Young Captain America didn't dwell on the complicated details.
Though he hadn't worked with Sam in his own World, the trust he placed in his future self was absolute.
"Sam, we aren't the Steves from your Universe," he said, "but we trust him, so we trust you too."
He rested a steady hand on Sam's shoulder.
"Before I received the serum, I was just a skinny kid, far weaker than you."
Sam let out a breath, half-smiling, half-defeated.
Seeing the real Captain America, seeing two of them standing there, steadied something inside him.
Despite the fear of the looming collision, his heart finally calmed.
This was what made a Captain America.
That quiet, unshakable certainty.
"Yeah, thanks for the classic inspirational speech," Sam said, giving Steve a light punch to the chest. "Somehow it only makes me feel worse."
He looked around and blinked rapidly.
"So you… oh man. Natasha, Banner, Wanda… it feels like the Avengers never disbanded. Are you all from that Earth in the sky?"
He had already guessed, but still needed to hear it aloud.
Young Captain America shook his head.
"No. We're from another Universe entirely. Spider-Man came to us for help."
Holland-Spider immediately started waving frantically, trying to shut him up.
Sam squinted at him.
"Spider-Man, you can travel between Universes now?"
Holland-Spider cleared his throat loudly.
"Maybe we should all go inside first. How about that?"
He grabbed Tony and nearly dragged him into the Sanctum.
Sam stepped aside and ushered everyone in.
Inside, Superheroes from across the Main Universe had gathered, and their reactions mirrored Sam's: shock, confusion, disbelief… and then acceptance.
Once the initial chaos settled, Tony pulled Jarvis aside.
"Jarvis, check Stark Industries' status in this Universe. And find out how Pepper and Morgan are doing."
"Yes, sir."
A pause.
"Sir, both are alive and well, but Mrs. Pepper is under considerable pressure."
Tony's jaw tightened.
He could already imagine the opportunists circling Pepper now that the Tony Stark of this Universe was gone.
With the Avengers disbanded, there was no one watching her back.
Even Rhodey couldn't help—Jarvis had already learned from TVA data that Rhodey had been replaced by a Skrull and the real one was being held captive.
This World was an absolute mess.
"Jarvis, we'll handle things here. You go take care of them… using methods that don't look like Iron Man's."
"Yes, sir."
Jarvis drifted backward, his form flickering before phasing through the Sanctum wall.
Across the room, Banner froze when he spotted two familiar men sitting calmly on a sofa.
"General Ross… Bronski?"
Ross, now white-haired and calmer than Banner remembered, lifted a hand in greeting.
"Relax, Banner. No one's hunting you here anymore. I've done enough damage in my lifetime. I'm trying to change… for Betty."
He pulled up a chair for Banner.
"You're probably not doing great in your Universe. If you want, I can record a video to convince the other me to stop the nonsense."
Banner sat down, dazed.
Everything felt surreal.
"Thank you, General. Honestly, the change is… surprising."
He hesitated, then added quietly, "I'm actually doing well back home. Betty and I are planning to get engaged. We just need your approval."
Ross blinked.
Bronski blinked.
Then both of them stared at Banner like he'd just admitted to stealing the Statue of Liberty.
"You? Getting married?" Bronski sputtered.
Banner scratched his head sheepishly.
"I haven't proposed yet, but Betty and I don't really care about that part."
"What did you just say?" Ross growled as he stood up, rolling up his sleeves.
"You want to marry my daughter and you're not even planning a proposal?"
Banner lifted both hands in alarm.
His instincts screamed Hulk is coming, even though Ross wasn't actually transforming.
"Calm down, Mr. President," Bronski said, pulling Ross back.
"If we make trouble again, Kamar-Taj will send us straight back to the Raft."
"The Raft?" Banner blinked. "You mean the place where you're holding Nick Fury and Carol?"
"What?!" Ross and Bronski both froze.
"You imprisoned Captain Marvel?"
They all stared at each other in bewildered disbelief.
Meanwhile, Natasha was surrounded by Ms. Marvel and Yelena of this Universe.
Ms. Marvel was ecstatic, begging for an autograph.
Yelena was tearing up while insisting she absolutely wasn't emotional.
Yelena from the S-Universe laughed lightly nearby, remarking, "How tragic. Truly tragic. Someone is clearly not welcome at all."
On the other side of the Sanctum, Sam pulled both Captain Americas and Carter toward Bucky.
Young Steve's eyes softened; in his world, Bucky had died, and there had been no chance to save him.
Seeing him alive here brought both joy and ache.
Then Wong's voice echoed across the Sanctum.
"Everyone, gather here. It's time for the next step."
The group assembled around the staircase, where Wong and Strange stood at the center.
"First, thank you," Wong said, "to the Avengers from parallel Universes. Your presence means more than you know."
Whether they realized it or not, the arrival of Tony and the two Captain Americas had strengthened everyone's resolve.
Even Strange looked less burdened.
"You've all seen the sky," Wong continued.
"Another Earth is approaching. A collision is coming."
With a wave of his hand, he conjured a glowing image: two Earths drifting toward each other, along with the Universes surrounding them.
"Earth is the axis of our reality. When Universes collide, Earth collides first. And although they appear close, the true collision hasn't begun."
He gestured toward Sam.
"The last time the Quinjet was sent out, Sam flew straight through the other Earth. It was only a projection. We still don't know the physical state of the actual planet."
He raised two fingers.
"According to all available data, there are only two solutions.
Push the other Earth away… or destroy it."
A heavy silence fell.
Young Captain America stepped forward.
"We cannot destroy another Earth. Even in a crisis like this, the right thing must be done. If we survive by killing billions, we become no better than the monsters we fight."
Old Steve nodded.
"Destroying another Universe for our own safety is exactly what Thanos would do."
No one argued.
Tony crossed his arms.
"Then it's simple. We push the Universes apart. Do you still have the Infinity Stones? Because they can do it."
Wong sighed.
"Thanos destroyed them."
"Then borrow them from another Universe," Tony said instantly.
"You've done it before. I'll take responsibility for retrieving the Space Stone from the seventies."
The Main Universe heroes stared blankly.
Especially Scott Lang.
He had traveled with their Tony during the time heist… and now here Tony stood alive.
____
Milestones
100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Powerstones = 2 Bonus Chapters
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