Disclaimer: This is a parody inspired by the works of Marvel/Disney and Josh Whedon/WB/UPN . All characters that I have not created or borrowed from other sources are theirs. This is a Fan fiction and not meant to violate the rights of those who own the rights to the Marvel Comics or Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series. I have no money and therefore not a good suing target. May uses dialogue from the second season episode "Halloween". Thank you very much.
Bling, 2 for 1: Mandarin's Rings and Infinity Stones
Rings
Xander was enjoying his tea, a good cup of Earl Grey that Giles had brewed for him when he asked for it as well as a moment of his time away from the girls. Gile looked at little confused and amused, before asking, "Not that I'm not impressed that you have broaden your horizons, but does this change have anything to do with the events of Halloween."
Not more then a few days ago, Gile's friend had caused them to become their costumes. And it had it's impact, "Do you know who I dressed as, Giles?"
"Willow and Buffy mention some kind of intellectual martial artist with powers. I take it was more then that?"
"I was going to go as an Army officer, I just needed a gun. But it had been sold just seconds before me. So going to the bargain bin, I found a few toy rings I decided to buy instead. Using them as a base, I decided to dress as a heroic version of the Iron Man villain Mandarin. Given the multiverse in comics, and my lack of desire to be a monster, I figure it could work." Xander could see Gile's questioning of the character, so Xander continued.
"You have to remember, Iron Man started in the sixties. Less enlighten era of things like the Yellow Peril characters, like the Mandarin. He was a super-martial artist and genius scientist, but what made him powerful was the rings. Ten rings of alien make which had different powers, which had bonded to him." Xander set down his tea cup and revealed his hands. They were callous as if they were hardened from work... or hiting hard things like metal for prolonged periods. What caused Giles to jerk was when the bare fingers suddenly revealed all ten had a ring on them.
"As you can see, I have kept what I had from Halloween. Physical, mental and other elements. They don't match the rings of the comics Mandarin, but they are similar." He continued to explain the elements.
"I see. And do you know what powers they have?" the British man asked the American teen, curious.
"Only eight at the moment." He continued to explain, before mentioning the powers to the other man. "Six are based on the elements. Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, Light and Darkness. The other two based on mental abilities and the ability to reshape matter. Of course, there is some flexiblity within the powers. If one is clever enough, which resemble some of the other powers of the canon Mandarin."
"I take it one of the powers of the Mind Ring is to create illusions, like the lack of the rings on your hands. Anything else?"
"Just they are bonded to me. Like some of the legendary weapons or tools in myth. They always return to me."
"So the reason you have yet to tell Buffy or Willow of this is?"
"They like to think of me of their Xander-shape friend and might not take these changes very well. Given the source of my powers, Buffy might be tempted to ask me to hand them over. Not that it matters, since I can just teleport them to me. Heck, I might be willing to share the without for the same reason. But superpowered fashion accessories, well... it's Buffy. I really don't need the puppy dog eyes if I can avoid it." He mentioned the problems which could occur with the Slayer and their female friend.
"I can see what I can do to help. So as you said, in addition to the rings you have martial arts skills as well as genius intelligence and scientific knowledge."
Xander told Giles the levels of combat experience he now held, which suited his newly muscular body. Of the tactical mind he had with knowledge gained from studying the alien rings.
Stones
"Well, this proves it. I am god now." said Xander as he looked at the glove he still had after the spell ended. The one which turned them into their costumes, in his case, Xander with the Infinity Gauntlet. An ordinary yellow glove with six stones which give one control over space, time, reality, mind, power and souls.
'Which gives me a lot of information. Like how the various cosmic forces fear and lust for the gauntlet. Or what would happen if I gave it to someone else. Which will be abused somehow by everyone I could give it to, including me. The question is degrees. Also would be better to be on this side of the Gauntlet, even if that would be selfish of me.' he thought to himself, as he stood between the tick and the tock of the moment before he met with the others after Halloween.
Mostly dreading it, because as he said because he rather be on this side of the glove. Which everyone would agree with. He was deciding how best to drop it on them. Explaining things. Especially the point that with the glove, it was unlikely he would be separated form it.
'Or I could just go the easy route and make them all okay with me being a god. Would be a lot easier to make them okay with it. Not as right, but easier.' He scanned the various futures where he had told them and where he had them be okay with him having the gloves. There were good and bad points on both sides. He continued, 'Of course I could switch from the former and move to the latter at any second. So maybe I could start off telling them with the option to make them chill with it later.'
Xander took a moment, as well as a deep breathe, then continued into the library for the Halloween debriefing. Also Xander went to go make some Twinkies for him to eat. And a few more Xander did a few other things.
But back to Library Xander after an explanation...
Buffy listened to the story Xande told them of the power he had from Marvel comic books. Power over time, space, reality, mind, power and soul. Ocne raised, more then one of the group asked why he didn't hand the stones over for safe keeping. Xander explained how he, like anyone, would like to be on that side of omnipotence. So she decided to pull out her trump card at being the slayer.
"You're A slayer. Not THE Slayer. Or should I ask Kendra if I should keep it too." was his confusing answer.
The blond stopped and asked, "Who's Kendra? And why do you think she's the Slayer? I'm the Slayer."
Xander looked a bit sheepish and ashamed, "Well, apparently having your heart stopped counts as dead for the Slayer spirit even if you get better. Which meant it trigger the next in line. Kendra Young, trained by Sam Zabuto. The Watcher's Council knows about her."
"But I was only dead for a little while. It's just that easy?" she asked, wondering how it could be that simple. Just die for a few minutes, and bam! New Slayer.
"I can make some calls to be sure. I'm guessing your stones told you this?" asked Giles, which made Buffy looked at him and back to Xander.
"Time, Mind, Soul... take your pick. Any one of them could do it." he mentioned to them, before pulling out a plate of twinkies from no where.
"Xander, can you not use ultimate power to make twinkies?" asked Willow, looking from what Buffy could tell, annoyed at the abuse. Buffy had to admit it was a waste of power. Now making a never ending source of Manolo Blahniks, that was a good use of the power. Willow continued, "Don't you think you should hand over the Gauntlet if you are going to abuse it like that?"
"Do I want to tell you how you would abuse it? Or Giles? Or Buffy and her shoe thing?" he answered telepathically as he ate.
"Hey, no reading my mind. And it's a great use of power. I mean, what are you going to do with it?" she asked, upset her had invaded her mind. Worried it could mean worst things, but hoping Xander wouldn't go that far.
"I can see it on your faces, but I will be doing my best to avoid altering your minds. Not sure if I could stop my subconscious from affecting the stones, but I will try my best. Also right now, I am removing the potential from brain cancer which kills Buffy's mom in about two or three years from now." He looked at them, as Buffy's heart stopped for a minute. As she felt like scum and a jack ass, rmember who Xander was without power. Which he seemed to still be. For now, because he did mention no one got ultimate power remained the same. he also continued, "Also trying to do something about Deadboy so his curse doesn't break when gets happy. Seriously, those gypsy didn't think things through with their curses. Must be all that focus on rage and vengence."
"I thought you hated Angel, why help him? And what do you mean happiness breaks his curse?" she asked, getting over the thing with her mother, and giving Xander the benefit of the doubt of not being jealous because of her and Angel.
"Gypsies cursed Deadboy so that one moment of true happiness causes his soul to go away and Angelus or Angel-ass takes over. They want him suffering, not happy. So they want his existence to be miserable, for as long as his corpse remains.
So I was thinking of raising deadboy to the living. But not a normal human, since he couldn't handle it. Maybe a male Slayer or mutant or something. Then I stick the demon in some kind of living hell. Like trapped in one of the animatronics of the 'It's a Small World' ride. Maybe also in a time loop so he can't escape ever." Said the man as he finished his snack cakes.
"Yeah, that sounds like hell. All those creepy robots and no-stop repeating song would drive anything insane." said Willow, as she shivered at the image Xander painted.
Author's note: The ideas weren't fleshed out enough for more at the moment. But I am curious of your comments. Also left two rings empty to be filled when I have a better idea. The rings are more based on concepts at the moment. An expanded fic would have more details on the rings. So enjoy, comment constructively, and have fun.
