Time Skip
[3 months later]
A lot of things happened in the past three months. Let's talk about Morgan first.
Morgan, thanks to her high intelligence, got into college with ease. She took a bunch of exams behind Bruce's back and well, she got into MIT. Bruce was happy and proud of her. Harley cried when Morgan broke the news that she was going to live in the dorms. She tried to make Morgan stay by telling her how lonely she would be without Morgan.
"What about the late-night sneak-out movie nights? What about stealing new cars from the Tower? What about the pranks? Who will help me prank Selina?" Harley sobbed.
Morgan reassured Harley that she could still hang out with her whenever she wanted. Plus, they could still have movie nights via holographic video calls. So, that was that.
As for Hela, she felt sad. After months of living with them, she changed and Morgan was like a daughter to her. She would miss the girl, but she knew this day would come. She smiled at Morgan and gave her a necklace as a parting gift. It was a green gem attached to a chain. Morgan wore it around her neck and promised Hela that she would keep in touch.
"C'mon. You all, don't be sad. It's not like I'm going away forever. We'll still see each other often."
Morgan reassured everyone and well, with a bright smile on her face.
Selina hugged her.
"You take care of yourself, okay?"
"I will."
"If anyone tries to pick on you, call me. I'll scratch their eyes out."
"I can't make any promises." Morgan smiled. "But, I'll try to handle them myself. Thank you for everything, Aunt Selina."
Hugging Selina tightly, Morgan made her way towards Bruce.
"I know you're going to miss me and so am I. But, I promise I'll keep in touch with everyone."
Morgan packed up and moved out. Now, she had to deal with college life, which was quite different from what she expected.
Morgan Stark had imagined college life would be different. She thought she'd blend in, study hard, and maybe even pull a few harmless pranks to keep things interesting. What she hadn't accounted for was the weight of her last name.
MIT was filled with the best and brightest, but none of them were Tony Stark's daughter. That alone made her a spectacle. Some students approached her, hoping to get close to her for the prestige, while others steered clear, intimidated by what she represented. Professors either expected her to be a genius like her father or dismissed her as a rich kid who didn't need to try. Either way, "normal" was out of the question.
The only person who didn't care about her last name was Riri Williams. A genius in her own right, Riri had no interest in clout or connections—she was all about the work. They met in an advanced engineering course, where Morgan had barely sat down before the professor called her out.
"Ah, Miss Stark. Are you here to revolutionize the world like your father, or just here for show?"
Before she could respond, Riri snorted from the seat next to her. "Damn, Professor Thompson, let her warm up first."
Morgan grinned. That was all it took. Riri didn't treat her like royalty or competition. She just saw her as another student, which was rare. From that moment on, they were practically inseparable.
...
Morgan had barely settled into the MIT routine when she realized one thing—Harley Quinn wasn't about to let her live a normal college life.
It started with a thud at 2 AM.
Morgan jolted awake, reaching for the nearest object, a textbook, to chuck at the intruder. But before she could, a familiar giggle filled the room.
"Jeez, kid, you got way better aim than Bruce ever did," Harley whispered, rubbing her shoulder where the book had hit.
Morgan groaned, rubbing her face. "Harley, what the hell are you doing here?!"
Harley grinned, holding up a bag of snacks and a six-pack of soda. "Midnight snack run. Thought you could use some sugar and chaos."
Morgan sighed but couldn't help but smile. "You do realize I have classes in the morning, right?"
"Yeah, yeah," Harley waved her off, already making herself comfortable on Morgan's bed. "But come on, this place is boring. No explosions, no car chases, nothing." She tore open a bag of chips. "We need to spice things up a little. And I got the perfect idea."
Morgan raised a brow. "Oh no."
"Oh yes," Harley smirked. "Besides, with your power, I doubt you need to sleep anyway. So you should be fine!"
Morgan had to admit that she had a point. Thanks to her infinity power, she barely needed to sleep. It was more of a luxury than anything else at this point.
Harley patted the spot beside her. "So, what do you say?"
Morgan rolled her eyes but didn't argue. After all, Harley did go through all the trouble of breaking in just to hang out. Plus, Morgan had to admit she missed her. "Fine. But I'll choose the movie," She grinned mischievously. "And no more heist movies."
Harley gasped. "How dare you! They are not heist movies! They're classics!"
"Whatever you say," She smirked, turning on the laptop.
The two girls stayed up all night, bingeing on junk food and watching movies until the sun came up. They talked about everything and nothing—and it was exactly what Morgan needed.
As the sun began to rise, Harley packed up her things.
"Well, kiddo, I gotta head out. Bruce is probably gonna freak if he realizes I'm missing."
Morgan nodded and walked her to the door. "Hey, Harley?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for coming over." Morgan smiled. "I really missed you."
Harley grinned. "Aw, you missed me? Don't get all soft on me now, kid." She teased. "But yeah, I missed you too."
With that, Harley left, leaving Morgan with a smile on her face.
...
[SHIELD's Base]
The soft glow of the screens in Natasha Romanoff's office illuminated her face as she sifted through reports from various S.H.I.E.L.D. branches worldwide. It had been three months since the launch of Heroes Academy, an initiative designed to train and mentor the next generation of heroes—young mutants, superpowered individuals, and those with the skills and drive to protect the world.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was no longer just an intelligence agency. Under her leadership, it had expanded into a true global force for good. From New York to Wakanda, London to Madripoor, its presence had grown stronger, and so had the need for new heroes to step up. The Avengers, as they once were, were gone. Clint was still around, mentoring young sharpshooters. Nat was taking care of the political and power mess. Tony/Bruce was developing new ways to make everyone strong and defend Earth from the upcoming threats. So, they needed a new team to fill the void. It was time for something new.
Natasha leaned back in her chair, spinning a knife between her fingers as she replayed Harley Quinn's words.
"Why don't we have a big tournament of heroes?"
Bruce also agreed that it was a good idea.
It was reckless. It was chaotic. And yet, Natasha smirked, because the idea forming in her mind was brilliant.
A Hero Tournament.
A grand event, open to the best of the best from Heroes Academy and beyond. A competition that would separate the exceptional from the ordinary. The winner? A place on the New Avengers, the team that would carry the legacy forward.
The idea wasn't just for entertainment. It was a test. A way to see who had what it took—not just strength, but strategy, resilience, and the heart to fight for something greater than themselves.
Natasha tapped a button on her desk, opening a direct line to her top operatives.
"Clint. Bruce. Get to the war room. We have something big to discuss."
Minutes later, Natasha stood before a massive holographic display, the outlines of the Hero Tournament plans already in place.
Clint crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "A tournament? Really? What is this, Mortal Kombat?"
Natasha smirked. "Something like that. But with fewer fatalities. Hopefully."
Clint said, "And you think this is a good idea? We're talking about superpowered individuals going head-to-head. That could get out of control fast."
"That's why I made those suits and even upgraded the weapons. Besides, you got me, Harley, and Selina. Plus if Morgan joins in... Well, you already know her power. So, start the prep, Nat," Bruce said as she took a sip from his cup of coffee.
...
The next day, Natasha stood before the cameras, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s emblem glowing behind her as the world watched.
"This is a new era. The Avengers as you once knew them are gone, but the world still needs heroes. And now, we offer you a chance to prove you have what it takes."
The Hero Tournament was officially announced, set to take place in four months.
The world exploded with excitement.
And in her dorm room, Morgan Stark stared at the announcement, a smirk forming.
"Well, damn," she muttered. "This is gonna be fun. Should I join in?"
---
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Next Ch: 79: Interdimensional gate & Old flame
Ch: 80: A Glimpse of DC
Ch: 81: Gathering at the Wayne Manor
Ch: 82: A moment too short