The hero of DC and Marvel

Fury stood there for a moment, processing everything we had just told him. His gaze flickered between Peggy and me, skepticism written all over his face.

"This is impossible to believe. And how do I even know you're the real Peggy? For all I know, you could be a shapeshifter or a clone."

Peggy smirked. "How about I tell you a secret you told me a long time ago?"

Fury folded his arms. "Alright, try me."

Peggy's smirk widened. "You lost your eye… to an alien cat."

I burst out laughing. So that event stayed the same, huh? But my amusement quickly faded as a realization hit me—if that was still true, then the Skrulls were here on Earth. Great. Another problem to deal with. One thing at a time, Ed.

Fury, meanwhile, scowled. Clearly, he wasn't a fan of that particular memory. But after a moment, he sighed. "Alright, it's actually you. So, I'm guessing you have a plan." He turned to me.

I nodded. "Yeah, I do. First, you need to identify every Hydra member and base. We have some names and some locations, but not all of them. The heads of Hydra aren't listed in their own network, but we do know a few: Alexander Pierce, General Hale and her daughter Ruby, Gideon Malick, Brock Rumlow, John Garrett, Grant Ward, Baron Strucker, Daniel Whitehall, and Jasper Sitwell. That's all we have for now. Once we find the rest, we strike in one coordinated attack to take them all down."

Fury rubbed his chin. "That's going to take time."

"It will," Peggy agreed. "And we need to be careful. If Hydra catches wind of what we're planning, they'll go underground."

I crossed my arms. "We need a team—loyal agents inside S.H.I.E.L.D. who we can trust. That'll take years. You'll need to strengthen your circle of reliable people, and I'll need to expand my team of superheroes."

Fury exhaled sharply. "So it looks like we're working together for the foreseeable future."

I smirked. "Looks that way."

Fury studied me for a moment before asking, "Then I'd like to know who's under the mask."

I didn't even hesitate. "Not gonna happen."

"If we're working together, we need trust."

I chuckled dryly. "You're right. And trust goes both ways. Right now, Fury, I don't trust you. Not one bit."

Fury raised an eyebrow. "Then why work with me?"

I met his gaze. "Because I do trust that you don't want Hydra in this world either. That's the only thing I'm willing to trust right now."

Fury glanced at Peggy, probably hoping she'd vouch for him. She simply crossed her arms and said nothing. After a long pause, Fury exhaled in frustration, finally accepting it.

"Fine. I have some agents, I need to figure out if they're Hydra or not. I assume you already know?"

I nodded. "Phil Coulson, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, and Maria Hill are not Hydra."

Fury's expression softened with relief. "Good to know."

Then, he pulled out a phone and handed it toward me. "Since we're working together, we'll need a way to stay in contact."

I smirked. "No need. We can hack into your system anytime we need to talk."

Fury's eye twitched at that, clearly not thrilled by the idea. But he didn't argue.

I stretched my arms. "Well, looks like we're done here. Time for you to get back—your agents probably aren't happy that I shut down their trackers on you."

Fury sighed. "Yeah, I figured."

I opened a portal back to the base, and Peggy stepped through first. Then, I turned to Fury, smirking.

"Alright, time to go."

Before he could react, I scooped him up princess-style again.

"This is still some bullshit," he muttered.

I laughed and took off, flying back toward New York. I took the same amount of time to return as I did getting there—five hours. By the time we arrived back at the warehouse, I set Fury down gently.

Then, I reached into my pocket and pulled out another tracker he had planted on me. I crushed it between my fingers and let the pieces fall to the ground.

Fury huffed. "Can't blame me for trying. You are a superpowered wildcard."

I smirked. "And this is why I don't trust you."

Without another word, I flew out of the warehouse.

A-Train's POV

Patrol duty was quiet today. Too quiet.

No muggings. No gang violence. The worst I dealt with was stopping a fight before it even started. Spent most of the day doing small things—got a cat out of a tree in under a second, helped an old lady take out her trash (like twenty times), even helped someone fix their car.

But I knew better than to get comfortable. When things got this quiet, it only meant one thing—something big was coming. Tobias was up to something. Church was already looking into it, but these things took time.

As I turned the corner into an alleyway, I heard a noise. Instinct kicked in, and I went to check it out.

What I saw made my blood boil.

A teenage girl. Barefoot. Wearing a torn white cut-off shirt and shorts. She looked exhausted—and high. Six men surrounded her, their body language making it clear they were about to do something terrible.

I was about to step in when she acted first.

She raised her hands, and a powerful gust of wind blasted all six men off their feet. Some crashed into garbage cans, others just hit the pavement hard. But the effort clearly drained her—she collapsed to her knees, struggling to stay conscious.

The men groaned, slowly getting back up, anger replacing their shock. They were ready to attack.

That's when I stepped in.

I moved faster than they could blink, putting myself between them and the girl.

They recognized me instantly.

"Shit! It's A-Train!" one of them stammered.

I smirked. "Yeah, it's me. And here I was thinking I'd have a quiet day. Good to know there are still pieces of shit like you around—gives me an excuse to break a few bones."

They didn't even have time to react.

In less than five seconds, I took every single one of them down. Broke their arms. Broke their legs. Left them writhing on the ground, crying like the cowards they were.

With that handled, I turned to the girl. "Are you okay? What's your name?"

She looked at me, but I wasn't sure she even saw me. Her pupils were dilated, her expression dazed. Before I could get another word out, she raised her hand and blew me away with another gust of wind.

I flew back several feet, landing hard on my back.

Damn, she was strong.

The girl staggered to her feet, barely able to stand, but still dangerous. She was out of it, hallucinating. If she lost control, people could get hurt.

I needed to stop her before that happened.

"Look, I'm not your enemy! I just want to help you!" I called out.

She wasn't listening.

I sighed. No choice. In a blur of motion, I ran behind her and knocked her out with a quick, precise strike. She crumpled instantly. I caught her before she hit the ground, carefully holding her in my arms.

Now that she was unconscious, I could get some answers.

"Church, scan her face. I need an ID."

A few seconds later, the results popped up on my visor. And what I saw nearly made me drop her.

Wendy Hernandez. Born January 9, 1972.

…That was impossible.

It was 2011. If this was accurate, she should be thirty-nine years old. But the girl in my arms? She barely looked eighteen.

Something wasn't adding up.

I couldn't take her to the authorities. Not yet. I needed answers first. That meant bringing her back to the base.

I adjusted my grip, lifting her in a princess carry.

"Church, open the Ground Bridge. Oh, and call the cops on these assholes."

A glowing portal opened in front of me.

With one last glance at the unconscious girl in my arms, I stepped through, knowing this was only the beginning.

Ed POV

After my meeting with Fury, I got ready for my meeting with Norman Osborn.

At the base, I changed into a sharp business suit—something sleek and professional but not overly flashy. Once I was dressed, I teleported to my office, where Ashley was already waiting for me. She looked me up and down, smirking.

"You look good—like a young playboy billionaire."

I chuckled. "Going more for 'young businessman,' but I'll take the compliment."

She handed me a tablet, updating me on everything. "Everything is done. We now own half of Oscorp. Norman should be arriving in a few hours."

"Good. I have a few things I need to discuss with him." I skimmed through the reports, noting our growing influence. "Anything interesting happen while I was away?"

Ashley nodded. "A few things. We've hired more employees. But we've also had a lot of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents trying to infiltrate us. Church flagged them immediately."

I scoffed. "Figures. They're already sniffing around. Surprising, considering we're still a relatively small company."

Ashley shrugged. "They're curious about what we're inventing."

I leaned against my desk, thinking. "Speaking of inventions, I want our next project to focus on cleaning the oceans."

Ashley raised an eyebrow. "That's a great idea, but it'll take time and money. I suggest we focus on smaller projects first—work our way up."

"Money isn't an issue," I reminded her. "Why worry about that?"

"Because contracts are an issue," Ashley countered. "The government isn't just going to let you build massive machines in the ocean without oversight. We need a strong reputation first—earn their trust. The more people support our company and its mission, the harder it'll be for the government to interfere."

I thought for a moment before nodding. "Okay, I see your point. How about something medical?"

Ashley smiled. "That's a smart move. I also think we should branch into technology—better phones, laptops. Maybe even an entertainment division."

I frowned. "I want the company focused on helping the Earth. How would entertainment do that?"

Ashley crossed her arms. "It's about influence, Ed. People live on Earth, too. If we have a connection with them—through tech, media, even entertainment—they'll support us. That kind of public backing will make it harder for the government to shut us down."

I studied her for a moment, then sighed. "You make a good point. I'll leave that in your hands. I have a few ideas that could help, too."

Ashley grinned. "I won't let you down."

An hour later, Norman Osborn arrived.

He entered my office, sitting across from me at my desk. Ashley stood beside me, silent but observant.

"Mr. Valtheris," Norman greeted.

"Mr. Osborn, a pleasure to meet you."

Norman leaned back in his chair, studying me. "I have to say, I was surprised when the board members sold their shares to you. Now, you own half of Oscorp."

I smiled. "I made them an offer they couldn't refuse."

Norman's expression was unreadable. "I see."

I leaned forward. "I called this meeting for a reason. I want to change some of Oscorp's priorities."

His eyes narrowed. "Such as?"

"The Super Soldier Project. Shut it down."

Norman tensed. "WHAT? Why?"

"You've been working on it for years, and you're still not close to perfecting it. I don't see the point in wasting more resources on something that will only bring destruction."

Norman's fists clenched. "I've dedicated half my life to that project. It's my legacy."

I locked eyes with him. "Tell me, Norman—what do you want your legacy to be? One that brings death and destruction, or one that brings hope and progress?"

Norman hesitated. "What are you saying?"

I leaned in. "Do you really think the government won't abuse the serum? If you finish it, they'll mass-produce Super Soldiers. They'll use them to invade any country they want. Then, the formula will hit the black market—criminals and warlords will get their hands on it. The government will try to control the chaos by making more Super Soldiers, putting the country under military rule.

And when the superheroes fight back? The government will turn on them, seeing them as threats. They'll try to hunt down every powered individual—including people like Superman, Arsenal, and others who refuse to be controlled. Chaos will spiral until this country is ruined.

And your legacy? It won't be the man who changed the world—it'll be the man who destroyed it."

Silence.

Norman stared at me, processing my words. His mind was racing—I could see it.

Finally, he exhaled. "What are you suggesting instead?"

I smirked. "A new legacy—for both of us. We become the ones who advance Earth, who unite it."

Norman chuckled dryly. "Sounds like a child's dream. People will always look out for their own interests. Governments will never give up power. And don't even get me started on the people—humanity will always fight over religion, race, sexuality, politics. Mutants alone prove that people fear anything different.

Even if your idea could happen, it would take decades."

I shrugged. "Maybe. But are you really going to just accept that? Or will you try to make the world better, even if it takes a lifetime?"

Norman looked at me for a long moment. Then, he sighed.

"I will Shut down the Super Soldier Projects."

I blinked. "…Projects? There's more than one?"

Norman nodded. "Yes. There was another old project—dealing with radioactive spiders."

I frowned. "Radioactive spiders?"

"It didn't go well. The spiders escaped. We shut it down and kept the research, but no live specimens."

I leaned forward. "How many spiders escaped?"

"Seven. But don't worry—our experiments likely shortened their lifespan. They're probably dead by now."

I didn't respond right away.

Seven radioactive spiders loose in New York?

I had a very bad feeling about this.

After finishing my meeting with Norman, I headed to Escanor's bar. We had just finalized shutting down the super soldier project, replacing it with advanced medical technology. Norman would take over that field for me while I focused on another project for the military and police. Meanwhile, Ashley had taken charge of the entertainment division of the business. I gave her a few ideas from my old world, and she seemed to like them.

When I arrived at Escanor's bar, I was surprised to see how full it was in the middle of the day. I made my way through the lively crowd and walked up to the bar, where I saw Escanor himself—not in his usual small, frail form, but with some noticeable muscle on him. He wasn't in his former peak physique, but he looked strong. Despite the change, his personality remained the same—kind, warm, and humble.

"Hey, Escanor. Looks like business is booming," I said, taking a seat at the bar.

"Yes, it's doing very well," he replied with a smile. "People love my beer. Some enjoy my wine too, but most just come for the beer. Thank you for helping me set this place up."

"No problem. You're one of my people, and you wanted a normal life."

Escanor sighed, nodding. "Yeah. I've grown tired of fighting powerful enemies. I'm getting old. It's time for the younger generation to take up the torch."

I raised an eyebrow. "You're only forty. But I get what you're saying. I hope you enjoy this new life, Escanor."

"Thank you, Ed. Would you like a beer?" he offered.

I shook my head. "No thanks, I don't drink. I just came to check on you. Everything running smoothly? No trouble at the bar?"

"Oh, thank you. The girls came by to check on me earlier as well. But no, no problems. Everything's peaceful here."

"Good. If anything strange happens, let us know. We'll help you out," I assured him. Lowering my voice, I added, "I'm about to go do some hero work."

With that, I stood up and left.

I slipped into an alleyway, making sure no cameras were around, and teleported back to my base. Appearing in my room, I took off my suit and suited up in my hero gear. Once ready, I teleported over Gotham, deliberately choosing random locations each time just to keep Batman and Fury guessing about my base's whereabouts.

Flying over Gotham, I found no major crimes happening—All Might had done an excellent job bringing down the city's crime rate. So, I expanded my patrol, flying around the world to see where help was needed.

Over the next few hours, I stopped multiple crimes:

Several bank robberies

A hostage situation

A high-speed car chase

A kidnapping

Human traffickers

A violent anti-mutant mob attacking innocent mutants

It had only been two weeks since I started operating publicly, but people already recognized me. Then, something strange happened.

A car suddenly lifted off the ground and flew toward the mutant-hating mob.

I reacted instantly, catching the vehicle before it could crush them.

"You protect those who would harm our kind?" a familiar voice called out.

I set the car down gently and turned toward the source. Standing before me was Magneto. He looked almost identical to his movie counterpart but was noticeably more muscular. I guessed that, after his loss to Superman, he had started training.

"I'm protecting them because we don't have the right to take their lives. They should be brought to justice, not killed," I said firmly.

Magneto scoffed. "You think they will face justice? I've seen this scenario too many times. They'll dodge punishment and walk free. That means it's our responsibility to ensure they pay."

"No. All you're doing is making things worse for our kind. The more people fear us, the more they hate us. And the more they hate us, the more they'll try to wipe us out," I countered.

Magneto smirked. "No. The more they fear us, the less they'll dare to strike against us."

I shook my head. "Interesting theory. How long have you been at this? How many groups have risen to fight against mutants because of your actions? I think you're wrong. You're only creating more problems for us."

Magneto narrowed his eyes. "You are a foolish child."

Ignoring me, he turned his attention to the mutants I had saved.

I turned as well and realized who they were—Sage and Shatter from The Gifted. Both looked terrified.

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"My brothers and sisters," Magneto addressed them, "you have nothing to fear. I offer you salvation. Come with me, and you will never have to run again."

I stepped between them. "If you go with him, you'll be forced to kill. You'll be branded as terrorists. I can help you."

Magneto gave me a dark look. "And how will you help them? What have you done for mutants? The only thing I've seen you do is save the very people who wish us harm."

"I've helped plenty of mutants. And I can help you too," I said, meeting his gaze. "I can take you somewhere safe, where you don't have to run and hide. A place where you can live normal lives."

Magneto's lip curled. "A normal life? By putting them in isolation? Mutants should be free to walk the Earth without fear. Join me, and you can help our kind take their rightful place. You can make those who oppress us pay, and put them in their place."

Shatter hesitated. "What do you mean by 'their place'?"

"Simple. They are below us. We are the next stage of evolution," Magneto declared.

I stared at him. "So, in your world, regular humans become second-class citizens?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

I turned to Sage and Shatter. "Do you really want that? I know humans have treated you badly, but there must be some who treated you with kindness. Do you want their fate to be the same? Join me, and you can help create a better world—not through fear, but through real change."

They looked between me and Magneto, then at each other. After a moment, they nodded.

"We're going with Arsenal," Shatter said. "He's right. There are humans who've helped us. My parents are human—I don't want their fate to be what you described."

Magneto exhaled through his nose. "You've made a foolish choice. But you're young. One day, you'll see that my way is the only way for our kind." He turned to me. "And Arsenal—next time we meet, it won't be so pleasant. Get in my way again, and I will crush you."

I smirked. "You can try. But if it means saving people, I will get in your way again."

Magneto glared at me for a moment before flying away.

I didn't stop him. There were a few reasons for that. First, there was still a chance I could turn him into an ally against Hydra, who had experimented on mutant children. Second, something told me he was far stronger than his movie counterpart. We were in a city filled with metal—if I pushed him, he could bring entire buildings down, killing thousands.

I could have used the Eraser Quirk, but I sensed three powerful life forces nearby—mutants I didn't recognize. If I turned my attention away, things could go south fast. For now, I let Magneto go.

I turned to Sage and Shatter. "I'm glad you made the right choice."

"It was logical," Sage said. "Magneto's methods have changed little, and his results have been minimal. I believe you can do better."

Shatter nodded. "And we've seen you on the news. You do a lot of good. We trust you."

Smiling, I placed a hand on their shoulders and teleported us to my base.

"Welcome to your new home," I announced

As Sage looked around the base, taking in its advanced design, she turned to me.

"This place seems highly advanced. What's it called?"

I hesitated for a moment. I hadn't really thought about naming the base before, but as I stood there, the perfect name came to mind.

"It's now called Sanctuary," I declared.

Right on cue, Church and Tex appeared.

"That's an interesting name, but I think we should call it 'Church House,'" Church said.

Tex scoffed. "You are never calling it that. I say we name it 'Tex Roundhouse.'"

Church groaned. "That's even worse than the name I came up with."

Sage raised an eyebrow as she observed the two AIs bickering. "Two AIs… and they seem highly advanced, almost sentient. Who made them?"

"I did," I replied. "There are nine of them in total."

She gave me a look of newfound respect. "I assumed you were just a brute who knew how to punch things. But you created multiple advanced AIs… That's impressive. Especially since these ones seem truly sentient."

I wasn't sure whether that was a compliment or not. "Uh… thanks?"

Shatter chuckled. "That was a compliment. That's just how she gives them."

I nodded. "Right. Well, since you two are here now, Church and Tex will take you to the living quarters."

"Got it, no problem," Tex said.

Sage and Shatter followed them, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

This world was becoming more dangerous by the day.

There was a chance Skrulls were already on Earth, hiding in plain sight. Seven radioactive spiders were still unaccounted for—well, six, since Peter had already been bitten by one. And on top of everything, Magneto was likely far stronger than his movie counterpart.

Too many problems in one day.

And I had a bad feeling things were only going to get worse.