The Battle of New York is over, to begin with. The Chitauri were fought and forced back into the desolate abyss from whence they came, due to the valiant efforts of the Avengers.
An unconscious Tony Stark is revived by Bruce Banner's ferocious other form, and the team of acquaintances turned heroes make their way to the epicenter of the invasion they've just thwarted.
They arrive at the tower not long after, where they detain the renegade god, Loki, who, to their surprise, offers little more than petty insults as resistance.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is quick on the scene, though Stark's quipping would suggest otherwise, and take control of the cleanup operation. S.T.R.I.K.E. team retrieves the alien scepter as Steve Rogers heads to coordinate search and rescue with the local authorities.
Armed guards arrive to escort Loki to a holding cell, at which time Alexander Pierce and Tony Stark get into an argument over jurisdiction of the Tesseract.
Pierce and Stark are brought from their debate by Thor, who suggests, though with a tone of command, that the ancient artifact be taken to his home world of Asgard, out of reach of opportunists and invaders alike. Pierce reluctantly agrees.
Thor entrusts the Tesseract to Erik Selvig, who obtains a containment vessel for the artifact which he had been assisting S.H.I.E.L.D. with creating before the invasion.
With the battle over and the damage minimized, the Avengers take up Stark's idea and travel out to a Shawarma joint a few blocks from the tower. The employees are doing their own damage control, but gladly open for the heroes of New York.
This is where our story will commence.
They cannot know this at present, too deep in their humble celebrations to notice, to ponder the significance of what has just occurred, but something is about to happen. A single moment upon which time is hinged can alter the course of the future.
We, privileged enough to know their futures, will see the change immediately. We will ponder on its significance. They will not. The Avengers will not notice what we do. They cannot, as they do not know what we do. They have not lived what we know they may.
We will take our chances with the odds that this change, this branch, will grow into something more comfortable than that which we already know. Is that not the point of seeking out such stories?
Reality is often disappointing, but in realizing the existence of the multiverse, one becomes enlightened and familiar with the idea that everything is reality. Every word, every dream, every thought inside your head is a part of a construct of infinite existence.
To put it simply, every story you read is as real as the next, it is only the perception of our reality which labels them as simple words on a page. Somewhere, in the vast eternity, your thoughts are echoed with truth and existence.
Playing the multiverse is dealing yourself into a game where one bets their sanity in return for such enlightenment. Every choice one makes determines the outcome of the game. One only has to know how to master it to win.
Do not be confused, we only wish you to ponder. This story is one pulled from a universe far from the one we reside in. We will be there the whole time, in the syllables so eloquently displayed on your screen. There will be voices speaking from the multiverse, sharing wisdom. Some you may recognize, others not.
In any case, we must press on.
As we have stated, the Battle of New York is over to begin with. The Avengers fought in it the same way we know, but they are not the heroes you know, and their stories do not end the same.
To put it as simply as we can; change is coming. With our grasp upon their future, we know that not soon after this heartwarming and humorous gathering at the Shawarma joint, the Tesseract will be returned to Asgard, out of the reach of the madman in void. We need not speak his name here.
We know this to be true, but only in one universe. Remember to go all-in only when you're sure you have been dealt the better hand. Be warned, with your outside knowledge, you might just expect the unexpected. But if one expects the unexpected, isn't it just believing in the obvious?
YOU ARE READING
Salience (Will be posted on Ao3 maybe)
Fanfiction*** Finding Motivation to Continue *** Salience (the quality of being particularly noticeable or important) Stranded on Earth due to an unforeseen circumstances, the renegade god, Loki, finds himself held in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody at a facility known...
