and must return to her halls. But I have the power to change that. I will change that. You will rise again.
He points at them and the two glow for a moment before it fades.
Antman: I thought I'd feel different.
Galactus: And you Norrin Radd. You have a choice to make.
Ebony Surfer: There is no time for a choice. On Hala an elderly scientist takes his final breath, in the Klyn a prisoner will soon be murdered. I must be there for all their last moments. I am the Herald of Death.
Galactus: No. You have never served death Norrin. Even when I was a destroyer you would champion life. To see you like this gives me no pleasure. It is not right. I cannot restore you to what you were, but I can change you to something new. Become my herald once more, help me restore what I destroyed. Serve life not death.
The Ebony Surfer gets on his board and stands still for a moment.
Ebony Surfer: I...I accept your offer.
He flies onto Galactus' hand. The fist closes around him.
Galactus: Then be reborn. Drink in the power of life. Arise my Golden Surfer! My Herald of Life!
The fist opens. The Surfer is now gold and smiling for the first time in months.
One week later. Avengers Tower is now repaired as is much of the surrounding city. Inside the tower the thirteen Avengers gather in the meeting room. They all take their seats.
Captain America: Thanks to Galactus and the Living Tribunal all of the damage caused by The Magus has been repaired. The majority of people don't have any recollection of their time under the Magus' control. As for those that do SHIELD is putting together a psi task force to assist people with repressing those memories. The only ones who know the whole truth though are in this room.
Captain America looks at the team with pride.
Captain America: Compared to other iterations of the Avengers this team was never truly organised. It was those who replied to my alarm on Apocalypse and then anyone else we bumped into afterwards. And yet it worked. We stopped the Celestials, saved Olympus and Asgard...and most of reality if I understood Galactus. I am proud to have fought beside you all.
Captain America lifts a glass and the rest of the team follow suit.
Captain America: To us, the Avengers.
All: To the Avengers.
They all drink.
Doctor Spectrum: I have a quick question. What happened to the Celestials in the end? Are they dead or-
Golden Surfer: I have searched for them and found no traces. Perhaps they are dead or it might be that they are hiding. I do believe that we have little to fear from them in the foreseeable future.
Antman: Oh good, just the unforeseeable to worry about then.
Hawkeye: Just worry about what's in front of you. There's always something hiding behind the corner but no point worrying about it until it's there. Now what is there? Please say nothing so I can go home and sleep for a week.
Captain America: Well have received rumblings of-
Golden Surfer: I apologise but I must interrupt Captain. I have duties with Galactus that must be attended. I have come here today to say goodbye. And thank you. I did not always handle it as well as I could have but I have found being an Avengers to be a highlight of my life. Should you ever need me I will come. But before I go there is something else, Galactus and I restored it from the shards we could find.
The Golden Surfer is suddenly holding Captain America's shield in his hand. It is put back together and whole again, he hands it to Captain America who takes it carefully as if he doesn't believe it's back in his hands.
Captain America: I...thank you Norrin.
Smasher: Um I guess as the Surfer's said it I will to, I'd like to step down from the team. It's just I've been away from Sam and Josiah for too long and this thing with the Magus made me realise just how much I missed them.
Human Torch: Me too, I can't stop thinking about what Mistress Death told me. About how Reed, Sue and the kids are missing somewhere. I called Ben and we're going after them. Ben and Johnny's fantastic adventure awaits.
Nova: I'll be going too. The Guardians of the Galaxy have asked me to help round up the last remnants of the Universal Church of Truth. And it's better I stay of Earth until I figure some things out.
Antman: You know we can help with-
Nova: Not this you can't. I'll call if I need help obviously but I'd like some time to think alone on this.
Captain America: I understand. Anyone else got any announcements? Thor? Are you ok?
Thor blinks and comes back to attention.
Thor: I am just happy to be alive. It is something to be savoured.
Doctor Spectrum: I know I'm not really on this team but I'm out as well. I nearly lost this new world and I never had a chance to explore it. So that's where I'm going if anyone wanted to know.
Deadpool: And I got a movie to prepare for so I'm out.
Hakweye: So that's half the team gone. Any point in the rest of us sticking around?
Captain America: We're always needed. And this has always been the Avengers way. We come, we fight and then after some time we eventually leave. But it's not permanent. No one is ever truly gone. Once an Avenger always an Avenger.
Then something buzzes on Captain America's belt. He takes out a phone and answers it.
Captain America: Hello...Washington? How many? I understand. We'll deal with it.
He turns to the team who are all getting up to go.
Captain America: That was SHIELD. The Masters of Evil are holding the city hostage for ten trillion dollars. They were hoping we could handle them.
Smasher: The Masters of Evil?
Quicksilver: A group of morons. It'll take us ten minutes at best.
Captain America: Well? One for the road?
Washington DC. The Masters of Evil have assembled in front of the Capitol Building; Baron Zemo, Abomination, Graviton, Absorbing Man, Moonstone, Bullseye, Speed Demon, Genocide, Sabretooth, Atuma and Klaw.
Baron Zemo: We demand-
He is cut of as lightning crashes across the sky. An Avengers quinjet flies over the building and the Avengers leap out. They land on the ground and then charge the Masters together. Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Panther, Quicksilver, Antman, Nova, Human Torch, Golden Surfer, Smasher, Deadpool and Doctor Spectrum: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, The Avengers.
Captain America: AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!