Alright. Here we go. The final chapter of Avengers of the Future.

I'll say no more. Let's get started.

Guest: Batman may still be a part of Elseworlds when it actually happens. It just hasn't happened yet.

Chapter 15- Back to the Past

Stephen turns to Nora. "Alright. Are you ready for this?" he asks. Everything has been set up for the attempt to travel back in time. All the New Avengers have been brought to Earth-99 to make it easier for Nora and Stephen to get them when they return to the future.

"Not quite yet," Nora responds. Stephen looks at her in surprise.

Nora looks a little sheepish for a second, then says, "I want to go see Auntie Kara before we go back."

Stephen starts to smile. "You're right. Of course. I can't believe I didn't think of that. You're right. She deserves to know what we're doing," he responds. He pauses for a second, then asks, "Do you have an extrapolator?"

Nora smiles as she holds up an extrapolator. "Yup. Let's go," she says with a grin. She turns around and activates the extrapolator, opening a breach, which she and Stephen quickly speed through.

A second later, they emerge in a very familiar barn. A few yards away, Kara, still looking very good for her age of 56 years, except for her graying hair, is stroking the neck of one of the horses.

"Auntie Kara!" Nora cries.

Kara turns around, the smile that still warms Nora and Stephen's heart on her face, and says, "Nora! Stephen! Oh, I'm glad you're back!"

The trio race together and embrace, laughing a bit together. After a few moments, Kara releases them and asks, "What's going on?"

Stephen and Nora are quiet for a moment, then Stephen says, "Umm, we have something we need to talk to you about."

Hearing the hesitance in Stephen's tone, Kara's face goes a little more serious, and she says, "Okay. Let's go talk in the house."

The three of them walk into the farm house and sit down in the living room. Kara looks at the twins and asks, "Okay. What do you need to talk to me about?"

Nora and Stephen look at each other, then back at Kara. A second later, Nora says, "We're going to go back in time and try to reverse the Decimation and save our parents."

Kara sits there for at least half a minute, completely quiet and surprised by that information. Then, she slowly says, "Oh, I see. You've finally learned you can time travel."

"Yeah. What do you think of this?" Stephen asks.

"Well, I think you're going to have to be extremely careful. Barry told me how dangerous time travel is. The first time he time travelled, he nearly made some big mistakes. You're going to have to be extremely careful, but if you go together, and with your team, I think it might be possible for you to pull this off. Even still, according to your dad, this Thanos is incredibly powerful. You need to really study him and work closely with your dad and the heroes in the past if you want to win. If you feel you can't win, there's no harm in coming back to this time. And if you make a mistake, and it causes a lot of damage to the future, you may not be able to fix it," Kara says rather calmly.

Nora and Stephen both look at each other with a surprised look. Kara notices this and asks, "What are those looks for?"

"You're…you're only warning us about time travel? You're…you're not going to try and discourage us from doing it?" Nora asks in confusion.

"Well, I know how stubborn you two are. And, I needed to warn you to make sure that what happened to your dad doesn't happen to you," Kara says.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Stephen asks.

Kara is quiet for a moments before she speaks up again and says, "I never told you the truth about your dad. I always told you that he disappeared during a battle with the Reverse Flash. The truth is…about a year after the Decimation, he had a breakdown. He left the two of you with Cisco and Caitlin and travelled back in time to try and reverse the Decimation, and never returned."

Nora and Stephen look at each other in shock, then back at Kara. "Why didn't you tell us this?" Stephen responds.

"Well, I didn't want you to know you had the power to travel in time until you were old enough to understand the dangers of time travel. And…I didn't want to take any chances that you might take that information as meaning that your dad abandoned you. Because he did it not just to stop Thanos, but to try and make sure you didn't have to grow up without your mother," Kara says.

Both Nora and Stephen look stunned. Then, the shock drains from Stephen's face, and he simply nods and says, "Thank you for telling us. And I promise, Auntie Kara. We'll be safe."

Nora still looks confused and shocked. Kara looks at her and asks, "Nora, what's wrong?"

"I still don't understand why you're not trying to stop us from doing this," Nora responds.

"Why would I be?" Kara asks.

"Well…because…if we do this…and we succeed…we're going to save our parents. And they're going to be the ones to raise us. Not you," Nora says hesitantly.

Kara looks at the two of them, smiling sweetly. "You think I don't know? I am very aware of that. I have raised you since you were little, and I have loved you both as if you were my own children since I took you in. But through all these years, the ghosts of your parents have stayed with you. And I know, if you don't do this, you will be haunted by that choice for the rest of your life, knowing you have the chance to do this. You won't just save the universe and restore everyone that Thanos killed. You will save your parents, and get to grow up with them. As a family." There are tears in her eyes as she finishes saying this.

Both Stephen and Nora have tears in their eyes at this point too. "But, Auntie Kara. You're our family too. You raised us. You taught us how to use our powers. You were there for us throughout our lives," Stephen says.

"And I always will be," she says firmly. She pauses for a second before saying, "I promise you two. No matter what happens, I will always love you. And if you do succeed and save your parents, I'll still be your Auntie Kara."

At this point, Nora, overcome with emotion, jumps up with tears in her eyes, runs over to her foster mother, and throws her arms around her. Stephen follows a second later. For several minutes, the three just stay there, locked in their embrace, never wanting to let go.

After a few minutes, they finally break apart. Kara looks at her two foster children and says, "I know you can do it. I have always known that when the two of you work together, there is nothing you can't do. And you have your team to help you." She pauses for a second, then says, "I always knew, in my heart, that this day would come. That you two would discover your greatest power, and that you would travel back to stop Thanos and save your parents." She then gives them both another hug, and a kiss on the cheek, before pulling back again and saying, "You've become the heroes I always knew you could be. And I could not be more proud."

Nora and Stephen cry as they hear this. Then, Kara smiles as she says, "Now…run, my little speedsters. Run!"

The twins smile brightly at these words, quickly say in unison, "We love you," then turn and race out of the house.

Kara smiles as she watches the two disappear into the distance. "Go save the multiverse," she whispers.

Side by side, the twins race south. Nora pulls out the extrapolator and opens a breach to Earth-99, and she and her brother streak through it, emerging in Wakanda. They continue to run, nowhere near their top speed, but wanting to keep moving.

"Hey, William. Do you copy?" Nora calls over comms.

"I copy, Nora," William responds.

"Is everyone there?" Nora asks.

"Yup. They're all here," William responds.

"Alright. We're in position and ready to make the attempt. Are you all ready for this?" Stephen cuts in.

"Yes. We're ready. You can do this, guys," William responds.

"Alright. Here we go," Stephen responds. And with that, he and Nora take off.

Both can feel a rush as the tachyons from the devices on their chests flood their bodies, boosting their speed. They continue running, faster and faster, feeling very anxious, but they concentrate on what Thawne told them.

Then, finally, as they're nearing the Egypt-Sudan border, up ahead, a breach opens. Feeling this is it, they race right into it.

Inside the breach, it's just like Thawne described. Everything around them is just blue and white energy, with what looks like lightning sparking every so often. Every few seconds, a fleeting image passes them. The two of them battling Godspeed. Their high school graduation. Kara and Laurel Lance fighting with the Reverse Flash. Captain America, Iron Man, and Oliver battling a man wearing futuristic armor. And finally, Thanos placing the last of the Infinity Stones in the Gauntlet.

The twins focus on that, and the events of that day. Then, right ahead of them, a breach opens up, and they streak through it. They come out of it in the midst of a desert.

The twins skid to a stop, looking around. There's nothing but desert surrounding them.

Nora raises her hand. "Gideon?" she asks.

A small hologram of Gideon comes out of her palm. "Yes, Nora Allen?" Gideon asks.

"Where and when are we, Gideon?" Nora asks.

"You are 1.4 miles north of the Egypt-Sudan border on Earth-99. The date is May 16, 2018," Gideon responds.

Stephen and Nora snap their heads towards each other, eyes wide. It takes a few moments before Stephen says, "It worked. I can hardly believe it."

Nora slowly nods. Then, she says, "Alright. Let's go."

The twins turn as one to the west and start running. About an hour later, they reach the Atlantic coast of Morocco and begin racing across the Atlantic. After several hours of running, and now feeling like they want to drop dead from running so much, they reach the coast of North Carolina.

The twins stop briefly in Wilmington to rest up and get something to eat. After about a half hour, Stephen looks at Nora, who's in the middle of eating a donut, and says, "Let's get going."

Nora nods as she finishes her donut, then the twins race off to the north. As they race through the town, they pass a diner, where an old man wearing glasses, with white hair and a mustache, is sitting and eating a sandwich. He stares after the twins as they pass. "What on Earth was that?" he asks to nobody in particular.

The twins race north towards New York, heading to the location they got from Morgan, and finally, after years of dreaming of the day they'd get to see it, the New Avengers Facility comes into view.

The two speedsters race into the building, searching the building room by room. It doesn't take long before they find the med bay, where they stop short at the sight of their Uncle Pietro lying in a coma on the bed.

For a few seconds, they just sit there, staring down at the uncle they have never met. Then, returning their minds to the mission, they quickly disconnect all the medical equipment from Pietro, then together grab him and race outside with him. After running in a quick circle at max speed, a portal to the Speed Force opens up, and the twins race in, pulling Pietro with them.

As soon as they are inside the Speed Force, they slow down, then release Pietro. As they run around him, all of a sudden, he's hidden from their sight.

"What's going on?" Nora asks to nobody in particular.

"You have done well." The two whip around and see Kara in front of them.

"Auntie Kara?" Nora asks.

"No. We're not Kara," Not-Kara responds.

"Huh?" Nora responds.

"Wait. Wait a second," Stephen says. He pauses for several moments before asking, "Is this the Speed Force trying to talk to us?"

"Very good, Stephen. You are very smart. You are one of the most worthy speedsters we have ever seen," Not-Kara compliments, drawing a smile from Stephen.

"What's happening to Uncle Pietro?" Nora asks.

"He is being shown the truth. Your uncle is unique. His speed comes not from us, but from the powers of the Mind Stone. But that will not be enough. You made a wise choice to attempt to bring your uncle out of his coma. He will be important to you in your quest to defeat Thanos. But he cannot do so at his current speed, and with his current attitude. He must pass the trials we have set for him. Only then can he unlock his true potential," Not-Kara responds.

"So, he has to go through this alone?" Nora asks nervously.

"No. Once he has passed this first test, we will reveal him to you again. It will be your job to guide him through the tests, and teach him the ways of the Speed Force. We feel confident you will know what to do," Not-Kara says before vanishing.

Nora and Stephen look at each other, then keep running. For a few minutes, there's nothing. Then, up ahead, Pietro suddenly comes into view, looking in the opposite direction, and yelling, "Wait! You said you'd give me answers. Who are you? Where am I?"

Nora and Stephen come up behind Pietro, and Nora says, "You're in the Speed Force."

Pietro whips around and looks at them. After a moment, he demands, "Are you another illusion?"

Nora smiles. "No. We're real people. We're the reason you're here. If we hadn't brought you here, you'd be dead."

"Who are you?" Pietro demands.

Nora and Stephen look at each other, then back at Pietro before Nora removes her mask and says, "I'm XS."

At the same time, Stephen pulls back his cowl, then says, "And I'm the Silver Flash."

"And you're here because the universe is in danger, and we need your help to save it. Uncle Pietro," Nora says.

Pietro looks at them with an expression of absolute shock. "U-uncle?!" he splutters.

"Yes. Your sister, Wanda, is our mother. She married the speedster that saved you in Sokovia about a year after the defeat of Ultron, and gave birth to us nine months later. We came back from our time to 16 months after our birth and pulled you into the Speed Force, which woke you from your coma," Stephen responds.

"Wait. So you're my niece and nephew, and you're also from the future?" Pietro asks.

"Exactly. And we came back to this time because we need your help. Earlier today, an alien warlord named Thanos wiped out half of the life in the universe, including your sister. We can't stop it from happening. But we can reverse it. And we're gonna need your help to do that," Stephen says.

Pietro looks like the entire world has gone mad. After a few moments, he asks, "How can I do that?"

"You're in the Speed Force, the source of power for almost every speedster in existence, including us and our dad. You're unique, because your speed doesn't come from the Speed Force. But that means your speed is very limited. You're gonna need to be able to access the Speed Force if you're gonna be able to help us. The Speed Force is going to put you through trials. If you can pass them, then you'll be able to access the Speed Force like us. And we're here to help you through those trials. Are you up for it?" Nora asks.

Pietro looks off to the side for a moment, then looks back at his niece, determination on his face.

"Where do I start?"

And, I'll end there. I hope you liked this chapter.

I really enjoyed writing this, especially the scene with Kara. I wanted to include her at least once in this story, and this made the most sense out of the different scenarios I played around with before writing.

I also hope you liked the Stan Lee cameo. Although he has departed this life, I do not intend for Stan Lee to leave the MACU. As a tribute to him, I plan on including Stan Lee cameos throughout the rest of the MACU.

Now, obviously, the team has been left in the future, but it won't stay that way. Nora and Stephen will be returning for their teammates soon enough.

Now, I'm sure many of you are still wondering about everything that happened between the Decimation and the start of this story. Well, Nora and Stephen are going to explain it all in the Endgame story. Speaking of which, I am still working on the plot for that story, so it may not be up for a little bit. I'll try to get it started as soon as possible.

Alright. We have come to the end of the chapter.

Just kidding. You know I have to do the post-credits scene.

(41st Century, Earth-99)

In low Earth orbit, a large ship hangs in orbit. Inside the ship, the crew is bustling about, conducting their usual day-to-day activities aboard the ship.

On the bridge, a dark imposing figure sits on a throne, watching his bridge crew work. As he does, an alarm starts to blare.

A few moments later, one of the officers stands and faces his master. "Sir! We have detected a temporal anomaly in the early 21st century! Exact effects on the timeline are yet unclear!"

"Can you trace it back to its source?" his master says in a very imposing tone.

"Already done, sir. And it is…surprising. The anomaly has been traced back to your ancestor, Stephen Allen, and his sister," the officer responds.

His master nods once, considering this. Then, he says in an even more serious voice, "Monitor the distortion and take the ship into the temporal zone. If it is my ancestor, then it will be of major importance. This may be a golden opportunity. Inform me as you gather data."

"Yes, Lord Kang," the officer before beginning to issue orders.

As the ship's time drive begins to activate, on his throne, Kang smiles evilly. This is the chance he has been waiting for.

Boom! There we go. Kang the Conqueror has arrived in the MACU. This will obviously be a bit different than the comics version. In this, he's a descendant of Stephen. On that note, let me know if you'd like to see Kang display any of the powers of his ancestor.

Obviously, Kang is going to be a major villain in the future of the MACU. I may even make him my next big bad to take Thanos' place. Needless to say, Barry and the Avengers are going to face him more than once.

Well, I hereby bring this story to a close. Leave a review and tell me what you thought of this final chapter, and stay tuned for the Endgame story. I'll post a notice to this story and Crisis on Earth-99 when I get it up.