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Teen Wolf Universe
Earth
Scott McCall, Malia Tate, Peter Hale and Theo Raeken watched as the Ghost Riders rode lightning away from Beacon Hills, relieved the fight was over. But just as the clouds began to disperse, Jordan Parrish appeared before the four shapeshifters in his fiery hellhound form.
"Scott McCall, I hereby banish you from this Universe for interfering with the Wild Hunt's natural path," declared Jorda-No, Cerberus.
"What?" Scott and Malia chorused, a moment before a circle of flames suddenly erupted from the ground, surrounding Scott.
The flames forced Malia, Peter and Theo to move away from Scott, but a split second later they too were surrounded by flames of their own, linked to Scott's.
"But you are not alone in your banishment. Your assistants are joining you. Malia Tate, Peter Hale and Theo Raeken, I hereby banish you from this Universe for assisting Scott McCall." Added Cerberus, just before four Ghost Riders returned to the ground with their guns at the ready.
"Parrish, wait!" Confused and panicked, Scott tried to reach out to Jordan, hoping that Jordan would be able to stop or reason with Cerberus, but he never got to finish.
The Ghost Riders fired their guns at Scott, Malia, Peter and Theo, and they - the four shapeshifters - disappeared in a fiery teal smoke.
"You may not understand, Jordan Parrish, but if Scott McCall continued to exist in this Universe, the whole world would have experienced a world war between supernaturals and humans on a scale never seen before," said Cerberus, explaining to Jordan as they re-merged. "And he would have been at the very center of it.
"But now that Scott McCall is gone, his existence and memory will be erased from this Universe, and the war will not happen. Understand that you are now a Guardian of the Supernatural, and that you have to do what is necessary to protect the Supernatural."
Once Cerberus said those final words and Jordan regained control, his memories of Scott, Malia, Peter and Theo began to disappear, starting with their names.
The Infinites
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Garden (Planet 0259-S)
Thanos stood in the middle of his garden with peace in his heart, because his destiny was finally realized, and he could now live in peace with the whole Universe's future secure. But with his destiny fulfilled, the Infinity Stones served no purpose - beyond temptation - and he needed to get rid of them before he could give in to the temptation.
He knew that the Stones had to go, but how? There was no telling what would happen if he destroyed them entirely, but he didn't have to.
Thanos left his garden and went to a clearing with a solutiono on his mind: he was going to use the power of the Infinity Stones to reduce the Stones to atoms so that no one, not even himself, would ever use them again. When he arrived at his destination, he took a deep breath to harden his resolve one more time, and snapped his Infinity Gauntlet powered fingers with the intent to reduce the Infinity Stones to atoms.
A powerful surge exploded from the Infinity Gauntlet as a result of Thanos' will being carried out, throwing him a good distance from where he stood and knocking him out and further damaging the gauntlet and half of his body in the process. But as the Infinity Stones were being reduced to atoms, the Time Stone did all that was in its power to slow time to a crawl with the help of the Power Stone.
The Mind stone connected them - the Stones - all, as it, along with its siblings, knew that if they were reduced to atoms, their limited sentience would cease to exist, and they weren't about to let that happen. Fortunately for the Stones, a solution presented itself.
Four fiery teal smoke portals suddenly appeared in the distance, only to disappear and reveal four humanoids; one, Scott McCall, standing in front of three by the names Malia Tate, Peter Hale and Theo Raeken.
The Infinity Stones made a split second decision, led by the Mind Stone, after it quickly scanned the humanoids' bodies and minds, to merge with them to ensure their sentience's survival in whatever form it takes.
Powered by the Power Stone, the Space Stone teleported itself and its siblings to the humanoids the Mind Stone discovered to be shapeshifters, and they - the Stones - each examined which of the four were best compatible with them.
The Space Stone chose Peter because of his experience with the Wild Hunt, being the only one to have crossed the Hunt's portal and spend the longest time in the Ghost Riders' world.
The Reality Stone chose Theo because of his deep desire to be a real werewolf, something he could achieve with the Reality Stone's power.
The Time Stone chose Malia because of her greatest regret and wish that she could turn back time to the night her biological mother - Corinne the Desert Wolf - initiated the car crash that caused Malia to kill her adoptive mother and little sister.
The Power Stone chose Scott because of his extraordinary will, and he was the most powerful of the four.
This left the Mind Stone and Soul Stone, and though the latter wasn't convinced that it would find a host who understood its power, it still had to try to find a host.
The Mind Stone came close to choosing Peter and sharing his body with the Space Stone, but it ended up choosing Scott. It almost chose Peter because he was the most knowledgeable of the shapeshifters, but Scott's lack of said knowledge gave him more potential to learn and grow, and with the Power Stone, his potential was unlimited.
The last Stone to choose was the Soul Stone, the most valuable among the six. It took its time to choose its host and when it finally chose, it was satisfied.
By the time the Time Stone allowed time to continue at a normal rate, the Infinity Stones were inside their chosen individuals and being reduced to atoms inside them, altering them at an atomic level, a process that caused the four shapeshifters to lose consciousness and collapse.
Lucky for them, they were hidden by plants so Thanos didn't see or find them when he woke up from his near death experience, nor did Carol Danvers, Bruce Banner, James Rhodes, Thor, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Rocket and Nebula when they came to the Garden.
The Infinity Stones, however, didn't know that their merge with the shapeshifters would take five Earth years to complete.
The Infinites
Five Earth Years Later
After leaving Earth, Gamora only had one destination in mind - the Garden. After everything that has happened since meeting the present-Nebula, and said Nebula killed past-Nebula, Gamora wanted - no, needed - some time to let it all sink in.
The fact that Thanos was dead, was still fresh on her mind, and so was the fact that she was nine years in the future, and that a version of her was dead - killed by Thanos.
Gamora really needed some peaceful place to catch a break, and thankfully the Garden was just the place, and she just arrived. She landed the spaceship she stole and took her time to get out of it.
This was the first time she was on the Garden since Thanos told her about it, and though she had her problems with her adoptive father, she had to admit that he knew how to choose a retirement planet.
The Garden was beautiful.
When Gamora finally got out of the ship, she was welcomed by the freshest of air that made her feel a little lighter and like things were going to be better.
Yes, her father was dead, and so was her sister - well, kind of - but the Universe was safe and she was free now, free to live her life however she saw fit, including taking her time to familiarise herself with her surroundings by walking around, until she saw Thanos' house from a distance.
Curious, she moved to check on it but tripped over something. No, not something. She found that it was a body.
Once Gamora got to her feet, she saw four humanoid bodies covered by vegetation, and went to get a closer look at one of them, only to receive a hard headbutt that sent her reeling backwards before she quickly regained her footing and took a defensive stance.
The Infinites
Scott was rudely awoken from his five years of involuntary deep sleep by someone kicking him, and though his first instinct was to retaliate, he pretended to be unconscious until an opportunity presented itself, in the meantime he noted that he didn't know the person's scent nor species.
An opportunity presented itself sooner than later when he felt the person that kicked him awake bend down towards him, and so he struck with a headbutt and quickly got on his feet, eyes trained on a green woman.
The Infinites
Gamora was a bit surprised to be met with glowing red iris, but she wasn't as caught off-guard as her red-eyed opponent, so, she acted first and moved to knock him out. But his reflexes proved to be on point, and he deflected her attack and threw her away to buy himself some time to think because something didn't feel right.
"Uh, who are you?" Scott asked, to buy himself some more time to figure out what wasn't right or usual, aside from the obvious.
"Unbelievable. You attack me then ask questions afterwards and expect me to answer." Commented Gamora, on her feet with her collapsible sword at the ready.
"I... Didn't you kick me awake?" Scott retorted, brows furrowed.
"Kick you awake? No, I didn't. I tripped over you, and when I moved to check on you, you attacked me!" Was Gamora's response.
"Oh. I'm sorry." Scott apologized, assuming a non threatening stance, though cautious. "I thought..."
"You thought I was attacking you. I wasn't." Replied Gamora, and though she collapsed her sword, she kept its detachable knife in hand, but hidden.
"I get that," said Scott, before his eyes landed on Malia's unconscious form, then Theo's, followed by Peter's, and the feeling that something was amiss intensified.
He momentarily forgot about Gamora and hurried to Malia's position where he removed the vegetation that had grown over her, wondering how that happened when just a moment ago they were in Beacon Hills in the woods, watching as the Ghost Riders left and the Wild Hunt went on it's way.
That is, until he remembered Cerberus banishing them from their Universe with the help of the Ghost Riders, and then nothing. Nothing was quickly filled by memories that were not Scott's own - the last memories of the Infinity Stones - then everything went black.
Gamora was left confused and a bit insulted by the way Scott dismissed her to tend to the only girl in his group. Her presence usually shook people up and put them on edge, but... Her thoughts were cut off when the object of said thoughts suddenly went still.
She cautiously looked around for threats but didn't find any, leaving her wondering what was going on with the red-eyed stranger and his friends.
The Infinites
Scott's Mind-Scape
Scott found himself in a familiar place, a white room with a giant tree stump in the middle, the Beacon Hills Nemeton, but something was different. There was a bright yellow light atop the Nemeton, and for some reason, there was something familiar about it.
"Our physical bodies have merged, that's why you sense the familiarity between us," came a voice from the light, surprising Scott. "Hello, Scott McCall."
"Hello?" Scott returned the greeting, though it was more a question than a greeting. "Who-What, um...?"
"I am Mind, one of six Infinity Stones. You'll understand everything once we fully merge, but before that, I have a few things to explain." Said Mind - the Mind Stone - calmly. "When you and your companions were banished from your Universe, you were sent to another Universe - the Universe you're currently in.
"You arrived just as my siblings Power, Reality, Soul, Space and Time and I were being reduced to atoms, a process that would have stretched our physical properties to a point that our sentience and consciousness would have ceased to exist, while creating random mutations in the Universe.
"To preserve ourselves and prevent the mutation, my siblings and I merged with you and your companions, but since there were only four of you and six of us, some of us had to share. Reality chose Theo Raeken, Space chose Peter Hale and Time chose Malia Tate. Power, Soul and I chose to merge with you, Scott McCall."
The Mind Stone paused to allow Scott to digest the information, but it saw that he needed a lot more time than they had, so it continued, figuring that he would understand everything once the process was done.
"It's been five Earth years since then..." Mind continued, but was interrupted.
"Five years?!" Asked a shocked Scott, not sure how to feel or what to think, and though the revelation explained how vegetation grew over him and the others, it troubled him.
That was five years lost that he could have used to try and find a way to go back home, if what Mind said was true.
"Cerberus and the Wild Hunt banished you, Scott," Mind interrupted Scott's thoughts. "Regardless of what you could have done in the last five years, you wouldn't have been able to return to your home universe.
"Cerberus is a Guardian of the Supernatural, and thus has the authority, and power, to banish beings from your home Universe, and the banishment is enforced by supernatural laws. And the Ghost Riders of the Wild Hunt can erase any being - alive or dead - from existence.
"With this in mind, remember that you were banished by both Cerberus and the Ghost Riders of the Wild Hunt from your Universe."
Scott felt to his knees in defeat as that sank in, the implication Mind was implying.
"Are you saying no one remembers me? Are you saying no one remembers Malia? Us? Not even my mom?" Asked Scott, though he already knew the answers.
"Yes. That is what I'm saying. And unlike Miecyzslaw Stilinski, it's unlikely that a relic was left because you were banished from the Universe as a whole." Replied Mind, making things even worse for Scott who was beginning to breakdown and lose hope. "You can never return to your Universe, Scott. But..."
"But what?" Scott asked in a hurry, detecting something that said there could be a way he could return to his home Universe, though it could be a bit complicated or troublesome, from his experience with Doctor Alan Deaton and Stiles.
"There's a way you can have the banishment removed and you can return to your home Universe," Mind responded.
"Tell me," instructed Scott, getting a little hope.
"Scott McCall the True Alpha werewolf of TW Universe was banished, but not the merged being that is made of Scott McCall and the three Infinity Stones born in MC Universe five years ago," said Mind.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Asked Scott, not in the mood or state of mind to piece everything together.
"My siblings and I ceased to exist five years ago, just as Scott McCall, Malia Tate, Peter Hale and Theo Raeken ceased to exist when we merged," Mind revealed, and explained. "We each no longer exist as separate individuals. We are one in the same sense that a werewolf is both human and wolf, yet neither."
"Like chimeras," Scott said to himself.
"Like chimeras," concurred Mind. "And like chimeras, we are not bound by cosmic, natural and/or supernatural laws, especially after our merge and rebirth. Meaning we can travel back to your Universe."
The thought of reuniting with his mother, father and friends was almost enough to make Scott ignore the feeling that Mind was setting him up for something. Almost.
"OK. What do I have to do to get back home?" He asked, a genuine question though it doubled as a test.
"Would you have become a True Alpha, if you didn't consciously acknowledge and freely accept your potential and push to ascend to it?" Inquired Mind, getting Scott to remember ascending to Alphahood.
"I don't think so... Wait, I have to accept the merge for it to be complete, don't I? We all have to willingly consent." Replied Scott, before he realized.
"Yes. And no, I wasn't lying about being able to go back to your home Universe." Answered Mind. "However, we will only be able to visit for a limited time since we were reborn in this Universe."
"Um, what would happen if I don't consent? If we don't consent?" Scott followed up, a bit calmer now.
He was thankful for Dr Deaton's mentorship because if it wasn't for the man, he would have been far more a mess than he was right now.
"We would be in constant conflict over control," was the answer Scott received.
He went silent and thought about what to decide, although he already knew his decision.
The Infinites
Physical World
Gamora didn't have to wonder for long because just as she was thinking about what to do, mostly considering leaving the area, a thin red sheen suddenly appeared all over the red-eyed stranger, like a skintight body armor made of energy, and with its appearance, all the dirt and vegetation on his clothes, hair and skin washed away.
The red energy reminded Gamora of an enhanced human woman from Earth she saw there during the fight, although... That thought was brought to a halt when the sheen disappeared, leaving a clean and fresh version of...
"Since you asked me who I am, who are you?" Asked Gamora, although she didn't answer Scott when he asked.
"I am..." came a response, but it was cut short due to the merged Mind Stone, Power Stone, Soul Stone and Scott McCall not knowing what to call themselves.
Scott McCall willingly consented to merging with the three Infinity Stones so that he could get a chance to see his loved once in his home Universe, at least one last time and to make sure that they were alright, but Scott and Mind didn't decide on a name. But then there was no need to, he guessed.
Surprisingly, the new being born of a True Alpha werewolf from another universe and three Infinity Stones, felt far more like Scott McCall than anything else, although complete, somehow.
It was like Scott McCall had been missing something and when he merged with Mind, Power and Soul, he finally became whole. He concluded the Infinity Stones healed the scar left by the surrogate sacrifice ritual, but like a snow ball, that idea gave way to theories about said ritual in relation to Scott.
Doctor Deaton had explained that by becoming surrogate sacrifices, Allison Argent, Mieczyslaw "Stiles" Stilinski and Scott would be giving power back to the Nemeton.
They hadn't thought much about that, except for the possibility of reactivating the nemeton as a beacon for supernaturals and said supernaturals but now... Thinking about other possibilities, the merged being couldn't help but wonder if maybe Scott literally gave his power to the Nemeton during the ritual.
It would explain why he didn't perform like he should have as an Alpha and a True Alpha, especially when compared to how he performed in fights as a Beta and an Omega before the surrogate sacrifice ritual. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
Apart from that, there was the fact that Scott and his friends were connected to the telluric currents and the Nemeton when they died, and though they revived, a part of their souls was likely left behind and was replaced with raw supernatural spiritual energy, which they mistook for darkness due to lack of comprehension and because it wasn't meant for mortal beings.
All that led to how the being formed from the merge identified himself with, and as, a complete Scott McCall.
It was like the Power Stone restored Scott's full potential, and power, and the Soul Stone repaired the missing parts of his soul by taking the raw supernatural spiritual energy as sacrifice, and testament that Scott understood its power, and replaced the supernatural spiritual energy with itself.
With the Mind Stone also having merged with Scott, his potential was truly fully unleashed; mentally, physically and spiritually.
It only made sense that he, the quadbrid of the Mind Stone, Power Stone, Soul Stone and True Alpha werewolf Scott McCall, identified himself as Scott McCall. With that in mind, he responded.
"You didn't answer when I asked you," he said, his attention going to Malia. "But anyway, I'm Scott McCall."
He answered Gamora's question, and while she debated finally answering, Scott moved on from Malia and went to Peter, and then Theo, manually removing the vegetation and checking how they were.
"Gamora," she finally answered, eyes following Scott.
Now that he was all cleaned up, she could tell that he was a few years younger than her and...
"Are you checking me out?" Scott caught Gamora checking him out, and called her out once done with checking on Theo.
"I'm not checking you out, I'm profiling you," she replied defensively. "What are you doing here? This planet is supposed to be unoccupied by sentient life."
"According to who?" Scott made an inquiry of his own, glad his companions were alright, vital wise, though he was still worried about them.
Although he was almost certain that they were going to consent to merge with their respective Infinity Stones, he was still worried.
"According to... My father," Gamora responded, remembering her reason for coming to the Garden, and decided to not say Thanos in case the boy had issues with him.
"Well, this is home to me, to us (pointing at himself, Malia, Peter and Theo). It's our birthplace, our birth planet, and we are very much sentient." Scott replied, before his eyes landed on a house on the far distance that he immediately knew whose it was, and then who Gamora was.
But she couldn't be alive. Scott sensed Gamora's soul within a place that was part of him in a different plane of existence, the Soul World. And he knew Thanos sacrificed Gamora five Earth years ago to acquire the Soul Stone, and so he was puzzled by her presence, until he guessed that the Gamora before him was from the past, and a quick mind read said as much.
"So, I should be the one asking you that question, but since you already said that you thought this planet was uninhibited by sentient life, I don't think I need to," he continued, fairly shocked by his new abilities, and picked up Malia from the ground into his arms and telekinetically picked up Peter and Theo, and began to walk towards Thanos' house.
Scott didn't miss how easy and natural using telekinesis was, and attributed it to having merged with the Mind Stone. He also didn't miss Gamora's chaotic chemosignals, and found that he understood them and her more than she knew.
Since Scott felt like Scott, every single cell in his body told him that he was still the human-turned-werewolf Scott McCall, and not Scott 2.0, so, he was just as confused, angry, sad, lost and a whole lot of other things, as Gamora on some level due to his own situation.
From the stress of the Wild Hunt to being banished from his home Universe and waking up in another universe with an Infinity Stone telling him that it, and it's siblings, merged with him, Malia, Peter and Theo in order to survive. And that they needed to consent in order to complete the process so that they might have a chance to return home. For a visit.
If that wasn't enough, he was now cursed with knowledge he was not supposed to know due to the Mind Stone, and wisdom beyond basic comprehension due to the Soul Stone. He knew that if it wasn't for Gamora's presence, and his worry over his fellow banished shapeshifters, he would have been beyond overwhelmed, not only with grief but also...
"Are you crying?" Gamora's inquiry interrupted that thought, and made Scott realize that she was following him and that indeed he was crying.
Seeing the tears run down Scott's cheeks surprised Gamora, after she noted his telekinetic ability, and she couldn't help but envy how he wasn't even remotely embarrassed that she caught him crying, nor did he try to hide his emotions, though he seemed surprised to find himself in tears.
She wondered what made him cry.
"Yeah, I guess so," he replied, and laughed a little, then changed the subject. "Do you need a place to stay? You could bring your spaceship near the house and stay with us."
Gamora was not sure why Scott suggested that, nor was she sure why she accepted the offer, but she did.
Knowing where the house was, Gamora departed to get her stolen spaceship and Scott picked up his pace to get to the house by trying out flying, which like telekinesis, came easy. He flew over to Thanos' house with his companions, but when he got there, he found that the place wasn't in a condition to accommodate them.
Though he was disappointed by that, he knew that even if the house was in top condition, it would have been too small for all of them, especially considering their different personalities. They needed a bigger house to accommodate them, and he knew just how they could get one. Well, kind of. It was a matter of experimenting.
The Infinites
Gamora took her time to return to Scott. She had second thoughts about joining him and his companions since the whole purpose of coming to the planet was to be alone, far from people who knew who she was, and far from the Guardians of the Galaxy and Nebula.
Yes, she chose to fight against Thanos, but she didn't know the Guardians of the Galaxy, and she didn't know Peter "Star-Lord" Quill or the present Nebula, and she wasn't interested in filling the gap her deceased future self left. She knew that she couldn't be the Gamora they knew just as Nebula couldn't be the Nebula she knew. Hence she left.
She didn't expect to find people on the Garden or for one of them to invite her to stay with him and his... Group, but this situation was different since her deceased future self didn't have any relationship with Scott's group. They didn't know her and so they didn't expect anything from her like the Guardians did, especially a certain hybrid.
For years Gamora longed to escape her adoptive father Thanos and start her life afresh, and she had that chance right now. She only had to decide whether she wanted Scott and his group to be part of her new life or not.
The Infinites
Deep Space
Guardians of the Galaxy's Spaceship
Nebula silently observed everyone in the spaceship, seeing the close unit her late adoptive sister became a part of several years ago until her death, minus Thor.
At the moment Mantis was conversing with Drax, and Rocket with Thor while Groot was busy playing a video game. Peter, however, seemed lost in thought, and Nebula didn't have to be a telepath to know that he was thinking about Gamora.
The question was which Gamora. The deceased one or the one they were searching for. Either way, Gamora was on Peter's mind just as she was on hers.
Nebula was hurt that Gamora left her on Earth without saying anything, but she kind of understood why. Nothing was holding her sister back anymore. Gamora was free from Thanos, and since she did help fight against his forces, and they won, she probably needed some time to let everything sink in.
Nebula also needed some time to let everything sink in after Thor killed Thanos right before her eyes. The fact that her adoptive father actually acknowledged his mistreatment of her just before he died was still fresh at the time, and although she knew that Thanos more than deserved what he got, she...
"Hey, Nebula. Which of these places do you think we should start with to find her?" Peter asked, a map on display, interrupting her thoughts.
He had a shortlist of all the places in the Universe he thought they could find Gamora, but Peter knew that Nebula knew 2014 Gamora best and so her input was needed.
The Infinites
Sovereign
Council Room
"Care to explain why we're being denied access to the Sovereign development reports, High Priestess Ayesha?" Asked an upset councilwoman.
"The Council would also like to be updated on Adam. It's been years since..." added aouncilman, but he didn't get to finish because...
"It's been years since all of you vanished, and in that time, I had to establish a new council to help me manage Sovereign and prevent it from falling apart," Ayesha interrupted the councilman. "I don't know how it feels to be in your position, but I do know how it feels to be one of those left behind.
"I did my best to keep our people going, but I couldn't have done it all on my own, nor can I right now. With your sudden return, a new equilibrium is needed once again. The knowledge you seek is now entrusted to a new council and authorities, and unfortunately, you can't continue your duties due to the time gap and developments that took place in your absence.
"I suggest that you take some time to adjust to the world you have returned to and reconnect with your loved ones. As for Adam, everything concerning him has been classified and cannot be disclosed to you. With that said, you are all very valuable to Sovereign and so once you're ready, there will be work waiting for you."
At that very moment, Ayesha's chambermaid informed her that she was needed elsewhere, and so Ayesha excused herself, and once they were out of sight, and hearing range, the chambermaid spoke in a confidential voice.
"Your new body is ready, High Priestess," she informed, and received a pleased smile from Ayesha.
"What about the Guardians of the Galaxy?" Inquired the High Priestess. "Has Adam found them yet?"