Rocket excitedly rushes through a massive crowd of people. A few shouts and grunts can be heard as she pushes her way through the more condensed areas and surprises just about everyone. Despite all that, the crowd is more surprised by what lies ahead.
As Rocket gets closer to the center, she begins to climb atop of some of the taller strong looking patrons of the crowd. Most freak out, but she is jumping from heads to shoulders too quickly for anyone to react effectively.
Behind her at a distance Groot, T'Challa, and her two bodyguards slowly make their way through the crowd as well.
Rocket finally makes her way to the front of the crowd. Most of the men, women, and children in the front row release a startled gasp as Rocket jumps and lands within sight. Despite being surrounded by curious eyes, Rocket only cares about the eyes she has just made contact with.
Rocket rushes forward on all fours for a moment to build momentum before launching herself into the air and tackling Star-Lord in an affectionate hug. "You made it!" she shouts.
"Whoa!" Star-Lord responds in excited surprise. She embraces Rocket back and they both laugh and giggle. The hug lasted for a good ten seconds, which felt longer for the crowd. Finally Rocket loosens her grip and looks at Star-Lord's face, lightly touching her cheek.
"So, you're a hugger now?" Star-Lord asks, both as a joke and a surprise.
"Yea, I guess so." Rocket says happily. "She touches Star-Lord's hair next, admiring it. "Look at you." She exclaims.
"Look at me?" Star-Lord asks. "Look at you! You're so different!"
"Really?" Rocket asks. "You can tell?"
"Yes!" Star-Lord answers. "You're smaller, and your fur is lighter... and look at your tail!" Star-Lord gently lifts it in her hand admiring it.
"You like it?" Rocket asks. It's kind of growing on me. They both chuckle at her comment.
"Rocket?" A voice asks from behind Star-Lord. Rocket, still clinging to Star-Lord, peers up and catches sight of Mantis.
"Oh my god!" Rocket says as she excitedly climbs up Star-Lord and jumps into Mantis' arms. "Look at you too!" she shouts. "You've gotten so big!"
Rocket's excited affection seems to infect Mantis as he begins giggling and embracing Rocket tightly. He bounces in the air happily sharing the moment. "I've always wanted to carry you." Mantis says excitedly while stroking Rocket's fur. "So soft!"
"Good to see you are well, my friend." Drax says as she exits the ship, large grey/green breasts bobbing in the sun.
"Drax?" Rocket asks. She jumps off of Mantis, and toward Drax before she could get a reply.
Her jump doesn't go so well as she bumps into Drax's large breasts. Rocket's back feet miss their target and she has to reach out and manage to get ahold of Drax's neck. Pulling herself up, the claws on her back feet scratch at Drax's mighty bosoms. Despite it all, Drax shows no sign of how painful it is.
Rocket continues trying to get good footing on Drax's breasts, but they are too high forcing Rocket to hug Drax in a very awkward position. Drax places both hands on Rocket's waist, helping her maintain balance.
"It seems the God has taken good care of you." Drax tells Rocket. "I hope Groot is in fine health as well."
"He's fine." Rocket responds. Releasing her embrace and jumping down. "In fact, that's him coming up here." Rocket points to the crowd as Groot pushes through, followed by T'Challa and her guards.
"He looks the same!" Mantis says in a disappointed tone.
"Yes!" Rocket responds. "Is he the only one that didn't change? Where's Gamora?
The sudden silence from the rest of the crew gave Rocket chills. Groot hasn't noticed this yet as he slowly walks up, excitedly trying to show off his new game.
Feeling the awkward lingering silence, Rocket tries to look each of the crew in the face. Drax shakes his head. When Rocket looks to Mantis, he is looking down and his eyes look watery. Rocket turns to Peter, who's standing there, mouth open as if to speak, but does not seem able to. Clear large tears fill Peter's eyes and Rocket is sure Peter is breathing heavily, but she cannot hear her over the crowd.
Rocket doesn't have to wait for the answer she feels somehow she already knows. "Peter..." She says as she slowly approaches Star-Lord, who kneels down toward Rocket's height. "I'm so sorry..." Rocket says as she rushes in to give Peter a sympathetic hug. They both begin to cry.
Groot is looking toward the ship for Gamora when he suddenly notices everyone's mood. It doesn't take him long to realize what probably happened. "I am Groot." He says as Rocket gestures to everyone to come join the sad embrace.
***North East of Wakanda, just outside the border***
The sounds of the large strange ship cooling off from its land is a little eerie. Thor recognizes it as the drop ship that Thanos "generously" provided half his people after slaughtering the other half. He knows this is supposed to be a happy moment, but bad memories of the day begin to haunt him again.
The main door opens and after a moment's hesitation, Asgardians begin to slowly and wearily file out of the ship. Many are carrying what little they could bring with them. Some look starved and unhealthy. Thor starts briskly walking toward them and it quickly becomes a run. Nebula, who followed Thor, watches from a distance.
Amongst the first group that exited the ship, Korg is one of them. He spots Thor's approach and works his way out of the crowd. As Thor gets within ear shot, Korg raises his arms for a warm embrace and calls out, "Doug!"
Thor rushes past him and hugs the nearest Asgardian. He then proceeds to hug the next and several others whom he has known and grown up with.
Korg lowers his arms and watches Thor in sad disappointment. Meek, wearing his mechanical suit, makes his way out of the crowd as well. Upon approaching Korg, he mutters something in his strange alien language.
"No, it's okay, Meek." Korg tells Meek. "I mean, they are his people and all."
Thor continues to hand out hugs to his people as they exchange words and updates.
"What of your brother?" one of the palace seamstresses asks.
"He died a noble death." Thor answers her with a forced smile.
Knowing how much he cared for his brother, the woman hugs Thor tightly along with a few others nearby.
After the moment, Thor continued to hug and greet people, familiarizing himself with the faces of those who had changed. More people began to file from the ship and many of those who knew Thor personally came to join the first crowd.
A short muscular man approached Thor, who instinctively reached up to hug him. The man placed his hand out, effectively stopping the hug. "That's fine," the man says. "I'm good."
Thor studies the man, a little confused, but accepts the excuse. "You'll have to excuse me." Thor tells the man. "I don't recognize you."
The man gives Thor an angry glare for a moment. He points at his own face and specifically draws attention to the white war paint on his cheeks. Thor continues to look confused.
"That's Brumhilde!" Korg chimes in from behind Thor, eager to help. Hearing the name, Thor gets even more confused. A detail he can't seem to hide.
The man's glare shoots to Korg and he begins to scowl much worse. His head does a slight bob to the side, just before he angrily stomps around Thor and approaches Korg. "I told you not to call me that!" the man growls loudly before trying to push Korg who takes a step back defensively.
Thor wasn't sure if it was the head bob or the back of the man's head, but he suddenly recognized who it was. "Valkyrie?" He asks aloud.
"Yes, it's me!" Valkyrie answers without looking back, content in bullying Korg.
"What are you all doing here?" Thor asks. "How did you find me?"
"How did we find you?" Valkyrie asks, turning his attention back to Thor. "Not with any help from you!" He says starting to stomp back toward Thor. "Why didn't you tell me we were going to Terra? It would have saved me a lot of trouble finding the place."
"I assumed you knew." Thor says in his defense. "I must have said it a hundred times."
"No you didn't!" Valkyrie snaps. "You kept calling it something like, E Arth, or something like that."
"That you did." Korg chimes in. "You kept calling it Earth."
"Shut up!" Valkyrie shouts at Korg, who quiets sadly.
"Are you okay?" Thor asks "You seem really tense?"
"Of course I'm not okay!" Valkyrie shouts. "Ever since the day I found you in the trash, my life has been a living nightmare." Valkyrie starts pacing, as the growing crowd of Asgardians watches and listens with concern. "I didn't ask to get stuck leading your people."
"Of which I'm grateful for." Thor starts to say, but is interrupted when Valkyrie points a finger directly in his face.
"I should have let them eat you!" Valkyrie says, to Thor's shock, before going back to pacing again. "I should have let them eat you back on Sakar." Valkyrie seems to be talking to himself now. Thor can hear people in the crowd discussing the conversation now.
Thor looks to Korg for answers, but Korg only shrugs, afraid to say anything.
"Come," Thor finally says. "Let's go into town. I will get you some food." He can tell he's caught Valkyrie's attention now. "I'm sure my friends can house and feed everyone. Then we can find you some wine or ale or..."
"Alright then." Valkyrie answers rather quickly. "I could use some wine."
"Very well then." Thor answers, a little glad in the change of tone. "I will ask my friends." As Thor says this he turns toward Wakanda, growing nervous knowing the city is still quite a walk away. Fortunately he spots a Wakandan ship quickly approaching. "There are my friends now." Thor tells Valkyrie hoping he's right. As he walks toward the approaching ship Korg gives him a thumbs up to cheer him on.
Thor watches the ship land only a few meters away. He smiles hoping that a familiar face will come out. When the doors open a couple of Wakandan warriors exit, followed by Shuri, whom Thor hasn't properly met. Shuri approaches the group and seeing the crowd continuing to grow he turns and asks one of the guards if they could handle housing and feeding the group. The guard nods.
Shuri then lifts up his wrist and begins speaking into an electronic bracelet. "People of Asgard. Welcome to Wakanda." He greets the growing crowd. "As a representative for my brother the King, we'd like to offer our hospitality..."
Shuri continues to address the crowd as Thor scans the ship for a familiar face. An elderly familiar woman with an eyepatch steps into view along with another smaller woman, who proceeds to exit the ship and run across the grass daintily.
"Thor!" She says as she approaches. "I'm glad you could make it. Nick Fury and the others want to meet at the palace later today."
Thor has to study the girl for a while before he recognizes her. "Bruce?" He asks. "What are you wearing?"
"Oh this?" Bruce asks, gripping the edges of her sundress and swaying lightly. "It's sunflowers. You like it?"
Thor isn't sure if Bruce dodged the question intentionally, but as he watches Banner look over her dress Thor can't help but think she really is pretty cute. He wonders how Jane would look in her dress, before it dawns on him. 'I wonder if Jane Foster is alright. Did she change also?'
Before Thor can comment on Bruce's dress, she is rushing off toward Korg and Meek. Not seeing any other familiar faces, Thor decides to follow Bruce. Since she is so small, it's not difficult to catch up to her.
"Hi, Korg. Hi, Meek!" Bruce greets the two aliens. "I'm glad you're both okay."
"Awww, thanks little Terran." Korg answers. Meeks just waves one of his bionic arms.
"Terran?" Bruce asks. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You don't recognize me?" Korg tilts his head as he studies Bruce. "It's me, Korg." Bruce answers. "The Hulk."
"The Hulk?" Korg asks. "As in, the Champion, the Hulk?"
"Yes, it's me." Bruce answers. "This is what I look like now."
Korg and Meek give each other a look that any creature in the galaxy would recognize as confusion.
"Are all Terran women so small compared to the men?" Korg asks, looking up toward Thor then back at Bruce.
"No, Korg." Bruce says with a giggle. "Terrans are usually not big and green."
Korg thinks about this answer for a moment before he nods in response.
"Wait a second." Thor suddenly interrupts. "How do you know Korg?" He asks Bruce.
"From Sakar." Bruce answers.
"Right, from Sakar." Thor answers "Where you?"
"Where I fought as a gladiator." Bruce answers thinking about it. "Where I fought alongside him, Meek, and Valkyrie as..." Bruce suddenly pauses, pointing at Valkyrie who is currently listening to Shuri's announcements.
"Fought along Valkyrie as...?
Bruce looks confusedly at Thor, then Korg and Meek, then finally settles her eyes on Valkyrie. "Fought alongside them, for two years... as the Hulk..."
Bruce looks back toward Thor. "That's strange." She says with worry. "Why do I remember that?"
***A short while later Thor, Bruce, Nebula, Valkyrie, Nick Fury, two dora milaje, and Shuri are all uncomfortably crammed into one small transport ship heading toward the Wakanda Palace.
"So let me get this straight," Nick Fury says in her high pitch, yet somehow intimidating, voice as she looks at Thor. "You're telling me this is Thanos' son?"
"Yes, that's true." Nebula answers in his deep baritone voice.
Nick Fury looks toward Nebula then back toward Thor. "And you trust him?"
"I do now." Thor answers. "I believe I could trust him with my life."
Nick Fury stares at Thor, mouth agape in utter surprise. Valkyrie, who is sitting cramped in the back of the Wakandan jet, snickers at their conversation. Nick Fury notices and turns back toward Valkyrie.
"And who the hell are you supposed to be? His lover?" Nick asks, sarcastically.
Valkyrie makes an angry face and attempts to stand, failing due to too many people on the ship. He chooses to point to Nick Fury instead. "You watch your tone, Terran!" Nick Fury responds with a challenging look.
"I'd be careful if I was you." Thor interrupts the conversation. "He's a lot deadlier than he looks."
"That's right," Valkyrie chimes in. "You're talking to an elite shield-maiden of Odin's personal guard." One of the Dora Milaje warriors crammed in the front of the ship watches on, wide eyed and impressed.
"I was talking to you, Valkyrie." Thor says with a mischievous grin."Agent Fury has taken on the likes of me and the Hulk here, and not broken a sweat." Thor motions toward Bruce who is barely visible sitting between Nebula and Valkyrie.
Valkyrie's eyes keep jumping between Fury and Thor, wondering if he is being lied to. He raises his arm and turns his head toward Bruce, who smiles and nods, surprising Valkyrie even more.
"Thank you." Nick Fury tells Thor, surprising him. "May I ask, why is he here?" Nick asks, turning back toward Thor.
Thor looks at Nick Fury now. "He can help us." Thor says. "He helped rescue my people from Asgard and defeat my sister."
"Defeat your sister?" Nick Fury asks, raising her eyebrow.
Thor, realizing he is being scrutinized, suddenly feels embarrassed. "Yea, she uhm... She broke my hammer and tried to take over Asgard."
"And you let her have it?" Fury asks.
"No! We uh..." Thor hesitates before mumbling his response. "We destroyed it."
"You destroyed your planet!?" Fury shouts.
"It was Loki." Thor tries to defend himself.
"Loki? What is wrong with your family!?" Fury asks.
*Thor continues to update Nick Fury as they fly to the palace*