r/XMenRoleplay

Carnage:
“The itsy bitsy Spider went up the waterspout”
“Along came the Carnage and Killed the Spider Good”
“Then came the fun and spilled all the blood”
“And the itsy bitsy Spider was nowhere to be found”

The first thing Ah felt was the cold.

It seeped through the floor and into mah bones, makin' every muscle in mah body ache when Ah tried to move. Mah cheek was pressed against somethin' hard and unforgivin', and for a few long seconds, Ah just lay there tryin' to remember why Ah couldn't seem to feel mah legs.

Ah groaned and pushed mahself up onto one elbow.

"Lord..."

Mah voice came out rough as gravel. Mah throat felt like Ah'd swallowed a handful of sand, and mah head was poundin' hard enough to make the room swim around me. Ah reached up, pressin' two fingers against mah temple while Ah tried to get mah bearings.

"Where in the hell am Ah?"

Ah slowly forced mahself upright, leanin' mah back against the wall behind me. That's when Ah saw 'em.

Bars.

Well. That ain't good.

Ah looked around the room again, takin' in every little detail Ah could. No windows. No furniture. Just cold metal walls, strange markings carved into 'em, and a light overhead that hummed quietly like it had been watchin' me sleep.

Ah looked down at mah hands.

Still mine.

Ah flexed mah fingers, then mah wrists. No restraints. No blood. No obvious injuries beyond the soreness that seemed to have settled into every inch of me.

"Think, Rogue."

Ah closed mah eyes and tried to drag the last few memories back up.

Somethin' had happened.

A fight. Pain. Then... nothin'.

How long had Ah been out? A few hours? A day?

Days?

Mah stomach twisted at the thought.

"Well, sugar, ya sure know how to pick yerself some mighty fine vacation spots."

The joke fell flat in the empty room.

Ah opened mah eyes again and stared through the bars.

Whoever had put me here had gone to a whole lotta trouble to make sure Ah couldn't just walk out.

That meant there was a reason.

And if there was one thing Ah knew for certain, it was that Ah wasn't about to sit around waitin' for somebody else to explain it to me.

Ah planted mah palms against the floor and slowly pushed mahself to mah feet, swayin' for a moment before Ah caught mahself against the wall.

"Okay..."

Ah took a slow breath, lookin' around the cell again.

"Let's see what we've got."

*Emma was furious to find out  the rift she needed to destroy reality was on Bar Sinister a invisible island where all the cowards hid. Emma arrives creating psychic clones all over the island. Each one shouts in unison as Galactus rises from water. The real Emma stands true.*

Evil Emma: So this is where I find you. COWARDS!!!!!!!!!! YOU HIDE BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU CANNOT FACE ME! WELL WHEN THIS DAY IS DONE. There will be nothing no where to hide.

*Suddenly Dr Strange appears as everyone looks around out numbered*

Dr Strange: Well it seems it's now or never. We need everyone. Strange opens portals across the multiverse to assemble everyone he can

Sinister: ESSEX-MEN ASSEMBLE!!!! Why is no one listening to me???? I'm a good guy.

*THE FIGHT STARTS NOW PICK AN EMMA A STRIKE BEFORE SHE ENDS ALL OF EXISTENCE (CUCKOO'S AND GWENPOOL ARE NOT IN THIS FIGHT) GOOD LUCK TRY NOT TO DIE AGAIN (GAMBIT)*

"Cold as ice, hard as marble... I like that, Web-Spinner. Thanks. All my life I felt like a freak. What else would you call an albino? ... People looked at me, they saw a monster. But I was just a man. Now I am a monster, and I love it."

Everything is in ruin and yet, my beloved Latveria stands tall. And it’s all due to the power of Doom.
My beloved citizens will not be harmed from the outside world, my beloved citizens will not know suffering, for Doom shall protect them. No Latverian child will worry about going to bed hungry, no Latverian will worry about going to war, for Doom will stand in the way of the attack, and protect Latveria.
For no one, rivals Doom

*Betsy knew of the cuckoo's plan to go back in time to stop evil Emma from ever evening becoming shattered but no one could know if it'll work.*

Betsy: EMMA BRATS, GWENIE IT'S NOW OR NEVER!!!

*Betsy Yells to the 6 it was a hail Mary but the only one they had Gwen quickly ran and began reality bending the rift itself*

Gwen: When do we go?

Cuckoo's: Two months ago that's when she broke we need to go now!

*They all say it collectively as Emma locks on to there plan but is too late to stop them they jump into the past as they arrive at the old abandoned hellfire club now looking much better from the cuckoo's they see only one helmet was remaining so the cuckoo's grab the mind stone from the machine as Gwen uses the machine to enter Emma's mind the cuckoo's call out to the Phoenix becoming the Phoenix 5. As they enter Emma's mind it's a blank slate Evil Emma has been here as she walks in slowly clapping*

Evil Emma: Congratulations you have come all this way to die I knew of your plan I came here first. You cannot stop this.

*But this was just Evil Emma her power was already spread too thin from the battle to to use her cosmic abilities it was the final push.*

BAMF!

A cloud of smoke appeared on one of the rooftops of Bar Sinister. A clever hiding spot for a trained mercenary. Silently and carefully, Talia inspected her targets below. They came in different sizes. Some huge, some very small, and a… shark with legs?

Is Evil Emma sure these are the droids - ahem, heroes - I’m looking for?

BAMF!

She crawled even closer, crouching at the edge of a rooftop. Because of her nocturnal vision spotting the individuals hiding, drinking and laughing down below was a piece of cake.

BAMF!

The blue-furred creature now stuck herself to a wall opposite of some kind of bar. Those three-toed hands and feet, equipped with micro-suction discs, came in handy. Like any predator at night would do, she stalked her prey. Her bright neon-yellow eyes spotted someone splitting from the group, seeking solitude.

She grinned. Someone weak. Time to thin the herd!

BAMF!

Talia lurked at the person from a safe, but close distance. Evil Emma’s words seemed to direct her every move like a devil on her shoulder. On her other shoulder sat a miniature version of Kurt - not her actual father, but a father nonetheless - advising her not to strike.

BAMF!

“Fancy a ride?”

(OOC: interactable for anyone at Bar Sinister who might be wandering alone at night. Fyi: Talia’s under Emma’s influence)

(Reddit this is Roleplay)

Mysterio: Hello, Bullseye and Megawatt. Take a seat.

Bullseye: We got your message.

Mysterio: Very good.

Megawatt: What he means is we are in. Story one is closed so time for the sequel.

Mysterio: Together we will fool the world...

((I AM ANONYMOUS-MUSE'S ALT))

“They call me Ghost Rider. I am summoned when innocent blood is shed”

Danny Ketch drives along the barren roads, punishing sinners along his path, hours go by the Spirit still yet satisfied when Ketch comes along Bar Sinister. He feels the pull to punish everyone in the bar, but he doesn’t. Instead he takes a seat at the counter top and orders a drink, as he sips it he feels as the Spirit gets more and more antsy, trying to claw itself out, trying to punish every sinner there. But Danny keeps him at bay.

Magneto has left, he got business to attend to. This whole Frost situation got only worse since I died, apparently. De rift brought me here, jus’ to be met with de news I was a ghost in dis timeline. Is it time travel? Multiverse? Gambit got no idea chère.

I just sit here, before de stone with my name on it.
“Remy Etiènne Lebeau” it reads.

Erik said Rogue took it real bad. Can’t blame ‘er. Not sayin’ we argued last time I saw her but I didn’ approve of her bein’ with back the brotherhood.
He also said she shows up here daily. Maybe if I wait enough I’ll see her. Hopefully befo’ growin’ mold an’ moss like dis rock already doin’. I wonder how de kids are doin’ as well.

—— —- — -

((OOC: Only Rogue interacts!))

The massive rift in space-time left behind by the White Queen loomed high above Bar Sinister. From that fracture in reality, a falling star emerged and flew across the night sky like a bullet. Her flames were sputtering out and she quickly crashed into the ocean, sending a massive explosion of crashing waves and cosmic fire in every direction. For a while the fallen star just floated, letting the current carry her toward the closest shore.

The mind of Rachel Summers was fried. Her recent encounter with the newest wielder of the infinity stones left her drained, but at least she could piece together the fragmented memories that led to this defeat. Irregularities in the psychic energies of the universe, a brutal fight for survival against this newly enhanced telepath, a well-manicured hand grabbing her around the throat, the flames of the Phoenix within growing cold, the life force of her assailant beginning to burn white hot.

When her feet brushed solid ground Rachel opened her eyes and scowled, staring up at the red crystalline towers of Bar Sinister itself. Normally she’d prefer to continue floating than deal with that narcissistic madman, but she noticed numerous familiar minds present as well. After verifying everyone seemed to lack Sinister’s usual brand of corruption, she telekinetically swung the massive doors open and limped inside.

“Not too sure where I am in the timeline, but Frost just went crazy and stole the Phoenix Force. I’ve fought through darker futures in the past, but someone here better have a plan to fix this mess before that b!+@# breaks everything!”

*I teleport onto Bar Sinister as every is chatting among themselves I don't know weather they are friendly or hostile so I draw my swords.*

Spiral: OK WHAT IS GOING ON HERE AND WHOSE IN CHARGE!!!!

*Madrox, perched on a building, watches the beach. Sniper in his hand, aimed at King Namor McKenzie, finger on the trigger. Madrox has studied many people, including Namor. King Namor McKenzie the ruler of Atlantis, born as a hybrid mutant son of a human ship captain Leonard and the Atlantean princess Fen. Namor's first interaction with the human world was documented when he joined the Invaders to fight against the Axis powers during World War II. After spending years as a homeless amnesiac, Namor was discovered by the Fantastic Four and reclaimed his identity and his kingdom. Since then, Namor was both a foe and ally to the surface world, allying himself with heroes such as the Defenders and X-Men and villains like Dr. Doom and the Cabal, for Namor's true allegiance is always to Atlantis and its people. The foe part was what Jamie Madrox was focused on. Madrox grabbed a tape recorder out of his pocket with his other hand. Madrox pushed a green button with his thumb, starting the recording*

Madrox: August eleventh, two-thousand-twenty-six—

*Loos down at his watch*

Madrox: —six thirty AM. Namor is outside Bar Sinister earlier than usual. Approximately an hour or two earlier. He must be on to me. Shoot to kill.

*He aims at Namor’s neck, finger massaging the trigger. Silence, his breath slows. Madrox closes one eye, the other is being used to aim.*

Madrox: 5…

*His finger moves gently.*

Madrox: …4…

*Madrox is calm, ready, prepared.*

Madrox: …3…

*He starts to press the trigger.*

Madrox: …2…

*The trigger is half way pressed.*

Madrox: …1…

*The sniper fires, sending the bullet towards Namor McKenzie. The sniper is silent, he made sure of it. It's his own design. Even the bullets are. The bullet, at 2,100 mph, goes straight through Namor’s neck. His crimson blood shot across the sand in an electrical explosion. Namor’s head—or well… the remains of it—fell to the ground. Namor’s body collapsed next, stumbling down into the pool of his own blood. His left arm, stretched out into the edge of the water.*

Madrox: Shot taken. Lethal. Type-3 bullet. One shot. Heading down now. Pausing.

*He presses a yellow button on the side, pausing the recording. He shoves it back into his pocket.*

Madrox: That was…

*He gets up, looking at the body.*

Madrox: Too easy?

*He lifts the sniper he had previously set down and puts the scope up to his eye.*

Madrox: Hmm…

*Instead of glancing over minor details he really observed.*

Madrox: Hmm…

*He presses the yellow button, unpausing the recording.*

Madrox: Too easy. Observing now. The body has shorter head hair. The body’s skin is a slightly darker pigment than Namor. Hard to tell from a distance but through a scope it is clearer. The suit also seems to have carvings, I will have to get a closer look though.

*He swings the sniper around, attaching it to the back of his suit. He looks to the spot he once was camping in, making sure everything was picked up. No sign of Madrox ever being there. That was good.*

Madrox: Going in for a closer look.

*He duplicates until there is no room on the building’s roof. Each holds another’s left hand, making a chain of clones. He steps to the end, the other end of the chain goes to the other end. Both jump, but the clones follow the main one off, leaving the other side just to make sure they don’t drop too fast. Once he is on the ground, the chain retracts fast, going back into the main one.*

Madrox: I am on the beach. Approaching with caution.

*He slowly steps towards the puddle, observing everything around him.*

Madrox: No smell. No footprints anymore. The suit has aztec symbols, not like Namor’s costume. It's inconsistent. It's sloppy. It's pathetic. What it’s not is Namor. Possibly a clone, differences can outweigh this possibility though. Long lost brother, unlikely. There is a possible source that could help with th–

*The body twitched its arm that was closest to water.*

Madrox: That… arm twitch… that shouldn’t happen.

*The head seemed to stutter a breath.*

Madrox: Signs of breathing in head. Signs of control in his arm. Healing fact, improbable. Not impossible… just improbable.

*Namor’s jaw jerked.*

Namor: So soon, Madrox? I didn't think you'd be in such a rush–! Or do you have to rush because you rent that corny costume by the hour?

Madrox: Illusions I assume.

Namor: I knew my simple illusions could not keep you away for long, but, you see, I was preparing certain... eh, surprises!

Madrox: What surprises?

Namor: Don't bother fighting it, my friend! Don't you realize the basic truth! YOU ARE ALREADY DEAD!!

Madrox: Says the dead body in the puddle. Or is the body not even real?

*The red blood shifts into a green gas surrounding the body. Madrox looks around, no one. No one until Iron Man flies down in his suit, basically out of nowhere.*

Iron Man: What is happening?

Madrox: Uh…

*The sand starts to be covered by a white, futuristic room design. Iron Man and Madrox look around. Iron Man raises his arms, ready to shoot.*

Madrox: No, wait! Its just an illu–

*Madrox is shot by the side from the back and the blast hits Iron Man, supposedly killing him. Madrox gets his footing, looking at the drone that shot the blast. Before he can react it hits him too, sending him falling through a building, revealing he wasn’t on Bar Sinister. He hits the sides of multiple floors before striking the bottom floor. He groans, coughing a bit.*

Mysterio: Wow, Jamie, wow.

*Madrox slowly and painfully gets up, coughing more.

Mysterio: Stark always had to die, but not you. If only you weren’t so trigger happy.

*Drones producing green mist surround Madrox.*

Madrox: Stop hiding!

*Madrox swings a hand gun from his side and shoots a drone, revealing it was another illusion as it falls down into a cloud of green.*

Mysterio: I tried to help you walk away, now you’re making me do this. All you had to do was ignore the minor differences and go back to your camp and sleep until you decided to give in to your voices.

*Madrox’s suit transformed from a brown trench coat and a casual suit to his past outfit he had as a villain. Green with a yellow pattern. The room faded black. Suddenly from the end of a hallway lights started to flicker on, buzzing ever so slightly. The walls become lockers, each one dripping blood and reading a different name.*

Mysterio: You told yourself you were just a human.

*The room fills with green mist as Mysterio’s body forms. Madrox shoots at him but the hand gun only shoots green mist. Madrox shakes the gun, losing focus on Mysterio. Mysterio teleports behind him, and as he speaks Madrox swings around.*

Mysterio: You told yourself you–

*Madrox punches Mysterio’s helmet, causing it to become a concrete pillar. Madrox shakes his hand in pain.*

Mysterio: –just wanted to run after that girl.

*The pillar vanishes into the void.*

Theresa Cassidy: Help me!

Madrox: Theresa!

*He swings around, bolting into a different hallway and into a door which he breaks open. He stumbles out onto the edge of Avengers Tower encompassed by the smoke. The door falls down, never fully landing. Theresa stands on the corner of the building, nervous and unknowing.*

Theresa Cassidy: What’s happening.

Madrox: I know this isn’t real.

*A cloud of smoke like a tentacle grabs Theresa by the neck before Mysterio’s arm takes its place when he appears.*

Mysterio: Do you though?

*Theresa squirms and chokes, kicking at the air. Mysterio raises her up, over the edge.*

Madrox: Theresa!

*Mysterio releases his grip, causing Theresa to fall off the building.*

Madrox: THERESA!

*Madrox runs over the side, arms out to catch her. Madrox falls onto the ground after a couple seconds, green smoke replacing the previous location and Theresa. Screams echo from the surrounding darkness, causing Madrox to bolt up off his back. Madrox stands up, groaning at the pain.*

Mysterio: I don’t think you know what’s real, Jamie.

*Mysterio’s voice echoes and distorts, repeating “Jamie”. Madrox holds his head in pain. Before he can recover the room goes flying through the darkness, green electricity and smoke surrounding the location. The area finally stops at an abandoned and destroyed Xavier’s Mansion, a blue and green neon sign added to the front. Madrox gasps right before a giant hand rips out from the mansion and grabs him. Madrox falls through a tunnel, hitting a wall as it shatters like glass. A million shards breaking off. Madrox screams as he falls through a pit with DNA type strands. After a while the illusion breaks, blue technological like patterns break through at the bottom. As Madrox passes them he lands in the destroyed New York on top of a burnt Impala 67. Madrox groans, pushing himself onto his side. He slowly turns off of it, falling onto the concrete ground. Madrox groans, pushing himself up. His breathing is heavy, unpaced, unconcentrated. His head jolts, looking for any sign of Mysterio. He looks up as glass shatters. From a window tentacles of smoke climb out as the sky and building are consumed into the smoke. Giant shards of glass fall around Madrox. Each shard holds a reflection of Madrox.*

Mysterio: I mean look at yourself.

*Madrox reaches out towards the glass. As he is about to touch his reflection it tries to pull him in. He is able to escape that one’s grasp but he is swarmed by mirrored reflections of himself. He tries to duplicate but he can’t, somehow he can’t. Slowly the reflections get the upperhand, all climbing onto him as the tear at his skin and suit. Madrox pushes them off but he is bleeding from multiple spots and his suit is torn.*

Mysterio: You are just a scared little man in a sweat suit. I am creating Mysterio to give the world someone to believe in. I control the truth, Mysterio will be the truth.

*Madrox looks around, all his reflections and glass are gone. He looks up, a statue of Mysterio with his arms crossed standing there menacingly. Mysterio flies down, blasting Madrox but he dodges. Mysterio keeps blasting him while Madrox runs and shoots. Mysterio flies up, arms emitting powerful smoke. Madrox shoots at him but the bullet goes straight through, hitting a pipe that sprays a flood of water at him. Mysterio flies in again but now Madrox can’t fire back due to needing to dodge multiple things. In the end Madrox is hit by a blast of smoke, sending him falling in front of a statue of a hand. The hand falls, crushing him but it turns into smoke. Madrox gets up, head facing a tombstone.*

Mysterio: If you were good enough, maybe Theresa would still be alive.

*Madrox peers at the decaying tombstone but before he can react a hand tears out of it. The zombie rips out of it as Madrox crawls backwards on the ground. The zombie Theresa crawls after Madrox, angrily. Half of her face is burned off, revealing a skull overtaken with spiders and plants. Madrox wipes his eyes quickly. After they are uncovered an army of Mysterios takes the zombie’s place. Rows of 10, marching like an army get closer to Madrox. Madrox jumps up and starts to run in the opposite direction but he hits the side of a glass snowglobe that he is in. Snow falls down, replacing the green smoke. Buildings form around him, making a miniature New York. Madrox crawls in the snow, scared. Mysterio’s suit forms around the globe.*

Mysterio: You made your choice and all you had to do was step aside.

*The giant mysterio takes the globe off the armor and holds it, about to drop it.*

Mysterio: And now you hav–

*A blast rings out as Mysterio falls to the ground. They are back in the real world. Mysterio bleeds out from his back, coughing. Iron Man limps over to Madrox who is pushed up on a pile of sand.*

Madrox: Stark.

Iron Man: Mysterio’s people are trying to find everyone who could attack them. Where’s your database?

Madrox: Um

Iron Man: I know you have one.

Madrox: Uh Adirondack Mountains, um New York

Iron Man: You are so gullible.

Madrox: Wha- what?

*Iron Man transforms into Mysterio*

Mysterio: You just are a sucker. Now, the ones that can figure it out, they all have to die. It's easy to fool people when they already are fooling themselves.

*Madrox backs up, falling into a subway station and getting hit by a train… His blood splatters the sides and his body falls through the broken front. Parts of him hit the team inside.*

Plague: What the f–

**1 Day Earlier**

[Temperature - {ERROR}]

Antarctica, isn’t it beautiful? The white-blue ish colored ice building up a continent, the stillness in the water, and the grey metallic android frozen in ice. Well, it looked closer to the description before the end of the world. Now the ice is severely cracked, with parts falling into the uneasy water commonly.

[Stabilization - 56%]

The android on the other hand, that held on for a while but it was eventually going to escape eventually. The powering box of course was damaged but was still charging him slowly. About 1% a year until the blast of energy surged fueling it back up enough to combust, sending a wave of heat across the ice. The ice close to him melted quickly, it was releasing a field of temperature at 100 degrees fahrenheit. It slowly pushed out of the ice, pulling off chunks from his body. Some chunks were large, some smaller. It made sure that it was free of the ice fully. It adjusted its left arm, moving each part with precision and caution. It adjusted its right arm, swinging it back. It jumped out of the area and onto a thin slice of ice, cracking it. It looked down at its hands, its skeleton pattern was no longer a fiery red but instead it matched the ice.

[Charge - 935%]

It tried to form a sphere of heat but it didn’t come out as heat… It was somehow even colder than the usual Antarctica temperature. It shifted its head mimicking confusion although it didn’t actually feel confused. Truth is, it doesn’t feel emotions. It was an android, sure, but even some of those can feel emotions. Emotions made people weak, Jim Hammond was weak. A.R.I.D.I.T.Y. was everything but weak. Hydra made it not weak. They made it a powerful war machine to fight the likes of Namor. It even won some of those battles too. Not much a mermaid can do when he is being dried out.

[Weapon Systems - 89%]

It shifted its arms down, palms reaching at the cracked icy ground, and blasted hard. It shakily began to push off the ground but it knew something was happening internally. It slowly descended, not by choice but it was regaining its heat. As it didn’t stop blasting, once it gained enough heat he shot up into the sky. It could detect that the ice sank below it but that didn’t matter to it. A trail of smoke and sparks followed its flight as it shifted above the clouds. It looked down on Antarctica as it regained its balance in flight.

*Disgrace. Ugly. Cold.*

[Flight Stabilization - 89%]

It turned towards the optimal route to fly to North America. It was a long flight, it didn’t care. It didn’t care for anything. It didn’t feel anything. No remorse, no regret. It killed them as justice required an adequate punishment. Slowly as it got closer its mind would connect to every Hydra computer, accessing and downloading everything. Usually a Hydra agent would’ve had to approve this download but something was wrong. It knew it. It looked at files, studied them. It had no idea what happened so it figured to read the files and put together a story.

File 1: Rogers, Steve. The Captain America.

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 240 lbs.

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Blonde

Aliases: The Brooklyn Project. Nomad. The Avenger.

Place of Origin: Manhattan, New York City, New York

Family: Sarah Rogers (mother, deceased), Joseph Rogers (father, deceased)

Durability: 3

Fighting Skills: 6

Intelligence: 3

Speed: 2

Strength: 3

Energy: 1

Known Story:

Mr. Rogers was a poor orphan infantile from the wrong side of the tracks in the days leading up to World War II. Mr. Rogers had originally tried to enlist in the United States of America army to fight the Axis Powers. Not much is known as to why he was rejected but it was most likely to lead him on a path of meeting one Professor Abraham Erskine. Professor Abraham was a pioneer in the development of a Super-Soldier for the United States of America. The government as well as Erskine most probably saw potential in Mr. Rogers and following the rejection introduced him into Project Rebirth. The professor’s bold but top edge experiment of the time enhanced the human body to its peak powers, giving Rogers enhancements. It isn’t known if the serum was tested on Mr. Rogers due to an already existing physique or a random selection although lower S.H.I.E.L.D. agents speculate on a mix of personality and weakness although that is heavily dissuaded by top ranking Hydra agents with enough clearance to be reading this file. Mr. Rogers found himself subjected to Professor Erskine’s treatments and fulfilled the professor’s needs, turning him into the world’s first, fully developed Super-Soldier and a threat to Hydra. Unfortunately our spy shot and killed the professor after Rogers was already turned, although that thereby ensured Mr. Rogers would be the last of his kind. The United States of America government moved swiftly to turn Mr. Rogers into a living symbol of propaganda and nationalism. After extensive combat training he debuted in a colorful, patriotic uniform as the Captain America. Operating out of the army’s Camp Lehigh in Virginia, Mr. Rogers disguised as an ordinary soldier, but conducted secret missions stateside and abroad as his alter-ego to smash spies, saboteurs, and the occasional “Super Villain” who threatened the country he loved so dearly. Soon, Cap captured the attention of the leader of Hydra, Red Skull, and the two formed a lasting enmity over the course of the war. The hero also gained a near-indestructible shield with which he became supremely efficient in both offense and defense.

The android shifted its head down.

*They lied. He was not a ruthless war machine with a soulless demeanor. He deserved a fair trial. They gave him no such. I will give him a fair trial for him to be convicted properly.*

It paused in its scan of files. It knew something was close. Something wasn’t the right term. Someone was close. It shifted its head around. No one. It peered down, looking at the water so far below. Then he saw it. A black shadow cast on the surface, on him. It was like an eagle was made out of sharp edged shapes. It shifted its body to face up at the sky, now noticing a quinjet. It flew up next to the glass. Familiar faces. He entered through the back which they opened for it. It adjusted its jaw and spoke.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: Hello Plague. Hello Ideal Soldier. Hallo Nein. Hello Emotionless. Hello Dynamite.

Plague: Eh, the Beatles are back together. Ain’t that nice. Yo Ideal, how much until we reach the ‘Mericas?

Ideal Soldier looks back at the group. She raises her gloved hand and signs soon.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: You all are different.

Plague: Eh, twenty plus years will do that to a fella.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: You do not act the same. You have abandoned our people. The people that lied to us.

Plague: Eh, the computer is a super genius. And who the hell are ‘us’. If I recall you do your whole D.I.D. robot dog personality and then they remove it. They never actually lied. They just held some info close to their tentacles.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: They did not give a fair trial before sending the executioners.

Plague: Heh, ‘fair’, heh. That word couldn’t mean any less even if Chuck Shurley tried.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: What do you mean, Plague?

Emotionless: He means that in life there is no fair. Nothing is fair.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: That is not right.

Plague: Did he stutter, Decepticon?

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: No, I suppose he didn’t.

Plague: Then you got your answer. There is no fair.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: Hydra said there was… that they themselves were the fair.

Plague: Aww, lil clanker got ‘em beliefs together and then believes Hydra. Nah, that ain’t right. All ‘ose days you trapped in the ice an you ain’t realizing that Hydra ain’t Fletcher Reede.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: Who?

Plague: You ain’t know Liar Liar?

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: Liar Liar?

Dynamite: Baby, you aren’t remembering the NDA period.

Plague: Ah, yeah. That is true. Forgot the can ended up like Cap.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: If I may interject, what was the point you were getting to?

Plague: Hydra ain’t coked up on truth serum. They lie. They lie a lot.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: I don’t understand.

Plague: Hydra used to erase memories from you so they’d be the owner of an attack dog named A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.:. You’re their bitch.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: I… I…

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y. System Mainframe: Error

Emotionless: You broke the dog.

Plague: Nah man, he ain’t supposed to be doin’ that, man.

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y. System Mainframe: Error

Dynamite: Good thing we are at NY, babes. This is my stop so I’m going to drop.

*The crew gets a parachute each as Plague puts it in auto pilot.*

A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.: R…u…n…

*As they jump A.R.I.D.I.T.Y. releases an explosion of fire, destroying most buildings near it. The rain of fire poured down, pieces of metal pounding the ruins of New York. It looked horrible. Plague got separated from the group, they all had to split up. Plague landed in a broken sub way station as he watched the fire in the sky. Slowly the fire burnt out, causing A.R.I.D.I.T.Y. to fall into the street, destroying the ground. A chunk of a building was heading towards the subway, meaning Plague had to run. Symbiotes and fire do not get along. He sprinted, hoping that he could outrun it but he knew he couldn’t. The impact range would be large. Up ahead Plague noticed something, a light at the end of the tunnel. Death? No. Survival. There was a makeshift, but well crafted, bomb shelter below. He ran down, shutting the door tight before even observing who was there. No one spoke, just waited. It was loud, the ground shook violently. Buildings fell. Pipes bursted. Fires broke out. For a moment while looking at the weirdly strong window he could’ve sworn he saw a man made of green smoke. Plague, now happier to be alive, turned around. The room was full of people. Some he’s been in the same room with, others not so much.

Annabelle Adams: Someone wants to tell me who he is? He doesn’t look like Eddie.

Human Torch: You.

Plague: Hey, hey! I ain’t here to kill nor fight. Chillax, I am a survivor.

Human Torch: You worked with the Axis Powers.

Plague: I know that sounds bad–

Namora: It is bad.

Plague: Woah, let the man speak. I’m E for Everyone, not D of Differents.

Namora: How does that help?

*White Widow shifts her head down. She knows where the conversation is going.*

Plague: Lets see… hmm… We got Namora, the incestious cousin to the evil Namor.

*Namora gets mad at the comment but hides it.*

Plague: Yelena Belova, the assassin for the Red Room.

*Yelena clenches her fist*

Plague: Don’t punch the prophet. And you Hughy. You burnt many. And background character number 5, I don’t know who you are.

Annabelle Adams: Hey!

Plague: So… what’s y’alls escape plan?

Human Torch: Escape plan?

Plague: Yeah tin man. Are we gonna get to a safer place? Or was the leprechaun with magic just gonna kill us here?

Human Torch: It’s safe here.

Plague: If I can get in, anyone else can.

*Plague searches the room as the others look at each other. He spots a map, one of the subways but it's modified.*

Plague: Yo, that map updated?

Annabelle Adams: Yeah.

Plague: I know where to get the subway train so we can use that to get out of here.

*They exchange glances before nodding*

Human Torch: This doesn’t mean I trust you… but sure.

**Limbo, a summery of a couple days ago to now**

*Rek-Rap, a demon of Limbo, is approached by them again. He tried to talk them out of it but he was attacked again by them. This time they actually didn’t get that far. Kaine had stopped the demons in time and rescued him. Due to this Rek-Rap became obsessed with Kaine and idolized him. Calling himself "Parker-Man", the demon applied to join the Insidious Six but was rejected for his heroic aspirations. Rejected, the demon was approached by an alchemist demon who offered to help and bonded him to a symbiote, which merged with the demon's Kaine T-shirt to take on an appearance similar to Spider-Man's costume. He transformed into a bulky cross between Spider-Man and Venom, the demon named himself Rek-Rap and joined Kaine in fighting the Insidious Six. Despite being annoyed by Rek-Rap's mangling of his catchphrases, Kaine was touched by the demon's sincerity and gave him advice on how to be a superhero. Rek-Rap was then able to escape Limbo when Shiklah was looking for people to help fight Emma Frost.*

**Present day**

Plague: Eh, we got the corpse of Maddy here.

Human Torch: Is he…?

Plague: No, not dead.

White Widow: Good.

Annabelle Adams: I assume he can help.

Plague: He’s Echo Echo.

Annabelle Adams: The Ben 10 guy…?

Plague: Yeah. He duplicates and has a mouth. Also a bunch of guns.

Annabelle Adams: So he can shoot Emma and her goons?

Plague: Hey, say henchmen, the internet ruined that last word. But yes, Emma and her goon…ors her mind slaves.

Human Torch: Uh…hey guys.

Plague: What, you knock-off A.R.I.D.I.T.Y.?

Human Torch: Look up ahead.

*They look up, a portal is not too far away. It's too late to stop the train, even though they still try to. From the portal emerges multiple people. Kaine, the clone of Spider-Man. Rek-Rap, the demon inspired by Kaine. Shiklah, Queen of Limbo and Monster Island. Rogue, the mutant that can absorb powers and life force with skin-to-skin contact. Moon Knight, Fist of Khonshu. Mix&Max, a loyal Attilan Royal Guard. Megawatt, the story obsessed villain with electrical abilities. Ideal Soldier, Hydra sleeper agent. Death's Skeleton, alternate universe Plague. Doctor Strange, soon to be sorcerer supreme of Asgard. Agent Anti Venom, a symbiote enhanced soldier. Bullseye, the greatest marksman in the universe.*

Annabelle Adams: We’re gonna die!

*The train slowly comes to a halt due to Doctor Strange’s magic. The group on the train exit, meeting the other group on the tracks. The group stands in a circle, waiting for one to start talking.*

Annabelle Adams: So um… we going to do icebreakers?

Plague: Really…?

Annabelle Adams: Why not?

Kaine: Ugh. My name is Kaine. I don’t have all day, I have a place to be.

Rek-Rap: I am Parker-Man! I follow Kaine here.

Shiklah: Name’s Shiklah, Queen of Limbo and Monster Island. I am here with Strange to help him on Asgard.

Rogue: Name’s Anna Marie, sugah. You don’t want ma gloves off. I somehow got here with Namora.

Moon Knight: I have many names, currently Marc Spector but you can call me Moon Knight. I am the fist of the Egyptian god Khonshu. I am here to kill Frost and protect Earth and the Moon.

Mix&Max: I am Mix, the greatest Inhuman Royal Guard. I came here with Doctor Strange and Moon Knight to protect Attilan.

Megawatt: Ah, so this is the catch up period for views that haven’t seen the other stories. My name's Megawatt, I’m a great guy. If you see Flubber, don’t tell him about me. I’m here for plot and to stretch.

Ideal Soldier: …

*Ideal Soldier signs her name*

Death’s Skeleton: Name’s Death’s Skeleton, don’t worry. I bite. I am here because some time-space thing was messed with and Doc needed help.

Agent Anti-Venom: Eugene Thompson. Army soldier with a symbiote enhanced in space. I came here with Marc.

Bullseye: Name’s Bullseye, I’m the world’s greatest marksman. I’m here with Megawatt.

Human Torch: My name is Jim Hammond but you can call me Human Torch. You might have read about me in the history books. I’m here to help the world.

Namora: My name's Namora, I’m an Atlantean and my cousin is King of Atlantis. I am here to restore Atlantis somehow and some way.

Annabelle Adams: Name’s Annabell Adams. I’m here because I want to live.

Plague: Wow. Really doing this. Name’s Plague, I know a lot about fiction. I also have a symbiote.

White Widow: I was trained in the red room. Once I escaped I worked with Black Widow and became White Widow. I also want to save the world.

Doctor Strange: I am Stephen Strange, one of the greatest magicians. I set up another beacon, this one is also a mental beacon. If people want to survive, they can come here. Unfortunately I have other matters to attend to so I will be on my way to Asgard with Shiklah. Don't need me.

*Kaine swings away and out of the subway. Doctor Strange and Shiklah portal out. Madrox stumbles out of the train, falling down to the ground*

Madrox: Uh um what happened?

Plague: You tell me, you got hit by a train but we don’t know why you fell.

Madrox: I…I don’t remember.

((REDDIT THIS IS ROLEPLAY))

((‘Ello folks and yolks. Now I know I promised a lot, maybe this is maybe it isn’t. So chumps, you may ask what in The Painter of 1000 Perils name is this team going to do? I ask myself the same question. All I can tell you is that this is not going to be the canon line up post Emma Arc. That would be pretty boring with lil ol me being by myself. So you may be familiar with what Heroes of I.R.O.N. actually is and I shall explain. Long ago there was a team, very simple, it only contained Madrox, Bullseye, Star-Lord, Danny Rand, Shocker, Groot, Venom, Luke Cage, Juggernaut, and Howard the Duck. Well… that was on the Jeanieverse. And I think it’s time for a new coat of paint. This team is if Thunderbolts, Avengers West Coast, and Defenders grouped together. If you have more questions DM me. You will eventually get the stories of the other side but I’ve spent a while on this already so expect it next week. Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh lets see. I had a list of stuff to mention uhhhhhhh. If you want to interact just explain it by hearing the mental beacon and follow it to the sewers. Uhhhhhhh this is an intro for all of my characters not introduced yet. Some are OCs. Now, the biggest topic, Mysterio AKA Quentin Beck. If you can’t tell, he has never canonically existed in this universe (Some one is going to link a comment or post where he was mentioned I bet ToT). I am going with the Spider-Man: Far From Home route and making him pretend to be a hero first. Obviously still the comic version but his goal is from that film. Good film. Uh, same Mysterio origin and stuff as comics. He’s such a good guy in this universe (Totally). Uhh, shout out to Kaylen and Onyx for giving consent for illusion casting. Y’all it’d be funny if this was my last reddit post. I’m pushing my luck with some stuff like the image.))

Three weeks.

That's how long the world had been like this.

Three weeks since everything went wrong.

I still wasn't sure what I was supposed to call it. Apocalypse sounded dramatic, even if there probably wasn't a better word for it. The news had stopped broadcasting after the first few days. The emergency alerts stopped after that. Cell service disappeared. Then the power.

Now there was mostly just silence.

I walked down what used to be a busy street, stepping around abandoned cars and chunks of concrete. A few buildings were still standing, though most looked like one good gust of wind might finish the job. I kept my backpack close and my eyes moving.

I wasn't looking for anything exciting.

Food would have been nice.

Water would have been better.

Somewhere safe to sleep would have been a miracle.

Instead, I found a botanical garden.

At first, I almost walked past it.

The entrance was half buried beneath debris, the sign hanging crookedly from one remaining bolt. I could barely make out the faded lettering.

BOTANICAL GARDENS

I looked at the shattered glass doors.

"Well... technically, that's a building."

I glanced back toward the street.

Nothing moved.

I sighed and stepped inside.

The place had been hit hard. Most of the glass overhead was gone, leaving the sky visible through the twisted metal framework. Plants had been knocked over, benches had been overturned, and dirt covered almost every inch of the floor.

But there were still plants growing.

That surprised me.

I hadn't seen much that was alive since everything happened.

I wandered farther inside, mostly because there wasn't anything else to do.

Then I noticed the roses.

They were growing through the cracks in the floor.

Red roses.

Perfect.

I crouched beside one, staring at the petals.

"How are you alive?"

I touched one of the leaves.

Nothing happened.

I laughed quietly.

"Guess you're doing better than the rest of us."

I stood and kept walking.

The roses became more numerous the farther I went. They climbed broken pillars and curled around the remains of old garden displays. Eventually, I found myself in what looked like the center of the conservatory.

There was a stone pedestal there.

And on top of it was a single rose.

It was enormous compared to the others, with deep pink petals that almost looked like they had been painted. Unlike everything else in the garden, it didn't look damaged at all.

I frowned.

"Okay. That's weird."

I looked around.

Nothing.

No people.

No monsters.

No strange glowing portal.

Just a flower.

I stepped closer.

I probably should have left it alone.

Instead, I reached out.

My fingers brushed the petals.

The rose suddenly burst into light.

"What the—?!"

I jerked backward, but the flower came apart beneath my hand, dissolving into hundreds of glowing petals.

They didn't fall.

They flew.

Straight toward me.

I barely had time to raise my arms before the entire garden exploded with color.

"Wait, wait, WAIT!"

Vines erupted from the ground.

Roses bloomed across the ruined garden.

Pink and crimson light spiraled around my body, lifting my hair and sending petals whipping through the air.

I stumbled backward.

"What is happening?!"

Something warm pressed against my chest.

The light gathered there.

Then everything went white.

For one impossible moment, there was nothing.

Then I felt the ground beneath my feet.

I opened my eyes.

I was still standing in the garden.

Except something was different.

I looked down.

My clothes were still there.

Just... not the clothes I'd been wearing.

A cropped pink jacket rested over my shoulders, covered in silver studs and sharp little spikes along its edges. Beneath it was a fitted green bodice over a high-collared white blouse, the fabric gathered neatly around my throat. Long pink strips of fabric hung from the jacket and waist, covered in rows of tiny silver studs that caught the light whenever they moved.

I slowly raised my arms.

Black gloves stretched almost to my elbows, their cuffs lined with heavy silver studs.

I looked down at my legs.

Pale stockings covered them, with more rows of silver studs running along the sides. Black boots covered my feet, the heels clicking softly against the stone as I shifted my weight.

I turned slightly.

Something enormous moved behind me.

I froze.

Slowly, I looked over my shoulder.

An enormous rose had bloomed behind me.

Not one flower.

Dozens of enormous petals layered over one another, forming something almost like a giant crimson and magenta bloom growing from my back. Dark, thorn-like spikes protruded between the petals, while long pink ribbons spilled outward and dragged across the ruined floor.

I stared at it.

"...That's new."

I slowly lifted one hand.

A tiny rose bloomed in my palm.

I stared at it.

"...What?"

I turned toward one of the shattered windows.

My reflection stared back at me.

My blonde hair had been gathered into soft curls, with several large pink roses woven across one side of my head. They covered part of my face, while a small silver crown of spikes rose behind them.

And my eyes.

They were pink.

I blinked.

The reflection blinked back.

I touched one of the roses in my hair.

"This isn't my hair."

I looked down at myself again.

Then behind me.

Then back at the reflection.

I slowly turned one way.

Then the other.

Nothing about this made sense.

Behind me, the garden suddenly erupted into bloom.

Thousands of roses opened at once, filling the ruined conservatory with color.

I slowly turned toward them.

The wasteland was still out there.

The broken city.

The empty streets.

Everything that had happened over the last three weeks.

And yet, here in this ruined garden, something was alive.

I looked at the rose still resting in my palm.

It glowed softly against my fingers.

I had absolutely no idea what had just happened to me.

I didn't know what the flower had done.

I didn't know what I was wearing.

And I definitely didn't know what the enormous rose behind me was supposed to be.

But whatever this was...

It had just begun.