Marvel: Road to Endgame & Beyond…?
by Alex Kane
Prologue-Champion of the Multiverse Part II
Billions of years had passed. The child was born. He was named Zon by his mother just before she passed on from the birthing process. Unfortunately, his father had died in a glorious battle defending his new family from marauders. The only family he had left was his maternal grandparents. However, they proved themselves rather prejudiced and outdated in their political and racial views. They were aghast at their daughter's choice of a spouse, and they were even more insulted when the baby showed no signs of physical attributes even close to Galadorians, including strength and size. The pitiful thing wasn't even 10 pounds (quite normal for Galadorians to be slightly bigger at birth). It was then that Uatu appeared. Though at first they were astounded by the Watcher's appearance, they were soon relieved to hear the being had offered to take their grandson into his care.
In reality, Uatu would merely be one of Zon's guardians. He would parent the boy, but he would mostly play the part of tutor, especially in history. If the Cataclysm, or Decimation as some of the Beyonders called it after revealing some of the specifics of the catastrophe, were to be prevented, Zon would need all the knowledge of his enemy and his potential allies. For the most part Eternity was the father figure in Zon's life. He taught him all the mechanics of the Infinity Stones and how each could be used alone or together. Zon was even given the knowledge of the Multiverse by his last tutors: the Beyonders themselves. They explained that as he grew older, his power would be more akin to his parentage and he'd have even greater powers. When the boy came of age, his mutant abilities were activating. He was told of his ability to copy other powers, memories, and skills. Through a window into their universe, Zon was able to touch the hand of one of the Beyonders. The power was devastating! It almost killed the poor boy, but when it was done he never felt more alive. Next, he touched Uatu's hand. Zon now had a general idea of what to do. He not only had great knowledge, the ability to traverse the Multiverse, but also visions. Horrible visions! Over and over in his head he saw 3 faces of terror and their names repeated. They were some sort of dark gods. One was a god of old: a humanoid leaner than himself, but skilled in the ways of magic and trickery and wearing a green bodysuit with a gold-yellow antlered helmet. Loki The next was a god of new: artificial life with a capacity of power, knowledge, and emotion. But at the same time, there was a denial of that same emotion. Such contradictions in such a mind could only result in deterioration and madness, even in something synthetic. Worse yet, it had the capacity to spread like wildfire until everything was dead…or metal. Ultron The last was the worst one. This would be the god of all. He recognized it as the cause of this Decimation that Eternity and the others had spoken about. His devotion to Death wasn't just about gaining love from the only being who might understand him, but also a way to make some sense in the universe. What happened to Titan could happen anywhere. The Eternals who lived there couldn't stop it, but he was better than them in every way except his appearance. The Mad Titan would prove that he, the mutant misfit, would be worthy of being the universe's savior and Death's lover and champion. Thanos
It was very overwhelming. Zon already knew about Thanos. He wasn't that much more than a bogeyman that he was told about at night before bed. It was a shame. Thanos was technically a part of that fascinating species: humans. Uatu had already taught Zon about Earth and its many visitors. The Celestials had seen the potential in the still hairy hominids at their early stages and experimented upon a small but sizable number of them. Those who didn't appear to get any results were sent back immediately, not knowing to themselves or their "creators" they now carried a new "X-gene" that would go down the ages hidden until the time of the pharaohs. The others were transformed into the Deviants and the Eternals, brother races. Despite being separate, they carried genes of each other, and that was how Thanos came to be so…abnormal. Otherwise, Eternals would look just like their human counterparts, if not slightly better. This experiment went well enough that a few million years later, the Kree Empire tried its own version of the same experiment which resulted in the Inhumans. All this history and various branches of humanity, Zon couldn't wait to go to Earth! He was dying to learn more about the more closed off sub-species of humans called Atlanteans.
The Beyonders told him to get more acclimated to the Multiverse by scouting out various minor universes. Experiencing them through his avatar would prove useful in getting his footing, but also to see if any of these more minor universes had any details Zon could recreate into the current universe once the Decimation event was over and the Infinity Stones were restored. As a guide, Zon was told to look at the universe designated 616, and if need be the universe 1610 was also acceptable. Hopefully, all of this could fix universe 19999.
First, he teleported himself into very minor universes. He experienced Captain America, but he wasn't a soldier, but a district attorney. He wasn't even at war (Captain America serial). Then he went into 1970s Earth dimensions. One had Captain America again, only it seemed he was split in 2: a father and son (Captain America TV movies). Another had Dr. Strange learning the ropes of magic, but it just felt wrong to Zon. "Close but no cigar" was the expression he was thinking (Dr. Strange TV pilot/movie). Another had the amazing Spider-Man fight typical criminals. His boss even had some compassion, quite frequently (not all the time though) (The Amazing Spider-Man TV show). The one he spent the most time in was the one where Robert Bruce Banner had somehow been renamed David Bruce Banner, called himself by his first name, experimented purposefully on himself, and had a different family entirely! Intriguing as this universe was, its Incredible Hulk was weaker than he deemed necessary, regardless of the fact that Thor and Daredevil were in this reality too. This point was seemingly proven when he died. As Zon left that Incredible dimension, he felt bits of it leak back into 19999 somehow. Maybe bits of it were acceptable (The Incredible Hulk TV show and TV movies).
Spending years in that last universe, Zon spent more time in 1980s dimensions. Other than the one with the Hulk there were only 2 of note. One had an alien fowl named Howard stranded on Earth, falling in love with a local girl named Bev, and stopping powerful aliens from coming to Earth. It was strange, but so was his 616 counterpart. There were definitely elements to consider folding into 19999 once the Stones were reconfigured (Howard the Duck). The other universe was Zon's first encounter with Frank Castle, the man known as the Punisher. The reality itself wasn't exactly noteworthy, but this first experience with the mass murderer/hero would prove beneficial to Zon. It would be like practice for getting used to the violence surrounding future Castles, including the 19999 one. It might even help with other violent heroes (1989 The Punisher movie with Dolph Lundgren).
The next few stops were 1990s dimensions. One had the most 616 accurate Captain America so far, although its Red Skull felt off and the Captain didn't seem any better at martial arts (1990 Captain America movie). Next he visited a reality where a family had 4 children who had received superpowers. This was the Power family. The way the kids used their powers seemed simple, but Zon knew from his 616 knowledge that they were capable of so much more. The reality itself seemed unimpressive, but just knowing about the so-called Power Pack gave Zon some pause for encouragement. Perhaps 19999 could do with its own (Power Pack TV pilot). Then he finally visited the Fantastic Four. It was ridiculous frankly, but at least he finally met them. It sure felt strange that Sue Storm was a child when she knew Reed Richards, who seemed 10 years older than her at least (1994 Fantastic Four movie by Roger Corman). Next, Zon finally got his first taste of mutants when he visited the Generation X team with Emma Frost. She seemed remarkable as did Banshee and Jubilee, but not much else. Again, Zon took notes of details to try to include for putting in 19999 (Generation X TV movie/pilot). Last was Zon's first adventure with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the man himself: Nick Fury. If Zon was going to live permanently in 19999, he'd have to have SOME experience with the warrior/leader and his spy organization as well as the von Struckers and Hydra (Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV movie/pilot).
Finally, Zon came to his more important research, the more major universes set in the 2000s and 2010s. He started small. He went into one with a more accurate Hulk. Needless to say, it was intense! By the time it was over, Zon felt particles of this dimension spilling into 19999 as well. Eventually Zon would discover that 19999 had bits of 1610 where Banner was, unknowingly, recreating the Super Soldier Serum, the David Banner universe where Banner experimented on himself, and the one he just visited where Banner was developing a way to heal or protect the human body from damage using various formulas combined with gamma radiation and the fact that Bruce Banner hadn't been seen by Betty Ross or her father in 5 years and he was last seen somewhere in South America (2003 Hulk movie by Ang Lee).
Next, Zon visited Daredevil and Kingpin again. Zon was finally understanding the darkness surrounding Matthew Murdock. He stuck around to see Elektra take on Kirigi, an agent of the Hand. Again, if he was going to live in 19999, he needed some experience with the beautiful wildcard and the evil ninjas (2003 Daredevil movie and Elektra spinoff). The next one was rather interesting. This would be Zon's first encounter of the scientific and magical creature known as Man-Thing! Although, in this reality, Man-Thing's behavior was much more aggressive than 616 was. There was still potential though. It made Zon wonder if he got anymore power from the Beyonders. Perhaps he could merge some details of some realities without the Infinity Stones, even if the details were small. Then it hit him! Perhaps he already was, as what happened with 19999's Bruce Banner. As he left, he definitely felt traces of the dimension leak into 19999. Good, this world could use a Man-Thing (Man-Thing TV/DVD movie).
The next 2 universes would provide great experience for the supernatural when the time came to experience them in 19999. First he learned about vampires by spending a few years with Blade. True, the vampires themselves weren't actually supernatural, but there were a couple of mystic elements like in their rituals and religious practices. Zon actually felt reluctant to leave, but knew he could only experience 1 universe at a time at this point. Plus, maybe some bits of this world would spill into 19999 as well (Blade, Blade II, Blade: Trinity, and Blade: The Series). Next, Zon would finally experience demons. Unlike vampires, these were more accurate. He was there to experience Johnny Blaze learn from Carter Slade, the Phantom Rider himself, learn to control Zarathos, although it would take awhile. Still, it was worth it just to see the look on Mephisto's face as he was sent back to his realm. As he left, Zon definitely felt several particles leak into the 19999 reality. He had a feeling, he'd see Johnny again (Ghost Rider, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance).
Needing to experience more scientific curiosities, Zon went to 2 universes with the Fantastic Four. The first one, barring that odd 90s one, was actually not bad. Human Torch was a bit cockier than he would've liked and Mr. Fantastic actually seemed more like a sweet dweeb than the control freak 616's Reed occasionally was. Its Doctor Doom was definitely more intimidating, but still very 2-dimensional. At least he finally got to see the Destroyer of Worlds himself, although it was a different image at first. He remembered as a child that Galactus, on what little leisure time he had, would check in on Zon's progress with Eternity. He was impatiently waiting, yet desperately hoping, that the boy would manage to save the universe, and thus himself. The purple helmed giant always intimidated Zon. With his enhanced senses thanks to the Beyonders, he could see that this universe's Galactus actually did look like the one he knew, only buried deep, DEEP inside that cosmic storm he conjured (2005 Fantastic Four and Rise of the Silver Surfer). Then, for the final bit of data gathering on Doctor Doom, for when the time came to face him back in 19999, Zon visited a reality where he was actually a well-meaning, but still trouble-making student. Everyone seemed moody here. No one actually cared for the Four apart from Franklin Richards. This Doom also felt off. If Zon could combine the well intentions of this one, the hubris of the last one, and the technological skills of that 90s one, that could very well be the Doom of 19999 (2015 Fantastic Four/Fan4stic).
To top off the last of the somewhat minor universes, Zon needed more raw emotional experiences which could only mean one name: Frank Castle. First, he went to a reality where Castle was actually a soldier, unlike that 80s one where he was a cop (probably a fluke). Zon experienced the raw violence of the life of the Punisher, as well as his anguish, by experiencing his family's deaths and seeing him wreak punishment on those responsible (2004 The Punisher with Thomas Jane). Finally, he needed to see what the Punisher was capable of against a worthy foe, so he visited a dimension where many of the same things happened in the previous one, only it was 2 children instead of one and it happened in New York not Florida. Villains like Doctor Doom or Red Skull were powerful or influential, but nothing could've prepared Zon like Jigsaw. He knew of the depraved man from 616, but he figured he could handle madness through all the vampires, demons, or even these parallel Franks. Still, not even the Bullseye he experience was this insane…well maybe just barely (Punisher: War Zone).
A/N: Wow, this prologue is taking WAY longer than I thought it would. Good news is I think I know which TV characters to Dust. Next time I'll cover the MAJOR timelines/dimensions etc. I'm talking the Spider-Man, X-Men, and MCU stuff. Also, if this sounds like I'm ripping off CW's rendition of DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths, well I basically am. Both Marvel and DC have Multiverses anyway. Since the Arrowverse basically confirmed all live action DC stuff (more or less) is part of its (DC's) Multiverse, then Marvel should get the same deal. I believe in equality, and so do both companies more or less. Batman Beyond has interacted with parts of the main DC universe and Old Man Logan even lived in the main Marvel universe...so there.
Further A/N: The X-Men stuff will be a bit of a hassle. There are SO MANY timelines in that. There are 3-4 timelines in the movies AND the time travel stuff in Legion! Good grief.