Fill 12 Card 1: Planes x2

[innitmarvelous_og]

When Tony had just snapped his fingers and defeated Thanos once and for all, he knew exactly what the cost to him would be. He knew there was no possibility of surviving the power of the Infinity Stones, and they would leave him fatally wounded. As he began to fade away, he could feel his consciousness drifting until he found himself in a strange and ethereal realm.

He stood on an endless plane that glowed in shades of red and pink. Where was he? Was this Heaven? Or was this Hell? He didn't know, and he had nothing to base any sort of conclusion on. As he looked around, he saw a single stone floating in the distance. When he started to walk towards it, he felt another presence nearby. As he turned, he saw a familiar figure standing before him.

It was Ho Yinsen, the man who had sacrificed his own life to help Tony escape captivity in Afghanistan all those years ago. At seeing the other man, Tony felt a flood of emotions - among them, immense gratitude.

A warm, welcoming smile was on Yinsen's face when he said, "Hello, Stark. It's good to see you again."

Tony was at a loss for words, "Yinsen... you're so how am I seeing you now? How is this possible?"

Yinsen did not speak, waiting patiently while Tony figured things out for himself.

"I'm dead aren't I?" Tony said suddenly, "I'm dead, and this is some sort of afterlife?"

"No, you are not dead, not yet anyway," Yinsen told him, "Your life is hanging by a thread. What is the last thing you remember before waking up here, and see me?"

"Thanos. I remember he had the Stones, and I fought he for them to keep him from snapping his fingers. He threw me away like I didn't weigh any more than Morgan's favorite toy dog and then I...I remember that I snapped my fingers."

Yinsen nodded, "Yes, you welded the Infinity Stones, and with their the power you saved the universe. And in doing so, you will pay a heavy price. Your physical body is dying, but your spirit as always is still strong and determine. That's why you're here."

Tony looked around where they were, and then he looked to Yinsen, trying to understand. "Where are we? What is this place?"

Yinsen smiled once more and gestured, "This place is the Soul Realm generated by the Soul Stone. It is a place where those who sacrifice themselves or are sacrificed by another in order to obtain the Soul Stone go."

"But I already had the Soul Stone. I wasn't... wait she sacrificed herself to get the Stone. Does that mean this is where Natasha is? Is this where she went after she... she..." He could not finish the question as he remembered Clint's account of what had happened in Vormir. He'd been heartbroken by her death, as had they, and their heartbreak had been the reason they'd gone forward with their plan.

Yinsen gave a solemn nod, "Yes, this is where Natasha Romanoff went when after she made her sacrifice for the Soul Stone. However, this place is not the final destination. She was here for a little while, but her spirit has moved on to a different plane of existence."

Tony was quiet for a moment, thinking about Natasha and all the sacrifices that had been made to bring this moment into being. Finally he asked, "So what now? What happens to me?"

"You have a choice to make, Stark," Yinsen said.

"A choice? What kind of choice?"

"One where you can stay here for a little while then move on as Natasha did when you're ready. Or, you can go back. You can return to the world of the living and finish what you started."

Tony thinks of Pepper and Morgan instantly, and about how he wants to be with them. He also thinks about the kid... Peter, how he had literally just gotten him back, and how he doesn't want to leave him again so soon. Rhodey, they'd been brothers for almost forty years. Did he want to leave him right now? And what about Happy? He is pretty sure Happy would have a hard time dealing with his death if Tony made the choice to move on.

"I have to go back," Tony said finally, "I have to finish what I started."

Yinsen nodded, "I thought you might say that. But remember, Stark, the path ahead is not an easy one. You were gravelly wounded by the Infinity Stones. The road ahead of you is a long and very painful one."

"As long and painful as leaving everyone I love behind?" Tony countered.

"Point well taken. They will give you strength for the road again. Just remember to swallow your pride once in awhile and let them help you when it feels like it is too much to take.

"I will," Tony nodded, feeling a newfound determination. "Thank you, Yinsen. Thank you for everything."

Yinsen smiled again. "Well, this is goodbye for now. Stark. Remember I'll be watching."

"So we'll see each other again?"

"Yes, when the time comes for you to move on."

And with that, Tony felt his consciousness returning to his physical body. He opened his eyes and found himself lying on the ground, surrounded by family and his friends. The road would be hard, of that he could be sure, but he was ready to face it.

Comments

[pattrose]

I love this ending. Just love it.

[innitmarvelous_og]

Thank you! *g*