The golden hall of the mighty temple glowed, sweet luminescent light spilling from within, as the One Above All shifted nothing into something.
His hand was all-powerful, pulling from within His pocket a grain of existential matter—the very materials of which life is born. With these tools, the creator laid down on upon the Celestial ground a gift. It was rumored to be greater than all—a direct descendant of the great One's strength and self. Thousands of colors danced against the windows, casting shadows and rays of brilliance, and the Celestials, who were used to such splendorous kind of wonders, stood in awe. It was a magical scene, prompting wild tales that would never cease to hold a curious ear and the interest of those who see much more than what is. Even the production, herself, would find her attention arrested by the stories told of her making.
Inside the hall, quiet footsteps echoed as the One Above All worked. There was the soft hum of the creator, a pleasant sound; it resonated with the planet and its people for seven days and seven nights. During this time, the Celestials held a great festival to celebrate the One Above All. There were many feasts and much dancing, voices rising in song and praise, and all the world thrummed with the excitement generated throughout the multiverse. Finally, all noise ceased into silence. The people crowded outside the temple, excitement growing high, as their gift was delivered.
"Behold!" The One Above All exclaimed. His great voice boomed across the universes, all His creation. "My son, the Shining Lord. He is given to life, as the High King of the Celestials and father to all whom I have created."
The light gave way, slipping into soft tendrils of shimmering gold until it revealed a beautiful figure standing beneath the rays. The Shining Lord was, in appearance, of 20 years—his midnight blue eyes, however, even as they dropped in child-like tiredness, held an infinite wisdom, his golden skin shining and black hair tied back from his face. The Shining Lord was a vision, a picture of the power and infinite ability belonging to the One Above All.
Korean Translation:
손대지 마시오=Keep Your Hands Off
A Fallen Hero; speech by Commander Eisenhower
September 5th, 1945
Yesterday, the nation celebrated as the bombing of Nagasaki brought about what has so long been desired: peace. Today, we mourn as the true cost becomes clear. There are no figures from the fronts yet as to the number of dead, but speculation can only be placed in the millions. Among all those heroes that gave their life to defend freedom and democracy, we honor one in particular. Captain Steven Grant "America" Rogers was revealed today to have been killed in action on March 4th 1945, while stopping a German bomber from reaching New York.
Captain America was at first a stage performer who raised enthusiasm for war bonds. He was then sent to the Italian front to raise the morale of the troops, but Rogers was meant for more than wooden guns and paper shields. On November 3rd 1943, he coordinated and lead a rescue mission to free over 300 Allied POW's from a German internment camp, among them his childhood best friend, James Barnes. His spectacular success lead to him being placed in charge of a group of special forces, the "Howling Commandos," which enjoyed some of the highest allied mission success raids. Rogers, called a tactical mastermind by his superiors, carried out over a hundred raids on German bases and outposts. His bravery, well-known among the men at the front, manifested itself when he boarded a German airplane headed for the continental USA. To save millions at home, he made the ultimate sacrifice and brought the plane down over the arctic ocean.
Captain Rogers has no surviving family. A public ceremony will be held October 1st.
There will be no questions. Thank you.
Stark Industries IPO below expectations; The Financial Times
March 3rd 1962
Howard Stark yesterday celebrated both his marriage to Maria Carbonell, and the initial public offering of his company, Stark Industries (SI), on the New York Stock Exchange. SI has quickly built a global reputation for building weaponry for the US military and other defence contractors. The IPO was expected to raise $25 per share. However, at the end of the day shares were trading at closer to $20, indicating investors doubt the long-term durability of SI. In a statement, business partner Obadiah Stane stated that the company needed time to "settle into its full potential." Stark retains the majority of shares and as such full executive power. SI is a major US defence contractor and has so far made a profit every year since its establishment in 1956. Stark, who has long standing ties with the US military since WWII, was seen by our analysts to be in an ideal position to enter the weapons market. It remains to be seen how well he will fare.
8 Years Later, May 29th
STARK—Howard Anthony Walter and Maria Collins Carbonell are proud to announce the birth of their son, Anthony Edward Stark. Anthony was born on May 29th weighing 7 pounds and measuring 18 inches. Visitors are asked to call ahead.
...
Carry That Weight-Jennifer Hudson
Once there was a way,
To get back homeward,
Once there was a way,
To get back home,
Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Golden slumbers fill your eyes,
Smiles awake you when you rise,
Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Once there was a way,
To get back homeward,
Once there was a way,
To get back home.
Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight,
Carry that weight for a long time,
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight,
Carry that weight for a long time
I never give you my pillow,
I only send you my invitations,
And in the middle of the celebrations,
I break, I break, I break down.
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight,
Carry that weight for a long time,
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight,
Carry that weight for a long time...
Once there was a way,
To get back homeward,
Once there was a way,
To get back home,
(Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry...)
And I will sing a lullaby.
"손대지 마시오~"
"손대지 마시오~"
This had been Leyenar Oh's mantra for 3 years, when she came up with something that began with "It all began on a day that was exactly like any other, and what made that day so special for the two leaders of the Avengers was a li'l something that bore the label "Keep Your Hands Off". It all began when that THING exploded in the halls of the Avengers Mansion...", and ended with "And so, Captain America and Iron Man became the official "Keep Your Hands Off" couple in the Avengers.". And now, Leyenar was heartbroken, because of
1. She failed to bring upon a Civil Union.
2. Tony made the biggest mistake of his life by getting engaged to Pepper Potts.
3. And maybe because the holy-bagumba-ness of it all had caused our d-i-r-e-c-t-o-r to...
Suddenly, Leyenar fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. Her friend and assistant, Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel, rushed over to help her. "I'm fine, thank you." said the young director, swatting Carol's hand away. She thought, How could Irah forget Cap that easily? They're destined to be together! Yes, indeed, they were, in accordance with the Fate's designs and Time's past illustrations...
Soul-bonding was a rare occurrence with only 3500 bonding confirmation in America since the early seventeenth century. The rarest and ultimate bond of soul-bonding was called the Twin-Flame, they claimed to have spent many past reincarnations together.
Soul-bonding was a romanticized notion. This was a glossy, shiny definition of soulmate:
[Soulmate:] A person with whom you have an immediate connection the moment you meet. A connection so strong that you are drawn to them in a way you have never experienced before. As this connection develops over time, you experience a love so deep, strong and complex, that you doubt you have ever truly loved anyone prior.
Your soulmate understands and connects with you in every way and on every level, which brings a sense of peace, calmness and happiness when you are around them. And when you are not around them, you are all that much more aware of the harshness of life, and how bonding with another person in this way is the most significant and satisfying thing you will experience in your lifetime. You are also all that much aware of the beauty in life because you have been given a great gift and will always be thankful.
Yeah, and that was exactly what happened to Cap and Irah, they were Twin-Flames. Leyenar recognized them as an ancient spirit, which had once been two soulmates conjoined in an act of desperation and true love. Now, the spirit was two souls once more, however, the separation caused great unrest in the depths of their beings. The young girl's hands curled up into tight fists, with an intense fire burning in her eyes. She would do anything in her power to bring Cap and Irah back together, and Ultron would certainly aid and abet her in any plan necessary. And, together, they would make Pepper Potts pay.
The Fates nearly gleamed with the progress of their work:a work to revive the lives of the heroes' past bodies and the lives their souls had once endured.
This is the Asgardian refugee vessel Statesman. We are under assault, I repeat, we are under assault - The engines are dead, life support failing. Requesting aid from any vessel within range. We are 22 jump points out of Asgard. [the voice becomes more desperate and pleading] Our crew is made up of Asgardian families, we have very few soldiers here. This is not a warcraft. I repeat, this is not a warcraft!
Inside the ship, Ebony Maw walked among the bodies of dead Asgardians. Heimdall, badly wounded, reached out as if he would stop Maw as he passes, but lacked the strength. Maw stepped over them with no mind as he spoke, as if they were scattered pieces of dirty clothing on a bedroom floor. Hear me, and rejoice. You have had the privilege of being saved by the Great Titan...You may think this is suffering...No, it is salvation. Universal scales tip toward balance because of your sacrifice. Smile..." Corvus Glaive stabbed one of the lingering Asgardians. For even in death, you have become Children of Thanos."
Loki stood with the Black Order. He watched Thanos, shrouded in darkness and light, a vague silhouette. "I know what it's like to lose. To feel so desperately that you're right...yet to fail, nonetheless." said the Titan, as he lifted Thor by the neck of his breastplate. Thor struggled feebly. "It's frightening. Turns the legs to jelly. I ask you, to what end? Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same. And now, it's here. Or should I say...I AM." Thanos held up his hand to reveal the Infinity Gauntlet, which already hosted the violet Power Stone.
"You talk too much." spat Thor.
"The Tesseract, or your brother's head. I assume you have a preference." Thanos replied calmly.
"Oh, I do. Kill away!" said Loki.
Thanos' face expressed surprise briefly before he pressed the gauntlet to Thor's left temple. The Power Stone glowed brightly. Thor screamed hoarsely.
Loki began losing his cool demeanor almost immediately as Thor suffers, and broke down after only a few moments. "Alright, STOP! We don't have the Tesseract. It was destroyed on Asgard." he said.
Loki glanced at Thor like he knows something he doesn't. He lifted his right hand into the air and the Tesseract revealed itself.
"You really are the worst brother." said Thor.
"I assure you, brother... the sun will shine on us again." said Loki, as he offered the cube to Thanos.
"Your optimism is misplaced, Asgardian." said the Titan.
"Well, for one thing, I'm not Asgardian. And for another...We have a Hulk." Thanos looked to his right just as a green and very angry mass slammed into him. Loki dove for Thor, pulling both of them out of the way as the Tesseract skittered across the floor, and the Hulk charged at Thanos. He pummeled Thanos, forcing him backwards and shoving him into the wall of the ship. Maw stopped Black Dwarf from interfering.
"Let him have his fun." he told his brother-in-arms. Thanos pried the Hulk's hands away; an expression of surprise and fear crossed the creature's green face. After several hard blows, Thanos picked up the Hulk and slammed him to the deck, defeated. Thor slammed a metal bar across Thanos's back to no avail, and got kicked across the deck by Thanos and was promptly bound in metal debris by Ebony Maw to keep him from interfering further.
"All-fathers… let the dark magic flow through me one last...time." prayed Heimdall. Immediately, he summoned the Bifrost, which carries the Hulk away; he met Thor's eye.
"That was a mistake." sneered Thanos. He borrowed Corvus's glaive then stabbed Heimdall through the heart, twisting the blade in the wound.
"NOOOOO! You're gonna pay for that!" cried Thor, only to have his mouth shut by Maw, who picked up the Tesseract and handed it to Thanos. "My humble personage…bows before your grandeur. No other being has ever had the might, nay the nobility, to wield not one, but two Infinity Stones. The universe lies within your grasp."
The Titan crushed the Tesseract, revealing the blue Space Stone. He blew some of the fractals away, fingering the Stone between his thumb and index, before placing it on the gauntlet, and was momentarily rocked by the surge of energy that pulses as the stone seated in its setting.