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'Inner dialogue/thoughts'
"Normal dialogue"
[System]
[Diary entries]
(Word Count: 1,370)
~ At the same time, with Wanda ~
Wanda sat on her bed, alone, as Pietro had already left to sleep in his own room. She had been pre-occupying her mind by reading the diary entries, focusing on the parts where Luke spoke about his time with the other Wanda. However, this time, as she read through the diary, she felt a strange connection to the world he described.
As she arrived at what she thought would have been a blank page as she finished reading the past entries, Wanda was delightedly surprised to see that Luke had updated his entry that very night.
[The Abyssal Covenant, they are here. And they are not messing around if Marak already sent a Horde as his introduction to this world.]
Wanda's eyes widened. 'So that's what those things were. They're the enemies from Luke's world. . .'
[The Avengers do not exist yet, it's still only just me here. Thankfully, I gained these new abilities, because I am almost one hundred percent certain we would have lost if I hadn't.]
'He's carrying so much on his shoulders. . .' Wanda thought, 'I wish there was something that I could do to help, if only I got my powers now instead of in the future. That is, if I ever get my powers now that the timeline has been changed thanks to this SHIELD's interference.' A tinge of annoyance and irritation found it's way in Wanda's thought.
As she continued reading the new entry, Wanda felt her admiration for Luke growing. He had fought so many battles in his world, faced so many enemies. And yet, here he was still resilient, always pushing forward and choosing to save the world, even though he found himself in a different world similar to his own.
[I miss them, those moments, more than I can express.]
"I miss them too, Luke." Wanda muttered, her eyes threatening to shed tears. Reading through what Luke had written regarding the Avengers, Wanda had felt a strong connection and a sense of nostalgia washing over her. Suddenly, Wanda's eyes widened when she realized what had just happened.
'WAIT! That can't be possible! I know I have never met these people in my life before, and yet somehow, it feels like I've known them for most of my life?!' Wanda was alarmed internally, unaware of the changes affecting her due to her awakening.
'Just what is going on with me. . .' She wondered, unable to ignore the unease building up within her.
~ With Natasha ~
[No, this isn't the time to be reminiscing the past. For now, the battle of Los Angeles has ended, but here comes the real challenge. The aftermath. I'm not sure how big, but the collateral damage should have been substantial judging by all the broken cars, windows and streets that I saw when I looked around after the battle.
Countless lives were bound to have been affected, especially since the Messengers were born from the normal humans of this world. But I've done my part in this battle. The cleanup, the explanations, the compensations, these are now up to SHIELD and Fury.]
Natasha raised and eyebrow, thinking about the logistical nightmare that Fury would have to deal with. 'He's right, the aftermath is going to be a colossal mess. But I'm no better either, since this also has nothing to do with me and I am leaving it all to Fury.' A smirk formed on Natasha's lips.
[I feel sorry for Fury. There is so much he has to clean up. Not to mention the financial compensation and material resources, but he also has to explain to the World Security Council, deal with the government, and more importantly, come up with a plausible story about the origins of these creatures. Knowing Fury, he wouldn't tell them about the things I have told Natasha and would likely already have a quite a tale to tell.]
'That does sound like something Fury would do.' Natasha chuckled softly as she mused.
[But the thing I feel most sorry for is about his eye. Poor Fury, one would think that he lost his eye in an act of heroic valour or self-sacrifice. But those can't be further from the truth. I remember that when I first learned of it, I did not stop making fun of Fury for an entire week, which did land me a few months of the most boring missions ever, but the trade-off was well worth it.
But really, how do you lose an eye to a cat of all things?!]
~ With Fury ~
"Motherfucker. . ." Fury said in a whisper, shocked that one of his most well-kept secret was just exposed in the diary. Fury adopted a scowl on his face when he remembered that he was not the only one who was able to read the entries, but Natasha and Wanda could as well.
In Wanda's case, he would not have to worry much since she was still a normal by-stander in his opinion. But Natasha on the other hand. 'This was supposed to be a secret, so how does Luke know this? Was it the other Fury in his world?' Fury wondered.
'No, it wouldn't be him. I know myself, so I wouldn't have revealed it. But then how did he get to know?!' No matter how deeply Fury thought about the matter, he did not seem to be any closer to finding a satisfactory answer.
'I don't have the time for this, there are other things that require my immediate attention.' Fury snapped himself out of his musings. What Luke had written was indeed true, Fury did have a lot of things that he would need to do in the aftermath of the battle.
~ With Natasha ~
"Hahahahaa~" Natasha was currently laughing in her apartment. 'So, is this why Fury doesn't like cats?'
A couple of minutes passed as Natasha enjoyed the moment. She waited patiently for Luke to continue writing, thinking that the short pause was due to Luke reminiscing the comedic moment regarding Fury. A moment later, the diary entry resumed.
[Time will not wait for anyone, and it will move forward. Soon, Tony Stark will return. This kidnapping will transform him, marking the beginning of his journey as one of the greatest heroes of the world and the beginning of the Age of Heroes.]
'So, it's about to begin, the age of heroes. And it starts with Tony Stark.' Natasha mused, 'It feels strange, to know what's coming and not be able to change it.'
[The birth of a superhero is never without suffering. This is a lesson that I've learned, though I've never liked it and never will. This world, like mine, seems to follow the same cruel rule: growth comes through pain.
This reminds me of a saying that I've heard once before in my world. The longer we live, the more we will realize, that the only things that truly exist in our reality are merely pain, suffering and futility.]
Natasha felt a strong resonance to the words being written as she read the entry. She had also been a product of the cruel reality of the world, which had shaped her to be the person that she was today.
'He understands all too well. We've all had our own share of pain within us.' She thought with a sad smile, reminiscing about her own past and the battles she had fought, both on the field and within herself.
[I can only hope that my presence will not change much, and that Tony will end up joining us as he had on my world.]
The entry ended at that point, as all three diary holders sat in silence, contemplating about the ending words that Luke had written.
- End of Chapter 68 -
Next time in *C69 - Tony Stark has returned.
"Yeah." Luke said in a low tone, "They're saying that whatever happened yesterday was like the doomsday from the bible or something with how the creatures just suddenly appeared and the destruction they've caused."
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[Author's Note]