My Little Avengers: Part 1

Steve Rogers was back home where he belonged…in a post war world with the love of his life, Peggy. Sitting on the deck of the home he had worked so hard to build, he could only reflect on what was to come in terms of living his life before he was frozen. It was early morning, Steve knew that Peggy would be making breakfast soon. But, as he looked out over his land, he suddenly saw a ghostly image appear before him.

"No way," he gasped, rising to his feet as the ghostly figure of Tony Stark walked towards him. "It can't be. Tony?"

"Cap," he replied, saluting his fellow Avenger. "How's retirement?"

"What...what are you doing here? You're dead!"

"My body is, but my spirit still lives," Tony said, placing a ghostly hand on Steve's shoulder while coming straight to the point. "Look, I know that you are enjoying life with Peggy, but we need your help."

"Who's 'we'?" Steve asked.

No sooner were those words spoken did another ghostly image come towards them, joining Tony on his left.

"Nat?"

"Hey, Steve."

"Okay, this is really strange," Steve stammered, backing away from the two ghosts. "How and why are you both here now? Aren't you here to tell me that heaven hasn't been good to you?"

"This must seem like a shock to you," remarked Natasha.

"It is a shock," Steve whispered back, feeling slightly panicked. "I mean…you two didn't live in the 1940's and if Peggy comes out here and sees me talking to you…"

"Look," Tony interrupted, pulling Steve to his face. "You know damn well that time travel can work in mysterious ways, don't you? To put it simply, neither Nat nor I can get into heaven."

"Why?"

"I know this may sound kind of bizarre to you as much as it is too me," Tony tried to explain. "But Thanos, the one we beheaded after the snap, is supposedly still alive."

Steve couldn't believe what he was hearing. He came back to this point in time to live life before all of this happened.

"What are you talking about Thanos is still alive?" he cried, pacing back and forth. "I thought he turned to dust with the rest of his minions and goons."

"That was the 2014 Thanos," replied Tony. "He's dead and gone. But, Thanos can never be completely destroyed unless the 2018 one is destroyed."

It became more and more apparent in Steve's mind just exactly what this meant. He was about to be roped back into the Avengers.

"Look, I know what you are thinking, guys. But, how can I come back now? I mean, the mantel of Captain America is now in Sam's hands now."

"Not even Sam will want to face this using your identity," remarked Nat. "Please, Steve. Take up the shield…one last time."

Thinking for a moment, Steve contemplated his options. He could no longer turn his back on the role that made him famous as any of the Avengers. He was after all, the First Avenger. Realizing that there was no other option, he accepted his fate.

"All right," he sighed. "But, I go with you on one condition, Tony."

"What's that, Cap?"

"When all this is said and done, I come back here and live my life the way I want to live it," Steve said, firmly. "Understand?"

"Of course, Steve."

"And…what happens if I get killed fighting Thanos?"

"Then, you'll rejoin Peggy in heaven, the 90 year old Peggy."

"That won't be what I want, but I live life with Peggy either way," sighed Steve again, accepting whatever fate that was now in his hands.

With those words, a portal appeared before them and closing his eyes, Steve followed his deceased comrades through the portal.

…

…

Meanwhile, back at the Sanctum, Sam and Bucky were trying to figure out what was going on following their encounter with the Dazzlings.

"I don't understand," said Sam. "They were just there using some kind of green magic on two people. Next thing you know, they made them fight one another. I try to confront them and the girl that looks like Little Orphan Annie punches me in the stomach."

"It's weird," added Bucky, sitting down in a chair. "Do you think that maybe they were acting alone or something like that?"

"They weren't acting alone," said Dr. Strange, looking them right in the eye and producing an orb. "According to what you are seeing before you, he is still alive."

"Who is still alive?" asked Sam.

Looking closely at the portal, Sam and Bucky watched in disbelief as an enemy that they thought none of them would ever see again appeared.

"Christ in a Cartoon!" gasped Sam. "Thanos! But, I thought Tony destroyed him."

"It was a past Thanos that Tony destroyed. This is the Thanos who had snapped his fingers in Wakanda."

"Wait a minute, how do you know what Wakanda is?" asked Bucky.

"Because I am a wizard, Barnes," answered Dr. Strange, making the orb disappear. "And I have powers that you have never heard of before."

…

"So where is he now?" asked Sam. "Where can we find him?"

As he spoke those words, Sam realized what this meant: that he would be taking up the mantel of Captain America. He was going to have to stop being the Falcon…or at least until that moment.

Suddenly, a portal opened and out stepped Steve Rogers, much to the shock of Sam and Bucky.

"Steve!" gasped Bucky, going over to hug his friend. "What…what are you doing here?"

"I've been recruited to help fight Thanos, the Thanos who caused half of life to disappear."

"Cap, I don't understand," said Sam. "I thought you were retired, you passed the shield onto me."

"I need it one last time, Sam," replied Steve. "Because the Doctor says so."

Accepting his fate, Sam handed Steve his shield back.

"Besides, we're going to need you up in the air," added Steve. "Wings ready?"

"They just got detailed a few days ago," chuckled Sam.

…

"Apparently, Thanos is not the only one we are dealing with," said Dr. Strange, getting the attention of everyone in the room and producing another orb, showing the other enemy. "This is King Sombra from the land of Equestria. He's been killed twice and has recently come back from the dead with help from Thanos."

"He looks evil," remarked Tony.

"He is evil," replied Dr. Strange. "He is a unicorn who's heart is black as night. Sombra shows no mercy and tried to conquer all of Equestria."

"Wait, wait, wait," said Tony, waving his hands back and forth. "Equestria is real? I thought it was a fictional land. In fact, there are quite a number of weirdoes who think this land is real."

"They are called Bronies, Tony," said Sam. "And not all of them are weirdoes. In fact, your protégé happens to be a big fan."

Tony felt his eyes widen upon hearing this.

"Parker like a cartoon featuring talking horses?" he remarked. "Does anyone know where he is?"

"Nope," replied Sam, causing Tony to look right at Dr. Strange, who replied he had no idea either.

"Guess I'd better go and find him then," sighed Tony. "Wherever he is."

"Doesn't he live in Queens?" asked Steve. "I can find him there for you if you want."

Suddenly, the Cauldron of the Cosmos began acting up and everyone rushed over to find out what was happening.

"What is it, Doctor?" asked Tony.

…

Meanwhile, walking towards the school known as Crystal Prep academy, the humanized Thanos activated his gauntlet, ready to recruit himself some more followers.

"What are we doing here?" asked Adagio.

"We need more followers, my child," answered Thanos. "And there are a few girls that can serve me well."

Once again activating the mind stone, he used the powers of the gauntlet to magically bring forth five Crystal Prep students.

"What…what's happening?" cried one of the girls as another with lemon green hair let out a small scream. "What…WHO ARE YOU?!"

"Do not be alarmed, my children," Thanos said evilly. "You shall all serve me well."

"Serve you?" cried a girl with Indigo hair. "What do you want with us?"

But Thanos didn't answer. He used the powers of the gauntlet to make himself, the Dazzllings and the captured Crystal Prep girls disappear.

…

A few moments later, the sounds of Principal Cadence's door knocked loudly as a female student came rushing in.

"Principal Cadence!" the student cried. "Sour Sweet, Sugarcoat, they've just disappeared!"

"What do you mean, disappeared, Suri?" asked Principal Cadence calmly. "What's going on?"

"I was walking with them to woodworking when all of a sudden, they just magically disappeared!"

"Are you sure about this?" she asked.

"I'm sure!"

"Show me where you saw them last," ordered Principal Cadence and the frightened Suri Polomare led Principal Cadence to the source of their disappearance.

With each step she took, Principal Cadence was beginning to wonder more and more that what Celestia and Luna were trying to tell her was supposedly true. They came across a few feet from the woodworking classroom.

"It was right here, Principal Cadence," Suri cried. "It was right here and they just went poof!"

A few moments later, another student came rushing with another teacher right behind her.

"Principal Cadence," said the teacher. "Upper Crust was walking with Sunny Flare and Lemon Zest to gym class when they just magically disappeared."

Right away, Principal Cadence couldn't hide the fact that something was terribly wrong.

"Ms. Harshwinny," ordered Principal Cadence. "Keep your students inside your classroom. I'm placing Crystal Prep on lockdown so no other students disappear."

Racing back to her office with the frightened Suri Polomare and Upper Crust in tow, Cadence ushered them into a corner of her office while she wet on the loudspeaker.

"Attention," she announced into the loudspeaker. "Crystal Prep is on Lockdown! I repeat, Crystal Prep is on Lockdown! Lock all doors, shut all windows and remain in your classrooms until further notice!"

With five of her school's students missing, Principal Cadence was living out her worst nightmare. Reaching for her phone, she immediately called Canterlot High to inform them of what was happening.

"Principal Celestia," she called. "We've got a big problem here!"

"Principal Cadence, calm down!" said Principal Celestia in a calming tone. "What is going on?"

"Five of my school's students have magically disappeared," gasped Principal Cadence. "They just vanished into thin air!"

Realizing the severity of the situation, Principal Celestia immediately took action.

"Is the school on lockdown?" she asked.

"Yes!"

"All right, I think I know what might be happening," said Principal Celestia. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this and call you back!"

…

Hanging up her phone, Principal Celestia walked out of her office and stormed over towards Sombra's class room. Without opening the door, she stormed in walking towards him.

"Stay seated," she sternly ordered the students, before directing her attention to Sombra. "Sombra, my office…NOW!"

Fearing that he may have been discovered, Sombra reluctantly followed Principal Celestia towards her office. Vice Principal Luna, who had been down the hall making her rounds, was ordered to watch over Sombra's class.

…

Back in the sanctum, the remaining Avengers had seen enough and realized what they needed to do.

"Do we go after them?" asked Steve.

"We must go at once," said Dr. Strange. "As of right now, our second war on Thanos has already begun!"

…