Avengers: Infinite Wars

by free man writer

The Clone Wars are in full swing with the galaxy divided. The Jedi lead the clone army against the infinite droid army of the Separatists. Yet a wild card enters the fray. The Avengers. From there, newer, more sinister and deadlier threats emerge and The Galaxy, no, the universe, shall never be the same again. Co-written by Jebest4781 and BulletStormX. Now in Season 4.

99. Friends, Old and New

ATTENTION ALL READERS.

I have a character poll up of 70 characters that are featured in the story and let me tell ya, bit of a hard number to whittle down to when there are SO MANY characters already and more to come in the next season but I have a character poll up right now that allows you vote for your FIFTEEN FAVORITE CHARACTERS USED IN INFINITE WARS. You don't get one vote to pick, you get to choose ten of your favorites.

LET ME REPEAT MYSELF.

FOR THIS CHARACTER POLL, YOU GET TO PICK FIFTEEN OUT OF THE 70 CHARACTERS SO PLEASE PICK FIFTEEN PROPER, USE UP YOUR FIFTEEN VOTES PLEASE.

Why did I make this poll? This will decide the top fifteen characters in a special art piece commission celebrating us reaching one hundred chapters.

So please vote and I MEAN VOTE LIKE CRAZY. I need you guys to do it for a special project so please, ladies and gentlemen, vote like no tomorrow. You all only have ONE CHAPTER TO DO IT. SO VOTE VOTE VOTE ON THE POLLS PRONTO. After this chapter, we hit the magic 100 and that's the cut off. SO GET TO IT PEOPLE. WE NEED TO SEE THOSE VOTES TO SEE WHO ARE THE MOST POPULAR CHARACTERS IN THE STORY.

DO YOU LIKE MY USE OF CAPSLOCK?! IT IS TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!

I am loving the crazy excitement and joy everyone is having with the reunion of the Avengers at long last taking place and boy do we have a lot to do. So let's not waste any time as you can see how much there is to cover in this chapter.

VOTE READ AND REVIEW AND AS ALWAYS HAVE NICE DAY.

Avengers Infinite Wars Chapter 99: Friends, Old and New

Within the dark cavern, there was a whirlwind of reactions and emotions.

For Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Barriss Offee and Aayla Secura, it was a stunning sight to be sure.

After a year with some number of months, they had heard and had been shown images of the other teammates of Earth's Mightiest Heroes that still resided on their homeworld. After a sort of messaging system was made between Thor's ability to travel from Mortis to Earth, they were able to exchange some form of communication and they learned that the team on Earth had grown.

And now, here they were.

Two of them at least.

The ones known as Tony Stark and Clint Barton AKA Iron Man and Hawkeye.

And as for the Avengers present before their arrival, it was difficult to discern their reactions and emotions that didn't revolve around, joy, relief, disbelief, and an entire assortment of positive feelings at seeing their friends.

Black Widow had run over to Clint Barton and the two best friends hugged each other tightly and Steve came up to Tony and clapped his shoulder.

"Tony," Rogers said, just shooting him the widest smile the billionaire had ever seen from him. "I can't tell you how good it is to see you again."

"Yeah well, you looked pretty miserable without me Cap." Tony quipped airily but the grin he had on had yet to leave his face.

Over with the two former SHIELD agents, Pietro and Wanda came up to the archer and gave him hugs of their own which he returned.

"So you two have been busy keeping not a world but a galaxy safe, eh?" Clint remarked with a large grin. "Look at you two. Can't call you kids punks anymore now, can I?"

Quicksilver had a smug look yet the joy in his eyes was hard to deny and Wanda had a glossiness of her own as she moved to hug Barton again.

Back with Steve and Tony, Sam, Peter, and Vision now joined Cap in conversing with the Iron Avenger.

"Ah man, look at you, kid." Tony said, patting Parker on his shoulder. "Then again, kid won't really work now after everything you've been through."

"It has been crazy, Mr. Stark." Peter said with a chuckle.

The former playboy's eyes flickered over to the Jedi in the cavern, his eyes landing on the two Padawans.

A mischievous glint appeared as Tony opened his mouth to speak only for Peter to realize what he was about to say, clamping both his hands over Stark's mouth, shushing him desperately.

"No Mr. Stark, you can't say anything." Parker quietly said in a frantic fashion. "These guys are really weird about relationships."

"Ass backwards if ya ask me." Sam chipped in.

"Yes, they are quite strict in that regard."

Tony eyed them all before prying Peter's hands off his mouth and giving them all a look.

"So you weren't really kidding about that, huh?" Stark said with a shake of his head before opting to meet the Jedi properly.

Obi-Wan raised his head slightly and walked forward, Anakin and Aayla joining him as they met with one of the founding members of the Avenger.

"Ok… treebeard, maverick, and Neytiri." He rattled off. "Tony Stark, Iron Man, Genius, Billionaire, Philanthropist and the real leader of the Avengers. Don't believe the lies Cap's fed to you all this time. You understand, right beard bro?"

Anakin and Aayla shared a look, the former unable to hold back his laugh with the latter joining a second later. For over a year now, they had all been warned about this particular Avengers' penchant for nicknames and such but to experience it first hand and to see the reaction Obi-Wan Kenobi received… well, to them, it was well worth the wait.

The Jedi Council Member was certainly thrown off by this statement yet found his lip twitching upward as he held out his hand.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi." The Jedi introduced himself, shaking hands with the Invincible Iron Man. "A pleasure to meet you at long last. Your friends have spoken a great deal about you."

"Let me guess, most of it was about me being a giant jackass."

"On occasion." Sam said from the side.

"Frequently." The Chosen One chimed in. "Anakin Skywalker."

"Aayla Secura." The Twi'lek said a moment later. "A pleasure, Mr. Stark."

"Tony," Iron Man said holding his hand up. "Mr. Stark was my dad."

"You look old enough to be a Mr. Stark." Anakin retorted before waving his hand over at his Padawan. "But anyway, this is Ahsoka Tano and Barriss Offee."

"Yeah, heard of you both too," Tony said. "Been keepin' an eye on Parker."

"He's saved our lives several times." Barriss said with a loving smile directed at her boyfriend.

"And you guys have done the same." Peter shot back, pointing at her. "We keep the score even."

Tony smirked at this, glancing over to see Clint, Nat, Wanda and Pietro joining their group. Tony looked over at the Jedi and paused at Anakin.

"Not for nothin', Skyguy," The Jedi Knight jerked slightly upon hearing that nickname. "But what happened to ya? Ya look like shit."

Anakin released a tired sigh, Ahsoka placing a supportive hand on his arm.

"Just… dealt with some real personal crap a few moments before meeting you guys. I think you know how it is."

Stark released a sigh, shaking his head. "Oh yeah, I understand what ya mean. Don't say anymore."

Even within this darkened place where the dark side of the Force is arguably strong, there was much merriment taking hold of the surroundings.

Clint looked around the place with an uncertain expression.

"So uh… where in the hell are we? And where's the rest of the-"

*KRISH-KABOOM*

Oh and also thunder soon joined the fray.

From the thunder and lightning from up above, a figure crashed down into the darkened space.

And the figure wasn't alone as he was joined by a man in armor similar to the one in red and gold, followed by two bug-sized heroes that grew to full size, a Prince of a nation and a blind lawyer with his billy club wire retreating back into its hilt.

It only took a moment for the remaining Avengers to realize who was in the cavern and their loudest member threw his hammer up, a crack of lightning following suit.

*KRISH-KABOOM*

"HUZZAH! OUR FRIENDS!" Thor, God Of Thunder joyfully declared.

"Holy hell, Stark? Barton?" Scott said aloud in disbelief. "How are you guys here?"

Hawkeye gestured his head to the source of their arrival and all turned to see the swirling vortex within the archway of the Infinity Gate.

"Wait," Hope gaped. "Is that-"

"Yup." Tony said. "It was on from our end but we couldn't get through until someone could activate the linked gate on your end."

Clint picked up from there. "Luckily for you guys, you found it."

"Not intentionally." Steve admitted. "It was completely on accident."

"Or it could have been the Will of the Force." Obi-Wan mused in intrigue. "But regardless, to think we'd find an Infinity Gate."

"Here of all places." Said Skywalker.

"At least now we have a way to get back to Earth." Nat said.

"Home," Peter said aloud, most of the Avengers now turning to the gate. "It's right there."

"Crazy ain't it." Barton said.

"Your home." Aayla said with a sense of wonder, standing next to her lover with him smiling at her.

"Wanna go there?"

A nod was all Steve received.

Tony soon interrupted the moment between the Twi'lek and the Super Soldier. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Steve, hang on a sec. I know you guys wanna go back but we just got here. Do you not realize we've been apart for nearly a hundred chapters? Tolkien didn't even keep the Fellowship apart for that long. We all gotta check this place out and have you guys be our tour guides."

Steve only gave his friend a look of bemusement. "What are you talking about?"

"It feels like it." Stark said offhandedly.

Ahsoka leaned over to Peter. "What is he talking about?"

"Something about Lord of the Rings." Her boyfriend responded.

"I'm confused as you are." Barriss included.

Tony soon rolled his eyes when hearing this. "Are you guys deaf? Lord of the Rings? Analogy? Reference? Come on you guys, I know we've been apart for a while but try to keep up."

As this occurred, there was a flare from the vortex and some other people walked through the Infinity Gate.

"Tony, what the hell are you thinking going off and- Holy shit." A man in blue robes and a red cape said aloud, his eyes widening at the sight of the thirteen Avengers that had long since been sent to this galaxy. "Holy shit."

"I'll be damned." Said a familiar voice to one Captain America and Steve perked up at the sight of his old friend.

"Bucky." Steve greeted, the pair meeting in the middle into a brotherly embrace.

A moment later, a young teen girl walked through the gate and her eyes immediately landed on someone she was hoping to see. "BROTHER!"

T'Challa barely registered what he heard when he was promptly tackled by a smaller figure in black and he immediately realized who it was.

"Shuri." He softly said with a wide smile, hugging her back. "It's good to see you again."

It wasn't long before others crossed through the gateway.

"Well sweet Christmas, can you believe that." The man the Space Avengers recognized as Luke Cage stated.

With him were all the Avengers from Earth.

Dr. Strange, Wong, Mordo, Luke Cage, Danny Rand, Robbie Reyes, Celeste Morne, Jennifer Walters, Hector Ayala, Jessica Jones, Shang Chi, and Katy Chen.

"Oh my." Was all Obi-Wan said upon seeing the Avengers.

"Everyone is here?" Steve said in slight disbelief.

"We were having a team meeting," Tony said. "So you can imagine our surprise when the gate made all those crazy lights."

"You rushed in without consulting the rest of us." Wong deadpanned.

"Hey, fortune favors the bold." Stark rebuked.

"Do you really think it applies in this case?" Mordo muttered with a blank look.

"Oh dear, I fear for the galaxy if you and Stark ever do anything together." Obi-Wan couldn't help but comment with Anakin rolling his eyes.

"He has your mouth, Obi-Wan, and in the worst way possible."

Both Avenger teams began mingling and meeting one another properly, names, both normal and hero names being exchanged.

That was until one Jedi was starting to feel a bit claustrophobic in being here and the Dark Side's presence was starting to bother him again.

"Hey everyone!" Anakin said aloud, cutting through the meet and greet of all the Avengers. "I get you guys are all happy in meeting each other but it's really cramped in here right now. How's about we take it to a place where we all have some breathing room?"

Half an hour later…

It was quite the gathering within the (arguably) main temple of Tython as the Jedi Order with the Clone Troopers was now in the process of meeting the entirety of the Avengers.

The Jedi had all been called in and now, a large chunk of the Order was meeting all of Earth's Mightiest Heroes after having only known half of them since the arrival of the first nine.

Meetings and greetings were exchanged all over the place between the Avengers and the denizens of the galaxy.

The entire front temple grounds had small crowds here and there as the Avengers from Earth became acquainted with the friends and allies the Avengers in space have made.

Though not everyone was speaking with the galaxy natives.

The two royals from Wakanda were deep in conversation and by conversation, it was primarily the younger sister rambling on nonstop.

"You should've seen what we got back home. The readings the gate showed were astounding-"

She saw her brother giving a smile that was akin to the same their father would give them as he came up to her, placing his hands on her shoulder.

"Shuri," Her brother softly said. "Look at what you've done. Look at how much you've grown. I almost didn't recognize you when you came out of the portal."

The younger sibling blinked at this while T'Challa went on.

"And now, here you stand, a Black Panther and a protector of Wakanda." He snorted. "You must have nightmares now that you have more proper responsibilities."

And like that, the warm and fuzzy feeling was gone as Shuri slapped her brother's chest.

"I'll have you know, the only nightmare I have is getting stuffed in one of those ridiculous outfits I know I'll be forced to wear for your coronation."

"Bast forbid such a nightmare." T'Challa fondly said, tilting her head down, her arms flailing slightly in response. She opened her mouth to rebuke when she felt his hand on his shoulder again.

"Shuri." His voice was lower now. "I am so proud of you. Black Panther and an Avenger."

"I had a great example to follow after." Shuri said with a sweet smile.

"Great shoes to fill. Though I wonder how often you'll trip with them." He said playfully.

She snorted in response. "I can't run on all fours like you can."

"Oh, the agony." Her brother retorted with a chuckle.

Before they were able to continue speaking any further, someone came up to the pair. "Hey Shuri, it's been a while."

The Wakandan princess looked over, seeing the black-clad individual with a white spider motif with a raised brow. It took her a while before she realized this could only be one person.

"Parker? Is that you?" She questioned. "You look… different."

"Yeah, I've got a different getup." The symbiote soon moved, receding to show his full head, much to Shuri's surprise. "But it's the same old me." He then wrapped his arm around T'challa. "Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Cop with his partner in crime, Meow-Mix."

"I'm not acknowledging that name, Peter." The Prince dryly said.

"Then what about Captain Panther or Officer Puss in-?"

"I will cut that tongue of yours out."

Peter withdrew his arm with a playful hiss. "Yeesh, harsh. Did you forget to take your daily dose of catnip with a large glass of milk?"

"He probably has." Shuri giggled out.

Oh, she greatly missed the reactions she witnesses to her brother's reactions.

Things would've continued with them-

"Peter Parker."

-if someone didn't make their presence known.

The Wall Crawler released a croak, eyes widening to the size of saucers as he turned towards someone standing in front of him with a woman wearing denim by her side.

"Like I promised, Ms. Parker." The private Detective Jessica Jones said with a satisfied nod. "I found your Nephew."

"You technically didn't find him."

"Semantics."

Standing there with the prince and princess of Wakanda, Peter fidgeted in his place.

"Hey Aunt-oof!"

The teen was pulled into a bear hug as his Aunt hugged him as if her life depended on it. She felt her shuddering and a moment later, felt a dampness on his clothing.

"Oh God Peter." She whispered. "Thank God you're ok, thank God."

Peter's expression fell into a strained smile as he hugged his aunt back and shed a few tears of his own.

"Yeah, I'm alright, May. I'm alright." He quietly assured her, feeling her squeeze him again.

It was a rather touching scene. The Avengers looked on with respective smiles on their face.

"Jessica." Shuri pleasantly said. "You got the message?"

"And went to personally grab her," Jones said, gesturing her head towards May Parker. "Could practically see her vibrate in her spot before I flew her over to the tower."

Shuri hummed, turning to her brother. "T'Challa, this is Jessica Jones, the Avenger who denies that she's an Avenger."

"I am."

"Then why have the ID card?"

"The perks. Having most police officials off my back. Getting more cases for my firm. Yadda yadda yadda."

Shuri shook her head. "She's still in denial. She's registered as an Avenger."

"Welcome to the team." T'Challa pleasantly said, amused at the twitch of the brow the detective had.

"Yesh," She said through gritted teeth, finding herself unable to deny him. "Avenger."

The young Panther rolled her eyes. "You're such a drama queen."

"Like you're one to talk, Princess 'I-can't-cook-and-burn-the-kitchen'."

"You bitch!" Hissed the princess.

The prince bore a Cheshire smile. "Oh, she's still burning things, is she?"

"T'Challa~~" Shuri whined dramatically.

While the three of them "argued" with each other, the two Parkers had finally pulled apart though May kept hold of her nephew's arms.

"Sorry I made you worry so much, May." Peter softly said. "I didn't mean to, honest."

His Aunt only shook her head, tears still fresh on her cheeks. "I'm just happy to know that you're alive and well."

Peter really didn't want to tell her about all the horrific injuries he had accumulated since coming to this galaxy.

"Never, in all my years, would I think I would have a nephew that would cause me this much trouble and heartache." May said with a slightly pained smile.

"It's not like I wanted to." Peter weakly said. "These things just happened and well-"

"I know Peter, Tony Stark said you've been busy keeping a galaxy safe." His Aunt shook her head. "I'm not as intelligent as you are but you should know that if Ben was here, he'd be proud of the man you are becoming."

Hearing that made Peter's eyes widen, glossing over before trying to reign in his emotion at the mention of his Uncle.

He didn't expect the flood of emotions that came down upon him at the mention of his Uncle and sensing this, May pulled Peter into a tight hug, the pair holding each other in silence.

"He knows you've done good, Petey." May softly said, fresh tears streaming down her eyes. "Remember what he always said. Great Power-"

"Great responsibility." He finished with a sniffle, pulling away from her. "You really think so?"

"I know so." She muttered, cupping his cheek with her hand. "Uncle Ben can only be smiling down on you right now."

Peter released a shaky laugh, one shared with his Aunt.

"Peter?" Said a familiar voice followed by another.

"Is that…?"

Looking back, Peter soon wiped away the tears threatening to spill over. He soon gave Ahsoka and Barriss a bright smile before turning back to his loving aunt.

"Aunt May, there's some… people I want you to meet."

Separating from May for a brief moment, he gestured for the two padawans to come over.

Bringing them forward, Peter practically saw how nervous his two loves were. This was essentially a "meet the parents" scenario for them.

The two girls were surprised by their nervousness in coming over to finally meet Peter's Aunt who was really his mom in all other senses of the word.

It was a strange sensation for them to be experiencing, something drastically different from everything else they had gone through up until now. The closest that could come close to this feeling was when they started this relationship with one another but that one had a lot more joy and relief involved.

Here, they were just really, really unsure as to how this conversation would go.

"May, this is Ahsoka Tano and Barriss Offee," He said with a loving look directed at the both of them.

"It's so good to finally meet you two." She surprised them by ensnaring them into a hug. "Can't thank you enough for keeping him safe."

"We did our best, ma'am." Barriss said with a straight-laced tone.

"Needed to pull a lot of effort to keep him away from trouble," Ahsoka said in exasperation.

Peter released an indignant squawk.

"Excuse me? How many times have I saved your skins? You guys always joined me on my patrols and you two could barely keep up. And when you did, I had to pull you out of the fire."

"You just attract danger." Ahsoka countered.

"And you are drawn to it." Peter fired back.

"I do believe this is an unfortunate symptom of our line of work." Barriss quietly said.

May found herself laughing at this interaction.

Off from the side, Shuri saw the interaction between Spiderman and the two padawans as he introduced them to his aunt.

Their time together back in New York was brief but was good to establish a good work relationship. It opened many doors for her, despite the circumstances.

During that time, she got to know Spiderman, or rather Peter Parker, to some capacity. He was funny, quirky, and smart. Not the kind of smart, personality-wise, but smart on how he can keep up with her in some conversations in the scientific field.

In some part of her mind, she imagined that if it wasn't for him being whisked away to some corner of the universe with her brother and Matt Murdock, then she wouldn't have minded getting to know him more.

Well, the prospect is still there, but not of what one originally thought with a relationship.

To her, it would be more akin to friendship in the present circumstance. It might've been more -given how they seemed to click- if it weren't for her seeing what was before her now.

She'd seen it many times in her life. Her parents. Okoye and her wife. These were a few examples out of many that she can quickly pull out from her head.

What she's seeing now, Peter was happy with these two and vice versa. She wonders how such a relationship works, but she won't question it.

To her, it felt like she had missed out on something grand with him. The Wakandan princess knew the Spider was taken but won't cry over it.

Besides, she'll have some fun out of the whole thing anyways.

While May Parker got to know Ahsoka Tano and Barriss Offee, two recently inducted members into the Avengers were walking around the temple the large gathering had taken place in with awe and wonder.

"Holy crap, can you believe this, Shaun?" Katy Chen said in astonishment.

"I most certainly do. We're on an alien planet." Shang-Chi said, looking around, mirroring his best friend's expression. "I can't believe this shit."

"My mom is never gonna believe this." Katy said.

"You're right." Shaun proceeded to pull out his phone and began recording everything. "Which is why we must document everything here as evidence. Our descendants are gonna wanna know how cool we are."

His best friend wordlessly nodded with great vigor, pulling out her own phone and the pair began to take videos and pictures.

They had come across several Jedi and dozens of Clones, all asking them if they could join them in quick selfies and part of their videos.

Most were bewildered by this but all obliged all the same after they saw the images and the Clones especially found this intriguing, asking if it was possible that they could get photos like these as it was an apparent rarity for them to have pictures.

Shaun and Katy promised they'd get the photos to them… they just needed to figure out how to get them out. They didn't wanna sound mean or anything but they were dealing with Clones and they literally just got here so they needed to… yeah.

Thankfully, the Clones said they'll send their requests through the Jedi and that the Jedi generals they serve were on good terms with the Avengers.

So that was convenient.

Still, the concept for the two recent inductees of literal clones existing was mind-boggling and was amongst the list of impossibilities they can cross off the list here and now.

Both were so distracted by their present activities they didn't notice some people walk up to them. It was only through the clearing of one's throat did Shaun and Katy snap back to reality.

"Shang-Chi, right?" Steve Rogers said, standing with Natasha and Sam. "And that must mean you're Katy Chen."

The two young adults were starstruck, gasping slightly as they pointed shaky fingers at them.

"C-c-c-c-c-c-c-" Katy stammered out, at a complete loss for words. "B-b-b-b-b-b and and and f-f-f-f-f-f-"

"Breath, Katy. Breath." Shaun whispered, not taking his eyes off Earth's first superhero in Cap and the others who were essentially his teammates that he still couldn't believe to be real.

"H-How can I-I not! It's Captain Freaking America! And the Black Widow AND The Falcon."

The three Avengers all looked at each other in amusement at the pair's banter.

"Like you're any better!

"I can control myself, unlike you."

"Uh-huh."

"You're shaking like a leaf!"

"Shut up!"

"You two seem like fun." Wilson spoke up with a chuckle.

"Tony told us that it's because of you two they found the missing keys needed to open the gate back home to us." Natasha stated.

Steve offered them a hand. "I'd like to thank you both and say welcome to the team."

The wielder of the Ten Rings was the first to shake Captain Rogers' hand first. Firm and strong, given he didn't want to leave a bad impression in the first place.

Katy, however, was practically a wet noodle and-

"I'm shaking his hand!" Said Katy. "I'm never gonna wash-"

"Finish that and I'll be telling your mom of that car incident with the contraband a while back."

"Who cares about that?" Chen said with a laugh. "This hand just shook hands with Captain America. And…" She held out her hand for Sam who laughed, clapping his hand with hers and she squealed.

She did the same for Natasha and by that point, Katy was using Shaun as her support from collapsing to overexposure.

"We're sorry." Shaun stammered out, both bashful and embarrassed. "It's just-you know- I-we-we're fans."

"Big fans." Katy said, looking at her hand as if it was made of gold. "Oh man Shaun, we still gotta do the rest of them!"

"They ain't going anywhere anytime soon."

"But with how things are with them-"

"So these are the 'keys' then?"

Shaun's conversation with Katy came to a brief pause when the First Avenger addressed a peculiar item on his person. He momentarily forgot they were on full display instead of tucked away in a pack on his waist.

Steve patted the bangles appreciatively, giving the master martial artist a grateful smile. "You came right on time. Thanks again."

"Cap thanked us twice." Shaun was in a daze.

"You guys are so awesome." Katy gushed.

Sam and Nat chortled aloud.

"Jeez, these two give Peter and Scott a run for their money." Falcon said.

"Least they fit right in." Romanoff said, walking over to throw an arm around Katy. "Come on you two, I think we'd like to get to know our new teammates a little better."

Both released squeaks of excitement.

"Teammates?" Shaun and Katy said at the same time while trying their best to stammer out coherent sentences until they were able to talk properly to their idols, now teammates.

In the midst of all this socializing, one Avenger, in particular, sat in a secluded area just outside the temple.

He had a chain wrapped around his body and this metal rope was also used to keep a battle axe strapped to his back.

The man sat atop a rock, idly fiddling with some grass, occasionally looking up at the environment around him followed by a momentary glance over at the temple.

His head then tilted to the side at the sound of soft footsteps approaching him and he saw it was two Jedi approaching him.

"Hello there friend." The older of the pair said, garbed in black robes and a scarred eye. "We couldn't help but detect your presence. Rather an odd place to be for an Avenger, is it not?"

"Just prefer to be alone." Was the response. "Being around a lot of people… bothers me."

"Does it have to do with… whatever that is we're sensing?" The younger of the two Jedi asked.

"Something like that, yeah." The Hispanic soon introduced himself. "Name's Robbie Reyes."

"Quinlan Vos." The Kiffar Jedi said.

"Tholme."

Reyes grunted in greeting, turning away from the pair.

"Anything I can help you two with?" He politely asked.

Tholme and Vos shared a look before the former spoke slowly, candidly.

"I know this may come across as rude and we did sense something from you that frankly startled a number of Jedi in the temple." Tholme frowned, allowing the Force to flow through and around him as he gauged at the young man before him. "You carry… a great darkness within you, son."

Robbie snorted derisively and momentarily had his eyes emit hellfire, a startling sight for the two Jedi.

"I do. He isn't exactly the friendliest of folks."

"He?" Vos said in bewilderment.

"That's what he identifies himself as-"

"Not that." Quinlan interrupted. "I just didn't realize it was an entity… or some personality you manifested. Is it?"

"No, it's the former. Living in me after his previous host saved me." Robbie elaborated.

"Host?" Tholme repeated. "I'm rather lost of what you speak of. How does that-"

"Short summary: he was captured, tortured, and turned from the 'light'," Robbie said with air quotations. "Still kept his principles, despite how twisted and extreme they are. What did Celeste call it? Yeah, he "fell" to the Dark Side but he didn't fall. Not really. More like drifted and glided his way down. His beliefs were just too strong, too righteous to be corrupted. In fact, it only made them stronger."

"That's worrisome." Tholme earnestly said, finding himself far more troubled than he initially was when he first detected this entity with his old pupil.

"Well, yeah, given he was a divine being before he became what he is now."

"...That sounds like a story all on its own."

"It is. A long one at that." Robbie said.

"So does it react to crowds of people negatively?" Vos inquired, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the look Reyes gave him, wisps of flame emanating from his eyes briefly.

"More like I do and so does he." The Host of the Spirit of Vengeance answered with a haggard sigh. "Zarathos, my "tenant", has the ability to see the sins committed by all, regardless of what they like to think of themselves. It can be from the most minor of details that he doesn't care for and it goes up from there till he sees something that makes him take hold and dish out his version of "justice"."

It wasn't really telling, but the two Jedi knew what was implied.

"And what sins have you seen with us?" Tholme couldn't help but ask.

Robbie was silent, jaw clenching and unclenching for a few seconds until he released a sigh.

"He knows about your war so he doesn't hold it against you." Reyes quietly said. "But negligence, arrogance, ignorance… Pride. Lot of your Masters have that deadly little sin in spades. There are others here who have committed war crimes but then again, that comes with war; even if most are unintentional… or worse, are intentional." His eyes became fiery once more. "Even the best of men commit atrocities when faced with annihilation. Zarathos doesn't really blame you for that. But your ego's. God damn, does he have a problem with that."

Rather than be offended or put off by such a statement, both Tholme and Vos released aggravated sighs, shaking their heads in tandem.

"It's that bad with our Order, huh?" Quinlan grumbled.

"Hopefully Tython can help us reorient ourselves on the path we were always meant to be on." Tholme murmured, releasing a hum. "But I can't help but try to sate my curiosity. How is it that this… what would you even call what you have with that entity?"

"Zarathos." Robbie reminded them of the name. "And we have a partnership. My humanity helps keep my 'roomie' grounded, to some capacity. And he uses my body to dish out vengeance on those who have wronged the innocent."

"And this vengeance…" Quinlan was hesitant to ask. "How does it usually end up?"

"Fire and blood." Robbie said with a shrug and a snort at how he said it. "A lot of it."

"Lovely." Tholme dryly said, getting a chortle from the Ghost Rider.

"Hey, you asked."

"Do we have to be concerned?" Vos asked with an exasperated sigh.

Robbie shook his head.

"My roommate has some words he has to say about you all but he still knows right from wrong. The good here outweighs the bad. But you could tip the scales a bit more."

"That's what we plan to do."

Reyes rolled his eyes. "The jerk inside says good, he'll hold you to it. pendejo molesto."

"What was that?" The Kiffar Jedi asked.

"Spanish. Just called Zarr an annoying asshole." Robbie paused, looking up in aggravation. "You are and you know it, gilipollas."

The two Jedi shared a glance with each other, silently conversing for the briefest of moments.

"There's clearly a lot to be discussed."

"Oh, you ain't wrong about that."

Elsewhere…

"So you must be White Tiger." Black Panther said, standing alongside Peter, Barriss, Ahsoka, May Parker, and Shuri. "T'Challa, a pleasure to meet you."

"Hey, I'm Peter, Peter Parker. It's awesome to meet a new teammate."

"Hector Ayala." The White Tiger greeted in turn. "It's an honor to meet my cat-adjacent brother."

T'Challa openly laughed at that, shaking hands with the wrestler.

"So we got two kitty cops back home?" Peter asked with a hopeful tone and immediately, Hector deflated at that.

"Do not start with that." T'Challa said with a deadpan.

"Yeah, I don't need my daughter to hear that. She'll probably love it too much."

"Probably?" Said Barriss.

"She already got enough material when I first revealed my motif to her and spent it already. Don't want to reignite that after all this time." Ayala stated.

The group laughed before turning to the other two Avengers with Hector.

"Luke Cage." The guardian of Harlem then gestured to his friend. "This here is Danny Rand."

The Iron Fist gave them a courteous bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise." The padawans greeted in turn.

Before they could get further into introducing themselves to one another, yet another Avenger came upon the group, this one being quite the eye-catching sight.

"Danny, Luke, there you guys are. Hey Hector, Shuri and oh, you must be Peter Parker and Prince T'Challa. Look at that, Ms. Parker, ya finally found your boy. Hey, and more Jedi. Nice to meet you all. I'm Jen Walters."

The others saw the tall, green Amazon of a woman approach them, those who were meeting her for the first time marveled at her appearance.

"Whoa~ I know Tony told us about you but it's crazy to meet you in person." Spider-Man said aloud, his expression mirrored by his two girlfriends.

She-Hulk gave a saucy smirk in response. "Yeah, I get that often."

"Are you really Bruce's cousin?" Peter asked a moment later, Jen nodded in confirmation.

"That I am." Before the others knew it, the gamma lawyer began to shrink down and changed to her original appearance. "Got the whole change up and everything, minus the bit of needing to be angry to do so."

"That's convenient."

"How does that really work?"

"It goes like this…"

As this one group got to know each other better, another was having a rather paramount and very important meeting.

"Hey there," Clint softly said, holding the curious Mara Jade in his arms. "I'm Uncle Clint Barton. Nice to finally meet you."

The red-haired child gave the archer a scrutinizing look before she released a small giggle which only increased when Clint tickled her cheeks.

"Ah man, she's adorable." Barton stated. "Can't wait till Laura and the kids meet her."

"Same."

Looking at the little one, a passing thought was voiced.

"Man, she looks so much like you that it's scary."

"I know." Natasha remarked, cooing a moment later at the happy laugh Mara released.

"I'm just worried she'll be an exact clone of you when she grows up."

"...What's that supposed to mean?" She said, sounding offended.

"You're not gonna be like your mom, right?" Clint said, ignoring his friend while touching his nose with Mara's, the baby laughing at the gesture. "No, you're not. No, you're gonna grow up to be a sweet "normal" girl."

"Why'd you say it like that?" Wanda asked with a small chuckle.

"Well, I try to keep my kids out of my line of work but even then, they all pick up a few… SHIELD assassin skills they inherited from me and Laura, so "normal" is a bit of a hard thing to come by." Hawkeye knowingly said. "And I figure with her whole mystic monk powers that will eventually come up means she's gonna need to be trained. So… really, we already have a little Widow in the making here."

Natasha rolled her eyes, taking her daughter out of her best friend's arms. "My little girl isn't gonna become a Widow."

"No. She'll be better than a simple Widow."

The spy gave a firm nod. "That's right."

Clint then noticed the disgruntled and amusingly annoyed speedster standing between them, the Sokovian being all jittery.

"What's your problem?" Hawkeye couldn't help but ask.

"Pietro is really disappointed we're not on Coruscant," Wanda said in amusement, her brother shooting her an annoyed look. "He wanted to introduce you to his girlfriend."

"I bet." Clint then looked down at the two girls Wanda had her arms around and kneeled down to their level. "And you two must be Merrin and Ilyana."

Both girls moved to hide behind Wanda's legs, making the father laugh at their actions.

"Hey now, no need to be scared."

Wanda held a wide smile as she wiggled her way between the two for them to be in front of her again, placing her hands on their backs and nudging them both forward.

"Now come on you two, you know how much I've told you about Clint here." Wanda said in a faux-admonishing tone. "My brother and I owe a lot to him. It's because of him that we're Avengers."

Merrin and Ilyana soon waved and the former took the outstretched hand offered by the Archer and he gave the pair a fatherly smile.

"Nice to meet you both." He said when he frowned. "Hang on, what's that behind your ear?"

The girls were confused as he reached for Ilyana's ear and suddenly pulled out a card with a mock gasp.

"Whoa~ what's this now?" He asked in false astonishment, grinning at the two Dathomiri girls gaping in awe at his "magic" as he flipped the card around to read it aloud. "It says here that Merrin and Ilyana are two Avengers-in-training and will one day be among the greatest heroes in the universe. Well I'll be damned."

"Does it really say that?" Merrin quickly asked, trying to get a peek at the card which Clint held up out of reach.

"Now, now, this is a fortune card. It has to be read aloud to you and not by you. Otherwise, it won't come true."

"Really?"

"Yeah and," With a quick flick of his wrist behind Merrin's ear, he pulled out another card. "This card says that Merrin is a doo-doo head and that Illyana can't read."

"What!?" Both girls cried out, now tackling the archer.

To the side, the others rolled their eyes at the display Clint was pulling.

"Alright. Enough pulling their legs, Clint."

"What? I was just telling the truth." Barton innocently said, not at all bothered by the pair pulling on his arms and lightly beating their tiny fists against them.

"He's right, Wanda. They are in desperate need of an education." Mara laughed, throwing her hands forward to reach for one of the cards Clint had pulled out.

"Don't you start, Nat." Wanda deadpanned when she heard a curious goo, making her turn to the last toddler and pick him up. "And this here is Grogu."

Ignoring the "assault" by the two Dathomirian children, Hawkeye eyed the green-skinned child.

"Aren't you the cutest… thirty year old…" Clint looked back at the others. "Yeah, that is still weird to say out loud in this context."

"You're telling us." Pietro said exasperatedly. "We get Thor being 1500 years old and all and Yoda being 900, give or take, but this guy is still being a baby 30?"

"Strange galaxy." Hawkeye remarked, having his finger be held in the grasp of a tiny three-clawed hand.

As this went on, Colonel Rhodey was speaking with his old, longtime friend.

And it wasn't really a conversation if not more of Tony in his typical ramblings. This one in particular being a bit more annoying than expected.

"So you're telling me that even Steve managed to land himself a space babe but my best friend is suffering from blue balls." Tony said in clear disappointment at his best friend.

And he got a quick reminder of what he was like after such a time apart.

The Colonel released a dreaded sigh, already knowing that no matter how hard he will try to change the subject of this conversation, it will not end unless his friend decides to do so.

"Tony, not everyone needs to shack up with some chick from space."

Tony only shook his head, tsking at the rebuttal, going so far as to wag his finger in his face as if he were a child.

"Rhodey, Rhodey, Rhodey." Stark crossed his arms. "You do realize that this is the dream of every nerd and the only way it is possible for me to achieve such a thing is by living it vicariously through you all, Rhodey. Steve has one, Sam does too, Pietro, Peter and hell, I just saw this weird red-haired chick talking with Thunder cat and his little sister." Tony put on a faux-solemn voice. "You once asked for me to represent. Now I bequeath upon you this noble endeavor. Make Picard and Kirk proud. Score upon thee a lady of… for… me… hee hee hee."

Rhodey was looking to the skies in exasperation yet he couldn't help but enjoy it.

It has been so long since he had spent time with his best friend and all so, annoying as he still was, the Colonel was simply happy that he could hear Tony's nonsensical prattling again after so long.

But then he'll soon regret it.

"Ah, Rhodey. Oh, I'm sorry, I missed you there."

Because of this situation.

"Lumi," War Machine greeted with a smile despite himself, entirely missing Tony's small reaction. "This here is my best friend I told you about."

Recognition instantly dawned on the Mirialan Jedi Master.

"Oh, you must be Tony Stark." Luminara bowed graciously with a kind smile. "A pleasure to meet you at long last. Rhodey and the rest of the Avengers have spoken much about you."

"Good things, I hope." Tony said cordially.

"Well… them and other qualities."

"Lies, I tell you." Stark dramatically denied, putting on a posh persona.

The Jedi Master quirked a brow in response. "Really?"

"Yes, yes, far too grossly under-exaggerated." The Iron Avenger said. "Words can only describe the grandeur of my awesomeness."

"Uh-huh." The Mirialan soon focused her attention on Rhodey again. "I'm glad you've gotten to see your companions after all this time."

"Thanks. It's been a long time coming." He said with a small smile.

"It sure has." Tony said, butting into their little moment, throwing his arm around his friend. "Rhodey and the others are lost without me."

"They seemed quite adept with Captain Rogers leading them."

"That glory hog? Pfft. And another Pfft. And Pfft I say again."

She chuckled in response before adopting a neutral demeanor.

"I understand you wished to speak with the Council." Luminara revealed, making Rhodey turn to his best friend, a moment of seriousness coming over the billionaire before his usual demeanor returned.

"Yes, a lot we need to discuss now that the real leader of the Avengers is finally here. So much I need to be caught up on and have to do the same with you guys."

Luminara took this all in stride, simply bowing slightly in response.

"Then I await for our discussion for when the Council gathers once more. A pleasure meeting you at long last, Mr. Stark."

"Just Tony."

"Tony." Unduli said before giving the other armored Avenger a kind smile. "Rhodey."

"Lumi." He softly said, watching as she walked off.

He then sensed something annoying and Rhodey glanced back at Tony and the look on his best friend made him roll his eyes in exasperation.

"So~~ Lumi, huh? You holding out on me, Colonel James Rhodes?"

"Fuck off, Tony."

"Have you taken her on a date yet? Cool walk down the beach? Or is going through a war zone the thing you two like to do best? I won't judge. I know you guys are going through Black Hawk Down every other day… there hasn't been a Gomer Pyle moment, has there?"

"We're not dating."

"Could've fooled me with that smile of hers." Tony adopted a mock look of pondering. "Wait, isn't she Barriss' teacher?"

"Her Jedi Master, yes- why are you smiling?"

"Well~~"

"Tony, no, these people are really weird with relationships and shit."

"I'm not hearing a no."

"I just said no."

"Not a proper no. Come on, isn't that the dream of every man? To corrupt a nun to the Dark Side, like these guys call it."

"Tony, just because you did it six times doesn't mean I want to. And Lumi, fuck, Luminara is not a nun."

"Yes, she's a space samurai wizard nun."

"...That is an odd way to sum that up."

"After learning several things from Celeste, that's the best description." Tony then nudged Rhodey. "But come on, you're seriously telling me there's nothing between you two? Nothing at all?"

"No, we've just been friends."

"Are ya sure?"

War Machine released a sigh. "Look, she's neck deep in the way the Order is. Even if she weren't… ah fuck."

"So there IS an interest." Stark's eyes gleamed with purpose before seeing Rhodey walk off. "Wait, where are you going?"

"Away from this mess you're digging up."

"Rhodey…" Tony's call was overdramatic. "Rhodey! Please, you mustn't walk away from this. This be your destiny. What happened to WARMACHINEROX? What happened to the man I truly met in Tijuana of 99? This is your calling! Let me help you!"

"You've already done enough!"

"Not in the case of my friend's heart. It needs to be filled."

"It sounds disgusting coming from you."

"Pepper has put me on the path and I swear I shall take you with me."

"She is a saint with her patience."

"That she is. Though I wonder what a saint and a nun are like when they meet."

Rhodey was really starting to think the Universe or maybe this Force nonsense had this happen to him.

Needing a way out, the colonel decided to change topics.

"You know where Matt, Hope and Scott are at? I haven't seen them anywhere after we all came to the temple."

"Yeah, they took the first ticket home."

While most of the Avengers mingled with the Jedi and Clones of a galaxy far, far away, three heroes found themselves back home.

Back on Earth, some long overdue reunions were occurring.

At Hell's Kitchen, Karen and Foggy were going over a number of files at the firm.

With Matt's absence for roughly a year now, the two were able to adjust how they took care of their cases. Tony Stark's assistance, as a means of recompense for involvement, helped them out as much as possible. Them being financially stable for all this time and then some.

But it wasn't just the same without their friend who changed so much of their lives.

"Do we have Ms. Ramirez's case file ready?" Foggy asked from his office, reading through a contract concerning the current case they were working on.

"Yes, I'm printing it out right now." Karen called out to him, a cup of coffee in one hand and the other picking up their next case file.

She walked into Foggy's office, placing it down in front of him, her friend silently thanking her when a knock was heard from the firm's entrance.

"It's open," Karen called out.

Slowly, the door creaked open and several steps followed suit with a soft tapping heard.

The man paused, inhaling the air in the office before a wide smile bloomed.

His head tilted in the direction of Foggy's office as Karen walked out, sipping from her porcelain cup before she went to greet the new arrival.

"Hi welcome to Nelson and Mur-" She froze on the spot, her jolt causing her cup to fall from her hand.

*CRASH*

The cup shattered on the hardwood floor with the caffeine liquid spilling everywhere.

"Oh my," The newcomer softly said. "Karen, didn't you say that was your mother's cup?"

The question went ignored as Karen immediately burst into tears and tackled the blind lawyer into a bone-crushing hug. "MATT!"

From his office, Foggy jolted from his desk, rushed out and saw a surprising sight.

"The hell?"

"Hey, Foggy, I'm back." Matt Murdock casually greeted, gently rubbing the sobbing blond who refused to let go of him.

Like Karen, Foggy hugged the living daylights out of his longtime friend.

"Matt," Nelson sobbed, clinging to him as if this were a dream. "My god, man."

"Y-Yeah." He shakily said, feeling a rush of his own emotions. "I've missed you both."

While the blind lawyer had to travel to Manhattan to reunite with his old friends, the shrinking duo of Ant-Man and Wasp didn't have to go that far, having not even left the Avengers' HQ.

Scott and Hope exited the hangar where the Infinity Gate had been stationed and entered the lab of the HQ and in an instant…

"DADDY!"

Cassie Lang cried out at the top of her lungs, running as fast as she could toward her father.

Scott laughed joyously as his daughter leaped into his arms, squeezing him with all the strength she had at her age.

"Aw, Peanut." Scott said, nearly crying. "Look at you, growing up."

Cassie Lang giggled as she felt her dad hugging her tight.

"I missed you."

"Missed you too, Daddy."

"No hug for me?"

The little tyke was quick to let go of her father and rushed to the other shrinking hero.

"Hope!"

"Cassie!" The Wasp scooped the young girl up, throwing her up in the air before she fell back into her arms.

"How are ya here, Peanut?" Scott asked, still holding a loving smile that was outclassed by the sheer joy radiating from his daughter.

"You're back!" Was all she said, making her father and his girlfriend laugh at her infectious demeanor.

Before they were able to say anything any further, the doors to the lab burst open, and in walked a man with grey hair and a grey beard.

"I came over as fast as I could." Said a familiar, slightly winded voice from the doors. "I hope I'm not- Great Scott."

Ant-Man grinned widely and put on a smarmy look. "I'm not that great. But thanks for the compliment."

Hank Pym ignored the joke, more so focused on his daughter. He walked, reached out, and gently brought his hand to her shoulder. Once making contact, feeling that she was real, the first Ant-man pulled her into a loving embrace.

"Dad." Hope quietly said, hugging her father tightly, the man returning the gesture.

"Thank God, you're both alright." Hank quietly said, hugging his daughter with one arm while grasping Scott's arm with his other.

Wasn't long before Cassie joined in on the hug, not wanting to feel left out at all. It was quickly accepted when Scott felt her hug his lower half.

"Sorry we made you worry so much, Hank." Lang murmured, touched by the clear concern Pym had, not just for his daughter but for him as well.

"You damn kids." Hank said with a croaking laugh. "Making this old man worry all this time. You just couldn't help yourselves, could you?"

"Things happened." His daughter lamely responded.

"That's one way of putting it." Pym chuckled dryly, wiping some tears away. "What's this I hear about some crazy woman trying to take Scott?"

Hope let out a groan as she pinched her nose. "You had to tell him that on the holo-message?" She said to Scott, not looking at him.

"I thought it would be hilarious… despite how creepy she really was."

"Kinda was." Hank admitted with a shrug.

"Some ugly lady tried to steal you from Hope?" Cassie said in surprised fear.

Hope smiled when hearing this. "Yeah, and I kicked her in the head for good measure."

"Though I'm still surprised you didn't k-i-l-l her alongside Nat."

"Opportunity was pretty much there. Just things were-"

"Why'd you spell kill, Daddy?" Asked Cassie.

"Thought it would be too sensitive for your ears, peanut."

Back on Tython in a galaxy far, far away…

A number of Jedi and other representatives were conversing with some of the Sorcerers of Earth.

"Nice to meet you all. I'm Dr. Stephen Strange. This is Mordo and Wong. Celeste Morne is… well…"

"It's understandable given the shock of what she has just learned." T'ra Saa of the Jedi Council said with a sympathetic gaze. "I have lived for over a millennium and will likely live for another century or so. But to be displaced for nearly four thousand years?"

"Such a thing is hard to come to terms with."

Through some brief conversation earlier, Celeste learned nearly four thousand years have passed since she voluntarily went into cryo-sleep to keep the Muur talisman in check.

She knew beforehand that many of her friends were gone. But what she didn't account for was the idea of her essentially dead to the galaxy. Such was the sad case of a Jedi Shadow.

Her friends wanted to speak with her but she silently asked that she just needed a few minutes alone.

"It's still fascinating to learn that Earth has wizards now." Vision commented.

"We've been there for a long time." Mordo plainly said. "We just make an effort to keep ourselves out of sight."

"Hard to do so nowadays." Strange commented.

"So you're all Sorcerers." Plo Koon mused aloud with clear intrigue.

"Masters of the Mystic Arts, yes." Wong said, standing along with Strange and Mordo.

"We've heard much about your Order from Master Celeste." Mordo stated. "Though much has changed after what she learned."

"Yes, four thousand years." T'ra Saa muttered. "I can't imagine what she is experiencing right now."

"A whole box of emotions starting to spill out." Was Stephen's response. "Give her some time. If anything, her boyfriend can help her deal with that issue. He, unironically, understands her more so than any of us here that isn't named Captain America."

"How exactly does it work?" Oppo Rancisis questioned, making the three magic users turn to him. "This Sorcery you possess."

"Do you care for a demonstration or just a descriptive lecture?" Wong inquired.

Strange only glanced over to Karl who released a silent sigh of "if you insist".

Stepping forward to stand in the center of this particular gathered group of Jedi, Avengers, Clones and Dathomiri Witch being Ros Lai, Karl Mordo began to recite an introduction to Sorcery that all initiates in their Order have heard in one iteration or another.

"The language of the mystic arts is as old as civilization." Mordo began, creating symbols and emblems from thin air in golden orange wisps that completely enraptured the attention of the Jedi. "The sorcerers of antiquity called the use of this language "spells". But if that word offends your modern sensibilities, you can call it "program". The source code that shapes reality. We harness energy drawn from other dimensions of the multiverse, to cast spells, conjure shields and weapons to make magic."

He snapped his fingers and the eldritch symbols he conjured vibrated and hummed before they dispersed to surround the group. The circular symbols touched down on the ground before flying upwards, creating multiple copies of Karl, Wong and Strange.

All the Force-Users were startled by the appearance of these clones as they all began moving about on their own, making new incantations and conjurations.

"To be a sorcerer is to be one who is willing to open their eyes to a larger view of not only the world but of themselves, the universe and those that lie beyond our borders."

Mordo made several more illusions and then began to bend the very area around them.

"When one becomes a Sorcerer, the abilities one can have is limited to that of your capacity for knowledge as is your imagination."

He held his hand out and all his spells were sucked into a glowing sphere he produced, clapping it which then made the sphere dispel into golden orange particles.

"This is just the baseline introduction to our ways but there is far more to be shown and taught." Karl said. "It all depends on those who are willing."

"Now that was interesting." Said Ros Lai with a smile. "Quite different from the kind of techniques I've known from my world."

"It is just the beginning." Strange stated. "Maybe we can have some exchange of knowledge. Celeste has already shown and taught much of the Jedi way during her time in the Order and she is our first fully-fledged Jedi Master Sorcerer."

Wong and Mordo soon took note of several other reactions from the observers. While Vision was fascinated, given who he was, the Jedi were a different matter. There was a mixture of eagerness and anticipation but also reservation and even outright suspicion.

"Have we offended you all in some way?" Mordo inquired with a raised brow, seeing the way some of the Jedi, particularly the Masters, were shifting about.

The members of the Jedi Council who were present all exchanged brief looks of hesitation.

Plo Koon appeared interested in what the Sorcerers were offering, as were Depa Billaba and T'ra Saa.

Oppo Rancisis and Saesee Tiin were on the reserved side, the former giving the Sorcerers a skewed look.

Shaak Ti appeared to be more neutral in this matter as she addressed the Masters of the Mystic Arts.

"Sorcery is… not well-liked by the Order. Or perhaps, not as trusted" The Togruta Master calmly explained.

"For us, Sorcery is considered adjacent to the Dark Side of the Force." Tiin quietly murmured, some of the other Jedi.

"Given the word sorcery on how it sounds, won't argue with that." Said Stephen.

"Yet you let Wanda be amongst you all this time. Her being the Scarlet Witch." Said the Dathomirian.

"Wanda is an Avenger." Plo plainly said. "And we would not be as so foolish to try to cause strife between us and our comrades who have aided us for so long."

Wong and Mordo shared a look with the former voicing a response. "What's this of Wanda being the Scarlet Witch?"

"Story for another time." Ros Lai spoke up. "It's a long one to tell."

"I know there's some bad connotation that comes with Sorcery sometimes but why exactly are you guys opposed to it?" Stephen Strange asked. "Did something happen in the last 4000 years or something since Celeste's time as a Jedi to make you change your outlooks?"

Oppo was the first to speak. "Time changes everything. It's bound to happen, whether anyone likes it or not."

"We get that, but-"

Depa resumed where her fellow master left off. "There have been many sects of the Force. The Sith are the most well-known for the Dark Side just like the Jedi is for the Light. Even then, there are many recorded ones on both sides which aren't generally known."

"And what does it have to do with sorcery?"

"Common practice with the Sith with a number of their techniques." Was T'ra Saa's response.

Ros Lai gave the Jedi a bland look. "Though what of those from Dathomir?"

"It's complicated." Saesee responded.

The Dathomirian liaison snorted. "Complicated, indeed."

Mordo shook his head. "With exceptions, like with the Force, Sorcery all depends on the user and the intent."

"The Force is a bit different from that." Plo stated. "The Force has a will of its own."

"As does magic." Strange countered. "There are things that come from beyond our universe from which we draw power from. There is a level of respect that's needed if we are to use their power without selfish gain."

"Perhaps we should create an exchange." T'ra Saa spoke up, making many turn to her. "I am quite curious about this magic and I do believe it can coincide with everything that we have just discovered here on Tython and from Ossus. A chance for all of us to learn."

"Are we sure about that?" Oppo questioned.

"Sorcery has kept Earth protected from otherworldly threats since its inception." Wong firmly stated. "If you wish to learn we can teach you but it will not be easy for those unwilling and those who don't possess the respect needed."

There was a moment of silence from all who had gathered in the area until an unlikely individual came forward.

"Hey uh…" A clone trooper in blue armor and a five tattooed on his forehead spoke up, feeling a bit unsure of himself. "I know it's a shot in the dark but… is it possible for Clones to learn this as well?"

"Yes," Mordo said without missing a beat, surprising the Clones that were gathered. "There are some individuals that are more naturally inclined to the mystic arts but our Order is composed of people who come from all walks of life. In many ways, akin to the Jedi Order. If you have the gift or the patience, with training and knowledge, you can become a sorcerer."

Some Jedi stepped forward, the acceptance of ARC Trooper Fives' query of if he and his brothers could possibly become Sorcerers seemingly breaking the ice for a good chunk of them.

Yet there were still holdouts.

Primarily from the older Masters.

"Still hesitant." Wong noted an old Zabrak Jedi Master.

"It is not so easy to just do." The Zabrak stated. "We understand that this is not of the Sith but still, it is the sentiment."

"Would like to hear from Celeste's point of view on the matter, given her time on Earth when she's ready?"

"I believe that would be the best course of action." Depa Billaba spoke up. "Though she is from a past era, she is still a Jedi and her thoughts on the matter count as much as anyone else."

Speaking of Celeste, the Jedi Shadow turned Master Sorceress was aimlessly walking through the halls of this temple on Tython.

It's been so long since she has been here. Her literally walking down the corridors of her memory, seeing phantoms of her past with every glance she took.

What life there was back then was briefly present. Not much what it once was, but it was getting there here and now.

'But it's not the same.' Thought the Jedi Shadow. 'It'll never be the same.'

She felt her emotions were in a state of pure madness.

"Four… thousand years…" Morne said with a cracked voice.

Not wanting to make a scene, she wandered ever more to find a quiet place to herself.

Like on autopilot, she made her way to where her quarters once were all that time ago. To her, it was a place of comfort and solitude.

Though this wasn't Ossus, all Jedi had a place on Tython during her time. They had moved from their homeworld by that point 4000 years ago but the Jedi still frequented the planet even when it was hazardous to do so.

You needed to, as a Jedi.

This planet was where it all started.

The Order, their understanding of the Force.

Perhaps the genesis of all historical events can all be linked to this singular planet.

But it had been abandoned for a thousand years now.

A quarter of the time for her four thousand.

It was too much to bear.

"Celeste." Said a quiet voice she had grown to love so dearly from behind.

James Buchanan Barnes could only watch as his lover slowly turned to him with tears freely streaming down her cheeks.

"They're gone, Bucky." Her voice came out in a croak. "All of them… Zayne, my Master, Revan and Alek, the Jedi Order I once knew… they're all gone."

She shook, placing her hand on a nearby wall with a forlorn, pained smile.

"When you said over fifty years have passed since the sarcophagus was found on Earth, I had a small lingering hope that at least one of them was alive. Anyone I remotely knew, no matter how small it was."

Celeste shuttered, a new stream of tears coming out as she held her fist up to her mouth, her face contorting into one of pain.

"But… they're all… everyone is…"

Bucky walked right up to his lover and pulled her in close as she began to sob, her nails digging into his regular arm yet he made no efforts to pull away.

A minor sting of pain was nothing in comparison to what she was going through.

He placed a hand on the back of her head and she buried her face into his chest, muffling her cries of agony. The Winter Soldier had an unflinching look, betraying nothing save for his eyes.

There was a pain in them that was indescribable as he held the woman he loved with all his heart and soul.

Whatever he felt before meeting her was minuscule in comparison to hers.

A strange feeling began to seep in and strangely, he didn't understand as to how or why but… he could feel something odd. Like… he had felt this before. He knows this feeling.

Tilting his eyes down, he should have figured that the answer was in his arms.

These foreign feelings that were not his own… they were Celeste's.

This made him think back to a while back when he came back from London after Ghost Rider took over and he was momentarily taken over by that stranger.

Celeste had told him that she felt something terrible happening to him and she spoke of something called a Force Bond. Something they had apparently developed due to their relationship.

"Please don't ever leave me, Bucky." He heard her speak up despite still having her face buried in his chest.

"I don't ever plan on it."

A moment later, the pair heard footsteps and the WWII veteran turned to see a familiar face.

"Bucky?"

Steve was looking at the pair with a sad frown, looking at his old friend and the woman in his arms.

"You okay?"

"She's still dealing with it." Bucky solemnly said. "More than what we went through."

While Steve was asleep for seventy years without interruption, Bucky was brought in and out of his slumber for his former handlers in HYDRA.

Rogers was silent, a look of sympathy coming over him just as Celeste lifted her face up from Bucky's chest and gave Steve a pained smile.

"Apologies, Captain Rogers." She weakly said. "I was hoping to meet you for so long but after what I just learned-"

"No need." Steve raised his hand. "You don't have to apologize for nothing."

Morne could only sniffle, shooting her boyfriend an apologetic smile.

"Sorry bout the-"

"I got spares." He assured her before turning to his old friend. "What's up, Steve? Other people lookin' for Celeste or something?"

"Kind of." Steve rubbed the back of his head. "Heard some people say Celeste was… well… they wanted to check on you."

They waved him off in their own respective manners.

"We'll be fine." Barnes said. "Eventually. Just… a little time is what we need."

Steve silently nodded while Celeste wiped her tears away.

"I'm sorry again." She said with a pained laugh. "But allow me some modicum of decorum. I'm Celeste Morne."

"Steve Rogers." The Good Captain said with a kind smile. "No need for formalities."

"Bucky told me as much." Morne said, returning his smile. "I've seen and heard much about you."

"Did you hear stories from before I was Captain America or after?" Steve inquired, shooting a pointed look at his best friend.

"Little of column A, little of column B."

Steve only sighed with exasperated amusement. "Alright, whaddya tell her?"

Bucky snorted. "Well, come on, Steve. You're the world's first superhero but I knew you before you joined the army. Gotta make sure to keep you humble."

Rogers rolled his eyes whilst Celeste giggled.

"I took most of what he said with a grain of salt, Steve." She assured.

"Huh, someone more intelligent than you." Cap remarked as if he were surprised by such a thing. "How in the world, or galaxy now, did you manage to land someone like that?"

"She views me more as a body pillow." Bucky said with a withering false sigh of disappointment. "And I can't help but love it."

Celeste only gave him a loving look while Steve stared at them both and found himself smiling.

"I'm happy for you both." Steve quietly said. "So I think that also means that story is in order."

"How we met, right?"

"I wanna hear the whole thing."

"Well then," With a flick of her wrists, two benches were brought over and the three of them sat down. "May as well get comfortable. There is much to cover."

Bucky soon gave a small rundown on how he found her at a Siberian HYDRA base while trying to clean house of their defunct operations. Finding her cryo-pod in a secured room, hidden away from normal view. Once somehow getting her out of it, they began traveling most of Eurasia together before meeting Odin in Norway, who directed them to Kamar-Taj.

After that, things went onto other topics which soon led to-

"I'm sorry, Steve. I forgot to tell you this."

"What? What is it?"

Celeste immediately realized what her lover was referring to and her face fell slightly before turning to Steve.

She opened her mouth to speak when she felt Bucky's hand on hers and she turned back to him, seeing him shake his head.

The Jedi Sorceress quietly nodded, having a feeling that if anyone was to tell Steve, it should be his old friend.

There was a moment of hesitation from the Winter Soldier as he faced his best friend but he eventually forced himself to speak again.

"While you were gone… Peggy…"

Steve's frown morphed into a conflicted expression as he was quick to realize what Barnes was insinuating.

"...Oh…"

All the while…

Tony stood before a majority of the Jedi Council. A great number of emotions and thoughts whirled inside the Iron Avenger. His eyes glanced at every person he was facing before him like he was being judged for his actions.

His gaze soon focused on one man in particular.

And having been informed about this multiple times by this point, the Jedi Councilor hung his head.

"If this is about-"

"Yeah, you should know this was coming." Stark said unapologetically. "You just look and sound way too much like Fury… without the beard and eyepatch." Tony detailed. "Though that grumpy personality is there. God, it's gonna be an echo when you two mee-There! You even glower like him." He pointed out like a child. "You have his head tilt down pat with the angle and everything… I'm afraid the universe will collapse in on itself with how you two are similar. Do wonder if the same will apply to Jane Foster and-"

"Is this funny for you?"

"It's my means of defensive coping."

"That's rather depressing."

"Or a healthy way of dealing with things. Also, Fury said the same thing to me at one point." Tony held up his armored hand and a holo-image of Nick Fury flickered out for all to see. "I mean, come on, you're telling me none of the others who've been here showed you this?"

"They did on our first meeting on Coruscant," Obi-Wan answered. "And I still find it astonishing the number of cosmic coincidences shared between your planet and our galaxy."

"Yeah, I saw that Saruman lookalike and the fact that there's a baby widow here." Tony listed off. "Are ya sure nobody copy and pasted the Word doc from Earth to here? Or is it vice versa?"

Raised and cocked brows were given in response.

"Are you merely here to ramble on, comparing this Nicholas Fury with Mace Windu, or is there a point in you requesting to meet with us?" Mundi said with a hint of impatience.

"Look Akroyd, this has been a long time coming, ya gotta let me flex here. I'm surrounded by the menagerie of science fiction and you expect me to be serious right now?"

Plo Koon had a small rumble that was akin to a chuckle. "I do believe Mr. Parker had a similar reaction to all this when he first arrived here."

"There, see? You should already have experience with one hardcore nerd."

"But not with one of your age." Kenobi quipped.

"Ooooh." Tony's eyes narrowed, holding up his finger and thumb. "You were this close to being booted from the beard bros, JoJo. It's only cause of your extravagant beard and clear connection to the Joestar lineage from Earth that you're still in it."

"I… what?"

"Obi-Wan KenObi. Come on, that's a cosmic JoJo's reference if ever there was one. You're telling me the kid never brought that up."

It took Kenobi's brain a moment and then he shook his head. "I didn't understand it then and I still do not know."

"Probably don't ask for your sanity's sake." Says Luminara. "Rhodey warned me of this."

There was a gleam in the eyes of the billionaire as he momentarily glanced at the Mirialan Jedi who looked back at him with a confused gaze.

"Is something wrong, Mr. Stark?" Unduli asked.

"Tony, and no, just… something I need to talk to Rhodey again later on. Thanks for reminding me."

Luminara was not sure what to make of this statement but she opted to brush it off for now. Still, there was an odd feeling of slight dread in her gut and it had nothing to do with the Force.

Fortunately for her, the feeling subsided as she saw Tony's posture changing before them. The Council was quick to see him discard his devil-may-care attitude as he became far more serious than he was when they first met him.

"Look, I just wanna- no, need to say this," Stark's expression held an expression of guilt. "I'm sorry for the mess that I made that you are all suffering from."

For the first time in this meeting, Yoda spoke. "Ultron, you speak of."

"Yeah, that's… that's all my fault." Tony said, tone conveying self-loathing. "In my desperate want to make a suit around the world, I made something horrible. I can only imagine how Banner is on the whole thing after all this time."

"You still haven't found him?" Obi-Wan asked, having heard from the others about their missing teammate, him being the last Avenger that they had not met.

"Wish we knew where, but…" Tony threw his arms up in frustration. "I don't know. Been trying for a long time. Been closing in on two years in a few months."

There was a beat of silence from the council and sole Avenger until the latter released a sigh.

"Alright, don't wanna have you deal with my own burdens. More than you already have." He said in self-detriment. "I know I don't need to tell you this since Cap's been leading the charge for a while now here but The Avengers are gonna fight with everything they have to correct my biggest fuck up. I promise you that."

"We are already aware of the type of commitment the Avengers we do know are willing to go through for the sake of others." T'ra Saa spoke up.

"Thank you, we do, for coming to our aid."

Stark shook his head.

"This isn't about helping, it's about making sure more people don't suffer 'cause I'm just too goddamn stupid." He was rather down casted as he continued on. "Ever since the Battle of New York, I've been having a lot of issues that I've been having a hard time sorting out. Made me paranoid, in a sense. Ultron was my way of relieving most of my burdens and then some. Just never expected it to get out of control."

"Things cannot always go as you expect." Plo Koon stated.

"We have all been learning similar matters since our arrival here." Kit Fisto spoke up.

"Yeah~ your pep talk ain't gonna relieve me of the guilt I have on the whole thing."

"Wasn't really much of a "pep talk" as you call it." Depa Billaba said. "At least find comfort in knowing that you don't have to suffer alone. We know that you may blame yourself for what has transpired in the past but that is not what matters right now."

"What matters is we come together to defeat Ultron and heal this galaxy." Windu said with finality.

"Oh, is there an Avengers Initiative that you have in mind?"

Mace only shook his head whilst several of the Jedi were unable to fight back against the smirks that appeared.

"Ever since getting the messages from Thor and the others, I've been spending hours figuring out a method to take care of Ultron. Now that we're here, things can progress more with an update of what he's capable of."

"Hopefully they've informed you enough of his latest crimes."

"They did… and I'm really gonna be staying away from certain horror films… like forever."

"Yes, please don't." Kenobi stated. "Your teammates have introduced us to some of these horror films from your planet and-"

"Question their sanity, we do."

"Wait, you've watched them?" Tony asked in disbelief. "Aren't you like… too high and mighty for that? Stature not included."

Elsewhere, the Avengers that had been present in the galaxy all this time all had a shiver of… exasperation.

"You think-"

"It's Tony." Rhodey said to Sam. "We know it's him."

"What do you think he's doing?"

"Knowing him," Thor spoke up with a shake of his head. "He's being as he is."

"But is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Sam asked.

"...Depends on the day and topics being brought up."

"..."

"..."

"...I'm afraid to ask."

"Tony's just Tony." Rhodey said. "Whatever happens, we'll just have to deal with it."

"That doesn't assuage our concerns."

"It wasn't supposed to. It's a deal-with-it situation, guys."

As this was in discussion, one Captain was walking away from the end of one with a somber gaze.

Captain America was conflicted, weary and… he didn't know how to feel right now.

He had asked how and Bucky simply told her age had caught up with her. She died in her sleep.

And he wasn't there.

Not for her final moments.

Nor for her funeral.

Still, he thanked his best friend for being there and he knew Bucky would say that he didn't feel worthy of being there nor should it have been him.

But Steve was adamant that what he did was more than enough.

They continued their discussion for a while longer until he asked for some time to himself and the couple were quick to let him go.

He was walking down one of the weathered halls of the temple when a familiar Twi'lek came into view as she rounded a corner.

"Steve?" Aayla said as soon as she saw him, going right up to him.

"Aayla." He softly said, gazing into her eyes and the Jedi knew something was troubling him immediately.

She reached up to place her hand upon his cheek.

"Steve." She said once more, her voice more tender. "What's wrong?"

He didn't respond at first before spotting a nearby room and gently took Aayla's hand into his and pulled her into it. He briefly checked to see if they were alone before turning back to the still-concerned Twi'lek.

"Now that we're alone…" Aayla left her statement unfinished but Steve knew what she was asking.

Steve didn't say anything at first, instead walking around the room in silence, his hands trailing over the walls.

He stopped when he was standing in front of his ever-quiet lover who was patiently waiting for him to speak.

"Was catching up with Bucky," Rogers silently said. "Wanted to know how he was." Cap chuckled in relief. "He told me all that HYDRA programming in his head was gone."

"But that's not what's troubling you." Aayla knowingly murmured.

Roger shook his head. "Yeah… he told me… Peggy died while I was away."

"Oh Steve," She softly said, putting her arms around him. "I'm so sorry."

"Didn't get to see her one last time. Didn't even get to bury her."

Secura said nothing as her lover gazed ahead with a far-off look.

"I thought… for years after I woke up, that my chance at a normal life or some kind of relationship was a pipe dream. Though I met the love of my life all those years ago." Steve pushed Aayla away slightly to gaze into her eyes. "And for the longest time, I really did feel like that. I thought that the man who could have had a normal life went into the ice and another one came back out. Truth is, I realized that I was never meant for that. I'm an Avenger. But maybe having that kind of thing on occasion wouldn't be so bad."

Aayla looked at him in confusion now, making him laugh.

"I suck at these things." He said self-deprecatingly. "Shows how much I know."

Secura chuckled slightly, patting his hand. "I am not so well versed in this myself, Steve. This is a first for me too, you know? I think for people like you and me, the straightforward approach is the way that works best."

Steve 'hmphed' at this, a wide smile appearing as he took Aayla's hands into his.

"Yeah, you're right on that matter." He looked deeply into her eyes as he spoke. "I know that there's a part of me that will always hold a place for Peggy after all this time but I know here and now that I love you Aayla Secura. And I'll do everything in my power to make this work."

She smiled serenely at him. "And I love you, Steve Rogers. This is still new to both of us but we'll figure it out together. Here and in the future."

The pair leaned in, sharing a tender, loving kiss, holding one another in their arms as for the moment, they let their worries wash away.

Elsewhere, another couple were having a discussion of their own though not as serious as of yet.

At the impromptu quarters shared by Ahsoka and Barriss, they were looking at the assembled items they collected earlier today.

With everything going on, the two padawans finally had time to properly inspect them.

"Do you have any luck deciphering what the inscriptions of these Holocrons mean?" Ahsoka asked, looking over to Barriss who was studiously observing the octagonal-shaped Holocron she had in her hand.

"Yes," Barriss squinted her eyes. "I do believe I have some progress."

"And?"

"What I am able to see… this is a unique Holocron. It needs… something additional to be opened. And it can't be done alone. At least several Jedi need to be present to open it for some reason."

"Something additional…" Ahsoka rubbed her chin. "I remember certain Holocrons require a specific key or crystal to open it properly to get all the information stored within."

"Like with Bolla Ropal and the Holocron storing the names of future Jedi." Offee recalled, Ahsoka nodding in affirmation.

"What of the other holocrons?"

Glancing over, Barriss saw Morai pecking away at them, both with her beak and her talons, before knocking them over with her wings. The Convor fluttered her wings in startlement before a look came over her that could only be described as embarrassment appeared, making the bird hide her face from the two Padawans.

"Being played with. Don't want to ruin her fun quite yet." The Mirialan joked, which her girlfriend giggled. "That aside… I think those can be opened up like any other. What of the data cards?"

"They have slightly deteriorated due to their time in that cave but they can be transferred and restored without any loss of knowledge." Ahsoka said, holding up one data card to examine it briefly, nodding and placing it aside. "Just need to be careful while doing so."

"What of the lightsabers?"

"They are still functioning perfectly." Ahsoka happily said, using the Force to have them float while igniting the dual-sided yellow saber and the blue one.

"Wonderful." Barriss said with a pleased smile.

They were so absorbed in their organization of what they had found in the cavern below the lake they swam in that they didn't sense their boyfriend coming to their room until he walked in.

Both girls turned to him and were about to greet him when they saw a conflicted look on his face, causing the pair to frown in concern.

Barriss stood from her bed, walked over to Peter, and took his hands into hers.

"Love, what's wrong?"

He didn't verbally respond, only placing his forehead gently against hers with his eyes closed and exhaling tiredly.

"Peter?" Now Ahsoka was by them, placing her hand on his shoulder.

He cracked one eye open to look at her, smiling weakly and wrapping one arm around her, pulling her close.

"Just… wanna hold you two for a sec." He softly murmured.

His two girlfriends said nothing, simply acquiescing to his request as they all stood together in silence until Ahsoka pulled away.

"Peter, you look tired."

"Just a lot rummaging in my head." He admitted, giving them both looks that reflected Tano's statement.

Barriss contemplated momentarily on what could be troubling her boyfriend. "Are you not happy to be reunited with your Aunt May?"

He shook his head in response. "Oh, I am. I don't deny that. We talked and talked, getting caught up on a lot of things."

"Like what?"

"Her job with the Salvation Army has been fine. Donations from Mr. Stark helped as well. Though I think that was just his means of relieving some of the guilt and issues he placed on Aunt May."

"Wouldn't fault him for that." Said the Mirialan. "Anything else?"

"Also she's dating Happy, which… I didn't really expect." He awkwardly said.

"Who's Happy again?" Ahsoka asked.

"He's Mr. Stark's driver and friend. Sometimes I need to remember he's also his chief of security and Asset Manager."

"Oh… and do you think he's not-

"No, no, Happy is a great guy. Him better than any of the other guys… who constantly hit on her on a weekly basis while she thinks is charming." Peter grumbled protectively.

"That's not certainly awkward."

"Hearing it is one thing. But witnessing is another."

Ahsoka and Barriss shared a look with the latter asking the question on both their minds.

"But what's really bothering you, love?" Offee said, placing a hand on his cheek.

There were a few moments where Peter seemed to be uncertain on whether or not he should answer but eventually, it came out.

"Just… how things are… returning home."

Both girls gave him a look of confusion.

"It's about me returning home in general." Peter elaborated. "I know she wants me to come back but I just can't. Not yet at least."

"Why wouldn't you wish to return home?" Barriss inquired.

"I can't." He shook his head. "How can I leave when there's still so much to do here? The galaxy is still teetering on the edge and a lot of people are gonna get hurt or worse, killed and me not being here to help prevent that-"

"Peter, you've done enough." Ahsoka said, putting her hand on his chest. "Honestly, you've done far more than any Jedi or even Avenger has done. Perhaps right now, in this moment, going home to help yourself, even for a small while, can serve you better than staying here."

He only shook his head at that. "No way. I can't do that. You should know that by now. I'm an Avenger, part of the team. And we all swore to stay and take down Ultron together.

"We get that. We really do. But… don't you want to at least have a life outside of being an Avenger? Live out your life?"

"Don't you?" Peter shot back. "Have you ever considered that? To not be Jedi, not be the things that you always were since you could remember?"

The two Padawans were at an impasse.

That was certainly a question neither was certainly prepared for. At one point, both probably would have said no.

The Jedi Order was their way of life, the very thing they existed for and found purpose in.

But now, after everything they have been exposed, everything they've experienced and… falling in love with one another and with Peter… a life outside the Jedi Order?

It's hard to fathom such a thing but now they could have that possibility.

Perhaps, Ahsoka can do what her master does and have a secret life with her two lovers but she also knew that such a life would cause only pain and distress for all three of them. For Barriss, it's harder to really comprehend. Her not having a kind of upbringing or mentorship to have her think differently of the Order much sooner, unlike her girlfriend.

But for the two padawans, the idea of leaving the only thing they ever knew was such a harrowing idea to consider.

Seeing their responses, Peter kissed the sides of their heads apologetically.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."

The pair smiled back at him.

"It's alright." Barriss assured. "We understand such a choice is neither easy nor to be taken out of hand."

"But since I brought it up," Peter held a contemplative gaze. "Have you actually ever considered it? Walking away from the Jedi Order?"

"Had you asked us that a year ago, it would have been easy to answer." Ahsoka answered earnestly. "But now that we've seen and done so much and being with you… being so invested in the life of a Jedi, it's hard to imagine having something outside of it."

"But you can imagine it, right?" Peter encouraged. "I mean, I can show you guys the dorky nerdy way of living life. You're both book nerds like me, Barriss more than Ahsoka."

"Hey."

Barriss giggled, pecking Ahsoka's cheek as a means of assuaging her joking irritation.

"Living life as a normal person would be… rather alien to me." Barriss admits with a contemplative gaze. "But… perhaps one that can be viable."

"Have to admit, the thrill of the missions and adventures would be something I'd greatly miss."

"Oh yes, Ms. Adrenaline Junkie."

"Like you're one to talk."

"Not that I'm denying it. But seriously, if leaving the Order was optional, what would you possibly do?"

The two padawans took some moments to ponder.

"Farm or fieldwork is an idea." Responded Ahsoka. "Repairing ships and engines are another."

"You could be a librarian." Peter said to Barriss. "You have the attitude for it."

"Sounds boring." Tano remarked.

"I repeat my earlier statement, Snips."

He received a raspberry in response.

"How 'bout a doctor?" Parker suggested, ignoring the Togruta.

Barriss seemed to ponder this, looking at her hands that glowed with ethereal green energy. "Perhaps. I believe that would be a noble endeavor."

"I mean, have you guys ever considered that you don't have to be Jedi to do good?" Peter stated. "Aren't we proof of that?" He pulled out his Avengers ID card for them to see. "If you by some chance do choose to leave the Order, I know the Avengers would welcome you guys in a heartbeat."

Ahsoka and Barriss conveyed surprise by such an offer.

"Do you truly believe we would be so readily accepted?" The latter asked.

Peter scoffed. "Hell yeah, that's not even up for debate. The team that you know already trusts and respects you and our new comrades will definitely see why. We told you about the biochips, right?"

There was a momentary downturn of their mood at the mention of the biochips within the minds of the Clones. They still needed to figure out how to remove them quickly from the rest of the Clone Army but now wasn't the time to dwell on that thought.

"It would still be quite hard to leave the Order."

"Would it?" Asked the Wall Crawler. "I mean, what would you give up anyways to leave?"

"Privileges and benefits, for starters." Barriss listed off. "Many which the Jedi have throughout most of the galaxy."

"Like what?" Peter soon gave her a look. "No, seriously. I'd honestly like to know."

"Journeying the galaxy with little to no restrictions. Access to many means of knowledge. Better access to credits to fund our missions and activities." Ahsoka said, counting them down per finger.

"You can do that with the Avengers, you know? Honestly wouldn't put it past Mr. Stark to already start figuring out a way for us to do that. He probably already has one ready."

"Aren't you all considered a private military company?" Tano pointed out.

"Perspectives, Snips. Besides, after everything we learned about SHIELD being in HYDRA, kinda hard to put faith in governments so easily when they can be infiltrated on that level."

Another detail of Jedi benefits and privileges was voiced. "Most people being open to letting us assist them, due to who we are."

"That can't always work, you know?" Said Peter. "It could be abused and you might be backstabbed when your guard is down."

"...That's a bit dark."

"Matt brought it up once from his time on Jedha. How Chirrut gave quite the number of downsides of people taking advantage of the Jedi, given what stories he heard from others."

That got a bit uncomfortable, in some sense.

"Our lightsabers would be another." Barriss stated with a more subdued tone, holding up her own saber. "To us, they are part of who we are as Jedi. When we leave the Order, either voluntarily or banished, we would have to hand them over, signifying the end of such a life."

"You could always make another," Peter looked over to the collected pile and fired a webline to snatch a random one into his hand. "Or find one. We literally found five in a cave. Or go to Chirrut. He had one he made himself."

That got both girls to appear thoughtful before Ahsoka scrunched her face up and shook her head.

"Hey, wasn't this about us trying to cheer you up?" She indignantly said.

"Misdirection to avoid my own problems." Peter cheekily said.

Ahsoka responded by pulling on his cheeks, making faces at him.

"Such a typical thing to do."

"This is the first time I did such a thing."

"And I can already feel it may become standard practice. Need to stamp out such notions at the root before it becomes permanent."

Peter snorted at that, freeing his face from her pincers. "You make it sound like a disease."

"You're a disease." She childishly said.

"You two are such children sometimes." Barriss spoke up in amusement.

"You can be too." Ahsoka quickly countered, making the Mirialan gape.

"I beg your pardon." Offee said in an affronted manner.

"Yeah, there, like that." Peter said, pointing at her.

"How is this "childish?"

"It just is." Peter and Ahsoka said at the same time.

The trio devolved into this squabble though it was completely lighthearted, none meaning any of the insults flung at each other.

It ended with the three of them beginning to poke and tickle each other with the trio winding up on one of the beds in the room in a tangled, laughing heap before they shared some moments of intimacy before they began to drift off.

"Let us rest." Barriss quietly said, nuzzling her head into the crook of Peter's neck, managing to kiss the top of Ahsoka's head as she rested it against Peter's chest. "It has been a long set of days."

"Yeaaaah." Ahsoka managed out through her yawn, moving her head to kiss Peter and Barriss respectively before resting her head back on the former's chest. "Let's just sleep. We have the next few days to talk."

Peter only hummed in agreement and relative silence -minus the sounds Morai gave out- befell the room until Barriss quietly spoke up.

"Peter, we could maybe request some time away from the Order so we can help you adjust back on Earth. If that is alright with you?"

"It's the least we can do." Ahsoka added in. "And we can use that as a taste of life outside the Order for a change."

He smiled when hearing this, causing him to pull them tighter in their embrace. "I'd appreciate that, girls. Now let's sleep."

With nothing else to be said, the throuple drifted off into deep slumber as the night of reunions and meetings came to a close.

-The Next Day-

As the sun shined down upon the rediscovered planet of Tython, a large gathering had been called for.

A gathering of all twenty-nine Avengers and the Jedi Order.

Of the Jedi, their group was composed of the Council and many other high-ranking Knights and Masters with their Padawans. They had found a considerably spacious room where all could be in attendance, either sitting or standing as they were all in deep discussion.

With the Earthers, they were relatively fine with some having returned home while the others stayed for several reasons on the previous night. But they were requested to all attend today.

As for the Jedi, all were discussing everything they had found, discovered, and learned on their own and with others as well as the topics and discussions they had with all the Avengers from the day before.

A lot to be discussed really.

Many points were touched on.

The Avengers now being here, technically at their full strength since they only have one teammate unaccounted for by this point.

The knowledge that they brought along with them as well as their fighting prowess and their own crazy tales to tell.

One, in particular, is Celeste Morne's tale, having brought the ancient Sith Lord Karness Muur with her to Earth. Not to mention his eventual, true defeat with her allies' assistance.

In fact, the revelation of a Kwa, one of the first civilizations to utilize the Force, being one of the individuals to make it to Earth and help found the Masters of the Mystic Arts was quite the shock.

It made many wonder how deep a connection this galaxy held with Earth considering the Infinity Gate, the Jedi and ancient Force user managed to wind up on the planet.

Answers to such questions were truly taken to the grave and beyond.

But many believed that perhaps they can learn something on Tython now that they had found it again. They just needed to figure out if it was here and perhaps where else this knowledge can be found.

With the big congregation going on, a conversation took place between a small group of individuals.

"So what did you guys find?" Anakin quietly asked his Padawan, along with Barriss and Peter.

"Yesterday while we were exploring, we came across some Holocrons."

"Who hasn't."

"Raise your hands if you haven't." Anakin said this louder than intended and it appeared everyone in the room heard him. Arms slowly raised to the ceiling and he let out a scoff. "I was being rhetorical." This immediately got people to put their hands back down out of odd forms of embarrassment.

"Actually, that might be something that we can discuss," Obi-Wan chimed in, pulling out a Holocron of his own. "Perhaps there is something that we can learn from everything we have found."

"Is now really the time for such a thing?" Plo inquired. "With our allies here, I don't believe we should waste their time with our matters and-"

"I'm curious." Sam spoke up, shrugging slightly. "I mean, this is a planet that's important to you guys, right?"

"And who knows, maybe one of these Holocrons has knowledge on Earth that could explain how an Infinity Gate got there." Natasha pointed out.

"Are you certain about this?" Shaak Ti asked on behalf of the Jedi.

"Call it an exchange of culture." Wong spoke up. "We already intend on sharing knowledge of the Mystic Arts with your Order. This can be the start where we begin to learn from each other."

There was an awkward pause from the Jedi side of the room before they began to respond in kind.

With those who found Holocrons, a number of them more or less immediately opened them up in order to explore their collective knowledge. They were quite insightful while a number were confusing or worrisome with what content was stored.

Others were handed in without opening them, for a number of reasons. One stating merely wanted to round up the artifacts and hand them over to the Masters and Council members before heading outside of Tython to resume their previous issues with the galaxy at large. Another was being cautious if something about them was amiss and wanted to be safe than sorry.

Many reasons and excuses were voiced. But to others, they thought these individuals merely didn't think they were ready or worthy to see what lay within the Holocrons at their present stage of learning the ways of the Force.

The Avengers watched all this with a kind of mixed bewilderment and interest.

"Are you guys sure this was a good idea?" Rhodey murmured. "We do have a lot more serious shit to take care of, you know."

"Hey, I wanna know more about these guys." Tony said. "Can learn a lot through them other than Celeste. Besides, we got a 4000-year gap between her Order and this one."

"That is true." Morne stroked her chin. "I am quite curious as to how much has changed since my time. This Jedi Order certainly feels far more rigid and strict than the one I grew up in."

"Why bring this up?" Asked Anakin.

"We took a look at some earlier and we thought this should be shared with everyone else." Was his padawan's response.

"Master," Barriss quietly said, holding up one of the Holocrons she had found in the lake cavern. "I believe this Holocron requires two Jedi to open it. One Master and one Padawan."

"How can you tell, Barriss?" Luminara questioned, gently taking the Holocron out from the hands of the younger Mirialan.

"There were inscriptions that came with this and the other Holocrons I had found with Ahsoka and Peter." The Jedi apprentice answered. "I wasn't able to discern all of them but for this one, the instructions are clear. This requires the hands of a master and a Padawan to open it. I believe through the Force it will be able to discern our bond as mentor and student."

"Rather strange, but there's bound to be a reason why." Luminara mused to herself. "Very well, my Padawan, let us try together."

Unduli place both her hands beneath the Holocron whilst Barriss held hers over it and the pair began to apply the Force, calling on the bond they shared to connect to it. They let the Force guide their actions, the pair closing their eyes as they slowly felt the locks in place of the Holocron begin to snap open, both feeling their combined efforts in unraveling the binds of the Jedi tool.

After a few seconds of clicks, hisses, and pieces of the Holocron snapping open, Barriss and Luminara stepped back as the recording from within came forth.

The image was that of an elderly, dark-skinned man with a pronounced mustache who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. Or rather, doing whatever he was about to.

This image was particularly big, being a head taller than everyone in the room, making all turn to it.

"A Holocron recording." Shaak Ti noted straight away, recognizing the type of device that it was. "Not one embedded with the spirit of the Jedi or a guardian."

The old man released a grumble, turning away from someone who wasn't caught in the recording of the Holocron.

"Shan, is this really necessary?"

The name Shan caused many within the room to perk up, having a sense of familiarity with it.

"Just do it, Jolee, stop being such a stubborn old Bantha."

"I would, but you keep pushing and pushing. Who's gonna watch an old man like me ramble on."

"The future Jedi."

"Well, the future Jedi need to have their priorities checked."

"For Force's sake, Jolee."

"Alright, alright, sheesh, just stop breathing down my neck."

"This is Jolee Bindo." Tholme said aloud, now recognizing the man in the Holocron. "He was a Jedi of the Old Republic. He once traveled with Revan and Bastila Shan and took down the Sith Lord Darth Malak!"

Many perked up upon hearing this, the name of Revan the legends of that era being a well-known time studied by all in the Order.

The majority of the Jedi listened in more attentively now as the recording of the aged Jedi played out.

"Ok, listen carefully to whoever is bored enough to listen to this old man." Jolee held up one hand. "Korriban is a rock that is red. Mind the Sith."

"That's not good enough." Bastila said from the side, unseen with annoyance clear as day to hear.

"You asked me to give some piece of mind and I did."

"Jolee, seriously."

"Fine… Fine…"

Whatever awe and reverence most of the Jedi Council, and even most of the Avengers may have had, whittled down considerably when seeing this recording.

"Are all Jedi like this?" Hector quietly asked with a snort, standing next to the Masters of the Mystic Arts.

Of them, Celeste Morne had a fond, amused smile as she shook her head.

"Even after I last saw him, Jolee was still such a grouch." Morne said with a reminiscent gaze. "Never would have thought that he would be convinced in making a Holocron."

While this conversation was going on with the Avengers side of the room, the Jedi were having their own.

"Is this gonna keep going on?" Windu asked with a deadpan.

Tholme heard him and snorted. "I dunno, Mace, I'm starting to find it entertaining."

"Jolee…"

"Ok, Ok, sheesh, I can't have any fun with you. How does Revan put up with you sometimes…"

They heard a growl that caused many, including the recording of Bindo to laugh aloud.

It lasted only for a moment when Jolee became a bit more serious as he began to speak.

"Not sure how to entirely start on this so I'll just take Revan's advice and go with what I told him. So let's go with as taboo a subject that makes the Council shudder like little Bantha Fodder: love." Many within the Council were startled by this, almost feeling like he sent a jab straight at them despite it likely being for the Jedi Council of his time. "Love, now that's a concept I'm all too familiar with. I've learned in my lifetime that Love, true love, can save you, not condemn you. Sometimes it may not always work such as in my case but in the cases that I've seen, it has worked more often than not. Mine was just unfortunate but wherever else I've seen it, it just validates it more. The old Jedi Order and their damnable dogmatic views of attachments and emotions are as backward as their code is."

"Burn-ow!" Tony sounded out, quickly earning an elbow hit to the ribs by Steve.

"Passion is a facet of all sentient life in this galaxy but if one suppresses their passion, suppresses their emotion, that can lead to consequences of unimaginable proportions. Just look at the Mandalorian Wars. Was the Jedi Council in the right to hold back their people while planet after planet burned? No, on that, I can wholeheartedly say they were wrong. But it is due to their misgivings, their hesitations and not properly accounting for what may transpire is what led so many Jedi to not only fall but willingly go over to the Dark Side when Revan and Malak returned as Sith. They had experienced something they had never gone through before and because of that, they were easily swayed with a wave of the hand. The Jedi, in all their overzealous cautiousness, can tell you love, companionship, attachments and just feeling is something to be avoided. Thankfully, anybody who's even partially alive knows that isn't true. Some might believe that love and attachments are what lead to the Dark Side but that is the biggest crock of Poodoo you can find on the Hydian Way. Passion is something that can stem from any emotion. You can be passionate about knowledge, about lightsaber dueling, hell, about plant life. That's not something that can lead to the Dark Side, right? Passion can lead to rage and fear, but that is something that can be taught to be controlled. But passion is not the same thing as love. Controlling your passions while being in love, that is what the Jedi need to teach and it's something they've forgotten entirely."

There was a shift between many in the Jedi where a majority clearly were not sure as to how to process this information.

But those who had an idea or understanding as to what this old Jedi was talking about…

They didn't physically react, only listening on as Bindo continued.

"I mean, when you think about it, this whole restriction of love and marriage is a recent trend in our Order considering we've been at it for over 20,000 years. How many Jedi families date back ten, twenty, hell, I even know two that go back to the very start of our Order. And now it's a problem? Pfft, that's rich. I understand that there are reservations about it but having emotions isn't a bad thing. Jedi need to be taught how to control their emotions, not that "be mindful" rabble. What is anyone supposed to do with that? How does that help anyone? It doesn't. And while it ain't commonplace, it's the exceptions to the rule like Exar Kun, like Qel-Droma, Revan, Malak and the first of the Sith Lords with Ajunta Pall who take advantage of that and sway so many to their side. The Jedi have gotta be smarter about this, not just pragmatically but emotionally too. It's how to make a stronger, more stable Jedi that won't fall to the Dark Side."

There was a beat of silence from all in attendance as the ancient Jedi's words sunk in.

The Avengers, especially those who had just arrived in the galaxy, all held looks of intrigue and contemplation as they had indirectly learned much through Jolee's Holocron.

The Jedi were far more mixed, with a more clear division between those who seem to be more inclined to what Jolee Bindo is telling them and those who are still on the fence, if not reject such a thing.

As the silence prevailed, they all heard Bindo release a tired sigh.

"Okay, I said my piece. Happy now, Bastila?"

"I am. Now for another."

"Oh for the love of-"

"Yes. A cranky old man who still needs to impart other sagely advice." Spoke a new male voice.

"Not you too, Carth."

"You don't give yourself enough credit, "old man". I believe in the experience you've had that needs to be heard by our successors. So does Revan. Otherwise, he wouldn't ask you to do this. You know he values what you have to say more than anyone else on the Hawk."

At that, they saw the grumpiness of Bindo fall and a small smile appear as he looked over to Bastila Shan who was out of view. He then released a sigh of regret, mumbling to himself, something about his knees hurting before looking ahead.

"Alright, alright, what garbage do you want me to spew out next?" Jolee asks sarcastically. "Unconditional love is different from personal love?"

"I don't think that's garbage at all."

"Somewhat is if you don't know the full layout, confusing several aspects with attachments."

"Anything else you want to part with to any future listeners?"

Jolee pondered for a moment before shrugging. "Whatever spiel one says of 'what I said was true, from a certain point of view', or anything remotely in that field ain't really worth it most of the time. Being philosophical ain't going to matter when the galaxy is on the line. "Oh from a certain point of view…" Bah, like any normal person cares about that "nuance" when their home is burning."

The recording ended, the holo-transmission receding into the Holocron.

Everyone in the room was silent, the Avengers all gazing between the Holocron and the Jedi with many feeling a bit of awkward tension begin to creep in.

"Jeez, you can cut the air with butter." Scott quietly murmured, Hope silently nodding in agreement.

"So… that felt more personal to the Jedi if anything."

"No," Steve shook his head, giving a blue Twi'lek a look which she returned. "I think that was something a lot of us needed to hear."

"I wonder if we can replicate it." Shuri mused next to her brother. "The ancestors of our people-"

"Interesting." T'Challa rubbed his chin in thought. "I had not considered such an idea."

He knew the concept of Holocrons beforehand, but the idea of implementing it with his people would be fascinating. For some, a method to learn from past guardians of their people without certain rites.

"Hey, I know this is all important and all but I think we also have other, more important matters to talk about." War Machine said aloud. "Not to minimize all that stuff we just heard but there are some more serious stuff that we all need to discuss."

"There's the Ceasefire that is currently underway." Daredevil reminded them all. "As well as the proponent that led to it."

"Ultron." Tony darkly said.

There were many who shifted in their seats and where they stood at the mention of the mad AI.

For the Avengers who had yet to face the metal bastard, there was a pit of anxiousness now planted. Now that they had officially come to this galaxy, having joined Earth's Mightiest Heroes, they all promised they would help in fighting him considering how much of a threat he was.

But there was an underlying sense of nervousness and uncertainty.

It wasn't that they weren't confident in their abilities, it's just that they hadn't faced a threat like Ultron before.

Dormammu was a cosmic, interdimensional enemy that the Masters of the Mystic Arts beat back. The Ten Rings followed by the Dweller in Darkness and its demonic servants had an entire village and not even the full team to defeat it.

But Ultron was a different type of enemy.

One, not even thirteen Avengers could beat back, coupled with multiple armies in a galaxy. They were only able to delay or stall the AI in their battles, all their victories feeling hollow as there was nothing proper in terms of progress in taking Ultron out.

They knew that Ultron could be beaten, the original team with additions of the Maximoffs, Vision and War Machine were able to do it in Sokovia.

But this was a different battleground, a different time and a different Ultron.

He had learned from his last attempt at "evolution" and he was implementing his plans at a more methodical and cerebral pace.

"Fact is, so long as Ultron is here, a lot of us are gonna stay." Sam plainly stated, making the Avengers from Earth all break out of their thoughts. "I know that all of us here wanna return home to Earth but we also made a promise to stay and take that asshole down. Permanently this time."

"Thing is, we need to hit him sooner than later." Black Widow firmly said. "Ultron's been ten steps ahead of us all this time since we got here. He's not even hit us with everything he's had. What's coming is a full-on assault on everything and everyone in the galaxy."

"That's a tall order." Anakin couldn't help but say.

"Might be easier than you think." Rhodey countered.

"Ultron attacked everyone," Matt emphasized. "He's told all in this galaxy that everyone is his enemy and he's coming for them all. If he has any allies, it's only the most wretched of individuals."

"Trandoshans, bounty hunters, who knows what other scum stupid or insane enough to join him." T'Challa said, eyes narrowed.

"This ceasefire is the chance we have right now." Hope stated. "Our best way of taking it to Ultron."

"But it is unlikely that he can be soundly defeated unless we have a proper means of completely eradicating him." Vision stated.

"Yeah, if Viz here couldn't do it, we're gonna need a new plan of action." Pietro commented, resting an elbow on Vision's shoulder.

There was a beat of silence when Wanda turned to Iron Man.

"Tony," She calmly said. "This is your invention so you must know a better way of taking it out more than anyone else here. Do you have an idea of taking down Ultron permanently?"

The Iron Avenger had a brief look of thought before speaking.

"After compiling everything you guys informed me, there is a slim chance of an accurate solution." Stark said. "Peter and Scott probably have the best idea in mind. They sent a few on getting a code of some kind developed to shut him down and they were on the right path. Karen and TAP have their own means of defense against Ultron that repels him, same with my AI Friday. Vision also can shut him out and trap him from escaping so with their help, Shuri and the rest of the geniuses in the Avengers, we're gonna develop a type of virus for that psycho. A shutdown sequence that permanently scrubs his code from all servers."

"So to sum things up, we just need to isolate him and plug in the mother of all Trojan Horses into his system." Scott plainly said.

"Won't be easy." Anakin spoke up. "He's spread out throughout the galaxy. I remember Scott and Peter talking about this and they know that he has armies of droids and drones that he can escape from."

"There's also all of his converted sentient beings that can be an entirely different way of evading defeat." Hope pointed out. "We have to deal with that too."

"And all the foundries he has that may still have people alive in them." Plo Koon said with a firm tone. "We can't leave them to die."

"Finding them is a priority." Steve assured. "Which is what Tony, Peter, Scott and the rest can work on. Coming up with a plan of attack against Ultron is gonna take a coordinated effort on all fronts. And I do mean all of them."

"We're gonna need the entire fighting forces of the galaxy to take on Ultron." Rhodey said. "The Republic, the Seppies."

"The Mandalorians, the Ravagers and the Guardians of the Galaxy." Vision chimed in, missing the look Celeste sent his way.

"The Mandalorians…" She said under her breath.

Such a strange and almost ludicrous idea to consider.

When she went into the Oubliette, she was still at war with the Mandalorians who were the greatest terror to ever beset the galaxy since Exar Kun and Uliq Qel-Droma.

Now, to hear that the Mandalorians are to a degree on the side of "good" or not as antagonist and war hungry as their ancestors were are now being considered to be among their allies in taking the fight to this genocidal AI.

She knows it's been 4000 years but still, for her, despite the length she's already spent on Earth, the Mandalorian Wars was still a fresh matter that continually dwelled upon her mind.

It'll be a while for her to get used to the idea of them being cooperative on many fronts.

As many in the room continued their talks with those closest to them, they heard a small crack in the air, a small flash of lightning coming from the side of the Avengers.

There was a brief pause of bewilderment until they realized that there was one person in the room that could produce such a spectacle.

"Apologies friends, I did not mean to startle you all but I need to speak with you all. There is… something else I believe needs to be brought up." Thor Odinson walked into the center of the room with a contemplative look.

"Don't hold out on us, Point Break. What news do you have to share?"

"This galaxy, as you know, is unique compared to all others in the universe.

"Tell us something we don't know."

"No, no, you forget," Thor shook his head. "I told the Jedi that this galaxy is isolated, almost cut off from the rest of the universe."

"Almost, you say." Shaak Ti pointed out.

"Yes, and that almost is growing."

"... huh?" Was the collective response.

Thor shook his head. "Last night, I was contacted by the watchman of Asgard, Heimdall. Through his "sight" he was able to connect to me and spoke of a developing change in the galaxy. Holes in the barrier surrounding this galaxy. Scarcely few and small. Recently, they've been growing in number and size, allowing people and things to pass through easier than before to some capacity."

This particular detail went over a number of peoples' heads. Others who may know the deeper meaning grew worried.

"Now, years ago, I once told my friends of how Earth, in its study and utilization of an Infinity Stone is a signal to the realms and the rest of the universe that the Earth is ready for a higher form of war."

"A higher form?" Mace tensely parroted, Steve, Tony, Nat and Thor all feeling a serious case of Deja vu come over them from hearing this. "What do you mean a higher form?"

"What I mean is, this galaxy, in a short time, may become far more open, making the rest of the universe aware of it. In that, this galaxy must be prepared for what is to come of it. Both the good that may come," Thor silently gestured to the Avengers. "And the bad."

"And what is the bad, Thor?" Obi-Wan hesitantly asked.

"That is what's worrisome." Odinson shook his head. "There are the known threats that I and the first iteration of the Avengers have faced. And then there is the unknown."

-Scene Cut-

The great gathering between Jedi and Avengers had come to its end, the large group of people dispersing yet remaining within the temple their meeting took place in.

Some were discussing other matters with each other whilst the new Avengers from Earth opted to explore a bit more, be it physically or verbally as they spoke with the Jedi at the meeting and in the temple. Since they were going to start frequenting this place, firsthand knowledge is far better than second-hand knowledge sent through messages.

But while most were socializing, a lone Jedi Knight was leaving the temple with a goal in mind.

Before he could leave the grounds of the temple, however, his former mentor called out to him.

"Anakin?"

The Chosen One turned back to see Obi-Wan Kenobi and he wasn't alone. Beside him was his own Padawan and Obi-Wan's unofficial apprentice with Peter.

"Something you need?" He politely asked, not missing the skewed look Kenobi was giving him.

"Where are you going?"

"Just taking a walk."

"Hopefully not an enthusiastic walk."

Anakin rolled his eyes. "Wouldn't you know, Pete?"

"Maybe." Spidey said with a shrug. "But that ain't a stroll walk. That's one with a purpose."

"And what if it is?" He said challengingly.

"Forgive your old master for worrying what kind of purpose you seek." Obi-Wan plainly said, arms crossed now.

"My own." Skywalker evasively answered. "One that I need to do."

There was a tense silence in the air when Anakin's Padawan stepped forward, eyes wide and brimming with concern.

"Master…" Ahsoka softly said. "You… you aren't thinking of going after… him, are you?"

Anakin didn't say anything at first, looking away with a conflicted look before he released a sigh. "I don't know. Maybe."

"Maybe what?"

They looked over to see Steve and Sam walking up to them.

"What are ya guys talkin' about?" The latter asked. "Anakin's unusually serious."

"He's planning on going after his future emo self." Peter revealed, earning a look of annoyance from the Jedi.

"So soon? Are you asking for a death wish?" Sam rhetorically asked.

"You didn't look so good when we came to help yesterday." Steve softly said, a look of concern being directed at Anakin.

"I was alive, wasn't I?"

"That is a shit argument, and you know it." Falcon deadpanned.

"That's our line of work." Anakin shot back. "We literally throw ourselves into battle every other day and we managed to come out of it alive."

"Well, now I know you're trying to tempt fate like that." Peter wryly said.

"Anakin, not for nothin', but why in the hell are you so dead set on taking on darker you?" Sam asked, walking up to him. "Like Steve said, it's only been a day. You can't be serious about confronting him again."

The Jedi Knight gave the bird-themed Avenger a particular look, not one of negativity per se, but more of a contemplative kind. After having seen how Sam talks with the Clones and Jedi alike, Anakin has had several one on one talks with the aviator about personal burdens that weighed upon his soul.

He had found Wilson to be more than willing to listen and just that sometimes, listen. And when he spoke, there was a kind of wisdom that was rather hard to find within the temple or at least relate to.

Speaking with Sam made Anakin reflect on the relationship he now possessed with him and the rest of the Avengers and how he can so freely trust them as they have come to trust him in return.

So maybe…

"Look, Sam… everyone, this is something that can't be avoided." Anakin stated firmly. "I know it's only been a day but I can't deny it no matter how hard I try it. I can feel him, his shadow, he's still there, waiting for me. Vader… he is me. And I don't mean it metaphorically, or rhetorically, or poetically, or theoretically, or in any other fancy way. He's my Dark Side, straight up. And I have to confront it."

There was a pause shared by all, each taking brief glances at one another until Steve spoke up.

"Is there a requirement of having to seek him out right away?"

Anakin shrugged. "Better me finding him than the other way around."

"Master, why do this now?" Ahsoka worriedly asked, coming up to him. "Why can't it wait? We could do it later or when you're more prepared."

Her Master only shook his head in rejection. "That's too long for me, Snips. I can't delay this. I have to do it now. With Ultron, the ceasefire and that foreboding-as-shit thing Thor told us about the galaxy opening up to more possible threats from outside, I need to take care of this immediately. I can't let this Darkness follow my every step."

Before they could discuss this any further, five clones approached them, being composed of the 501st first in command and its top squad.

"General, I'm gonna be taking the men… for… P…T…" Captain Rex said, looking at all the three Jedi and three Avengers present, the feeling of tension and all of it seems focused on his General.

Domino squad also sensed this and they glanced at one another in confusion.

The Captain of the 501st stood there awkwardly until he spoke again.

"Did General Skywalker say he was going to do something stupidly dangerous again?"

The tension broke with the indignant squawk that came from said Jedi with the others all openly laughing at Rex's brazen statement.

"Rex… Just…" Anakin dragged his hand down his face.

"Wonder if we need to do a Bingo card with his actions." Hevy muttered and this further amused all present.

"If so, we'll need to list off generally everything that comes to mind about him." Cutup guffawed, nudging his brother, making everyone laugh at the expense of Skywalker.

"Guys, seriously?" He grumbled.

"What's troubling you, general?" Echo respectfully asked.

"Jedi stuff." Steve, Sam and Peter all said at the same time.

"So stuff we barely understand then." Fives said with a shrug. "Need any help, general?"

Anakin shook his head. "I don't think-"

"Actually, yes, that sounds like a great idea." Steve stepped in, throwing Skywalker off momentarily.

"Wha- Steve? You can't just-"

"Yeah, if you're gonna be suicidal, might as well have backup." Sam now chimed in.

"My schedule is open." Peter said with a thumbs-up directed at Anakin.

Ahsoka looked at her boyfriend with a raised brow. "What about you and your Aunt? Didn't she want to spend time with you today?"

"Hey, Anakin's a friend." Peter said. "I'm sure she'll understand. Besides, you don't wanna have your Master confronting his darker half alone now, do you?"

His girlfriend was silent for a moment, not hearing Rex and Domino's squad's confused inquiry about what Parker was talking about. Obi-Wan, Sam, and Steve told them they would explain it on the way.

She recalled all the times that they went headfirst into danger and how often it was her Master that pulled them out of it. How often he had saved her life and even went as so far as to bring her back after the corruption done by the Son.

If he was willing to go that far for her, what kind of Padawan would she be if she was not willing to do the same?

"Yeah, let's do this." Ahsoka declared, surprising her Master. "If Anakin is gonna do something crazy and dangerous, I have to be right there beside him."

"Ahsoka, you can't-"

"Anakin." Steve interrupted, giving the Jedi Knight a pointed look. "We get why you wanna do this and all so if you're going to do so, you're not doing it alone. Do you understand?"

There was clear turmoil going on in Anakin's head yet his heart could not help but be touched by this display of friendship and comradery.

"Yes, I do believe our assistance will be a most useful boon to your endeavor, my old Padawan." Kenobi said. "And this can serve as us rectifying something we haven't truly addressed at the onset of the war. When you became a Knight shortly after your encounter with Asajj on Yavin 4."

"Obi-wan…"

"You never did finish the trial. Nor did you ever have a conventional or proper one." His former master looked remorseful. "It was all just rushed with vague connections done to justify your ascension. Didn't know if it'll come back and haunt you, quite literally in this case. I am sorry for not helping you prepare."

"I don't think you could have prepared me for this specifically, Master." Anakin sheepishly said. "This feels a lot more intense from what I've been told."

"Be that as it may, some of the burden falls upon the master." Kenobi said with a shake of his head. "After seeing what happened, I've been pondering how Vader could've… become a reality. Ahsoka and Padme are apparently one factor, but I don't know if there were others. If I didn't do enough."

Anakin looked down at the ground, thinking over Vader's words to him and the others that came to his aid last night.

"I doubt I would've been your failure."

"It's a possibility. One that worries you as much as it does me." Kenobi firmly said. "And I will not allow myself to fail my old student again."

Anakin was at a loss for words, looking between Sam, Steve, Peter and Obi-Wan before glancing at his Padawan.

She gave him a confident smile, mirroring the thumbs-up gesture Peter had done.

"I'm right behind you, Master." She declared. "After all, what better way to learn how to become a better Jedi than seeing it firsthand when you beat back Vader? Once you show me how it's done, becoming a Jedi Knight will be a cinch."

Skywalker weakly chuckled at that before facing his men who were clearly lost but given their expressions and demeanors, it would appear that for them, it didn't matter much to them.

"We're with you, General." Rex declared, Domino Squad snapping to attention.

"We may not know what's going on but you have our support." Hevy said and Anakin huffed with a smirk worming its way onto his lips.

Much as he wanted to deny all their assistance, he saw that they were all dead set on helping him and he really didn't have the heart to turn them away.

And when he thought about it in the back of his head, maybe this next confrontation might go better than last time.

With a heavy but appreciative sigh, Skywalker simply gestured for the makeshift team to follow after him as they left the temple.

"So we're just gonna go and fight evil Anakin with just what we have?" Sam asked, ignoring the "Evil Anakin?" said by the Clone Troopers with them.

"Pretty much." Peter said with a shrug.

"Can't have everyone out for this impromptu mission or else things will not be pretty."

"We're in our suits." Steve pointed out, getting a flat look from Wilson.

"And Vader is jacked up on the Dark Side." Sam retorted.

"We can take him." Ahsoka confidently said.

"Are you so certain?" Kenobi inquired with a contemplative expression.

"Uh, can someone explain to us who this "Vader" guy is supposed to be?" Hevy spoke up on behalf of his brothers.

"Evil Anakin." Ahsoka and Peter said at the same time, Anakin slapping his hand over his forehead.

"Huh?" Were Rex and Domino squads collective responses.

"Long story… very long and complicated one at that where even we don't have all the answers." Anakin explained as he led the group to the one destination he figured he could find Vader once more.

During their trek, the group explained to Rex and Domino what Anakin had encountered within the cavern where they found the Infinity Gate. The Clones didn't know how to properly understand the idea of confronting an actual physical manifestation of your Dark Side but they have seen some crazy shit by this point, as Cutup pointed out.

"Do you know where you're going?" Steve asked after a time, sensing some familiarity with the area but nothing concrete.

"Somewhat." Anakin admitted. "Really, it's just following the guidance of the Force. And my gut. And if I get a chill down my spine, then I know we're close."

Sam huffed at that. "Ain't that comforting."

It took some time but eventually, they reached the entrance to the location of where the Infinity Gate was placed. The feeling of the Dark Side was still prevalent, yet it was rather off.

"Here, huh?" Rogers mused, now realizing where they were. "You sure he's here?"

"He was last time." Anakin stated.

"And now?" Obi-Wan asked.

His former apprentice didn't answer for a few seconds before walking forward into the cavern.

Kenobi frowned, brows creasing in anxiousness. He glanced over to see Steve standing next to him, the pair locking eyes.

There was clear uncertainty in doing this despite being here.

They heard footsteps, turning to see Ahsoka, Peter and the Troopers already following after Skywalker and Wilson exhaled through his nose.

"No going back now." He muttered, Obi-Wan and Steve silently nodding as the three of them moved to catch up with the others.

They had entered the cavern, the pressure in the air immediately being felt by all. Even though the Clones could not feel the Force and the Avengers were void of it, the pressure, the unsettling feeling managed to be felt by them with a clear shift in their mood, all sharing looks. There were silent conversations of if they were all feeling the same followed by small nods and looks in the eyes to confirm the shared pressure.

It was unsettling.

"This place gives me the creeps." Hevy was unable to help but comment with his squad all murmuring their agreement.

"What is that?" Echo asked, specifically the more super-powered individuals of the group. "That pressure?"

"The Force." Obi-Wan answered. "What you're feeling is the Force."

"Is it always like this?" Cutup asked.

"No," Ahsoka said with a shake of her head. "Usually, it's a bit more pleasant than this place."

"We're in a place where the Dark Side holds great prese-What's that?" Anakin abruptly said, halting in his tracks.

The others all did the same, tensing up.

"What's what?" Peter asked, looking around and seeing if his Spider-Sense could pick up on anything.

"That? You guys hear that, don't you?"

Anakin expected to hear a response right away. To his confusion, he got nothing at all.

Turning, he sought to see one of the clones or Avengers. Yet they suddenly disappeared on him. Another turn right after, he appeared misplaced.

No longer was he in the darkened environment, but in a forested vicinity with some temple nearby if he were to guess on some glance.

"Where am I?" He asks himself.

Why did this place seem familiar to him?

"Everyone?" He quickly called out to them.

Straining his ears, Anakin could hear muffled words around him and then he felt the presence of the others nearby.

They were there but… he couldn't see them.

What was going on right now?

All he could do was search the area. And unbeknownst to Anakin, everyone else hidden from his perception followed the same action.

Not a minute into his walk did he see some movement ahead. He acted instantly, moving onward to see who they were and ask the obvious questions.

Coming into a clearing, Anakin saw an assembly of people of different ages and species. Ahead of them, they saw a man with sandy blond hair and Jedi robes, standing in the center of what looked like a garden, addressing many other individuals in robes. It was easy to guess who these people all were given their appearances but there was something different about these Jedi.

It wasn't how they looked though their appearances played a factor given that nobody recognized any of these Jedi but it was… the air they gave off.

The Force exuded around this collective of Jedi far different than what Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, the Clones and the rest of the Avengers were used to. It was… what was the word that could be used to describe it?

Uniting? Freeing? Just that the Force itself felt stronger coming from these Jedi, far more than the Order they knew.

And in the middle of it all was a single man with sandy blond hair who was addressing them all.

His voice was unheard but strangely, what he was saying was heard clear as day.

"As Jedi, we cannot simply remain stagnant within our temples and just wait for conflict to appear. Be out there in the galaxy, form connections and bonds, show the galaxy that we the Jedi are here to be the vanguards against any and all threats that might come their way. And it isn't just about fighting but educating and learning. We have just as much to teach as we have to learn from the people of this galaxy. It's why we are here. It's the responsibility that comes with our great power."

Anakin reared back slightly and he can feel a certain webhead react in a similar manner.

That was… well, it wasn't hard to figure out just where such a belief and motto may have stemmed from. With that came a curiosity as to just who this Jedi was speaking to all within this vision.

Just as they were all about to get a good look at the man who was in the middle of mid-turn, a brief flash of white came over them, blinding them from seeing the face of the Jedi Master as he turned in their direction.

In an instant, Anakin was "back" in the cavern and the others with him were visible once more.

All looked at one another and the same conclusion was drawn from each other.

"Did you guys all see that?" Peter was the first to ask.

"Yeah…" Rex muttered in complete bewilderment. "We did."

"You did?" Ahsoka said in complete surprise. "How did-"

"So did we." Steve said with a deep frown, Sam nodding next to him.

"What was that?" Fives asked, having actually taken off his helmet to rub his head, feeling a moment of vertigo. "That was-"

"A Force vision." Kenobi answered the Clone, a sense of intrigue mixed with loss as to what they saw. "All Jedi experience their own at some point during their journey but for all of you…"

"We don't have the Force." Echo said.

"And we're supposed to be void of it." Steve tacked on. "Which begs the question; how did we just basically have one?"

"To think… could it be the presence and power of the Force here may be affecting all of you." Obi-Wan mused aloud, now far more interested in what just transpired.

Much as he wanted to figure that out himself, Anakin shook his head as he felt a shift in the cave. "Questions and answers for a later time."

A moment later, he inhaled sharply, feeling the hairs at the back of his neck stand on their end.

The rest all had their own reactions as a veritable chill descended upon them, all standing stock still from the pressure permeating the air.

It wasn't long before someone else appeared within the vicinity. His synthetic breathing echoed all over with his heavy steps scraping across the dirt.

Anakin clenched his fists tightly as he felt his body go rigid for a moment. The others all reacted in their own ways, a feeling of dread and anticipation falling over them as the footsteps and breathing drew closer until out from a darker part of the cavern came a figure garbed in black with several lights shown from their chest and waist.

"You have returned." Vader then took note of the others present. One may naively assume they were here to watch the upcoming confrontation. Yet the Sith Lord knew better. "And you brought assistance this time. How fruitless. They shall gain you no advantage in this battle."

"You clearly haven't heard the phrase strength in numbers." Peter said, putting his mask on and his white lenses narrowed.

For a moment, the Sith's gaze lingered on the Avengers.

"It won't make much of a difference."

"Is that him, General?" Rex said, already holding his pistols up with the rest of Domino Squad.

The Jedi nodded slowly. "He is."

Vader regarded the Clones and strangely… there seemed to be a lack of contempt for them.

The Sith Lord gazed at all of them and Anakin sensed something unusual coming from Vader.

A sense of familiarity. A sense of… respect.

"So," Cutup murmured. "How are we gonna-"

Fives and Rex quickly fired in rapid succession.

Darth Vader raised his hand, seemingly "catching" and dissipating the first set of blaster bolts before igniting his lightsaber to deflect the rest.

"Whoa~" Peter couldn't help but say aloud, his lenses widening. "Since when can you guys do that?"

"It's called Tutaminis." Obi-Wan explained, flicking his lightsaber on, and getting into the starting stance of Soresu. "It just takes a lot of effort and concentration."

"You sure about that?" Sam said, pulling out his guns from his suit. "He didn't look like he was trying much."

All the while, Ahsoka was giving Fives and Rex a look with the former shrugging at her.

"What? I wasn't gonna start taking chances with this guy."

"Less talking, more hitting and firing." Steve said and threw his shield at Vader at full force.

The Dark Lord quickly ignited his lightsaber and batted the Vibranium shield away. He did pause for the briefest of moments, noting the thrown object wasn't cleaved by his weapon. The moment passed as he began to evade and tank several blaster shots toward himself.

He took a few steps back, quickly going on the back foot to avoid the attacks sent his way.

For the most part, everyone took a few swings at him one at a time until Spider-man stopped himself mid-swing, hanging on a webline for a moment before looking back at the others.

"Hey, are we just gonna attack him one after another or-?"

"No, no, that would be a terrible idea." Kenobi says.

"Oh, ok, cool."

In an instant, the Clones began firing repeatedly at the Sith at every chance they got as the three Jedi and Avengers all charged in at once.

Vader sent a repulse in the Force that prevented them from getting close.

He managed to send Ahsoka and Obi-Wan crashing back whilst Sam momentarily flailed in the air.

But Anakin stabbed his saber into the ground, halting him from going back, same for Steve who used his shield, jamming it into the ground and Peter fired a webline to hang on.

Once on the ground, Spider-man jumped right at Vader who was already swinging his lightsaber right at Peter's head.

With his reflexes and flexibility, Peter reared his head back as the saber flew over his head. He had angled his head back so far, he was close to the floor now but he immediately used his hands to halt his momentum and pushed off to kick Vader right in the chest.

There was an audible groan and wheeze from the Sith Lord, what sounded like a moment of shock from Vader at the impact as he staggered back.

On instinct, just as Peter landed, Vader sent a powerful Force push that sent Spider-man away, just as Steve now came in with Anakin in tow.

The Sith also had to deal with blocking blaster bolts being sent his way from Rex and Domino Squad, pivoting his left foot behind him and right foot forward.

He quickly deflected several strikes from Anakin while attempting to evade Captain America's attacks. Vader let out a grunt as Rogers successfully landed a jab to his stomach whilst Anakin's saber bounced off his right arm, no less scorching the flesh beneath his armor.

With a growl, Vader's left hand shot forward, grabbing Anakin's wrist and throwing him aside. Vader then whipped around to send out another Force Push that sent the Clones flying back, crashing into a wall behind them with them all slumping down in heaps of moans of pain.

He then whirls around, bringing down his lightsaber with all his might, the crimson blade clashing with Steve's shield, the two enter into a struggle for power.

"You have strength." Vader noted, feeling a considerable degree of difficulty.

"Not so bad yourself." Steve couldn't help but say.

"It will not be enough."

Rogers scoffed, shoving the saber back and landed a quick series of strikes to the Vader's body, the Sith jerking about with clear indications of pain.

In retaliation, Vader slammed his saber down upon Steve, the vibranium shield deflecting it yet it made Cap's legs buckle. This was then followed up by a low attack from Vader that went into a diagonal upward swing of his lightsaber, Steve blocking it once more but the Force amplified attack still sent the super soldier flying back.

Sam, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka soon came in and the Sith Lord engaged them at the same time.

It was clear that Darth Vader was struggling yet he held on, fighting particularly aggressively towards Kenobi. Ahsoka felt her arms tremble every time her lightsabers collided against Vader's. The power behind each swing was among the strongest she had ever dealt with.

Her Master had spared and trained with her constantly and she knew that Anakin had a naturally strong, developed build. But if this is truly his future self, then the idea that grows stronger is as awe-inspiring as it is frightening.

Frightening because… what if-

"AH!" Ahsoka felt her sideburn, Vader's lightsaber grazing as a result of her momentary distraction from her thoughts.

"AHSOKA/COMMANDER!" Anakin, Peter and Rex shouted at the same time.

Peter fired a webline to her back, pulling her away just as the Dark Lord brought his lightsaber down where she was a moment ago.

Obi-wan sent several jabs at Vader who parried them all before retaliating with several heavy blows that made Kenobi stumble. Darth Vader reared his arm back for a killing blow yet Captain Rex with assistance from Fives and Echo quickly came in and tackled the Sith Lord down.

Rex slammed one knee down on the right arm of the Sith and shot his hand, making him let go of his lightsaber.

In response, the Clones were sent flying back once more by the Force that Vader expunged in a kind of bubble around him.

He let out an aggravated and pained grunt as he stood to his feet just as Cutup and Hevy had recovered, firing their blasters on him.

The Sith formerly known as Anakin Skywalker held up his hands, applying Tutaminis once more to deflect the bolts before pulling the blasters out of their hands. He seized Hevy by the throat, sending him flying back, an audible crack being heard from the impact of the armored Clone upon the rocky wall.

"Hevy!" He was called out to by Echo and Fives.

Darth Vader then called back his lightsaber and held it up just as he Force Pulled Cutup in.

There was a moment of horror that came upon those who were momentarily incapacitated before Falcon swooped in and jabbed one of his wings into Vader, the Sith Lord falling over whilst Falcon used his other wing as a means of catching Cutup.

"Whew, thanks, Lieutenant." Was the ARC troopers appreciative response.

Sam only nodded before turning to face Vader who was standing once again.

"You are a persistent lot." The dark shadow stated, a sense of irritation and anger now exuding more openly from him. His breathing was more labored and the damage on his suit was visible for all to see.

Falcon eyed the Sith for a few seconds, a pause in the fight.

"Do you really not know who we are?" Sam couldn't help but ask.

"I told you before, I don't know who any of you are."

There were so many questions, so many things that the Avenger wanted to ask but he knew no answers would come out of this.

Right now, the fight was what mattered. "You will."

"We shall see if I'll really care."

"We have a tendency of making people care." Said a voice to the side and Vader turned as Captain America jumped in and smashed his shield into the centerpiece of the Sith's suit, what looked like a control panel strapped to his chest.

Vader released an audible gasp of pain which turned into an enraged wheeze.

Throwing his hand out, he seized Steve through the Force and proceeded to slam him to the ground several times until Anakin came in, nearly cutting Vader in two had it not been for the Sith Lord throwing up his lightsaber in defense.

"You are quite the glutton for this, Skywalker."

"Hark who's talking." Anakin fired back. "You don't look so good yourself. What's the matter? Getting tired?"

"Don't get your hopes up."

The pair exchanged a series of clashes with their lightsabers, flashes of lights and sparks dancing with each collision.

"Do you really think your skills par with mine?" Vader taunted, his taller frame bearing down upon Anakin.

"I don't know, you tell me." Skywalker retorted through his teeth. "You claim to be me after all."

"I am you."

"And even I know I'm not that big of a pompous asshole." Anakin said and despite the situation, he found himself grinning. "I know I can be an arrogant jerk but you must be something special with how you're talking right now."

Vader released what sounded like a scoff.

"Given the vast difference in our fighting capabilities, a handicap won't do you justice. And Skywalker, it doesn't change the fact you will die."

"Hang on, if that's future you, won't killing your past self-erase you from existence?" Peter spoke up.

Vader said nothing, instead having his saber bounce off Anakin's again and this time, a small shockwave was emitted from the pair, making any who tried to come close get flung back.

"What the hell?" Wilson said aloud. "What's happening?"

Ahsoka held her arm in front of her as the shockwaves buffeted them "Master Kenobi, do you sense that?"

"I do." He confirmed, trying to take a step forward but being prevented by another shockwave.

"What?" Steve was using his shield as his anchor. "What do you guys sense?"

Their lightsabers clashed again and again. As this happened, something began shifting within Anakin. Flashes of something alien yet familiar to him.

It wasn't noticeable at first, but as the battle waged on Skywalker's moves started to change.

This began throwing Vader off before he recognized the moves Anakin was using. How greatly refined they were in a short span of time. Not to mention transitioning into something else. Something all too familiar to Anakin's dark counterpart.

After another few lightsaber exchanges, the answer soon became clear to the Sith Lord.

"I see… I didn't think it was possible."

"See what?" Anakin said, the pair locking into a brief struggle, their lightsabers emitting sparks and light as they ground against each other.

"Perhaps due to who we are, our connection through the Force is creating a feedback loop between the two of us. We are one in the same no matter how much you choose to deny it." Said Vader. "It appears nearly every time we clash, your skills are being honed."

Anakin barked out a 'humph'. "Seems I'll be catching up to you yet."

They clashed several more times, seemingly forgetting the others in the vicinity as they had zeroed in on their duel.

Each time they struck, Anakin began seeing things. Fragments of the Force, shown from his direct perception.

He wanted the look away, but he lacked the ability to do so. It was as if he was watching from the backseat while someone else was driving his body. Not just this, but much of his sight was blurred or fogged, obscuring a number of the surroundings.

"Do it." Anakin heard, only focusing on the kneeling Count Dooku, using not just his lightsaber, but the fallen Jedi's own to sever the man's head from his shoulders.

"UNLIMITED… POWER!" Spoke a shadowy figure, blasting Force Lightning right at him. No, not at him, but at Mace Windu. He didn't step in and defend him, only stood by and did nothing.

"Once more the Sith shall rule the galaxy."

Stepping through the halls of the Jedi Temple, he moved and began killing any and all Jedi he could spot alongside the Clones of the 501st. Even going to several chambers where the younglings were hiding, slaying them all without remorse.

The vision changed and now he saw he was on a lava world. Anakin soon realized it was Mustafar.

There he began killing those he recognized as various key members of the CIS.

"W-We only wanted peace." Said Nute Gunray, all before the lightsaber slew him like all the rest.

Next came what could only be described as a nightmare to Anakin.

"Anakin, please!" Screamed Padme, grasping her throat as she was hoisted up into the air.

"You were my brother, Anakin!" Cried out Obi-Wan. "I loved you."

From there he began slaughtering countless others of little to no significance for what felt like years, either those who were Jedi in hiding or were simple bystanders.

He saw an older Ahsoka now, standing before him with lightsabers of pure white.

"I won't leave you!" Ahsoka yelled out. "Not this time."

"...Then you will die."

His vision shifted again.

Anakin was standing on a station of some kind, facing a planet from a viewing window.

He recognized the planet from orbit. It was Alderaan.

Some distance away from himself(?), he saw a woman who looked reminiscent to Padme. She struggled against the guards as he saw someone give out an order.

"You may fire when ready."

"NO!"

What next shook Anakin greatly. Seeing the station shoot a green laser. Once impacting, the planet was obliterated.

Anakin stumbled back, face as pale as snow, dropping his lightsaber and falling to his knees.

"Anakin!/Master!/General!" Yelled out his friends.

With the shockwaves subsiding, everyone was immediately by his side, his Padawan kneeling to him and holding his arm.

"Master?" She worriedly said, shaking him slightly. "Anakin, are you alright?"

Darth Vader observed this in silence until speaking up.

"Judging by that expression that says you're about to vomit; you saw it, didn't you?" Anakin said nothing as Vader resumed. "That simplifies things. Everything you just saw was true. That's what 'catching up to me' will get you."

Anakin was now glaring at Vader with unbridled hatred of the Sith Lord and in essence, a version of himself.

"What did you do?" He demanded with rage in his tone.

His darker half didn't respond, only gazing at his younger self in silence.

"What did you do?!" Anakin roared now, getting back to his feet.

"Anakin, cool it." Steve sharply said. "Losing yourself won't help."

Hearing this, Skywalker sucked in a deep breath, feeling a measure of calm come over him yet the anger towards Vader remained.

"Answer me." He snarled. "What kind of sick Porg-shit was that? How could you do such terrible things?!"

The others were silent, looking between Anakin and Vader.

"Did you see something?" Obi-Wan quietly asked. "When you were fighting him?"

Anakin didn't respond but the up curl of his lip was enough of an answer for his former master.

"What did you do?" Steve asked, staring intently at the Dark Lord. "What did you show him?"

"The future." Vader gazed at Anakin. "Your future. My past."

"I'm not you." Anakin rebuked. "No way in hell could I ever do something like that!"

"So they say." Darth Vader calmly said. "But once you've given yourself over to the Dark Side, forever lost you will be."

"Yeah, everything we just learned about this place says otherwise." Peter retorted.

Darth Vader looked over at the wall-crawler then at Captain America and Falcon.

In his initial clash with Anakin, whilst the younger Jedi experienced visions of his life, so too did the Sith Lord of his younger self.

Things weren't supposed to be this way.

And… maybe…

The Sith Lord steeled himself, a quick shake of his head.

"You've got one foot in the door. But what of it?" Vader asks him. "It should be perfectly clear by now that the difference in our skill and power is still like night and day."

Clenching his lightsaber, Anakin gritted out a defiant response. "My arms and legs still work. And I'm still breathing. It was your spirit and will that was beaten."

The Sith Lord froze at that. "What?"

"You accepted the downfall without even thinking of what else could be done." Anakin fiercely said. "I didn't see everything but I saw enough. You may claim to do what you did for the people you loved and cared for but what you really did was succumb to fear. I don't mind losing to someone else, pride be damned. But I will not be beaten by myself." Anakin took a moment to think about that last line. "Yeah, that sounded better in my head."

"Let's finish this already." Sam said and they all ran at the Dark Lord together.

Darth Vader was on the defensive the entire time, the Sith Lord fueling his power with his hate and anger to keep them at bay.

The Clones kept running in circles around the group whilst the Jedi and Avengers brought it to him.

As they continued clashing, Anakin had to let the Force flow through him, guide him. During this, he felt the dark come into him like in their previous encounter and he did his best to balance his internal scales.

"I'll still be the hero others made me as, just as I reject who you are." Anakin pointed his lightsaber right at Vader, eyes showing both his natural blue and Sith yellow. "I'll use every ounce of my strength to defeat the me that is you."

Darth Vader had heard enough and threw his arms out. A powerful shockwave from Force was expunged from the Sith Lord, causing all to fly away from him.

"Why do you persist?" Vader said through a haggard breath, that attack appeared to take the wind out of him. "Why do you choose to fight against your destiny? You know this is what you will eventually become so why fight against it?"

Anakin was on one knee, breathing heavily, gazing up at Darth Vader. While the Sith Lord was standing tall, Skywalker could see and hear that the battle was weighing on him as well.

His suit was damaged, tatters in some areas and his bone-chilling breath was now coming out with pained wheezes.

"Because he's worth it!" Ahsoka abruptly spoke up. "Master Skywalker is my hero, my master and my brother. I'll fight for him until I can't anymore."

"We don't give up on friends." Peter chimed in, rising to his feet. "You can try talking down to Anakin all you want but he won't fall and we won't let him."

"Then you are all fools."

"Better to be fools than to ever doubt our General." Rex declared, a fierce look in his eyes beneath his helmet. "Every last one of the 501st would follow our General to the ends of the galaxy and we know he'd never lead us astray."

"Your vision is flawed." Obi-Wan stated firmly. "You may think yourself to be Anakin Skywalker but that is the furthest thing from the truth."

"You heard 'em." Steve said.

"You're gonna lose." Sam stated.

"How enlightening. But can you believe in such a thing, Anakin? You saw what is to come. Do you truly believe that such a fate is unavoidable?"

The brown-haired Jedi Knight didn't respond, a feeling of turmoil in his heart and soul when a stray memory came in from earlier today.

"Love can save you, not condemn you."

Love… it can lead to the Dark Side… but it can also be what can be the force that pulls those out from the darkness. And he knew he wasn't alone in that regard.

Anakin released a sigh and closed his eyes.

Though his eyes were closed he saw.

He saw them.

It first started with his mother Shmi, his mother smiling at him in the way that always alleviated his worries.

Following after her was his wife Padme along with Ahsoka Tano. His wife smiled lovingly at him whilst his Padawan held that same old cocky grin she emulated from him. After those two were Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. His two masters gazed at him with trust and pride.

Then came Captain Rex with the 501st Legion, all his men ready to follow him to the end.

After them were the thirteen Avengers whom he has bonded with and had come to call close friends and confidants. They were all waving and laughing with him, giving a sense of belonging that even the Jedi could never give him.

And even with that, he still saw the rest of the Jedi Order.

Barriss, Luminara, Aayla, Plo Koon, Grandmaster Yoda, even grumpy old Mace Windu.

They were all there.

All there for him.

And he would not let them down.

Opening his eyes, Anakin's glare was gone and replaced with one of unbreakable determination.

"History isn't set in stone. There's much that can be changed." Anakin held up his lightsaber. "Let's get him."

In an instant, all his friends and allies attacked at once and this time, they overwhelmed the Sith Lord.

The Clone littered Vader with blaster bolts despite his best efforts in stopping them.

Captain America rushed in, smashing his shield face-first into the Dark Lord who sailed in the air only for Falcon to swoop around and clothesline him with his wingsuit.

Just as Vader fell to the ground, a webline snagged his back and he was yanked into the direction of Peter who roundhouse kicked the Sith Lord.

He stumbled with Anakin rushing right at him with Ahsoka and Obi-Wan by his side.

His old Master and Padawan ran ahead first and Vader was about to retaliate when Spider-man fired webs that immobilized the Sith's movements.

Vader could do nothing as Obi-Wan slashed through him followed by Ahsoka. He inhaled sharply just as Anakin came in for the final attack, slicing through him at such power and speed, he appeared behind the Sith Lord, lightsaber being held diagonally up and the ground between him and Vader being cracked.

The Dark Lord released a pained grunt, collapsing to his knees.

Anakin turned back to his darker self, walking around to stand in front of him. There was no face of triumph but unflinching belief.

"You may claim that you're me but I will never stop fighting your supposed future. Not now, not ever."

There was a brief moment of silence, only the sound of Vader's heavy breath being heard by all.

What followed was an audible crack from the helmet and pieces of it fell away to reveal the face of Darth Vader.

He was bald, scarred, and pale. Several cybernetic pieces were attached to his flesh with his yellow Sith eyes glaring at the man before him.

"Ew, that's not Anakin." Peter quipped. "He's waaay too ugly to look like that."

"Peter." Ahsoka said with a roll of her eyes.

"What? Come on, you know it's true."

While the young couple were now bantering away, they went ignored by Anakin and Vader who only kept their gazes on each other.

"Even if you've defeated me like before, I'll still be here."

"I know." Anakin softly said. "And I'll be waiting for you when I see you again. Just so I can beat you back once more."

Like that, Darth Vader faded away.

A tense silence followed after with none moving or speaking until…

"So was that all real or-"

"Hevy, look at us," Echo deadpanned. "Did any of that seem fake to you?"

Anakin released a sigh, plopping down on the ground.

"I need a nap." He rubbed his eyes. "And a drink. And maybe Barriss' help. Everything just hurts right now."

"You're telling us." Sam muttered, rotating his shoulder.

Anakin gave the aviator a tired smile, looking forward when something caught his eye.

Holding up his hand, for the briefest of moments, Anakin could have sworn that his arm resembled-

"Master?"

He looked up to see Ahsoka next to him with a concerned gaze.

"Are you alright?"

The Jedi Knight glanced back at his hand and saw that it was normal again.

"Just need to make some new adjustments." Said Skywalker before he snorted. "Maybe get that hand cannon right this time."

"Really?" Peter excitedly said.

"Hey, no fair." Hevy complained. "Why does the general get one and we don't?"

"We can, Hevy." Fives retorted. "Just not you."

"What? Why not?"

"General." Rex spoke aloud and all turned to him as he held up something familiar to all for Anakin.

Tentatively, he took the item out of Rex's hand and held it up before igniting it.

It was Vader's lightsaber.

As much as he wanted to get rid of this, destroying it; there was something that held him back from doing so.

The crimson blade receded back into its hilt and he clipped it to his belt.

"Master, what-"

"The fight with my Dark Side isn't over, Snips." Anakin softly said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "It's one I'll likely carry with me my whole life."

"Are you sure about having that, Anakin?" Obi-Wan quietly asked.

"No." He freely admitted. "But… so long as I have you guys by my side, I'll be fine. You guys will keep me from doing stupid Poodoo that can make me lose my way."

Obi-Wan appeared uncertain for a moment before releasing a sigh and having a more proud smile in place.

"Your trials may have been unorthodox and rushed but Anakin, I am proud to see the Jedi Knight you have become and the man you are turning into."

"All thanks to your teachings, Master." Skywalker returned with a grateful expression.

"Come on." Steve spoke up. "Let's get outta here." He held up his Avengers ID card. "Been getting messages and transmissions asking where in the hell we went."

The group all turned to exit the dark cavern, soon stepping back out to the lush surface of Tython.

On their way back, despite achieving such a victory, the Chosen One still voiced a measure of doubt.

"You know, the movies you've shown us have been awesome and all but… there is one that's on my mind now after seeing it." Anakin said, the present Avengers all sharing curious looks, wondering where he was going with this. "After seeing him… me… you know, I just… is that really the only path my life will lead to? One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it. What if that's true? What if that is what I will become, regardless of what changes have been made?"

"Hey, where's all this coming from?" Sam asked. "We just kicked the shit out of douchebag you."

"I think you're worrying too much, General." Fives stated.

"But is it still a possibility?" Skywalker couldn't help but ask.

Peter hummed aloud, rubbing his chin at that thought. "Well, much as Master Oogway may believe that I believe in you, Anakin. I believe you will never fall to the Dark Side and become tall, dark and brooding."

"Isn't he that already?" Ahsoka joked.

"Since when do I brood?" Anakin indignantly asked. "I'm the last person who broods."

With that, the mood between the group lightened as now they chatted amongst each other more lightheartedly as they returned to the temple that the Jedi had set up as the main one on Tython for the time being.

Their return was met with surprise and bewilderment given the state they were all in and the best they could explain was a Force Quest, as Peter opted to call it.

They promised to explain everything in due time but right now, they all wanted to rest and heal up.

Barriss was visibly fussing over them all, especially over Ahsoka and Peter. Her needs to do a lot to fix them up alongside the other healers.

Some of the Council questioned Obi-Wan and he told them that they would explain all when they took a proper rest.

The same explanation was given to the Avengers by the trio that were there.

Much as they wanted answers, all saw how tired they all were and let them retire in their rooms.

Though he was exhausted, The Chosen One knew there was one last thing to do before the day was out.

At his impromptu quarters at the Tython temple, Anakin pulled out the Holocron of Marr and activated it.

The Ancient Sith Lord manifested before the Jedi and in an instant, the Dark Side user detected a change in the Jedi.

"You feel different from the last time we spoke."

"I am. In more ways than I can imagine." He said, pulling out Vader's lightsaber.

"And what is this?"

"A path, a possibility… what I need to overcome." Anakin gazed at the spirit with fierce determination as he ignited the red blade. "I want to change it."

Marr crossed his arms at that. "Such a goal isn't guaranteed."

"I know. But it's best to be sure I am making the attempt instead of letting it come naturally. Do or do not, there is no try."

"Wise words." Marr nodded. "But you must also understand that there can only be moments where you have to try before you can do. In order to change it, you must change the lightsaber. Like many lightsabers, they are part of their wielders and creators. Representing who they are. In this case, this has a real connection with you."

"Yeah, I'm well aware of it." Anakin wryly said. "So how do I change this? Prevent this outcome?"

"To begin with, what do you know of cleansing a Kyber crystal?"

AN

Fucking hell, this one was a doozy.

It's so crazy how this chapter came together honestly.

99 chapters of build-up and somehow, we still didn't cover everything we wanted to do but we had a lot and there is still SO MUCH MORE TO COME.

This chapter is already freakishly long and it's only a taste of what's coming.

What Season 4 is going to be.

Jebest4781: And this week… is Spider-man: Across the Spiderverse. Good god, I'm so hyped for it. Will need to rewatch Into the Spiderverse before then. Once seeing the new movie, so many ideas… oh it'll be fantastic.

FMW: The hype is real and if there's any indication of Spiderverse playing a role in this story, well, just remember the last chapter and remember what has been told many times before.

It's all part of the plan.

With that said and done, thus reaches the end of the third arc in the final saga of season 3.

TWO MORE TO GO.

And people, please, remember, VOTE VOTE VOTE.

You guys have one chapter to vote on your top fifteen favorite characters in this story from the 70 I have listed in the poll. If you have other favorites, please put them down in the reviews. This is all for the art piece commemorating 100 chapters so I need you guys to vote.

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VOTE, READ AND REVIEW AND AS ALWAYS HAVE NICE DAY.