Episode 111: New Realm Champion!

It seemed like Peter Parker only blinked for a moment. But when he did, Xavier's school was gone along with the X-Men and the Mutant students he befriended. Now him, MJ, Peter Quill, and Gwen Stacy were standing in the pinewood forest just outside of Sokovia City where the branching path they took stood. The only other person with them was Jean Grey.

"What happened?" Peter asked, looking around in confusion. "Did Professor Xavier use his telepathy to make us fall asleep again?"

"Unfortunately, he did," Jean admitted. "He's very strict about protecting our school's location, and what happened last night made him extra nervous."

"Is that why we were brought all the way here instead of back in the clearing where we were before?" MJ guessed.

"Yes," Jean nodded. "But I think he also wanted to save you guys the trip of having to trek back down the mountains to Sokovia City."

"So how did he bring us here?" Quill questioned.

"Did he put us to sleep and had the X-Men use the Blackbird to drop us off?" Gwen figured.

"That's exactly what he did," Jean confirmed. "Now let's get going. I'm sure there are people waiting for you."

"Right, Miss Potts and Monica!" MJ realized. "We've been gone for a week! I hope they don't think we're dead."

When they arrived in Sokovia City, they went to the Novi Grad Church where the former Sokovia City Realm was located. They were surprised to not only find Monica Rambeau standing guard, but also a guy with short brown hair wearing a dark-blue hoodie and red sunglasses. Standing next to him was a Marémon that resembled an owl with black and purple feathers, a hood-like covering over its face, wings shaped like longbows, and tail feathers shaped like arrows.

"Took you guys long enough," the guy with the short brown hair said, glancing at Peter and the others. "I was under the impression you'd be back in two days."

"Excuse me, but who are you to talk to us like that?" Gwen snapped. "You have no idea what we've been through!"

"Oh, I know what you've been through," the guy with the short brown replied, taking off his sunglasses. "Captain Rogers filled me in last night."

"You know Steve?" MJ exclaimed. "Then you must be—

"Clint Barton, former Avengers member," said the guy with the short brown hair. "And this is my Marémon companion Hawkeye."

In response, the owl-shaped Marémon with the purple feathers cooed while bowing his head.

"Barton's one of the judges for the Affection Ribbon Contest," Monica explained. "Miss Potts called him here to run the competition in her place as she couldn't wait for you guys any longer."

"So where is she now?" Peter asked.

Monica scratched her head briefly. "Last I checked, she was heading to Kamar-Taj Village to see if Doctor Strange is back from helping Nick Fury and Thor Odinson find Odin, Loki, and Hela."

"But we just spoke with Nick Fury," Quill said. "He said Strange and Thor got transported along with Odin and Thor's siblings when Surtur got summoned."

"Surtur?" Monica's brow furrowed. "You mean the God-Type Marémon which destroyed Asgard? THAT Surtur?"

"Yes, though technically Surtur is a God/Element-Type Marémon," Peter corrected.

For a moment, Monica's eyes glowed blue. But then she took a deep breath and sighed, causing her eyes to turn back to their normal dark color.

"I know you want to help find Strange and the Odinson family, but we gotta deal with this Sokovia City situation first," Barton said, rubbing Monica's shoulder. Then he noticed Jean. "And who might you be?"

"Jean Grey, of the X-Men," Jean said nervously. "I'm here to replace Wanda Maximoff as the Sokovia City Realm Champion."

Barton looked confused. "I thought Steve offered the position to Professor Xavier."

"He declined, so he sent me in his place," Jean explained.

"Okay," Barton shrugged. "I guess you can hand the Reality Stone to Miss Grey and head out, Monica. We can handle things from here."

"Are you sure?" Monica asked.

"Yeah, sure! I mean, you have more important things to take care of, right?"

"Well, I have been summoned for a military court hearing to provide my testimony of how SWORD handled the Anomaly. But I've been putting it off until Sokovia City's new Realm Champion arrived," Monica realized and looked over at Jean. "Now that she's here, though, I suppose I can leave to take care of the hearing and then see if Nick Fury needs help locating Strange and the Odinsons."

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Barton declared.

The next day, Jean was sworn in as Sokovia City's newest Realm Champion with Barton present to act as a representative of the Avengers League. She then picked a new spot for entering the Sokovia City Realm using the Reality Stone, which was a plaza that had a bronze statue of Wanda's deceased brother Pietro. Inside the metaphysical realm where Marémon Matches would take place, the area resembled the Danger Room from Xavier's school. Among the first to challenge Jean for the Reality Stone Badge were Peter and Quill.

"You should go in," Quill said to Peter as they stood outside the swirling rainbow vortex that appeared before Pietro's statue.

"No, you go!" Peter offered. "I need a few minutes to prepare."

"Okay, then," Quill declared. "See you in a bit! When I come back, I'll have a Reality Stone Badge on my blazer."

"Good luck," Peter said, giving Quill the thumbs-up.

Quill thumbed Peter back and entered the new Sokovia City Realm.

"Does Quill have any Marémon that can stand up to Jean's Mutant-Type ones?" MJ asked.

"His Rocoon is part Mutant-Type, which might give him a fighting chance. Though his Brax is part Super-Type, and those are weak against Mutant-Types," Peter said. "I hope he realizes that."

"Well, I should get going to the Sokovia City Theater to get the Intimacy Ribbon with Gwen," MJ said, looking at her wristwatch. "I'll see you later."

"Yep!" Peter waved.

MJ waved back, though she blushed a little as she walked away.

I guess she really does have romantic feelings for me, Peter thought. But do I feel the same way about her? Now I'm not so sure….

To be continued…