One-shots/Short Stories

Avengers - Alternate Universe Travelling

Alternate Universe
She munched on the popcorn absently, her sole focus on the screen before her.
   She watched an illegally downloaded version of Doctor Strange, secretly hating the bad quality of the movie. It was recorded from the cinema, so obviously some of the things on the movie were hard to see and hear.
   Watching the end credits of the film, she squealed when she watched the bonus scenes at the end. Just when she was about to turn it off, a strange wormhole-like portal came on the screen. Her hair went all over her face, the popcorn flying out of the bowl. She yelled out in shock, quickly standing up.
   Curious, she threw her bowl of popcorn at the screen, watching it disappear through the hole. She felt amazed and in awe at her mini experiment - and glad that it went through the portal. Otherwise, she would have an unexplained cracked tv for her parents to come across. It just so happened to also look like the type of portal Benedict Cumberbatch recently created as Doctor Strange.
   Curiouser, she approached the portal, hand held out in front of her cautiously. When she was a foot away from the screen, she was pulled in by an invisible force, feeling herself fall deeper into the portal. The next thing she knew, Robert Downey Jr was towering over her.

***

Tony Stark walked into his kitchen, making his way to his alcohol. While pouring his whiskey in his cup, he suddenly heard a thud from the living room. Walking there with his iron man hand up and ready, he jumped into the living room; one hand holding his drink, the other held out protectively. He lowered his hand when he realised the thud was harmless.

It was a girl.

Walking over to her, he could barely utter a sound out when she woke up with a gasp. Her eyes widened when she saw him, sitting up quickly. "No way. . ." she breathed out. Tony raised an eyebrow at her.
   "Uh, who are you -?"
   "Robert Downey Jr!"
   "Who?" Tony stared at her confused. "Strange name for a girl. My name is Tony. You know, the famous Tony Stark. Iron Man, the Avengers? Heard of that?"
   "Nice try dude, you're Robert Downey Jr."
   "I really am not. I thought your name was Robert Downey whatever."
   "Uh, yeah you are. You're Robert Downey Jr, playing Tony Stark a comic superhero."
   "I'm a comic superhero?"
   ". . .what?" The girl stared at him confused. "Of course you are. How else were you created?"
   "You know, from my mum and dad."
   "Sir, the rest of the Avengers are coming up to your penthouse." JARVIS announced. The girl looked around with wide eyes. "Would you like me to get a room ready for our guest?"
   "Holy shit," he heard her mumble, "JARVIS is real."
   "You know JARVIS?" Tony asked her.
   "Wait, I thought JARVIS turned into Vision?"
   "Who?"
   The elevator doors opened, revealing the rest of the Avengers. The girl gawked at the sight of them all.
    When they approached Tony and her, they stared down at her in confusion. "Stark. . ." Steve mumbled, "uh, why is there a little girl on your ground?"
   "And why is she lying on popcorn?" Natasha added.
   "I don't really know." Tony shrugged. "How did you even get here, kid?"
   "Are you someone we should be worried about?" Natasha stared at her warily. The girl blinked, staring at them all.
   "Holy shit this is all real."
   "What do you mean?" Steve asked her.
   "She thinks I'm some Robert guy!" Tony told them quickly. "Robert Downey something. . ."
   "Robert Downey Jr." the girl finished. "You know, the guy that plays Tony Stark. But seeing you all. . ." she trailed off. "I am pretty sure Avengers Infinity War isn't filming yet."
   "Avengers Infinity War?" Steve wondered.
   "Where's Wanda and Vision?"
   "Again with the Vision!" Tony moaned. He turned to the others. "She thinks JARVIS turned into some guy called Vision."
   "If I may speak my opinion, sir." JARVIS called out.
   "Be my guest, buddy." Tony shrugged.
   "There's a possibility that she may be from another universe."
   The girl clapped her hands excitedly. "That's right!" she exclaimed. "I was watching Doctor Strange and at the end a portal thing came up - next thing I know, Robert - I mean Tony Stark is towering over me."
   "You're still on the ground as well." Tony added in nonchalantly. "With popcorn all over the floor. You're cleaning that, by the way." She quickly stood up, moving to a sofa. "So, different universe?"
   "Yep." she nodded. "You all are from comics and turned into movies. You're played by a guy called Robert Downey Jr, you're played by Chris Evans, you're played by Scarlett Johanson, you're played by Mark Ruffalo, you're played by Jeremy Renner, and Thor is played by Chris Hemsworth, Loki played by Tom Hiddleston." She turned to Steve. "Your pal Bucky is played by a guy called Sebastian Stan. And man is he hot. . ."
   "Er. . .thanks?" Steve cleared his throat awkwardly.
   "So you know everything about us, I presume?" Natasha asked her curiously. She nodded quickly in response.
   "Yeah. I know your darkest secrets!" she smiled at them creepily. She gave a pointed look to Clint. "Friends and family and all." Clint tensed at her words. "So uh, what happened? Did you guys recently defeat Loki?"
   "Uh, we did." Bruce nodded. "We defeated that guy a month ago."
   "Cool, cool. . ."
   "Right!" Tony gulped down his drink. "Let's get to business."
   "Business?"
   "Yeah! Getting this kid back home to her universe and all." Everyone nodded in agreement.
   "Yeah, I don't really want to be here when the Accords happen. . ." The girl shuddered. "So much drama, bro."
   "Accords?" Natasha repeated. "What Accords?"
   "Nothing!" The girl stared at them with wide eyes. "Nothing at all!"
   "You know our future!" Tony realised. "What happens in the future?"
   "Stuff. Just be glad this is the movie version. If it were the comics. . ."
   "What?" Steve asked her. "What happened if it were the comics?"
   "Um. . ." she avoided their gazes. They knew what she meant though.
   "Who?" Steve asked her solemnly.
   "Just about the majority of you." She gave him a sad look. "Including you."

***

"I got it!" Tony walked in, interrupting her and Steve's binge watching. "I know how to send our alien friend home!"
   "I'm not an alien." she huffed.
   "Do you know the Ancient One?" Tony asked her. She sat up quickly.
   "Played by Tilda Swinton?" She noticed their blank looks. "Er, bald lady?"
   "Yeah -"
   "Of course I know her! She's legendary!"
   "Okay, good." Tony nodded. "So I contacted her, and told her what you told us. And she is happy to help you."
   "Really?"
   "Yep."
   "Cool! When can I meet her?"
   "Now."
   "What?"
   "Hello, Mary Holly." They all turned to the elevator to see the one and only Ancient One. She smiled at the girl, making her way gracefully to her. Mary gaped at her in awe. "I see you're from the wrong universe. Too much knowledge about us all, you have. Very dangerous."
   "I know." Mary grimaced. She stared at her hopefully. "So will you help me go back home?"
   "Of course."
   "Okay, just let me say my farewells."
   Mary went around saying her farewells to the Avengers, giving them each a personal message.
   Clint: "Hope you and your family have a safe life."
   Natasha: "Don't ever lose hope on him. You'll know who I mean in the future."
   Tony: "Don't let the guilt eat you up."
   Bruce: "She's there for you. Don't lose her."
   Steve: "Look after him. He'll need you after everything he's been through."

Leaving them all confused, some in shock, she walked towards the open portal the Ancient One created. Turning to them one last time, she gave them a small smile. "Remember," she told them, "not only are you all a team, you're a family. Don't let anything get in the way from your bonds."
   She walked into the portal, and she was gone.

The End