Fouth year of the blip:
I sit cross-legged on the floor, pulling out boxes from under my bed one by one. It's been years since I last went through them, but today feels like the right day. The room is quiet except for the sound of cardboard scraping against the wooden floor. Dust clouds fly up as I reach the bottom of the pile, and I take a moment to cough and rub my eyes.
But my eyes don't stay shut for long. They fixate on the contents of the box in front of me. My heart starts to race as I see what's inside. A red and blue suit with black and white bug eyes stare back at me. It's Peter's suit. I lift it up and follow the seams with my finger, tracing the black lines until I reach the black spider in the middle of it.
I can't help but feel sad as I look at it. Nostalgia really is a person's worst enemy. But for some reason, I can't cry for him anymore. Not like I used to. The tears are dry and my voice is silent.
As I continue to stare at the suit, my thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the front door knob turning. It's way too early for it to be May. My heart starts to race again, and I jump up from the floor to peer around the doorframe. I watch as the door opens only ajar, and a woman dressed casually with long black curly locks sneaks inside.
I giggle as I walk towards her. "Agatha, you know there are easier ways to keep in touch?"
She walks over to me and wraps me in her arms. "I know, I know... But something came up..."
"What was more important than making sure I'm alive?" I ask, slightly teasing.
"Well honestly, I thought you blipped... I've struggled tracing your magic ever since half of the world vanished." She walks away from me and picks up one of the chocolate cookies that sits on the countertop and takes a bite out of it.
"That's not yours," I say as I take the plate of cookies away from Agatha. "And you couldn't trace me because I stopped using magic altogether!"
"Wait what! Why? You have all this power, but decide not to use it!" She shrieks.
"Well yeah... But if you couldn't trace me with my magic, how did you find me?" I ask curiously.
"Well, I found you with someone else's magic..." Agatha opens the front door and lets someone in. At first, I don't recognize the girl who walks in. She has bright blonde hair and a small scar on her cheek. She might have gotten older, but I'd recognize her cocky smile from anywhere, the golden serpent.
"What is the Serpent doing in my apartment!" I yell.
"She... She needs help, just like I helped you! Besides, I came to ask for your help..." Agatha pleads.
"Pleading doesn't suit you, Agatha!"
"Exactly, so it shows you how serious I am!" she says, desperation creeping into her voice.
"Okay, and that is?" I ask her, sinking deeper into the couch pillow.
"She needs the part you drained from her magic back!" Agatha sits on the chair, barely trying to notice the rubbish lying next to her.
"She's dangerous, and with this magic, she'll be even stronger!" I say, shaking my head.
"But I want to learn control, Y/N!" the girl screams.
"And why do you need my help with that! Use the magic you currently have! Besides I don't have time for this. I have to get packing for the trip to see my family. Morgan is turning four this year!"
"I have a theory that because this magic had time to bond with you... It will be easier for her to get hers under control if she has some of yours... Or hers that you have... It's really confusing really." Agatha explains.
I shake my head in disbelief. "I can't believe you're asking me to do this, Agatha. This girl has caused me so much pain in the past, and now you want me to give her a piece of me?"
"I know it's a lot to ask, but I promise you, it's for the greater good. Think of it as your way of giving back," Agatha pleads.
I let out a deep sigh and rub my temples. I'm not sure if I'm ready for this, but if Agatha is willing to vouch for her, then maybe I should give her a chance. "Fine. I'll help her, but on one condition. She needs to come here and learn under my guidance. I need to see if she's capable of controlling this magic before I give her anything."
Agatha nods in agreement. "That's fair. I'll talk to her and see if she's willing to do that."
"Good. In the meantime, I need to finish packing for my trip. You can show yourself out," I say as I stand up from the couch.
Agatha gets up as well and gives me a tight hug. "Thank you, Y/N. You have no idea how much this means to me."
I pull away from the hug and smile weakly. "I'm doing this for you, Agatha. Not for her."
Agatha nods in understanding and makes her way to the door. Serpent walks out after her, "I'll let you know what she decides. Have a safe trip."
I watch as Agatha leaves my apartment and shuts the door behind her. I'm left alone with my thoughts and emotions. The memories of the past flood my mind, causing a wave of sadness to wash over me. I try to push them aside and focus on the task at hand.
As I drive to the lake house, she sits in the back seats behind me, fidgeting nervously with her hands. I glanced over at her, studying her features for a moment.
"So, what's your name?" I asked, breaking the silence between us.
"It's Macy," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Macy," I repeated, trying out her name on my tongue. "It's nice to meet you, Macy."
As I drive towards the lake house, I can't help but feel uneasy about having Macy in my car. But Agatha's words keep ringing in my ears. Maybe she does deserve a chance to redeem herself. I glance at Macy through the rearview mirror and notice her fidgeting with her hands.
"Are you comfortable back there?" I ask, breaking the silence.
"Yes, thank you for picking me up," Macy replies, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm still not sure about this, but Agatha trusts you. And I trust Agatha," I say, trying to make small talk.
"I understand why you would be hesitant to trust me. I have done some terrible things in the past," Macy admits.
"Like helping Thanos?" I ask, my voice betraying my anger.
"Yes, among other things," Macy replies, looking down at her hands.
"I don't know if I can forgive you for that," I say, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
"I don't expect you to forgive me, but I want to make things right. That's why I need your help," Macy says, her voice gaining some strength.
"What kind of help?" I ask, curious despite myself.
"I want to learn how to control my magic. Agatha said that you're one of the most powerful witches she knows, and that you might be able to help me, after you took a huge chunk of my power, it became unstable and hard to control," Macy explains.
I take a deep breath and consider her request. It's true that I have a lot of experience with magic, and I do want to help people. But can I trust Macy?
"Why should I help you? What's in it for me?" I ask, my voice laced with skepticism.
"I don't have anything to offer you, but I can promise that I'll work hard and do whatever it takes to become a better person. And I can also promise that I'll never work with someone like Thanos again," Macy says, her eyes meeting mine through the mirror.
I think about her words for a moment, and then I nod slowly. "Okay, I'll help you. But you need to understand that this won't be easy. It takes a lot of work to control magic, especially if you've been using it recklessly like you have."
"I understand. Thank you for giving me a chance," Macy says, sounding genuinely grateful.
We continue our drive in silence for a while, until Macy speaks up again.
I glance at her through the mirror and notice tears in her eyes. For the first time since she got in my car, I see her as a person rather than a villain. Maybe Agatha was right, maybe there is still some good in her. And maybe, just maybe, I can help her find it.
As I drive towards the lake house, I can't help but feel nervous about bringing Macy to meet my family. Sure, she is trying to turn over a new leaf, but my family has suffered enough because of Thanos and his minions.
As we pull up to the house, I see my dad and mom eagerly waiting on the porch. I step out of the car and hug them tightly, feeling the warmth of their embrace. "I'm so glad you're here!" my mom exclaims. "And who is this lovely lady with you?"
I turn to Macy and introduce her to my parents. "This is Macy. She's... an old friend." I struggle to find the right words to describe our complicated history.
My dad looks Macy up and down skeptically. "Well, we'll give her the benefit of the doubt for now. Come on inside, Morgan is dying to see you."
As we walk inside, I can hear Morgan's excited screams coming from the back of the house. She comes running out to greet us, hugging me tightly before turning to Macy. "Hi, I'm Morgan! Who are you?"
Macy smiles warmly at my little sister. "I'm Macy. It's nice to meet you, Morgan."
Tony is hesitant at first, but he agrees to let Macy stay. Macy apologizes to him for her actions in the past, admitting that she was manipulated by Thanos and didn't realize the true consequences of her actions. That's when Dad realized that she was Thanos's accomplice in the fight... But strangely he still let her in.
As the sun begins to set, Macy and I venture deep into the woods, far from the prying eyes of my family. The cool air whips through our hair, and the sound of twigs snapping beneath our feet echoes through the trees. It's a beautiful day, and I can't help but feel grateful for the peace and quiet of the forest.
As we walk, Macy begins to talk about her time with Thanos. I can sense her hesitation, but I urge her to open up. "I'm sorry for helping him, Y/N," she says, her voice heavy with regret.
I place a hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault, Macy. Thanos was a master manipulator, and he twisted our perceptions of what was right and wrong. We all made mistakes. Hell, I was in your boots before... Hydra controlled me to cause mayhem to their enemies."
She nods, and I can see the weight of her guilt start to lift. "Thank you, Y/N. It means a lot to hear you say that."
We continue walking until we reach a clearing. I turn to Macy, a small smile playing at my lips. "Ready to practice some magic?"
Macy grins, nodding eagerly. "Definitely."
I close my eyes and let the magic flow through me. I feel it pulsing in my veins, crackling like electricity. When I open my eyes, I see that the tips of my fingers are glowing with a deep blue light.
Macy watches in amazement as I twirl my fingers, causing the light to spiral and dance around my hand. "Wow, Y/N. You're amazing," she says, a look of wonder on her face.
I chuckle. "It's all about control, Macy. You can do this too. Just focus on your breath, and let the magic guide you."
Macy takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, her fingers curling into fists. After a moment, she opens them again, and I can see the faintest shimmer of magic around her hands.
"Good job, Macy. Keep going," I encourage her.
As Macy and I continue to practice magic, I notice her becoming more confident with each spell she casts. She starts to experiment with more advanced spells, and I can see her eyes light up with excitement as the sparks fly from her fingertips.
But as she starts to get a little too overconfident, I see her lose control of her magic. A blast of yellow energy shoots out of her hands, narrowly missing me as I quickly raise a shield of blue magic to protect myself.
"Macy! What are you doing?!" I yell, my heart pounding with adrenaline.
"I'm sorry, I just got carried away," she replies, her voice shaking with guilt.
"You need to be more careful," I scold her, "magic is not something to be taken lightly. You could have seriously hurt me."
"I know, I know," she says, her shoulders slumping in defeat.
I can see the disappointment and frustration in her eyes, and I realize that I need to approach this with more compassion.
"It's okay, Macy," I say, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, "you're still learning. Just take a deep breath and focus on controlling your magic. The things you did in the past with it has to wait!."
She nods, taking a few deep breaths as she centers herself. We continue to practice together, but now I keep a watchful eye on her, making sure that she doesn't lose control again.
As the sun begins to set, we make our way back to the lake house, where Morgan is waiting for us on the porch. She runs over to us, excitedly asking how our magic practice went.
"It was great, but we need to be careful," I warn her, "magic can be dangerous if you're not careful."
Macy nods in agreement, and I can see the determination in her eyes to be more careful with her powers.
We all head inside, and Tony greets us with a cautious smile. He's been hesitant about having Macy around, but I can see that he's starting to warm up to her.
"Did you guys have a good time?" he asks, eyeing us both carefully.
"We did," I reply, "but we need to talk about something. Macy needs to wear the magic dampening bracelets that you made for her. She lost control of her magic earlier, and we don't want anyone getting hurt. While she's in here I'd feel safer if she had those on to cancel out her magic."
Tony nods, looking serious, but also relieved that we're being cautious.
"Okay, I'll go get them," he says, heading upstairs to retrieve the bracelets.
As we wait for him to return, I can feel the tension in the air starting to dissipate. Macy and I exchange a look, both of us relieved that we were able to work through our differences.
After dinner I tuck Morgan in, I lead Macy to the guest bedroom where she'll be sleeping. It's cozy with a queen-size bed, fluffy blankets, and a view of the lake from the window.
"Here's your room, Macy. You can unpack and settle in. Let me know if you need anything," I say as I turn to leave.
"Thanks, Y/N. I appreciate it," Macy replies, smiling warmly.
As I make my way back to my own room, I can't seem to shake off the events from earlier. Macy's overconfidence with her magic was concerning, and I couldn't help but worry about what might happen if she continued down that path.
Unable to sleep, I slip out of bed and head to the kitchen in my soft kitten pajamas. I start heating up some milk on the stove and add cocoa powder, creating a rich and creamy hot chocolate.
As I sit at the kitchen island, sipping on my drink and lost in thought, I hear footsteps approaching. It's my dad, Tony.
"Hey, Y/N," he greets me with a small smile.
"Hey, Dad," I reply, noticing the solemn look on his face. "Is everything okay?"
"Well, that's what I want to talk to you about," he says, "I've been working on something. A way to go back in time and set things right."
I stare at him in disbelief. "What? Dad, that's impossible. The consequences of messing with time are too great. Haven't you learned anything from what happened with the Time Stone and Thanos?"
"I know, I know," he sighs. "But I can't help but feel responsible for what happened to Peter. I should have done more to protect him."
I feel a pang of guilt in my chest. "Dad, it's not your fault. You did everything you could, besides if you want to take the blame, then I should too!"
"But what if there's a way to bring him back?" he insists, his eyes pleading with me. "I can't let him go like this. Not when I have the technology to fix it."
I can see the desperation in his eyes, and I can't help but feel a sense of obligation to help him. "Okay," I finally relent. "Let's work on it together. But we have to be careful. We can't mess with the timeline too much. We don't know what it could do on the current day!"
He gives me a grateful smile, and we spend the next few days working on the time machine. We try everything, but the math just doesn't add up. Every time we think we've figured it out, there's a new variable that throws everything off balance.
I neglect Macy during this time, barely even speaking to her as I pour all my energy into this project. The thought of having Peter back is just too great. I know I'm being selfish, but I can't help it. If I can save Peter and the countless others that was blipped I'd do anything
But as the days go on, I start to realize that maybe we're not meant to go back in time. Maybe things happen for a reason, and we just have to learn to accept them.
As we sit in the lab, Tony types away at the computer while I examine the equations on the whiteboard. It's been days since we started working on this project to save Peter, and we still haven't made any progress.
"This just doesn't make sense," Tony mutters, slamming his hand on the desk in frustration.
"I know," I reply, trying to remain calm. "But we can't rush this. We need to make sure we get it right."
Tony turns to me, his eyes flashing with anger. "This is your fault. If you had just listened to me from the beginning, we wouldn't be in this mess. Peter would be alive and the other half of the universe would be alive, their deaths are on your hands."
"What are you talking about?" I snap back. "I've been working tirelessly on this project with you. It's not my fault that the math isn't working out. Besides, I wasn't the only one who was fighting Thanos..."
"Don't talk back to me," Tony growls, his tone getting more aggressive. "You always think you know better than me. But look where that's gotten us."
I stand up, feeling my own anger rising. "I'm not the one who insisted on going back in time to fix something that may be unfixable. And now you're blaming me for your own failures."
Tony shakes his head, his eyes narrowing. "You're always so stubborn. Can't you see that we need to do something? We can't just sit back and watch Peter die."
"I know that," I reply through gritted teeth. "But we can't risk making things worse."
Tony scoffs. "Careful? That's not how we win. We take risks, we make sacrifices. That's how we save the people we care about."
"I care about Peter too, Dad," I say, my voice softening. "But we have to accept that we can't always fix everything. Sometimes we have to let go. He is dead Dad, I had to face it so you have to too."
Tony looks away, his face contorted with emotion. "I can't do that," he whispers. "I can't let him die."
We sit in silence for a few moments, the weight of our argument heavy in the air. I know that Tony is hurting, and I can't blame him for that. But I also know that we can't keep going down this path.
I leave the lab without another word, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the quiet of the house. I climb the stairs, trying to push away the anger and frustration that still simmers inside me. I can feel the weight of the argument pressing down on me, like a physical burden that I can't seem to shake off.
I hear a rustle in Morgan's room and I waddle over to her door to inspect it. I see two twinkling eyes acting as if they are asleep. I smile as I sit on the edge of Morgan's bed. I stroke her hair and hum a lullaby until her breathing evens out and I know she's sound asleep. I stand up slowly, careful not to wake her, and tiptoe out of the room, closing the door quietly behind me.
I walk down the hall, passing by the other rooms until I reach the living room again. I sit down on the couch, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Spending time with Morgan has been a much-needed respite. I can't sleep now, my brain doesn't even want to switch off after what happened with Dad.
As I sit there, lost in thought, I hear a small voice calling out to me. "Y/N?" I turn to see Morgan standing in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. "Can't sleep?" I ask her, and she nods. "Do you want to come sit with me?" I offer, patting the space next to me on the couch.
Morgan climbs up and snuggles close to me, leaning her head on my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her and pull her in close. "Do you want to hear a story?" I ask her, and she nods eagerly.
I begin to tell her a tale of a magical kingdom, filled with fairies and talking animals. Morgan listens intently, her eyes wide with wonder. As I tell the story, I can feel my own stress and worries melting away. There's something about spending time with a child that has a way of putting things into perspective.
As I finish the story, Morgan snuggles even closer to me. "Can we do magic tomorrow?" she asks, and I smile. "Of course we can," I tell her. "What kind of magic do you want to do?"
Morgan thinks for a moment before replying. "I want to make flowers grow," she says, and I nod. "We can do that," I tell her. "But you have to promise to keep it a secret. Magic is only for special people, and not everyone can handle it."
Morgan nods solemnly, promising to keep our magic a secret. We sit there for a while longer, just enjoying each other's company. Eventually, Morgan starts to yawn, and I know it's time for her to go back to bed.
I tuck her in again, kissing her forehead and wishing her sweet dreams. As I make my way back to my own room, I can't help but feel grateful for this time with Morgan. It's moments like these that make everything else seem small and insignificant. Obviously, Morgan can't use magic, but that doesn't mean I can't show it to her.
Macy, and Morgan and I decide to take a walk in the forest. Morgan tells us about a secluded part of the woods where the most beautiful flowers grow. Apparently, she and mom come here often. She wants to take us there, and we agree.
After walking for about 20 minutes, we reach a clearing in the woods. The sunlight seeps through the trees, illuminating the wildflowers growing in the grass. Morgan leads us to the center of the clearing, where we sit down on a soft patch of grass. I notice that Macy seems to be taking in the beauty of the place with a smile on her face.
"Let's use our magic to make this place even more beautiful," I suggest, to which Macy nods excitedly.
"Wait, can you explain to me how this helps our magic?" she asks me, looking slightly confused.
I smile at her, "Well, the more we connect with nature, the stronger our magic becomes. We draw our power from the earth, and plenty of other things around us. By focusing and building your power to do the simplest of things like this, you'll learn to do plenty of other things, like that body duplication spell you loved so much."
Morgan looks at me curiously and asks, "Can I use magic too?"
I know Morgan will never be able to use magic, but seeing her try is always adorable. "Of course, you can try," I say with a smile.
Macy and I close our eyes and start channeling our magic. I focus on my deep blue aura, while Macy's aura glows yellow. We send our magic through our hands and into the ground, where it spreads out and starts to make the flowers grow taller and brighter.
Morgan watches us, mesmerized. She puts her little hands on the grass and closes her eyes, trying to use her own magic. I know she won't be able to do anything, but I don't want to discourage her.
As we continue to work our magic, the flowers around us start to flourish. The colors become more vibrant, and the air is filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers. Morgan claps her hands in excitement, looking at us with pride.
"Look what we did!" she exclaims, smiling widely.
Macy and I open our eyes and take in the beautiful sight. The place looks even more enchanting than before, and I feel my magic getting stronger by the second.
"Wow, this is amazing," Macy says, admiring the view.
We sit there for a while, just enjoying the natural beauty around us. Morgan picks a few flowers and makes a little bouquet, which she hands to me with a big smile.
"I love you, Y/N," she says, hugging me tightly.
I hug her back, feeling grateful for this moment. "I love you too, Morgan," I reply, kissing her forehead.
As we make our way back to the lake house, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. The rift between my dad and me still stings, but being here with my family, surrounded by nature, reminds me that everything will be alright.
The next two weeks pass in a tense silence. I avoid Tony as much as possible, spending my time outside, by the lake or in the woods, trying to find some peace in the quiet of nature. It's not that I'm mad at him for wanting to save Peter, I understand that feeling all too well. But the way he talked to me, blamed me for his failures, it was just too much.
I can see the hurt in his eyes every time we pass each other in the house, but I can't bring myself to reach out to him. It's like something has been broken between us, and I don't know if it can ever be fully mended.
As the last day of our trip approaches, I find myself feeling a mix of emotions. Part of me is eager to leave, to put this whole ordeal behind me and move on. But another part of me is reluctant to leave this place, to leave my family behind and return to the real world where everything is so much more complicated.
As I pack my bags and get ready to leave, I try not to think about the argument with Tony, or the rift that has formed between us. I know that I'll have to face it eventually, but for now, I just want to enjoy the last few moments of peace and quiet before everything goes back to normal.
As we say our goodbyes, I can feel the weight of the unresolved conflict between us, but I try to put on a brave face and smile through the pain.
"Y/N, this is your last year of high school, I'm sure that it's going to be great! We believe in you!" Mom smiles, but Dad still seems distant as if he still doesn't want to talk to me.
"Sissy!" Morgan yells as I pick her up, hugging her tightly.
"Now you stay safe, you hear me Morgan, take Mom to our garden later on!"
Suddenly I feel someone pulling at my shirt, it's Dad. He ushers me to the side, away from prying eyes and snooping ears.
He's blaming me again, like he always does. But this time it feels different, more hurtful.
"You were never strong enough to fight Thanos with your magic. And now you're not smart enough to fix the mistake you made," he says, his voice laced with anger and disappointment. "We could have saved Peter if you had just cooperated."
My eyes narrow as I try to control my emotions. "It wasn't just my mistake, Tony. We all made mistakes. And I'm not a god, I can't see everything that's going to happen."
"You're supposed to be our magic expert! Our ace in the hole! But what good are you if you can't even do your job?" he yells, throwing his hands up in the air.
I take a step back, feeling like I've been punched in the gut. Tony's words sting like a fresh wound. I can feel my own anger rising, but I know that if I lash out now, it will only make things worse. So instead, I turn and walk away, not looking back even as I hear Tony's frustrated sigh behind me. He tries to tug my clothes again, but I send him back flying against a tree. I look back at him with pure anger flowing around me.
"Don't talk to me again, I'm sick of you always making me the villian, for losing to Thanos to losing Peter and now this! This is radicicolous, be an adult and grow up Dad!" I snap at him as I strut back to the car, giving Mom and Morgan one last goodbye before Macy and I leave.
Macy and I climb out to the view of the ocean, seeing Agatha's old shack really takes me back. She greets us with open arms.
"So did she behave herself?" Agatha asks.
"She did more than that! I think she knows the basics to magic by now... The rest you can teach her, but back to the problem of me giving her her magic back... She never lost it. It replenished and I don't need to help her."
"I think I did read somewhere that even when you die your soul attaches itself to the being themselves... So it's not too much of a stress to think that this being could help you regain what you lost..."
I smile as I greet them and then make my way back to the big city, one new friendship built and another one broken.