Becoming
"VICTORIA!"
That's the last thing you hear before falling.
As you fall, you recall everything that led you here. Bucky's dead, arguing with Howard, entering with Steve into Scmidt's lair, guns ablaze. The fight with that horrible maniac and the cube. You felt pulled into it since you set foot in that cockpit. It was calling to you, urging you to protect it. You fought your way to it, despite Steve's screams, despite Schmidt getting in your way. You were mesmerized by the bright blue light emanating from it, and all you could hear was the loud thrumming of your heart. Just before your fingers could grasp it, Schmidt snatched the cube away. Anger irradiated from every pore in your body, and with a force you didn't know you possessed, you grabbed the cube trying to pry it from his hands.
As you put your hands on the cube, two blue beams come out of the cube. One hit Schmidt on the chest, and his body dissolved, every piece of him sucked up into a portal. The second hit you square in the chest, sending you downwards.
Steve's desperate cry pierced your ears, and all went black.
Your eyes are wide open, but the darkness surrounds you. Even if you can't see anything you know, you're falling endlessly into nothing. Death feels peaceful. Death smells like coffee and freshly made toast. It smells like home. It sounds like your father's favorite song. You are starting to realize that you've been here before. You've dreamt about this place before.
As you wonder what this place is, a tiny light appears. It's no more than a spec at first but grows by the second. When it reaches the size of a tennis ball, it splits into six, all of the same size but with different colors. The blue light approaches, and you extend your hand to touch it. But before you can reach it, the light elongates and takes the shape of a woman.
"Welcome home, Victoria. I've been waiting for you a very long time." The woman's voice sounds exactly like yours. It should be unsettling, but you are dead things can't get worse. Doesn't it? "Are you my soul?" The woman giggles, and the rest of the lights join in her. "Of course not, silly! I'm you. We are two parts of the same." You nit your eyebrows, confused at her words. "Is this some sort of afterlife joke?" She places a hand on your shoulder and gives you a reassuring smile. "No, Victoria. You're not dead, and this is no joke," she flicks a hand in the air, and suddenly color explodes everywhere, "Let me explain."
"Many eons ago, there was nothing. Only a void existed," you interrupt with a chuckle, "If you're going to go biblical on me. I must warn you, I've never believed that story." She gives you a stern look, "Every story, no matter how old or fantastic it sounds, has some truth within. Now shut up and listen." You bite out a response and nod. "From the void, the Mother emerged. At first, she was no more than a speckle of light in the vastness of the void. But with time, she grew in size and power until she burst, giving life to everything that was, is, or will be." As she speaks, everything changes around you, and just like in a movie, the story she's telling is playing in front of your eyes.
"The multiverse was born." She lifts her arms, and a multitude of spheres fills the space. You notice that they are all connected to the ones closest to them. Together they form a massive net. You shake your head and blink rapidly in confusion. "I don't understand. What is the multiverse?" She points to one of the spheres, and it begins to pulse. "This is the universe you come from. Here is the Earth you call home. Each of these spheres contains a universe. Some have little differences from yours, and some are vastly different. There are those full of life, creatures, plants, and beings you've never seen or imagined." Her face becomes somber, "Others are completely dead, their life consumed by greed and anger." You can clearly see some spheres shining bright. While others are dim, their shine almost fading.
"This is the multiverse, the net that connects every universe ever created or to be created." The bridges shine, and everything explodes in millions of tiny lights. Once they settle, the color blue surrounds you. "I still don't know why I'm here. Who are you? What are you?" She smiles lovingly, "I'm you. We are two parts of the same." Her cryptic comments are getting on your nerves, "Stop talking riddles! You've already told me that. Two parts of what? What am I? What is this place?"
"This is the In Between. A place outside the multiverse where we wait." She's unfazed by your outburst. "Who are we? Wait for what?" Fear is running down your back, and you desperately need answers. "Me and my sisters" She extends her palm, and six lights appear. Now that you are close to them, you notice that there are not just lights but gems. On her palm are six gems shining in different colors.
"When the Mother created the multiverse, some of her power remained in every universe in the form of these gems." As she mentions them, each gem twinkles in acknowledgment. "Mind, Reality, Power, Soul, Time, and Space. They tie the multiverse together and connect it with the Mother." A sad look crosses her face. "As time passed, those who desired that power for themselves appeared." You shake your head, remembering what she showed you. "The extinct universes" She nods. Understanding hits you, "Schmidt!" She nods again, "Yes. To prevent such a loss from happening again, she created us. We are a part of the Mother's power but have a unique ability," She winks at you, "We can take a human form."
"So, that means... I, you. I mean, we." You can't put into words all the emotions running through you. "Yes, Victoria. We are two parts of the same. We are one of the guardians the Mother created for the multiverse. We guard the key to traveling the multiverse. We are the shepherds, and our mission is to find the rest and fight together when the multiverse is in danger. We are one of the Victorias."
"I don't know how to process this. I don't know if I even believe you." You pass your hand through your hair, trying to make sense of her words. "There's nothing to believe, Victoria. It is what it is." You start to ramble, "No, I can't accept it. It has to be a mistake. Just because my name is Victoria? That doesn't mean it's me. You have the wrong Victoria." She stops you in your tracks. "No," her voice is firm and commanding, "I'm not wrong. There's no other Victoria in your universe to fit the part. There's no other Victoria like you in any universe!"
"What do you mean? You said I'm one of the Victorias." You're almost in tears. "Every living being in one universe has a counterpart throughout the multiverse, except plants, beasts, and US!" She points at the stones. "There is only one of each scattered in the multiverse. All of them named Victoria, or some form of it. But there's no spare Victoria, guardian of the Space Stone. There's only one you as there's only one me!" She's agitated, and tears are now flowing freely down your cheek. She hugs you tenderly while you hold on to her for dear life.
You feel safe in her arms. She smells like coffee, and fresh toast, like home. "You are unique. You had to be to bear this power, this responsibility. Any other would crumble into pieces." You remember Schmidt being disintegrated and scattered into the air. "That's what happened to him?" You don't want to let her go. "No, he has his part to play. In time you'll meet a version of him again." You frown, not fully understanding her cryptic words. It will be a problem for later.
You step back and realize that she now looks exactly like you, except her eyes shine with blue light. "Let's say I believe you. What now?" She sighs, raising her eyebrows. "I told you, there's nothing to believe." You roll your eyes, "Humor me, please." She sighs harder, annoyed. "The beam that hit you brought you here. But we won't be fully one until you assimilate the Space Stone of your universe." You lift one eyebrow, "Assimilate?"
"Yes, the cube is only a vessel. The stone is inside. Once you grab it, all its power will flow to you, and we'll become one." You nudge her to continue. "And then?" "Then you'll have to learn to use your powers. Someone will reach out to you, and then you'll know." You cock your head to the left. "Know what?" "You'll know a universe is in danger, and you'll have to rally the others to help." You're tired of the riddles. "Who will reach out? How do I find the others? You can't just give me half of the information."
"I don't have all the answers Victoria. A master will appear to train you. I'm telling you everything I know." You start pacing again, your head running at full speed. "You have to make up your mind now, Victoria. We're running out of time." You stop and look at her. "How? Why are we running out of time?" She shifts uncomfortably. "You haven't assimilated the Stone yet, remember?" You nod in agreement. "Well. Until you do, I only have a limited amount of power to send us back, and only when the stone is activated." You stop and cross your arms on your chest. "And I guess the stone is being used now, right?"
"It had activated before since you arrived, but now is a strong and steady flow." You shift your weight from one foot to the other. "How long I've been here?" "Here, minutes. I don't know how much time has passed on your Earth." You open and close your mouth like a fish gasping for air. "So, you're telling me I can't get back to when I left?" Sadness paints her face one more time. "I'm sorry, but no." You huff. "I hate this!" Her eyes grow harder. "You don't have to like it. You have to do it."
You throw your arms in the air, "I't so easy for you to say it. While I have to go to a Hell knows when or where!"
"VICTORIA!" A voice thunders around you. "I KNOW YOU'RE SCARED, MY CHILD, BUT IT'S YOUR DESTINY. YOU HAVE TO EMBRACE IT. YOU WON'T BE ALONE. FRIENDS WILL GUIDE YOU. BUT YOU HAVE TO GO NOW!" The words reverberate in your chest. She pinches the bridge of her nose, worried. "Well, Mother is mad."
"Was she?" She nods. "Yes, that was Mother. She must be upset to speak to you directly." The sheer power of the words compels you to obey. "I don't have much choice, right?"
"Not really." She shrugs. You sigh deeply. "We'll help people, right?" You try to find the arguments to convince yourself. "I won't be alone. You'll be with me?" She nods and puts a hand on your shoulder. "You're stuck with me, silly," she points to your chest, "I'll always be here." You nod, "I'm ready."
"Close your eyes. I'll take it from here. Trust me." You close them, and a warm feeling envelopes you. You feel yourself falling again, but it's not frightening. You trust.