Orville: Lost in the Multiverse

chapter sixteen: Reunion and Revelation

The aftermath of Ed's struggle with the dark magic left the Avengers Tower in an uneasy silence. The storm clouds outside had broken slightly, allowing shafts of pale moonlight to filter through the massive windows. Inside, the Avengers gathered around Ed, who, though free from Strange Supreme's influence, was visibly drained.

Lucy stayed close to him, her expression soft with relief. She had nearly lost him to the darkness, but Ed had fought back. He had returned to them, scarred but whole. Still, the threat of Strange Supreme and Loki loomed large. The battle was far from over.

As the team caught their breath, a low hum filled the air. The familiar ripple of energy that signaled a portal tore through the space. The Avengers tensed, ready for another attack. But instead of Strange Supreme or Loki emerging from the swirling energy, a figure stepped through—tall, with blue skin and an unmistakable glow around him.

"Darulio?" Ed gasped in surprise, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

The Retepsian diplomat, Darulio, stood in the middle of the room, his calm demeanor unchanged even in the midst of the chaos. He smiled softly, his glowing blue eyes meeting Ed's.

"Ed," Darulio said warmly, his voice carrying a soothing calmness as he stepped forward. "I came as soon as I could."

For a moment, everything else faded into the background. The tension in Ed's body eased, and a smile, small but real, broke through the exhaustion on his face. Without a second thought, he stepped toward Darulio, the weight of the universe falling away for just a moment.

Lucy watched, slightly confused but not surprised by the bond they shared. Ed and Darulio had a complicated past, but right now, it didn't matter. Ed needed this moment, this connection.

Ed reached Darulio, and without hesitation, the two embraced. The warmth and relief between them was palpable, and as they hugged, the glow from Darulio seemed to wrap around Ed, almost like a protective shield.

Then, something unexpected happened. As they pulled apart, their eyes locked, and there was a brief, intense pause. Slowly, Ed and Darulio leaned in, their lips just inches apart.

Lucy, standing nearby, arched an eyebrow but remained silent, sensing the depth of the moment. Even the Avengers, standing awkwardly around the room, didn't interfere. It was as if they knew that this reunion, strange as it might seem in the midst of a multiversal crisis, was exactly what Ed needed to restore his spirit.

Their lips brushed lightly, just a tender moment of connection before they broke apart. The air in the room seemed to shimmer with a different energy—a lighter one, filled with hope rather than dread. Ed let out a small laugh, his eyes filled with a warmth that had been absent for far too long.

"I didn't know you were coming," Ed said, his voice tinged with surprise and relief.

Darulio grinned. "I sensed something was wrong. Call it a feeling. And, well, I still care about you, Ed."

Ed nodded, gratitude shining in his eyes. "I'm glad you're here. We could use all the help we can get."

Darulio's glow brightened slightly, his presence somehow stabilizing the chaotic energy that had filled the room moments earlier. "I'm not just here to visit, Ed. I can help. I've learned a few things since we last met, and I know how to track Strange Supreme."

Tony, who had been quietly observing, finally broke the silence. "You can track him?"

Darulio nodded confidently. "It's complicated, but let's just say I've learned a lot about energy manipulation. Supreme's magic leaves a very distinct signature—one I can follow."

Ed's eyes widened. "You can help us stop him."

"More than that," Darulio said, stepping closer. "I can help you fight him. But first, you're going to need something more."

Before Ed could ask what he meant, Darulio raised a hand, and a pulse of glowing blue energy flowed from his fingertips. The energy swirled around Ed, and for a moment, he felt a surge of warmth and power, unlike anything he had ever experienced.

The magic wrapped around him, fusing with his very being. Ed's eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and he could feel the strength coursing through him—strength not just of his own will, but a power Darulio had gifted him. It was as if the essence of magic itself had become part of him, intertwining with his thoughts, his emotions, and his very soul.

Lucy, watching from the side, gasped softly. "Ed... you have magic now."

Ed stared down at his hands, watching as tendrils of blue energy danced across his fingertips. "I... I can feel it. It's incredible."

As the power flowed through him, a familiar tune began to fill the air—a song that seemed to come from nowhere, yet everywhere all at once. The upbeat, empowering melody of Believix echoed through the room, filling it with a sense of triumph and possibility. It was as if the universe itself was responding to Ed's transformation.

"You're ready now," Darulio said, smiling as the song played in the background. "With this power, you can stand against Strange Supreme and Loki. But you have to believe in yourself, Ed."

Lucy, moved by the transformation, stepped forward and placed a hand on Ed's arm. "We believe in you, Ed. You've come this far. We'll fight together."

The Avengers, too, gathered around, their resolve strengthening with the surge of energy that filled the room. They had been on the back foot for too long, but now they had a chance. With Ed's newfound powers, they could finally turn the tide.

Ed nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "Let's finish this. For Earth. For the multiverse."

With Darulio by his side and the Avengers ready to strike, Ed knew they had a fighting chance. The power within him pulsed with the rhythm of the music, and for the first time in a long while, he felt like they could truly win.

Believix swelled in the background, a soundtrack to the beginning of the final stand.

The battle for the multiverse was about to begin.