Transported to a strange planet by a force from beyond the universe, the mightiest super heroes and super-villains of all time were gathered to fight the ultimate war. They were joined in this great battle by the time lost Pendragons. Twenty-five years ago, the war ended. No one came home. Today, their children begin the battle anew

Pendragons What If…?

A Secret War: 25 Years Later

“Brave New World”

(Based on What If…? Vol 2 #114 Bay Jay Faerber, adapted by me to fit Pendragons continuity)

Somewhere in the deep reaches of space, in the middle of the vast wasteland, which made up the majority of the planet Battleworld, four young would be heroes stared at a small plaque embedded in the ground. This plaque was situated here as a monument to show where the Great War had finally ended. The plaque read:

“Let this mark the spot

where both sides laid

down their weapons

and the great war

came to an end.”

The plaque was not the thing that interested visitors to this site, as laid beside it in a symbolic gesture of peace the mighty Thor had laid down his Uru hammer, Mjolnir and beneath the immovable warhammer lay the Ebony blade that once belonged to the Black Knight and later the now deceased Ebony Knight. Thor had said at the time that now the war was over there was no need for such weapons of destruction. However if today’s visitors to the plaque had their way Mjolnir would not rest much longer.

“Well this is it, today’s the day” the serious voice of Balder Blake the teenage son of Thor announced. He stood over his father’s hammer and prepared himself. Beside Balder stood his friends CJ, Sarah and Brian, they stared transfixed as Balder reached down and gripped the shaft of the hammer; determination was painted across Balder’s face as he tensed his muscles.

“Think it’s today then huh? Balder you’ve been trying to lift your old man’s hammer for what three years now?” CJ asked. CJ was short for Clint Barton junior named after his father, however his green eyes, hair and skin marked him as the offspring of his mother the sensational She-hulk. CJ has inherited his mother’s superior strength as well as her skin colour and unfortunately his father’s wise ass personality.

“Today I am eighteen, CJ” Balder acknowledged. “That makes me a man.”

“You wanna put any money on this?” CJ smirked.

“Shut up CJ” Sarah Rogers interjected. Sarah was a beautiful blonde girl. Her parents were Captain America, a perfect human soldier and Ms. Marvel, the mutant formerly known as Rouge. The combination of these two had resulted in a child with super strength, stamina and the ability to fly. “We’re supposed to be here to support Balder. We are his friends.”

“Yeah CJ cut Balder some slack” the gruff voice of Brian Summers chipped in. Brian was the son of the former Captain Britain Betsy Braddock and her one time team mate in the X-men Scott Summers, Cyclops. He had his father’s optic blasts and enhanced strength and the ability to fly granted to him by his mother’s continued exposure to bio-mystical armour.

Balder yanked at the hammer with all his strength, which considering he was the son of Thor was quite considerable. He tried over and over again, but the hammer remained in exactly the same position.

“Your legs man – lift with your legs.”

“CJ..!” Sarah chastised.

!Unnnnngh!” Balder cried out and then finally gave up. Sweat poured down Balder’s face and he stood up. He felt the hand of CJ on his shoulder.

“Hey man, sorry. Your time will come, I know it will.”

“Thank you, but you don’t know what it’s like,” Balder responded. “None of you do, CJ you could lift your father’s bow since you were a baby, Sarah there’s no enchantment stopping you lift your father’s shield and Brian your mother’s armour actually moulds itself to fit you.”

Sarah looked at Balder a slight tear in her eye due to her dear friend’s unhappiness. “Come on, lets head home, I know you’ll do it one day soon, we’re all gonna be in for a big…”

Back in Town

“….SURPRISE!”

Balder entered the small house he shared with his father; he was more than surprised to see most of the old heroes and their children gathered in his living room. Balder turned to see his father, a big grin plastered across his face. A huge banner that read “Happy Birthday Balder” stretched across the living room wall and the far end of the room was taken up with tables holding gifts and enough food to feed a small army, which considering the guests was quite appropriate.

“Thanks dad!” Balder said beginning to blush. “I can’t believe you did this!”

“My boy thou art worth no less.” Thor stepped forward to approach his son. Thor no longer wore the costume he once wore as an Avenger instead choosing to wear blue robes. Thor threw his arms around his son and pulled him close, almost squeezing the air from his lungs.

“Dad, please…” Balder gushed. “Not in front of everyone…”

CJ, Sarah and Brian had joined the crowd, which had broken up into smaller groups of people. Everyone was busy catching up with one another.

“Did he suspect anything?” Captain America asked his daughter as she stood beside him.

“Not a thing, pop” Sarah revealed proudly exchanging glances and smirks with Brian and CJ.

“I’m not sure I approve of our daughter being such a good liar, Carol” Captain America said shifting his attention to Sarah’s mother, Rouge just smirked in response.

CJ stood near his parents Hawkeye and She-hulk. The former Avenging Archer looked a little out of place beside his extremely tall wife and son.

“Look at that” Hawkeye grumbled bitterly. “Torch is schmoozin with the Molecule Man and Volcanna. Sometimes I can’t get over the fact that half the people in this room used to be vicious criminals.”

“Geez dad lay off” CJ said “The Torch lost Reed and Ben in the fight with the Beyonder and Galactus years ago, and no has used their powers in anger in years, since before I was even born.”

“Well, well looks like the fruit of my loins is getting as good as his mom at putting me in my place.”

“Clint it’s been twenty five years, people do change especially given this much time in isolation. Just like us they’ve been separated from just about everything they love, it’s bound to cause changes,” She-hulk berated her husband.

“Guess your right as usual,” Hawkeye admitted. “Betsy, Jackie and the other Pendragons have even been separated from their proper place in time and space, that’s gotta suck.” With that Hawkeye went off to join Betsy and her husband Cyclops by the drinks table. “Hey guys how are things in the Summer’s household?”

“Oh hi Clint,” Betsy answered. “We’re good it’s good to see everybody together again.”

“I know what you mean, how’s Jackie and JJ doing?” Hawkeye asked.

“They miss Joey a lot but since he absorbed Spiderman’s symbiote as well as his own his mind was shattered,” Betsy sighed. “As far as we can tell he’s still wandering the wastes, he never really recovered from accidentally killing Wolverine.”

“I tell ya I saw union Jack the other week eating rocks” the Wrecker argued. Spiderman stepped out of the Shadows beside the Wrecker.

“Absorbing Man, Wrecker, last time I checked you had never been bound to one of those things so I wouldn’t go spreading stories until you get your facts straight or I might just have to clue in my buddy Union Jack if I ever see his snarling face again,” Spidey whispered. Crusher Creel and the Wrecker stared at Spiderman for a moment at a loss for words then quickly finished their drinks and headed over to the other side of the room to join their families.

Johnny Storm had made his way to a couch and was sat next to his wife Janet Van Dyne-Storm, their son Matthew came over and joined them; he had recently taken to using the code name Firefly.

“We do not see enough of you,” the exotic voice of Storm said as she made her way towards the Storm family. With a “Bamf” her husband Nightcrawler appeared on the arm of the couch, another “Bamf” heralded the arrival of their daughter Logana Wagner or Thundercloud, as she liked to use on occasion.

“These things don’t happen as much as they did when the kids were young” the Wasp answered. “I haven’t seen Mickey and Shevaun in an age” she continued looking over at Miracle Man and Dark Angel, who were in conversation with Peter Parker and his wife Julia the former Spiderwoman.

Elsewhere

Far across the wastes from the town on a large hill top stood a castle. It looked centuries old but in reality was less than twenty five years old. The castle was several times the size of Thor’s modest home, however it was here that Balder’s mother had come and betrayed his father with the castles owner Victor Von Doom.

Within a plush hall of the castle a young man stood staring at a portrait of his father. Like his father, Vincent Von Doom wore a metal face mask his however only covered the lower half of his face and was purely for intimidation purposes. He picked up the book he had only just finished reading and turned to his father who had just entered the room.

“I must say father I find this Napoleon fellow quite inspiring,” Vincent remarked.

“Then your studies are going well?” Victor Von Doom asked in a way that made it seem more of a statement than a question.

“Oh yes” Vincent answered. “Ultron is a fine tutor and with the tales of your conquests and the studies of famous Earth rulers, I am quite galvanised.”

“If your mother were here…”

“The Enchantress is not here, nor will she ever be again,” Vincent snapped.

“It is in your best interests to forget her” Doom answered firmly. “Now are we clear?”

Vincent did not answer; he glared at his father’s back as Doom turned to leave.

“Yes, sir” he finally answered.

The Monument Park

In the middle of the forest situated to the North of town an area had been cleared in order to erect monuments to those fallen in the Great War. Many heroes and villains had died in the fighting including the likes of the Thing, Wynter, Adam Crown, Magneto, Captain Marvel, Thunderball and Piledriver.

In front of the statue of Mister Fantastic stood two figures. The pair looked up at the monument of the one man who could have possibly found a way home to Earth. One of the figures clad in the Iron Man armour often came here to think and impart his knowledge to others. Today he was joined by Logana Wagner, the Thundercloud.

“Do you think of it often?” she asked as they looked up at the statue.

“Think about what?” the armoured figure replied.

“Earth” Logana replied. “I suppose it bothers me that I’ve never seen it, and probably never will. My mother was once considered as some kind of goddess on Earth. I envy that connection to a planet.”

“There is no denying it, I’m afraid,” the man said. “Earth can be a wonderful place. It is ripe with potential.”

“I sense a but coming up, professor.”

The man slid back the face plate of the Iron Man armour to reveal the face of Professor Charles Xavier. He was the founder of the X-men and mentor to an entire generation of mutants. After the death of James Rhodes during the Great War Xavier had taken up the hi-tech armour and used its technology to regain the use of his legs. He was now mentor to a new generation of mutants on Battleworld.

“You are quite astute for one so young, Logana” Xavier said. “But remember mutants like you and I were feared and hated before we were snatched away. I often wonder how my fellow mutants have fared since then and if I shall ever find out…”

Castle Doom

Victor von Doom stood looking out of one of the many castle windows, taking in the view of his new kingdom on Battleworld. Doom did not turn as his son entered the room.

“I’ve come to a decision, father,” Vincent Von Doom confidently said.

“I’ve decided that you are wrong. This planet is not that different from Earth. At least not for my purposes. You see, father just because you’re old and have let this planet domesticate you, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be true to my nature.”

Victor Von Doom made no attempt to respond. He did not move a muscle even to turn to face his son.

“Father look at me when I’m speaking to you,” Vincent yelled stepping forward and grabbing his father’s shoulder. With a powerful heave he managed to turn his father a fraction of the way around to face him. However small a victory this was enough to satisfy Vincent for the moment.

FRRZZAKK!

Vincent raised his hand and sent fourth a wide blast of sparkling blue energy. The blast struck Doom full in the side, turning him fully around. Doom then began to dissolve as the energy ate away at him, until all that was left of the once great monarch was a pile of smouldering ash.

“The king is dead,” Vincent announced as the blue energy stopped spewing fourth from his gauntlet. “Long live the king.”

Elsewhere, just outside the town

On another hillside CJ lay face down on the soft grass. On his back sat a quite muscular red haired girl. She had CJ’s arm pinned behind his back and was applying her ample strength to it. It really didn’t bother CJ all that much but he humoured her anyway.

“Say it… say it…” the girl squealed.

“Okay, okay,” CJ cried out feigning pain. “You’re better looking than Sarah Rogers!”

CJ then gave up his pretence and rolled the girl off of him.

“You know Trudy,” CJ started, “You keep beating up on me like this and the Hulk is gonna come and take you away, just like our folks always sat.”

“Please!” Trudy laughed. “The Hulk…. I haven’t thought about that since I was a little girl! Like there’s really this big green monster that headed for the wilderness at the end of the war. Now Union Jack he’s scary.”

“You never know,” CJ said. “Stranger things have happened,” he smirked. “Listen I gotta go, I promised my dad we’d go target shooting.”

“Okay CJ I’ll catch you later!” Trudy answered as she rolled over looking out over the rolling hills. CJ had gone and Trudy lost herself in her daydreams, which is why she never heard the footsteps of the approaching armoured feet.

“My dear Miss Creel” a firm and arrogant voice announced.

“Oh no…” Trudy Creel sighed as she looked up into the partially armoured face of Vincent Von Doom. “What do you want, Vinnie?”

“Please I prefer Vincent or Malefactor and I have a proposition for you.”

Elsewhere

A teenage boy with a badly scarred face sat cross legged and his eyes closed. He was meditating on something as he tried to get a hold on his considerable powers. Just above him sat a girl with curly brown hair and a dark haired handsome boy.

“No really Tucker” the boy said. “Why don’t you use your powers to cover up those nasty scars? I mean you can control molecular structure, right?”

“It doesn’t work like that Matthew,” Tucker snapped. “I told you it takes too much concentration. That’s why I’m here trying to meditate.”

“You know what I think?”

“No. What do you think, Matthew?”

“I think you can’t make them disappear.”

Tucker Reece, the son of the Molecule Man and Volcanna, looked over at Matthew Storm and his female companion.

“I can so! Watch!” Tucker concentrated and his whole body glowed slightly, he opened his eyes and the lighting shaped scars all over his face suddenly faded away.

“On second thought forget it,” the girl goggled. “It’s not an improvement!” she turned and headed back to town closely followed by a shrunk down Matthew Storm on his fiery wings.

“Tucker Reece…” the firm and still arrogant voice was heard again. “I have a proposition for you.”

A cave in the mountains near Castle Doom

“Allah be praised what a glorious day” a young man dressed in a yellow body suit shouted aloud in the entrance of his cave home. “I shall enjoy the hunt today, what say you my brother in arms.”

“Do what you want, just leave me to concentrate on a spell to get us off this god forsaken mud ball,” a grumpy voice answered from inside the cave.

The young man in the yellow body suit had taken the name slayer in honour of his late mentor Slaymaster; he had dedicated his life to honing his body and skills in killing. Slayer’s companion was similarly trained by a now deceased villain. He was known as Hex and had been taught mystical knowledge by the sorcerer Mordred. He spent his days attempting to find a spell to escape Battleworld. However the residual energies left from the Beyonder’s apparent demise made this next to impossible.

“Gentlemen, I have a proposal for you,” an arrogant voice said.

The Plaque

Vincent and Balder stood facing each other on opposite sides of the plaque. Mojolnir and the Ebony Blade rested at Balder’s feet. The two figures glared at each other for a while before Vincent finally smiled.

“Your choice of meeting place leaves something to be desired” Balder said. He and Vincent were not friends nor would they ever be, Vincent was trouble. “What do you want?”

“Is that any way to greet your brother?” Vincent smirked.

“Half brother. What do you want?” Balder repeated.

“I want to offer you and your friends a part in restructuring this planet, think of it as a birthday present.”

“You’ve become unhinged,” Balder answered off hand as if he had expected his half-brother to one day say something along those lines. “It’s that silly mask isn’t it?”

“Now, now don’t get petulant with me,” Vincent mocked. “After what your father did to our mother, I ought to slay you where you stand, but considering what I just did to my father I suppose I’d be accused of hypocrisy.”

“What my father did!? Watch your mouth!” Balder leaped for Vincent throwing his fist forward. However Balder hit nothing but air as Vincent’s form became transparent and then disappeared all together.

“Balder, Balder…” Vincent’s voice could be heard mocking him in the air. “Didn’t our mother teach you anything about sorcery? Oh that’s right I forgot you don’t catch on very quick do you?”

“What do you want?”

“See!” Vincent continued as he reappeared. He thrust his hand forward and a gleaming transparent green cube appeared in his palm. Inside the cube were seven images of people, some Balder knew but others were unknown to him. He recognised CJ’s friend Trudy Creel and the brunt of many childhood jokes, Tucker Reece. A large guy with a crowbar and a wrecking ball he knew was Teddy Garthwaite the son of the Wrecker and the big croc looking guy was the Lizard’s weird kid Gator. The others he didn’t know were a funny looking man with a strange device instead of a right hand, a dark haired guy brandishing a Katanna and a hooded figure covered in Runes.

“Join me, get your friends to join me. Together we can rule this planet. It’s our legacy. I have already gathered some allies as you can see.”

“You are unhinged,” Balder repeated himself. “There hasn’t been a war here in over twenty years.”

“Of course not. Our parents are too old and we’ve been too young…until now”

The two siblings stared at each other for a few moments not saying a word.

“We’ll stop you” Balder said finally breaking the silence. He turned his back on Vincent and walked away.

In Town, The Rogers’ Home

Captain America stood in front of his wardrobe as he rooted through some boxes. He looked confused. “Carol” he yelled down stairs to his wife. “Have you seen my shield?”

Across Town, The Summers Residence

“Scott he’s done it again,” Betsy Summers yelled down to her husband as she looked at the empty hanger where her costume should be.

Approaching Castle Doom

A large boulder floated through the air, held aloft by the petite form of Sarah Rogers, Crusader. Atop the rock sat five young heroes, CJ was fully kitted out with a bow and quiver full of arrows in his Mustang identity, Balder Blake who was using the name Bravado, the super fast daughter of Union Jack and Spitfire, Jaquline Chapman or Union Jaq as she preferred, Benjamin Parker in his mutated spider beast form as the Arachnid and the tiny flame covered form of Matthew Storm, the Firefly. However these were not the only young heroes Balder had rallied around him as flying along side the Crusader powered boulder was the weather demon Thundercloud and the powerful form of Brian Summers, Britannic in his stolen costume.

Crusader easily held the rock aloft with one hand and clutched her father’s “borrowed” shield with the other. Each young hero now had given up their street clothes for costumes, some of which the wearers had been revising for years. Balder wore a traditional Asgardian armour reminiscent of his father’s, Crusader wore a green costume much like her mother’s original costume along with a chain mail top as a nod to her father, Mustang’s costume was basically a maskless version of his dad’s. Firefly’s costume had actually been designed by his mother and was red and black with a prominent yellow double F in the centre of his chest. The Arachnid, Benjamin Parker has chosen a red all in one with a black spider design dead centre. Union Jaq had a costume the colour scheme of which was modelled after the British flag like her father’s but was sleek and tight like her mother’s, literally built for speed. Finally Thundercloud wore a costume similar to her mother’s original X-man garb but in the colour scheme of her father’s.

“Okay fall in,” Crusader announced as she touched down and placed the boulder on the ground.

“Bravado”

“Yeah?” Balder answered.

“You’re our ticket in.”

“I am?” Balder asked hesitantly.

“You are. You’re going to protect us with a spell of invisibility. I’m counting on Vincent not expecting us so soon. We can still take advantage of the element of surprise,” Crusader explained. “Mustang, Firefly, Thundercloud, Arachnid and Britannic I want you flanking from different directions and Union Jaq, you stay on the parameter keeping us clear of any extra hassle and to get us out if needed.”

“And what about me? What do I get to do?” a tiny voice was heard from above. Everybody looked up to see the small form of Molly Moran, Miracle Girl floating above them.

“Oh no, go home Molly” Arachnid sighed. “Aunt Shavaughn will kill me if get into trouble.”

“Won’t get in trouble” the indignant Molly sulked, folding her arms across her chest.

“Molly you’re too little” Arachnid went on.

“Wait I have a very important job for you to do,” Crusader interrupted. “I need you to go back to town and make sure no one attacks it. Now can you handle it, it’s very important.”

“Aye, aye captain” Molly saluted and shot off back towards the town leaving a golden arch in her wake.

“Nicely handled,” Thundercloud smiled.

“I try”

“Just one more thing” Mustang interjected. “Who gets to say Avengers Assemble!”

“Why Avengers?” Britannic piped up. “We have X-men and Pendragons here too.”

“Not the time, Brian” Crusader said firmly. “Let’s just go.”

Inside Castle Doom

Vincent Von Doom once again stared at the portrait of his father. As he did so Balder under his spell of invisibility crept into the room.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t see through your flimsy spell? I can counteract it on you and your friends!” Vincent said waving his hand; Balder suddenly appeared fully visible in the centre of the room.

Elsewhere in the castle, Mustang was just sneaking past Teddy Garthwaite, Raze until he reappeared directly in front of him. Mustang was big but Raze was even bigger and more muscular, plus he was holding a crowbar and a wrecking ball. Mustang took a swing for Raze but despite his size Raze ducked beneath it.

“Don’t know where you came from? But I know where your goin” Raze smiled and cracked Mustang on the side of the head with his enchanted crowbar. With an almighty crack Mustang hit the floor, unconscious.

Outside the castle

Thundercloud hung in the air over the castle battlements, dark storm clouds gathered around her.

“What ya gonna do, huh? Rain on me” Trudy Creel, Chokehold mocked from below. Thundercloud’s body began to glow and then she released the full fury of her lighting storm onto her opponent. The loud KRAKA-BOOM could be heard miles away.

“Ha ha ha!” Trudy laughed as her body absorbed the lighting, taking on its properties. “You forget my daddy is the Absorbing Man?”

“No you forget who my dad is?” Thundercloud yelled as she teleported the lighting rod from the castle turret into Chokehold. The rod grounded Trudy and the resulting KRAKA-BOOM left an unconscious Trudy Creel behind it.

Back inside the castle

Firefly buzzed around Tucker Reece, Moleculon’s head on tiny flame covered wings, pelting his opponent with miniature fireballs. Tucker was lashing out with blasts of raw energy, which could alter molecular structure.

“You think you’re so big and clever with your friends and your powers don’t you?” Moleculon whined. “Well let’s see how you are without oxygen, shall we” Tucker used his powers to encompass Firefly in a bubble, cutting off his oxygen supply. Firefly struggled vainly until he passed out. Tucker let his enemy’s body drop to the ground where he spat on his beaten foe. “Who’s the loser now?”

The castle courtyard

“By Allah! This meeting must have been fated” Slayer beamed as he approached Britannic, Sword in hand. “First your whore of a mother kills my master and now I get to kill her heir, how poetic.”

“So you’re the disciple of Slaymaster I’ve over heard my mum whispering about to dad, it will be a pleasure to hand you your arse” Brian replied flexing his quite well developed muscles beneath the confines of his costume.

Slayer lunged forward sword first, which Brian moved to avoid. However Slayer changed his lung into a turn half way through and pulled out a dagger with his free hand which promptly jabbed into Britannic’s side just below his ribs.

“Yeearrggh!” Brian yelled as he scrambled out of Slayer’s reach.

“First blood to me,” Slayer said with a feral smile.

“And the last!” Brian yelled as he flew forward landing both his fists in Slayer’s face. Britannic removed the dagger from his side. It hurt like hell but he could tell his healing ability could save him.

“Watch out!!” Arachnid yelped as he came hurtling across the room encased in mystical fire. He collided with Brian and the two of landed in a suit of armour placed at the far end of the courtyard. Hex’s hollow laugh could be heard echoing around the arena. Arachnid and Britannic once again got their feet as Slayer and Hex approached them. Britannic removed his helmet and unleashed the full force of his optic blast powers at his opponents. Slayer and Hex hurtled away in a wash of red energy. They landed with a thud against the courtyard doors.

“What now?” Arachnid asked.

“We finish what we started Brian answered as he saw Slayer and Hex once again getting to their feet. “Damn mage must have put up a shield.”

The castle moat

Crusader landed in the water and was immediately knocked flying by a large reptilian creature. Gator hissed and moved in for the kill, only Crusader’s skilled use of her shield saved her from further harm. Gator was upon her.

“Get off!” Crusader cried, as with a tremendous kick she pried off her attacker and sent him flying yards down the moat.

“Got an advantage over my daddy,” the beast snarled. “Got smarts, cunning you might say.”

“I might say –“ Crusader began as she tossed her shield into air, arching it over Gator’s head. The reptilian creature watched the path of the shield, leaving himself open as Crusader ploughed into his unprotected chest driving him into the castle wall. She then caught her shield and slammed it into Gator’s head, squashing it against the wall. “Then again I might not” Crusader finished.

“Time to go help the others” she said as she took off and flew over the castle wall, leaving an unconscious Gator behind.

The Portrait Room

“A pity our mother left your father after such a short time!” Vincent mocked as he threw mystical energy at his older half-brother. “Had she remained with him, she’d have taught you a lot more about sorcery and you’d be a lot better off!”

“As would – nggghhh,” Balder groaned as a bolt hit him in the chest, “she!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Vincent bellowed as he bound his sibling in mystical bonds.

“If she’d stayed with my father, maybe yours wouldn’t have killed her!”

“You lie!” Vincent screamed as he used his magic to pound Balder in the head.

“Afraid not, Vincent” a firm female voice said from behind him. Vincent turned to face the voice and saw Crusader standing before him. “Now if you let my friend go and call off your plans for invasion, perhaps we can end this peacefully.”

“Perhaps not!” Vincent yelled forming a large ball of energy in front of him. “GO AWAY” he screamed hurling the ball of energy at Crusader. Even with most of the energies impact absorbed by her shield, Crusader was sent hurtling out across the planet.

“Even if I did surrender,” Vincent said to his captive brother. “It’s too late to call off my invasion, because it’s already begun.”

That moment in the castle courtyard

Britannic and Arachnid stood backs to the wall facing their opponents Slayer and Hex. All were cut and bleeding, when suddenly the blonde haired form of Crusader hurtled out of the castle. She collided with Slayer and Hex and carried them both off into the distance.

“Huh!” was all Arachnid could think of to say.

Outside the castle

“Tooclosetooclosetooclose” Union Jaq babbled as she tore into Doombot after Doombot, all the while dodging the sonic blasts of Klaw. Suddenly she heard a rumble in the distance and a familiar voice.

“I never thought I’d say this again” Captain America began as he dived into one of the Doombots in Vincent’s army “but… Avengers Assemble!”

With the captain were Storm, Nightcrawler, Ms Marvel, Iron Man, Captain Britain, Cyclops, Spiderman and woman, Thor She-hulk, Hawkeye, the Wrecker, the Human Torch, Dark Angel, Miracle Man, Volcanna, the Molecule Man, Spitfire, Titania, the Absorbing Man and even Union Jack had returned from his self imposed exile to defend the town. Even after years of domesticity each one of them could easily handle a few Doombots.

“Would that I had the time to retrieve my hammer, Captain” Thor said as he crushed a Doombot with his bear hands. “This battle would be finished!”

“Kurt, my love how are you faring?” Storm enquired of her husband as he teleported between the legions of Doombots.

“Ja! I was born for this kind of thing,” Nightcrawler said as he drew his twin swords from his back scabbards. “But do not concern yourself with me, let’s concentrate on the kids, no telling what trouble they have gotten themselves into.”

“ARRGH!” Union Jack screamed “You’ re killing us!”

Captain America turned to see Union Jack’s black costume peeling away exposing a decaying body underneath. The Human Torch swooped in blasting Union Jack’s attacker with a well placed fire ball. It was Klaw who had turned his attention from daughter to father, his sonic powers seemed to greatly effect Union Jack’s symbiotic costume.

“Stop!” the Molecule Man shouted and after a brief second of concentration on his part he transformed the surrounding Doombots into stone. “That’s that then.”

The castle

Moleculon and Raze stood over the unconscious bodies of Mustang and Firefly. Raze raised his crow bar over his head.

“Now, now,” a booming voice was heard as a large figure crashed through the ceiling. “You kids play nice!” The ground shook as a green giant hit the floor, collapsing some of the castle as he did so. The Hulk gathered up the four super children and leapt to safety.

“Our parents… they weren’t lying” Tucker said before fainting.

The Portrait Room

“There!” Balder cried as he finally managed to break Vincent’s mystical bonds.

“You think that’s the only spell I know?” Vincent sneered. “Your father’s brute strength isn’t going to save you brother.”

“Oh speaking of my father,” Balder smiled as he saw Mjolnir racing towards Vincent’s back, but instead of hitting him it turned and returned to the hand that threw it, the hand of Crusader.

“Your spell carried me all the way to the plaque. As you can see I picked up a little souvenir while I was there.” Crusader said.

“That’s impossible!” Vincent stammered.

“Nothing is impossible” a grim voice answered. Vincent turned to see his father, Victor Von Doom, standing in front of him.

“F-father!” he yelped. “But but!!”

“But you killed me? Hardly. Did you think only your mother-“

“Who you killed” Balder interjected.

“Quiet boy. Did you think only your mother, the Enchantress, knew how to conjure a teleportation spell? What possessed you to think that you would succeed were so many others have failed?” Doom enquired. “Listen, and listen well. I do not tolerate assassination attempts, especially from my family. You’ve lost boy both to me and these children. Now you shall pay.”

Doom and Malefactor vanished in a bright flash, which dazzled both Balder and Crusader. When their vision cleared both Dooms were gone.

“Did we win?” Balder asked.

The Plaque

Two unconscious forms lay by the plaque. Slayer to the right and Hex to the left, just by the now free Ebony Blade. Hex’s blood trickled from one of his wounds and pooled on the blade of the sword. The sun flashed across the dark metal as if heralding something awakening.

Back outside Castle Doom

“We won!” Mustang yelled as he and the others exited the castle. The Hulk followed with the villains chained up beside him. “Wait til you guys hear what we did!” Mustang continued as he saw his and the other parents approaching.

“You kids have got a lot of explaining to do” Betsy Summers said harshly.

“No sweat mum” Brian replied. “Where should we put the criminals?”

“We’ll deal with them later. It’s you kids we’re upset with,” Captain America added.

“US!” Thundercloud cried in astonishment.

“Cap,” Molecule Man interrupted. “We’ll take our little deviants off your hands.”

“Thanks, Owen” Captain America answered. “I’ll want to speak to them later.”

“Wait a second!” Crusader said. “What do you mean your upset with us? If we didn’t stop this little uprising, all of you would be living in Malefactorland right now!”

“Forget it, Sarah” Mustang sighed they’re not listening as usual.”

“You not only took my shield without permission, but you stole Thor’s hammer!” Captain America continued as he saw Mjolnir hanging from Crusader’s belt. “And for violence, no less. We’ve spent your entire lives teaching you that violence is only to be used as a last resort."

“But we were just trying-“ Crusader started.

“Hold good Captain,” Thor interrupted “If Sarah was able to lift fair Mjolnir, she must be worthy. Who are we to argue with that? As far as I am concerned, Mjolnir is rightfully hers.”

Sarah smiled broadly and proudly, but Balder looked solemn at his father’s words.

“We’ll discuss this further in private, Sarah, but for now,” Captain America smiled. “I see an old boogeyman has returned. Welcome back Bruce.”

“Thanks cap” the Hulk said.

“What made you come back, cuz?” She-hulk asked. “Now I have to tell my son that the boogeyman is really his uncle!”

“When Galactus and the Beyonder killed each other, and Reed Richards in the process, thus robbing us of our best chance to return to Earth. I took it upon myself to find us a way home,” the Hulk explained. “It took me over twenty years of just sitting and thinking but I did it. We’re going home.”

Three weeks later, The Plaque

“I realised the problem was that I kept focusing on just one solution,” the Hulk said as he brought fourth a small metallic machine and placed it beside the plaque. “Two years ago I realised the answer was in utilising two different forces. A sort of hybrid, if you will. Thor’s hammer has long had the ability to open interdimensional portals, but we could never find the right pathway. Now by using the 31^st century technology of the deceased Kang, we can navigate through the dimensions and find Earth.”

“So by swinging Mjolnir as I did in the past to travel from Midgard to Asgard, I can there by open yon portal to – lo! What’s this?” Thor was surprised as a huge large headed bald figure appeared before him.

“The Watcher,” Iron Man gasped.

“The who?” Mustang asked.

“The Watcher,” Captain America explained. “He observes Earth and this world too apparently. He’s revealed himself in the past when…oh, no..”

“You can sat it, cap” the Hulk sighed sadly.

“When something bad is about to happen.”

Later

The young heroes stood before the portal machine, deciding what they should do. “We have to convince our parents that the Watcher didn’t show up because the trip back to Earth was dangerous,” Crusader argued.

“And the only way to do that is to test it ourselves,” Mustang added. “We get it, Sarah.”

“No time like the present then,” Crusader said stepping in front of the portal machine, Mjolnir in her hand. “Balder, I know it’s not the most pleasant thing for you to see me carrying this thing around, but-“

“But we need it to open the portal,” Balder finished Crusader’s sentence. “I know.”

Crusader swung the mighty warhammer causing a vortex to open before her.

“Now Matthew” Crusader yelled. Firefly in his tiny form jumped on the button activating the portal machine. A beam of energy streaked out and into the Mjolnir created vortex, forming it into a blue doorway. The young heroes hurried through. As the last of them entered a golden streak zipped in after them, and then the portal closed with a SHLOOP! Behind them.

“Woo-hoo! What a ride,” Mustang cheered as they emerged on the other side, in the centre of some kind of Park land.

“Look stars!” Crusader said looking up in wonder. “We never had them back home!”

“The buildings… they’re so dark” Thundercloud noticed

“Well the portal obviously works. Let’s try to find Avengers Mansion so they can help us get back to our folks,! Crusader said.

“Aw, come on, Sarah! Let’s explore a little first!” a small voice from above moaned.”

“Oh god! No!” Arachnid gasped looking up to see Miracle Girl hovering above them irradiating a golden glow. “How did you get here?”

“Followed you through the blue door, I knew you were up to something,” Molly answered.

“Great, just great. Now we’re doubly dead when we get back,” Mustang moaned. “They’re gonna be worried about all of us but especially Molly.”

“UNAUTHORISED MUTANTS IDENTIFY YOURSELVES AND SURRENDER. YOU HAVE FIVE SECONDS.”

The heroes turned to come face to face with a thirty foot tall robot, with glowing red eyes looking directly at them. Everyone recognised a sentinel from the stories they had been told as a child and the drawings of their uncle Piotr, but this was different. They were confronted by a giant purple robot, but the head had a skull like look to it and dark tendrils slithered across the body.

“A Sentinel!” Thundercloud cried. “Kinda like the Professor described.” She unleashed several lighting bolts striking the odd looking sentinel.

“This is wrong,” Brian mused. “Oh God! This Sentinel, it stinks of the Bane!” Brian yelped as he took a closer look at the city to see dark shadows creeping across the buildings and bat winged creatures in the air.

Crusader hurled her shield at the Sentinel, hitting it in the open mouth space, while Balder and Mustang used their strength to topple the machine. Once down Britannic, Union Jaq, Arachnid and Firefly reduced it to so much scrap. As the last of the lights went out on the Sentinel a shadow rose from the body and disappeared into the city.

“One down,” Crusader said.

“But hundreds to go,” Thundercloud finished. “Goddess” she exclaimed from her position in the sky. She saw literally hundreds of Sentinels swarming over the city, accompanied by what she could only describe as demons.

“It’s happened!” both Britannic and Thundercloud said at the same time.

“What’s happened?” Mustang asked looking alternately at Brian and Logana.

“Professor Xavier told me that mutant were being persecuted when they left Earth. Sentinels hunt mutant. Somehow the worst has happened and the anti mutant sentiment has evolved into this, Thundercloud answered gesturing towards the city.

“I think it’s worse than that,” Brian added. “My mother told me stories of the Bane and their god the Red Lord. I can sense their presence here and they are somehow connected with these robots.”

“What if this was the danger the Watcher was trying to warn us about?” Balder asked.

“Maybe it is,” Union Jaq replied. “But our parents wouldn’t have backed down from long odds, and since we can’t return to our world with the hammer alone, I say we stay here. I doubt the Avengers if there are any left, will be much help in getting us home considering the state of the city. Vincent spoke of his legacy, well this is ours. Would our parents go running home to safety?” Jackie continued. “I’m saying we give up entirely on getting home, but I feel it’s my duty to bring peace to this planet or die trying,” Crusader added. “Are you with me?”

“I can’t think of a more worthy cause,” Thundercloud said, trying not to cry.

“As my dad says,” Balder spoke up, “Songs will be written about this day.”

Mustang stared at the infested city “I just hope I brought enough arrows,” he smiled giving Molly a reassuring hug.

Author’s Notes

Well here I go again with another tale of heroic legacies, just can’t help myself. However I can not take credit for all of this as it is based very much on the events of What If..? #114 by Jay Faerber. Basically this is my favourite issue of What If..? and this idea has been brewing in the back of my mind since I read Barry’s “A Secret War” which was Pendragon’s 18-19 I think. It was also partly inspired by Adrian Watts who also adapted that issue of What If..? for his own purposes over at MV1 – thanks Adrian.

All you need to know about What If..? #114 can be found here:

http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/earthbattleworld.htm

I have created and changed characters for my version of the story and will send character designs for the Pendragons art gallery. The original title of issue 114 of What If..? was What if the heroes of the Scret War never returned home; 25 years later, now you have, What the Pendragons and the heroes of the Secret Wars never returned home: 25 years later. I hope you enjoyed the story and maybe one day I will do a follow up, as always you can reach me at daveevans78@hotmail.com or the Pendragons mailing list.

Cheers

Dave