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Chapter Text

Location: The Battery, New York City, New York, United States

No one could've foreseen it, no one could've seen it coming, no one could've prepared for it. What would've been an otherwise bright and peaceful day in the city of New York, or at the very least another normal average day in the city with all its superheroes and supervillains around and abound, had suddenly turned dour and uncertain. From out of nowhere, before anyone could've realised it and warned everyone else of what would happen, a powerful explosion seemingly went off in the vast body of water just between the surrounding cities of New York and New Jersey. Powerful enough to be seen, heard, and even felt from many miles away, releasing not only a shockwave throughout the water, but also an ominous cloud of greenish mist into the air as it spread outward.

This strange fog overwhelmed many other ships nearby, swept over the Governors' Island, and even enveloped the Statue of Liberty itself. And already, many, many citizens either stood frozen and watched on with unease and dread, ran and fled with terror, or even took advantage to record and report on this unusual phenomenon. One such crew had driven and arrived as close as they as close on land to the spreading cloud, quickly setting up their camera and other equipment from their van. Meanwhile, their reporter, a young adult woman with short copper-brunette hair and curious brown eyes, donned in a short-sleeved lavender top and matching black shorts and sandals, stood patiently with her back against the side of the van while toying about with the microphone she would be set to use.

"Allright, Phoebe, everything's ready and we're about go live in a few minutes", the cameraman himself approached the woman. "Are you ready?"

"I suppose so", Phoebe responded. "You know, Charlie, I've been wanting to do a piece on atmospheric pressure".

"I don't think they'd be interested", Charlie shrugged.

"What, in atmospheric pressure?" Phoebe questioned.

"I mean, in any of us wanting to do anything", Charlie specified. "We're supposed to report on the weather, and possibly some other news as well... And just that".

Hearing all that, even from someone she had closely worked with for some time now, Phoebe could only let out a briefly huffed sigh. "Nobody appreciates me".

"I do", Charlie tried to assure.

"Do you really?" Phoebe gave a cock-browed look of doubt at her fellow crew member.

Unable to directly answer such a question, Charlie actively avoided it as he checked on his watch, only to see the time was already ticking down so closely to the exact time they would need to start filming very soon. "Anyway, we're on in thirty seconds", Charlie addressed to Phoebe before he turned tail to rush to the camera already set in place.

While Phoebe herself sighed again before following suit, microphone still firmly gripped in hand, walking over just to where the camera was pointing at. Looking back behind her, she could see the evergrowing cloud of green still present and looming in front of the horizon. Shifting her full proper concentration back to the camera again, Phoebe then positioned herself just close enough to the rails of the Battery Park while hastily clearing her throat and brushing back some of her head behind her ears.

Phoebe took in a deep breath and exhaled as soon as she felt her nerves relieve themselves for once. "Here we go", she muttered softly and quietly to herself.

"Okay, we're about to go live in three, two, one..." Charlie counted down before signalling for Phoebe to go.

"This is Phoebe Gold for the Fact Channel, on location at the edge of Manhattan itself", Phoebe spoke closely into her microphone while facing sternly into the camera itself. "Where we can see a massive cloud brewing in from just beyond our bay, yet it doesn't seem to be any normal cloud or natural weather, but rather caused by an explosion just outside our bay. And as you might be able to see, this cloud is continuing to spread at an unnerving pace as we speak. Could this be just an accident on one of our tankers, an underwater experiment gone wrong, or possibly even a bioterrorist attack? Only time will tell".

Just as Phoebe had concluded her statement, she glanced back once more at the giant green cloud, regardless whether the camera on her was still rolling or not, and she could see it closing in towards the Battery Park and the rest of New York City. Phoebe slowly turned herself fully around as she observed the encroaching mist, how it loomed about as high as most tidal waves and tsunamis. Her mind rushed around to find even one word to accurately describe what she was seeing before her. The rest of her crew stood and watched just as silently, almost stumbling back a bit even.

Before long, the unnaturally green cloudy fog finally reached and approached the very edge of Manhattan itself, enshrouding over the Battery Park and all the crew members in it. As if by some mighty gust of wind, some of their hair and clothes billowed and undulated while the people themselves breathed up the mist and coughed out in reaction. And yet, even by the time cloud had fully passed on by and left the people behind, none of them seemed to show no clear negative effects from any consumption, or at least most of them.

From the very moment Phoebe fortuitously puffed and inbreathed its vapours, while she too rasped and hawked for a bit, something had been triggered from deep within her. At very first, she hadn't felt anything much more, but almost abruptly, Phoebe's body and torso started cramping and jerking inward, as if something in her stomach was churning. A deep heavy tingle crawled up inside her teetering legs and thighs, then up her spine, across her twitching arms and fingers, and up into her now-drowsy head as well. Her right hand gradually loosening its grip on the microphone she was using until it eventually feel free and down to the ground with a harsh clatter. But even with her body and senses nearly disorienting, she still managed to keep up on her own two feet.

"Phoebe!" Charlie soon noticed something very off with the reporter, calling out with high genuine concern in his tone as he pointed forth at her. "What's that happening to you?!"

Hesitantly looking down at herself, Phoebe spotted something very wrong happening to her indeed, something swelling and bloating just above and around both her ankles, something green and bulbous that soon spawned multiple little tendrils that crawled and coiled up her trembling legs like snakes and insects. Very similar bugles and tendrils appeared on her wrists as well before they too started coiling up her arms as well. Shaking violently and shuddered with wide-eyed dread and open-mouthed fear, Phoebe could only stand in place helplessly as the other people looked on with shared horror, unsure of what they'd be able to do.

"W-Wha-" Phoebe stammered in her state of paralysed horror. "What... Is... Ha-Happening... T-To me...?"

As they soon already begun enveloping around her chest and neck, the tendrils soon wrapped her legs closely together, then they bound her arms and restrained them to the sides of her torso. All throughout this, Charlie still kept the camera up and rolling, filming and recording this whole entire process. Eventually, as Phoebe's cocoon formed and developed, it enclosed round Phoebe's face and head, before finally sealing up good and tight, concealing her whole body from clear naked sight.

"Phoebe? Phoebe, can you hear me in there?" Charlie called out at the chrysalis itself.

"We gotta do something", One of the other crew members exclaimed.

"What can we do?" Charlie glanced back and questioned, wondering how to get their reporter out of this strange inhuman cocoon.

Chapter Text

Location: Avengers Tower, New York City, New York, United States

From atop within the highest floor in the famed tower of heroes, a group of distinct individuals stood side-by-side and stared through the wide clean glass window with nothing than stern shock in their faces and their eyes as they saw and heard the explosive event set off in the waters just beyond the bay and release a burst of sickly-green smoke to spread outward. Said heroes were the core members of the Avengers themselves: The invincible Iron Man, the incredible Hulk, the patriotic Captain America, the astonishing Ant-Man, the unstoppable Wasp, and the almighty Thor.

"This is unbelievable", Captain America stated, almost reminded of another tragedy that happened in New York City. "You think this might a prelude to a bigger attack, Tony? From the likes of Hydra, the Chitauri, the Hellfire Club? Or perhaps Doom, Loki, or even Kang?"

"Could very be so, Steve", Iron Man agreed before glancing over to the Hulk. "What do you think, Bruce?"

"Certainly unusual, Tony", Hulk spoke in a rather composed and articulate manner, a far-cry from what most would often think of him.

"Definitely looks like a bomb of sorts", Wasp noted as she observed the continually spreading mist. "Though you'd think it would set off somewhere that's actually populated". She then looked to her husband and asked. "You think that gas could be deadly, Hank?"

"Dunno, Janet", Ant-Man replied vaguely. "We'll have to see if that's true or not".

"Even still, we have people to warn and protect!" Thor added.

"Then let's assemble!" Iron Man said before turning back and heading off, followed by the rest of his fellow comrades beside him.

The alien fog had already carried on and passed by, having cleared through all the streets in the city of New York. Many citizens had already locked themselves safely in their own homes, but even still, most citizens who found themselves caught in the cloud's ever-spreading path had coughed but otherwise proved to be unaffected, but a select few at the very least have shown a more significant and reoccurring effect. And a young reporter, Phoebe Gold, had proven to be among those few, wrapped up completely within a large teal-green pulsating chrysalis and curled into a floating foetal position barely seen by the naked eye from the outside. Surrounding this strange and abnormal sight, her whole camera crew stood still, stunned and silent, as they observed with curious eyes. Charlie, an assistant, cameraman, and close friend of Phoebe's, could only leave his camera on and running to record all thus.

"Now who's gonna report on the weather?" One of the other male crew members questioned.

"Seriously?" Charlie heard and retorted. "Phoebe's trapped in there, and that's what you're worried about?"

"Hey wait, look!" Another female crew member called out and pointed at the stirring cocoon.

Charlie and the rest of the crew looked to see the hardened cocoon start to shake and rattle about, accompanied by a deep rumbling ambience, even beginning to crack and glow. It almost seemed like a time-bomb about to go off at any moment, and yet none of the crew seemed to turn and run in case such would ever happen, only stepping back slightly as their eyes widened and mouths gaped further. Gradually, the shaking and glowing grew more intense, causing the people surrounding it to take another step back and cover their eyes.

Before long, the chrysalis ignited and exploded, releasing a splattering burst of fluid that landed on some of the crew members, or at least on some of their feet. Taking a look again, the crew finally saw her again, Phoebe Gold, seemingly unchanged and unaltered, even with that same liquid drenching all over her body and clothes. She floated just above the remains of her cocoon with legs tightly together, arms slightly spread out and wide, and her eyes softly closed on an otherwise vacant face. And she just remained there, still and silent, as did the people around her.

"Phoebe?" Charlie recognised and asked, breaking the silence as a result. "Are you okay?"

More unnerving silence followed before a response came, for but a brief moment, Phoebe's eyelids squinted tight before darting open and revealing not the brunette irises and pupils she had, but instead completely glowing eyes of green.

"More than okay..." Phoebe finally answered, her voice now giving off an unsettling echo, and her hair now billowing rapidly. "There is a change in the atmosphere because now... I am the weather!" Then with a loud shriek, she conjured a small yet strong wind current that forced back most of the crew, their equipment, and even the van.

"Woah wait!" Charlie shouted "What are you doing?"

"The script has been rewritten", the possessed Phoebe boasted before blowing Charlie away as well. "They once said I wouldn't be able to make through to the air, well I have now!"

She then took up to the air where dark green clouds manifested around her and completed her transformation, her hair glowing, her clothes darkening, and green lightning sparked, all the while cackling like mad.

The Avengers continued out, venturing across the city, with Thor, Iron Man, and Wasp flying across the skyline while the Hulk leapt from building top to building top, carrying Ant-Man and Captain America with him. As they did, they looked below to see the green alien fog pass on by in between the many buildings and skyscrapers, and even sweep over the countless bystanding citizens.

"Jarvis!" Iron Man called into the intercom of his helmet.

"Yes, sir?" A voice replied, one Iron Man didn't expect but still recognised, his butler Edwin Jarvis.

"No, the other Jarvis", Iron Man corrected.

"Yes, Mr Stark", the other Jarvis, the artificial intelligence known as 'J.A.R.V.I.S.', spoke up.

"Are there any deaths or infections caused by this cloud?" Iron Man asked.

"Upon scanning the areas infested by the mist of unknown origin, there are no signs of casualty detected", J.A.R.V.I.S. analysed and discovered.

"No casualties?" Wasp questioned with a cocked brow, having heard through her helmet's intercom as well.

"Correct", J.A.R.V.I.S. confirmed to Wasp, and the rest of the Avengers. "However, upon further deeper sweeping of the populated areas, almost 1.09% of the scanned human population in the city seem to be going through a form of metamorphosis".

"Wait, what?" Ant-Man heard too and was too almost put off by what the AI had stated. "What do you mean 'metamorphosis'?"

"Several humans seem to have been sealed within cocoon-like anomalies upon exposure to the gas compound", J.A.R.V.I.S. further explained.

"Do we have any idea as to what this gas is even made of if it's not hazardous", Ant-Man questioned.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., can you scan the cloud itself?" Iron Man requested. "What are its properties?"

"The properties of this mist seem to match those found in the crystalline substance known as Terrigen", J.A.R.V.I.S. concluded and revealed.

"Terrigen", Iron Man noted and almost recognised. "Now where have I heard that before..."

Just then, a flash of light, another cloud of much darker green manifested just beyond the bay of the city, and a deep crumbling boom could be heard, all catching our heroes' attention. And almost immediately, as the Avengers gathered together on the roof of one building, a floating projected figure of a tall lean moustached man, sitting with legs crossed into a lotus while wearing a blue suit and a long flowing red cape, appeared right in the middle and surrounded by the encircling Avengers.

"Avengers", the strange yet familiar man spoke with received pronunciation as the only the Avengers themselves could see him at this moment, a form telepathy shared by only a few such as Professor X and Madame Web. "There appear to be unusual weather phenomenon materialising across the city you reside in".

"Nice of you to report the weather as we're witnessing it, Dr Strange", Iron Man certainly recognised the Supreme Sorcerer and commented. "But what do you have any idea where it's coming from or what's causing it?"

"As well as who, how, and why?" Thor added.

"That we're yet to find out", Dr Strange replied. "I suggest you move fast on this one, the answer might be closer than any of us may expect. I'll reach out to you later".

The projection of Dr Strange vanished and the Avengers carried on their way.

Chapter Text

Before long, the valiant Avengers eventually landed and gathered in the Battery park, not even the odd bit of wind would deter any of them in any way possible. As they searched around the park for a bit, they eventually found a van tipped over on its side, no doubt thanks to said wind, or possibly something else entirely. Our heroes could hear a faint sound of metallic knocking coming from within, knowing right away that someone was inside and trying to escape. The Hulk dashed over to grasp hold of the van and lift it up, allowing whoever may've been inside to roll out free through the open sliding door, and that person just so happened to be the cameraman Charlie, groaning and rubbing his shoulder before gasping in awe at the presence of the original core Avengers.

"So do you have any idea of what happened here?" Captain America kneeled down and asked the innocent civilian.

"Phoebe, our reporter, metric pressure, explosion, green cloud, crazy weather, storm, Phoebe gone!" Charlie started rambling as he tried to get back up to his feet, as if what he had witnessed beforehand had wiped away any remote sense of sanity or comprehension of reality within him.

"Woah, a lot of words and yet not enough words", Iron Man stepped in. "Perhaps adding a few verbs in there could help?"

"I have one..." Thor looked up and pointed. "Look!"

The rest of the Avengers turned to look and see whoever or whatever that might be, one they didn't seem to catch or notice at first before now. There, outside the park by at least fifty feet out and levitating still above the vast water by at least fifty feet high, was a single feminine figure. Her skin was as pale as snow, her eyes glowed an envious green, her lips formed an intimidating frown, her hair blew wild yet gracefully in the wind, and she wore what seemed to be a long dress of dark-green with patterns resembling lightning bolts coiling around and downward. Surrounding the woman were an encircling cloud of sickly green.

"No stealing my thunder, Avengers!" The strange woman called out with an echo to her voice. "Back off!"

"That's her!" Charlie spoke up.

"Who?" the confused Hulk questioned with a cocked head and brow.

"Cloud creatures, put these so-called heroes in a fog!" The woman cast forth her hands at the Avengers, as if to make an incantation, just before her dark-green clouds around her spread outward, downward and toward our heroes. Instantly, the clouds surrounded the Avengers in a mist so thick and dense they couldn't see any of the trees in the park or even each other for that matter.

"Woah, didn't exactly catch this on today's forecast", Ant-Man commented on the situation.

"Awooo, creepy clouds and freaky fog", Wasp stated with clear sarcasm, motioning her fingers. "What, are they gonna prevent us from getting a tan?" Just then, one of the cloud creatures grabbed complete hold of the Wasp, almost forcing her wheeze in its tight grip. "Or perhaps prevent us from breathing?"

As Hulk and Captain America backed up, they both soon made contact with each other, literally back-to-back. "So, got any ideas, Cap?" Hulk asked.

"Just one, short and simple strategy", Cap whipped out his familiar iconic shield and stood his ground in a pose. "Let's go cloudbusting!"

The proud and patriotic Captain dashed forth and flung his shield at one of the cloud beasts approaching him, while Hulk pounded his chest and grunted before leaping forth and sending a big green fist towards another one of them right in the face. Cap's shield managed to slice off one of the cloud creature's arms, only for it to reattach back on again. Likewise, Hulk's fist managed to warp the other cloud beast's face and make it through to the other end with the Hulk himself landing behind the creature. But as soon as he turned around to see the fog creature again, its head reformed and turned back to see the Hulk.

Then Thor went and threw his Mjolnir at the creature facing the Hulk, Meanwhile, Iron Man took off while Ant-Man increased in size in order to match in size with the mist creatures, if not taller by a slight. Iron Man ended up getting grabbed by the legs and flung about by one of the creatures before he fired repulsor blasts from the glowing palms of his suit. Ant-Man tried to literally punch the problem, only for his fists to go through another one of the cloudy beast, just like with the Hulk, and being punched back.

Watching all this, Wasp continued to grunt as she struggled to break from the grip of one of the other foggy monsters. Then she decided to shrink herself down, slipping free before growing larger than normal. "Here's a post for ya", she boasted, charging up . "Via Wasp Mail!" She then fired a few rapid blasts of bio-electric energy from her gloves right at the monster's face.

"Let's pump up the clouds and bring in the fog!" The strange weather-controlling woman said as she did just that, increasing the density of the mist. Soon, the Avengers looked about and almost scurried, trying to tell what fog is living or not.

"C'mon and face me, puffy creatures", Hulk taunted the creatures. "Or do I have to come over and smash you myself?"

Just as he made his threat, a giant foggy fist flew his way, only for him to dodge it right away. Ant-Man and Wasp managed to see each other in the dense mist and meet up, both decided to smile and go back-to-back together before shooting out with more stings of bio-energy. They blasted through the fog, regardless of whether there was a creature in the way or not, but then Wasp heard a familiar growl of pain. Through the clearing mist, she could see Hulk gritting his teeth and rubbing his hands on his rear.

"Oops, very sorry there", Wasp's eyes bugged with surprise and regret at the mistake she had just made. "My bad".

"My internal radars can't seem to distinguish what's a living creature or what's just lifeless fog", Iron Man observed. "It's getting pretty hard to avoid their gri-" He could barely even finished his sentence before a giant cloudy fist appeared from nowhere and grasped him tightly, causing him to choke inside his own armour.

"What do you say we sort this out?" Thor suggested to both Hulk and Ant-Man.

Once he eased from getting accidentally shot in the rear by a fellow Avenger, the Hulk soon projected his anger towards the beasts of cloud and fog, flexing his might and clapping his hands together. Such an intensified force caused a brief burst of air to shoot forth and wipe at the mist, living or lifeless. Any that still remained and persisted were getting blasted at by Ant-Man while Thor spun his Mjolnir about and charged up a bit of thunder of his own, launching bolts of blue lightning at the green misty foes. Each bolt struck and penetrated through parts of the cloudy monsters, causing them to flee and disperse.

"Avengers, one!" Ant-Man grinned. "Cloud monsters, nil".

Upon seeing these Avengers gain the upper her creations, the atmokinetic woman shrieked out of frustration and exclaimed. "Clouds of darkness, destroy them all!"

Once she made her call of anger, said cloud creatures of darkness came back, much bigger, tougher and all-around meaner.

"Alright then, let's turn up the heat on these little fluffy clouds!" Iron Man said just as the light in chest started to light up more intensely than normal. Then with a burst of light, he shot his uni-beam at one of the cloud giants right through its face and body. Not only that, but he also revved up the flames from his boots more so than he'd usually do, As soon as he did, the creature he fired at shrieked in pain as it started to bloat up and almost melt down. "Huh, so heat causes clouds and fog to evaporate", Iron Man observed before speaking to Captain America. "And to think I got a B in physics".

"That's lovely and all, Iron Man", Cap noted. "But do you really wanna make them any bigger or louder?"

But soon after he asked that question, the cloudy giant began to diminish again before it could indeed get any larger, dissolving and melting away for good.

"Or rather smaller and quieter", Ant-Man spoke up.

"Allow me to try that", Wasp flew in and said giddily. She then went and flew up towards another one of the remaining cloud beasts, charging up the energy within her gloves before she unleashed it all in the form of a blazing rapid fire like a machine gun. The intense heat and friction from her attack ended up breaking down the wailing creature as it soon constantly split apart bit by bit before disappearing altogether. The other core Avengers took care of the others as well, giving all they could be it a pulse of beam, a slamming fist of green, or the throwing of a hammer and shield. "Hmph, looks like the clouds have parted", Wasp said her little one-liner while dusting off her hands and her smirk beamed with gleeful smug.

"Pesky bug!" The weather-controlling woman sneered loudly.

"Bug?" Wasp heard what the woman said and pointed back, asking, "who you calling a pesky bug?"

The supervillainess didn't answer such a question, at least verbally, as she launched a bolt of green lightning at the Wasp, causing her to yelp and stumble backwards. Wasp would've fell completely down on her back had it not been for Ant-Man catching her from behind.

"You may've survived for now, Avengers, but I'm the star here and now!" The twisted woman boasted before she noticed Charlie, her former friend and partner off to the side and grabbing hold of the still-working camera. "Keep that camera on and at me. I got breaking news". As she continued, her voice grew in volume and all-around intensity. "Hear me this! I am the Inhuman Weather, and there's a hundred-percent chance of ruination!"

And as the last word echoed in the restless atmosphere, the self-proclaimed 'Inhuman Weather' fired bolt after bolt of green lightning relentlessly at the heroes, forcing them to dodge and scatter. They tried to fire back and deflect as much as they ever could. By dividing them, she was surely able to conquer them. Lost at the border of madness, she cackled twistedly and almost wickedly at the power she had literally at her fingertips. Could she really mark an end to the Avengers as we know them?