Two years later
All at different locations, several things were happening at the exact same moment. Down in Earth, everything was looking at peace. Not major threats had happened for a while.
With Tony Stark, he was talking a stroll with his soon-to-be wife, Pepper Potts, talking about potentially having a kid, in a dream of course.
Vision and Rhodey had taken custody of the vastly empty Compound, with Vision looking around the building worriedly.
Peter Parker was getting on a bus to go on a field trip to a museum.
Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson and Natasha Romanoff were on their adventures, after Nat had turned her back on the Accords and realized it wasn't what she thought it was. The government had been hunting everybody on Steve's team for a long time, with no success.
Bucky Barnes had been taken to Wakanda for a therapeutic isolation, keeping him in a frozen chamber until his mind could be cleared. Scott Lang had been the only taken by the government and put under house arrest, but he has certainly had troubles of his own. And Clint was still retired. Steve, Sam and Natasha managed to pay him a visit one time, though.
Which brings to the final two, Percy Jackson and Wanda Maximoff, who kind of went on to live like normal human beings. Percy had a job overseeing a fishing station, making sure that the adequate and proper amount of seafood was brought him and making sure his workers didn't overfish. He understood the demand for seafood, and it could be good, but there was a boundary on how much to fish and he made sure nobody crossed that line. And he was good at that. Wanda also had a job, which was running a coffee shop. But Percy didn't stray too far from home, opting for a place near Boston, not too far from the Atlantic and not too close to the city, where less people were bound to recognize them.
While all these peaceful scenarios were happening, it was a nothing short of terror in space.
Thor, Hulk, Loki and the rest of the Asgardians had just escaped Asgard as it went through Ragnarok, the end of of it all in Norse folklore. Surtur and Hela had sent the once rich and beautiful divinity exploding into the vast universe. And Thor could only watch, but at least he was able to get everyone out.
Or … at least he thought he did.
Next thing they knew, a massive warship was upon them and completely obliterated them. It was an all-out bloodbath.
Asgardians lay dead as an alien named Ebony Maw walked amongst the casualties. He stepped over the bodies and spoke with no mind, as if they were scattered pieces of dirty clothing on a bedroom floor.
"Hear me, and rejoice," Ebony Maw said. "You have had the privilege of being saved by the Great Titan. You may think this is suffering. No … it is salvation. Universal scales tip toward balance because of your sacrifice. Smile … for even in death, you have become Children of Thanos."
Loki is seen standing with Thanos and his Black Order, as he glances up at the Mad Titan himself.
Thanos looked out the window of the destroyed Asgardian vessel. "I know what it's like to lose. To feel so desperately that you're right … yet to fail, nonetheless." Thor groaned in pain as Thanos grabbed him by his vest. "It's frightening. Turns the legs to jelly. I ask you, to what end? Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same. And now, it's here. Or should I say … I am."
Thanos clenched his Infinity Gauntlet, which already has the Power Stone on it.
Thor grunted again as blood spilled from his mouth. "You talk too much."
Thanos glanced with a smug expression at Loki as he brought the power stone close to Thor. "The Tesseract, or your brother's head. I assume you have a preference."
"Oh, I do," Loki said. "Kill away!"
The Power Stone glowed brightly as Thanos planted it against Thor's head. The god of thunder yelled in pain as he suffered. For a moment, Loki stood his ground, but at some point he couldn't let Thor suffer anymore.
"Alright, stop!"
Thor gasped. "We don't have the Tesseract. It was destroyed on Asgard."
Loki grimaced, as if telling Thor he knew something that he didn't. He lifted his right hand and revealed the Tesseract.
Thor glared at Loki. "You really are the worst, brother."
Loki advanced while he held the Tesseract out for Thanos. "I assure you, brother, the sun will shine on us again."
Thanos chuckled. "Your optimism is misplaced, Asgardian."
"Well, for one thing: I'm not Asgardian," Loki said. "And for another … we have a Hulk."
Loki dropped the Tesseract and tackled Thor out of danger as the Hulk tackled Thanos, sending him sprawling. The Hulk roared at Thanos before landing three punches to the Mad Titan's head. He punched down on his shoulders before slamming him against a wall and pushing against him.
The alien known as Cull Obsidian tried to intervene but Ebony Maw stopped him. "Let him have his fun."
As the Hulk attempts to choke Thanos to death, the Mad Titan recoils and grabs the Hulk's arms and pulls them away from him. The Hulk is looking pretty shocked himself as Thanos pulls his arms apart and push him back. Thanos lands a punch to his neck, which makes the Hulk groan. The Hulk swings but Thanos blocks it and punches his chest. The Hulk swings again, which Thanos dodges and goes behind him, punching his back. While the Hulk swings wildly, Thanos strikes with poise and precision, like a professional boxer would. The Hulk takes several more hits before Thanos slams his head against his knee, rendering him woozy and unsteady. Thanos proceeds to pick up Hulk in a feat of pure strength and slams him into the ground, where the Hulk did not get up back from.
Thor then attempted to strike Thanos's head with a metal bar, which didn't even phase the Mad Titan. Thor tried to strike again but Thanos kicked him away. Thor tried to get up, but Ebony Maw stopped him, using his telekinesis to bind him down.
Heimdall laid on the ground, still alive, but in severe pain as he exchanged looks with Thor. He extended his hand. "Allfathers … let the dark magic flow through me one last … time."
Heimdall managed to summon the Bifrost, which carried the Hulk away. And the last time it was, as Thanos didn't looked appeased by Heimdall's act of serenity. He took the spear from the alien known as Corvus Glaive.
"That was a mistake," Thanos said, before sending the spear into Heimdall, killing him.
"NOOOOO!" Thor roared. "You're going to die for that."
Ebony Maw waved a hand, placing a piece of metal over Thor's mouth. He placed a finger over his mouth and shushed him. He then bent down to pick up the Tesseract from the ground and walked over to Thanos with it in hand, kneeling before him as the Titan began taking his armor off. "My humble personage … bows before your grandeur. No other being has ever had the might, nay the nobility, to wield not one, but two Infinity Stones. The universe lies within your grasp."
Thanos took the Tesseract and crushed it in his hand, revealing the space stone amongst the little shards of what remained of the Tesseract. He picked up the space stone and planted into the next slot of his Infinity Gauntlet. Thanos groaned as he felt the power course through his veins.
"There are two more stones on Earth," Thanos said. "Find them, my children, and bring them to me on Titan."
"Father, we will not fail you," the alien known as Proxima Midnight said.
"If I might, interject … if you're going to Earth, you might want a guide," Loki suggested. "I do have a bit of experience in that arena."
"If you consider failure experience …" Thanos mused.
"I consider experience, experience," Loki retorted. "Almighty Thanos. I, Loki, Prince of Asgard … Odinson … the rightful King of Jotunheim, God of Mischief, do hereby pledge to you, my undying fidelity."
Thor squinted and noticed a dagger shimmer in Loki's hand. The god of mischief attempted to stab Thanos through the neck, but Thanos saw the move coming and raised his gauntlet faster than Loki, calmly stopping him mid-strike.
Thanos smirked at Loki. "'Undying'? You should choose your words more carefully." Thanos grabbed Loki's arm and forced him to drop his dagger. He then picked up Loki by the neck with his gauntlet-covered hand, choking him slowly out of life. He made eye contact with Thor and applied more force to Loki's neck.
Loki strained as he spoke. "You … will never be … a god."
Bones could be heard cracking as Thanos snapped Loki's neck, ultimately putting him to pasture. Thor tried to yell out but was muffled by his makeshift mask. Thanos walked over to Thor and dropped his brother's body in front of him.
"No resurrections this time," Thanos said.
Thanos proceeded to show off the sheer power at his will, using the power stone to crush the rest of the ship before using the space stone to teleport himself and his Black Order away.
Thor crawled over to Loki's body. "No. Loki," he strained to say before he cried over his brother's body.
…
Meanwhile, in another part of space the Bifrost beam headed directly for Earth, taking the Hulk with it, headed straight for New York.
In the Sanctum Santorum, Doctor Strange was arguing with Wong about meaningless things as they walked down the stairs of the Sanctum.
"Seriously? You don't have any money?" Strange asked Wong.
"Attachment to the material is detachment from the spiritual," Wong argued.
"I'll tell the guys at the deli. Maybe they'll make you a metaphysical ham on rye," Strange sarcastically responded.
"Oh, wait, wait, wait, I think I have 200."
"Dollars?"
"Rupees."
"Which is?"
"Uh, buck and a half."
Strange sighed. "What do you want?"
"I wouldn't say no to a Tuna Melt," Wong said.
The Bifrost in that moment blazed right through the Sanctum and Bruce crash-landed right through the staircase. Doctor Strange's cape flew onto his shoulders as he and Wong inspected inside the hole.
"Thanos is coming," Bruce muttered. "He's coming."
Strange and Wong exchanged looks. "Who?" the former asked.
…
As Pepper and Tony strolled through Central Park and finished their conversation about having kids, a portal opened in front of them and through it walked Doctor Strange.
"Tony Stark, I'm Doctor Stephen Strange. I need you to come with me. Oh, uh, congratulations on the wedding, by the way," Strange said.
Tony frowned. "I'm sorry, you giving out tickets or something?"
"We need your help," Strange explained. "Look, it's not overselling to say that the fate of the universe is at stake."
"And who's 'we'?" Tony demanded.
Bruce Banner emerged behind Doctor Strange. "Hey, Tony."
Tony looked truly shocked to see the scientist. "Bruce."
"Pepper."
"Hi," the blonde greeted back.
"You okay?" Tony asked.
Bruce embraces Tony, not answering his question. And Tony could only wonder what the hell Bruce had gone through.
…
Tony sat on the couch at the Sanctum Santorum as Wong used his magic to display his presentation. "From the dawn of the universe, there was nothing. Then, boom ... the Big Bang sent six elemental crystals, hurdling across the virgin universe. These Infinity Stones each control an essential aspect of existence."
Each stone lit up as Doctor Strange announced what they stood for. "Space. Reality. Power. Soul. Mind. And Time." Doctor Strange opened the Eye of Agamotto that hung from his neck, revealing the Time Stone.
"Tell me his name again," Tony said.
"Thanos," Bruce replied. "He's a plague, Tony. He invades planets, he takes what he wants, he wipes out half the population. He sent Loki! The attack on New York, that's him!"
"This is it," Tony said, more talking to himself than everyone else in the room. "What's our timeline?"
"No telling. He has the Power and Space Stones, that already makes him the strongest creature in the whole universe! If he gets his hands, on all six stones, Tony …"
"He can destroy life on a scale hither to undreamt of," Strange finished.
Tony leaned against a cauldron, stretching his leg. "Did you seriously just say 'hither to undreamt of'?"
"Are you seriously leaning on the Cauldron of the Cosmos?" Strange retorted.
"Is that what this is …?" Strange's cloak smacked Tony and he flinched, looking offended. "I'm going to allow that. If Thanos needs all six, why don't we just stick this one down the garbage disposal?"
"No can do," Strange replied.
"We swore an oath to protect the Time Stone. With our lives," Wong added.
"And I swore off dairy, but then, Ben & Jerry's named a flavor after me, so …"
"Stark Raving Hazelnuts," Strange mused.
"It's not bad."
"A bit chalky."
"'A Hunka-Hulka Burning Fudge' is our favorite," Wong said.
"That's a thing?" Bruce asked.
"Whatever. Point is: things change," Tony argued.
"Our oath to protect the Time Stone cannot change. This stone may be the best chance we have against Thanos," Strange argued back.
"And still conversely, it may also be his best chance against us."
"Well, if we don't do our jobs."
"What is your job exactly, besides making balloon animals?"
Strange chuckled. "Protecting your reality, douchebag."
"Okay, guys, can we quick cable this discussion right now? The fact is that we have the Stone. We know where it is. Vision is out there somewhere with the Mind Stone, and we have to find him now," Bruce said.
"Vision, huh?" Tony mused.
"What? Don't tell me you lost another super bot?" Bruce said.
"No, no. He's alright. I think he's at the Compound with Rhodey. But uh …"
"But what?"
"It's just … things haven't been going great for the Avengers," Tony said. "You've been out that long."
"What do you mean?"
"There were these Sokovia Accords that were passed. Now the Avengers are kind of … restricted on what they can do," Tony said. "And to make it worse, uhh … me and Steve had a falling out over the Accords. We didn't agree on it, and there was this big fight, so … we're not really on speaking terms."
"Does it really matter?" Bruce said. "Screw these Accords or whatever. We need all the help we can get."
Tony nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I''ll call Vision up right now."
Just as he was about to tap into his smartphone, he perked up as he heard distant rumbling and the sound of something rattling. He looked at Strange, who's strand of hair fluttered like it was windy.
"Say, Doc, you wouldn't happen to be moving your hair, would you?" Tony asked.
Strange glanced around. "Not at the moment, no."
The four of them stare in confusion at the glassy door, in which they can see people running away from … something. Tony walked outside and sure enough, people were running for the lives as sirens wailed in the distance. A woman fell and Tony helped her back on her feet. He asked if she was okay and got her up just as a random car crashed into the light pole near Tony.
"Help him! Wong, Doc," Tony said, pointing to the car.
"Got it!" Bruce said.
Tony put on his tech glasses. "FRIDAY, what am I looking at?"
"Not sure, I'm working on it," the AI replied.
"Hey! You might wanna put that Time Stone in your back pocket, Doc!" Tony called back to Strange.
"Might wanna use it," he retorted.
As the two turned a corner, a huge circular ship can be seen floating near Bleecker Street. Tony stared at the ship with wide eyes.
"Oh, shit."
…
While Peter Parker took a nap on the bus ride to the museum, he felt his arm hairs stand straight on end. He glanced behind him to see the large circular ship hovering above the streets of New York. Peter reached forward to tap his best friend, Ned Leeds.
"Ned, hey. I need you to cause a distraction," Peter told him.
Ned spotted the spaceship. "Holy shit! We're all gonna die! There's a spaceship!"
Peter strapped his web shooter as all the students pushed towards the back of the bus to see the spaceship. He used the the web shooter to open a window before diving outside.
"What's the matter with you kids?" the bus driver asked. "You've never seen a spaceship before?"
As Peter hung off the side of the bus, he put on his mask before leaping off and web-slinging away off the bridge.
…
In Boston, Percy Jackson just arrived home and he embraced Wanda from behind as she washed the last remaining dish. Wanda turned her head and Percy gave her a small welcoming peck on the lips.
"Hey, honey, how was work today?" Wanda asked.
"Pretty good," Percy replied as he reached for a Chips Ahoy cookie off the counter. "It was lobster day today. Brung in a good amount of it."
"That really doesn't bother, huh?"
Percy smiled as he went into the living room. "Nah. I understand there's demand for seafood, people love eating it. Just like vegans kind of understand that people like eating meat. But as long as there's no overfishing, I don't get mad. You know, there has to be a balance. It actually is pretty good for the marine population."
Percy turned on the TV and plopped himself on the couch, flipping through the channels.
"That makes sense," Wanda replied.
"Let's see what do we have," Percy said before settling on a breaking news report. Percy put the controller down, his attention now fully focused on the news channel as they displayed a breaking news report about a giant spaceship hovering above New York. Percy could see civilians running, cars crashed and trash flying everywhere. The more Percy watched the news report, the more shocked he became. It had been quiet for two years before whatever the hell this was decided it wanted to show up. They really weren't allowed any peace, were they?
Percy stood up at the same time Wanda ran into the living room. "Honey, are you seeing this?" Percy asked.
"I just got in touch with Vision," Wanda said. "The Compound's under attack."
"What the hell is happening?" Percy muttered to himself before looking back at Wanda. "What about this?"
Wanda shrugged. "I don't know about that, maybe it's all connected. But Vision says they are after the mind stone where he's at. And right now, it's just him and Rhodes."
A brooding look settled on Percy's face. "Well then, we better go help them."
Percy and Wanda practically sprinted out of their home.
Just wanted to add this real quick AN, because you will all need to buckle up. From this moment on, everything changes. Percy's presence will really leave an impact on the MCU.