On a remote planet, practically in the middle of nowhere, male Wanda sits across from an empty chair on a wooden patio. An orchard of fruit trees lines up across from their new small home which stands out because it is the only earth like home on the entire planet. The sounds of alien animals and farm equipment can be softly heard in the distance, and a wisp of smoke can be seen not too far away.
"I found this new tea in the local market, my Love." Vision says, setting down a gold inlaid cup with saucer. "All my scans determined it is a carbon based leaf, and should be completely safe for consumption." He sets down another one beside the second chair and sits himself, taking a deep breath. He turns to Wanda, "I haven't tasted it yet, but I was hoping we could try it together," they both smile toward each other.
"Thank you, Vision." Wanda replies, picking up his cup. He waits a moment so they can time their first sip. "Mmm..." He exclaims happily.
"That is good." Vision says lowering his drink. "Almost like Earl Grey and yuzu fused nicely."
"It is, isn't it?" Wanda replies with a much bigger smile, looking at Vision happily.
Vision sets his cup down and reaches for Wanda's hand. Wanda does the same. They look into each other's eyes for a long time, enjoying the moment. "I hope it's not selfish to say," Vision interrupts their silence, "I'm so happy we've finally found a home together."
Wanda smiles even brighter, his eyes glistening. "I am too, my Love." He tells Vision.
Vision looks out past the field and toward the sky which is every bit as blue as the one on earth. You would never know it was alien. "It would have never occurred to me that we would find happiness in a place like this..." He locks eyes with Wanda again, happy, "so far from home."
"Vision, my Love." Wanda says, moving aside his drink and placing his other hand on Vision's. "We are home." He smiles. "Wherever we are, as long as I am with you, I am home."
Vision smiles back and places his other hand on Wanda's as well. "And you are happy here?" He asks. "So far from your friends... From Earth."
Wanda turns and leans forward. "My entire life, all I've ever wanted, was this." He pulls his right hand out from under their embrace, and places it on Vision's chest. "I never wanted to be a hero, or a villain. I never wanted any of that crazy life." He looks to the side for a moment to think before turning back. "All I've ever wanted was to be with fam..." He pauses to change his words. "To be with the one I love most..." He lightly pinches at Vision's chest. "This is my home."
Vision feels a little sad, realizing they probably can never have children. He knows it's something Wanda truly wants, but he cannot give him this. He hides his emotions while still smiling at him. "I'm happy with you too, Wanda." He says. "I could not ask for anything more." He grabs Wanda's hand and kisses his fingers.
They both turn to admire the orchard as a random gust of wind seems to pass through. Wanda smiles.
"I have to admit," Vision says, "It's nice not having to worry about saving the world. Let alone the universe."
"It is, my Love." Wanda responds. "Let them fight their battles. They can't reach us out here."
"No they can't, my Love." Vision responds as thunder softly rolls by.
"Ahh..." Wanda exclaims. He clutches his chest.
"Wanda?" Vision calls as his partner curls forward in pain. "Are you alright? Was it the tea?" he panics trying to catch him. His elbow bumps their drinks, spilling it everywhere. "Wanda!" He calls again trying to hold him up.
Wanda convulses in pain for nearly half a minute before stopping and starting to breathe heavily.
"Are you alright, my Love?" Vision asks with concern.
Wanda looks up teary eyed, with full feminine features. "Vision." She calls out, before gripping her throat. Her eyes widen.
Even Vision cannot hide his shock. "You're back, Wanda!" He declares. "You're a woman again."
"How is this possible?" She asks as she tries to stand up.
"I don't know." Vision responds. "Could there have been a time limit?
They take the next few moments to study Wanda's reformed body.
*** Halfway across the universe, on Xandar ***
Carol Danvers grinds his teeth loudly as he grips his chest tightly. This is a pain that he is all too familiar with. When you are borderline impossible to hurt, it's hard to forget something like this.
He kneels onto the ground embracing the changes. Reaching forward, he grabs the power stone ring, hoping it will help with the pain.
It makes it worse. Carol has to drop the ring. Fortunately the changes do not last much longer.
She continues to kneel there breathing heavily, afraid to check what she already knows. Eventually she reaches forward and picks up the ring. Letting the energy course through her is refreshing.
After Carol's mind seems to settle, she reaches up and feels her face. She grins in annoyance when she realizes her facial stubble is gone. Her right hand reaches down as she places it on her reformed breasts. More annoyance. She places her left hand on her hip to get up. The feminine curve is very prominent and she feels it.
Carol stands up, afraid to look, but knows she has to. She turns toward the nearest window and slowly starts to approach it. As she gets closer, her reflection off the tint becomes more visible. She scowls at the person she sees back. Even with her short hair, she is clearly a woman again.
A million thoughts begin to run through her head, but the main one is the most prominently concerning. She is wondering if she has lost any strength due to the changes. She places a hand on the widow, lightly gripping the tinted glass. It creeks from the pressure. Knowing it wouldn't answer her question, she still contemplates breaking it anyway.
Something explodes in the distance, catching her attention.
Captain Marvel's eyes start darting around the city, spotting accidents, panic, and havoc. She suddenly remembers all the chaos that ensued the last time this occurred.
"Not this shit again." Carol says loudly to herself. She uses her sense of duty to put away and shelve her own personal concerns, while she thinks of what to do next.
The ping of a random intercom chimes in her apartment. An unfamiliar voice answers. "Captain Vers, high command needs everyone to report in, now."
"Understood." She responds, taking one last second to glare angrily at her reflection before turning away.
*** Back on Earth ***
"You have my word, that Wakanda will provide utmost support in our area." T'Challa says into her display screen. Her brother Shuri stands a few feet away nodding in acknowledgement. They are having a virtual online meeting with various leaders across the world.
"Excellent," James Rhodes answers, "I'm glad to hear that. Meanwhile, General Ross and I will continue to support those still in need on the United States front."
"We will suppress anyone who continues to take advantage of the recovery efforts." General Ross says somewhat aggressively.
"Thank you, General." Pepper responds, pretending he didn't notice the implications. "Stark Industries and Danny Rand from Rand Industries have also promised her full support in funding public counseling for people still being impacted by the changes."
"Is she going to be able to provide much help, considering she spends most of her time in China?" General Ross asks skeptically.
"Every little bit helps, General Ross." Rhodes says trying to change the subject. "They were hit harder by the changes than most of us."
General Ross grumbles at being sidelined.
"Now, currently we still have the issue of dealing with the space drones." James Rhodes, moves on to the next point. "Unfortunately no countries have laws against intergalactic eavesdropping and their leader Mojo, seems to know this all too well." Rhodes says Mojo's name with clear disdain.
"Now that we have fully working translators, we can start concentrating on how to legally make them leave." Shuri says.
T'Challa looks up and smirks toward her brother, who smiles back. It was clear he was looking for an excuse to brag about his translators.
"Why don't you send your Avengers after them?" General Ross asks, sarcastically. "Are they too good for the planet all of a sudden? Too busy pitting big green men against little green men?"
"General Ross," Rhodey interrupts him, "the Avengers aren't some team for hire. That was clearly established when we vetoed the Sokovia Accords."
"Making them free agents again!" General Ross retorts. "Who do we gotta pay to get them to do their jobs? Tony Stark? Where has he been? Tell him to send BRUCE out there." He says the name with clear distaste. "Maybe he won't come back this time."
"General Ross," Pepper interrupts, "Tony Stark is concentrating on..." He squints in pain. "He's concentrating on..."
"Shuri!" T'Challa calls out when she sees her brother collapse. She steps away from the console and toward him, but is suddenly engulfed in pain herself. She can hear confusing noises coming from the virtual meeting, but is too distracted to look up at the monitor. "Shuri..." She calls as she tries to crawl toward him.
"Brother..." Shuri calls back, curled up and trying to look at T'Challa.
They both writhe in pain on the floor for some time before the changes subside. When it ends, Shuri Rolls over breathing heavily, waiting to see if it is over. "Brother," She calls, "what just happened? Oh my!" She grips her throat.
T'Challa pushes himself up to look at his sister. "Shuri..." he points at her. "You're..."
Shuri looks at her brother then goes wide eyed. She rolls over once more to get up and get a better look. "You're you." She touches her chest, feeling her bust. "I'm me..." She looks around the room as if the answer would be obvious. "But... how?" She asks.
"Is it a miracle?" T'Challa asks, which catches Shuri off guard.
"It couldn't be." She replies, feeling unexpectedly heartbroken at the unplanned turn of events.
"It's a miracle my brother!" T'Challa tells her. "I mean, my sister." He corrects himself, as he stands up and starts walking toward her. He kneels down and helps her get up. "They did it, Shuri!" He declares. "Tony and them must have found a way. They undid the changes! They did it!"
Shuri studies her brother's reaction. it surprisingly breaks her heart to see him so excited. It had never occurred to her that he was having such a hard time dealing with the changes. He hid it so well. "Yes brother, this is great." She lies to him as he helps her get up. "We are back to normal." She looks around the room once more. "Mother will be pleased."
"Yes she will!" T'Challa declares happily. "We must tell her, assuming she does not know already." He turns away and begins rushing toward the exit.
"What about our meeting, Brother?" Shuri calls out to him loudly, which causes him to stop, just short of the door.
"Oh yes!" T'Challa declares. "We must check on the others." He turns back toward his monitor and begins to cross the room. He is interrupted once more, by the sound of the door opening behind him.
Shuri and T'Challa both turn toward the entrance to see a strange man walking into the room. He is adjourned in royal garb that looks all too familiar. The man takes a few slow confused steps into the room before turning toward the occupants. "Shuri.." He says before looking at the king, "T'Challa..." Both want to look away but can't. "My children, you're back to normal." The man says. "But... look at me." He gestures toward himself.
T'Challa's mouth suddenly hangs open and he is afraid to say what he is thinking.
"Mother?" Shuri asks.
"My daughter..." The man looks like is about to weep but instead falls to his knees.
Shuri runs up toward the Queen Mother and crouches down to embrace him. T'Challa is still having a hard time processing what he is seeing. Despite the absolute proof in front of him, he is having a hard time believing it. He slowly walks toward his mother and when he gets close enough, Shuri pulls him into the embrace.
"King T'Challa?" Pepper calls over the computer speakers. "Shuri? Are you guys alright?" They don't hear her. "Is everyone alright?" She calls. She continues to watch her screen as unfamiliar faces begin to appear in each of the cameras. Every single one of them looks concerned with what just happened.
Pepper's eyes jump from person to person, comparing them to their names. She starts to notice a clear pattern.
"Pepper? Is that you?" She doesn't recognize the voice but somehow knows who is talking. Pepper's eyes shoot to Rhodey's screen, and there is a short haired black woman on the camera. "You're back to normal! What happened?" The woman touches her throat realizing her voice is different. "Wait," she pauses to tap a few things on her computer screen, "What's going on? Is that me?" She is clearly looking at herself through the computer now.
"You have got to be shitting me!" An angry woman grumbles. James Rhodes clicks her screen and sees what everyone else is seeing. "This better not be because of one of your friends!" The angry woman ranting has the name Thandeus Ross typed up underneath her image.
"Are you guys okay?" Shuri calls out as she unexpectedly appears on camera. She studies the faces of everyone she recognizes. "Brother!" She calls out as she looks off screen. "Come quick! It's happening to everyone!"
They can all hear T'Challa speaking as he approaches his computer from off camera. After a moment they see him appear as well. He studies the faces he can see. "It's true." He declares. "How could this be?"
The Queen Mother slowly approaches his daughter Shuri and as a result, appears on screen.
Pepper gasps. "Queen Ramonda?"
He turns toward the screen and nods sadly.
"Do you think Tony did this?" T'Challa asks, mostly to himself.
"If your friends did this, I will see them all imprisoned!" General Ross states.
"If Tony did this," Pepper interrupts in a very serious and angry tone, "I will kill him myself!"