Coronation 1:1

"You know, I've always considered Cape Powers to be bullshit. I mean, there's Legend who they say could move almost as fast as light, or Alexandria whose body figure has no business tugging a freight train, or even Eidolon who could have whatever kind of power he wants… But now, I'm starting to think that I haven't truly considered what it means to be a Cape."

With that said, Aisha chirpily laughed while performing a flip unbound by natural physics.

Unsurprisingly, Nolan—no, Ace and Aisha had left the abandoned warehouse out into the coast city of Brockton Bay, with the reason being that Ace wanted to have a clear view of where he was and what kind of place this is.

Unlike in most fanfictions, he had read back in his former world. Ace hadn't landed in an abandoned alley, or in some mad scientist laboratory, or even in outer space—it was in the open streets.

'Brockton Bay, Brockton Bay… I don't think I've ever read of this place in the comics.' Sighing, Ace rubbed the bridge of his brows, before turning to regard his very noisy companion (?) in slight irritation.

'Does she ever shut the fuck up?'

Even if in a way, Ace had to admit that the reason for her palpable excitement was kind of understandable.

Both Power Cosmic User and human were currently over 350 meters above the earth. Obvious to say, they were flying.

Utilizing the quantum mechanics of the Power Cosmic, Ace had manipulated the gravitons around both him and Aisha, granting them both a perfect imitation of flight.

Aisha had told him that people sharing his kind of 'Otherworldly' circumstances tends to be more noticeable by the public which could mean that Mutants were already a public knowledge—although, he wasn't that surprised by the news, considering that Aisha wasn't screaming her ass out as soon as she saw him.

But at the moment, Ace didn't want people to see him… At least not yet.

He wasn't too proud to think that just flying above ground could keep him out of the more prying eyes, namely the S.H.I.E.L.D, Dr. Strange, or even Tony Stark – especially if this is the Marvel-616 Universe.

But Ace would rather appear anonymous… Until he had a full understanding of the present circumstances – namely, the bombings he had seen back when he was in the warehouse.

Towards the prattling Imp masked (she asked him to make her one for security purposes) Aisha, Ace said. "Buckle up, I'm alighting on one of the buildings."

"Uuh~" With a deflated whine, Aisha's shoulders slumped. "Knew it was too good to last forever… Just land us on top of the museum over there."

Aisha had pointed towards an age-old edifice which had gargoyle statues erected at the top. The archaic building in the metropolitan city kind of reminded Ace about Gotham City from the comics.

'Like that ain't an ominous thought.'

Unlike the man dressed in a bat costume, Ace was quite sure he would be on a murdering spree before the week even ends.

'For all fucking hells, let this place not be some kind of Gotham…'

Though he could take that over Metropolis—Ace wasn't sure that he had what it takes to stay in the same city with a certain collateral damage Caped Crusader without having a murder attempt being done on the said Superhero.

Anyways, upon landing. The floating slow-motion effects that coated their bodies –particularly Aisha's hair and his coat- abruptly vanished.

After spending a few seconds to check herself, ensuring that nothing about her body had changed. Aisha beamed, friendly smacking Ace's back.

"Know what tough guy. Keep this up and I'll be thinking that you're the second coming of Eidolon—only in Case 53 style."

"Thanks?" Ace replied in bemusement, before he clapped his hand. "Alright, I've gotten a measure of the city and safe to say, this isn't my hometown."

Cause if it was, the things Ace would do with these new powers of his could only be described as blood-chilling.

Chucking her hands into her cargo pants, the risqué dressed Aisha eyed the fiery Case 53 in suspicion.

"… … Let me be honest with you. Your case is getting more and more dubious. I mean you're a Case 53, a Cape with an inhuman physiology. Amnesia normally comes with the package… There's also the fact that most Capes powers tend to be more unilateral. Yours doesn't have any form of theme to it - though that could just be me being an unintelligent brat. And then, there's the issue of you being too calm for someone who had arrived at an unknown place… Are you really a Case 53 or just some Cape with a transformation power?"

Ace froze.

'… … I don't know if I should say that this girl is astute or plain stupid.' Ace thought while the smile on his face never changed. 'Has she not considered the fact that telling me this decreases her chances of leaving this rooftop alive?'

It seemed like Aisha had considered that as well, so she shrugged. "In any case, that's none of my business. Forget I asked. So… Why stop us here—unless you're planning to kill me or do you just want a clear view of the city and want to share it with the beautiful lady beside you."

'Highly unlikely.' Ace internally scoffed.

With a superficial smile, Ace gestured at an open space and particles gathered taking shape. In the end, what had once been an open space had been occupied by two chairs and a table stuffed with snack and drink assortments with an umbrella serving as shade from sun.

"I'll be honest with you, Aisha. I truly have no idea on where I am or how I got here. If I did, I wouldn't have bothered to ask… I'm quite sure that you had been in the warehouse since the beginning, so you must have seen me looking all confused when I'd woke up—well as much as my face could show it. So about telling me about this place and by the end of the day, I promise I'll be nothing more than a distant memory."

Of course, after getting all that he wants, Ace would wipe her memory of meeting him and leave.

Without replying, Aisha walked pass Ace and sat on one of the chairs. Upon opening and taking a deep gulp of a can cola, she said. "Like I said, it's none of my business. I'll tell you what I know-it's not really some state secret so you would have found out soon enough. So, where do you want me to begin?"

Moving to take the opposite chair, Ace replied. "From where you think you can start."

ᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥ

(5 Minutes, later)

'So, this really isn't the Marvel or DC Universe.'

Ace originally had the budding suspicion that he wasn't in the Power Cosmic home universe. The signs weren't there. But there was this annoying itch that made Ace to question if this place was even the Marvel Universe.

For one, there were no Aliens nor are there gods here. Sure, unexplainable powers does exist, but not in the way he had imagined it to be.

Capes—Ace had initially thought that Aisha was just using that term to describe the summation of Superheroes and Villains in general.

Now, that word –Cape- had a whole new meaning.

'People who had awakened superpowers due to going through the worst day of their lives… Heh, why the fuck does that sound familiar?' Ace sarcastically thought with a chuckle.

To be more detailed, Aisha explained that there was this something in the humans of this world's brain. A Corona Pollentia, which would awaken when a Cape Triggers.

Ace would have thought that this powers of his were due to a 'Trigger Event' as they call it. But then, he felt the Power Cosmic roared in indignation at being compared to some bad taste Shounen Power-up.

Yep, this power of his wasn't due to some Trigger Event—because going through his life, retrospectively. That should have happened way back.

And that wasn't all. The entire planet stank of grimdark if what Aisha had told him was true. Warlords, gangs, monarchial states, and unbidden terrorist groups. There were also the Endbringers; living natural disasters that kept on decimating the planet city by city.

Unlike the comics, the heroes don't win here.

Not to mention of this city; Brockton Bay…

'Like I said before. God ain't real.' The flames of the Power Cosmic that flickered at his peripheral stirred Ace to reiterate his thoughts. 'At least, to me he's not.'

Merchants. Empire 88. ABB… Gangs that specialized in terrorism, illegal drugs pushing, vandalism, and many more. It all stank of Batman 001 only with more superpowered folks in the mix.

"So, you're saying that this Bakuda is responsible for the bombings." Ace asked for confirmation.

"Yep." Throwing a chip into her mouth, Aisha nodded. "Brockton's latest screw-loose from ABB. From what I heard, she's planting bombs inside people and detonating them around the city."

"And no one has actually risen against her."

"Not when she's got the second in command, Oni Lee backing her up... The bitch says her demand is for the Protectorate to release Lung, but I'm not so sure about that. Her actions don't seem well planned out. She's stepped on too many toes and banded both the bay's top gangs and Protectorate against her. Even if Lung were to be released, the likeliness that he would kill her for getting him into this mess is kinda' high."

"Hmm…"

Steepling his fingers, Ace narrowed his eyes in contemplation.

He had gotten the adequate amount of information needed in order not to appear like a bumbling fool. The question now is what was he going to do about it?

Ever since the moment he had gotten these powers, Ace had been feigning it – his calm behavior. After all, everything has been happening too fast and Ace feels if he doesn't do what he can to take control of the narrative, he would regret it later on.

Ace had the option of stopping the bombings once and for all.

Amongst the repertoire of powers, the Power Cosmic provided—cosmic awareness was one of them. In an instant, Ace could spread his senses throughout the city and pick out people with oddities in their body and disable the said oddities with naught but a thought.

He could also go after this Bakuda woman and bring her to justice, saving the day like how most crossover heroes tends to do.

Pros: increased reputation with the protectorate and being hailed as a hero by the people. Cons: that was all.

… Yeah, fuck that.

Ace didn't care about the reputation gained with the Protectorate, seeing how useless they are in this city, nor could he care less about what the people say about him. So long as it wasn't to his face.

So that option was out.

But what if… Rather than just save the day. He uses this chaos to his advantage and establish himself in the city.

Ace wasn't sure of his place in this world nor why was he brought here in the first place. He wouldn't deceive himself of being the chosen one –that's cringe as fuck. Then again, he understood that his powers weren't the norm and that grants him the advantage.

Advantages that would be very useful in situations like this.

"That look in your eyes." Aisha said, pointing towards him. "You're planning something, aren't you?"

Ace raised a brow. "And what if I am?"

The girl placed the snack on the table as her face took on a serious turn.

"I want in."

"Hmm?" Ace couldn't begin to describe how surprised he was. "In as in 'In'."

"Yeah, whatever you've got going in that flaming head of yours, I want in."

"… Are you a Cape or something?"

"Nope."

"Then why? If I remember correctly. You are the one who told me that Cape business involves 'Only' Capes. You aren't a Cape so you shouldn't have any business with all this… Or is there any reason for you to follow a total stranger?"

There was also a hidden 'if you do tell me something stupid, I will take away the memory of our meeting and still add a ringing headache as well' but Aisha didn't need to know about that.

"Reason, huh?" Aisha murmured, trailing a finger on an empty can drink. "I don't really have a grand reason if that's what you're hoping for. I simply just want to live on my terms—"

As Aisha had begun talking, Ace promptly ignored her words, going for the more concrete answer. Her memories. Unlike manipulating matter, teleporting, or even flying this required a bit more concentration – though that could be attributed to the fact that he was still a novice in the usage of the Power Cosmic.

Sure enough, images began to appear. It was a cursory glance at the life of Aisha Laborn. Ace didn't need to know everything about her, only the important parts. So he saw what he needed to see; her dysfunctional family, her attitude towards those in authority, her reckless drive to be independent.

Yep, she wasn't like Ace… But that didn't mean she wasn't interesting enough to not be used – the fact that she had a Cape for a brother definitely explained her lack of awkwardness when interacting with him.

The mental grip Ace had on her relaxed as he tuned in the still rambling girl.

"So that is why—"

"Alright, stop." Ace raised a hand. "I'll let you in on a few conditions."

"Really?!" Aisha perked up in excitement, before coughing trying to regain her composure. "I mean, what are the conditions."

Ace raised three fingers, dropping them as he listed. "One, you never question what I do. Two, whatever you see me do must be kept a secret. And three, never. Ever. Ever. Betray me. Cause if you do…"

The ambient temperature lowered to uncomfortable levels.

Ace smirked as he knew his intentions must have been properly conveyed to the girl who sat up with while sending him a wary look.

"I'll kill you and everyone you love, and I swear I'll do it slowly and painfully. So, do you agree to my conditions?"

Extending a hand, Ace waited for the girl to regain her wits. Honestly, he had expected for the girl to turn him down right there, but color him surprised when Aisha took his hand and shook it rigorously.

"Wh-What?" Aisha questioned in a challenging tone. "Think I'll pussy out cause of some threat. Fuck that, I agree to each and every one of your conditions."

"Here's to the beginning of a fruitful partnership." Ace said channeling his inner Lex Luthor. "Now I remember you saying that the Protectorate and city main gangs are banding together to take down Bakuda. I want you to tell me how they intend to do so?"