Chapter 212: Plans for the Paths

After a lengthy shower and an even lengthier explanation to the three girls, I find myself on the upper terrace of Watson Tower. Evening had settled in, and New York City looked as lively as ever, its bright lights twinkling like stars on Earth.

I was grateful the girls haven't spread the news about my single-day disappearance to the others. It would have created unnecessary worry, and the individual explanations that followed would have been exhausting for me—but they would have been understandably necessary.

The girls were captivated by my vivid descriptions and incredible stories, each of them expressing a strong desire to visit those places someday. I couldn't help but think I should have really asked teacher for a magical camera to capture those places.

"What are you thinking about?" A soft, familiar voice asks as Bobbi approaches and stands beside me. She has tied her hair into a ponytail to keep it from scattering in the wind.

I smile at her and take her fair, strong hand in mine. Taking a deep breath, I savour the cool breeze brushing against my face and playing with my red hair.

"Today's dimensional trip was monumental... I was just trying to summarize it all concisely—organize the main parts so I know what to focus on going forward and can start making plans," I say with a grin.

"I will be your silent listener... go ahead," Bobbi whispers, smiling warmly at me.

"Thanks," I reply softly, taking a moment to clear my thoughts before speaking.

"The first place I visited was the Savage Lands—a hidden paradise right here in Antarctica. found an abundance of vibranium, and even stumbled upon mystical wonders… not to mention meeting Zabu, Ina, Biri, and…Shanna." A faint smile crosses my lips as the memories surface.

I pause, my thoughts shifting. "I do have some concerns, though. If I hadn't arrived when I did… would Shanna, Ina and Biri really have died? In fact, Shanna did die. I was late, but somehow my perfect timing brought her back. Was that just coincidence, or is this what they call 'plot correction?'" I murmur, half to myself.

Bobbi stays quiet, her presence comforting as she listens, her expression patient and understanding.

I absentmindedly pull out the dense vibranium coin; I had reforged it from the necklace string. Its weight in my hand is grounding. "Anyway, I can't go back there right now," I say, flipping the coin between my fingers. "But we should start preparing for the eventual processing of vibranium. We need to do it silently—and make sure that the extraction method from the soil is environmentally friendly. I don't want to upset Shanna."

"Maybe we can take some dinosaurs out of there and make a real Jurassic Park," Bobbi says with a playful grin. Her eyes light up with childlike excitement.

I chuckle, nodding. "That would be pretty cool."

"There is so much more there—hidden magical, technological, and biological wonders waiting to be uncovered. We will need to set up a permanent base someday. And this means our dealings with Ulysses Klaue will be ending soon," I add with a wicked grin.

"Let's present him as a gift at our princess's next birthday," Bobbi says, her grin perfectly mirroring mine.

"Next, I had the briefest trip to Asgard. What a magnificent city—what a prosperous race. I will have to go back for a proper tour someday. The most surprising thing? Thor's a woman. Guess the legends messed up that detail." I shake my head, amused, meanwhile Bobbi looks pleased.

"I should also plan a visit to Jane. She will probably call soon since her research fund is about to run out." I add with a grin.

"Next was… Alfheim," I say with a deep, reminiscent smile, the mere memory of it bringing an almost tangible sweetness to my mouth.

"The land of candy-growing crops," Bobbi quips with a grin.

"Yes, and so apparently, the first alien food I have ever eaten is candy," I reply in amusement, shaking my head at the absurdity of it.

"You could have brought some back for us," Bobbi says, pouting slightly.

I lean in and plant a soft kiss on her pouting cheek. "Next time, I will bring you there myself," I promise. "It's such a magical and peaceful place. I definitely want to build a holiday home there. I don't think Aelsa would mind. That realm is enormous and teeming with magic. I bet even if I stayed there for a whole year, I wouldn't be able to explore it all."

Bobbi's pout fades into a radiant smile, her eyes shining with anticipation at my words.

"Also," I add, my tone growing thoughtful, "thanks to Aelsa, I now have a clearer understanding of the general structure of the nine connected realms. That is going to be useful in the future." I mutter with narrowed eyes.

"After Alfheim, I visited the enigmatic dimension of the Microverse," I continue, my tone shifting to a more serious note. "I have to meet with Hope and tell her about her mother. The Pym particle research should be wrapped up as soon as possible. And we need to prepare for a tough fight with… the Conqueror. Even without Janet, this fight is essential. The Microverse is a whole new dimension, filled with so many innovative and useful resources that could be at our disposal if we support the war and come out on top. I am sure Queen Pearla would welcome a powerful ally." a confident grin spreads across my face as I think of the possibilities.

"I can definitely help you with that," Bobbi says, her smile turning bloodthirsty, her eyes gleaming with determination.

"Yes, you definitely could," I reply with a nod, "but we should still prepare thoroughly—gather as much intelligence as possible first."

Bobbi nods in agreement, her expression shifting into one of focused intensity. "I will help with that too," she says eagerly.

I smile kissing her cheek again thankful for her support.

A shadow crosses my face as I bring up the next location. "Then, the Dark Dimension. What a bleak, unsettling place. And yet, I met such a bright, wonderful girl there. But until I become a true Master of the Mystic Arts, I shouldn't even think about helping her. As a halfhearted help would only harm her right now. I just hope she can wait for me and doesn't get corrupted into becoming Dormammu's minion." I say with a sigh, remembering the taste of her soft lips, Bobbi grips my hand tightly giving silent encouragement.

"After that, I found myself on Carina Tivan's ship. There, I discovered three unique items: this mysterious pink shard, which guided me to Raven; a green stone, which I am now certain is Kryptonite; and the Batarang. Both of these things probably originate from the DC universe, right? After all, there is a whole living human from there—Raven. So, why can't objects come from there too? Though Raven's origins aren't fully confirmed, I am pretty sure my theory is on point." I chuckle, having already shared the multiversal theory with the girls, referring to Raven's alternate home universe as the DC universe.

"I am still a bit skeptical about her being a multiversal alien," Bobbi murmurs with a wry smile. "And why would anyone use a Bat-shaped shuriken?" she adds, looking perplexed.

I give a wry smile, wanting to say, Because it's cool! ; but I know she probably wouldn't get it. So, I press on. "The M'kraan Crystal needs more detailed research, so a trip to the Shi'ar Empire is on the agenda. Maybe I will even take some X-Men with me for fun."

"An Empire doesn't sound very peaceful," Bobbi comments, her brow furrowing with concern.

"I will be careful," I sigh. "Although the most useful thing I found on that ship, was still this pendrive." I pull out the futuristic-looking drive, which was just the most archaic piece of technology on that ship. "It contains schematics for everything—spaceships, space stations, and even a detailed star map. Deciphering its alien language will be a pain, but in the end this pendrive will make things so much easier for our future plans." I silently thank Carina again in my mind.

Bobbi looks at me with pride and admiration.

Thinking of Carina, my mind drifts back to everything I have learned through my powers. "From Dr. Strange's incident to Kamar-Taj, meeting the Ancient One, and then my accidental visit to the Crossroads... so much happened for me to end up at that place, and even after that, choosing the path out of the infinite ones that led me to Carina, who I am truly grateful for. But what I still don't understand is how all of this was planned, and how she was specifically placed there for me by the Collector," I mutter, frustration creeping into my voice.

I shake my head, pushing the thoughts away. "In fact, I would have been excited to see the vast collection the Collector had, and Carina herself, if I wasn't being pushed to become part of the collection myself." I chuckle, trying to ease the tension.

"There are some really insane people out there in the universe," Bobbi says, her voice tinged with concern. She steps closer, gripping my arms tighter as worry spreads across her face.

As I look at Bobbi, Carina's words about the Collection echo in my mind. I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her waist, reaffirming my affection. Bobbi snuggles into my embrace, her smile wide and content.

"Anyways, now I know about the Collector's plan, so they are in the dark for now. But if I want to use this information perfectly, I need much more strength and planning," I mutter, multiple strategies filtering through my thoughts.

"I am here to help," Bobbi says, her smile warm and reassuring.

"Thanks," I reply softly, pressing a kiss into her blonde hair.

"And then there was Hell. Let's not name the big guy—no need to summon him accidentally. But I learned so much... like how Satana and Daimon are alive but evil. Mephista... I asked for her hand in marriage. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but I didn't get lucky, so now I have to deal with the consequences of provoking the devil himself." I say with a wry smile.

Bobbi sighs deeply in my arms, her concern palpable.

I chuckle sheepishly. "Still, I should visit Satana's mother to uncover more clues. And then there is Grayfia. She is supposedly Mephisto's wife—or so Mephista claims—but it's clear she wants a divorce. And Raven... I still don't understand why the M'Kraan crystal buzzed for her and not Grayfia." I mutter in deep thought, wondering if Grayfia is a native to this realm and merely shares an unlikely resemblance to the Grayfia I know from the anime.

"Poor Devil," Bobbi mutters in my arms.

I cough, brushing off her words and continue. "Also, the potential ramifications of finding DC universe people here are huge! It means that many more DC characters could be here, and like these otherworldly items I found, there might be even more items out there in the world. I will just have to wait for Raven to recover before I figure out exactly what happened and how she arrived in Hell." I say, my excitement growing.

"Although, just like Shanna, did my presence save Raven's life? Or would she have been presented to one of the Hell Lords as a slave in my absence?" I mutter in distaste, the very thought making me angry.

"Susan has informed Jemma and the others; they will be here soon to make sure she is alright," Bobbi speaks up, her warm body providing comfort as she holds me.

I nod, thankful for Susan's thoughtfulness. Taking a deep breath, I look at the amazing city skyline ahead. "You should have seen The Crossroads, Bobbi. It was such a magical place, and I just can't help but get excited to learn more magic!" I say, grinning.

"Lucas the Magician," Bobbi teases with a grin of her own.

"Thanks for listening patiently to my ramblings, Bobbi," I say, lightly squeezing her in my arms, a smile tugging at my lips.

"I like listening to you, so I don't mind," she replies, her gentle blue eyes meeting mine.

I lean down and kiss her softly, savouring this magical moment and storing it in my memory.

Bobbi gives me a sweet smile as I break the kiss and hugs me tightly, resting her blonde head on my chest.

"The universe is really terrifying and vast," I mutter heavily, reflecting on today's experiences.

It has truly expanded my outlook, but also planted the seeds of paranoia. "We need to speed up our preparations—especially Project Super. Phase 2 should start immediately." I say thoughtfully. "By the way, did Felicia succeed with the heist?" I ask suddenly.

"She did," Bobbi replies, though her expression turns uneasy. "But there was an... accident. I forgot to tell you with everything else going on."

"What happened?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.

"It involves Penny and the stolen product... the radioactive spiders."

***

The Story will be on a short hiatus, as I have to concentrate on writing more chapters on Labyrinth, Pokemon and Mutant itself. 

Lucas Watson will be back soon in an exicting new arc!