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The Redeemer
Chapter 33: Tipped scales part 2
Cade could see that this He-man had training, whoever his teacher was, they were good. Though the man's skill with his sword was basic, he made up for it with the raw strength he possessed. Karnak was easily thrown back by the force of He-man's sword against his gauntlets. He-man also lifted Beast-man over his head and threw him across the field. Then he proceeded to cut apart several Parademons. Cade joined the fray, slashing through waves alongside the prince of Eternia. He struck the side of Trap Jaw's head and blocked Evil Lyn's energy blasts.
"You should get help," Cade said.
"I won't leave you to face these creatures alone, you came to help us just before the portal Star Force left through faded, did they tell you of my world?" He-man asked.
"Wait, you're saying that Danvers was helping you before!"
He-man kicked Mer-man, sending him flying back whilst Cade deflected Evil Lyn's blast. Cade struck her across the side of the head, knocking her out.
"Carol Danvers, that was the name of the people leading the ones who left through that portal right?" Cade asked.
"Yes, that was her, they came to our world a week ago, telling us that the forces of Apokolips would attack Avion. But their 'prediction system' was wrong," He-man explained.
"What's that?"
"Captain Danvers called it 'Ulysses', it was apparently the system they used to determine what worlds they would go to. It predicts the future, Danvers put high stock in it, but Man at arms pointed out a flaw. The system predicts probabilities, not certainty. Still, my father king Randor deployed forces to protect Avion. Instead however, the forces of Apokolips attacked our neighbouring planet Etheria. The other Masters of the Universe went to aid my sister in protecting Etheria, when Kalibak and Steppenwolf attacked castle Gray skull. Man at arms had another theory, that Ulysses wasn't seeing the definitive future of one world, but multiple futures of multiple universes."
"Ulysses was right in a way, Danvers and her squad just came to the wrong reality. The Carol Danvers I've fought before never gives up, why would she quit?"
"I do not pretend to understand her, but she was not the woman you know," He-man said.
"Well I won't leave until I've helped you save your world," Cade said.
"Thank you, we must know more, we must go to the Sorceress!"
He-man put his sword through the sheath on his back and led Cade towards the castle.
616-Times square
So many heroes had filled the street, the forces of Apokolips faced a greater resistance than they originally thought they would. Steve swung his shield, again and again knocking the circuitry off of Parademons in front of him. He ran as fast as he could, Sunspot and Cannonball beside him, both crashing through ranks of the enemy. The former captain jumped into a group of Parademons, bashing one after another. Etrigan crashed down in front of him, slicing three apart with his sword. Then the demon spat out a burst of fire from his mouth, consuming several others. The fire was quickly replaced by ice, then pockets of compressed air that punched holes through the demons.
Star Lord came down from the sky, the other guardians at his side. Drax plunged his knives through the heads of two Parademons, serving as a stepping stone for Mantis to jump off of. She wrapped her legs around one of her enemies, throwing him into another. Both were quickly impaled by Phyla, who yanked her blade free and imbedded it in another enemies head. Rocket darted past her, rockets attached to his belt enabling him to fly. He yelled manically, his gun blazing.
"HEY WATCH IT!" he yelled at Groot, dodging his friends arm.
"I am Groot," the tree man said, pulling his arm out of a line of Parademons.
"I appreciate it but be more careful next time."
Groot split his arm, wrapping the vines around two Parademons. Bug stabbed them both with his lance. Gamora tripped a Parademon, stabbing him in the gut. She withdrew the blade and beheaded two more demons. As she hacked and slashed, Adam fired blasts of energy from his hands at the demons in the air.
"Behind you Jack Flag," Moondragon telepathically warned the patriotic hero.
Jack swung around, delivering a solid punch to a Parademon behind him. He jumped into the fray with Steve, knocking back any enemies behind him. Steve managed to snatch a Parademons blaster, shooting the enemies in midair. Optic blasts fired by Smasher cut through the other enemies that tried to attack Steve. Bullets fired by War Machine and blasts by Mainframe flew through the air. Mancha released torrents of electricity on Parademons in front of him. Thor cut through Parademons on the ground, and Hyperion smashed those in the air. He spun in an arc, releasing his heat vision and disintegrating several of the Apokolips soldiers.
"We have lost," Godfrey said.
"Nonsense, the battle is not yet over," Desaad said.
Vision grabbed and smashed two Pademons together, turning and shooting another in the face. He phased through MVP's shield, allowing the new Captain to throw it into a Parademons head. The young man grabbed the shield, using it to block a Parademons energy blast. After throwing the shield into the Parademon, he gave Alexis a boost, allowing her to blast several of the demons. MVP's shield returned to his arm and he looked at the sky, gritting his together as more Parademons came down from it.
Planet of the Bravest
The World breaker clashed with the heroes of that world. Alex grappled with the Hulk as Lex fired blasts from his cannons. The energy slammed into Hulk's back, he delivered a punch that cracked Alex's helmet. Alex however quickly brought his fist round, punching Hulk across the face. Hulk then grabbed Alex by his shoulder and threw him into the ground. Engaging his rocket boots, Alex hit Hulk with the flames from the afterburners, knocking him backwards. Batman threw a flurry of bombs, hitting Hulk from the side as Lex tackled him. The Lex-bot's fists slammed into Hulk repeatedly. But Hulk grabbed one of its arms and ripped it off. He used the arm as a club to batter Lex's robot.
"I must thank you for this opportunity, I so rarely get to test my weapons," Lex said.
"What are you testing them for?" Hulk asked, though in truth he was only half interested.
"Someone much stronger than you," Lex grinned as Hulk snarled.
He crashed his fist through the face of the robot, shattering Lex's visage. Then he ripped the robot apart, snarling.
"Idiot, Hulk is strongest there is," the world breaker said.
Alex fired a blast at Hulk, only for Hulk to counter with the repulsors on his armour. Pouring more energy into the blasts, Alex disintegrated the gauntlets. But Hulk quickly grabbed Alex's hands and ripped the armour off. Underneath the shell of armour, Alex was still wearing his original armour. He shaped his arms into cannons and fired them into the sides of Hulk's head. Then he ejected from his bulky armour as Hulk brought his fist down on the armour. Alex swung his leg around, rockets on his boots increased the speed of his kick. He smacked Hulk across the face with his leg, breaking the armour and feeling something in his leg break too. But he grabbed the top of Hulk's head and fired a blast, launching himself away from the world breaker.
"You pitiful insect," Hulk flinched as a bomb exploded in his face.
He glared as he looked towards Batman. The dark knight was holding another bomb, tossing it up and down as a way of taunting the jade giant. Hulk stampeded towards him and Batman engaged rockets on his back, jumping over the Hulk. He threw his bomb at Hulk's back, melting a portion of his armour. Batman then threw a few gas grenades at Hulk's feet, spraying gas onto the Hulk.
"Knock out gas, that won't work on me," Hulk said.
"It isn't knock out gas, stimulants, serotonin, oxytocin, vasopressin, corticotropin, and an abundance of other chemicals and hormones used to cause anger," Batman explained.
"Though there's another thing that can make a person angrier," a voice spoke behind Hulk.
Wonder Woman threw Caeira, unconscious at his feet. The Amazon princess kept her shield and lasso at the ready as Hulk looked at his defeated wife. He grit his teeth together, the sight and the chemicals flowing inside him beginning to take effect. With a roar, Hulk shook the ground and ran towards Diana. She jumped over him, drawing her sword and stabbing it into the back of his neck. He pulled out his own sword, slamming it into Diana's shield and sending her flying into Batman. Hulk jumped towards them, only for Alex to tackle him from behind. They slammed into the ground and Alex stood up, a battery of weapons coming out of his armour. He unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, slamming them repeatedly into Hulk's body. Hulk grabbed Alex by his head and bashed him into the ground.
"I killed some of the greatest heroes of my world, they couldn't stop me, you won't stop me either," Hulk snarled.
"Actually I wasn't planning on being the one to stop you," Alex said.
Hulk continued to snarl, there was a sonic boom, and an object slammed into the Hulk. Alex let out a sigh of relief, as Superman floated over the Hulk's shrinking form.
"His healing factor would keep his adrenaline at a nearly unlimited level, if it didn't have to stave off yours and Diana's attacks Alex, anger can be permanent sometimes, but the chemical effects aren't," Superman explained.
"Finally," Bruce Banner whispered, "I'm finally free of him."
Earth 616-2099
Miguel flipped over Grail's trident, weaving between her strikes and using his claws to hold her lunge back. Cap slammed her shield into Grail's shoulder, then jumped back to avoid her punch. Hercules rammed his shoulder into Grail's back, knocking her over Miguel and onto the floor. The Deadpool of 2099 fired her guns at the Parademons assisting Grail, energy blasts flying into them. Iron man slammed two demons into the ground, before firing his repulsors at the others.
"She's too tough, shock she's breaking through my webbing," Spider-man cursed.
Grail ran towards Miguel, swinging her fist towards him. Cap got in her way, taking the force of her attack. It was still enough to throw her and Miguel back. The daughter of Darkseid jumped towards the downed pair, ready to bring Aquaman's trident down on them. Suddenly, Hercules caught the trident and with a yell threw Grail across the city.
"NAY! You will not take this world, or kill my comrades," he said. "I see the teachings of the Amazons in your fighting, but corrupted, sullied by the teachings of another."
"I was taught in the fire pits of Apokolips, I am Grail, daughter of Darkseid, a child of both Apokolips and the Amazons," Grail rushed towards Hercules, stabbing him in the shoulder with the trident.
He defiantly dug his feet into the ground, holding the trident and keeping it in his shoulder.
"I am a child of two worlds as well, of Earth and Olympus, I am the son of Zeus and Alcmene, an Avengers, I AM HERCULES!" he roared throwing Grail off of the floor. "AND I WILL NOT LET YOU TAKE MY WORLD!"
Throwing his fist into Grail's face, Hercules sent the new demi-goddess flying, crashing through multiple buildings. He yanked the trident out of his shoulder and held it high as the heroes continued their assault on the forces of Apokolips.
"AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!"
The Gap
A great web appeared in the dark realm, and the ship from Loomworld sailed across the darkness. Peter Parker, the mage of Tarnarus raised his hands, the web sigils glowing around his fists. He threw his arms forward, forging a road of webbing that the ship flew across.
"YES FORWARD TO BATTLE!" Petros yelled, standing at the front of the ship and pointing his sword towards the incoming meteorites.
"We're taking the fight straight to Onyx," Gwen said.
"We need to be careful though," Jason said.
"You guys can be careful, I'm going to finish this," Spider-Noir said, loading a revolver whilst Spider-Punisher loaded his web shooters.
"Look ahead," the silver armoured Spider-man said.
Dark clouds began appearing on the meteorites. Then people came out of the clouds, from one came a Vulture, he was a literal Vulture, with green hair and a hooked beak, but he also had green armour and wings. Out of another portal came someone appearing to be Electro, skin clear and glowing electric blue, he also wore a black suit. A third portal revealed a Shocker in a more armoured costume with bigger gauntlets. Then came a Venom, though his costume simply looked like a black version of the traditional Spider-man suit, with the addition of his snapping jaws. A gigantic mutated Scorpion creature came out of the fifth portal. Finally, out of the sixth came a face many of the Spider-men and women recognised. The costume that made it seem as if he had green skin on the legs and arms, the monstrous face with elongated ears and yellow eyes, the purple vest, boots, gloves and hat and of course the roar of his glider engine.
"Osborn," the Spider-man with his wife and daughter narrowed his eyes at the leader of the apparent Sinister Six.
"You look and even sound a lot like a Spider-man I know, I'm guessing you're Peter Parker, oh," the Green Goblin grinned as he looked at Mary-Jane. "I remember a girl who looked just like you, she unfortunately fell into a portal to limbo," he laughed as Mary Jane grit her teeth together.
"We need to split up," May said to Billy.
"We shouldn't," the Captain Britain Corps member said.
"Too late," Hobie said.
He pointed to the edge of the ship. The Flash Thompson Spider-man was already jumping off one of the sails, swinging between the meteorites. He was followed quickly by the Manga-verse Spider-man, the Mutant Spider, and the Spider-man family. They swung between the rocks, Spider-ling and her mother both landing on one of the larger land masses, both firing webs at the armoured Vulture. It gave the Mutant Spider a valid distraction to tackle the creature in midair. Manga-verse Spider-man dodged several blasts fired by Electro and Flash was grappling with Shocker. Green Goblin laughed as he threw several bombs at the Spider-man family.
"Today I get to kill not just a Peter Parker and a Mary Jane Watson, but their daughter too," Osborn laughed.
MJ and Peter both grabbed Anna's legs and launched her towards Osborn. She balled her hands into fists, hitting Osborn with enough force to knock him off of his glider.
"You'll find us a lot harder to kill," Anna retorted.
The ship of the Web warriors kept on moving, through the field of debris of the gap. Billy narrowed his eyes as dark portals appeared on the path ahead. An Electro came out of the first portal, though he was a Bestial, one the web caped Spider-man of Counter-Earth recognised. Second came a Kraven, though he had been mutated into a lion creature. Then came a Vulture crawling on all fours, his teeth were filed into fangs and he wore a black trench coat. Following him came a Rhino, though he was in a massive tank with a rhino shaped head. A Doctor Octopus came out, but his arms were real Octopus arms. Finally, stood on top of a glider was a Green Goblin, his armour was a completely green suit, and he wore a helmet shaped like a Goblin's face.
"We've got this," Spider-man Unlimited said.
He jumped off with the Spider-Prowler, the Punisher Spider-man, the armoured Spider-man, and Spider-Ben and Spider-Pete.
"Our group is getting smaller, we can't let this happen," Billy said.
"Aye, we cannot face Onyx with reduced numbers," Petros added.
He sheathed his sword and put his hands together.
"What is he doing?" Jason asked.
"Just roll with it, we'll find out," Gwen said.
"I think I know what he might be doing, I'll assist him," Peter the mage put one finger to his head and raised his hand, the web glyph appearing in his palm.
The ship kept on flying, leaving behind the six spiders to fight the sinister six. Billy looked through the ship's spy glass, seeing a throne in the distance.
"All right people, this is it, Onyx maybe powerful, but there are limits to his power. We have some of the most powerful spiders with us, let's make it count," the Captain Britain corps member explained.
"We're about to make it count even more," Peter the mage said.
Petros nodded, his eyes glowing red and blue alongside the mage's.
"Arachne, goddess of the web, I beseech you, tear open the barriers, send out the call to your avatars!" the warrior chanted.
"Great web ripple, all those whom feel it respond, follow the line and heed the call," Peter said.
"Come forth and answer, Web army!" both proclaimed.
A great web appeared behind the ship, and each 'gap' in the web began to show a different world. And through those portals came different Spider-men. A Spider-man in a silver costume, a Spider-man with a Five on his chest, a Spider-man in a Fantastic Four suit, a flag themed Spider-man using the shield of Captain America, a cowboy Spider-man, a Hulk Spider-man, and even literal Spiders. Spider-women also answered the call, Mattie Franklin, female counterparts of Peter Parker, a Jessica Drew in a Hydra inspired suit, Gwen Stacy's, Mary Jane Watsons, even the 'Spider-ma'am'.
"Army of the web, the war against darkness has truly begun!" Peter the mage said.
Manhattan-Earth 616
Peter kept on swinging, running across the rooftops and diving off of buildings. He built up his speed with his dive, then swung one great distance and launching himself across the city. The Parademons were focused on three locations now. Times square, where the Rogers led the resistance, the location Peter had just left where the X-men aided him and the place he hoped May would be. He swung into the air and used the symbiote to enhance his vision, seeing a place on the streets where Parademons fought alongside several women. Women under the command of a bulky 'granny'. Then he saw Venom and Doc Ock, the two men fighting the demons, whilst protecting...
"MAY!" Peter yelled, using a slingshot with his webs to launch himself towards the fight.
He crashed into the back of Granny, throwing her away from May.
"It's me baby girl, it's me," he commanded the symbiote to ooze away from his face, to look at May with his mask lifted up.
But May snarled and snapped her jaws at Peter.
"Get back you fool, sentiment won't reach her," Ock said.
He pushed Peter with his arm, throwing her away from May's claws. Peter jumped onto his feet, quickly avoiding Granny Goodness's omega rod. He fired a web into her face and jumped towards May. Stompa rushed towards the girl, only for Venom to tackle her from behind. Ock exchanged blows with Harriet and fired webbing to block the vision of the Parademons. More of them came down, hitting Spider-man and Venom with energy blasts. Two came down towards May, but Ock quickly grabbed their heads and squashed them. Stompa suddenly jumped behind him, punching him in the back.
"May," Peter whispered.
A blast hit the girl in the back leaving her at the mercy of Harriet. The fury raised her claws, but suddenly, something moved behind her. She turned, just as a spike burst through her chest. It was a stinger, attached to the wrist of Kaine, whom deactivated his stealth suit and looked at Granny with anger under his mask.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" he yelled.
Downtown
May was driving Mary Jane across town, the woman had been on her phone for the past hour, trying to reach people she knew could help. She was just on the phone to the one person May knew Peter wouldn't wanted to have called.
"I don't care what you think, and I don't care what you say, I know you've still got it in storage. Make up for all those times you spouted bullshit about my husband and help us, prove you're the good man Peter thinks you are and help us," MJ slammed her thumb into the off button of her phone and looked towards their location.
"Are you sure about this MJ?" May asked.
"I am, Ben's busy in LA, Kaine is god knows where and the others haven't made any progress. We are desperate May, we can't lose her," MJ explained.
May nodded her head, in complete understanding. They came up to an old warehouse, where another car came up. Out of that car came Betty Brant, reporter from the Daily Bugle and Peter's ex girlfriend. Just as MJ and May reached her, another familiar face came around the corner. Carlie Cooper, CSI for the NYPD and a friend of Peter's.
"Sorry to pull you both away," MJ said.
"There isn't a lot I can do on the streets, besides I love that girl too," Carlie said.
"So do I, so much that I can't be angry with Peter for this Spider-man business, I'll do whatever I can," Betty explained.
"The Avengers are all busy, and I've called everyone else I could, there's nobody else to help. We're the only ones left," MJ unlocked the door and revealed a room filled with seeming junk.
"What is this place anyway?" May asked.
"An old storage locker Peter uses for stuff we can't fit in the apartment, or stuff he needs to store away for a while," MJ waded through the junk and pulled out a belt. "Like the old spider signal light," she tossed it to Betty, who easily grabbed it. "Prototype spider bots," she passed them to Carlie and picked up a pair of old web shooters. "Here's the really good stuff though," a grin crossed the red head's face as she picked up a black suit.
She threw it to Carlie, who marvelled at the green lenses and lights across it.
"An old stealth suit Peter designed," MJ identified the outfit as she gave a box to Betty.
Inside the Box was a black helmet with gold lenses on it, as well as other pads of black armour and chain mail.
"A bullet proof costume he made the same time as the stealth suit, and this," MJ turned to another box and withdrew from it a red and gold costume. "A gift from the days Peter used to work for Stark!"
There was a sudden honking sound outside. Betty and Carlie dropped their equipment and rushed outside with May. All three gasped as a blue and red buggy rolled up to the warehouse.
"Peter was friends with normal people before he became Spider-man," Said Rand Robertson, son of Robbie Robertson, assistant Editor of the Daily Bugle.
"After MJ called me, everything made sense, so I brought this from Corona Motors, thought you could use it," said Max Moddel, scientist and Peter's former boss.
"I keep forgetting Peter had a Spider-mobile," May muttered.
"That thing is still around?"
The group looked up, taken aback for a moment at the sight of a Goblin glider. But when the Goblin glider landed, they saw a young man in a coat, wearing only goblin gloves and the purse. Harry Osborn, Peter Parker's best friend and Mayday Parker's god father.
"So he didn't show up?" Harry asked.
"Of course not, that man is so stubborn, he's probably still yelling about all the money Peter made off of him (which is hardly a lot)," May explained.
"It doesn't matter," MJ said and the group turned to their unofficial leader.
MJ came out wearing the 'iron Spider' costume, pulling the mask over her face.
"Let's go get my little girl back!"
Eternia
Cade looked upon the sorceress of castle Gray Skull in surprise.
"She's your sorceress?" he repeated the question he asked when he first laid eyes upon her.
"Yes," He-man groaned.
The sorceress was not at all what Cade expected. She was no wise, withered old woman, but a stunning woman dressed in a costume based upon a bird.
"I can sense the power within you Cade Hunter, you are justice's avatar, your power is corrupted, but there is no evil within you," she stated.
"No more evil than any other man in the universe," Cade said.
"You are humble, and think little of yourself. Despite the blood on your hands you are still a champion of all that is good in the world, your desire to stay and aid the people of Eternia is proof of that," the Sorceress explained.
"Maybe, but I'm not cut out to help anyone, all I can do is try," Cade said.
"That Cade Hunter, is all any of us can do," the Sorceress turned and reached into the seeming void that was the inside of castle Gray Skull.
Cade could do little to describe the inside of the castle. Only that it was as if the castle itself was a container for an entire world. Already he could sense the intense power in this place, power he knew had filled the young Prince beside him. As the Sorceress accessed this power with her magic, Cade felt justice burning within him. Not the corrupt rage he had possessed for most of his life, but the flicker of the true spirit that tried to forge him into its avatar. That power he had briefly attained when he stopped the Black Lantern Swamp Thing from destroying his world. Then the power faded as the Sorceress lowered her hands and a portal appeared before her.
"The power will help you go to where you need to go Cade Hunter, know that we will meet again," the sorceress said.
"What about this world?" Cade asked.
"Don't worry Cade I will help the Masters turn the tide, and thank you for saving me," He-man offered Cade his hand and he hesitated for a moment.
This man had been told by his Sorceress that Cade had much blood on his hand, yet he didn't hesitate to regard him with respect. When Cade looked at He-man, he briefly saw in his place Sven. Another moment of hesitation passed before Cade shook his hand.
"Good luck Adam, whoever's leading the forces attacking your world, kick their ass for me," Cade patted the prince's shoulder before turning to the portal.
He covered his face with his helmet and then stepped through.
Onyx sat on a throne, not the throne in the Gap, but another throne in another world. A world that once shone as the capital of an Asgardian empire, ruled by King Thor. Now however, King Thor and his subjects were lying on the floor, dead at the hands of a new queen in this world. A queen who walked across the room, her dark green body suit glowing as she felt the power of an entire universe called Asgard fill her. Hela gasped, hugging her arms and feeling that the sudden rise in her power level hurt. She looked at Onyx and knew, without shred of doubt that she was more powerful than him now. Her heels clacked against the gold floor, through the blood of the Asgardians. She stampeded towards Onyx, furiously, her purpose set. She placed on knee between his knees on the throne and yanked the back of his head.
Their lips collided, joining in passion, and blissful love. Love, an emotion Hela had never felt until she began to serve Onyx. Universe after universe, she recreated her master, saw the men they once were, enjoyed twisting them into the being her master was. She had even fallen in love with the men they were at times, but every time she never wavered in her purpose. As she separated her mouth from Onyx, she continued sitting on his lap, resting her arms on his shoulders.
"Another world my love, it can be yours to corrupt," she said, caressing his cheeks.
"My source of ultimate power will soon arrive Hela, you keep this world, for you'll need it in the fight to come," Onyx said and pulled Hela into another kiss.
"There is still time," Hela whispered, taking Onyx's hand.
He shook his head.
"No, she is coming, I must be ready," Onyx tried to get up, only for Hela to push him back onto the throne.
"I dedicate my existence to yours my lord and love, for you gave me the sense of belonging I always yearned, grant me this before we face the forces of light in final battle," she whispered, once again kissing him.
"Very well," Onyx said. "Osborn will deal with the Web Warriors anyway!"
The Gap
An entire army of Spider-men, Osborn grinned as he walked around the throne formerly occupied by Onyx. He held Spiderling by her neck, gripping it just hard enough to cause her discomfort. She looked at the Spider army and smiled.
"Bet you're wishing Onyx was here huh?" she asked.
"Oh I'm glad he's gone, he's given me free reign after all, and given me an incredible power. You have your army, and I have mine," the Green Goblin clicked his fingers.
The Web Warriors widened their eyes as portals began to appear. Black portals that multiplied, twos became fours, then eights became sixteen. They kept on increasing in size until the Web Warriors saw that most of the gap had been consumed by portals.
"Allow me to introduce you foolish web warriors, to the SINISTER 666!
Osborn's cackle echoed through the gap, followed by the laughs of many more goblins.
Next Chapter 33: Tipped Scales part 3
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, the first Goblin who appeared in the chapter, leader of the Sinister 666, is the same Goblin from the 90's Spider-man TAS (alongside the X-men series of the same time, my childhood introduction to comics).
Next time Captain Marvel enters the fray, and other Earths turn the tide.