Remnant's Mightiest Heroes!
Chapter 4: Lost When We Wake
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Ruby sat at the edge of the Helicarrier, legs dangling over the side. She gazed upon the city of the alien world she and her friends found themselves in. Skyscrapers reached for the heavens and the noise of traffic could almost be heard. They called the city New York and their planet Earth. Weiss called it unimaginative, but they called their planet Remnant.
It reminded her so much of her planet, which made her heart ache.
"Miss Rose?"
She turned her head to see the man who called out to her. Unlike the other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, he wore a black suit and tie. His brown hair is short and groomed to the side. Unlike the other agents, he was never without a smile every time she saw him.
"Hey, Agent Coulson," Ruby waved and smiled back.
"Enjoying the view?"
"Yeah," Ruby glanced back at the city, New York they call it. "Back on Remnant, we were too busy with the Grimm attacks to build infrastructure and architecture like this. There was one attempt to expand Vale, but it was abandoned after being overrun by Grimm."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Coulson apologized. Ruby can tell he meant it. "But if it makes you feel better, New York gets almost destroyed on a monthly basis."
"I can tell," Ruby chuckled. Then silence fell between them, except for the wind blowing.
"So, did you need me for something?" She asked.
"Director Fury is ready for you," He answered. "He sent me here to escort you."
"Of course," Ruby scooted her butt away from the edge and stood up. Coulson gestured her to follow which she obliged. Together, they walked across the top deck.
"So how is your head?" He asked. Ruby placed a hand to a sore spot on her head.
"A little sore," She admitted. "But it's a relief to be able to talk to anyone. All though, I'd rather not go through something like that again."
It was a few hours after they met the Avengers, the superhero team they met. Thor asked them if they could give them translator implants. According to Tony Stark, the guy in the armor, they act as translators to allow communication between different species across the galaxy. When they were told that they have to surgically implement them, they were less than pleased. After calming them down, they realized that Thor can't be around them forever. Not everyone had the 'Allspeak' that Thor possessed. Reluctantly, they agreed. It took them a week to recover from the ordeal.
"Hopefully, you won't," Coulson said. "But it was worth it in the end don't you think? Now that we can talk to each other, how are you liking Earth?"
"It's a bit different, but it looks okay," Ruby said. "I wish we could explore more."
"You'll get your wish sooner or later," Coulson assured as they approached the entrance into the Helicarrier. "Director Fury insists on keeping you where his eye can see."
"To make sure we aren't a threat," Ruby mumbled nearly out loud. She had been informed by the Avengers, the people who rescued them, that Fury is paranoid. They called him the spy for a reason. She couldn't blame him. he was only doing his job to make sure his planet is safe. Even from them.
Sensing her distress, Coulson changed the subject to one of his favorites.
"Do you like superheroes?"
Ruby's' face perked up at that. Ever since she learned that Superheroes exist, she had been ecstatic over the week. It was as if her comics had come to life. Not huntsman or huntresses in costume, actual superheroes like the Avengers.
"Yeah!" Ruby beamed. "I love Iron Man's armor! Also, Captain America's shield! Is it true that it is almost indestructible?"
"Yep. It's a mixture of Vibranium and Adamantium. I'll let the Captain fill you in on the details. He's also my favorite superhero." Coulson stopped before a conference room. He opened the door and gestured inside. "We're here. Nick Fury and Cap are already inside."
Ruby's smile became nervous as she walked in. She took her seat at a metal table. This reminded her of that time where she met Ozpin at the police station. Across from her sat Nick Fury himself. Standing next to her was Captain America, his helmet off and without his shield. Fury's eye gazed at her.
"Hello Ms. Rose. Now that you're here we can begin."
For what seemed like a full hour, she answered Fury's questions to the best of her ability without holding anything back. They started from her life before Beacon Academy and after attending. The silver-eyed girl also told him about the Creatures of Grimm and Dust. She had been nervous about the ordeal, but the presence of the captain reassured her. Like that time at the top deck.
When they got to the invasion of Remnant, Fury dropped a bombshell on her.
"He's from Earth?" Ruby asked, nearly jumping out of the chair.
"Yes," Fury nodded, observing her closely. "He's from the 30th century. Normally, he'd come to attack someone in this time because it affects his timeline. Years ago, he tried to conquer our time, but we stopped him. He was held at a secure facility before he escaped. We were wondering what happened when he suddenly dropped off the radar."
"Oh," Ruby could feel her heart beating faster at this information. "So, anything else?"
"We learned that he had a wife," Ruby nearly flinched, but not enough for Fury to not notice. "Her name is Ravonna. She's mainly the reason he keeps attacking us because she got caught up in a temporal anomaly. Whenever something happens to her, he goes ballistic."
Ballistic would be an understatement, she wanted to say. But she couldn't out of fear. Fury seemed to have noticed the perspiration.
"Something wrong Ms. Rose?"
"N-nothing," Ruby stammered. She gripped her jeans with to steady her arms. "So, is there anything else?"
"That will be all," Fury finished. "Your friends are at the mess hall. It's lunch time."
"Thank you," Ruby got up and left the room. As soon as she was out, her face became sad. Back there, she couldn't say it.
I'm sorry we doomed your world.
Eventually, she found the mess hall. The agent standing guard let her in. The mess hall is filled with tables empty save for one. It is where her friends are. They sat around a table eating meat and vegetables. Like her, they wore jeans and a shirt with the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo on it.
"Hey Ruby!" Yang waved her over. Ruby grabbed a tray, filled it with food and walk over to her friends, taking a seat next to Weiss. "How'd your interview go?"
"It was nerve wracking," She sighed. "He looked like he is looking deep, for a lack of a better term, my soul."
"He's like my sister," Weiss said. "Strict, disciplined, not to mention the paranoia the Avengers mentioned."
"So, what did he talk to you about?" Blake asked.
"Just everything about my life leading up to Kang," Ruby said, picking at her food. "Same with you guys?"
"Yeah," Jaune said looking down. "Right to the fact that we learned that this is the home world Kang mentioned. Oh, and there's also the fact that we destroyed it."
"In the future, you mean?" Nora corrected. Her tray is still full, which is unusual for a girl with her appetite. Everyone except for Pyrrha looked depressed.
"Come on guys," Pyrrha said. "You can't let what Kang said get to you."
"Easy for you to say, you were dead," Yang snapped. Pyrrha looked at her in shock. The blonde realized her what she had said and became shameful. "I'm sorry Pyrrha. No offense, but you weren't the match that started it all."
"It wasn't your fault Yang," Blake tried to reassure her partner. "From the time stream, you weren't wrong about asking questions. We would never know that Salem couldn't be killed."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I want the world destroyed," Yang insisted, banging her fist on the table. "Or the universe for that matter. Yet because of my anger, we doomed this world and ours."
"That's not all," Everyone turned to Ruby. "I just learned from Fury that Kang had a wife. Her name is Ravonna. Fury said that he'd go ballistic when something happened to her."
They looked astonished by the news. Ren widened his eyes. "You don't think…"
"I think she died," Ruby finished. "Kang said Earth was invaded by the Grimm. Considering that they go after anything living, I think they killed her. We killed her."
This sunk into their minds. They knew this to be the case. Kang's voice was filled with pain and anguish when he blamed them for the destruction of the universe. They could hear what he said to them now.
Your very existence is a threat to us all!
"It's not fair!" Weiss exclaimed, slamming her fist on the table, causing the table to shake a bit. "It's not like we asked to be the ones to hold our planets fate in our hands!"
"So, what do we do?" Jaune asked. "You heard what the Avengers told us. From A.I.M.'s records, we've been here for nearly half a year. Thought we likely might've been here longer."
"I…I don't know," Ruby admitted. Deep down, she wanted to go back to Remnant and save her people. But did she have the right? What if Kang said was true and he could kill Salem? What if by going back, they endanger their Planet and their loved ones?
"I think it's better that we don't go back."
Nobody argued with her. What they didn't know was that they were being listened to. The Scrolls they got back had a blinking red light on its camera. Listening to them were Iron Man, Nick Fury, and Captain America in the interrogation room. Their faces look grim.
"So that's what's eating them," Tony muttered. His face gave a look of sympathy.
"Still think they're a threat Fury?" Steve challenged the director, daring him to prosecute seven broken kids. Nick stood up and rubbed his chin in contemplation. He turned to the Avengers.
"What's Dr. Banners schedule?"
Ruby was snoozing when somebody gently shook her.
"Come on, five more minutes," She muttered. The person didn't stop, rather, they gave her another gentle shake. Irritated, she sat up and glared. "Seriously, can't I- "
She stopped as she had come face to face with Agent Natasha Romanoff, better known as the Black Widow. From what she heard from the other agents, she's Fury's number one agent. The deadliest. Unlike the other Avengers, she has enough time to visit them over the week of their stay.
"Agent Romanoff," Ruby jumped. "I'm so sorry! I just—"
"It's alright Ruby," Natasha smiled. "Believe it or not, I've never had the privilege of sleeping well when I was your age. But that's another story for another time."
"O-okay," Ruby stammered. "So what time is it?"
"Right about now, it's 5:30."
"5:30? Why wake me up so early?"
"Because it's the earliest time to go out on a field trip. Do you like field trips Ruby?"
Ruby couldn't think of the last time she stepped foot outside the helicarrier. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see. I'll go wake the others. Just get ready."
RWBY and JNPR sat in a S.H.I.E.L.D. issued quinjet. Natasha sat at the cockpit, flying the plane. Weiss and Blake had bags under their eyes, as if annoyed that they're up. The rest looked excited that they are leaving the Helicarrier for the first time. Though they felt time drag on as they listened to the endless noise of jet engines.
"So, Nat," Yang called. "Are we there yet?"
"Let that be the only time you ask me," She warned. "and we're about fifteen kilometers to New Mexico."
"New Mexico?" Weiss asked. She checked her scroll, earlier she had enabled the map app that Stark installed. "You woke us up to take us to another state?"
"Don't worry, I'll treat you to some Tacos with our guest."
"Guest?" Jaune asked looking around. "I don't see anyone else here."
"He's waiting for us at the rendezvous," She replied. "Which is where we are right now."
She landed the quinjet and lowered the ramp. Powering it off, she got up from the cockpit and walked out. Without a word, the two teams followed her outside. Natasha had landed them, into what looked to be, a military installation. It was in a state of disrepair, some of it fallen onto the desert ground.
"What is this place?" Ruby asked.
"This is Los Diablos Missile Base," Natasha answered. "It was a nuclear testing site for the detonation of the Gamma Bomb."
"The Gamma Bomb?" Weiss asked.
"It's like a nuclear bomb, but with a high gamma radiation output."
Everyone turned to see a man walking towards them. He was dressed in brown pants and a purple shirt. His black hair is swept to the side, exposing his glasses.
"Hi guys," He greeted with a friendly air. "I'm the guest Nat may, or may not have mentioned."
"Bruce, I did mention you," Natasha smiled. "I figured that you may want to introduce yourself."
"Good point," Bruce turned to the children and reached out a hand. "My name is Robert Bruce Banner. I'm a PhD in physics. But my friends call me Bruce."
"Good to meet you Bruce," Nora cheerfully greeted as he shook their hands in turn.
"You too kids," Bruce grinned. "I assume you don't know why you're here?"
"Yep," They replied with a small pop.
"We'll let me tell you a story," Bruce replied. "As Nat may have mentioned, this was a testing site for the underground detonation for a gamma bomb."
"You mentioned that it was powerful than a nuclear bomb," Blake looked up from her scroll. She had opened a Wikipedia article about the bomb in question. "I'm glad that we didn't develop this. The side effects aren't worth it."
"Same here," Bruce agreed. "To be honest, that was never my intention when I oversaw it's construction."
"You built the Gamma bomb?" Weiss asked. "Why?"
"It was meant to be a fusion device for a strategic defense project. Not an offensive weapon," He replied, a dark look appeared on his face. "General Ross didn't see it my way. Anyway, we were in the middle of the testing when I saw someone trespass the testing grounds."
"What?" Weiss looked surprised that somebody would be dumb enough to enter a nuclear test site. The others shared the same reactions. "Why would somebody enter the grounds when there was a test?"
"I know. The guy in question was there because of a dare his friends made him do," Bruce replied. Blake had a sneaking suspicion that he knew who the guy was but let him continue.
"What did you do?" the cat girl asked.
"When I saw him, I told my colleague to halt the testing while I went to get him out," He turned around and faced the base like he expected the colleague to be there. "It turned out he was a Soviet spy. Rather than stop it, he let it continue, hoping I would die and halt everything."
Everyone gasped at that.
"So, what happened?" Ruby asked as Bruce took of his glasses and handed them over to Natasha. She stepped back from him.
"I managed to get him to a trench just in time. I wasn't so lucky. The Gamma bomb exploded, and I got caught in the blast."
"Wait, how are you alive?" Pyrrha asked, a look on confusion on her face. "Stark mentioned gamma radiation to us. He said that anyone will be killed with enough exposure to them."
For a while he didn't answer. Instead he turned around, and they could see his eyes glowing green. Then he changed. His body turned green as his body became more muscular and bigger. His shirt tore from the expansion until it fell off him, exposing green muscles. Only his pants remained intact, though a bit tattered at the legs. He gazed at the teams faces of shock, specifically Pyrrha. They had witnessed a small harmless scientist turn into the green behemoth of the Avengers.
"I happened Scarlet," Hulk replied in a deep voice. "Banner wasn't like the rest of mankind. When the gamma rays hit him, they created me."
"THAT WAS COOL!" Nora shouted. "Do it again!"
"Later pinky. Since that day, everybody viewed me as a monster," Hulk continued. "Everywhere I go, people hated me. Banner once tried to get rid of me for good. But then, he figured I could be a force for good. One day, it happened when I joined the Avengers. They didn't treat me as a monster or a weapon. They viewed me as a friend."
"That sounds grand Hulk," Pyrrha smiled. "I'm glad that you've found friends who see you for who you are."
"Not what you are," Blake agreed, smiling. She had similar experience on Remnant. Living among the faunus is a reminder of that. Hulk gave her a big grin.
"Now who wants some Tacos?"
Carol was smiling as the quinjet lowered. Out walked Teams RWBY and JNPR, who are brighter than they were before. Ren and Pyrrha were supporting a groaning Nora. Hulk landed on the Helicarrier with a boom. She waved to them.
"Hey guys!" She greeted.
"Captain Marvel!" Ruby greeted. She and the others were happy to see her. Carol would regularly come by to visit them when she had the chance. Earth's mightiest hero appear to radiate an aura of optimism and confidence.
"So, how'd your trip go?"
"It was great!" Yang grinned. "We got to see the Hulk!"
"I can tell," Carol turned to Nora. "What happened to her?"
"She tried to beat Hulk in a taco eating contest," Ren explained exasperatedly. "It didn't go well for her."
"Well Hulk is a walking nuclear reactor," Carol explained. "HE needs a lot of energy. Compared to her, she's a walking battery."
"Next time," Nora declared, raising her head. "I'll beat him next time, you'll see."
"Love to see you try girly," Hulk grinned.
"Hopefully, not too soon," Carol said. "Because you've got dinner with another guest."
"So, who do you think we're meeting?" Nora asked, recovered from her ordeal.
"Likely one of the Avengers," Jaune said. "I mean, who else would visit us? Personally, I hope it's Captain America."
"Me too," Ruby excitedly said. "I wanted to ask about his shield!"
"You are so childish," Weiss chastised as they walked through the helicarriers halls. "Captain Rogers is obviously visiting us as often as he can. So, we can't expect him to be the guest Captain Danvers mentioned."
"We're you are hoping for Thor Ice queen?" Yang asked teasingly. Weiss immediately became flustered. "From my sources, he's quite the hot!"
"N-no!" Weiss shook her head. Everybody laughed at her expense. "Let's just get to the place!"
She walked briskly to the entrance to the top deck. The others followed her outside and stopped alongside a rigged Weiss. For before them, sat a wooden table laden with food. But what caught their attention was the man standing in front of them.
"Hail, my new friends!" Thor greeted with open arms.
"Thor?!" Weiss exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"We've thought that you weren't given a proper welcome," Thor grinned as he gestures to the table. "So, I've had the honor of organizing your welcome feast!"
"All of this for us?" Yang asked. "I call dibs on the chicken!"
"All the fish are mine," Blake simply said, holding a knife and fork out of nowhere.
Seven minutes later, they were eating like a pack of wolves. Thor had brought a variety of food to the table. There was chicken, bread, cheese and even a boar with an apple in his mouth. Thankfully, he brought drinks besides alcohol much to Ruby and Yang's relief. The last thing they wanted was for one of their friends to become addicted to alchohol.
"OMG!" Yang stuffed her face with as much chicken her one hand could fit. "This cannot compare to the food S.H.I.E.L.D. has been giving us."
"Where are your manners Yang?" Weiss criticized as she ate her food with knife and fork. Due to her upbringing, she is more refined at the table than the others.
"I don't know!" Yang quipped. "Maybe I left them at this place called I need to pig out after so long!"
Thor smiled at the boisterous air the children had around them. Thanks to his green friend, their spirits have been lifted if only a bit. His gaze turned to the Ruby, who was fiddling with her food. Her expression looked far off.
"What troubles you, young one?" Thor asked gently. Ruby jerked up.
"Oh, nothing! Just thinking about our field trip with the Hulk and Agent Romanoff…"
"I heard about young Valkyries attempt to best him in a food contest. Did you know I once drank half the ocean?"
"Really?" Blake asked. She had been listening and had a dubious look on her face. "Didn't you get even more thirsty from drinking saltwater?"
"I was tricked into it," Thor admitted with a chuckle. "You could say that my host at the time was surprised as well."
"Funny," Ruby simply said. She thought for a moment, as if determining if what she would ask would be the death of her, before speaking to the Thor. "Hey, Thor?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, young one." Thor stopped eating and focused his attention on her.
"It's just a…well…" Ruby fumbled for the right words. "What should you do if somebody thinks you're a threat to the universe?"
Everybody stopped eating immediately. Her friends had looked at her as if she had doomed them all. Ruby shrank and gave them an apologetic look. But Thor brought a hand to his chin to ponder her question.
"I mean, in the future!" Ruby quickly added, waving her hands. "What if somebody comes along and tells you that you do this thing that puts the universe in danger. I mean, not that we want to do it of course, but what if it…"
"Ruby," Weiss sighed, palming her forehead. "Just stop talking."
Ruby's shoulders sank even further.
"It's alright young one," Thor said reassuringly. "From what Ruby is saying, I believe I can relate."
"What do you mean?"
Thor set his plate aside. "Tell me, what do you know of me and my people?"
"Cap told us that you are the Norse God of Thunder," Jaune spoke with admiration. "Part of a race of god-like beings known as Asgardians. Earth is also known as Midgard to you."
"Very good Jaune," Thor nodded.
"Seriously?" Nora asked. "You're a literal god?"
"Yes, I am," Thor nodded. His face became grim. "But that doesn't mean that I'm not bound to the hands of death."
"Aren't gods supposed to be like…you know…" Ruby stammered. "Immortal?"
"I am. But that doesn't mean my fate is changed in Ragnarök."
"Ragnarök?" Everyone looked quizzical.
"The twilight of the gods," Thor explained. "It is a prophecy which has plagued my people since our beginning. In a way, this might answer your question young Rose. Do you mind if I tell it?"
"Sure?" Ruby answered slowly. She was unsure if she should be curious or dread. She sincerely hoped it wasn't the latter.
"Someday," Thor began. "There shall come a great winter unto Midgard, one of which they had never seen. For three years, biting winds will blow snow from all directions, and the suns warmth will fail, plunging the world into an endless cold. There will be no summers in between, for this is Fimbulvetr. The first sign of Ragnarok."
"Fimblel…fimbul…" Ruby tried to pronounce.
"Midgard calls it Fimbulwinter. Just to avoid confusion."
"Fimbulwinter huh?" Yang mused. "Sounds like the whole world is going to be like Atlas, huh, ice queen?"
"No, it isn't you brute!" Weiss argued. "And for your information, if Remnant had to go through three years of winter straight, we'll all die! Isn't that right Thor?"
"Weiss is indeed correct," Thor gave a solemn nod. "Without any period of summer, every mortal on Midgard will become desperate. In their hunger and thirst for food, morals and laws will fade away, leaving them to struggle for survival. In this period, it will be an age of swords and axes; brother shall slay brother, father shall slay son, and son shall slay father."
"I take it back," Yang said ashamed. "This Fimbulwinter sounds a lot worse than Atlas."
"I agree," Weiss shuddered. Atlas may be filled with stuck up rich people like her father, but nothing could be worse than what she had heard.
"I don't want to kill my father," Ruby whimpered. Thor reached over and gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. He gave a reassuring smile before resuming his tale.
"Skoll and Hati, the wolf gods, will at last catch the prey they have been chasing for eternity- the sun and moon. The stars too, will fade away, leaving the skies nothing but a black void."
"Wait, question," Ruby raised a hand. "How are two wolves going to eat a sun and moon?"
"Ruby, can we wait until the end of the story to ask questions?" Weiss asked. Ruby pouted but let Thor continue.
"The great tree holding the cosmos together, Yggdrasil, will tremble and all trees and mountains will fall to the ground. The two beasts will also be set free. Fenrir will snap the chain keeping him prisoner and run free. Jormungand, the Midgard serpent, will rise from the depths making the seas spill all over the earth. From their convulsions they shake the Naglfar free from its moorings. The ship, which is made from the fingernails and toenails of the dead, will sail—"
Weiss made a gagging sound. Everyone looked at her with eyebrows raised.
"What?!" She asked with her arms spread. "Don't tell me you aren't grossed out as well? Who makes a ship out of dead men's fingernails?"
"You're the one who said we should wait until the end to ask questions," Blake deadpanned.
"Though I have to agree with you," Jaune spoke with his face green. He reached into his pocket and grabbed his medicine.
"I understand your feelings of disgust," Thor said. "Moving on, its crew will be the giants, the forces of chaos and destruction. Its captain will be Loki, the god of mischief and my brother."
"Your brother?" Weiss asked. "Why would your brother be sailing on that disgusting ship?"
"Because that would be his last attempt at seizing power," Thor replied grimly. "He's had his eye on the throne of Asgard and will do anything to achieve it."
For some reason, Weiss thought of Whitley, her younger brother. He never liked her and Winter for as long as she had lived. She wondered if he wanted the Schnee name.
"Fenrir will run across Midgard, devouring everything in his path. Jormungand will spit his venom all over, poisoning land, water, and air alike. The sky shall split, and from the crack will Surtur and his army of fire giants emerge. Wielding his sword, he and his forces march across the Bifrost to Asgard, my home. The bridge will break in their wake. Heimdall will blow the Gjallarhorn, to announce that Ragnarök had come. Then we will do battle."
RWBY and JNPR listened intently.
"Odin will fight Fenrir. At his side will be the einherjar, a host of chosen warriors whom he has kept for this moment. They will fight valiantly, more so than anyone, but it won't be enough." Thor paused for a moment, before continuing. "Fenrir ate my father and his men."
Thor became silent for a moment. Out of respect, RWBY and JNPR didn't say anything but silently bowed their heads. Then, Thor continued.
"Vidar, my half-brother, will kill Fenrir to avenge father. Another wolf, Garm, and my brother Tyr will slay each other. Heimdall and Loki will do the same, putting an end to his trickery, but costing Asgard one of its best. Frey and Surtur will also be the end of each other. Finally, it will be just me and my old foe – Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent."
A sense of dread fell upon them. If the story had a pattern, then they know what happens next. That was confirmed when Thor said, "I shall slay the serpent, but he covered me in his venom, sealing my fate. After taking nine steps, I will succumb to death. Then the remains of the world will sink into the sea, and there will be nothing left but the void. Creation will be as if it never happened."
Thor concluded the story to the sorrowful faces of the children. They had heard from Kang about the destruction of their home, not to mention their role in it. But Ragnarök didn't just end Earth, it ended the universe in the span of a single moment. Not even the Grimm would have time to spread before it happened.
Ruby placed a comforting hand on Thor's muscular arm. "I'm sorry Thor."
"That must be pretty rough," Jaune spoke with a soft voice. "Knowing that you're going to die, I mean."
"I thank you for your kindness, young warriors," Thor replied warmly. They are surprised that he is smiling despite the morbid story he told. "But it will be alright."
"What do you mean alright?" Weiss asked as I shock. "You're going to die a horrible death in the future! Not to mention the universe will be destroyed! Don't you feel afraid?"
"I am young Schnee," Thor admitted. "There can be no courage without fear. That is one of the many things my father Odin taught me. Back then, it made us confident knowing how we are going to die and when. What I'm more afraid of is what would happen if I did nothing to try and stop Ragnarök from happening."
"But what if Ragnarok can't be stopped?" Blake asked, staring at Thor intently. "What if it's already set in stone?"
"Even if the Norns have made it so, I choose to run towards my problems and not away from them," Thor declared. "Because that's what heroes do."
Thor took the opportunity to take a swig of his ale. The Remnantian teens continued to stare at him in awe. Blake felt a little jealous of Thor for his courage to not to run away from a deadly fate. It was contrasting how she ran away from her fear. But despite the seeming hopelessness of Ragnarok, the Asgardian is still more than willing to keep fighting against it.
Perhaps maybe…
"Do you really think we can be heroes?" Ren asked.
"I believe we all have the potential to be heroes," Thor leaned forward and folded his hands on the table. "Understand that heroes are not born but are made. Forged in the battles against adversity and injustice. Coming from a planet filled with killer shadow beasts and warriors, you must already have heroic sagas. I would very much like to hear some of them."
The Remanntian teens looked at each other for a moment. Thor continued to wait expectantly with an eyebrow raised. It was Ruby who looked at him with a small smile.
"You want to hear about how we saved Vale from the biggest Grimm invasion?"
Washington D.C.
"Welcome to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum," Steve Rogers greeted teams RWBY and JNPR in civilian attire.
The children stood in awe at the exhibits that lay before them. Hours ago, Agent Romanov woke them up and told them to get dressed. The clothes weren't what they wore before, but it's much better than the S.H.I.E.L.D clothes they were given. Then they took a jet to Washington D.C. Weiss was ecstatic that they can go to an actual city, while Jaune is just glad to be on the ground. Being on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier put him in a constant state of motion sickness. If it weren't for the medicine, he would've been vomiting all over. Just as he predicted, they rushed to examine the exhibits.
"Cap- I mean…Mr. Rogers?" Ruby asked. Steve shook his head in amusement. He had asked them not to refer to him by his superhero name to avoid public attention. "Where are the weapons?"
"Sorry Ruby, no weapons here," Ruby slumped down in disappointment. "This is for Air and Space. There's plenty with weapons back at New York. I brought you here for another reason."
"What reason?" Blake asked as she took her eyes off a space shuttle exhibit. She wore a black cap to hide her faunus ears. Earlier, Nora had been trying to board it despite the attendants claims that it wasn't for riding. She was held back by Nora.
"I'll show you, come." Steve turned and walked into a direction, RWBY and JNPR following. As they walked, they passed by other exhibits. Each of them is amazed that this planet managed to take to space. They passed by an exhibit dedicated to a Neil Armstrong.
"Tell me, what do you know about World War II?" Steve asked.
"We know that it is the second great war," Weiss answered. During their time on the Helicarrier, they passed the time by reading the history of the world. "World War One started with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. His death triggered a series of events which lead to the war."
"After it ended, the great depression occurred," Blake said. Then she scowled in disgust. "It was the Nazi's invaded of Poland which started World War ii."
Blake read about the Nazi's. They made the White Fang look like amateurs compared to the atrocities they've committed. The holocaust was the one that made her stomach twist. She thought about Adam Taurus, her former partner. Drawing lines, she knew that he and Adolf Hitler share similarities. That made her partially glad that Remnant got invaded.
"Be glad you didn't suffer another great war," Steve told them. They nodded in agreement. "We've lost a lot of lives to bring those wars to an end. Let's hope we don't have a World War iii."
He stopped walking.
"We're here."
RWBY and JNPR gazed out at the exhibit. Instead of the usual aviation and space craft, the exhibit was out of the theme. Before them were display cases with objects and pictures that came from an era like their world's great war. On the speakers, music was playing.
Who's strong and brave here to save the American way…
"What's a world war ii exhibit doing here?" Weiss asked.
Steve just simply smiled and stood in front of a wall. Behind him is a painted mural. It showed in uniform holding out his shield. Next to him are the words 'Captain America. The Living Legend and The Symbol of Courage'.
"You have your own exhibit?" Jaune asked in surprise. "But…don't you have to be…?
"I'll get to that later," He chuckled. "For now, feel free to look around."
They split up and looked around. Ruby gawked at some of the prototype shields that were presented to the Captain before selecting the vibranium one. She skipped over to see the mannequins of the Captain and other people. The others checked the display cases containing relics of a bygone age.
Blake stood in front of another display. Steve walked over and saw she was looking at the memorial for his friend, James Buchannan Barnes. Rather, Steve always called him Bucky.
"You lost a partner?" Blake asked as she read the inscription.
"Yep, it was on a mission to secure a Nazi scientist," Steve answered, his tone becoming almost sorrowful as he remembered that day. "We were fighting our way through until I was pinned down. Bucky was protecting me as enemy forces closed in. Eventually, he got knocked out of the train and held on by a damaged rail. I tried to get him, but the rail snapped, and he fell."
Blake didn't say anything, likely out of respect for his fallen comrade. He wondered if he should tell her but decided to leave it. He'll surprise her.
"Hold on," Blake suddenly spoke. She read the date intently. "This is a different year before your time, so how could you—"
"Hey Rogers!" Yang called out to the captain. She and Jaune stood in front of his old motorcycle. "Did you seriously ride into a Nazi base with this?"
"Yep," Steve answered and made his way to them. "It got donated to a museum while I was sleeping."
"Sleeping?" Jaune asked. "I'm no expert but you have to be old."
Steve chuckled. "I think it's time I told you. Everyone, gather around."
Everyone left the display cases and converged upon the captain. He gave the voice like a storyteller.
"As Blake had pointed out, none of this would've existed," Steve said. "Unless of course I've actually fought in World War ii."
"You fought in World War ii?" Weiss asked in disbelief. She looked at him closely. "But you don't look…well…"
"Old?" Steve asked with a smile. "Yeah, I get that a lot. Especially since I was born in 1922."
"1922?!" Everyone exclaimed. That's way too old they wanted to say before a nearby attendant scowled at them. They quickly apologized.
"Please continue," Ruby whispered. She was fascinated by this.
"Like I said I was born in 1922, July fourth to be precise," Steve said. "It was after seeing footage of the Nazi's ransacking Europe and committing various atrocities that I wanted to enlist. But I was rejected as 4-F because of my frailty and sickness."
"You were sick, and you wanted to join?" Jaune asked in disbelief.
"I wanted to fight for my country, no matter what," Steve admitted with no amount of regret. "As I'm sure you wanted to become a hero like your family Jaune."
Jaune bashfully scratched the back of his head. A while back, he confessed that he forged his transcripts to get into Beacon. Thankfully, none of his friends held it against him.
"Anyway, my pleas fell unheeded until one man came to me. His name is Doctor Abraham Erskine. It was thanks to him the I was given a chance. In exchange, I volunteered for an experiment that would've changed the outcome of the war."
He walked towards another display. This time, it showed him as a skinny boy. Rather than the tall, muscular man that everyone saw today.
"He created the super soldier formula. The allies wanted to utilize it to create super soldiers. With them, the war would've been easily won. I was his success, but then…"
His face turned grim.
"What happened?" Pyrrha asked, already knowing the story is taking a dark turn.
"…there was a spy among us. He killed Dr. Erskine and made off with a sample of the formula. I chased him all the way to the port. By the time I caught him, he killed himself with a cyanide capsule. It was during then that I learned that he was working for HYDRA."
"HYDRA?"
"HYDRA is the scientific branch of the Nazi's, under the command of Johann Schmidt," Steve explained. "Otherwise known as the Red Skull. They believe that humanity cannot be trusted with its own freedom, because it's what causes conflict and strife. So, they seek to bring the world under their thumb."
"By killing innocent people?" Weiss asked incredulously. She shrank when the attendant shushed at her. Ruby and Yang snickered at her predicament. Lowering her voice, she continued. "I mean, what makes them think they had the right to do those atrocities?"
"Because they care about results," Steve answered darkly. "No matter how many lives they throw in the grinder. Which is why they had to be stopped."
"So, what did you do?" Nora asked cheerfully, trying to lighten the mood. "Pick up the shield and started smashing Nazi's?"
To their surprise, Steve shook his head and walked to a display shaped like a theater. On the screen, it showed the captain but in a less militaristic costume. It looked like it had been patched together with cloth. Behind him, girls wearing spangling outfits danced to the music.
Who'll hang the noose on the goose-stepping goons from Berlin?
"I started out as a mascot," He replied blandly to their faces.
"You're telling me that the Allies went through all the trouble of making you a super soldier only to make you a mascot?" Weiss asked incredulously as she watched the footage. "Why didn't they send you to the front lines?"
Pyrrha shuddered as she remembered her sponsors. Due to her skill, she became the poster girl for an unhealthy cereal. Thanks to that, nobody wanted to be her friend. No boy would approach her for the school dance. That is until she came to Beacon and met one Jaune Arc.
"Because I'm the only super soldier," He replied. "The colonel wanted an army, so I was once again rejected. Then Senator Brandt approached me and gave me a chance to serve my country. He used me to promote war bonds and encourage American participation. It was there that I got inspiration for my uniform and my moniker. Overtime, I became tired of being a dancing monkey."
"When did you stop being a mascot?" Ren asked as he covered a giggling Nora's mouth. They were on their final strike, so he wasn't taking any chances.
"When I heard that my friend was captured," Steve said. Already they were enraptured in his tale. Now they poured all their attention to the living legend. "The Colonel refused to send a rescue mission, so I went alone. Peggy Carter and Howard Stark helped me get to the P.O.W. camp, where I proceeded on foot. Eventually, I freed all the prisoners, secured vital intel, and got everybody outside enemy lines."
"Wow, you did all of that alone?" Ruby asked in awe. Steve nodded.
"It was there that the Colonel finally let me fight on the front lines," He continued. "Later, I got my shield. Thanks to the intel, we were able to take out multiple HYDRA facilities. With their weapons development halted, the tide turned for us. My last fight in the war was the assault on the last HYDRA headquarters. It was there I faced the Red Skull."
"You've mentioned him twice now," Weiss stated. "Who was he?"
"He's the leader of HYDRA, as I mentioned. He was an early recipient of the super-soldier serum. It was still in development, so it didn't work as intended. What it did succeed was turning him into a megalomaniac with a bad face job. Fury can show you when we get back."
"So, what happened next?" Jaune asked.
"The Red Skull boarded a plane and flew away. It was when I managed to board the plane that I learned his plane. Using self-piloted nuclear aircrafts, he planned to bomb every populated city which will result in the death of millions. I took out the pilots and confronted the Skull. However, in a mad attempt to destroy me, he took an escape pod and left me for dead."
Everyone gave a low gasp at this, but Blake remained calm and intrigued.
"It's obvious that you survived," Blake said. "But what did you do with the plane?"
"The landing gear was damaged, and the plane was coming too fast, so my best bet was to crash it in the arctic. It was there I remained frozen for almost seventy years. By then, the war has been won."
"You were frozen?" Weiss asked skeptically. "How did that work out?"
"I honestly have no idea," Steve said. "All I know was that I had entered a different time and I struggled to adapt. Eventually, I did with the help of my friends. Now we're trying to help eight kid with a Kang crisis involving our planet."
Everyone froze up at that.
"You knew?" Blake asked suspiciously. Her cap was fidgeting.
"I've never lynched anyone in my life, nor would I ever," Steve said, holding up his arms. "I know what it's like. I've been told that my existence in this time cause the destruction of my planet by Kang once. He even brought me to the future to prove it."
"What?" Ruby asked in surprise.
"You couldn't be," Jaune stammered.
"It's a long story, but I offered myself to be erased if that were the case," He smiled. "But my friends wouldn't let that happen. Stark even flat out said that if the future had a jerk like Kang, he would rather wait a bit longer."
"The futurist slowing down?" Yang bemused. "Sound different than what I heard."
"He's a little big in his ego," Steve said. "But Stark cares for everyone around him, it's why he drove Stark Industries into a new direction. He's one of the first to know something is up with you guys. After hearing what happened with you and Kang, he told me that we are going to save your home. Even if we fail, we will avenge it."
Everyone looked at him, their bodies filling with relief. For days, they grew fearful of what the Avengers would think if they heard that they're responsible for their world's destruction. Now, before them, stood a man that didn't think they were a threat. That made them feel better.
"Wait, that still doesn't explain how you knew about Kang telling us about our future," Blake said.
"Oh yeah," Steve had a look of regret. "When Fury gave you back your scrolls, he had them bugged. We were listening to you back then. I'm sorry."
There was a five second beat from the teens.
"WHAT?!"
S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier
Fury gazed through the window with his arms crossed behind his back. The door opened behind him. He turned his head to see the stern faces of team RWBY and JNPR.
"Enjoy your little trip?" He asked calmly.
"You had our scrolls bugged?!" Yang accused; her violet eyes turning red whenever she's angry. She had her scroll in her hand, her grip threatening to crush it.
"I did."
"Do you have any idea how much we felt violated?" Weiss nearly shrieked. "Please tell me you don't watch us while we are indecent!"
"This ain't my first rodeo kid," Fury replied, much to her shock. "You kids were hiding something, and that information could've been vital. So, imagine my surprise when I learned that you kids think you're responsible for the destruction of our world."
Everyone suddenly tensed up. It was out now. The secret that they had been keeping ever since they've arrived on Earth. They waited for him to call for the agents to descend upon them. To take them away to a cell to await trial and death. Instead, he walked over to a conference room and nodded his head. Taking that as a gesture to follow, they walked inside another conference room. Unlike the interrogation room, there is a long table with enough seats to seat them. Fury tapped his hand against the table.
"Sit."
Still nervous, they sat down at different seats. Fury took his place at the head of the table. Nobody speaks for a moment, as tension hung in the air. Then, Fury broke it.
"Do you know how the Avengers came to be?"
Everyone looked surprised at this. Out of all the things they were expecting it wasn't this.
"Umm…no?" Ruby asked.
"I thought not," Fury breathed deeply. "It was long ago that somebody developed an idea. The idea was called the Avengers initiative. It was about bringing together a group of remarkable people, see if they could become something more. See if they could work together when the world needed them to fight the battles we never could. For a while, this idea never came to pass."
Fury stood up and took out a remote. Pressing a button, several screens descended along the sides of the conference room. It lit to life, and behind him, a news feed played. It showed civilians running as aliens invaded New York.
"Then came a day unlike any other," Fury gestured to the screen. "When Earth's mightiest heroes found themselves united against a common threat. On that day, they became the Avengers. The invincible armored Iron Man…"
He gestured to a screen. It showed terrorists aiming their guns at a cave. Emerging from it came Tony Stark, but in a makeshift version of his armor. The terrorists fired upon him, the bullets pinging off the armor. When they ran out of bullets, Tony stark opened fire on them…literally. Gouts of flames engulfed the terrorists and nearby munitions. Then the screen shifted to show Tony in his red and gold armor. This time he fought against a man that seemed to be made of purple energy.
"Thor. Prince of thunder…"
On another screen, Thor is facing off against an armored giant. Thor spun his hammer by the thong and flew into the air. Gaining more height, Thor spun his hammer so fast that the wind kicked up. Soon it became a tornado. The Tornado kept in sync as Thor kept spinning Mjolnir, the wind becoming more intense. Soon, the giant is lifted from the ground and drawn helplessly towards him. Thor then grabbed Mjolnir by the handle and flew down at it, lightning flashing from it. It slammed into the giant. A flash of lightning followed by the sound of thunder. Smoke filled the screen for a while until Thor walked out victoriously.
"The Hulk. Strongest hero there is…"
Another screen showed a newsfeed of Hulk fighting against a fish-like hulk. The newsfeed was calling it 'Abomination'. Abomination was swinging a heavy chain with weights. Hulk brought both his fists smashing on the ground, creating a crack that spread towards his foe. His foot got caught, and he lost hold of the chains. Hulk took the opportunity to rush forward, grab the chains, and wrap it around Abominations throat. Thrashing, Abominations tried to get out of the Hulks grip. Every blow just made him angrier and stronger. Eventually, Hulk wrapped a second layer of the chain and tightened it. His airway cutoff, Abomination's movements slowed until he eventually lost consciousness. Hulk placed a foot atop his chest and roared to the heavens before rushing off.
"…and Captain America. The first Avenger."
The last screen showed Captain America fighting the Nazi regime and Hydra agents. Like the museum, this film is from the world war ii era. The captain had just leapt onto a huge tank, broke the hatch lock with his shield, and threw a HYDRA soldier out of it. He caught a belt of grenades flying towards him, and proceeded to throw it inside, closing the hatch. As he leaped off the tank, it exploded. The screen switched to him fighting in the modern day, up against people wearing snake costumes.
"With two of my agents, they founded the Avengers and have taken on threats greater than your people can imagine," Fury finished, pausing the screens. "They've saved the world countless times. Alien warlords, killer robots, mad scientists, and I could go on. Kang is just the tip of the iceberg."
He turned his attention to them. Each of the children are gazing at the Avengers with awe. They already knew what the Avengers are capable of but seeing them in action is something else.
"I don't know what to say, director," Blake said, watching Captain America fight against a robot. "But why are you telling us this?"
"Because you can't take back your planet alone," Fury said, drawing their attention. "Iron Man, once upon a time, though he could tackle the problems of the world alone. The invasion proved him wrong. Which brings me to my offer. How would you like to train with us under the S.H.I.E.L.D. academy program?"
This took them by surprise. "What?"
"From what I can understand, you are still at school before the invasion. Not only can we help continue your education, we can also give you identity and legal documentation to live on earth. The Avengers will also oversee your training with S.H.I.E.L.D. staff. That way, you can send Kang's sorry ass back to the future."
Nobody said a word out of surprise. Then Ruby raised her hand.
"Yes Ms. Rose?"
"Aren't you mad?" Ruby asked. Fury's face didn't betray anything. "Kang said that we're responsible for your planets destruction. So how can you trust us?"
Fury sighed. "Do you know how I stayed alive in this job?"
Ruby shook her head. Fury lifted a hand to his eyepatch and removed it. Teams RWBY and JNPR reeled back in horror as they saw his left eye. It's scarred and dull, symptoms of a loss of sight from a grenade.
"I kept both my eyes open," He answered, replacing his eyepatch. "I take everything into account, regardless of the source. Why do you think I interviewed each of you one at a time? And let me tell you, the fact that you are responsible for the destruction of our world is one of the biggest bullshits I've ever heard."
For the first time, they felt a weight lifted off their shoulders.
"The previous one was that Kang declared Captain America responsible for his timeline's destruction. Guess what? Not only did he get his ass handed to him, we also took down the Skrulls and the Kree that he mentioned. The Avengers have not only proven that we aren't defenseless, but that nothing is set in stone."
Fury let that sink in.
"But if that doesn't interest you, we can always help you get settled on earth. We'll take care of Kang for you. So, what do you say?"
They didn't speak for a moment. Then, Ruby stood up and walked to the director. Her face once held depression, now it showed nothing but determination.
"With all due respect director," Ruby spoke, for the first time he heard her, in an unflinching voice. "Remnant is our planet. Our home that Kang had taken. We'd be letting them down if we don't take it back. So, no offense, but I don't want to sit on my butt and twiddle my thumbs waiting for him to come."
She held out a hand.
"So, when do I start?"
"Hey!" Yang shouted. She got up and walked over to her sister and placed her one hand on her shoulder. "You're not going off fighting bad guys without me."
"Without us," Jaune corrected, the others nodding along as they stood. "Like I said, we're all in this together. If there is a chance to save our home, we'll take it."
Ruby gave a smile. "Thanks guys. So, what do you say director?"
Fury took her hand and they shook.
"Welcome to the program, all of you. Hope you survive the experience."
Asgard
Thor exited the Bifrost and walked towards the man standing guard. He wore golden armor and a horned helmet. His hands rested upon Hofund, the sword that is a key to the Bifrost.
"Heimdall!" Thor greeted his fellow Asgardian. "I take it you know why I am here."
"I have been watching you Odinson," Heimdall replied in a deep voice, his golden eyes gazing at the cosmos. "I've already known what you seek to ask me of the children that arrived at Midgard. I heard their story and have searched for their home."
"So, have you found Remnant?" Thor asked. To his surprise, Heimdall didn't reply right away. Rather, he turned towards the prince and spoke four words that Thor never heard him say.
"I can't find it."
[~][~]
Thank you all for reading another chapter. As I said, I'm posting two chapters per month. So this doesn't count as the second time this month. Hope you enjoyed the episode. Oh yeah, and happy Halloween while you're at it. My only regret is that I didn't start this a long time ago. I would've loved to make a Halloween episode.
Q&A time:
DarkHero12: As Kagn surmised, he cannot change anything without risking the butterfly effect. If he had killed Salem, then this fic wouldn't exist.
Juxshoa: They will in due time.
Guest: Yes, I have plans for Thanos. Which I will not discuss now.
Anyway, hope you've enjoyed the chapter. See you next time.