League of Avengers

As it turned out, telling Sejuani about the Battle of New York was exactly the right approach. The Winter's Claw leader had listened with poorly concealed interest as Tony and the others described the invasion, particularly perking up at the tales of how Earth's warriors had united against a common threat. The concept of aliens—warriors from beyond the stars rather than just other realms—had fascinated her, though she'd tried to maintain her stoic demeanor.

The real turning point came when they showed her the footage. Watching the Hulk smash Chitauri warriors had earned their first genuine smile from the ice queen, and Bristle had made an appreciative rumbling sound at the sight of Thor's lightning cutting through the invasion forces. By the time they reached the part about Tony flying a nuclear weapon through a portal, she was fully engaged in the discussion, asking tactical questions that impressed even Natasha.

The following weeks had brought interesting adjustments. True to their word, they'd found Sejuani a more suitable location—a remote research facility in northern Canada that Tony had quickly retrofitted for their unique guest. The isolation suited her, and the vast snowy expanses gave Bristle plenty of room to run. More importantly, the facility's labs allowed Bruce and Tony to help her stabilize her powers, though she remained deeply suspicious of their "strange magic machines."

Surprisingly, it was Clint who'd formed the strongest bond with their new arrival. His direct, no-nonsense attitude seemed to resonate with Sejuani's warrior mindset, and he'd earned her respect by never showing fear of either her or Bristle. The fact that he'd started bringing treats for the war-boar probably didn't hurt either, though everyone tactfully pretended not to notice.

Ahri had been right about one thing—Sejuani's presence had changed the dynamic of their already unusual group. The Winter's Claw leader brought a harsh pragmatism that somehow balanced Ahri's playfulness and bridged the gap between Garen's idealism and Darius's ruthlessness. She'd even started joining their training sessions, though after the "Great Freeze of the Training Room Incident" (as Tony had dubbed it), they'd moved those outdoors.

But perhaps most significantly, Sejuani's arrival had confirmed their growing suspicions: the barriers between worlds weren't just weakening randomly. Each new arrival seemed to bring different aspects of Runeterra's magic, creating an increasingly complex web of energies that Tony's instruments could barely track. And lately, those readings had been showing disturbing patterns...

"The readings are fascinating," Bruce muttered, adjusting his glasses as he studied the latest data. "It's not just that their magic is adapting to our world—our world is actually starting to accommodate the magic."

The lab's holographic displays showed a variety of measurements from around the globe. Areas where their Runeterran visitors had spent significant time were showing subtle but unmistakable changes in their fundamental properties.

"Look at the facility in Canada," Tony pointed to one readout. "The ambient temperature patterns don't match any normal meteorological models anymore. It's like the environment itself is becoming more... Freljordian."

"The land remembers," Sejuani commented from her usual spot near the window. She'd come down from Canada for their weekly research session, though she still claimed it was only to ensure they weren't "misunderstanding" her magic. "True Ice shapes more than just the air around it. It changes the very nature of the place it dwells."

"She's right," Ahri's tails swished thoughtfully as she studied another display. "The forests near where I've been practicing—they're starting to feel more like Ionian groves. The spirit energy is different, wilder somehow."

"And the training grounds," Garen added, exchanging a look with Darius. "The earth there feels more... responsive. Like the practice fields back home."

"You've noticed that too?" Darius raised an eyebrow. "I thought I was imagining it."

"It makes sense," Bruce said, pulling up more data. "If magic is a fundamental force in Runeterra, maybe its presence here is gradually teaching our universe new laws of physics. Not overwriting them, just... expanding them."

"Like the universe is learning new tricks?" Tony suggested, earning an eye roll from Sejuani.

"More like your world is remembering something it never knew it forgot," Ahri mused. "The potential was always here—it just needed a catalyst."

"And we're the catalyst," Sejuani concluded, her tone neutral. "Our presence, our magic, our very existence here is changing the fundamental nature of your realm."

"Not just our magic," Darius pointed out. "The changes seem strongest where we've formed connections. Where we've... made this place our home."

A thoughtful silence fell over the lab. It was true—the most noticeable changes weren't in places where they'd simply used their powers, but in areas where they'd truly settled in. The Canadian facility wasn't just cold because of Sejuani's ice magic; it was becoming naturally more like the Freljord because she and Bristle had made it their territory. The training grounds weren't just marked by practice sessions; they were transforming because two warriors from different worlds had claimed them as their own.

"It's not invasion or corruption," Bruce said finally. "It's... integration. Evolution. The natural result of two worlds learning to exist together."

"Like how Thor's presence has subtly altered weather patterns around New Mexico," Tony added. "We just never noticed it before because Asgardian energy was... well, less dramatic than an ice queen and her war-boar."

"Careful, Stark," Sejuani warned, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Speaking of dramatic changes," Ahri nodded toward another display, "has anyone else noticed how the local wildlife is starting to act differently? The other day, I could have sworn I saw some birds responding to residual spirit magic."

"Bristle has made some unusual friends," Sejuani admitted reluctantly. "Local moose that should fear him instead seem to... understand him."

"Earth's creatures adapting to Runeterran influences," Bruce noted with interest. "The question is: how far will these changes spread? And what does it mean for the future of both our worlds?"

"Perhaps that's the wrong question," Ahri suggested. "Maybe we should be asking: what kind of world are we creating together?"

The displays continued to show their measurements, each graph and chart telling the story of a world in transition. Not a violent change or a calculated scheme—just the natural evolution of a universe learning that magic had always been possible, it just needed the right teachers to show it how.

"Sir," JARVIS interrupted politely, "Director Fury is on the line. He's asking about reports of unusual weather patterns and 'suspiciously intelligent' wildlife around several of our locations."

"Tell him it's just growing pains," Tony grinned. "The universe is going through its teenage rebellion phase."

"I'm sure he'll find that very reassuring," Bruce sighed.

"Hey, it's better than 'a magical ice queen's war-boar is teaching Canadian moose the ways of the Freljord.'"

"That is NOT what's happening," Sejuani protested, then paused. "...mostly."

As they prepared to explain these developments to Fury, none of them could deny the excitement of what they were witnessing. Two worlds weren't just coexisting—they were creating something entirely new together. Something that had never existed before in either realm.

And somewhere in a snowy Canadian forest, a very smug war-boar was indeed teaching the local wildlife that they had always had the potential to be something more. They just needed someone to show them how.

---

The briefing room was unusually crowded. Nick Fury stood at the head of the table, his single eye fixed on the array of holographic displays showing the various anomalies across North America. Behind him, Maria Hill was trying—and failing—to maintain her usual stoic expression as she watched footage of a moose respectfully bowing its head to Bristle.

"Let me get this straight," Fury pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're telling me that not only are we dealing with visitors from another dimension, but their presence is fundamentally altering our world's... what, exactly?"

"Everything," Tony replied cheerfully. "Physics, biology, meteorology—turns out magic is a bit of an overachiever."

"It's more complicated than that," Bruce cut in, seeing Fury's expression darken. "The changes are localized and seem to follow certain patterns. They're strongest in areas where our guests have formed emotional connections, where they've made homes for themselves."

"Like how the forests around the compound have started growing plants that shouldn't exist here," Natasha added. She'd been tracking the changes with her usual thoroughness. "But only in areas where Ahri regularly meditates."

The Vastayan in question was curled up in her chair, tails moving in lazy patterns. "I told you—the spirit realm was always there. We're just... reminding your world how to access it."

"And that's supposed to be reassuring?" Fury demanded.

"More reassuring than the alternative," Darius spoke up from his position near the wall. "Would you prefer if we were forcing these changes? Deliberately reshaping your world?"

"He has a point," Garen added, earning a surprised look from his former enemy. "These changes are natural, harmonious. The world is accepting us, adapting to us, because it chooses to."

"Besides," Sejuani's voice carried from the video feed from Canada (she'd refused to leave her facility during what she called 'prime winter training weather'), "your realm has already proven it can handle far stranger things than a few magical adjustments. Or have you forgotten about your encounters with beings from beyond the stars?"

Fury's eye narrowed, but there was a hint of consideration in his expression. "Asgard never caused these kinds of changes."

"Actually," Tony pulled up new data, "they did. We just never noticed because Point Break's weather manipulation seemed... well, normal for a thunder god. But look at these readings from New Asgard—the same patterns we're seeing with our new friends, just on a different frequency."

Hill stepped forward, studying the displays. "So you're saying this is just... natural integration? Like an ecosystem adapting to new species?"

"Exactly!" Bruce's enthusiasm was evident. "The universe itself is evolving, finding ways to accommodate new possibilities. And the fascinating thing is, it's not just one-way. Our technology is starting to interact with their magic in ways that shouldn't be possible."

"The 'strange magic machines' actually work," Sejuani admitted grudgingly through the video feed. A loud snort from off-screen suggested Bristle was equally surprised by this development.

"And that's another thing," Fury turned to the screen. "Reports say your... mount has been influencing the local wildlife?"

"Bristle is teaching them strength," Sejuani replied with surprising pride. "They learn quickly."

"They're moose."

"They're warriors in training."

"Actually," Hill interjected, checking her tablet, "local rangers report the moose population has shown remarkable improvements in health and social organization. They're even helping protect smaller animals from predators."

A moment of silence as everyone processed that.

"See?" Tony grinned. "Even the moose are upgrading. Though I still think we should be more concerned about the squirrels Ahri's been chatting with. They're looking suspiciously organized lately."

"That's just their natural potential emerging," Ahri protested innocently. Too innocently.

"They've started bringing you shiny things, haven't they?" Natasha asked.

"They're very thoughtful."

Fury looked like he was developing a headache. "So to summarize: our world is naturally adapting to magic, local wildlife is evolving, and we have a war-boar running some kind of... moose academy in Canada."

"Don't forget the squirrel network," Tony added helpfully.

"Stark..."

"Director," Bruce interrupted gently, "I know this seems overwhelming, but these changes? They're not just natural—they're beneficial. The environments are becoming healthier, more vibrant. The barriers between magic and science are breaking down in ways that could revolutionize everything from medicine to clean energy. This isn't an invasion or a crisis—it's an evolution."

"And if something goes wrong?" Fury challenged. "If these changes get out of control?"

"Then we'll handle it," Garen stated simply. "Together. As we have been."

"Besides," Ahri's tails swished playfully, "you humans are remarkably adaptable. I mean, you took aliens invading New York and turned it into a tourist attraction. Compared to that, a few magical changes should be easy to accept."

The meeting continued for another hour, filled with data and discussions and more than a few exasperated sighs from Fury. But in the end, even he had to admit that fighting these changes would be both futile and potentially counterproductive.

As they filed out of the briefing room, Tony caught up with Bruce. "So, betting pool on what changes next? My money's on the coffee machine gaining sentience. It's been making suspiciously perfect drinks lately."

"That's just because Darius finally taught you how to maintain it properly."

"Are you sure? Because yesterday I swear it started brewing before I even reached for it..."

Behind them, Ahri shared a knowing look with Natasha. The coffee machine had indeed been acting oddly lately, but that had more to do with certain playful spirits she'd noticed taking an interest in the tower's technology. But that, she decided, was a discussion for another day.

After all, some changes were better left to discover on their own.