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Duel of Fates

With Darth Vader’s mind-controlled “apprentices” keeping the heroes busy none were able to come to Obi-Wan’s aid. Friends battled against friends while some were too tired to move or too shocked to think straight. What had started as one fight had changed from another to another and another.

During the fighting the Hulk managed to swat away Mr. Incredible before setting his sights on some of the injured heroes, including Elsa and Han Solo; the later trying to protect a crying Baby Groot in his hands. He drew a blaster and fired but the bolt bounced off Hulk’s body like it was a flea bite. Elsa created a thick wall of ice but one good smash splintered it to pieces.

“Hulk!” she began to plead. “Stop! I know you’re in there. You have to fight it!”

The only response he gave was a shattering roar. It stumbled Elsa back before she realized the control Vader had over him was too great. He finally reached the two, his fists raised to smash them into paste, before a very large hand stopped him.

“Leave my sister ALONE!” the Hulk-sized Anna growled before giving the green behemoth a good knock square in the jaw.

The super-powered princess’s arrival was joined by the others from Team B. Black Panther, Mrs. Incredible, Violet, Wasp, Black Widow, Rey and even BB-8 all came onto the scene; most jumping into the fray to aid their friends and family.

As she was lifted to her feet Elsa took a good look at Anna, a dumbfounded look on her face, before commenting “Well you….got bigger.”

“And stronger!” Anna flexed her muscles for a moment before Hulk roared and gained her attention. “Okay, tough guy.” She cracked her knuckles “This time Anna SMASH!”

During her fight with Hawkeye Merida found herself holding back an arrow being shoved into her neck. Despite her efforts she could feel her strength losing out to Clint’s. It was only thanks to the arrival of Black Widow, a jump kick to his face knocking him away, that she was freed.

“You must be Natasha.” Merida indicated after being helped to her feet. “You’re boyfriend over there mentioned you a lot.”

“He’s not….” She began before waving it off. “Never mind.” Both looked as he recovered before she asked “Let me guess: mind control?”

“That’s about right.”

“Always was his favorite.”

The two raised their hands and changed, going fist to fist with Hawkeye to hopefully keep him off-balance and not let him use his most effective weapons. Thankfully both of them knew just how to handle close combat as well as shooting.

After Black Panther managed to knock away the controlled Winter Solider Captain America thanked him before seeing Thanos arrive as well. He tensed before Panther tried to calm him.

“For once he’s on our side.” Panther assured him.

“Yes. If only for once.” Thanos smirked.

Cap, understanding, stood down, before asking Thanos “How do we stop Vader? And how to put everything right?”

“The same way you managed to defeat me so many times: be lucky.”

Not satisfied with the answer he looked to Panther who only replied “We get the Gauntlet and the stones off of him then we can try-”

Winter Soldier had recovered and attacked, kicking away Panther before firing his gun into Thanos’ eyes. The titan was blinded while the super soldier battled with his former friend, the other controlled heroes battling as if no pain would hold them back from fulfilling their master’s will.

While the chaos continued around them Obi-Wan was still shocked to his core at the sight of his former apprentice revealed to be the monstrous Sith causing all of the horror. To see his face garbed in the black armor of his enemy only made it hurt more.

“How…what happened to you, Anakin?” he near pleaded. “What happened to you after you disappeared on Felucia?”

He only beamed at Obi-Wan before replying “I was told you would not be the same Obi-Wan from my time. To think you used to be so young. So strong. So….naive. I’m not the same young, foolish Jedi you knew. That man died in my time so long ago. I destroyed him myself.”

Obi-Wan continued to shake his head “Whatever happened to you please tell me! I can help you, Anakin. All I’ve ever wanted to do was help you.”

“All you ever did was lie to me!” he spat. “The Jedi always held me back. But no more…” He brandished the Infinity Gauntlet on his arm and continued “I’ve found power, master. True, unlimited power. Beyond anything that you, Master Yoda, or anyone else could ever know. And now I can use it to shape everything to my will!” Obi-Wan protested but Vader pushed him back with the Force before triumphantly saying “It’s what the Jedi and the Sith always strived for, master: order. Now I can bring it beyond our galaxy, to every reality within my reach!”

With the gauntlet raised in the air Darth Vader began to use it to open the clouds above the entire Starkiller Base. The entirety of space and the realities beyond were with his grasp. He demonstrated by using the Stone’s powers to open small portals to show several of the worlds and realties; including New York City, Asgard, Arendelle, the Jedi Temple on Couruscant, Metroville, Knowhere, and even Tatooine.

“I have finally achieved it, Master.” Vader seemed to smile as he looked to all the worlds within his reach. “Peace. Peace for all.”

“This isn’t peace, Anakin! This is madness! That thing on your arm is corrupting your mind!”

Vader reached down and seized Obi-Wan by the throat, the golden grip of the Infinity Gauntlet tight around his neck, “My mind is open, Obi-Wan! It always has been. You’re just a fool not to see it.” In his other hand his red lightsaber ignited “And there’s no room for fools in my new order.”

As Obi-Wan feared this would be the end, his death at the hands of some dark version of the friend he once knew, a sound caught both of their attention. A boom followed by a whistle that grew louder and louder. Knowing what it was Obi-Wan seized the opportunity, kicked himself free from Vader’s grip and used the Force to speed himself away as far as he could just as the cannon shell landed right behind him.

The explosion sent Obi-Wan flying into the air before he landed hard on the ground. The shockwave sent some of the nearby heroes to the ground as well or stumbled them off their feet. A large chunk of rock flew up and struck against the head of Mr. Incredible, knocking him out as his family, with the exception of Dash, hurried to his side.

From the helicarrier Nick Fury, having seen the blast make contact, asked “Hill. Did we make contact?”

“Debris’ obscuring our readings, sir. We’re going to need a minute.” She replied as she and serval other agents all hurried to get any reading of Vader’s death from the blast.

Fury used binoculars to try and see as well while they busied themselves. One way or another he wanted to know if this one opportunity to end Vader was worth something. The smoke and debris soon began to clear and…

From the vision Fury could see Vader not only survived by his sight was set right on the helicarrier, as if he was looking directly into his eyes from afar. It seemed to dawn on Agent Hill as well, her heart dropping as she looked to Fury still watching the scene from a distance. It wasn’t until he could see Vader’s hand rise and the Infinity Stones all glowing that he dropped the binoculars and gave a deep, final sigh.

“Gentlemen….. It’s been an honor.”

From where they all were, still recovering or fighting, the heroes could hear the sudden massive explosion and saw that where the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier once was had become nothing but a mass of fire and debris.

Those like Captain America, Black Widow and the recovering Vision had looked to the destruction with sad and horrified eyes. The other heroes were more shaken by the sudden loss of hope that came over them. Nick Fury was gone. Maria Hill was gone. And one of their only means home was now up in flames.

While avoiding the controlled Iron Man Princess Jasmine asked “Friday? What happened?”

[Sudden internal combustion.] the A.I. replied […no survivors.]

Obi-Wan rose to his feet and shook his head at Anakin’s actions, turning back to his former friend and apprentice and saying “You truly are lost…”

With no other course in front of him Obi-Wan drew his lightsaber and ignited it. Vader turned to him and seemed contempt that even at such a display of power Obi-Wan would be so foolish. If it was his wish to die then so be it. Vader’s blade was drawn and ready before…

The sudden roar from the Vision added with him flying towards Vader with his forehead-beam firing interrupted the moment. The android tackled the Sith Lord before flying up and over him. He bared down and tried to take the Gauntlet but missed, Vader recovering in time. When Vision rushed him again Vader tried to swipe him down with his saber, Vision using his powers to make himself intangible and the red beam passed right through him.

“I’ won’t let you hurt anymore!” Vision declared as he readied to fire on Vader again.

Unfortunately he was too slow as Vader already used the Gauntlet’s powers to stop the beam. From there he made Vision as hard and solid as stone, dropping him to the ground with such a crash he left an impact in the surface where he fell.

Vader seemed to keep him solid as he walked up to him, Vision fighting the weight and gravity of his trapped form to look him in the eyes. Vader’s blade was raised but the Vision looked him dead in the eyes the whole time.

“You can’t win.” He said. “They will stop you.”

“You’re dumber than half the droids I’ve fought.” Was Vader’s only reply.

The Scarlet Witch had just managed to recover as she saw where Vision was. Before Vader’s blade had met his metal neck the human-like android looked to his love with a final gaze before in one final sweep his head was removed from his body.

“NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Wanda’s screams were matched by the sudden shaking of energy in her body and the very ground around her. The heroes nearby all backed away as her anger seemed to fuel her power, the mutant sorceress walking out to meet the super-powered Sith Lord head on.

“Kill you!” she shouted as she fired one blast of energy after another “I’ll kill you!”

Every attempt she gave was fruitless as Darth Vader swatted them aside. But the effects were felt all around as the very earth and plant-life that were even near her blasts became twisted, destroyed or all together evaporated into nothing but dust. Not until the Scarlet Witch had been close enough and Vader managed to knock her down after sending on of her blasts back at her did she finally calm, the aftereffects of her tempered attacks scarring the very surface of Starkiller base.

As Vader loomed over and didn’t bother to speak. He raised his saber and intended to bring it down on her. Obi-Wan tried to stop him but was Force-pushed away and no one else was near enough to intervene.

Before Wanda’s life could be ended a sudden crash from the bunker of Starkiller base caught Vader’s attention before being met by a blast from an AT-ST walker of all things square in the chest that made contact and sent him flying away. The shock had finally disarmed him and his power over the gauntlet.

The heroes who were controlled by the Mind Stone, who hadn’t been freed yet, felt a painful shock in their heads that stopped them in their tracks. Even those like the Hulk and the gigantic Tinkerbell were effected, stumbling or halting before passing out and dropping to the ground.

As the massive Tinkerbell fell she risked falling on the group of heroes, like Elsa and Falcon, who were nearby. Thankfully Ant-Man managed to use one of his “shrink-disks” on the giant fairy to change her back to her normal size. Instead of flattening the Snow Queen she landed softly in Elsa’s open hands.

After Spider-Man had fallen the Symbiote had sensed its host was no longer strong enough. It melted off his body and tried to slither away before feel the boot of Baymax stomp down on it.

“Not so fast, ink face.” Fred then said before yelling “Fire breath!” burning the alien substance away. “Score one for the Big Hero 6!”

He looked to Baymax and, like Hiro, gave a fist pump and explosion sound followed by the robot’s reply of [Balalalala].

The others of the team checked on Spider-Man who, after they shook him, didn’t wake. Hiro was forced to remove the hero’s mask to reveal the face of Peter Parker. The teen hero finally began to stir and see the familiar faces looking down and smiling at him. He smiled back before realizing his mask had been removed, an expression of embarrassment on his face now.

Go Go gave a little smirk and said “Cute.” Peter blushing at the compliment.

Everyone began to take a moment to recover with some looking to the AT-ST that seemed to come from nowhere to aid them. A moment later the answer came as to why it was here, popping out of the top and waving to the heroes below him.

Jack Sparrow climbed down from the walker and pointed at the unconscious Vader “Didn’t he used to have a different face?”

While some were relived at his arrival Black Panther had asked “What were you doing in there?”

“Well I knew you lot needed help. And only the great Captain Jack Sparrow could do it. Found me-self this fine vessel and attempted to-”

“Use it to try and fly away?” Rey had asked, cutting him off and assuming the right answer given the look on the pirate’s face.

He only shrugged and gave a half smile before giving his own explanation for his actions: “Pirate.”

With all the heroes recovered and regaining themselves apologies were passed, many looked over by those whom they fought. Even Mr. Incredible was roused by the concerning family who, upon seeing he was alright, embraced him in a group hug that felt stronger than even the superhero’s abilities.

He looked at most of the others around and asked “Is it over?”

“It will be.” Quicksilver replied as he looked to the passed out Vader.

He ruhed over with the intent to drive his hand through Vader’s skull to finish him but was stopped by Yoda, using the Force to halt him and say “No! Your hand you must stay, Quicksilver. Alive he must be taken.”

“You can’t be serious!” Falcon added. “He killed our friends. He was going to rule everything with an iron fist like a crazed tyrant.”

“Sam’s right.” Wanda replied, picking up the head of the Vision. “He needs to die.”

“No!” Ahsoka rushed in. “He may have done terrible things but he’s still my master. And my friend.”

To that even the Winter Soldier had commented “Sometimes friends do bad things. Right, Cap? Doesn’t always mean it’s their fault.”

Captain America knew all too well what he implied, addressing everyone when he suggested “Let’s let Obi-Wan decide.”

Everyone looked to the Jedi Master in question for his answer. He was taken aback for the moment before trying to make a decision. It was clear he didn’t see Anakin as the man he knew but the dark creature he had become. So many times he could have stopped and yet he didn’t. So many times in the past had he disobeyed him or done something brash that lead to people dying. So many times. Had this monster, this “Darth Vader”, been inside him all along?

Before he could answer an explosion in the middle of the group sent many of the heroes flying into the air of knocked back a few feet. It came from the titan Thanos, using one of Rocket’s discarded blasters as a means to scatter the heroes.

“I’m tired of waiting.” Thanos said as he walked through them all to make for the gauntlet.

As Panther and Mulan stood to stop him he smacked them aside, sending the two flying before the landed hard on the ground without moving. Han Solo raised his blaster and fired into Thanos’ face with the bolt bouncing off of him with ease. He practically flicked his finger to send the smuggler back before he ripped the Infinity Gauntlet from Vader’s hand.

With the gauntlet gone Vader’s image began to change. No longer youthful face of Anakin but instead a pale, scarred imitation of a broken looking man. His breath began to grow course and hard, depending on the use of his suit’s mechanics to keep him alive.

Holding the Infinity Gauntlet in his remaining hand Thanos declared “No more games. No more delusions. No more! This universe and all that remain belong to Thanos! And I’m going to end it all here in one fell-”

A sudden “plunk” on the gauntlet made Thanos stop to see an arrow had been fired into it. It was beeping. He looked and saw not too far away the smirking face of Princess Merida, having used the one remaining quantum arrow left between her and Hawkeye.

“You talk to damn much.” She commented before a massive explosion erupted.

The great explosion destroyed both Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet in one grand flash. The shock made many shield themselves from the heat and intensity. When everything settled all that remained were the six Infinity Stones but all of them seemed to glow violent after what had happened.

Seeing this Doctor Strange replied “No! The stones! They’re reacting to the blast.” When Anna questioned what that meant he explained “They’re afraid! They’re going to erupt and it could tear this whole place apart.”

“So we run, right?” Dash asked. “Should we run? Can we run? I don’t think I can outrun this!”

As Doctor Strange tried to explain a way that they might be able to stop it he mentioned trying to vie all the Stone’s powers into each other. He went on to explain but as he did Obi-Wan looked to the Stones with his own intent.

He looked between them. Between the hard breathing Anakin. Back to the heroes. And then to a sight that made his heart drop. Not too far and yet unnoticed by all was the shape of Obi-Wan’s former master Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan was still and shocked, unsure if what he was seeing was real or not. But it didn’t seem to matter as the ghost of Qui-Gon nodded first at the nearest Stone to Obi-Wan and then nodded to him. He knew that his master’s spirit had seen through his mind. Had seen what he was thinking and knew that with that final act what he needed to do.

“Force…be with me.” He said aloud before reaching for the Stone.

Far too late for any had they realized before Obi-Wan grabbed the stone and held it in the air. He screamed as he felt the raw power coursing through him, his grip still tight on the stone as it seemed to try and tear him apart.

The spectacle seemed an indication for some of the other heroes nearby. Mulan, waking and bruised from the slap by Thanos, found a stone near her and reached out, having the same reaching as Obi-Wan. Spider-Man acted on impulse and webbed one of the stones to him, landing near the others before the power began to rip into him.

Star-Lord, seeing what they were all doing, sighed to himself “Not again…” before running out despite his teammate’s objection to grab the next stone.

Mr. Incredible had the same incident with his family but gave one final hug and an “I love you all” before jumping off, taking the stone and screaming but holding on with all his will.

The final stone lay near the feet of Han Solo. Unlike the others he was hesitant, seeing how painful and fatal holding an Infinity Stone seemed. He looked back to Chewbacca and Rey, the latter having the most concern on her face on seeing her friend die again. He could have just let it be for someone else to deal with but something deep down forced him to look back at the stone and his mind was made up.

“Aw to hell with it.” He shrugged before picking up the last stone.

All six Infinity Stones were held in a circle by the heroes. All yelling and forcing themselves with what little life they had left to focus their power. For a long moment everything seemed to calm among them, a brief instance where the powers of the stones accepted their mortal holders. Their eyes all glowed the same colors as the stones they held as they opened their hands, the stones all floating together and spinning around like a cosmic wheel.

Thinking fast Doctor Strange called “Wanda! Focus your magic! We’ve only got one shot at this.” As Scarlet Witch prepared he gave the final command of “Think of hope…. Think of home.”

Both he and the Scarlet Witch fired a powerful spell into the center of the Stones that seemed to join with their power. Bolts of energy pulsed and burst as they seemed to fight against each other.

“Quickly!” Yoda called to the other Force users, Ahsoka and Rey. “Help we must. Focus young ones! Aid our friends.”

He reached out with the Force and tried to keep the power contained. Following Yoda’s example both Rey and Ahsoka did the same, trying to keep all the powers in one great unison in order to undo whatever spell still kept the worlds as they were. Even that didn’t seem to be enough until one final hand joined the culmination.

Anakin rose to his feet and rather than attack or run instead he understood what needed to be done, using the Force to aid the others. Obi-Wan was able to see this despite his condition, the two’s eyes meeting before the Jedi master nodded his silent forgiveness to his apprentice and friend.

All the other heroes simple watched and waited. Some like Aladdin and Jasmine or the remainder of the Incredibles’ family held each other in anticipation. Those like Captain America and the other Avengers of Guardians of the Galaxy simple stood defiant even in the face of possible oblivion. And others like Elsa and Anna simply prayed that all would be alright.

A final flash finally exploded and blinded the entire area. It grew and grew, consuming heroes and villain alike. It went farther out and enveloped all of Starkiller base. Even then it didn’t stop, reaching out to the universe and all beyond. All were taken in by the light before everything fell silent…

**********

A violent and loud strike of thunder had rung throughout the skies of the kingdom of Arendelle. It was so loud it had made Queen Elsa and Princess Anna cover their ears and duck. Oddly though as soon as it had come it was over.

“What was that?” Anna asked as she and Elsa stood, looking out the window. “Thunder?”

“Maybe there’s a storm coming.” Elsa asked before looking up and adding “But there’s no clouds in the sky. That’s strange.”

“Yeah. Weird.” Anna replied before waving it off. “Well it’s gone now. And don’t think that’s going to change throwing you that birthday party.”

Elsa sighed before it turned into a laugh “Alright, alright. A SMALL party though. I don’t need half of Arendelle coming along.”

“No problem. It’ll be a handful of people. I swear.” Anna fibbed as she was already writing down a royal proclamation/invite for all who read it. “I’ll go put out some invitations.” Before she walked out the door she stopped and asked “Elsa….do you feel like we were doing something else?”

The queen paused before answering “Yeah. I mean…I think so. We were….with someone? Friends, maybe. But we’ve been here the whole time. Haven’t we?”

Anna thought a little bit more before shrugging off “Guess it’s just one of those feelings.” And left the room.

Elsa sat down in the nearest chair before looking at her hand, some haunting feeling she had, before saying “Yeah… One of those feelings…”

**********

All across the many universes once effected by the event everyone had the same reaction. They recovered from some sudden flash of violent light and noise before finding nothing wrong. From Asgard to New York City, Tatooine to Dagobah, and Agrabah to Metroville everyone had the same unknown feeling that something had happened but they couldn’t put their fingers on why.

Even Jack Sparrow had awoken from his sleep in his cabin board the Black Pearl as if coming out of a dream before saying to himself “Drank too much rum… Or not enough.”

At one point however after “waking” from whatever vexed them Ahsoka, upon seeing her master Anakin Skywalker standing next to her, had the sudden urge to hug him tightly. He was taken back by this while Obi-Wan had the same odd feeling that it was needed.

“What was that all about, Snips?” Anakin asked.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “It’s just….very good to see you again, master.”

**********

In the Sanctum Sanctorum Doctor Strange, Wong, and the Jedi ghost of Qui-Gon Jinn all looked through the sorcerer’s all-seeing mirror to the worlds beyond. Order, as it seemed had been restored.

“Guess that’s one way to clean up a mess.” Strange commented.

“You’re certain everything has been corrected, Doctor?” Wong had asked.

“Looks like it. Any irregularities that pop up will be minor at this point. If it comes to it we can try to fix them. But as it stands everything right before the moment of Thanos’ use of the Infinity Stones has been reset.”

Including Thanos. Qui-Gon commented. What is there to stop him from attempting something like this again?

“Don’t worry, my friend.” Strange answered. “I’ve already made sure none of the stones are anywhere near where Thanos can see them. Even then I’ve sent a warning to the Grandmaster not to attempt a gamble like this again. If any of them act up we’ll be ready.”

You seem very confident about that. Even I can sense that you have a lot of faith in your friends in this world.

“As do you, I’m sure.” Strange smirked. “Well I assume you’ll need to get getting back yourself, right? Not often I have the chance to work with a ghost. Usually because they’re trying to eat someone’s soul or possess a cat.”

Qui-Gon surpassed a chuckle before saying I do hope we meet again, Doctor Stephen Strange. Preferably under better circumstances. He bowed to both Wong, who returned it, and Strange, who only nodded before starting to fade away. Just before he vanished his final words to them were May the Force be with you always.

Strange only waved as a final gesture of goodbye before looking back to the mirror as it too faded. With everything setting back in place he would not be able to see into the other realities as well anymore.

Wong wondered before asking “Will any of them ever remember?”

Strange shook his head “Doubtful. We were only lucky before of the Sanctum’s power of being outside the laws of most realities.” He thought for a moment before saying “But they’ll always know. Deep down they’ll know they have more friends out there waiting for them.”

Wong nodded before asking “And if Thanos and the Grandmaster SHOULD attempt something like this again? Do you think you will be able to stop them a second time?”

“Wong. You worry too much.” Strange waved it off. “Besides…” he gave one final look to the many faces of the heroes in the mirror before it went black “it’s all in good hands.”

With that Wong bowed and walked off into the Sanctum to prepare tea for Doctor Strange. The Sorcerer Supreme decided to mediate on the matter and any future conflicts that could arise from this event.

As he sat in silence for a few moments, floating mid-air with his legs crossed and arms resting on his lap in deep thoughts, he heard an odd rolling sound approach him. One eye peaked open before both were wide at the sight of an odd little square-shaped robot with large, expressive eyes wheel up to him with an open claw.

{Wall-E} it introduced itself to him with a happy tone it the voice.

Strange only gave a deep sigh and said to himself “Terrific…”

THE END