The Boy-King of Infinity

Disclaimer/Plot/Challenge Information/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER

Recommended Reads: Raven, Magical Spider, Bonded, Widow's Vengeance, Wands and Claws and Reborn by JustBored21, Harry Potts and the Infinity Stones by samhaine, Master Potter of Kamar-Taj and He's definitely got the stones for it by Ryuko monogatari, Child of the Storm, Ghosts of the Past and The Phoenix and the Serpent by Nimbus Llewelyn, The War of Titans by PerseusPeverell092, A Fallen God by Hostiel, Kill me if you can and The Overpowered Gamer by PercyPendragon3, The Eye of the Phoenix by GrandSpaceWizard, Master of Death and Wielder of Infinity by bhanfhen, Do Not Meddle In The Affairs Of Wizards by Corwalch, Harry Potter the Mutant Obscurus Gamer by GnomeBob and Harry Is A Dragon, And That's Okay by Saphroneth

Key Pairing: Harry/TBD

Other Pairings: To be determined

Normal Speech

'Thoughts'

'Mental Speech'

/Parseltongue/

Review Answers:

WhiteElfElder: He isn't: the explanation is coming;

Fullmetal1985: In case you don't know the character, Franklin Richards is, basically, the human incarnate, Omega-Level Enhanced version of the Reality Stone: its his to command and, much like Harry, all he has to do is will it and it happens; so, add in Harry being unconscious – thanks to Dumbles' meddling – and he's able to focus his power on Harry, keeping him at bay…for now;

MMax: Do you know what's funny? I never realised that; I always chose to believe it was in order of favouritism: weird, huh?

Infinity

ALSO:

There's one reviewer who left a heck of a lot of detail and reasons for disliking this story and, while I accept that, I need to make a point clear about how I came to write this story, but, since I know people dislike lengthy openings with review responses – not that I'm going to STOP formatting the design this way – please see the AN at the bottom if you're curious;

"That would imply we'd want to undo his work!"

Suddenly, even Harry was left speechless as his eyes went upwards, as did the members of the Illuminati, and, to Harry's surprise, a dumbfounded Dumbledore, who suddenly looked like he was hearing the voice of a ghost.

"And our final member…Professor Lily Potter…co-assigned-leader and mentor of the X-Men, Representative of the Homo Magi Communities of Planet Earth…and Host to the Phoenix Force!"

"Lily?" asked Dumbledore.

"Mummy?" asked Harry, a small part of him aware – and hateful – of how childish he sounded, even as he looked into the fiery-green eyes of the woman standing over his head, looking down at him with fondness, love and loss-all.

"Hello, my beautiful boy…we have so much catching up to do…"

Chapter 5: Albus, Meet The REAL Phoenix!

Harry felt his heart stop dead as he stared up at the members of the Illuminati, his eyes more-focused on the alive form and face of his Mother, Lily Potter nee Evans, as she stood dead-centre in the group, her green eyes – well…eye, since the other eye was covered by that impressive patch she wore – shining with longing, loss and relief.

At the same time, Harry saw he wasn't the only one who couldn't quite believe what he was seeing, since he could see Dumbledore looking at his Mum with horror, disbelief, awe, wonder and even an air of dread, all rolled into one speechless, stunned-beyond-all-reason expression. As for the other members of the Illuminati, they seemed to both respect and appreciate Lily's presence with them, though, as Harry looked up at his living, breathing Mother, he actually felt a smile cross his face when he saw her expression darken before she turned her attention to Franklin Richards.

"Before we begin, would you mind explaining why you feel it necessary to keep my son from his powers, Richards?"

"Lily, we were reliably informed…" began Captain Barnes, but before he could say another word, Harry's eyes widened when he saw the Captain's lips suddenly vanish, fusing his mouth shut, before Lily glowered at him.

"I believe I was talking to Franklin, Bucky!" hissed the redhead darkly, her voice edged by a note of danger and ominous dislike and mistrust as she explained, "Trust me, if I wanted to hear someone's one-sided platitudes concerning how others might use and wield powers he knows not and things he can't believe, I'd have made sure Fudge and Snape were here with this old coot!"

'Go Mum,' thought Harry, unable to stop the smile crossing his face, before his smile faded just a little when his Mum looked down at him, a look of amusement and warmth in her eyes as she smiled at him.

"Now, sweetheart," said Lily, holding up a hand as she explained, "Let's get those nasty cuffs off of you."

"Lily, wait!" Dumbledore began, but before he had a chance to try and get through to his former student, Lily snapped her fingers.

At her command, Harry's eyes widened when the green cuffs binding him suddenly snapped clean off of his wrists, where they then disintegrated into nothingness, leaving Harry unbound before Lily, turning her gaze back to Franklin, added, "Now, Richards: unless you want the humiliation of having your Uncle Johnny having to change your diapers again, I strongly suggest you lower your restraints around my son's powers! And then, with the exception of Bucky there, can somebody tell me what was so desperate and demanding that it not only needed an almost-full assembly of the Illuminati, but this assembly also happened at the behest of him?"

She jabbed a finger at Dumbledore as she said the last part, once again earning a thought of go, Mum from Harry as he saw the old man shrink back; at the same time, Harry's eyes widened while his heart, mind and soul all grew warm again when he felt a familiar rush of power washing clean over him, making him feel more like…well…himself.

This told him that Franklin had done as Lily had suggested he do, most-likely fearing she could and would make good on her promise, while, as Harry rubbed his wrists, as though he was feeling his blood flowing again, he smiled softly as he looked up to the Illuminati.

"Thank you…now…I need to take care of something before I talk to you people again…"

Here, his eyes turned on Dumbledore, though not before Captain Barnes started squealing behind his fused lips, while even Black Bolt leaned forwards, parting his lips as he drew in a slow breath.

"No need for that, Black Bolt," said Lily, holding up a hand as she directed her next words to Harry, "Sweetheart, trust me: I know all too well what you're feeling right now. Believe me, there has been many a time I wanted to come back and unleash my full power on him for what his one-track-minded delusions have cost you and I…but…and, trust me, I really hate having to say this, but…right now…we need Albus here, if only to answer a couple of questions."

"He…he poisoned me!" exclaimed Harry, flexing and clenching his hands into fists as he hissed, "I lowered my guard with him because I…I thought he couldn't threaten me anymore, since he couldn't want to lead me to my death. But…but I was wrong and…and now…I'm…I don't know where I am, with my not-dead Mum, some other people I've never met before, most of whom I can feel your power and both admire and fear it…"

"At least power comes with wisdom, with this one," replied T'Challa, earning a small smile and a nod from Black Bolt, before Harry went on.

"And I don't even know why he's brought me here! He says he needed me to speak the truth, but, I mean, what's so wrong about using my powers to stop him thinking I have to die, just so the guy that…that killed my Dad and…and nearly killed you can be defeated?"

"Absolutely nothing, my beautiful boy," growled Lily, her words tinged by a feeling of power that even made Harry take notice, while both Franklin and Doctor Strange looked on with unease as Lily turned her gaze on Dumbledore now, as she explained, "Especially since, if Harry is referring to what I think he is referring to, my former Headmaster, you should know that those words, spoken by that leeching, layabout of an inebriated old soak…they are all lies!"

"W-W-What?" asked Dumbledore, a note of fear lacing his words. "No…Lily; you…you don't understand…"

"I don't understand?" asked Lily; as she said it, Harry let out an awed gasp when his Mother's body started glowing.

An eerie, almost-warm-and-cold-at-the-same-time aura of pure-yellowed-golden energy suddenly rose up around her while, when Harry looked to his Mother, he saw her green eye turning the same yellowish colour as the aura around her, while her voice now reverberated through the audience chamber, each syllable echoing in the room like the words of an almighty, divine being, as she addressed Dumbledore.

"You senile, desperate-minded, insolently-arrogant, self-serving old fool, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore! Do you even know to whom you are speaking? I am the chosen avatar of the Phoenix Force, Mistress and Guardian of All Light and Life in the Universe: Creator and Destroyer of Worlds, Civilisations and All We Know and Do Not! I am the embodiment of the very passion of Creation: the spark that gave life to the Universe at the beginning of it, and the flame that will ultimately consume it at the End of Days. I have watched lifetimes come into being, only to be snuffed out by the whims of fools and madmen!"

A look of perpetual fear crossed Dumbledore's face as he stared into the heart of the inferno-like aura, which actually seemed to be taking on the shape of a great, golden bird – a phoenix, Harry guessed – while Lily's powerful, booming voice, continued, "I am everywhere and nowhere! I was born before this world, before the stars, during the loneliest, blackest of nights! I was there when the first gas clouds sank and collapsed: I was there when the first beings drew their final hissing breaths! I am Alpha and Omega, should I desire to be, I am Light and Darkness, Birth and Death, Time and Space and, when I say that your prophecy is nothing, but a bull-faced lie, I do not expect you to doubt my word, mortal!"

"Lily, enough!" insisted Christine, before she indicated Harry, who was still in awe of his Mother's newfound power and strength as she told the Avatar of the Phoenix Force, "Remember, we are all gathered here, you included, to help Harry understand what was so dangerously-close to being wrong about him using his power. And, although we know of the pact you made with the Phoenix Force when she chose you to be her newest vessel, we know, from her lack of stopping you, that you are allowed to be a part of that help. So, if only for the sake of your son, remember your training: don't let it control you."

As Harry would soon learn, nothing was more powerful an instinct in a human female than a Mother's love for her child.

In this instance, Lily proved it when, even as the phoenixean aura started to recede around her, the red-haired sorceress left her spot with the rest of the Illuminati and, floating through the air, she took a new position right next to Harry, who could only look up into his Mother's brightly-shining eye with wonder, awe and even a hint of dewey-eyed amazement and emotional overload.

"Wow…" gasped Harry, before he gasped again, this time in amazement and no small amount of childish relief, when Lily bent down and hugged him, holding him in her arms while she whispered in his ear.

"I'm sorry if I frightened you, sweetheart…I admit it: Christine is correct that I did make a pact…one that not only saved my life, but gave me the tools to, as I hoped, one day find my way back to you. But I needed time, and training, and that is why I was told, by the Phoenix Force itself, that until the time was right, I had to keep my distance. I'm sorry if you feel angry with me, my beautiful boy, and I am also sorry if my new side…"

"You're awesome, Mum!" laughed Harry, wrapping his own arms around Lily, who smiled softly, a lone tear rolling down from her good eye as Harry told her, "I…I'm just glad you…you are still my Mum; when…when they said Phoenix Force, I…I was afraid she…she was possessing you or…or controlling you or something."

"No," said Lily, before she stood tall, staying next to her son, as she turned back to her colleagues, "And, on that note, here, Barnes; more proof that I am myself and in control of myself."

A snap of her fingers saw Barnes' voice and lips returning to normal, though even he looked like he'd seen his worst nightmare come to life.

Lily, meanwhile, cleared her throat as she looked back to her son, "Also, despite Christine's fears, as well as those of my friends, we would know if the Phoenix in me was going overboard, as this thing would have been destroyed."

She tapped the patch she wore over her right eye as she said the last part, while Harry saw Franklin nod in agreement as he too tapped the watch-like device that Harry had noticed before, while Lily continued, "However, since it is still whole, you know I am still in full possession of all my faculties, Chrissie; I simply let my rages at the injustices done to my son, both over the past ten years and tonight, bring out the scarier side of me. A side that, if he values his own mind, Albus there will remember was both feared and dreaded, as well as respected and admired, long before I became one with the Phoenix Force."

As Harry looked to Dumbledore, he was surprised, if not a little amused, to see the old man was actually kneeling, his blue eyes no longer twinkling with a sense of self-deluded all-knowing. Instead, Harry could actually see tears flowing down the old man's cheeks as he looked first to Lily, then to Harry and, finally, to each member of the Illuminati, all of whom were now looking at him with the same curiosity and patience shown by Lily herself as she gently teased her son's hair.

After several minutes, during which Albus tried and failed to stop the tears from falling, Franklin cleared his throat as he asked, "All right, so now we've seen there really is no greater strength than a Mother's love for her son. One I myself know all too well, I don't hesitate to add, perhaps you might give Lily the answer to her earlier question, Albus?"

"Q-Q-Q-Question?" asked Dumbledore shakily, his aged heart racing a million miles an hour as he looked to the Master of Reality.

"Why did you feel it necessary to gather ninety-eight percent of the Illuminati for this little powwow?" asked Franklin, before he then glanced over to Barnes as he added, "Also, and I'm speaking more as my real self here, than a member of the Illuminati, Barnes, but why do I also get a funny feeling that Lily's ire aimed at you is much more than just her usual distrust of you because of how you're closely-affiliated with the same band of Merry Men who'd rather experiment on Enhanced and have eyes and ears everywhere?"

"I…I had my orders," said Barnes, earning a scoff from Lily.

"Just say it, Bucky," argued the Phoenix, looking up to the Captain as she explained, "During the last meeting where the Illuminati received intel from Albus, you had him duplicate Christine's Emergency Summoning Beacon and transfer all recognition to you instead of her?"

"You did what?" demanded Christine, looking from Barnes to Dumbledore as she asked, "What on Earth do you think you were doing abusing the terms of our liaison, Albus?"

"I…"

Before Albus could say a word, however, Lily cut him off as she explained in a warning tone of voice, "I swear, if you even think the words for the Greater Good and I'll see you sharing a piss bucket with your old flame in Nurmengard, old man!"

"The Illuminati is the collective council of powerhouses responsible for the continued monitoring and, where necessary, intervention on behalf of all the Realms that walk our world, Albus Dumbledore," insisted T'Challa, while Harry then saw Black Bolt's eyes darkening as the dark-skinned warrior sneered at the wide-eyed Headmaster. "We are the guardians of this world, and the higher power when the Avengers, the X-Men or all other defending units fail: we are not your own personal interrogation squad, just because you feel it necessary to maintain your lust for recognition as the greatest wizard since Emrys!"

"Which, in case you forget, is impossible, Albus!" argued Christine, indicating her comrades, including Lily, as she explained, "The Illuminati has been the final stand between Good and Evil ever since my predecessor, the Ancient One, convinced a small band of allies, including a young Charles Xavier at the time, to present a united front between the worlds of the Enhanced, the Inhumans, the Worlds Beyond Our Own, as well as SHIELD, the Avengers, the Nine Realms and even the Magical and Mystic Worlds and Factions, meaning Wizards and Masters like myself…"

She looked to a confused-looking Harry as she said the last part, earning an oh of understanding from the young boy, while Christine continued in a firm voice, "And, speaking of the Nine Realms, your persistent intentions to believe in only the Greater Good is a mockery of what we stand for, not to mention our other members, whom you should be grateful are not in attendance today, but I suspect one, or probably even both of them are aware of your actions."

"Christine…"

"It's Doctor Strange to you, Dumbledore!" argued Christine firmly, shaking her head as she told him, "We're not friends; we are acquaintances and people with a mutual enemy at best. However, for what you have done…both of you…"

She then looked to Barnes as she continued in a fierce tone that actually made Harry take note of the power she held as she explained, "I hereby rescind all rights of Liaison towards Albus Dumbledore: rest assured, a new Representative of Albion shall be chosen and, when they are, we will expect a full, and binding, vow of understanding and acknowledgement of what they can and cannot do with this power!"

"But Chris…"

Before Dumbledore could finish, Harry gasped when the old man vanished through what looked like a ring of fiery golden energy, which closed up suddenly as Christine sighed softly before, looking to Franklin, she saw him nod and smile, as though he knew what she was going to say.

"By the time your portal drops him back off at Hogwarts, Albus will have forgotten all about this Citadel's location; just for added insurance, I might have also tweaked his insane mindset, so he doesn't go after Harry anymore…and, speaking of, I'd like to apologise for buying into the crap that he fed us about how dangerous you are, Harry."

"Oh…that…that's okay," said Harry, looking from Franklin to Barnes as he asked, "But what about him? He helped Dumbledore do this to me: is he going to be punished too?"

"Oh trust me, he will be," said T'Challa, looking to Barnes, who suddenly looked more than nervous at the insinuation, as he added, "However, fortunately for James, the only other representative we could offer his position to, is otherwise engaged at the moment…but, rest assured, Captain, we will be meeting with them when they are available."

"I…I was just…"

"Following orders, we know!" insisted Franklin, scoffing disbelievingly as he wondered, "You know, sometimes, I can't help but wonder whether Erskine got it wrong choosing you over Rogers."

"I won't go into detail, but something tells me it wouldn't matter either way, Franklin," argued Lily, continuing to tease her son's raven-black locks as she explained, "And, on that bombshell, I think it is about time we turn the topic of this assembly to the real reason that not only you lot, but I also showed myself."

"What's that?" asked Harry.

Before Lily could answer, however, she was cut off by a voice, the sound of which actually made all the Illuminati members, including Black Bolt, Barnes and Lily herself, tense up in fear and intimidation as the voice spoke from the shadows.

"The true source of the almighty power inside of you, little Future Master."

"So much for not being here," muttered Barnes, but even he fell silent when, from the shadows of the room, what could only be described as a beautiful, but dangerous-looking lady in long, black clothes, as well as a crown of darkest-blue and silvery highlights atop her head, emerged from the shadows. As everyone turned to her, Harry's eyes widened when, at the same time she appeared, she was joined by two other figures, one of whom was a very powerful-looking man dressed in red-and-black-coloured armour, as well as a long, red cape and a winged, silver helmet.

In one hand, the man carried a fierce-looking hammer, which crackled ominously, even as Harry saw the man set it down, before he followed the woman and the other companion into the room.

The other companion to the beautifully-dangerous lady being a pale-skinned, dark-eyed man with shoulder-length black hair, whom was dressed in what looked like a well-fitting suit of gold armour with greenish-coloured highlights. Like the female, the man wore a crown of his own: a gold circlet that was engraved with many odd-looking symbols, as well as a front-mounted symbol shaped like a large tree, which not only rose up into the heavens, but down below the earth.

As the trio emerged from the darkness, Harry saw the whole Illuminati, sans his Mum, bow their heads, even Black Bolt, before Christine's voice carried through the chamber. "Loki, Thor: while we're pleased that you could be here after all, especially you, Loki…as the Nine Realms' Representative on the Illuminati, if I may be so bold, Lady Hela, what brings the Queen of Asgard to the Chamber?"

"He does," replied the woman, Hela, indicating Harry as she walked towards him.

To his own curiosity, Harry didn't back down, but he did lower his head respectfully, if only because he'd heard Christine address Hela as a Queen, while Hela stopped before him where, extending a hand, she lifted his chin, so she was looking into his eyes.

"Do not lower yourself beneath me, Harry Potter, Master of Death and Boy-King of Infinity; unlike the old mortal who is long overdue his extended stay in my former domain, you have nothing to fear from me."

"Boy-King of Infinity?" asked Harry, earning a nod from Hela, while Harry then saw Loki join the others on the raised platform, while Thor stood vigilant by the entrance, as though he was keeping watch over them all. "What…what do you mean by that, Your…Your Majesty?"

"Exactly what I say, little wizard," answered Hela, before she gently tapped Harry on his head, his heart and, to his amusement and curiosity, even his stomach before she spoke again.

"After all, what title apart from Boy-King would best suit the one interesting soul whom holds, wields and, one day, may even surpass the collective power of the Infinity Stones?"

Chapter 5 and it looks like Albus has learned the hard way what his meddling can cost him, but will Harry really be safe back at Hogwarts when all's said and done with the Illuminati?

Also, blimey: not only has Harry met Death – so to speak – and one of the final members of the Illuminati – gotta love Loki – but he's also learned the source of his power: how will he react to the idea of being the Boy-King of Infinity?

And what about the Master of Death? Combined with the Stones, how will that affect Harry's future, not only as a boy, but a wizard and a soul with all the world and beyond at his disposal?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: It's time for the truth to come out, but Harry might just find it all too much to swallow: an irony, given how he became the Boy-King that Hela claims he has become;

Please Read and Review

AN: AU EVENTS/Responding to a review

Also, if I might address a point raised by a reviewer who, while they say they don't mean anything offensive, still hurt me inside;

First, regarding Harry's willingness to torture his family: um, hello? They beat him down, lied to him, neglected him and made him feel like a freak for nigh-on TEN YEARS! What do you think he was going to do? Smile, wag his tail and forgive and forget?

Him getting teary-eyed about Lily: SHE'S HIS MOTHER WHO HE WAS TOLD WAS DEAD, DUH! AND HE'S A KID!

A far-too-overpowered protagonist? Have you forgotten so soon? HE'S GOT THE POWER OF THE INFINITY STONES, FOR MERLIN'S SAKE! HE LITERALLY GOT A TASTE OF POWER AND WANTED MORE, JUST NOT FOR PURE EVIL!

Now, the point I REALLY need to mention: my idea for the Illuminati to be on Harry's Earth is not, as this person said, 'a fan-w*** version and creation of other characters.'

It is a play on the idea of the Multiverse, where what might be on 'Earth Prime/Earth 616' is different on another Earth - As is PRETTY OBVIOUS by the fact Captain America is Captain Carter – yet just as arrogant as Rogers – in Multiverse of Madness, and Xavier is not only Patrick Stewart and in the MCU, and Captain Marvel is Carol Danvers' friend instead of Danvers…and let's not forget Richards or how Mordo was Sorcerer Supreme!

(And don't get me started on the 'squash-match-like' method that these almighty powers basically got five seconds of battle with their enemy who made frappe out of them, while even Xavier got taken out in a piss-poor fashion, while Captain She-Merica got the longest part of the battles, just to make Cap look like the best…again! Like I said, Female-Rogers…and so much for we can handle your little witch, Captain Marvel-Less! And now I'm rambling…where was I?)

So, going by the Multiverse Law, I tweaked the origins of some heroes and made them the Illuminati, including one character who hasn't even shown up yet in the MCU – Franklin Richards;

And, as for Harry being all-powerful, but then falling for a trap: hello? He's eleven and, although he knows his will is his weapon, he is still capable of being a little less defensive and even naïve in certain scenarios, otherwise, this might as well be a one-shot where, instead of making an adventure out of a plot bunny, Harry might as well have eaten the Stones and then done a Thanos, snapping his fingers and basically ending the story because there is nothing he needs to do, since everything's solved all at once.

And, yes, I admit it, as this chapter also proves, I've altered the backstories of main heroes and put my own spin on them, but, at the same time, let me point out two facts.

ONE: this is FANFICTION - and fanfiction of an alternate-Earth, NOT the MCU - and the events are fanon, not canon.

TWO: I actually put a lot of effort into the idea, even though, as I warned back in Ch 1, this whole thing is basically a CRACK-Fic, but, at the same time, I'm TRYING to make it work as a funny, parody-style story that I hope people can enjoy reading each and every new chapter, almost as much as I'm enjoying writing it.

It's for this reason that I used to always say 'if you don't like it, don't read it' and that you didn't have to review if you didn't like what you were reading, but stopped because I thought I could let it go over my head.

But, considering I'm putting effort into this story, it's a review like that one that just…it irked me.

Sorry for the lengthy rant…

AN2: Another Query

On the topic of ultimate power, I'm curious: what, exactly, IS the strongest force in Marvel?

Now, I personally only know of three - but diehard fans out there probably know others - but, anyway, I've put my three in a poll, but which one's the winner?

That, readers, is up to you...so go and cast your votes!

(And YES, there is a reason for the poll, not just a fan's curiosity.)