A/N: Hi again, readers! It's been far too long, hasn't it? Almost a single year without a single update. Regardless, I apologize for my lack of updates, for A) I was catching up with the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe leading up to Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness and B) I was placing more heart and focus on another multiplayer crossover story of mine. You may know it as "The Other Side Of The Storm". With that said, AvatarUzumaki has left some gracious reviews in 2021: April 8, April 23, and July 12.

1) Chapter 6: Super excited that Mal's training is starting but was very surprised when Kate and Peter were part of it. With that said, will the events of Civil War change since Peter actually knows and interacts with Steve? Will he still help Tony? And what craziness is happening back in Auradon and the Isle? Great chapter! Keep them coming!

2) Chapter 8: Seriously loving this! How will things change with Gwen/Mal tagging along with Steve to Peggy's funeral? What will Celia do with the knowledge of a Multiverse? Really loving the bond growing with Mal and Steve! Another AMAZING chapter!

3) Chapter 9: Seriously loving the family feels with Steve, Natasha, and Mal! Oh, man! That whole "I'm Steve's daughter" had me cracking up but really adorable how they want to keep her safe. Will Kate make it to Mal in time? How will she help there? Will the presence of the Young Avengers change the outcome? How will Mal react to meeting Bucky? How will Bucky react to Steve having a daughter? This is getting more and more exciting with every new chapter! I can't wait for your new update!

4) Chapter 10: Good to know Kate and Mal/Gwen were not arrested. But what will they do now with their team behind bars? And who is the person whose powers are not at 100%? And how will they meet up with Steve and Sam? Always excited to read the next chapter. Can't wait for your next update!

And a bonus from Pink ranger 13 on March 25, 2022:

5) It's a great story.

First off, for Pink ranger 13, I wouldn't call it a "great" story; there are some story issues and narrative problems I would like to work on. But thank you for your compliment nonetheless. Next, for AvatarUzumaki, a couple of your questions mentioned in the reviews may be answered here; the others will be settled for later. I will say that the events of Civil War may be changed just a tad due to Steve and Peter's premature meeting. And yes...Steve and Natasha would do anything and everything for Gwen.

(Wednesday, June 22, 2016)
(12:00 N)

Walking down the streets of Bucharest with Captain America's shield in their possession, Gwen and Kate were also deep in thought, this time how to meet up with Steve and the others...and potentially break them out of the prison they were supposedly in. All the thinking made them both hungry, so the latter paid for the food from a nearby restaurant. She got herself a hand-tossed pizza with freshly-cut pepperoni and mozzarella cheese while she got the former a medium-well cheeseburger with bacon, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mayonaise, and fries on the side. As the both of them drank down their fountain drinks and expected their entrees, an awkward silence soon followed them.

"So...do you have a boyfriend back in Auradon?"

An awkward silence that was not helped at all by an equally awkward question, one that made Gwen choke on her drink.

"W-What?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Kate immediately apologized and backtracked on her choice of words, "I was just trying to make conversation...and distract ourselves from the events of today so far."

Gwen frowned in uncertainty but nonetheless played along, "I had a boyfriend back in Auradon..."

"Yes!" Kate cheered before realizing the tone in which she said it and what she exactly said, "Wait...you had a boyfriend back in Auradon?"

Gwen nodded and hesitated before explaining in detail as their entrees arrived, "His name was Ben. Son of Queen Belle and King Adam, which makes him the Prince and future King. Because I was the ex-girlfriend of Prince/King Ben, I was supposed to meet with Auradon's expectations. Dress like them, act like them, sometimes sing like them. I was supposed to be the perfect Queen-to-be."

"And then...the Incident happened."

"Yeah. I don't know who was responsible, but Uma and Mad Maddy are prime candidates. They're the ones who's held a grudge on me the longest. I don't even remember what I did to them, not just because the duties of being future Queen were getting to me...but because we were young when it happened."

"I mean, to be fair... You lived on the Isle for almost your entire life thus far. Sometimes the crimes you commit come back to bite you. But you regret it, don't you?"

"I do, but I'm not one to make amends just like that. I'm not...the emotional type."

"I get it. Believe it, things always get worse before they get better. It depends on us to make sure they do, though. Also, about Auradon's expectations, don't let them get to you or force you to become someone you're not. Don't do it like them, do it like you. And for what it's worth, you don't need to meet with my expectations. You're a pretty great person on your own."

"But...you've only known me for seven weeks."

"I know. But you've been a real friend unlike my actual friends."

"Thanks, Kate."

"Anytime, Gwen."

The rest of the lunchtime was spent in a much more comfortable silence until Gwen realized something.

"Wait, I never told you and Peter about Ben, did I?"

"No, I don't think so...but I guess we learned not to question it."

Gwen and Kate exchanged heartfelt laughter as they finished their lunch. Disposing of their leftovers and exiting the restaurant, they then discussed their next move.

"Now what?"

"Well... Judging by the Winter Soldier's status as an international assassin and spy for HYDRA, they're probably holding him in the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre Building in Berlin, Germany. So, I guess we have to go there and meet up with them instead."

"How long is the ride to Berlin?"

"By car, it would be at least a day. By plane, it would be almost three hours. We need to get my private jet."

"Where is it?"

"It shouldn't be that far. We just have to...walk there. Let's go."

And so, Gwen and Kate began their long walk from one half of Bucharest to the other, their destination that was the latter's private jet awaiting them.

"Hey, Kate?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you...you know what?"

"No, I don't know what."

"Ask me about Ben?"

"I told you. I just wanted to make conversation."

"I know, but...why that specific topic?"

Kate slowed her pace, gave her question a thought, and then chuckled under her breath and shaking her head.

"Okay, do you want the long version or the short version?"

"I guess the short version."

"Okay. Peter likes you."

. . .

"Okay...? I like Peter too. What's wrong with that?"

"Absolutely nothing... He just likes, likes you."

. . .

"Oh."

Gwen suddenly stopped dead in her tracks as the realization dawned upon her, a rising blush heating up her cheeks.

Both of them.

"Oh! He does? Oh, no! It's too soon! I just got over my breakup with Ben! And I've known him for only seven weeks!"

"Him and I. What's the difference and your point?"

"Well... It's too soon."

"I get it. You said that already. Come on. Let's walk and talk."

Indeed, as they continued to walk, they also continued to talk.

"So...how long did you know Ben before you both decided to become boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Between the day my friends and I got off the Isle and the day of Ben's coronation."

"And how long is that?"

. . .

"A couple of weeks at most, and even then...I used a love potion to make him become attracted to me."

"That's scary and messed up. But did you regret it?"

"I did...but I never figured it out until a few months after the coronation. Until...Audrey."

"Audrey?"

"The daughter of Queen Aurora and King Phillip. Sleeping Beauty. We had our differences but she respected me enough to truly welcome my friends and I to Auradon. She then just...disappeared, I guess. We do see her sporadically here and there, but the last time I saw was...before the Incident."

"Did you thought about making amends with her?"

"I wanted to, but I never got the time."

"I guess becoming a Princess does that for you."

"Lady. But yeah."

"Well, listen up, Gwen. The first thing you do when and if you get back to Auradon and the Isle? You make amends to everyone and about everything, especially Audrey."

"But they won't listen to me after what happened."

"Sometimes, you gotta make them. That's how it is."

Gwen gave her words a thought before nodding in understanding and silently continuing the walk, unaware that Kate was shaking her head and chuckling to herself.

"Gwen likes you."

Peter stared blankly at Kate after he asked her to give him the short version of why she asked him about Gwen on Sunday night.

"Okay...? I like Gwen too. What's wrong with that?"

"Absolutely nothing... She just likes, likes you."

. . .

"Oh."

Peter's eyes widened in surprise as the realization dawned upon him, a rising blush heating up his cheeks.

Both of them.

"Oh! She does? Oh, no! It's too soon! I've only known her for seven weeks!"

"Her AND I. What's the difference and your point?"

. . .

"Liz. I wonder she likes me back or not."

Kate's eyebrows knitted together as she frowned in confusion.

"Who's Liz?"

"Oh, right," Peter face-palmed himself after remembering Kate did not attend his school, "Liz... She's the most popular girl at Midtown. She's cute, rich, and nice...things that I am not."

Kate's confused frown increased.

"Cute, rich, OR nice? Or all of the above?"

"No, no," Peter tried to clarify, "I mean, Liz is successful and confident; she knows what to do with her life. And look at me, I'm technically an Avenger by this point, barely making through training sessions with Captain America and Black Widow."

"First things first, WE'RE technically Avengers by this point, but not officially yet. Secondly, this Liz sounds like your Uptown Girl. Why can't you just tell her how you feel?"

"Because...she loves Spider-Man, not Peter Parker."

. . .

"Well, guess who loves both?"

. . .

"Gwen?"

"Exactly."

"James Barnes, der mit dem Bombenanschlag auf die UN in Wien in Verbindung gebracht wird, ist heute aus der Haft entflohen. Ebenfalls vermisst werden die Avengers Captain Steve Rogers und Sam Wilson..."

This was the first thing they heard on the news upon their arrival. The second thing they heard was an encrypted message from Sam to meet them at an abandoned warehouse, where they apprehended Bucky. Kate was checking the ammunition and sights of her Glock 17 and SIG-Sauer P226R when she received a second message containing the address for the location. Gwen sheathed her sword and attached the shield to her back. Well, she tried to, anyway. Because she was wearing civilian clothes and not a costume at the moment, she opted to carry the shield by her side until they met with Steve and Sam.

Fast approaching the location, Kate aimed her Glock 17 from the back while Gwen took her front, wielding the shield. Her hands and arms shaking, Gwen had limited experience with the shield despite Steve practicing tosses and throws with her. Her worry only increased when she heard faint voices coming from inside, prompting the both of them to briefly take cover and make sure the coast was clear.

"Oh, God, I knew this would happen. Everything HYDRA put inside me is still there. All he had to do was say the goddamn words."

"Who was he?"

"I don't know."

"People are dead. The bombing, the setup. The doctor did all that just to get 10 minutes with you. I need you to do better than "I don't know.""

"He wanted to know about Siberia. Where I was kept. He wanted to know exactly where."

"Why would he need to know that?"

"Because I'm not the only Winter Soldier."

The both of them exchanged glances before entering inside. There, they found Steve and Sam talking with a long-haired pretty boy. He had brown hair, blue eyes, a red long-sleeved shirt, dark blue jeans, and brown boots.

It's him. The Winter Soldier...

Carefully approaching the trio, the dark that was their conversation slowly came to the light of Gwen and Kate.

"Who were they?"

"Their most elite death squad. More kills than anyone in HYDRA history. And that was before the serum."

"They all turn out like you?"

"Worse."

"The doctor, could he control them?"

"Enough."

"Said he wanted to see an empire fall."

"With these guys he could do it. They speak 30 languages, can hide in plain sight, infiltrate, assassinate, destabilize, They can take a whole country down in one night. You'd never see them coming."

Entering the room, Kate nudged Gwen and gestured towards Bucky. She nodded and cautiously advanced as she cleared her throat.

"So it's true? You're...James Buchanan Barnes?"

Steve, Sam, and Bucky looked up from their conversation and turned to face the two girls. After a minute, the latter nodded, hesitation clear in only his body language. A stoic expression was in its place.

"Yeah...not the Winter Soldier."

"Okay," Gwen nodded, "I just have a question for you: during your time with HYDRA, have you met or made contact with an agent who...happened to look like me?"

Another minute was spent, with Steve and Sam looking at Gwen and Kate for an explanation, Kate herself fiercely shaking her head in denial, and Bucky shaking his own head again after.

"No. And even if I did, she would've been a relatively new recruit after I left. Wait...who are you?"

Gwen now could only stumble over her words as she struggled to introduce herself.

"Oh, I'm... I'm nobody too important."

"Bucky, this is Gwen. She's my daughter."

The eyes of Bucky, Kate, and especially Gwen widened in surprise while Sam shot Steve an incredibly incredulous expression that begged the question of whether or not he was kidding. Perhaps forgetting to mention that she was his adopted daughter, Steve decided more oppressing matters were at hand.

"I'll explain later. Sam?"

Beckoned by Steve to speak in private, Sam sighed and pinched his nose bridge as he walked over to him.

"First the Sokovia Accords, then a whole brigade of super soldiers, and now an HYDRA agent who looks like Gwen? Man...this would have been a lot easier a week ago."

"If we call Tony..." Steve began to suggest, which Sam vehemently shot down.

"No, he won't believe us."

"Who knows if the Accords would let him help."

Not yet believing the circumstances they were in had left their hands tied and their options exhausted, Steve nonetheless nodded in understanding.

"We're on our own."

Sam glanced back at Gwen and Kate, who were sharing a private conversation of their own, and Bucky, who stared quite attentively at the former, before shaking his head in response, much to Steve's confusion.

"Maybe not. I know a guy."

(Tuesday, June 21, 2016)
(7:00 PM)

Sitting in their separate stalls, Uma, Harry, and Gil were minding their respective businesses. Gil was admiring the architecture of his alcove and could not care any less, Harry was absolutely angry to care enough and was attempting to escape, and Uma was in deep thought, devoted to dividing her deceptive dialogue to earn the trust of King Ben and get in his Grace's good graces. In addition, her choice of words had to buy Celia some time.

Ever since she received word through a literal little birdie that the youngest daughter of Dr. Facilier had stumbled upon a volume of universal travel, whatever semblance of a previously proper plan she had in her possession had swiftly slipped away. The presence of a book that allowed the reader to travel to different dimensions changed everything. Not only will the usage of such a powerful literary companion would allow her and her crew to conquer new worlds...but also prove Mal was not the one responsible for the month's momentary madness.

Believe it or not, despite what prior thoughts she withheld from the past few weeks, her own feelings about her former best friend were mixed at best. On one hand, she could not find it within herself to forgive her for all the crimes committed against her in their childhood. On the other, she could not find it within herself to blame her either. She and Mad Maddy were the best of friends prior to their branching out to their own groups.

Her own thoughts briefly branching out from one topic to another, Uma's mood significantly soured at the mere mention of her former friend. Before she could rage against the reflection, however, the door opened and a trio of guards entered and faced the trio of deliquents.

"King Ben will see you now."