James Rhodes, who had been quietly processing the implications of the memorial footage, suddenly spoke up with the analytical mind of a military officer. His expression showed the kind of concern that came from years of strategic planning and risk assessment.
"Everyone, doesn't something about this memorial strike you as odd? We know from previous Sky Curtain revelations that Tony and Natasha are destined to die in whatever conflict we're facing, so I'm not surprised to see them being mourned in this tribute. But why are Vision and Steve also included in what's clearly a memorial for the fallen?"
Tony's eyes narrowed as he processed Rhodes' observation. He had been so focused on the horrifying footage of people dissolving into ash that he had missed this crucial detail. Now that his attention was drawn to it, the implications were deeply unsettling.
"You're right, Rhodey. If this is specifically honoring those who died in the conflict, then..." Tony's voice trailed off as the full weight of realization hit him.
Steve Rogers, ever the soldier, showed remarkably little emotional reaction to the possibility of his own death. His voice remained steady and matter-of-fact, though those who knew him well could detect a slight tightening around his eyes.
"The logic is straightforward," Steve said with characteristic calm. "Vision and I must also perish during that war. Death is an inevitable part of any major conflict - it's just that this time, fate has decided it's our turn to make the ultimate sacrifice."
Far away in the advanced nation of Wakanda, T'Challa studied the memorial images with particular interest. Among the photographs of fallen heroes, he had spotted his own image included alongside the traditional Avengers. This detail indicated that in the future timeline, he would not only join the Avengers but also participate actively in the catastrophic battle that would cost so many lives.
Despite the somber implications, T'Challa couldn't help but feel a slight sense of satisfaction. The inclusion suggested that Wakanda would finally step out of the shadows and take its rightful place on the world stage, contributing to the global effort to protect all life. The corners of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly - even in the face of potential death, there was honor in standing with Earth's mightiest heroes.
Bucky Barnes, still recovering in Wakanda's advanced medical facilities, felt a familiar knot of anxiety form in his stomach as he studied Steve's memorial photograph. The image brought back all his fears and concerns about his best friend's wellbeing - the same protective instincts that Steve had always shown toward him.
Just as Steve had spent decades worrying about Bucky's fate and fighting to save him from Hydra's control, Bucky now found himself terrified at the prospect of losing the one person who had never given up on him. The thought of Steve dying while he was helpless to prevent it was almost unbearable.
Bucky's extended stay in Wakanda had been necessary for more than just physical recovery. The fragmented memories and psychological trauma from his years as the Winter Soldier had been steadily tormenting him, making normal life impossible. Only through seeking Princess Shuri's expertise had he found hope for true healing.
Through Wakanda's revolutionary neurotechnology and Shuri's brilliant innovations, they had successfully repaired the extensive damage in Bucky's brain and completely removed all traces of Hydra's conditioning commands. For the first time in decades, Bucky was truly free from external control - but that freedom came with the clear awareness of everything he stood to lose.
[The scene shifts to what appears to be a school cafeteria or common area, where Peter Parker sits down across from his best friend Ned Leeds with barely contained excitement radiating from every fiber of his being. His eyes are bright with the kind of nervous energy that comes from young love and carefully planned schemes.]
["Dude, I have a plan! And it's going to be absolutely perfect!"]
[Ned looks up from his lunch with the expression of someone accustomed to Peter's enthusiastic schemes, though this particular level of excitement seems unusually intense even for his best friend.]
["Okay, lay it on me. What's the master plan this time?"]
[Peter leans in conspiratorially, pulling out a small notebook where he's apparently been meticulously planning every detail. His voice drops to an excited whisper as he begins outlining his strategy.]
["Step One! I'm going to make sure I get the seat right next to MJ on the airplane to Europe! I've already started working on the seating arrangements."]
[Ned nods along supportively, though he can already see where this is heading.]
["Step Two! I'm going to buy one of those dual-port headphone adapters - you know, the ones that let two people share audio from the same device! Then we can watch movies together during the entire eight-hour flight!" Peter's excitement is infectious as he gestures enthusiastically while explaining his plan.]
[Ned continues nodding, though his expression suggests he's starting to have reservations about the complexity of this romantic strategy.]
["Step Three! Once we arrive in Venice - and Venice is world-famous for its exquisite glass artistry, right? - I'm going to find the perfect glass shop and buy her a beautiful black dahlia necklace! She absolutely loves black dahlias more than any other flower, and it's all because of her obsession with that famous unsolved murder case!"]
[Ned's eyes light up with recognition as he adds to the conversation: "Oh yeah! The Black Dahlia murder case from the 1940s! She's always talking about unsolved mysteries and true crime stories."]
["Exactly! Step Four! When we reach Paris, I'm going to take her to the very top of the Eiffel Tower - you know, the most romantic spot in the most romantic city in the world - and that's where I'll present her with the necklace!"]
[Peter's voice becomes more earnest and vulnerable as he continues, his teenage nervousness showing through his confident planning.]
["Step Five! That's when I'm going to tell her exactly how I feel about her. Everything I've been wanting to say but never had the courage to express."]
[His voice becomes almost dreamy as he imagines the perfect scenario.]
["Step Six! And hopefully, if everything goes according to plan, she'll tell me that she feels the same way about me. That we're perfectly in sync, you know?"]
[Ned, who has been listening with growing concern about the elaborate nature of this plan, suddenly interjects with the wisdom that sometimes comes from being the more practical friend.]
["Oh! Don't forget about Step Seven, Peter!"]
[Peter immediately prepares to add this crucial final step to his carefully written notes, pen poised and ready to capture Ned's important addition to the plan.]
["What's Step Seven? I want to make sure I don't miss anything important!"]
[Ned's response is delivered with the kind of blunt honesty that only best friends can get away with.]
["Don't do any of the first six steps!"]
[Peter finally realizes that Ned has been setting him up for this moment, and his face shows a mixture of confusion, betrayal, and exasperation.]
["What?! Ned, why would you say that?! This plan is foolproof!"]
[Ned leans back with the confidence of someone who believes he's about to deliver life-changing wisdom to his naive best friend.]
["Because Europe is going to be an absolute paradise for guys like us, Peter! We're going to be surrounded by opportunities we've never had before!"]
[Peter's voice carries a note of helpless frustration as he realizes his best friend is about to completely derail his romantic plans.]
["Ned, come on..."]
[But Ned is just getting started with his counter-argument, his voice taking on the tone of someone sharing classified intelligence.]
["Look, I'll admit I don't know everything about international relations, but I do know one absolutely crucial fact: European girls think American guys are incredibly exotic and attractive!"]
[Peter's skepticism is evident in his voice, though there's a tiny hint of curiosity despite himself.]
["Really? Are you sure about that?"]
[Ned's confidence reaches new heights as he delivers what he clearly believes is his strongest argument.]
["Peter, think about it mathematically! More than half of all Europeans are female! The odds are completely in our favor!"]
[Peter throws his hands up in a gesture of loving exasperation, his voice becoming more earnest as he tries to explain his genuine feelings.]
["Okay, fine, whatever statistical analysis you want to believe! But the truth is, I really, genuinely like MJ! She's not just some random crush - she's amazing! She's incredibly cool, her dark sense of humor always makes me laugh, and sometimes I catch her looking at me and it literally makes me feel dizzy with how much I like her!"]
[As if summoned by their conversation, MJ approaches their table carrying her characteristic oversized canvas bag filled with books and papers. Peter immediately panics and lowers his voice to an urgent whisper.]
["Oh no, she's coming over here! Ned, please don't say anything weird or embarrassing!"]
[MJ arrives at their table with her typical casual confidence, a slight smirk playing at the corners of her mouth as she observes their obvious nervousness.]
["Hey there, nerds! So we're all going on this big European science trip together! Are you guys actually excited about learning something, or are you just planning to be tourists?"]
[Peter attempts to appear calm and collected, though his voice comes out slightly higher than usual.]
["Hey MJ! Yeah, we're definitely excited! We were just, uh, discussing various aspects of international travel and cultural exchange!"]
[Ned, apparently unable to resist the opportunity for mischief, decides this is the perfect moment to cause maximum embarrassment for his best friend.]
["Yeah! We were specifically talking about Peter's detailed plan for the trip!"]
[MJ's eyebrows raise with genuine interest and amusement.]
["Oh really? Peter Parker has an actual plan? This I have to hear. What kind of plan are we talking about?"]
[Peter shoots Ned a look that could kill, then turns back to MJ with desperate denial.]
["I don't... there's no plan! I definitely didn't make any kind of plan whatsoever!"]
[Ned, clearly enjoying himself far too much, continues his campaign of friendly sabotage.]
["Oh no, he absolutely has a plan! He's going to collect decorative souvenir spoons from every single country we visit during the trip!"]
[MJ's expression becomes a mixture of amusement and bewilderment.]
["Decorative spoons? Like... like some kind of elderly grandmother collecting kitchen memorabilia?"]
[Peter stares blankly for a moment, his brain struggling to process the absurdity of the situation, before desperately attempting damage control.]
["I'm not collecting spoons! He's the one who collects spoons! I don't collect anything!"]
[MJ shakes her head with the kind of fond exasperation reserved for dealing with teenage boys.]
["Okay, well... talking with you two is always an interesting exercise in mental gymnastics! Anyway, here's some actually useful advice: you should probably download a reliable VPN app on your phones before we leave. That way when we're abroad, other people won't be able to track your internet activity or location."]
[Her suggestion immediately reminds Peter of his previous traumatic experience with being tracked and surveilled.]
["That's actually really smart advice! I'll definitely do that. Thanks, MJ."]
[After MJ walks away, carrying her oversized bag full of books and mysterious papers, Ned turns to Peter with a huge grin of satisfaction.]
["Dude! I think our response to that whole situation was absolutely perfect! We totally played it cool!"]
[Peter can only stare at his best friend with a mixture of disbelief and resigned affection, though he's too flustered to come up with an adequate response to Ned's completely misguided assessment of their social performance.]
In the MCU, Harley look at little peter with genuine curiosity and a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Wait, Peter, do you actually have feelings for her? For MJ? I had no idea you were interested in anyone like that."
The younger Peter Parker, felt his face flush bright red with embarrassment. The detailed romantic plan displayed on the Sky Curtain had been mortifying enough, but having it discussed by his friends made everything infinitely worse.
"I... uh... I honestly don't know! Oh God, this is so embarrassing!" Peter managed to stammer out, unconsciously tapping his foot against the floor in a nervous rhythm as he tried to process his own feelings.
Ned Leeds looked confused by the revelation.
"But don't you like Liz Allan? When did you switch to liking Michelle instead?"
This question only served to make Peter even more flustered and confused. How could he possibly explain feelings and romantic developments that apparently belonged to a future version of himself?
"I... I don't know how to answer that! The me up there on the screen seems to have moved on, but I don't understand how or when that happened!"
Harley's younger sister, sitting nearby and listening to the entire exchange, rolled her eyes with the kind of disdain that only teenagers can truly master.
"Ugh, what a total player! Moving from one girl to another like it's nothing!"
Her harsh judgment hit Peter like a physical blow, and he dramatically clutched his chest as if he'd been mortally wounded, slumping back in his chair with exaggerated despair.
"That's not fair! I haven't done anything wrong!"
Harley, immediately came to Peter's defense with logical reasoning.
"Come on, be reasonable! The video said it's been eight months since The Blip, which means it's been at least eight months since Liz moved away with her family from Peter side. It's completely normal and healthy for Peter to develop feelings for someone new after that much time has passed, right? People move on - that's just life!"
[The scene transitions to what appears to be a community center or charity event venue. A banner reading "Homeless Support Association" hangs prominently in the background. The space is filled with folding chairs occupied by people who appear to be displaced residents, volunteers, and community supporters. The atmosphere is warm but tinged with the kind of determined hope that comes from people working together to overcome tragedy.]
[Aunt May stands at a simple podium, her voice carrying clearly through the room as she addresses the gathered crowd. Beside her stands Spider-Man in his distinctive red and gold Iron Spider armor, the advanced suit gleaming under the fluorescent lights. Despite the impressive technology, his body language suggests he'd rather be anywhere else.]
["When I was brought back home by what everyone's calling 'The Blip,' the family that had been living in our apartment for the past five years was completely and utterly confused by my sudden appearance in their living room!"]
[The audience listens with a mixture of sympathy and amusement as May continues her story, her natural charisma helping to lighten the mood despite the serious subject matter.]
["The woman of the house immediately assumed I was some kind of mistress or home-wrecker trying to break up her marriage! Meanwhile, their elderly grandmother took one look at me materializing out of thin air and became convinced I was a ghost coming to haunt their family! You can imagine the absolute chaos that ensued - everyone screaming, the police being called, neighbors gathering outside. It was like something out of a sitcom, except it was happening to real people dealing with real trauma!"]
[Her vivid description draws genuine laughter from the audience, people shaking their heads in recognition of similar stories they've heard or experienced themselves.]
["But in all seriousness, thank you all so much for lending a helping hand to those of us who have been displaced by 'The Blip' incident! Your generosity and community spirit have made an impossible situation bearable. And of course, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man for all his continued support and assistance!"]
[Spider-Man gives an awkward little wave to the crowd, clearly uncomfortable with the public attention and praise. May notices his discomfort and gestures for him to step forward to the microphone.]
[Spider-Man approaches the podium with obvious reluctance, his movements stiff and unnatural. He clears his throat twice before speaking, his voice coming out slightly muffled through the suit's voice modulator.]
["Thank you, Ms. Parker, for inviting me to speak today! And, uh, thank you everyone else for... for also inviting me! I mean, for being here! For... supporting this cause!"]
[His nervousness is painfully apparent as he struggles to find the right words. Public speaking is clearly not among his superhuman abilities.]
[Aunt May, recognizing that her nephew is drowning in social anxiety, smoothly steps back to the microphone with practiced ease.]
["Thank you so much, Spider-Man! He'll be available after the presentation to take photographs with anyone who's interested! Thank you all again for your support!"]
[The moment May gives him an out, Spider-Man practically flees from the stage, each second in the spotlight having felt like an eternity of discomfort. His relief at escaping the public attention is visible even through his mask as he disappears into the relative anonymity of the crowd.]