|A Spider's Tale|

What Planet Are We On?: Chapter 13

Let's get started!

3rd Person

It had been a couple of hours since Tony's outburst, Steve and the rest of the team (plus the new arrivals. Had found some sort of lead and left in the repaired Benatar. But neither Tony nor Pepper could bring themselves to care. Their main concern was the two teens unconscious in the med-bay, Pepper had wheeled Tony to them in a wheelchair, he didn't want to stay in the bed.

Tony had found that Aunt May had been decimated, along with Ned, MJ, pretty much all of Peter's Decathlon team, and of course billions more. 

When Tony thought of that he realized something, Peter's whole class had been decimated, all except Gwen and Peter. He thought to something that Dr. Strange said 'Tony, Peter is safe, I'm sorry' he had said that before he was decimated. 

'But why assure me that Peter was safe? And why did he seem surprised?'  If Peter was originally going to be a part of the population decimated, why wasn't he? 'What could have changed that would have led to Peter being spared?' 

Tony looked at Gwen, 'Perhaps a population change?'  Thinking about it, Thanos had claimed the stones selected randomly, so if you had a line of people, and we're picking every other person with your eyes closed. A person suddenly being added would shift the count. 

Staring at Gwen Tony decided to share his thoughts "I find myself liking Gwen more each day, especially now" 

"Why is that?"

"Well I honestly think that the only reason Peter wasn't decimated is Gwen"

"What! How!" 

"Think about it we added another living thing into the equation, Dr. Strange actually surprised to see her, she might have offset the numbers a bit, leading to them both surviving."

They relapsed back into silence just staring at Gwen and Peter.

Pepper suddenly jumped up, looking anxious "Tony! What are going to do about May!" 

Tony's face took a sad expression, "I checked, she...she didn't make it. Neither did any of Peter and Gwen's friends, in fact, practically their whole year was decimated."

"almost the whole year...all those kids" 

"I'm going to invite them to live with us...until either, we reverse this, or they grow up" 

"I was hoping you would"

Suddenly Peter shot up, apparently, he didn't want to do the whole 'groggy but peaceful' awakening. 

Tony wheeled himself next to Peter,  "Hey, Hey Peter, It's alright kid, we're okay"

Peter relaxed a bit once he saw Tony. "Oh hey Mr. Stark, uh quick question, what planet are we on?" Tony laughed, he then realized it was a serious question. 

"Oh, Peter don't worry, were home, we're home...on Earth" 

"Okay...my head hurts like crap..." Tony laughed, it was good to have Peter back. 

-LINE BREAK-

Gwen had awoken a few minutes later, she had also decided against the 'groggy but peaceful' awakening, actually jumping up and sticking to the ceiling. 

A few hours later and they were able to get out of bed. Tony had told them the situation with Steve and the rest looking into a lead. 

After Peter and Gwen were in something other than tattered Iron Spider suits, (T-shirts, jeans, and tennis shoes) Pepper took them to get some breakfast. Tony started getting himself out of the wheelchair. 

When Pepper, Gwen, and Peter arrived back an hour later, Tony was still struggling to get out of the wheelchair. "You stupid piece of aluminum-steel alloy! You will not get the best of me!" With one final push, he launched himself out of the chair...and right onto his face. 

Pepper forced Tony back into the wheelchair and they all went to the command room. Peter began gushing something about the tech in the room (In a language Gwen called Nerdilian). Tony knew what he was saying but didn't translate. 

Pepper looked at Gwen, "No, No, don't look at me, Ms. Potts! I may be into science and tech, and this room is awesome for sure. But even I can't translate that nerd speech!" 

Peter looked offended. 

Suddenly the Benatar lands, a little bit later Thor, Carol, Nebula, and the others walk in. 

"Well, Thor any luck?" Tony casually says. Peter and Gwen both looked in awe at the Avengers (& CO), while Peter had grown up seeing these people on the News, and he fought them in Berlin, this was the first time he had seen all the OG Avengers in one place...and not trying to kill him. Gwen had been told a ton of stories and was very excited to meet them. 

Peter and Gwen couldn't hold it int "OH MY GOD YOU'RE THOR/BLACK WIDOW!" Natasha looked at Gwen in mild amusement, but the weight of their news couldn't really help but make one depressed. Thor looked at Peter sadly and then started talking. 

"We went to 'the Garden' and found Thanos, we beat Thanos, then we learned that the infinity stones are gone, Then I killed Thanos" He then walked away, mumbling about beer. 

"So that's it? We're done, just gonna give up?" Gwen questioned

Tony looked at Peter and Gwen "Hey guys I-I need to talk with you, come with me." 

Tony took Peter and Gwen into a private room and closed the door. "I-I looked at the casualty list" Peter and Gwen got a worried look in their eyes. '

"Peter, May was one of the decimated, along with nearly your entire year at Midtown..."

"Wait, Ned...MJ, they're gone?" Peter was beginning to tear up, so was Gwen. 

"I'm...I'm sorry Pete, I...I was going to say it'll be okay Peter, but...It's not. Happy is gone. Vision, gone...Wanda, Black Panther, Sam... they're all gone. The world is in shambles, and it's...it's just chaos. I just want you to know you both are welcome to continue living with me and Pepp...I'll...I'll give you some time."

Peter nodded in shock, Tony left the room. Peter fell to his knees, tears now streaming from his eyes. "She's...she's gone, the last of my family is gone." Gwen just kneeled down and hugged him. She was also struggling to wrap her head around this, sure she had only been in this universe a month or so, but Ned MJ, they were close friends. They were Peter and Gwen's support team, covering for them, helping them, and comforting them. Now they were gone.

All they had was each other, and Tony and Pepper...but that doesn't matter. Peter and Gwen were practically alone now (figuratively). 

And no matter how much either of them tried to suppress it, they both were thinking similar things...If they were now practically alone on this journey, they were glad it was still a journey they made as a team. 

Done! MJ and Ned are decimated! And I now have a period of 5 years to fill with spider adventures! 

-RambunctiousCat