Chapter 29: A New Era
The battle had been long and grueling, the weight of the universe hanging in the balance. But now, as the dust settled, the Avengers and their allies found themselves standing in a world that had forever been changed. With the flicker of Alex's fingers, everything had shifted. The Mad Titan, Thanos, was no more—his presence erased from existence. The Infinity Stones, now absorbed into Alex's being, had brought an end to the war, but the repercussions of that victory were still to be understood.
As Alex stood there, radiating with the power of the stones, the air around him seemed to hum with energy. His eyes, glowing with the remnants of the stones' energy, were fixated on the horizon. But then, as if breaking free from the weight of his actions, a portal suddenly opened in the air in front of him. The swirling vortex of energy rippled with power, its center bright with the light of the unknown.
From the portal, Tony Stark, Peter Parker, and the Guardians of the Galaxy emerged, stepping into the battlefield with looks of utter confusion on their faces. Tony, ever the one to analyze every situation, immediately took in the scene before him—the Infinity Stones, the fact that Thanos was gone, and the sheer power emanating from Alex.
"What the hell just happened?" Tony's voice rang out as he scanned the area, his eyes landing on Alex. "Did you—?"
Alex, floating above the ground, a calm yet commanding presence, looked down at his friends with a faint smile.
"Yeah, Thanos is gone." Alex's tone was almost casual, as though wiping out one of the universe's greatest threats was no more difficult than swatting a fly. "It was pretty easy, actually."
The group stared in stunned silence, struggling to process what they had just heard.
"You just defeated Thanos... like it was nothing?" Peter Parker's voice cracked with disbelief. "How?"
Alex chuckled softly, his voice carrying a playful tone as he floated down to join them. "Well, let's just say the stones and I... we had a mutual understanding." He shrugged, his gaze sweeping over his friends. "Nothing to worry about anymore."
As the shock continued to settle in, Alex stepped forward, his expression shifting into something a bit more mischievous.
"Oh, and before I forget…" He raised his hand, his voice carrying authority as he looked at everyone. "My wedding's next month."
He gave a dramatic pause, letting the news settle into the group's minds.
"I'm spending a lot of money, so you better make up for it with your gifts." Alex grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "And remember, bring your partners with you. Wouldn't want you to show up alone, right?"
The group exchanged uncertain looks, trying to process everything happening so quickly. Before anyone could say anything, Alex lifted himself into the air, flying high above them all.
"And don't forget!" He shouted down, his voice full of enthusiasm. "I'll be giving each of you a gift, so don't miss it. I expect you all there."
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Wanda's Reaction
As Alex's words echoed through the air, Wanda, who had been standing quietly beside the others, felt her heart skip a beat. Her face flushed a deep shade of red, her eyes darting nervously as she realized that Alex was talking about their wedding. Her thoughts raced—she hadn't expected him to be so open about it in front of everyone. She had thought they still had some time before they would need to address it with the others.
But Alex, ever confident, had just made it clear to the entire group that their marriage was official.
Wanda's cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she quickly looked down, trying to hide her blush. She had always been a private person when it came to her feelings, especially about something as personal as their upcoming wedding. But Alex—he was always so free with his emotions, always so sure of everything.
She could feel the heat of the blush spreading from her cheeks to her neck, and she crossed her arms, trying to shield herself from the teasing looks she could feel coming her way.
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The Avengers' Reaction
Meanwhile, the Avengers were still trying to absorb everything. Tony Stark, as usual, was the first to speak, his brow furrowing with a mix of amusement and disbelief.
"A wedding?" He raised an eyebrow. "This guy defeats Thanos like it's Tuesday, and now we're talking about wedding gifts?"
Peter Parker, looking to Tony for guidance, nodded in agreement. ""Yeah, this is all a lot to take in." He glanced at Groot, who was still absorbing the information in his own way.
Rocket, on the other hand, was already pulling out his communicator. "Yeah, yeah, we got it. Wedding next month. I'll get you a nice gift, I guess. Maybe a shiny new weapon or something."
But amidst the teasing, everyone couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. The battle was over. The threat had been eliminated. And now, it seemed, they were all heading into a new chapter in their lives—one that wasn't defined by endless battles, but by moments of peace, love, and, yes, even weddings.
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Wanda's Thoughts
As Alex floated back down to join them, the realization hit Wanda hard. She was going to marry him. The man who had erased the greatest threat to their universe. The man who had changed everything, and yet still managed to make her feel like she was the only one who mattered.
Her heart swelled with emotion, but she tried to hide it. She glanced at Alex, her expression softening.
"I'll be there, Alex," she whispered, mostly to herself. "I'll be there."
Alex smiled softly at her, as if he had read her mind. There was a quiet understanding between them, something deeper than words.
And with that, the Avengers, the Guardians, and everyone else began to gather their things, preparing to face the future. For once, it wasn't about saving the world or battling titans. It was about celebrating life, love, and the new era that had just begun.