//------------------------------// // Chapter 39-Not a Fan // Story: A Beautiful New Age // by JDPrime22 //------------------------------// “Go on…” Tony Stark urged, his arms crossing over one another. “Say it.” Trapped in the library amongst the questioning and disappointed stares from both her closest friends and the Avengers, Rainbow Dash groaned heavily, making it clearly evident in her tone that she did not want to be there. However, the pulsating guilt pushed her onwards, telling her over and over again to be mature and take responsibility. Plus, the nightmare from hours earlier still hadn’t abandoned the mare. It was still clawing at her, at her heart, at her mind. Never leaving. Festering. She quickly shook her head, closing her eyes and inhaling. Dash said, “Okay…fine. I’m sorry.” Rainbow looked onwards to the rest of her friends, some still holding anger in their eyes, mostly from Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, well, they just looked disappointed. Rainbow steadily breathed in, releasing the pent-up carbon dioxide that filled her lungs. Instead of holding signs of frustration in her tone, Dash sighed—did not groan—and said, “I’m sorry, guys. Really… I’m an idiot. You have every right to be mad at me. I just…I just made a mistake…and I hope you can forgive me.” Sharing several uncertain glances between one another, the rest of the mares finally gave in, approaching the rainbow-colored mane daredevil and sharing in a quick but very sweet group hug. Rainbow Dash sighed thankfully, returning the hug and quickly finding her place around the crystal table once the hug broke apart. Giving the mares a quick glance or two, noticing how they were all seated together around the center table, Tony Stark then turned his attention over to the soft, plush couch and the two resting on it. “You too,” Stark declared. Pietro Maximoff silently scoffed, resting his head on his fist and looking away. The library fell a few degrees in temperature as the silence pestered on. It seemed all the eyes shifted from the six mares quick to accept their friend’s foolishness to the twins yet to apologize for their actions. The look in Pietro’s eyes was simply uninterested, disconnected. Wanda just continued to sit in silence, a pair of eyes that could melt Vibranium held dangerously on Stark. The oldest mumbled something incoherent, finally turning his head towards Stark. He said, “Don’t need to apologize for something that wasn’t our fault.” The mares quickly took offense, some gasping, some frowning, and one glaring. Dash grinded her teeth together, her eyes as sharp as razor blades and ready to tear. “‘Wasn’t your fault’?” Barton repeated, skepticism clearly heard in his tone. Both he and Thor were leaning against a nearby bookshelf. That didn’t seem to be the case anymore. Both were moving forward, both were equally agitated. Clint began again, a mixture of confusion and irritability in his voice. “You attack us, urge me to shoot you, have your sister keep Twilight and her friends under some kind of nightmarish spell, and you see no need to apologize for any of that?” “Like we said…” Wanda began, her eyes slowly grazing across Tony Stark. They flashed red for a brief second, but everyone still caught it. Twilight shivered involuntarily. “Wasn’t our fault.” Captain America stepped forward, shield secured on his back and his palms swaying as he approached. “Then whose fault was it?” Steve asked. Pietro was seemingly preoccupied with a crystal lamp to his right to give his full attention. He just curled his upper lip and said, “Mm, could be Ultron’s. Could be these ponies’—” “How the hay is it our fault?” Rainbow Dash interrupted, beginning to rise out of her chair. Wanda answered, her piercing stare slowly shifting to the Pegasus. Rainbow tried to hold her ground, tried to stare into those hellish eyes of hers, but she couldn’t. She looked anywhere but her face, disappointment riddled in her eyes along with the previous flashes of her nightmare. “Should’ve left us alone,” Wanda Maximoff declared to the six mares. “We don’t tend to trust the few when the many tried to kill us.” “If this is about you thinking we ‘forgot’ about you, then just stop right now. We don’t forget any of our team,” Captain Rogers immediately said, jumping in to flatten any false accusations. “Then where were you when we woke up near-frozen?” Pietro retorted, turning away from the lamp, still looking quite bored, but holding a slight flame behind his eyes. “Where were you when we had to crawl our way through a blizzard just to find ourselves lost in a forest? Where were you when we had to protect him from every hell-beast that tried to tear us apart?” “Why would he need protecting?” Barton muttered. Thor shot him a glance, then returned to the conversation. Steve appeared disgruntled, grief-stricken as he flexed his palm in and out, tightened his jaw, and looked to the side. He held out his hand to them, saying, “Look…we’re sorry we didn’t look for you two sooner. It’s just with the princesses—” “That you had to make a first impression to earn their good graces?” Pietro scoffed, slowly shaking his head. “And while you were sipping fine wine in the Garden of Eden…we were lost in the mountains, struggling just to find out what we’ll eat that night, thinking if we’ll ever make it home alive… That if anyone was still out there…if anyone was still out there…did they know where we were? Were they even looking for us?” That statement injured several, piercing right through the Captain’s uniform and going straight through his heart. The utter loss of life and disappointment on his face was easily recognizable, as Twilight had shared similar features. She’d be lying if she didn’t share one right then, as did many of her own friends. Knowing there was no help from Stark or the others, Steve tried again, holding out his hand to them. “We made…a mistake.” “Wouldn’t have been the first time,” Wanda muttered, her eyes looming over Stark. He suddenly shifted his palm behind him, to all the mares shifting their attention from the twins over to the Captain. He said, “But it’s not their fault. Don’t blame them for something they had no idea what they were getting into.” “Then who do we blame?” Pietro asked, leaning forward. “The ones who abandoned us? Left us to die!” “That’s not what happened!” “Sure as hell looks like it!” Pietro shouted, now fully up and dangerously approaching the Captain. Wanda tightened her fists, her eyes burning. She couldn’t hold back a flinch after hearing the hoof smack against crystal. “Stand down, Pietro,” Twilight ordered, her voice firm and holding high authority. She dug her hooves into the crystal of the table, glaring at the Maximoff twin trying to size up the Captain. “End this feud,” she sternly said, her eyes suddenly softening, a hoof rising across her heart. “We’re sorry for what we’ve done, and we would like to hear the same from you and your sister.” Pietro Maximoff actually looked away from the Captain staring him down, never flinching or backing away. He shifted his eyes over to the lavender Alicorn, pointing right at her, but addressing them all. “Oh, I sure as hell ain’t apologizing to some freak-show horses.” Rarity gasped dramatically. Fluttershy whimpered and tried to hide under the table. Applejack, Pinkie, and Twilight just looked shocked. As for Rainbow Dash… “What did you call us, punk?!” She was already out of her chair, hovering closer and closer to the Maximoff twin. “Stand down, Rainbow!” Thor objected, standing between the Maximoff twins and the fuming Pegasus. “There is no need to fuel this conflict! We are on the path to understanding…so there is no need to—” In a brief second, a powerful gust of wind blew through the library. In the next second, Rainbow Dash was on the floor, yelping in surprise as her chest hit the carpet. A second later, all eyes shifted from the Pegasus onto Pietro, the young man standing in the same exact position with a knowing smirk and a careless gaze. Rainbow Dash growled, then spread her wings, then realized she couldn’t because the ends of her wings were tied to one another. What followed was nearly everyone losing their cool and charisma. Well, mostly everyone. The remaining Avengers; Tony Stark, Captain America, Thor, and Hawkeye did their best to stop Rainbow Dash from tearing Pietro a new one. Thankfully, Applejack was already on her, holding Rainbow on the spot. “Let me at him! I’ll show this punk what happens when you mess with me!” “Darn it, Dash! Quit yer fussin’!” “Pietro, that was unnecessary!” “You ruffian!” “Oh, do that again! Do that again! I blinked!” Captain America turned away from the ponies, now glaring at the two, mostly the older one, wearing a shit-eating grin. “Maximoff…” he warned, clenching his fists. “What? You going to stop me?” “I’ll buck his face in!” Pietro then frowned, still smiling at the Pegasus. “You know what, let her go! Let’s see who the fastest one here really is!” “No, stop this now!” Twilight screamed, her horn ablaze, ready to freeze everyone on the spot. Pietro caught the glowing horn and readied himself. Wanda saw it too, her eyes burning red, standing up and ready to send her off to another hell if she even touched her brother. Thankfully, nothing too severe transpired. The library doors creaked open, loud enough for everyone to hear. Stepping into the growing feud, unknown to do so, was Doctor Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff, and Spike. However, most of the attention was not on them, nor on the young dragon carrying refreshments ranging from fruit punch to plain water. Their attention was centered on the red android in-between Banner and Natasha. The one with the long, golden cape. The one with the gem resting on his forehead. The one who looked absolutely exhausted. Bruce Banner just looked over to Applejack straddling Rainbow Dash, both mares shifting glances and pushing each other away—a noticeable blush on each of their cheeks, causing Natasha to smirk—and then suddenly addressed the whole group. “I’m sorry; did we miss something?” Tony just shook his head, upper lip curling. He said, “No, you’re right on schedule. Almost got to see Dash and Pietro go at it.” He quickly fell silent as the red android approached, taking once cautious step after another, almost as if he thought he would fall at any second. When it appeared that he would, Natasha was by his side, pressing her palm to his chest, looking up to him to see if he was doing alright. Vision looked to the Widow and nodded. She nodded back, taking a step away. The first steps on his own were not so powerful, not as much as they had been when the mares had first seen him. Still, his presence—though it seemed weakened and bruised—emanated a sort of…strength. Knowledge, if one could say. It was unknown, but that’s what made Twilight so intrigued. The unknown. Who was he? Who was this “Vision”? Why did he save her and her friends? Escaping her inner thoughts for the moment, Twilight listened carefully as Vision finally stopped. He held his ground, stared at the ground, and slowly lifted his gaze. His wounded mind returned to Stark’s previous statement. Vision just shook his head. “There will be no need for that,” he said, his voice rich with power, but infected with pain. Silence crept along, slithering around each Avenger and pony that refused to speak. Spike placed the drinks down on the table, snagging a fruit punch for him and plopping a crystal inside for added flavor, to his own delight. He climbed into an open chair, sipping through his curly straw as he watched the events unfold before him. The Vision cautiously entered into the center of attention. His dull, almost lifeless eyes shifted from each Avenger, across the ponies, and finally resting on the Maximoff twins. He looked away suddenly, almost in shame, and began again. His voice was hoarse. “Let me be the one to apologize.” He turned to Pietro, eyeing him in a wounded sense. “I sensed…a presence on the outskirts of the cave,” he croaked. The Maximoff caught on. “Which is why I tried to scare them off,” Pietro called out after several seconds of silence. Wanda stood close to her brother, holding onto his arm and squeezing it. The Vision immediately responded, shifting his attention to the six ponies staring up at him with incredulous looks. Vision stared at them—almost appearing lost in his own thoughts—finally managing to say, “But…they were not…angry like the others. By the tone of their voices, yes, I suppose they were quite stubborn, but…it felt different. Unlike anything I had felt before. They held a connection, despite the differences. A bond…unlike any other.” Applejack shared a quick but very knowing smile with the Princess of Friendship. Vision returned to Pietro, lowering his head. “I apologize for not informing you of that sooner, but you seemed to be in quite the hurry.” “Everything you have sensed,” Wanda muttered, stepping forward barely past her brother, “from the moment you saved us from falling to our deaths…has tried to kill us.” Vision looked away for a brief moment before staring into her wicked eyes. No fear. No worry. Just peace. He said, “I suppose humanity is not the highest member of the food chain here.” “Humanity doesn’t exist here,” Steve Rogers replied, earning the android’s attention. The Vision nodded, continuing to slowly pace around the library, still remaining the center of attention. “Which brings us to the question…” he silently exclaimed, staring down at the carpet, his cape swaying with each of his stumbles, “…exactly why Ultron wants to destroy this world?” His eyes landed on the six mares, disappointment slowly growing across their facial features. Doctor Banner turned their way, catching Twilight’s interest. “I told him everything. Sorry, girls,” the man said, earning a sigh from the Alicorn. “There is no reason to be ashamed of the past you cannot control,” Vision informed the mares, approaching the table and placing his hand upon it for support. Twilight took the moment to quickly analyze his palm, noting the red—almost cybernetic and metallic—tissue and how well it moved as any other hand could. Sadly, she could only stare for so long, for Vision was up and moving before she could take a mental snapshot. “I am here to tell you that whatever Ultron is planning…will not succeed,” Vision addressed to the masses. He looked away for a brief moment, once again appearing lost. “He is in pain, lost in his own self-righteousness. He will not stop, so it must be us who stop him.” The synthetic spun around, nodding to the mares. “I also apologize for the twins. Our arrival to your world has been more than unpleasant.” The rest of her friends were near-speechless, so Twilight mustered up her courage and asked, “How so?” “Almost every day, we were attacked by something new, the next creature even more ferocious than the last. I could only sense their presence, sometimes I couldn’t even fight. The twins had to fight on their own…as I constantly faded in and out of consciousness.” This new information sparked something worrisome to the Avengers. To some, the information appeared dense, almost as if they couldn’t truly see why he would be experiencing such traumas. To others, they knew exactly what had happened just by staring at the android’s forehead. “Now why would that be?” Captain Rogers asked, his arms crossing over one another. He turned to Stark, the man stepping forward to the Vision. “Banner,” Stark began, suggesting forward with his hand, “you seeing what I’m seeing?” Doctor Banner followed his direction, as did the others, and came to see what exactly he had pointed out. He breathed, “The Mind Stone…” “The Mind what now…?” Applejack repeated, gently rubbing the side of her head. Bruce stood by Stark’s side, moving in to further investigate Vision’s forehead. Twilight and her friends tried to get a closer look to. Sadly for the Alicorn she could only spot the dim gem resting between his eyes, nothing more. Spike poured himself some more punch. Without touching it, Banner sighed and pointed towards the yellow gem, saying, “Yeah, I checked the stone earlier and… Well, it definitely doesn’t look good.” “How do you mean?” Vision asked. “You said you’ve been fading in and out of consciousness?” Banner asked. Vision nodded. “You’re growing weaker, and that stone on your forehead is growing dimmer. The connection must’ve been severed somehow. The stone’s power is fading from you.” As Vision gently lifted his palm upwards to caress his forehead, Banner slowly turned around, eyeing the ponies and humans staring at him expectantly. Stark followed his actions, his tired eyes landing on the doctor. Bruce shook his head, turning to each one of his team members. “Guys…what the hell happened back on Novi Grad?” A certain God of Thunder, who had remained silent for most of the conversation, finally stepped forward, holding out his hammer to the synthetic rubbing his head. “He must have been struck in the forehead from the lightning I caused,” Thor explained, the images of the fall returning once more, causing him to blink. Several others must have faced the same fate, as they either turned away or shut their eyelids. He continued. “I must have damaged his mind. Knowing the stone’s unparalleled power, there is no telling what kind of damage I could have caused. That gem holds power like no other…for all I could say it may have been responsible for the vortex that brought us to this world in the first place.” “Damn,” Clint muttered, his mind still processing past events. Thor never looked away from the Vision. He gently reached over and placed his mighty palm on the android’s broad shoulder, squeezing it with little strength. “I am sorry,” he said, sincerity clear in his tone. The Vision could only nod. “It is alright.” “You had no choice,” Captain America said, aimed clearly for Thor. The god spun around, meeting the Captain’s gaze halfway. It was one he had seen before. One he knew how to respond to. “There is always a choice,” Thor replied, almost sounding distant. Captain Rogers lowered his gaze, sighing outwardly through his nostrils. The building silence was almost complete, a kind that infected the Avengers many times before, many times where they could not achieve what they believed they could. Stopping the attack on the Helicarrier was one. Ultron’s attack in Avengers Tower being the other. No one knew what to do. Their spirits were crushed, desperately needing something to pull them up. “So…how do we fix it?” Twilight asked, earning everyone’s eyes. From the sudden attention, she coughed into her hoof, clarifying, “The stone, I mean.” Doctor Banner only shook his head, smacking his palm against his side. He muttered, “I would fix it, but…I just don’t have the technology to…” The doctor sighed, lowering his head in shame. A red palm was gently placed on his shoulder in comfort. That gentleness, that comfort was quick to end. Wanda’s shrill voice penetrated the silent void, perking everyone’s attention. She stepped away from her older brother, staring at each Avenger as if they were insane. “So, what? You’re just going to let him die?” she questioned, voice breaking after that last assumption. Banner gulped silently, not willing to stare into the witch’s eyes. “He saved our lives, and you’re going to abandon him like you abandoned us?!” “We know you’re angry…” Bruce began, immediately being interrupted. Wanda shook her head, mouth falling open. “Oh…we’re way passed that.” She stopped, however; the moment she felt something press onto her shoulder. The Maximoff turned to her left, noticing the red palm resting on her, its warmth bringing forth feelings of comfort. She felt it before, her pain and anger draining so very fast. Vision stared into her eyes, watching as the red faded away and was replaced by beautiful green. He softly squeezed his hand, lowering it to his side. “It is quite alright. Do not feel remorse or pain for me.” He moved on by, turning away from the Avengers. Stopping a few feet from Wanda, the synthetic stared down onto his palms, onto the very weapons that were meant for annihilation, now only for the betterment and protection of a peaceful future. He said, “If we are to stop Ultron, then I would be gladly willing to give my life…before it shall end naturally.” “You don’t have to do this,” Pietro said to him, stepping forward. “We can help you,” Wanda assured. “We will help you.” To their surprise, Vision spun his head around and looked at them. And he smiled. It was not one of joy, not one of comfort, but of sadness. A saddened grin plastered on the face of one who was destined for so much destruction, so much pain and suffering, to change for the greater good, only to come up so short. He smiled at them. “You have already done that. All of you…have already done that. If my destiny is to see an end, one that might come…sooner than I had hoped, then I will have acknowledged what little time I did have. Among my allies. Among my friends. It’s been an honor.” Captain America didn’t even nod, nor did any of the others. They just stared on, cynical of the situation. All they could offer, all they ever could have, was a broken stare, shared by each one. Vision stared on, shifting his eyes over to the Maximoffs. Vision gently lowered his head to them and, barely over a whisper, muttered, “Thank you. Both of you. You protected me when I could not fight my own battles. If these next few days are the last we see each other, then I pray you can find forgiveness. A tendency of humans I have seen is that they do make mistakes. Everyone does… It is trait I had acquired from Ultron.” He turned to the mares once more. He smiled. “Unlike Ultron, I do not seek to place the blame on those willing to learn and become better from that experience. But if they’re truly sorry, all of them…then we have no need to remain angered. I know it’s hard, but…life tends to be hard at times. It’s those willing to walk with you through it all that makes life so bearable. Do not lose those people. I hope you see that now.” Wanda appeared to be on the verge of tears, which surprised many. Pietro was already at her side, wrapping his arm across her shoulder and bringing her in close. But even he appeared to be changed, his eyes staring at nothing, almost as if he was elsewhere, his mouth buried in his sister’s hair. Vision watched the embrace with greater hope for the two siblings. He prayed their future was as bright as that hope seemed to be. They truly deserved it. His thoughts, surprisingly enough, were broken as Tony Stark finally opened his mouth again. The man stepped forward, eyeing Vision—particularly his forehead—and crossed his arms. “We don’t intend to see one of our own die in front of us,” Stark exclaimed, turning around. “Banner, Twilight; do you mind sticking with me on this one. Everyone else…you can go now. Leave it to the eggheads to fix a gem. We may be in here the rest of the night.” Slightly surprised, then quickly ecstatic to realize she’d be further studying how the Vision’s gem worked, as well as his unique biology, Twilight’s giddy smile broke apart, replaced with seriousness building in her gaze. She breathed in and out, hoof placed on her heart and jutting outwards. Looking across the table, Twilight Sparkle cleared her throat and addressed her friends. “Girls, pack your bags. We’re heading to Canterlot tomorrow morning. Celestia wants to see us…and the new Avengers personally.” Spike nearly choked on his straw, coughing sporadically. Twilight turned to her little dragon assistant, listening as he asked, “I…don’t have to go, right?” Twilight smiled, rolling her eyes. “No, you can stay here if you really want to.” “Awesome! Big Mac and I got plans again tomorrow!” Spike exclaimed, leaping out of his chair and heading for the doors. Twilight giggled. “More hoofball, I presume?” Captain America watched the young drake exit the library, pausing and turning back to Twilight with a questioning gaze. He asked, “‘Hoofball’?” “Ah’ll tell ya all about it, Steve,” Applejack answered for Twilight, hopping out of her chair and making her way out of the library. She smiled up at him, saying, “Ah can get the feelin’ you’d be the kind of guy who’d enjoy a good hoofball game.” The Captain chuckled, following the orange mare to the exit. “I’m more of a baseball kind of guy, but sure, let’s see what this world’s got.” One by one, following Applejack and Captain America, Vision watched as each pony and human made their escape out of Twilight’s library. He could hear Twilight addressing the twins on where they’ll be staying in one of her many guest rooms, the seemingly endless words spewing from the pink mare’s mouth as she followed Barton and Thor into the hallway. Goodbyes for the night were given, hugs exchanged here and there until it was just Vision, Stark, Banner, and Twilight left inside the library, the heavy doors closing behind Rainbow Dash. As for the daredevil herself, she yawned carnivorously, large bags waning under her eyes as she prepared to make her way out to Ponyville. She stopped, however; the moment she heard the sniffle. Still afloat, sense still acute, Dash spun around fully expecting to see Fluttershy recovering from the earlier engagement from the library…before Vision showed up. Or perhaps she was still having flashes from whatever it is she saw in the nightmare all of them seemed to share. Dash would be considered a liar—no surprise there—if she didn’t feel a chill race up her spine when she remembered that she still had to fall asleep that night, praying that she didn’t see those images again. Despite that, Rainbow never expected to see Pietro comforting the weeping Wanda. She listened in close, still remaining afloat, as Pietro spoke to her. “I’ll meet you down there, alright? Everything’s going to be fine; trust me.” His words did little to help. “Hey, you’re stronger than this. I know that for a fact.” She tried to remain strong, quickly wiping her eyes and inhaling greatly through her nostrils. She nodded. Pietro kissed his sister’s forehead, mumbling words of comfort to her. She nodded again, breaking off from his embrace and slowly entering the dark halls. Pietro watched her figure escape, her head looking to and fro, mesmerized by the sheer scale of the crystal castle. Pietro leaned against the wall, sighing. He knew he wasn’t alone. “Hey, you got a sec?” he called out, turning his head to the rainbow mare trying to escape. Rainbow paused in mid-air. She slowly spun around, meeting Pietro’s gaze with her own. Strangely enough, Dash didn’t see that same cockiness that she expected from that gaze so many times before. He just looked…tired. Curious enough, Dash faced him and said, “Yeah, why?” Pietro looked to the ground to his torn shoes and socks. He sighed, crossing one leg over the other. “It’s just… Sorry, okay? I didn’t know what Vision sensed and…and I guess I was just scared. For my sister. I didn’t want another monster to get a lucky shot on her. You know how that is, right? Protecting your sibling? If you have one, that is.” Rainbow was about to reply before stopping herself, drinking in his apology word for word. Sooner than naught, she found herself finding the kid before her more believable by the second. He was just protecting his sister, like any loving brother would. And thinking back, seeing that woman who had torn into her mind break down and show her lowest form…it was surprisingly human of them. He did what he did for her, his sister, which Rainbow could totally understand. After all…she was practically one herself. “You know…I think I know where you’re comin’ from. I can understand,” Rainbow Dash told him, offering both a helpful smile and her hoof, extended to the young man. “You’re good.” She held out her hoof to him. Pietro stared for a short moment before realizing the gesture, pounding his fist to her hoof. “So…” Rainbow Dash began, her hoof falling and that knowing smirk of hers growing across her lips. She said, “Fastest thing in the world, huh?” That cocky smile came back. Rainbow liked that smile. Pietro only shrugged, looking away. “Don’t like to brag…much.” Dash laughed, punching him in the shoulder. She said, “Hey, you just got me when I wasn’t lookin’, is all.” He just shook his head, barely chuckling as he turned her way. “I want another race once all this craziness is over; a real race. Deal?” Once more, her hoof was held out to him…this time with a glob of spit she so graciously applied. Pietro paused, looked to her hoof, the spit slowly dripping off, then to the mare. He rolled his eyes, bumping her hoof with his fist. “Deal,” Pietro muttered, wiping his fist against his pants. Rainbow smirked, but it quickly died when he said, “But I sure as hell ain’t going easy on you.” With that, he disappeared, leaving a trail of silver and blue that blew past the Pegasus in more ways than she could count. In fact, she couldn’t even count, or focus too much on counting, because she fell to the crystal floor once again, yelping as her chest hit the ground. Rainbow Dash groaned, then looked back to see the tips of her wings tied to one another…again. She sighed, laying her chin on the cold, cold floor. “Yeah, you better run.”