Epilogue - Parting Ways
New Asgard, Norway - Earth
New 2018
"And that's how we defeated Thanos!" Thor concluded with a grin.
The wide-eyed gazes of his nephews stared back at him. The brothers exchanged a glance.
"What about the Avengers?" questioned Vali.
"Yes, what about them?" asked Nari just as eagerly. "Do they still live? Besides you of course, Uncle Thor."
"Yes, they do. Many of them do, in fact."
The brothers exchanged an excited glance. "I want to be an Avenger!"
"Me too!"
Thor chuckled. "In time perhaps, my nephews. But if you are going to be Avengers, you first have to practice to become mighty warriors, like me, the Strongest Avenger!" He jumped to his feet, into a fighting stance. The two youngsters did the same. Then with a yell they both charged forward in an attack, only to be scooped up by their uncle, one boy underneath each arm. He laughed and spun the the two now flailing and laughing boys around.
"Put us down, Uncle Thor, put us down!" they laughed. Thor chuckled and obliged, setting the two boys back on their feet.
"I want to be just like you Uncle Thor!"
"Me too!"
From off to the side, Loki watched them, arms crossed and wearing a frown. It seemed as though even his own sons worshipped Thor. Some things never change.
He felt a gentle arm around his wait, which instantly made him relax, even if just a little. "He's filling their heads with stories again I see," Sigyn - his new wife - said, smiling fondly at the scene of their sons laughing and playing with their uncle.
"Yes." He sighed.
"Loki, not this again-" Indeed, some things never change, including her ability to see right through him.
"They admire him-"
"They admire you too."
"Do they?"
"Of course they do! You're their father."
"Mother! Father!" The twins noticed them then, and came running forward into their arms.
"Nari and I are going to be Avengers!" cheered Vali, bouncing he was so excited. "Just like you!"
"Is that so?"
"Yes! We're going to save the world! We'll be heroes," added Nari. "Just like you, and Father, and Uncle Thor!"
This seemed to catch Loki's attention. "Heroes?"
"Yeah, like you Father!"
"Like me? A hero?"
"Yeah, you're a hero!"
"You really think so?"
Nari jumped up and threw his arms around his father's neck while Vali hugged his legs. "Yeah, you're our hero!"
Sigyn gave him a look that said, See, I told you. Loki beamed and scooped up his sons, pulling Sigyn into a tight family hug.
Avengers Facility, Upstate New York - Earth
New 2018
The weeks passed, and everyone began to rebuild their lives where they had left off five years ago, and begin to move forward into the new world they had helped forge.
"What will you do?" Valkyrie asked Thor after he had bid farewell to his family and kingdom.
"I'm not sure," he admitted. "For the first time in a thousand years I don't have a path. I do have a ride though."
"Move it or lose it, hairbag," called Rocket.
"I am very sorry again, for your loss. The Stones have their own consciousness, if you will," Adonia was explaining to Kass. "We share the same power, each other's power, but they also do bidding of their own, which I have no control over."
Kass nodded. "Thank you, I understand - I think."
Adonia turned to her remaining daughter. "Go, find your sister. Then, once you do, come find me."
"And where will you be?" asked Nebula.
"Good question. Although it sounds like Tiv's going to need a lot of help cleaning up his collection after the damage it endured, so Knowhere has a good chance."
Nebula nodded and hugged her mother once more before climbing aboard the ship with the rest of the team - and Thor. And a second Envie, the Infinity Gauntlet Envie, as well as the one from Thanos's crew in 2014. The God of Thunder and Quill were 'subtly' arguing over who was leader of the Guardians and captain of the ship. Basically who was in charge of this operation.
"Ah, the Asgaridans of the Galaxy, back together again!" Thor exclaimed.
"You should fight one another for the honour of leadership," suggested Drax.
"Sounds fair," agreed Nebula.
"That I'd actually like to see," said Infinity Gauntlet Envie.
"I've got some blasters," added Rocket. "Or some knives."
"Oh yes please, use knives!" exclaimed Mantis with an excited gasp.
"I am Groot!" Groot agreed.
"Idiots," said both Envies at once.
Adonia watched them fly off, giving a wave. "I never asked you what happened to my Thanos, in the Garden that day after I took the Stones and left," she said, speaking to the captain.
"He died," Steve told her.
She nodded distantly. "I thought as much."
"Thank you, again, for your help. For everything."
"I played a part in creating that mess, and I wanted to see it cleaned up."
"Well we couldn't have done it without you."
She smirked. "No, you couldn't have." And with that, she was gone.
At the Facility building, Carol and Nora were parting once more.
"This one's just for you," Carol said, handing Nora her very own and updated pager. "For anything, not just emergencies. Good-night messages, just wanna talk, anything really."
"Thanks Space-girl." Nora gladly took it. "So where are you going?"
"Lady Infinity, the Guardians and I are going to take different corners of the universe, make sure the Snap stabilized everything. As soon as that's done I'll be heading right back here."
"Be careful out there, Space-girl."
"You got it, Doc."
As they were embracing, Fury came over and put an arm around them both. "My space ladies!"
After speaking with Lady Infinity, Steve was preparing for a journey of his own. As instructed by the Ancient One back in 2012 during their Time Heist, he would return each of the Stones they had taken back to their point of origin in the timelines they had visited.
"Remember," Bruce reminded him. "You've got to return the Stones to the exact moment you got 'em or you're gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities."
"Don't worry, Bruce. Clip all the branches."
"You know I tried. When I had the Gauntlet and the Stones, I really tried to bring her back." Nat. "I really miss her, man."
"I do too."
"You know, if you want, I could come with you," Sam offered.
"You're a good man, Sam, and thank you. This one's on me though." He came over to where Bucky and Karen were standing. "Don't do anything stupid until I get back."
Bucky chuckled. "How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you." The old friends embraced. "I'm really gonna miss you, buddy."
"Me too, but it's gonna be okay, Buck."
"Good luck, Steve," Karen wished him.
"Thanks, you too." They hugged as well and then Steve activated his Quantum Realm suit.
"How long is this gonna take?" asked Sam.
"For him, as long as he needs. For us, five seconds," explained Bruce. "You ready Cap? We'll meet you back here, okay?"
Steve nodded. "You bet."
"Okay, going Quantum in - three, two, one..." Steve vanished. "And returning in five, four, three, two, one - now-" But nothing happened - Steve did not reappear.
"Where is he?" asked a panicked Sam.
"I don't know, he blew right past his time stamp, he should be here."
Bucky and Karen exchanged a knowing glance. "That little shit," mumbled Bucky.
"Get him back!"
"I'm trying!"
"Get him the hell back!"
"Sam," called Bucky, nodding across the field.
Cap had said he'd meet them back here - and he did.
An elderly man sat nearby overlooking the lake.
"Go ahead," Bucky told Sam, who approached Cap.
"Cap?"
"Hey Sam."
"So did something go wrong or did something go right?"
"Well, after I put the Stones back, I thought maybe I'd try some of that life Tony was talking about, telling me to get."
"And, how was it?"
"It was beautiful."
"Well, I'm happy for you."
"Speaking of that life-" Karen leaned against Bucky. "What do you say we go get it ourselves?"
"I'd say it's about damn time we did," he said, making her laugh in full agreement. "On that note, I'm thinking about getting a haircut..."
They watched as Cap handed his shield over to Sam - it looked like the world wasn't going to be without Captain America for long.
No, by the looks of it, the world wouldn't be without it's heroes and heroines for long - not long at all.
Wow, part of me can't believe it, but that's the end! This felt like such a huge undertaking, and it has been so fun! This part of the saga has ended, but, like with the movies, I am continuing! :) I'm planning a sequel to my Carol and Nora story, currently writing a Yelena Belova story, and I'm even thinking maybe a Moon Knight one too (I hear Oscar Isaac is in talks for the role - which I would love!) And of course there's Shang-Chi coming up which I'm really excited about! :) I'd also like to continue Loki and Sigyn's story through the timeline of the Loki Disney+ series - fill in the blanks of what mischief they got up to while waiting for the Avengers Assemble battle in 2023 ;)
And if you're reading my Tony story, the last chapter will be an epilogue featuring Miss Morgan Stark herself!
Thank you so much for sticking with me throughout this! Once more, thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed overall! :) Farewell!
