Hooray! I is posting a new chapter! Isn't it grand? All right, down to business. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter because an OC I had sent to me is making its first appearance. I would like to thank fellow fanfiction lover Brazilwolf for the awesome OC they sent me. I hope you like how I decided to bring him into the story. If anyone else wants to submit an OC please feel free, but make sure to follow the format in my note in chapter three. I am happy to be getting such good things coming from you peoples, so read on!

Disclaimer: I went through all the processing. I am not Stan Lee or anyone else who has rights to Marvel and the Avengers, so... yeah me no own anything Marvel or created by other peoples.

S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier

Steve was walking down the halls of S.H.I.E.L.D's large, flying helicarrier. Looking down, he re-read the note he had found after searching through the landed Quinjet S.H.I.E.L.D had tracked down.

To whomever finds this,

I accidentally ended up in the forest several yards away from Thor, Tony, and Steve's confrontation earlier and hitched a ride in their helicraft. Surprising that I wasn't noticed, but that's irrelevant. Anyways, I didn't quite fancy being captured aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D helicarrier, so used the same helicraft to leave. Again, I'm surprised it worked out, but, yet again, that is irrelevant. I'd just like to thank S.H.I.E.L.D for unwillingly letting me borrow their equipment momentarily. I didn't take any of your equipment or anything else in this thing that is of value. I hope this finds you in a good time, but that's unlikely with Loki and the Tesseract. Except I'm not supposed to know that… Anyways, would whoever finds this make sure it gets to S.H.I.E.L.D and then Steve? I know he's there... To Steve: I hope you haven't been too stressed in your situation and this finds you happy. Unfortunately, I'm aware of the Loki problem and how some of your fellow super-peoples may make you irritated. Heh, S.H.I.E.L.D is likely to be a bit frenzied by my knowledge and the likely fact that they will read this has come to mind. Anyways, I wish you luck in your upcoming fight! And thanks for the nice catch. See ya sometime soon!

~A

P.S. Isn't the helicraft supposed to be called a Quinjet? I recall it being called that from somewhere, but up to now I've referred to it as a 'helicraft,' but I think I'm going to stick with Quinjet. .

Steve puzzled over the note. How did this person know so much? What catch? Still, Steve felt like something was there glaring right at him, but he couldn't figure it out. It frustrated him greatly, but he found his gaze drawn to the 'A' at the end. Who did he know that had a name starting with 'a'? That's when a face that had been haunting him ever since he met the person drifted to the forefront of his mind. Adrian. That's it! The catch reference even made sense then… How in the world did Adrian know any of that? How did he end up at their confrontation and how did Steve not notice him in the Quinjet? He'd keep the note to himself for now.

His mind kept returning to what he had viewed and experienced of Adrian. His Tesseract-looking eyes with their intense blue color and lighter, jagged, lightning shaped lines spread throughout them. How comfortable he had felt just holding him. How there was just a moment where he wanted to claim those beautiful red lips… Steve shook his head, not wanting those thoughts. He was frustrated with himself. Why was he so attracted to a man? Isn't that wrong? Such turmoil was going through Steve's head as he headed to see how far along Dr. Banner and Stark were in finding the cube, then he'd report to Fury about the Quinjet incident.

Steve's mind, no matter how hard he tried to resist, kept coming back to Adrian. He'd try to turn it back to the cube, his missions, or even his annoyance with Stark, but it'd keep going back to the feel of Adrian's warm body or how much he'd love to leave those lips swollen… NO! He can't have feelings for another man. It was against so much of what he had been raised on. His mind just made him more distracted, just like he was at the earlier meeting when they discussed the need for Iridium as a portal stabilizer. He was frustrated that just a simple person could make him so distracted with such improper thoughts. He had been attracted to a boy once before, but he had thought it was nothing until he found out it was wrong from so many people. That's when he turned away from it and tried to get involved with girls, and later women. In fact, Peggy was perfect for him to prove to himself that he wasn't mentally messed up in some way.

Steve was only just starting to feel less frustrated, more irritable, as he came upon the lab hearing Stark say, "No tension, no surprises" before he saw him prod Dr. Banner with something that made an electric shocking noise causing Dr. Banner to flinch, "Ow!"

Steve shouted, "Hey!"

Momentarily ignoring Steve, Tony leaned forwards asking Bruce, "Nothing?"

"Are you nuts?" Steve said walking in fully.

"Jury's out," Stark said glancing towards Steve before turning back to Banner to ask, "You really have a lid on it, haven't you? What's your secret? Mellow jazz, bongo drums, huge bag of weed?"

"Is everything a joke to you?" Steve interrupted.

"Funny things are."

"Threatening the safety of everyone on this ship isn't funny. No offense, Doc."

The second part was directed at Dr. Banner who responded, "It's all right. I wouldn't have come aboard if I couldn't handle pointy things."

Backing up a few steps to grab a hidden bag of blueberries Stark said, "You're tip-toeing, big man. You need to strut."

"And you need to focus on the problem, Mr. Stark," Steve added.

In response, Stark said, "Do you think I'm not? Why did Fury call us in? Why now? Why not before? What isn't he telling us? I can't do the equation unless I have all the variables."

"You think Fury's hiding something?"

"He's a spy. Captain, he's 'the' spy. His secrets have secrets. It's bugging him, too. Isn't it?"

Tony's question was directed at Banner who glanced up from his work, "Uh… I just want to finish my work here, and…"

"Doctor?" Steve stopped Banner.

Bruce hesitated, taking off his glasses, before saying "'A warm light for all mankind.' Loki's jab at Fury about the cube."

"I heard it."

"I think that was meant for you," Bruce said with a gesture towards Tony, before Stark held out his blueberries, offering Bruce some. Taking a handful, Bruce continued, "Even if Barton didn't tell Loki about the tower, it was still all over the news."

"The Stark Tower? That big, ugly-" Steve paused when Tony glanced at him before he just finished his thought, "building in New York?"

Bruce, ignoring Tony as he stared disgruntledly at Steve, said, "It's powered by an arc reactor, a self-sustaining energy source. That building will run itself for, what, a year?" Bruce asked Tony.

"It's just the prototype. I'm kind of the only name in clean energy right now. That's what he's getting at."

"So why didn't S.H.I.E.L.D. bring him in on the Tesseract project? What are they doing in the energy business in the first place?"

"I should probably look into that once my decryption program finishes breaking into all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secure files."

"I'm sorry," Steve said, "Did you say…"

"Jarvis has been running it since I hit the bridge. In a few hours, I'll know every dirty secret S.H.I.E.L.D. has ever tried to hide. Blueberry?" Stark said holding out his bag of blueberries.

Ignoring the berries Rogers quipped, "Yet you're confused about why they didn't want you around."

"An intelligence organization that fears intelligence? Historically, not awesome."

Deciding against giving a response to Stark's statement Steve tried to change the subject, "I think Loki' to wind us up. This is a man who means to start a war, and if we don't stay focused, he'll succeed. We have orders. We should follow them."

"Following's not really my style."

"And you're all about style aren't you?"

"Of the people in this room, which one is, A, wearing a spangly outfit, and, B, not of use?" Stark asked with an insult.

Bruce interjected before they'd start getting in a worse squabble, "Steve, tell me none of this smells a little funky to you."

Glancing from Bruce to Tony, Steve left the lab saying, "Just find the cube."

Once he got out of the lab he paused quickly reflecting on the conversation before he glanced about with a clenched jaw and headed down one of the halls of the helicarrier. He's just going to have to find out what Fury's trying to hide.

An Unknown location in an unknown world, galaxy, or universe

Beams were flying over a beautiful creature's head as she ran from her previously peaceful home warren to keep the egg she was carrying safe. There was a group of strange, gray, humanoid creatures shooting at her with what she assumed was the intent to kill. She had to get her egg to safety or so much could go wrong! She dodged as the alien creatures' aims started getting more accurate. When she was told by that figure to not give up on what she thought was a dud egg and that it was so, so special... Well, to say the least, she was at first doubtful. After finding a little alcove that held some rocks, she took form of a sleeping snake on one and hid with the egg, before she thought back to when it happened leading up to the current moment.

It started a few months after she had lain her first small clutch of three eggs. She was excited to see what their birth forms would be. Her species, known as The Mutata (short for mutata increaturis), had a special trait. When one was born they'd have an original 'form' that was different for each, but they would change to similarly match their clutch parents within one week. This ability to change would stay with them for the rest of their lives, allowing them to change into whatever form they so choose. There was only one limit though, how they would come to 'know' the new forms. There were believed to be limitless ways, but some were more common-like her being only able to change into anything she touched and focused on.

A quiet crack brought her out of her wandering thoughts and she hurried to be near her precious babies as they worked their ways out of the thin but tough shell. She watched with a beaming smile as her young slowly worked their way out. Soon, all but one had come fully out of their shell. With a happy smile she looked to the last one, but her smile was soon gone when she realized why the last one wasn't out of it's shell. It hadn't even hatched. It was a dud! She wailed at the loss of one of her eggs before picking it up to take it where unborn eggs were to go, but before she could even stand up straight a hand reached out and took her egg.

"Do not despair. It is just not this little one's time. He will be born when the time is close," a gentle voice spoke. She looked to the side at a mysterious figure. It was dressed in all black, but it seemed to be a human female in form. The figure seemed to be wearing tight, knee-high black boots, and a torn black dress that was long in the back but shortened to knee-length in the front was what she mainly wore with a belt-like corset keeping it cinched at her waist. To top it all off, the female figure had a long, hooded black coat that hugged her bodice until it reached her hips before billowing out around her legs. The female couldn't see the figure's face as the hood hung over her head leaving no sign of features, just darkness. That was when the creature's gaze was drawn to what was in the figure's other hand: a beautifully created, rune-carved scythe.

"Who are you?" The female asked the mysterious figure in her species language.

"That does not matter. You will see me soon again after this, but for now, let me ask. What's your name?"

"Junn. Why did you take my egg from me? I am required to take it to the-"

"NO! Do not even think of that! This egg may not have hatched with the others, but did you not hear me earlier? I said it's not its time to be born yet. It is so, so special. If you were to get rid of it, the results could be disastrous."

Junn stared, before asking, "What do you mean? If it hasn't hatched yet, then it never will."

"No, it will hatch when the time is right. The one in that egg has a great purpose. In time it will hatch to learn just a few things before it meets the one it will form a Socius bond with. I am so sorry for what will come soon, but there is nothing I can do. Just know, when the end comes you and your babies will be happy. I won't allow for anything else… Protect the egg with all you can. It is destined to be loved."

"How?" Junn asked when she finally decided to believe the figure.

"I cannot tell you," the figure stopped and seemed hesitant to continue, "But I will bestow a gift upon you and the egg to help you in your coming struggle."

With that the figure waved the scythe over the egg and then Junn chanting, "Factus est omnis lingua loquentium. Factus est omnis lingua loquentium. Factus est omnis lingua loquentium… It is done."

Junn felt a wave of warmth as the spell washed over her. Before she could say anything though, the figure vanished, leaving behind the predestined egg. Junn picked it up and cradled it against her chest, feeling a strong thump, thump coming from it.

Days passed and the egg was still unhatched. Junn was feeding her other babies before she jumped when an awful screech rang throughout her home warren. She hurried to look down the tunnel and saw strange gray humanoid figures shooting purple beams at her fellow Mutata as they tried to flee or hide. Fearful for her babies' lives, she grabbed them along with the egg and quickly hurried down the tunnel opposite the approaching menace. Several purple beams hit the walls of the tunnels around her as she fled, but none of them struck their mark.

After rounding several corners and turns in the large network of tunnels, Junn stopped realizing she couldn't keep going while carrying two hatched babies and an egg. She panicked when, out of nowhere, something grabbed her and pulled her into a dark alcove. Whatever grabbed her though told her to calm down. As Junn's eyes adjusted, she looked about and realized that she was grabbed by some of her fellow Mutata. There were several young ones that some of the elders had gathered to hide.

Knowing the alien beings would soon come this way to find her, Junn decided she would have to leave, but she turned to one of the older females in the group and asked, "Please, I must leave. Can you watch over my babies? If they stay with me they will be endangered." She only waited long enough for the female to nod and take the two babies before turning and leaving quickly.

She was only a few steps away when several purple beams shot into the walls around her and one hit her wrist, causing it to stop working. Stumbling at the momentary pain, Junn started to run. She was too far away to hear and realize that the things had found the hiding group when one of her babies cried out in hunger. In a way she was spared the horrific killing and screeches that came as they were mercilessly murdered.

She ran until she found the opening that led aboveground. Hurrying out she ran across the unfamiliar terrain as beams flew over her head and she ran to keep her egg safe. She found the alcove and focused on the snake she touched…

Now here she was hiding. She could hear the fastly approaching creatures footsteps, until they were right there looking in the alcove. She held her breath in the snake form, but the things continued on after seeing nothing suspicious. At least, they were going when two of them stopped and started communicating. To her surprise, Junn could clearly understand what they were saying.

"Stay here and watch for that stupid thing in case it somehow managed to hide from us. We are supposed to destroy the entire species. I heard it was Thanos that ordered it since the one he wants to marry was here a few days ago. Since we've killed all of the others and collapsed the tunnels, it's the only one left," the one on the left ordered the other.

"Of course."

The left-hand one, taking that as affirmation, turned and followed the rest of its group. The other turned back around and walked into the alcove. She had to quickly slither out of the way since the ugly thing went to sit on the rock she was pretending to sleep on. That's when she got an idea. She quickly slithered behind the other creature and touched it with her tail. Focusing, she quickly found herself crouching behind it, looking exactly the same as the figure in front of her. Not making a sound, she picked up a rock and bashed the thing's head.

It was stunned and fell onto the ground, but it started to move again. Remembering that they had said all her kind were dead she went into a rage and started beating the things head harder and harder with the rock. She stopped when she pulled her arm back too hard and caused the rock to go flying backwards. Her hands were shaking as she looked down at her work. The things head was a mess of blood, snot, bones, teeth, and brain clumps. Shuddering at the horrifying gore, Junn turned her head and dry-heaved, but she continued with her plan. She influenced the dead body to look like her, picked up the egg, put it in the creatures bag, and started dragging it to where she saw the other things went.

"Stop!" a voice called out, causing Junn to do exactly that. "What are you doing away from that alcove? I told you to watch for the stupid…" the previously known as 'left creature' creature drifted off when it saw what Junn was dragging, "You killed the stupid beast?"

Offended, Junn gave a nod, before starting to drag the body forward. She was stopped when left creature scoffed, "Don't bring that filthy thing closer. Dump it in that river over there and then come find us so we can get back to the ship and continue on our course to our target."

Turning back to go to the river she knew they were talking about. Hefting the body, she dumped it into the water. She watched as it changed back to its original form since it was no longer influenced by her touch. As it drifted down the water, she never saw the same figure from before-with the scythe strapped to its back-watching her, holding two babies.

She ran to find the aliens, but it was only a few moments before she caught up to them only a few yards away from where they last were. They didn't spare her a glance as they headed towards and boarded what she figured was their ship. She looked about at the curious environment onboard the ship. A lot of it looked similar in color to the creatures' armor. She listened in on some of the conversation as she wandered through the large ship. Very informative. So, the things were called Chitauri, they were planning an invasion of planet Earth (although she heard it phrased differently a couple times), they were ordered by something called The Other to obey some Loki person, and the evil titan Thanos was mentioned in some conversation as well.

To Junn's relief she found what was apparently the residency areas where the Chitauri slept and possibly could do other things. She looked through the many rooms and areas to find a well-hidden place for her to stay. Coincidentally, at the very end of all the rooms (or whatever she was supposed to refer to them as), she found a room that was secluded and the nearest living space was several yards away. Strange.

She gently set her bag down and pulled the egg out. She began to cry, knowing that she would be the last of her kind until the egg hatched. Her babies were dead, and now she had to leave her home and was likely never to return. She had hope that there would somehow be a continuation of her species somewhere else once this egg found the one it would form a Gloria bond with, and that was all she needed. A little hope touching her heart with a feathery brush.

Half a day passed and she could feel that something big was going to happen, but wasn't sure what, only that it would be good. The ship had stopped for a while now and the Chitauri seemed to be waiting for some sort of signal, but that wasn't why she could feel the sense of something wonderful coming. No, it seemed to just be her that sensed it.

It was a few hours later when she found out what it was. She had been sitting on her makeshift bed meditating. All was quiet and she felt a peaceful calm envelope her. Her eyes snapped open in surprise when she heard something coming from the alcove she had hidden her egg in. It was almost like a rustling movement. She was about to dismiss it as nothing when Crack! Knowing it could only be one thing, she hurried over to the alcove and grabbed the egg before setting it on her bed.

Avidly watching, she thought on what she was going to name it. She had come up with three names for each of her eggs when they were fresh-lain and she knew what she would name the young one coming out. Her Gloria would've been happy for his late-born baby to be named it if he hadn't died when he was eaten by a Bilgesnipe that had been illegally brought to her planet.

A sneeze and a flash of flame snapped her out of her thoughts as she admired the form her baby had taken. There was a human name for what form he'd taken, but she couldn't fully remember it at the moment. He had beautiful bright blue and onyx black scales covering his body somewhat covering his wings. That's when the name hit her. Dragon, that's it. Her baby had taken the form of a beautiful dragon. Although a small one at that. His name would be perfect.

Picking him up she smiled down as he nuzzled into her chest, "Hello, little one. I've been waiting for you. Now, I must give you your name," the dragon was looking up at her with all its attention focused on what she was going to say. "Dragons are considered fierce in many ways, but are also gentle. They are said to be like storms: violent like the lightning and thunder or life-giving and soothing like the rain. That's why you, my mighty dragon, you will have a name that takes that all into consideration," she paused and smiled at her baby in such a loving, happy way, "Your name, my fierce, loyal dragon, shall be Arashi."

Thank you so much for reading! If you liked it please follow, review, or favorite this story. Again, big thanks to Brazilwolf for the awesome OC I hope I did it justice. Anyways, have a fantastic day and I will be back with another chapter sometime. Oh, and happy belated Fourth of July!