[Third Person's PoV]
The Infinity Stones around Aria shimmered as she cleared her throat and banged on her chest. "Now, where was I… Oh right… Daddy, look! I have a body now! Hahaha!"
Aria cheered as she let gravity take its course, her arms stretched toward Peter as she fell. A bright smile graced her delicate features.
Her joy was infectious, and soon, everyone was smiling at the sheer excitement in her voice.
Peter chuckled, holding out his arms as Aria dove into his embrace. "Look at you! Who would've thought that one day, I'd be able to hold you like this?"
Laughing, Peter twirled her around before pulling her back into a tight hug. The two rubbed their cheeks together in an endearing display of affection.
Felicia clutched MJ's shoulders dramatically, gripping her chest. "Ugh! This is too sweet! I'm going to have a heart attack."
"Don't worry, I'll be joining you," MJ groaned, mirroring Felicia's reaction.
Aria then hopped out of Peter's embrace and struck a pose, placing one hand on her hip and the other behind her head. She puckered her lips and asked, "So, what do you think?"
"I look good, right?" She shifted both hands to her hips and began wiggling side to side. "I made my body too adorable, didn't I?"
"She's his daughter, all right," Harry chuckled.
Gwen scooped her up, showering her cheeks with kisses. "God, you're so adorable!"
"Hahahahaha! That's right! Praise me! After all, it was I who took down a being of cosmic proportions!!"
"Let's give a yippee-yippee for Aria, everyone!" Felicia teased, joining Gwen in her admiration.
Peter found it amusing and decided to play along. "Let's give it up for Aria, everyone! Yippee-yippee!"
"Hurray!!" they all cheered, tossing Aria into the air. She cackled madly with glee.
The rest of the Guardians watched the scene with amusement, and even Natasha allowed herself a small smile.
Then, the sound of someone clearing their throat cut through the moment.
Aria froze midair and turned to see the Watcher standing behind the group, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Good work, everyone. It seems I chose the right heroes for this mission," the Watcher said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.
Aria landed gracefully and rubbed her nose. "Aw shucks, this was nothing. All in a day's work."
"Aria, I think he was referring to everyone," Lizzy said, amused.
"That may be the case, but let's not forget who the MVP of this battle was," Aria said smugly.
"Doctor Strange," Peter deadpanned.
Aria snapped her head toward him in disbelief. "Wha—! I didn't see him go inside Ultron and kick his butt, did he?! Of course not, because that was all me!" She pointed at herself with her thumb.
"Well~" MJ drawled, "the only reason you were able to kick Ultron's butt was because Doctor Strange transformed you into a virus to begin with. If it weren't for him, you wouldn't have had the chance."
Aria stared at MJ, betrayal written all over her face. She looked down, her eyes watery as she clutched her dress.
"Stop bullying her, you animals," Gwen scolded, crouching down and pulling Aria into her arms. "I think you were the real MVP, Aria. They're just jealous because your debut was better than theirs."
"You really think so?" Aria asked in a small, soft voice.
"I know so… Right, everyone?" Gwen asked threateningly, glaring at them as if daring them to disagree.
Everyone rapidly nodded, giving thumbs-ups and throwing praises Aria's way.
Peter watched as Aria looked away shyly—only to notice her silently cackling like a villain. Her smile was no longer adorable; it was downright devilish.
'I created a monster…' Peter thought warily. 'She has them all eating out of the palm of her hand.'
Aria then cleared her throat and turned to the Watcher. She held out her palm, where the Infinity Stones—minus the Mind Stone embedded in her forehead—floated.
"Here you go. I hope you don't mind if I keep the one in my head. I kinda need it to stay alive and all that," Aria said nonchalantly.
Though he didn't outwardly show it, relief washed over the Watcher. He had harbored some concerns about Aria, but seeing her willingly return the Stones without being asked reassured him.
As a final test, the Watcher asked, "Are you sure you don't want to take them all or use them to fulfill your heart's desire? With this kind of power, you would be unstoppable. No one would be able to stand against you. You could be the multiverse's greatest hero… or its monarch."
Aria simply smiled and shook her head. "I already used them to fulfill my heart's desire." She turned to the Spider Family, her gaze softening. "And that was to be with everyone properly. I don't need anything else as long as I have them."
Peter covered his mouth, his voice shaking. "I think I'm going to cry." Maybe she isn't as bad as I thought…
The girls fanned their eyes, trying to hold back their tears.
Harry clenched a fist over his mouth, whispering, "Damn."
Even the Hulk, who had interacted with Aria in the VR, grinned with pride.
"Besides," Aria continued, her smile charming, "I don't need these to be a great hero. As my daddy taught me, being a hero isn't about having great power. It's about having the heart to help those in need and the will to never give up. I'll be a hero my own way—I don't need these stones to do that. I already have everything I need."
The Watcher nodded approvingly. Meanwhile, Peter collapsed to his knees, pounding the ground. "Is this what it feels like to be a proud father?! My God, my heart is about to burst!"
The rest of the Guardians watched with approval and acknowledgment—except for one.
The Watcher's words had sparked something he didn't foresee. They had fed into the greed and yearning of one of his chosen.
Killmonger's eyes locked onto the stones in Aria's hands, filled with lust. His hunger for power and authority drowned out his rationality.
With that kind of power, I'd be unstoppable… I'm not an android, so I won't be defeated the same way… I could use the rest of the stones to rip the last one from that little girl's head.
"Very well," the Watcher said, nodding his large head. "I will take the other five Infinity Stones into safekeeping and leave the Mind Stone in your capable hands. I trust you will do great things with it."
"Thank you for placing your trust in me," Aria said, bowing respectfully.
As the Infinity Stones levitated between Aria and the Watcher, Killmonger made his decision.
However, before he could act, all the Spider-People snapped their heads toward him in an eerie, synchronized motion. A cold shiver ran down his spine.
In an instant, all four of them vanished in a blur and reappeared around him, their bone claws gleaming silver, aimed at his throat.
Peter stood in front, his two spikes pointed directly under Killmonger's chin, his lenses glowing an ominous blue. "Just what exactly were you planning to do?"
Gwen stood behind him, a single blade extending from her wrist, hovering over the nape of his neck. Her voice was as cold as ice. "Your greed and killing intent are easy for us to sense, just so you know."
MJ and Felicia flanked him on either side, their sharp eyes locked onto him.
"Make a move…" MJ dared, her voice low and threatening.
"And it'll be the last you'll ever be capable of making," Felicia finished.
Killmonger stood frozen, his mind racing. Around them, the rest of the Guardians looked on in confusion and apprehension, their hands inching toward their weapons.
Seeing this, Harry tightened his grip on his escrima sticks, while Lizzy's hair defied gravity, igniting in a fiery display.
"Wait, what's going on?!" Captain Carter demanded, her eyes darting between them.
"Why are you surrounding him? What did he do wrong?" T'Challa asked, his brow furrowed.
"He was planning to steal the Infinity Stones…" Peter growled, his voice thick with restrained rage.
"And planning to kill Aria to take the last one," Felicia added, getting a knack for finishing other people's sentences.
Gamora was the first to believe them, her glare sharpening toward Killmonger.
T'Challa and Thor hesitated, struggling to accept the accusation.
Killmonger saw their doubt and seized the opportunity. "No, wait! You seriously can't be believing them, can you? I didn't even move!"
"This isn't a trial. There's no need to defend yourself," Peter scoffed. He withdrew his blade—and then punched Killmonger square in the torso.
The impact shattered his Panther armor. Pain radiated through his body as his vision blurred. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.
Peter caught him and hoisted him over his shoulder before nodding to Aria and the Watcher. "Go on. Continue."
The Watcher, disappointment evident in his gaze, sighed but nodded. With a wave of his hand, the Infinity Stones floated toward him, disappearing into his possession.
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