Doctor Strange returned later with Jean Grey. Both of them looked exhausted. Using the Time Stone had taken its toll on Strange. And Jean's Phoenix connection was even more unstable now.
"How are you holding up?" Tony asked them.
"Tired." Strange admitted. "Time manipulation is never easy. And doing it on that scale nearly killed me."
"But it worked." Jean added. "The heroes who fell in the final battle are alive. That's what matters."
"Thank you." Tony's voice was sincere. "Both of you. For everything."
They talked for a while longer. Then left. Giving Tony time to rest.
As evening approached, Pepper finally agreed to get some sleep. M.A.R.V.E.L. assured her that the Mark Sanctuary armor would protect her completely. She could rest safely.
Tony was alone. Finally. Time to think.
'Apocalypse is dead. Earth is saved. But at what cost? 2.1 billion dead. Entire regions devastated. Infrastructure collapsed. And I've revealed too much. Shown too much power.'
His mind raced through implications. 'Apocalypse said other threats would notice. Would come for Earth. He was right. I've announced our existence to the cosmos. Made Earth a target.'
Tony thought about the future. About the threats he knew were coming from his meta-knowledge. Galactus. Thanos. Cosmic entities beyond human comprehension.
'I need to be stronger. Stage 2 isn't enough. Need to reach Stage 3. Stage 4. Keep evolving. Keep growing. Because what's coming next will make Apocalypse look like a warm-up.'
But there was something else to consider now. Pepper. Their child. A family.
'Can I keep doing this? Keep throwing myself into impossible fights? Keep risking everything? When I have a child depending on me?'
The questions had no easy answers. Tony knew he couldn't stop. Couldn't retire. Too many threats. Too many dangers. Earth needed him.
But his child needed him too. Needed a father who would be there. Who would survive to see them grow up.
'Have to find balance. Keep fighting. Keep protecting. But also be there for my family. Somehow make both work.'
The tent entrance opened again. This time Nick Fury entered. His single eye studied Tony carefully.
"Stark. Good to see you alive."
"Fury. What's the damage?"
"Apocalypse is confirmed dead. His forces are scattered. The Ascension Device is destroyed. Cairo is a ruin but recoverable." Fury sat down. "But we have other problems."
"What problems?"
"Remember Thor, Hulk, Captain Marvel, and Black Panther? The ones who left during the Apocalypse crisis to deal with something in space?"
Tony remembered. They'd fought Apocalypse for a while when Tony first disappeared. Then something urgent came up and they left.
"What about them?"
"They're gone. Haven't heard from them in over a month. Last message said they'd teamed up with a group called the Guardians of the Galaxy. Then nothing."
Tony's blood ran cold. "What were they dealing with?"
"Thanos. The Mad Titan." Fury's voice was grim. "Intelligence suggested he was making moves toward Earth. Gathering resources. Preparing for something big. They went to intercept him. To understand his plans. But they've gone dark."
"Thanos." Tony repeated. The name carried weight. In his previous life, he'd read countless stories about the Mad Titan. Knew what he was capable of. What he wanted.
The Infinity Stones. The Gauntlet. The Snap.
'But this is an alternate universe. Things might be different. He might have different goals. Different methods.'
"What do we know about his current status?" Tony asked.
"Not much. But if our people went dark, it means something went wrong. Either they're captured, dead, or fighting something too big to communicate about." Fury leaned forward. "We need you ready. Because if Thanos decides to come to Earth, we'll need every advantage we have."
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