DISCLAIMER – The following fic that you are about to view is an original fic and is no way involved with the Marvel Company. Any event resembling this is pure coincidence.


It was just like that. One moment you're about to embrace peace, but in the next moment, you wake up in a bad dream. How could this have happened? Why did Cap have to die?

When I stood there at Cap's mausoleum, saluting him, I couldn't help but remember the times I fought by Cap's side. To me, Cap was more than just a hero and I looked up to, he was like a brother that I've never had before; a brother who will always look out for you whenever you might do something so reckless. Whenever the guy needed a smile, that's when I would come in and make a joke or two.

I remember the first time I read about him back in my U.S. History class. We were told that he was killed in action, but in the end, he helped America win World War II. But in later years, that's when everything began to change. We began hearing that Cap was alive and well. It turns out that he was just in frozen in a block of ice during World War II. The greatest legend returned.

I remember the first time I met that guy. It happened while I was fighting Hobgoblin. Hobgoblin was doing his usual crazy-guy-in-a-Halloween-costume antics and began hurting innocent civilians. I tried to get take that guy down, but in the end, he somehow managed to take me down. Hobgoblin was about to make his finishing blow, when all of a sudden this big trashcan lid came out of nowhere and hit Hobgoblin straight in the face. That's when I realized, "No, that's no trashcan lid. That's a shield!" That shield had the American colors on it, and when I turned to see who threw that shield, that's when I couldn't believe my eyes. Captain America, in the flesh, coming out to help me. Hobgoblin couldn't believe his eyes, either. He tried to use his pumpkin bombs to take down Cap, but Cap demonstrated his skills and took down Hobgoblin like it was nothing. Cap then offered me a hand, which I willingly took. I introduced myself to him and I told him how much it was an honor to meet a great American hero, like him. From that day, Cap became my hero. I was like a sidekick to him whenever we met again during our crime-fighting days.

Captain America even became Mary Jane's martial arts instructor. If it hadn't been for his skills in hand-to-hand combat, Mary Jane would never be able to take down guys such as Smythe.

Then, the Civil War came. I was convinced to join the Pro-Registration faction so I could be recognized for all of my good deeds. However, when word got out that we had to fight the anti-Registration faction, I never thought I had to fight Cap. I was reluctant to fight my hero, but my duties to the government were always coming in first. Thus, I had to choice but to face my hero. However, with the death of Goliath, I began to have a change of heart. I decided that the Pro-Registration side was going about this all wrong. Upon my defection, Tony Stark tried to take me in, but I managed to fight back. Then, I joined Captain America's side, in his quest to keep the freedom of superheroes around. I became Cap's sidekick again. During, the final battle, Cap surrendered because the Civil War was just hurting the civilians around us. He was right. As his "unofficial" sidekick, I had to agree with Cap's decision.

Unfortunately, in the aftermath of the Civil War, I was dealt with two tragedies. One, I saved Mary Jane and myself from an assassin's bullet, but by saving the woman I love, I may have lost another; Aunt May was seriously wounded. Two, after we took Aunt May to the hospital, Mary Jane and I watched the CNN news coverage on Cap's trial on Federal Hall. That's when the second tragedy struck. Captain America was shot to death on Federal Hall, just when he was about to face his final charges. Mary Jane and I couldn't believe this was happening. It was like a bad dream. Two people that I care about the most had to suffer the consequences of this Civil War.

Because of the Civil War, I couldn't help but blame George Bush for allowing the Super-Human Registration Act to pass. I felt that if he hadn't allowed the bill to pass, then none of this would've happened. I'm mad at Nitro for causing all those civilian casualties, I'm mad at the people who blamed us, I'm mad at George Bush for not considering our rights, I'm mad at Tony Stark for supporting the act, I'm mad at everyone!

I couldn't control my anger. But Mary Jane was able to comfort me. She told me that it was nobody's fault. I didn't want to admit it, but she was right. It wasn't like the government planned Cap's death. But I couldn't help but feel sad about what's been happening. I felt like the world is taking a dramatic turn for the worst. Crime fighting isn't what it used to be for me anymore. It didn't feel the same without Cap coming in and watching my back or leading the way. The New Avengers will never be the same without him.

I'm now wearing the black costume as a sign of grievance for Aunt May's critical condition and Cap's passing. I swore that I'd hunt down Aunt May's would-be assassin, but I also swore that I'd try to keep Cap's spirit alive. I don't have his strength or his courage, and I never will match it. But I'll make sure his spirit will never fade.

Cap, you've been a great hero to all of us. You taught us that our courage was what kept democracy alive up until now. I'll never forget you. And I'll miss you.

God bless you, Captain America.