League of Avengers

One Month Later

The late autumn wind whipped around Avengers Tower, but inside the common area was warm and oddly domestic. The past month had brought surprising adjustments: Ahri had settled into a routine of sorts, dividing her time between training sessions with Natasha (who appreciated having a sparring partner who could match her in agility), magical theory discussions with Bruce (who found her perspective on energy fascinating), and doing her level best to drive Tony mad by refusing to let him properly study her abilities ("Where's the fun in explaining everything?").

Garen and Darius had adapted to having another Runeterran around, though the sight of a Demacian warrior and Noxian commander casually sharing coffee while a Vastayan practiced energy manipulation nearby still drew double-takes from SHIELD agents. The three of them had even developed an unexpected rapport, trading stories of their world with the Avengers during downtime.

More importantly, they'd established a proper protocol for tracking interdimensional anomalies. After Ahri's arrival, Tony and Bruce had refined their detection systems, giving them better warning of potential breaches. Which was fortunate, because on this particular morning, those systems were lighting up like Christmas trees.

The morning sun cast long shadows across the training room as Ahri dodged another of Natasha's strikes, her movements fluid and graceful. Nine tails swayed in perfect balance as she spun away from a follow-up kick.

"You're holding back," Natasha observed, resetting her stance.

"So are you," Ahri replied with a knowing smile. "Worried about my charm magic?"

"Worried about explaining to Fury why his best agent is suddenly speaking in riddles and chasing butterflies."

Ahri's laugh echoed off the reinforced walls. "I would never! Well... not without good reason."

From their observation position above the training floor, Tony and Bruce watched with intense interest, various scanning devices humming away.

"The energy patterns are fascinating," Bruce muttered, adjusting his glasses. "It's like her magic is constantly adapting, flowing between different states."

"Yeah, yeah, very scientific," Tony waved a hand. "But can we talk about how she hasn't used any actual magic yet? I've got readings to collect here!"

"I heard that!" Ahri called up, not taking her eyes off Natasha. "And if you wanted a light show, you only had to ask."

Before anyone could respond, her orb materialized, pulsing with blue energy. Natasha immediately dropped into a defensive stance, but Ahri merely let the sphere orbit her lazily.

"JARVIS, are you getting this?" Tony leaned forward eagerly.

"Indeed, sir. Though I feel compelled to remind you of Protocol 'Not Again' regarding magical testing in the training room."

"That was one time! And we mostly fixed the dimensional breach. Eventually."

A heavy sigh from the doorway announced Garen's arrival. "Should I even ask?"

"Probably not," Bruce admitted, still studying his readings. "Though these results are remarkable. The way her magic interfaces with local space-time..."

"If you say 'quantum,' I'm leaving," Natasha called up, using the brief pause to grab water from a nearby bench.

"Actually," Ahri interjected, letting her orb fade, "I've been meaning to ask about your world's understanding of magic. The way you approach it is... fascinating. So technical."

"That's because it's all science they haven't explained yet," Tony declared confidently. Then paused. "Except maybe Thor's hammer. Still working on that one."

"The god of thunder's weapon defies your understanding?" Ahri's tails swished with interest. "Now that *is* intriguing."

"Don't encourage him," Natasha warned. "Last time he got fixated on magical artifacts, we had to evacuate three floors."

"Four," Bruce corrected absently. "The containment field collapsed."

"Speaking of containment," Garen cut in, "Director Fury wants an update on our guest's capabilities. Preferably without any... incidents."

Ahri adopted an expression of pure innocence that fooled absolutely no one. "I've been a perfect guest! Well, aside from that small matter with Agent Barton's arrows..."

"He's still convinced they're singing to him."

"They might be! I'm not entirely sure how the charm transferred to inanimate objects. Fascinating side effect, really."

Tony perked up. "Wait, you can enchant equipment? Because I have some ideas-"

"No," everyone said simultaneously.

"But-"

"NO."

The debate was interrupted by JARVIS's calm voice. "Pardon the interruption, but Director Fury is requesting everyone's presence in the main conference room. It appears there's been another energy signature detected."

The playful atmosphere evaporated instantly. Ahri's tails went still, her expression sharpening. "Another arrival?"

"The pattern matches previous events," JARVIS confirmed.

"Location?" Garen was already moving toward the door.

"A small town in Norway. Local authorities are... uncertain how to describe what they're seeing."

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Bruce murmured.

"Because you're learning," Natasha patted his shoulder as she passed. "Suit up everyone. Something tells me this isn't going to be as smooth as our last interdimensional meeting."

"I resent the implication that I was 'smooth,'" Ahri commented, falling into step beside her. "I have a reputation to maintain."

As they headed for the equipment room, Tony pulled up a holographic display of the energy readings. "These signatures are different from the previous arrivals. More... chaotic?"

"Let me see," Ahri studied the swirling patterns. After a moment, her expression grew troubled. "Oh. Oh dear."

"That's not the tone of voice that promises a fun field trip, is it?" Bruce asked.

"That depends entirely on your definition of 'fun,'" she replied diplomatically. "And your opinion on frost magic."

Garen stopped dead in his tracks. "Please tell me you don't mean..."

"I'm afraid so." Ahri's tails swished nervously. "Someone from the Freljord has joined our little gathering. And judging by these readings... they brought the winter with them."

Tony looked between them. "I'm missing something here."

"Let's just say," Ahri smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes, "you might want to pack something warm. Very warm. And perhaps alert your friend Thor? If we're dealing with who I think we are... we may need a god on our side."

As if in response to her words, JARVIS's next update was decidedly concerning: "Sir, local temperatures in the target area have dropped forty degrees in the last ten minutes. And satellite imagery shows... well, perhaps you should see for yourself."

The holographic display shifted to show a small Norwegian town. Or rather, what had been a town. Now it was the center of a rapidly expanding circle of ice and swirling snow, with what appeared to be massive ice crystals erupting from the ground at random intervals.

"Well," Tony said after a moment, "at least it's not aliens this time?"

"No," Ahri agreed, her tails bristling. "This could be much worse. After all... winter is coming."

The look Garen gave her could have melted steel. "Did you really just..."

"I've been reading your world's literature! That was contextually appropriate!"

"Focus," Natasha cut in. "What exactly are we dealing with?"

Ahri's expression sobered. "That depends on which of the Freljord's powers has found their way here. Best case scenario? A lone Ice Born warrior, confused and defensive. Worst case..." she paused meaningfully.

"Yes?" Bruce prompted.

"We might be dealing with one of the Winter's Claw. Or worse... their leader."

"And that would be bad because...?"

"Because," Garen said grimly, "if it's who we think it is, we're not just dealing with ice magic. We're dealing with a warrior queen who considers conquest a hobby and views 'peaceful negotiation' as something that happens to other people."

"Perfect," Tony sighed. "Quantum magical ice vikings. And here I thought Tuesday would be boring."

As they headed for the Quinjet, Ahri fell into step beside Natasha. "I don't suppose your world has any experience dealing with warrior queens who can flash-freeze armies?"

"Not really, no."

"How unfortunate. Perhaps we should be renewing our arsenal on diplomatic approaches to frost-wielding conquerors?"

"I'll add it to the agenda," Natasha said dryly. "Right after 'how to prevent interdimensional incidents' and 'why we can't let Tony study magical artifacts.'"

"I heard that!" Tony called from ahead.

"You were meant to!"

As they boarded the Quinjet, Garen couldn't shake the feeling that their already complicated situation was about to become exponentially more challenging. Between Demacian honor, Noxian ambition, Ionian cunning, and now potentially Freljordian conquest... Earth's mightiest heroes were about to get a crash course in just how complex Runeterra's politics could be.

And somewhere in Norway, the snow continued to fall.

Summer had ended rather abruptly in Scandinavia. Winter, it seemed, had other plans.

And it had brought company.

———————————————————

"ETA twenty minutes," Clint called from the cockpit. "Local authorities have established a perimeter, but they're having trouble maintaining it. The ice keeps... expanding."

"Any casualties?" Garen asked, checking his sword's enchantments. After a month of Tony's tinkering and Bruce's analysis, they'd managed to stabilize how Runeterran magic manifested in this realm. It wasn't perfect, but at least nothing exploded anymore. Usually.

"Surprisingly few," Natasha replied, studying the latest updates. "Looks like most people evacuated when the temperature started dropping. Some minor injuries from ice formation, but nothing critical."

"That's... unusual," Darius commented from his position near the rear of the Quinjet. He'd been silent since the briefing, but now his expression was thoughtful. "If it is the Winter's Claw, they're not typically known for restraint."

"Unless they're confused and defensive," Ahri pointed out. "Remember how you two arrived? Disorientated, powers fluctuating..."

"We didn't freeze a town."

"No, you just helped fight off an alien invasion. Everyone copes differently."

Tony, who had been unusually quiet while running calculations through his suit's systems, suddenly straightened. "Uh, guys? Those energy readings we were tracking? They just spiked. Like, dramatically."

The Quinjet shuddered as it hit a wall of frigid air. Through the viewport, they could see the storm had grown, its edges now tinged with an unnatural blue light.

"That's not normal storm behavior," Bruce observed, gripping his seat tighter. "The energy patterns are almost... defensive?"

"Like a cornered animal," Ahri agreed, her tails bristling. "Which means-"

She was cut off by JARVIS's voice. "Sir, I'm detecting multiple heat signatures converging on the storm's center. Local law enforcement, despite evacuation orders."

"They don't know what they're dealing with," Garen moved toward the cockpit. "We need to get there before-"

A flash of brilliant blue light erupted from the storm's heart, followed by a shockwave of pure cold that rocked the Quinjet. When the view cleared, they could see massive ice formations had sprouted from the ground like crystal trees, forming a defensive perimeter around the town center.

"Well," Tony said after a moment, "guess we found our ice queen."

"Sejuani," Ahri confirmed grimly. "It has to be. That's Winter's Claw magic."

"You sound pretty certain," Natasha observed.

"The ice formations are too aggressive for Anivia, too martial for Lissandra, and too controlled for a random Ice Born." Ahri's tails swished thoughtfully. "Besides, there's a certain... signature to her magic. It's not just about cold – it's about dominance."

"Great," Clint muttered. "Because what this day needed was a dominant ice queen."

"Better than a submissive one," Tony quipped, then raised his hands at the looks he received. "What? I'm dealing with stress here!"

"Focus," Garen cut in. "We need a plan. Darius?"

The Noxian commander studied the tactical display. "The ice formations are defensive, but they're also creating choke points. Forcing any approach through narrow corridors."

"Classic Freljordian tactics," Ahri agreed. "Control the battlefield, force the enemy to fight on your terms."

"Then we don't fight on her terms," Natasha said simply. "We negotiate."

A moment of silence.

"With Sejuani?" Garen asked incredulously.

"Why not? She's alone, in a strange world, surrounded by unknown forces. And she hasn't actually hurt anyone yet. That shows restraint."

"Or she's waiting to freeze everyone at once," Darius countered, but he sounded thoughtful. "Though... you may have a point about her being alone. The Winter's Claw draws strength from its tribe. Without them..."

"She's probably feeling very isolated," Ahri finished, her expression softening slightly. "And a warrior queen without her warriors..."

"Is still incredibly dangerous," Tony pointed out. "But maybe slightly more open to conversation? Also, not to interrupt the cultural analysis, but we're about to enter the ice zone, and I'd really like to know if anyone has actual experience talking to her."

"I've... encountered her," Ahri said carefully. "Though 'talking' might be a generous description of our interaction."

"She tried to freeze you?"

"I may have accidentally charmed her entire war party into dancing. In my defense, they were trying to raid a village at the time."

Another moment of silence.

"Right," Tony sighed. "New plan. Bruce stays in the Quinjet because we really don't need a Hulk-sized ice sculpture. Barton gets high and covers us. The rest of us approach on foot, non-threateningly, with our resident diplomats," he nodded to Ahri and Natasha, "taking point. And if everything goes wrong..."

"I can charm her again," Ahri offered.

"No," everyone said simultaneously.

"You're no fun at all."

"Landing in thirty seconds," Clint announced. "And for the record, I vote for the charm plan. I've seen the satellite footage – she has a giant flail made of True Ice."

"A what now?" Tony's head snapped around.

"Not the time, Stark," Natasha warned. "Everyone ready?"

They nodded, checking weapons and adjusting to the increasingly cold temperature. As the Quinjet descended toward a clear patch of ground just outside the ice formations, Garen found himself studying their impromptu team. A Demacian, a Noxian, a Vastayan, and Earth's mightiest heroes, about to attempt diplomacy with one of Runeterra's most notorious warrior queens.

"You know," he said to no one in particular, "when I woke up in your world, I thought dealing with the alien invasion would be the strangest part of my day."

"Please," Ahri's tails swished as she moved toward the exit ramp. "That was just the warm-up."

"Poor choice of words," Tony muttered, as they stepped out into the growing storm. "Very poor choice of words."

The ice waited, beautiful and deadly, its queen somewhere at its heart.

———————————————————

The first sign that something was wrong came from Tony's sensors.

"Uh, guys? I'm picking up a massive heat signature in there. Well, relatively speaking - it's cold, but... bigger than human."

"Bristle," Ahri and Garen said simultaneously.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Her war-boar," Darius explained, grip tightening on his axe. "Think 'angry pig the size of a small car' with tusks that can gore through plate armor."

"You're kidding." Tony's faceplate turned toward him. "Please tell me you're kidding."

A deep, rumbling sound echoed through the ice formations, something between a growl and a challenge.

"That would be a 'no,'" Ahri's tails bristled. "And he's probably not happy about being pulled into another realm."

"Great," Clint's voice came through their comms. "So we're dealing with an ice queen AND her combat pig. Any other details you forgot to mention?"

"The boar's also partially covered in True Ice," Garen added helpfully. "And he's surprisingly intelligent."

"Of course he is." Tony's sigh was audible even through the suit. "JARVIS, update threat assessment protocols. Add 'magical ice pig' to the database."

"Already done, sir. Though I'm having trouble categorizing it under existing parameters."

Another rumble echoed through the ice, closer this time. The team instinctively formed a defensive circle, weapons ready but not raised. The last thing they needed was to appear hostile.

"Remember," Natasha said quietly, "we're here to talk first. No sudden moves, no aggressive-"

A massive shape burst through one of the ice walls, sending crystalline shards flying everywhere. Tony's repulsors came up automatically, but he held his fire as the dust settled, revealing their visitor in all his glory.

Bristle stood easily twice the height of a normal boar, his massive frame augmented by plates of True Ice that seemed to grow directly from his body. Steam billowed from his nostrils in the cold air, and his eyes... his eyes held an intelligence that was distinctly unsettling for something that should, by all rights, be bacon.

On his back, looking every bit the warrior queen of legend, sat Sejuani. Her armor was a mix of fur and True Ice, a massive flail held casually in one hand. The weapon's head seemed to pulse with contained power, and the air around her was noticeably colder than even the surrounding storm.

For a long moment, nobody moved. Then Bristle took a step forward, tusks gleaming, and Tony's repulsors whined in response.

"I wouldn't," Sejuani's voice carried easily despite the wind. "Bristle's taken worse hits than your little lights, and he's not fond of glowing things being pointed at him."

"To be fair," Ahri stepped forward, hands deliberately empty, "we're not fond of being gored by angry war-boars. Perhaps we could skip the traditional Freljordian greeting and try something more... diplomatic?"

Sejuani's eyes narrowed as she studied the Vastayan. "You. I remember you. The fox who made my warriors dance."

"In my defense, the music was quite catchy."

"They were singing tavern songs for a week."

"You're welcome?"

Bristle snorted, a sound that might have been amusement or warning. It was hard to tell with magical war-boars.

"Look," Tony's faceplate retracted, showing his face despite the cold, "we get it. Strange world, weird transition, probably a lot of confusion. But maybe we could discuss this somewhere warmer? Preferably without turning Norway into a new ice age?"

"You speak as if you have authority here," Sejuani's grip on her flail tightened slightly. "Yet I see no army, no real force. Just... curiosities."

"Says the woman riding a giant pig," Clint muttered over the comms.

"Boar," everyone corrected automatically.

"Whatever!"

"We're trying to understand what's happening," Natasha stepped forward, her movements deliberately casual. "You're not the first to arrive here from your world."

Sejuani's expression didn't change, but Bristle's ears twitched forward with interest.

"We're just as stuck here as you," Garen added. "We've experienced the same displacement-"

"A Demacian?" Sejuani cut him off, then her eyes found Darius. "And a Noxian? Standing together?" She threw back her head and laughed, the sound echoing off the ice. "Now I know this realm is cursed."

"The barriers between worlds have been acting strangely," Ahri offered carefully. "Especially around Ionia. Though we don't yet understand why."

"And I should trust the word of a fox?" Sejuani's voice dripped contempt.

"Like it or not, we're all equally lost here," Darius countered. "Or would you rather freeze this town and wait for their armies to come? Because trust me, they have them."

"Funny story about that," Tony started, but Ahri smoothly stepped in front of him.

"The old conflicts mean little here, Sejuani of the Winter's Claw. This world faces its own battles, its own threats. We've learned to... adapt."

"Adapt?" Sejuani's voice dripped contempt. "Like a fox learning new tricks?"

"Like a warrior finding new battlefields," Darius countered.

Bristle shifted his weight, massive hooves crunching in the ice. The movement drew everyone's attention to just how precarious their position was - surrounded by ice formations, facing one of Runeterra's most formidable warriors and her equally dangerous mount.

"Their weapons are strange," Sejuani admitted, glancing at Tony's armor. "Their magic... different." She patted Bristle's neck absently. "And my friend here dislikes this realm's energy. It... unsettles him."

"We can help with that," Bruce's voice came through their comms. "We've been studying-"

A crack like thunder split the air. One of the massive ice formations shattered, sending shards raining down. Bristle reared, nearly dislodging Sejuani, as the ground beneath them trembled.

"The ice is destabilizing," Tony reported, scanners whirring. "The temperature fluctuations are creating stress fractures throughout the formation."

"Your magic weakens here," Ahri called out, her orb materializing. "Let us help before-"

Another formation cracked, then another. Sejuani's expression flickered - not fear, but something close to concern. Bristle stamped his hooves, clearly agitated by the failing magic around them.

"If that ice collapses," Garen warned, "it'll take half the town with it."

"Then we remove it," Sejuani raised her flail, True Ice gleaming.

"Wait!" Several voices called at once, but it was too late.

The Winter's Claw queen brought her weapon down with devastating force. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the ice... shifted. Began to recede, pulling back into the ground like a tide going out. The process wasn't gentle - the earth buckled and groaned as massive sheets of ice retracted, leaving scarred earth behind.

"Okay, that's actually impressive," Tony admitted, watching his readings. "She's not just dismissing the ice, she's actually controlling the thermal transfer and-"

"Not now, Tony," Natasha cut him off, eyes on Sejuani.

The warrior queen swayed slightly in her saddle, face pale beneath her helm. Bristle rumbled worriedly, turning his massive head to check on his rider.

"The magic here..." Sejuani's voice was strained. "It resists. Fights back."

"Yeah, it does that," Tony started forward, then froze as Bristle's head snapped around, tusks gleaming. "Easy there, Babe. No one's making bacon jokes, I promise."

"Tony," Bruce's exasperated voice came through the comms, "maybe stop antagonizing the giant war-boar?"

"What? I'm building rapport!"

"You're building something," Ahri muttered, then raised her voice. "Sejuani, please. Let us help. I've somewhat figured out how to stabilize Runeterran magic in this realm. How to adapt it without losing its power."

"And in return?" Sejuani's eyes were sharp despite her obvious fatigue. "What price does the fox demand?"

"Just talk," Natasha answered before Ahri could. "Share information. Help us understand what's happening to our worlds. And maybe," she smiled slightly, "find somewhere more suitable for a warrior of the Freljord than a small Norwegian town?"

"I hear Canada's nice this time of year," Clint offered helpfully through the comms. "Lots of snow. Minimal population density. Perfect for ice queens and their combat pigs."

"Boar," everyone corrected again.

"Whatever!"

Sejuani studied them for a long moment, her free hand absently stroking Bristle's neck. The war-boar had calmed somewhat, though his eyes never left the team. Finally, she spoke:

"You swear, on your honor as warriors, that you speak truth? That you can help stabilize our magic here?"

"We swear," Garen answered immediately.

"A Demacian's oath," she scoffed, then looked at Darius. "And you? What does Noxus offer?"

"The truth," he replied simply. "This world is strange, but not without opportunities. Even for the Winter's Claw."

"And their warriors are impressive," Ahri added. "You should see what they did to the last army that threatened their realm."

That got both Sejuani and Bristle's attention. "Oh?"

"Ever heard of the Chitauri?" Tony grinned. "No? Pull up a chair - or, you know, dismount your war-boar - and let us tell you a story about the day aliens invaded New York..."