Chapter 13: Echoes of the Multiverse: Kang’s Design
In the hushed sanctum of Kamar-Taj, John's thoughts drifted back to the moment he had seen Hulk traveling through time in 'Avengers: Endgame'.
He remembered the Ancient One's explanation of time as a single, unbroken stream.
Now, standing before her, he felt a compelling need to understand more. "Why did they isolate this timeline? And how exactly was it done?"
The Ancient One's gaze was steady, her voice calm. "Actually, it wasn't I who isolated this timeline. It was a past version of myself."
John's confusion was evident. "A past version? Can you clarify?"
The Ancient One continued with a hint of patience, "Every time a timeline resets, everything changes except for Nexus events. These events are pivotal and remain constant across all timelines."
Understanding began to dawn on John.
He turned to Helen, explaining, "Imagine there are countless timelines. In some, you might be evil, or Tony Stark might be a woman, or Hulk could be a dog."
Ancient one continues,"Yet, despite all these variations, certain core events remain the same. For instance, every version of Thanos still snaps his fingers to erase half of all life in the galaxy, and Tony Stark dies saving everyone."
The Ancient One says, "Precisely. A male version of myself, along with Scarlet Witch and Kang the Conqueror, worked together to isolate this timeline into one sacred reality."
John's thoughts raced as he processed this revelation.
In his mind, he reflected, 'No wonder we have alligator Loki, Sylvie, and even a frog Thor.
The multiverse must be more intricate than I ever imagined.'
Inside the serene confines of Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One took a measured sip of her tea, her eyes sparkling with ancient wisdom.
Helen's curiosity was palpable as she broke the silence.
"Why does Tony Stark die every time? Even with the Avengers going back in time?" Helen's voice was laced with genuine confusion.
The Ancient One's smile deepened, reflecting the weight of her answer. "It's all tied to Kang the Conqueror. His real name is Nathaniel Richards. Before he became a renowned scientist and a formidable conqueror, Nathaniel was a historian in the 31st century."
John's and Helen's eyes widened in unison. The revelation was more startling than they had anticipated.
The Ancient One, noting their astonishment, continued. "Nathaniel Richards was fascinated by the Avengers. He grew up reading stories about them, idolizing their heroics. Tony Stark, in particular, captured his admiration. Tony was not only the smartest but also the most self-sacrificing member of the team. His willingness to put himself on the line for the greater good made a profound impact on Nathaniel."
The Ancient One paused, her gaze introspective. "Nathaniel's research led him to discover the eigenvalues of particles contained within a Möbius strip, which opened his understanding of the multiverse. This discovery allowed him to traverse different realities."
She took another sip of tea, her eyes focused on John and Helen. "Eventually, Nathaniel traveled back in time to interact with the Avengers. However, his journey was not without complications. He had a significant fallout with his grandfather, Reed Richards, which led to a confrontation with the Fantastic Four."
"The aftermath of that battle," she continued, "resulted in Nathaniel being cast into a past timeline. From that point on, he began to walk a darker path, leading to the version of Kang we see today."
Helen's brow furrowed as she tried to piece together the complex puzzle before her. "That still doesn't explain why Tony Stark dies every time."
John leaned forward, his metallic eyes glinting with determination. "Let me clarify. Kang deeply admired Tony Stark. When Kang began his research into time travel, he utilized knowledge based on Tony's work."
Helen's eyes widened in shock. "So, Tony Stark created a time machine?"
John shook his head slowly. "Not exactly. Tony didn't create a time machine. What he developed was a method to navigate alternative, branched timelines. Kang took this technology and refined it, creating a full-fledged time machine."
John's voice took on a darker tone. "Kang ensures Tony dies each time because by doing so, he prevents the emergence of other Kang the conquerer variants that could trigger a multiversal war. By eliminating Stark, Kang maintains control over his timeline and prevents potential threats."
Helen, still grappling with the gravity of the situation, asked, "But if Tony's death is so critical to Kang, why doesn't Kang himself get erased in the process?"
The Ancient One, observing the exchange with a calm demeanor, responded, "Kang doesn't get erased because he resides at the end of time. His existence is anchored there, beyond the reach of the fluctuations caused by the timeline's resets and variants."
Helen looked at John and the Ancient One, the implications settling heavily upon her.
The layers of manipulation and control were beginning to reveal themselves in their full, unsettling complexity.
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