"Is the tea good?" I asked Crystal/ Christelda and she gave a polite smile as she took another sip of her cup. The two of us were seated at one of the three benches under the trees in the courtyard.
Lockjaw was off to the side, chasing around a floating ball of eldritch energy that was made by one of the sorcerers-in-training.
"It is. Did you make it?"
"I might not look it, but I am a connoisseur of all tea and coffees," I replied, to which she giggled before I placed my cup down.
"Okay, now that we're both calm, why don't I start by asking a few simple questions if that's okay?"
"Considering the news I just dropped on you, questions are the most I expected," she replied and I nodded before letting out a soft exhale.
"Okay, then let's start with the first one. What exactly are the Kree, the Skrulls and the Shi'ar?" The first two I knew of since I believe Ronan the Conquerer from GOTG Vol.1 was a Kree and the Skrulls were the main focus of that one series Secret Invasion.
I might also be remembering this incorrectly, but didn't the Skrulls and the Kree at war with each other in the Captain Marvel movie? Or am I just reaching there?
Anyway, that's all I knew of the first two, but the Shi'ar...the only thing I can think off is the bird-people from the X-Men animated series and its X-Men '97 continuation...or was that a reboot?
"What do you know of them?"
"Absolutely nothing," I replied, watching as Crystal just sighed before nodding.
"Got it. Well, going into detail of all three would take me years to fully explain so I will give you the quick run-down."
"My attention span is too long for the detailed version, but if a beautiful lady such as yourself gives it to me, I'm sure I would be able to focus."
"Nice, but no."
"Had to try," I replied, smirking as she rolled her eyes before I paid attention as she cleared her throat.
"Okay, here we go. The Kree are a militaristic alien race, blue-skinned for the most part, though some of their units look human. They have a huge empire and a very rigid sense of order.
The Skrulls are shapeshifters that can mimic anyone or anything down to the molecular level. Their history with the Kree has been mostly hostile with lots of wars and lots of secrecy.
Finally, there are the Shi'ar. They're an avian-descended humanoid race of extraterrestrial beings that hail from the planet Chandilar. They are extremely militaristic to the point that the Kree look tame compared to them and they tend to see the first two as children squabbling over territory, which makes sense given that the Shi'ar have control over their galaxy."
"...So, this is basically, a parent watching their two children squabble over a piece of dirt that they can take at any time?"
"Pretty much, yes."
"And, uh, how do you guys know of them?" I asked, to which she she shrugged as she put her cup down.
"Essentially, the Inhumans, which is my race, were made by the Kree a long time ago through experiments with Terrigenesis, which is how we have our powers.
That is also why they contacted us just earlier today of an energy surge of cataclysmic proportions that nearly took out the universe and everything in it."
'And of course that comes to bite me in the ass,' I thought, confusing Crystal as I let out a groan at her words.
"Why do I have a feeling you know what I'm talking about?"
"Because I'm the one that caused the incident?" I said/ asked, giving a helpless shrug as she narrowed her eyes at me. "In my defence, there was a nuke about to eradicate New York so I had to carry it out and vibrate my body at the same frequency as the explosions.
Unfortunately, about fifty universes didn't make it, but hey, at least ours survived."
"That's...not good, Pietro."
"Explain, please."
"The Shi'ar were just going to come and dissuade the Kree and Skrulls from waging war against each other with Earth caught in the middle, but if they find out that you are capable of emitting that level of energy, they won't leave you be."
"Okay, what's the most they could do?"
"Eradicate everything and everyone on this planet while keeping you alive to siphon the kinetic energy you make with your speed for the rest of your existence," she replied and I blinked at that before giving a slow nod.
"R-Right, that's...ba-Wait," I cut myself off, narrowing my eyes with a frown as Crystal waited. "You said that they came here to talk, right?"
"They did."
"Well, what if we had our own representative that's not from Earth, but is supposed to be looking over us?"
"I have a feeling that you have someone either incredibly powerful or incredibly influential at mind," she answered and I grinned as I cleared my throat and sat back down.
"Tell me, have you heard of the Nine Realms?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"-and that's how we got here. So, what do you say, Thor?" I asked the 'divine' being as I finished explaining everything, Crystal right beside me as she chimed in now and again.
Lockjaw was once again snoring on the side with Xialing and Shang Chi scratching his ears while the Avengers along with Wanda and Mordo stood in front of us two.
Thor didn't say anything as he gave a slow blink. Then, he blinked once again before slowly crossing his arms with a frown, "The Nine Realms are recognized by several intergalactic governments as sovereign territories with Asgard acting as steward.
Therefore, if the Shi'ar, Kree or Skrulls tried to attack Earth, they'd be threatening one of the Realms under Asgardian protection. I understand what you're talking about."
"So, you're vying for diplomatic protection? Is that it?" Tony asked and Crystal nodded as I gestured to Thor.
"Now, while you would make a great representative that they won't immediately try to vaporize, you also know a very specific god that will be a true deterrent."
"I understand that the protection of Midgard is the duty of Asgard, but Father will take some...convincing, especially after the events on Asgard last year."
'An event on Asgard?...The Dark Elf stuff,' I thought with a grimace, realizing how problematic this may turn out to be.
Bringing Jane to Asgard resulted in the Dark Elves attacking it, which resulted in the death of Frigga so, in Odin's mind at that time, a Midgardian was indirectly responsible for the death of his soulmate.
Now, I might be reaching there, but if I was asked to help another race that was responsible for making me lose my most beloved...yeah, I wouldn't be able to do it.
"So, he might not help?"
"Even if I attempt to sway him, Father sees threats where there are none and ignores threats that are staring him in the face. On top of that, he is a reactive person, not a proactive person."
"So, that's a no?"
"That's a 'perhaps'," Thor replied and I palmed my face with a sigh before nodding.
"Okay, then. Then, it's time for plan B."
"I know that look in your eyes, Pietro. What are you planning on doing?" Wanda asked with a frown, to which I chuckled and gave a shrug.
"Simple, sister. I believe it is time that I show off my diplomatic skills."
"No," Both Wanda and Mordo spoke in unison, making me huff as Crystal raised an eyebrow.
"How bad is it?"
"He will most definitely try and out-ego the Shi'ar."
"There's nothing saying that it won't work."
"There's nothing that says it will!"
"Hesitation is the killer of hope, sister," I replied and she stared at me before nodding.
"Fine, but I'm going with. I don't trust you one single bit."
"Great. Mordo?"
"Someone has to look after the planet while you two are away," he replied and I nodded before turning to Thor.
"Okay, since Odin might not help, you want to?"
"If it means that Midgard stays safe for another day, I would be more than happy," The god nodded and I grinned as I turned to Crystal.
"Well, that's everyone we need. Now, how do we get to the Moon?"
"...Wait, this takes place where?" Tony asked with a confused blink, but I ignored him as Crystal whistled. On command, Lockjaw stood up, waltzing over and letting Crystal rub his head.
"Are you sure this is the right course of action?"
"Hey, if they don't listen to Thor, then all is lost."
"That is true," Thor agreed with a blunt nod, Crystal shaking her head as we all grabbed onto Lockjaw. Tails, the curious Jiu Wei Hu that he was, poked his head out from my jacket with a confused look before I watched Mordo take Shang Chi and Xialing through a portal.
"When I get back, we'll go on that world trip, okay Shang, Xialing?" I spoke, grinning as both of them nodded before the world around us distorted.
The sight that greeted us...was far more disorienting than I expected. Sure, there was a gigantic dome around a futuristic city and if I looked up, I could make out the Earth in the distance.
Sure, that was cool and all...if not for the thousands upon thousands of space ships that blocked out the space around the moon and almost obscured it from view.
"Uh, Crystal, how much time did you say we have?"
"About twenty-seven hours."
"And how many has it been?"
"...Twenty-six?" she replied hesitantly and I looked at her before letting out a slow breath as Wanda sighed and Thor scratched his head.
"Well, this is quite the predicament. Also, what is with the fluffy fox in your clothing?"
"Oh, this is Tails. I go everywhere with him. Say hi, Tails," The Jiu Wei Hu yipped in greeting and Thor blinked as he slowly waved at him.
"Greetings."
"Great, you're acquainted. Crystal, where do we go?" I asked, but she didn't answer as she began walking. "Well, I guess we follow her."
"Pietro, none of your jokes, please," Wanda replied as she followed after her, Thor and I following after them with Lockjaw taking up the rear.
Surprisingly, the streets of Attilan were not as crowded despite the many spaceships above, the citizens giving us only minor glances before going back to whatever they were doing.
Guess a literal god, two Sokovians, their princess and a dog the size of a sedan is not enough for them to be concerned about it.
It didn't take us long to enter the palace, the crystal walls shimmering with a soothing glow before I caught Wanda's frown.
"You doing okay?" I asked, a sincere tone in my voice which she caught as she gave a soft smile and nodded.
"I am fine, brother. I'm just...processing the fact that aliens actually exist on our Moon."
"Hey, it's better than fighting inter-dimensional beings, right?"
"Far better," she replied and I chuckled before Crystal let us into a wide chamber with obsidian floors and a throne made out of some silver-grey metal.
Sitting atop said throne was arguably one of the stronger beings in the universe, dressed in a black bodysuit with white-gold accents and a bident-shaped protrusion on his forehead.
Right beside him was a beautiful woman dressed in a red bodysuit with a red cloak thrown over her shoulders, her auburn-red hair hanging to her ankles while her eyes was fixed on Crystal.
"Crystal, why is there an Asgardian and Earthlings on Attilan? You understand that the leaders of the Kree, Skrulls and Shi'ar will soon convene, yes?"
"I do, sister, but he is the cause of this meeting," she replied, making her sister turn to me as I bowed with a smile and stood back up.
"Apologies, Queen..."
"Medusalith Amaquelin. This is my husband Blackagar Boltagon."
"Right. Apologies, Queen Medusalith, but I feared that a decision made without a representative of Earth present was a bit unfair, which is why I asked the Norse god Thor to step in as both our representative and a representative of Asgard."
"We have reason to believe that should Pietro reveal his part in being responsible for the explosion, that the Shi'ar may try to take him away."
"They will most definitely try. The Shi'ar do not like leaving such power to its own devices and would like nothing more than to have you either as a servant or a slave."
"Great, which is why Thor is here to tell them no," I replied, gesturing to the god who nodded. Medusalith just stared at us two before she turned to me with a frown.
"And what if they decide to test you? What if they say no to this and decide to capture you?"
"Well, then they'll have to try their best to survive because then I'll show them what it means to mess with someone capable of moving faster than the speed of light."
"That is true. He is really fast," Crystal added on and Medusalith narrowed her eyes at me before she turned to Black Bolt. The man in question was completely silent as Medusa communicated with sign language, to which he looked to be in thought for a moment before responding with his own.
"My husband believes that this is a brave and foolish idea...and he wishes to see if it will work."
"Does that mean we're allowed to speak for ourselves?" I asked, looking at Black Bolt before grinning as the king inclined his head in agreement. "Great. Thor, it's all up to you."
"Do not worry, friend. I shall make sure that Midgard survives another day."
"If you are done, please follow. You shall accompany us to the Hall of Accord where the three empires are to meet in...less than ten minutes."
"...Crystal, you're bad with time," Wanda muttered, to which the woman in question just nodded with an embarrassed look. Black Bolt rose from his throne with the grace of a ruler, his gaze shifting between Thor and I before he signed something.
"He asks if you two are prepared to speak before them," Medusa translated and I nodded as Thor thumped his chest with a grin.
"Fear not, fellow ruler. As a future king myself, I am trained in the arts of diplomatic professionalism."
"...Kind of, but I think I'll just follow Thor's example," The King nodded before he and Medusa walked off, all of us glancing at each other before we followed after.
Well, hopefully we don't die.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It took us a few minutes of walking, but we finally reached a set of towering metal doors shaped like overlapping wings. The surface glowed with a constellation pattern that shifted, the symbols of all three empires and the Inhumans blending and separating over and over.
"Now remember to speak carefully. The Kree are humourless, the Skrulls are paranoid and the Shi'ar perceive weakness as temptation. Specifically, they do not duel for honour. They duel to prove a point."
"Understood," we all nodded, Thor himself giving a grave nod as Medusa's last words were meant for him.
"Open," she ordered and the two Inhuman guards in front of the door nodded, pushing open the doors and letting us enter.
Just like the throne room, the floor was an obsidian black and the ceilings and walls made out of the same crystalline material like everything else on this planet.
At the very centre of the large room were three thrones arranged in a triangular formation, each flanked by their respective guard.
The Kree and Skrull representatives and guards were not ones I recognized, but the Shi'ar one I recognized immediately from the animated series as she turned her gaze to me.
"Well, well, I must say that I did not quite expect you to bring guests," the woman on it said with a smirk, dressed in a dark violet bodysuit that showed off a bit of cleavage along with a cloak of similar colour thrown over her shoulders and a purple headdress on top of her head.
'Deathbird, a Shi'ar woman who absolutely hates everything from Earth if the X-Men series is to be believed,' I thought, glancing at the sole guard beside her which was also a woman dressed in a red-and-black bodysuit with red gloves covering up to her elbows.
"They are not here as guests. They are sent here to represent both Earth and Asgard."
"Of course, we could figure that out from the prince of Asgard beside them. However, I do not know you two," Deathwing replied, gesturing to Wanda and I. I didn't say anything as I glanced at my sister, who looked back before rolling her eyes when I gestured for her to take the stage.
"Wanda Maximoff, student of the Sorcerer Supreme and associate of the Elder Goddess Oshtur."
"Pietro Maximoff, older brother to her and student? Of Makkari of the Eternals. Not sure on that one, but eh. Oh, and savior of the universe."
"And how would you be the savior of the universe?"
"Oh, I believe that can be left for later given that I do not wish to hijack your meeting."
"Oh, please do. This was nothing more than a foolish endeavour."
"We of the Kree must insist-"
"Hush, child. The adults are talking," Deathwing silenced the Kree representative instantly and I raised an eyebrow as I watched them just sit back down with gritted teeth.
Damn, so the Shi'ar really have that level of motion.
"Now then, continue."
"...I feel in danger."
"You are. The only danger you're in right now is dependant on my mood."
"Well, what say we discuss this over dinner? My treat, of course."
"You could not afford me, little boy."
"Yet, you haven't given me an outright no. What if dinner's on you?"
"And why would I do that?"
"Because I know where the source of this cosmic burst is and if you want to meet them, you'll have to ask me."
"Oh, we already know what their energy feels like."
"Do you? Because they told me that there were two sources at work there. Do you have two sources of energy?" I asked, an amused smile on my face as she narrowed her eyes.
"...Hmm, very well. A simple dinner, tonight. I shall send my guard to fetch you...and dress nicely," she replied, waltzing out of the room with her guard following closely after.
"...Pietro?"
"Yes, sister dearest?" I asked, snickering as she walked closer and hugged me.
"Firstly, that was stupid. Secondly...I am never arguing about you flirting with danger ever again."
"No, you need to because that was stupid," I replied, patting her back as she pulled back from the hug and nodded.
"Incredibly stupid, but that level of stupid just stopped the planet from being blown up. I think I need more of that."
"Will do. Hey, Thor."
"No need to thank me, Pietro. All in a day's work. Now, where can I find your finest ale?" we watched as the god walked off, going to find a bar to entertain himself.
"...How much does he drink?" Medusa asked as she looked at me and I looked at Thor before shaking my head.
"You're going to have to stop him. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date to prepare for."
A/N: And we end it off here~! This actually has ties into the Infinity Stone arc so stay tuned because it's about to get chaotic!
Next chapter: Battle of the Speedsters.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...
Ba-Bye~!