Disclaimer: I do not own Arrowverse or Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While everyone was taking a break and preparing the new Gauntlet with the Stones, Loki was staring outside the window as Thor approached him.
"Are you alright, Loki?" Thor asked as he stood next to Loki.
"Is that a serious question?" Loki asked sarcastically.
"You know what I mean." Thor said with a pointed look and Loki took a breath.
"Remember when I asked you whether you thought it was a good idea to bring me back here?" Loki asked.
"I said, probably not to be honest." Thor remembered as they chuckled.
"And then you said not to worry and that everything would work out just fine." Loki said as they turned to each other as Loki gestured around the facility. "I think we both had a different idea of 'fine.'"
"Well, given the circumstances, it's not that bad." Thor said as he looked outside the sky. "Though it's a shame that father, Heimdall and others aren't here with us."
"I wouldn't celebrate yet. You do realize that Thanos is going to come for us, do you?" Loki pointed out.
"Let him. We're ready for him this time and we aren't gonna go down as easily as before." Thor said confidently. "And if we lose…" He turned to Loki, remembering Steve's words to Tony. "We'll lose together."
Loki considered and nodded as he and Thor shook hands, renewing their brotherly bond. "Together, brother. For Asgard."
"And for Midgard and all of the Nine Realms and other worlds." Thor said.
While everyone was taking a break, Barry seemed more on edge than relieved as Oliver approached him.
"Are you OK, Barry? You've been on edge since arriving on Thanos's hideout." Oliver said.
"I'm sure I saw Thawne back there." Barry said.
"What?!" Patty exclaimed as she approached. "I thought he was dead."
"He was." Barry nodded.
"So, what was it? A time remnant?" Oliver asked.
"No, this was different. Like… a ghost or something, I'm not sure." Barry said as he leaned onto the railing, while wiping the sweat off his forehead and sighing heavily. "But I can't shake the feeling that he's gonna come for us. I can feel it in my bones."
"Whatever he throws at us, we'll be ready." Oliver said.
"Barry, we've beaten him before, we can do it again." Patty said.
Oliver then noticed Natasha in the infirmary, tending to her injuries as he decided to give Barry and Patty some privacy, realizing that it was best to leave them alone.
Steve was sitting down and drinking from a cup of water, when Sharon sat across him.
"So you did it." Sharon said.
"Don't celebrate just yet, we still have to bring everyone back." Steve said as he saw Sharon shooting him a look of disappointment. "Don't get me wrong, I am hopeful, it's just that we're far from done."
Sharon nodded as she looked around and gestured at everyone. "I know it's a heavy burden but look at your team and friends. You don't have to take this all upon yourself. And even with half of our team, we've managed to get the Infinity Stones back. I know it's not over yet but take in at least this small victory. There's always a way. We just gotta keep looking until we find it."
"There was a time I used to believe it too, then, after Wakanda I lost almost all hope." Steve said.
"And now?" Sharon asked as Steve smiled at her with a longing look.
"Well, with the right people at your side, there's always at least a small flicker of hope." Steve said as they kissed, while Sharon placed her hand on his chest.
"We're gonna work through this, Steve." Sharon promised.
Natasha was putting on her top, after Caitlin had finished bandaging her body as Oliver approached her.
"Are you OK?" Oliver asked.
"It's gonna take more than that to take me down, remember?" Natasha quipped as they chuckled.
"I know. But what happened back there was much bigger than anything we've faced. I was worried you wouldn't make it." Oliver pointed out and Natasha nodded.
"That's not gonna happen, as long as we look out for each other. And I don't plan on leaving you anytime soon." Natasha said as she held his hand and Oliver chuckled. "What?"
"It's just… we've come a long way since Russia. If someone had told a certain dumb irresponsible playboy over ten years ago he'd be shooting arrows and fighting mercenaries, assassins, sorcerers and aliens, he'd be laughing out loud and dismiss it as a joke." Oliver said as he and Natasha laughed. "How would a scared little Russian girl act upon hearing that she'd be kicking aliens' asses?"
"She'd probably ask, 'When do I report for duty?'" Natasha joked as Oliver chuckled.
"Of course she would." Oliver said as he held her by her cheek. "Laurel likes to see the best in me and help me find my way, even if she finds it difficult to accept my darker side. Sara sometimes tends to let the darkness inside her blind her, unlike me. But you accept both sides of me and you know where the limits are."
"It's because we both know that the world isn't as black-and-white as it might seem but there are shades of grey around us." Natasha said as they sat down next to each other and she met his eyes. "You know, I used to think that love was for children. But… then when I met you, I realized that I was too afraid to feel love, scared that if I allowed myself to feel love, I'd lose you." She placed her hand on his chest. "I did lose you for a time but you came back to me."
"No matter what happens, we're in this together till the end of the line, right?" Oliver said, quoting Steve.
Natasha smiled as she pulled Oliver in for a kiss they let sink in for a few moments, holding each other by their faces before pulling away.
"Until the end of the line. I love you." Natasha said.
"I love you too." Oliver said.
"Barry, I know you're worried but it's going to be alright." Patty assured as Barry seemed distracted.
"I just can't shake this feeling that Thawne's gonna come back." Barry said.
"We've beaten him before, we can do it again. Together." Patty said.
"He said I'd never be happy, even if I get rid of him." Barry reminded, remembering Thawne's message with his confession. "And we've lost friends, families—"
"Don't let him get into your head. Sure, we got knocked down but we managed to rise back up to our feet. Why do we fall, Barry?" Patty asked as he turned to her, while she gave him an encouraging smile. "So that we can learn to pick ourselves back up. We'll work through this."
In the lab, Harry, Tony, Bruce, Fitz and Rocket were completing the new Gauntlet as everyone waited.
"And… done!" Fitz cheered.
"Tada!" Harry said.
The Gauntlet was almost an exact copy of Thanos's, only it was smaller in size and it was black and red instead of golden as Steve, Clint, Natasha, Thor, Loki, Pietro, Peter, Daisy, Matt, Hunter, Logan, Frank, Oliver, Barry, Caitlin, Diana, Clark, Kara, and Constantine gathered.
"Now how exactly are we gonna get the stones out of Thanos's Gauntlet and put them into yours?" Barry asked.
"Let me handle that, mate." Constantine said as he muttered an incantation and with his magic, the Infinity Gauntlet glowed in golden light before the aura enveloped the stones, removing them from it as they floated into the other Gauntlet as Constantine placed them into the slots with his magic until they were all in the Gauntlet.
"Boom!" Rocket shouted as everyone jumped before shooting glares at him as Rocket chuckled mischievously. "Sorry."
"So it's ready now." Oliver said, turning his attention to the Gauntlet.
"The question is, who's gonna snap their freakin' fingers?" Rocket asked.
"Hulk and I can do it. The radiation is mostly gamma." Bruce volunteered.
"That's a very big 'if', Bruce." Caitlin pointed out.
"I'll do it. I survived Nagasaki, bub. I can survive this." Logan said as everyone stared at him in disbelief.
"That's like comparing a droplet to waterfall, the Stones have more energy than your healing factor could take." Tony pointed out.
"I could survive it." Clark volunteered.
"Maybe you should let me. I can take it." Diana suggested.
"Let me do it."
They turned to Thor, who stepped up.
"I am the strongest Avenger. I failed to stop Thanos. I should've gone for the head. But half of all life in the entire multiverse is gone because of me. I must correct that mistake." Thor said.
"Thor, are you sure about this?" Steve asked as everyone looked at Thor worriedly.
"You saw what using the Stones did to Thanos. Even if you survive this, it will still take a heavy toll on you." Tony reminded.
"There is no doubt in my mind. I understand your worries but it must be me. I can feel it in my bones." Thor said firmly and everyone looked at each other before turning to Thor again.
"Are you sure about this?" Steve repeated his question as he looked Thor in the eye.
"I am." Thor nodded and after a moment of consideration the rest nodded back as Thor stepped to the pedestal and picked the Gauntlet.
"Good to go, yeah?" Tony asked.
"Let's do it." Thor said.
"Remember, everyone Thanos snapped away, you're just bringing them back to now, today. Don't change anything else." Tony said and Thor nodded as he looked down at the Gauntlet in his hand.
After the recent grief and loss over losing his father Odin, Volstagg, Hogun, Fandral, then Heimdall, then Loki, even though he had been brought back to life, then failing to stop Thanos and then again watching Coulson die it was so tempting to resurrect everyone Thor and everyone else had lost over the years, the people they loved and cared about, their dead friends and family. The brash arrogant young prince Thor had been once upon a time would not have hesitated to bring them back, but he was a different man now. King of Asgard, humbled by loss and defeat and a hero and an Avenger. And he knew that this kind of power came with a price, price no decent person should pay. Everything happens for a reason, since that was the will of fate and Thor would not defy it.
Thor took a breath as Tony and Rhodey put on their suits, Scott and Peter closed their masks and Clark, Kara, Diana, Logan and Rhodey stood protectively in front of Oliver, Barry, Steve, Natasha and Clint while Tony created an energy shield in his arm, shielding Caitlin, Hunter, Matt and Frank and Constantine created a magical shield to protect himself and the rest who wouldn't have been able to survive the radiation otherwise.
"FRIDAY, do me a favor and activate Barn Door Protocol, will ya?" Tony requested.
"Yes, boss." FRIDAY said as the doors and windows in the compound were suddenly covered with shutters shielding them.
"Everybody comes home." Bruce muttered.
Thor took a deep breath as he put his right hand into the Gauntlet and once it was fully in, the Stones glowed as the energy surged through the Gauntlet and Thor groaned and fell on one knee but he clutched his hand, trying to withstand the strain the Stones were putting on him.
"Brother!" Loki exclaimed.
"Take it off!" Kara ordered worriedly.
"No, wait." Steve intervened as he turned to Thor. "Thor, are you OK?"
"I'm fine… I'm fine…" Thor assured. He could see why Thanos had struggled to use the Stones but he couldn't give up, not when he was so close. Too much was at stake and there was no turning back now. Mustering all his willpower and trying to withstand the pain the Stones were putting him through, Thor roared loudly and raised his hand and snapped his fingers and then a blinding flash of light followed.
Suddenly, the surroundings around Thor changed completely. Next thing he knew, the cloudy skies were orange and there was water everywhere. The Gauntlet wasn't in his hand anymore and his arm was healed, showing no hint of using the Infinity Stones.
"Hello, son."
Thor recognized the voice as he turned his head to the source, when he saw a figure at a nearby archway and as he took a closer look, he couldn't believe his eyes. He saw an elderly woman in golden dress, someone he never thought he would see, ever again. "Mother?" He whispered.
Frigga approached him with a warm smile, caressing his cheek. "I've missed you."
Thor felt a tear rolling down his face as he hugged her, sobbing. "I missed you too, Mom. I missed you so much…" He whispered as Frigga patted him on his back, consoling him just like when he was a little child before he pulled away and looked around. "How… how is this possible? Where are we?"
"When you use all Infinity Stones at once, you get a vision and are brought into the Soul World. Thanos was brought here too, when he used them and just as he saw his dead daughter, you see the one person you desire to see the most." Frigga explained as she held him by his face again. "I am proud of you, Thor, for all that you have accomplished and your father just as proud of you."
"But I failed, Mom. I failed to stop Thanos." Thor said.
"Yes. You are a failure." Frigga nodded as she placed her hand on his shoulder in assurance. "Do you know what that makes you? Just like everyone else."
"I'm not supposed to be like everyone else, am I?" Thor pointed out.
"Everyone fails at what they're supposed to be, Thor. The measure of a person, of a hero…" Frigga gave him a warm smile. "…is how well they succeed at being who they are. You are not your father but that doesn't make you a failure. You can be a better king. A better person. Don't be what everyone expects you to be. Be your own person."
Thor considered her words for a moment before he nodded, remembering how she used to counsel him and Loki like this, when they were children and faltering or struggling somehow. "I've really missed you, Mom."
"I've missed you too. One day you'll see me and your father again. But your friends need you. It's time to go." Frigga said as she held him by his face.
Thor was back in the present, screaming in pain as he fell on his knees, while the Gauntlet slipped out of his arm that was now covered in severe burns, while the Gauntlet fell on the floor with a 'clang.'
"Thor, you alright?" Barry asked.
"Hold still." Caitlin ordered as she coated the burns on Thor's arm with ice.
"I… I saw her." Thor whispered as he turned to Loki who smiled and nodded, knowing who was Thor talking about before Thor looked around. "Did it work?"
"We don't know yet." Oliver said.
Hunter's phone rang as he picked it up and tears filled his eyes as he saw Bobbi's name and picture on the screen as he answered the call and put the phone to his ear. "Bob?"
"Hunter? Where are you? What happened?" Bobbi asked.
"Bobbi…" Hunter whispered with his voice cracking and tears filling his eyes.
"What's going on? The last thing I remember is dust and then you were gone…"
Clark, Kara and Scott heard birds chirping outside as they looked outside the window. "Guys. I think it worked…"
They all smiled and cheered, victorious as Barry looked around. "Hey, where's Harry?"
Suddenly, Peter felt buzzing in his head as his spider-sense went off and he looked outside the window to the labs at the lower level.
"What is it, Peter?" Barry asked, when they looked down to see Harry at the console to the portal.
Harry looked up with a dark look in his eyes and Barry's blood ran cold, recognizing the stare that was coming out of Harry's eyes and Barry immediately glared. Barry was about to speed down to the portal but the next thing they all knew, a gigantic explosion followed as the compound began crumbling down and windows shattered as the blast sent everyone flying in the air.
The scene with Frigga is an idea I had from Stand with Ward and Queen's 'Crisis on two earths', thank you to him for permission to use it.
Now, I could've had Clark, Kara or Diana use the Gauntlet too, Clark would've made most sense, if not Thor and while Kara in this story isn't as self-righteous as in Supergirl, Arrowverse likes to prop her up at the expense of Superman, essentially making her a gender-bent Superman without some of his more heroic traits and there was no valid reasoning for Diana to use it. From the storyline perspective, Thor is the fitting character to use it, plus, the reasoning behind Bruce undoing the Snap was very weak, with gamma radiation being the only reason, which makes no sense.
So, what do you guys think?
Please review and let me know if you have been enjoying this so far.