I don't own anything except any original/own characters and any original plot.

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Chapter 22 - Orveon

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The days after we got to Wakanda were long and tiring.

T'Challa met us and welcomed all of us with open arms. He apologized for fighting against our side before, and explained when and how he discovered the truth, and that he was the one who caught Zemo.

All of us slept for nearly a day before we were up and figuring out a long term plan. While I wanted to settle down in Wakanda and try to live a normal life, there was that hero part of me that still wanted to fight. Everyone else was the same way. There were things we had to do, people we had to help. Steve wanted to track down the last of Hydra and take them out once and for all. Now that we were criminals, we had to find discreet places that wouldn't rat on us to stay in while we were travelling. That would take time.

On top of that, the doctors in Wakanda revealed that they had technology that could help Bucky, but it would require him going into cryo-freeze. It was tearing Steve apart, being separated from his best friend again, and it brought up a few ideas in my mind.

While the others were distracted with thoughts of fighting and running from the law and the other Avengers, my thoughts were on a wedding. Steve and I swore to each other we would get married once the fighting over the Accords was over, and while the Avengers splitting up wasn't the ending we wanted, it was what we got.

Getting married on Earth was highly unlikely. We could have a wedding in Wakanda, but it would technically be under the law and there were people I wanted with me that wouldn't be able to come to Earth. So, I wanted to go back to Orveon for the first time in nearly ten years, and get married there.

"Bucky," I knocked on Bucky's door, stepping inside when he opened it, "I know you've been thinking about cryo, but there's another method I think could work."

"What is it?"

"It's a form of magical therapy. I can't do it, but there are people on Orveon that I know are capable."

"You want to go home? But I thought-"

"I talked to Steve, and the others. We can't get married here. If we go home, and have the wedding there, then it would be official somewhere, and my family could be present. You could get the help that you need."

"I trust you, and if Steve says he's okay with travelling to another planet..." Bucky paused for a second, processing what he just said before he spoke again, "Then I'll try your magical therapy."

"Wonderful! We leave at sunset. Oh, and it'll be around dinner time when we get there so don't eat anything."

I left Bucky's room to go back to my own. The others were busy with packing, and I had yet to put anything into a bag.

"Bucky said he's in," I told Steve, almost laughing at how confused he seemed, "What's wrong?"

"What should I wear to meet your parents?" He asked, looking over the few clothes he had from Wakanda, "I mean, it's the first time, but they're royalty so that makes things even more complicated."

"You'll get clothes when you get there," I assured him, "Our style is a bit more medieval than Earth's, so no matter what you wore you wouldn't fit in."

"That's comforting," Steve sighed, throwing a few things in his bag before zipping it shut, "Are you sure you want to go home? You've always had mixed feelings about it."

"Ever since I went to Kamar-Taj, I've felt better about where I stand with who I am and with my family. I'm ready."

~*~

In one of the fields just outside of the Wakandan palace, I had my luggage and communicator in my hand. Steve, Nat, Bucky, Sam, and Wanda were around me with their own bags.

"What exactly are we doing out here?" Nat crossed her arms, brow raised, "Don't tell me a spaceship is going to come out of nowhere and beam us up."

"Of course not. I'm going to summon the Bifrost, but I need to call my parents before we leave. They don't exactly know we're coming," I activated the com, holding it up to my ear, "Ejo, gysk? Aq qlypwin jyesh."

"Fah hew alogn?"

"Oru. Nídd ly fosba dian."

I ended the transmission quickly, not wanting to bring forth an awkward conversation before I saw them in person.

"Alright, travelling by Bifrost for the first time can be a bit...jarring. Heimdall can send us straight to Orveon so we won't have to stop in Asgard. Everybody ready?"

"How bad can it be?" Wanda chuckled nervously.

"Heimdall!" I called out to the sky, "Send us to Orveon!"

Light struck down around us, sucking us into the air. I glanced over at everyone. They seemed alright for their first time.

"Look," I pointed out a small cluster of planets, "That's the Hexar System, and the Gamoid. Isn't it all beautiful?"

"It's..." Steve trailed off, at a loss for words.

Our feet touched down on the smooth stone of the castle courtyard. I waved at my approaching family, paling when I heard retching behind me.

"Nat in the bushes, in the bushes!" I pulled Nat over to the blue bushes lining the road, "Puking on the road is the last thing we need. You good?"

"It was like going on the Tilt-A-Whirl ten times in a row," Nat groaned, wiping her mouth with her sleeve, straightening back up when she was finished.

"(Y/n) Vala Altovar," my mother snapped, startling me. I faced her, smiling nervously, "Bagn fah coah zawjep ke dian ev moge ta puxba ofdwak dy riv seonsao?"

"Zu yetwals," I pointed at Steve, "Ke quagni, pujo lachin english."

"English?" My mother repeated.

"Quagni?" Father fretted.

"Yetwals?" Varian asked jokingly.

"Yeah, we have a lot to catch up on. But, that might be something for dinner."

"Alright, I'll have someone take you to your rooms. You'll need to visit Madame Teyla," Mom motioned to all of us, "While out air and atmosphere are similar to Earth's, there are differences that you may find difficult. She'll help."

"She might also tear you limb from limb when she sees what you're wearing," Varian looked over my Midgardian outfit, "We'll see if it's worse than the day she found out you were training with the soldiers."

"Uhara," my father waved down a nearby servant, "Please take these humans to the guest hall, and (Y/n) to her old wing. (Y/n), I assure you can find your way to Madame Teyla's?"

"Yes Father, thank you."

Our group began to follow after Uhara. As the front doors loomed over us, Dad called out to me.

"(Y/n), we're glad you're back."

I smiled, glancing back at them. Even if I was the black sheep, and even if there were some unresolved issues my family was still family.

My eyes filled with unshed tears as soon as we stepped into the palace. The decorations had changed, but it was still the palace I grew up in.

"Damn," Sam let out a low whistle, "You wanted to leave all this?"

"It is quite beautiful," Wanda agreed.

"Look what you're marrying into," Bucky smirked, nudging Steve.

"A beautiful home for a beautiful woman," Steve kissed the back of my hand.

"If you'll follow me please," Uhara briskly walked up to the center staircase, taking two rights, "Every room in this hall is prepared for guests. Feel free to pick any. Princess, would you like me to take your bag to your room?"

"That would be lovely thank you, and if you could take Steve's as well," I passed her mine and Steve's bags.

"Someone will retrieve you for dinner," Uhara curtseyed and left.

"Go ahead and pick a room. Once you drop off your luggage, come back here because if we don't visit Madame Treyla soon you may find your organs shutting down."

Everyone rushed into the room closest to them when I said that. I chuckled.

"Why would our organs shut down?"

"Like my mom said, we breathe oxygen but the atmospheric composition is different. I adapted to Earth's so well because Asgard is a middle ground."

"Alright, let's not die," Nat stepped out of her room first, the others following soon after.

"Good, she lives at the edge of the village so we can take an Ookin carriage."

"What's an Ookin?" Steve questioned.

"It's sort of like a horse," I explained, leading the others back out of the palace to the front, "But they're bigger, and more orange, and more deadly- Oh look my parents prepared a carriage!"

The others let out screams of shock when they saw the dark orange creature looming over them.

"Eldia!" I brushed my hand over the Ookin's furred nose, "Oh you're gorgeous now. Guys this is Eldia, she basically grew up with me. Don't worry, she wouldn't hurt a fly."

"As much as I'm loving this, I don't want my organs to shut down," Sam broke me out of my excitement.

I winced. I had been so excited about having the chance to see everything from my childhood, that I had been more absent minded than usual.

"Right, right. Eldia, to Madame Teyla's house please. Everyone in, three on a side," I allowed the others to get inside of the carriage before I got in myself.

"So, if everyone on your planet can shift, what's stopping someone from imitating you?"

"They can't," I looked out the window, admiring the vegetation around us, "Yes, our subjects can shift, but only into one or two other forms. When they're children they might shift into a neighbor or a race they saw in a book. The royals are the only ones who are poly-shifters. Our genes are dominant so our children are purple and poly-shifters as well."

"Huh," Wanda hummed in interest, "That makes sense."

A comfortable silence fell over the carriage, the group staring out the windows to look at the place I was born. As the castle village came into view, the carriage slowed to a stop.

"Just a quick warning, Madame Teyla can be a bit frightening. Stand up straight and speak clearly," I warned everyone before stepping out of the carriage, "Madame Teyla!"

Teyla opened her front door as soon as I called her name. Her scarlet skin had more wrinkles and signs of aging than it used to, but everything else seemed exactly the same. Her grey eyes looked over every one of us, picking out our flaws.

"Hewül venfajud ev cenful," she stepped aside, allowing us into her home, "Hewül goane."

"It's jeans and a t-shirt," I flushed violet in embarrassment, even though the others didn't understand.

"English? What have you forgotten your own language?" Terla led us to a sitting room, pointing at the seats.

"I would never forget my language," I was offended at the notion.

"Sure," Madame Teyla moved about the room, picking up different vials and herbs, "You leave for ten years and come back with humans."

"They're my friends, here for the wedding," I tried to explain as she mixed everything together in a large pot, "Nat, Wanda, Sam, Steve, and Bucky."

Teyla hummed, stepping towards us. After looking everyone over once again she began to correct everything they were doing wrong.

"Pull your shoulder back, chin up, uncross your legs only ankles are acceptable, my Atreya your hair is unruly, you," she stopped at Steve, "You have the stature of a dancer. You shall do quite well for (Y/n)."

"Thank you?"

"You lean forwards more than backwards, but your posture isn't affected," I explained, "Your graceful."

"You shoulda seen him when he first got his shield. That was anything but graceful," Bucky snorted.

"Madame Teyla-"

"Yes, yes, I know," the woman poured her oncotion into a cup, "Here, one sip each should be enough."

Taking the first drink, I grimaced at the bitter taste left in my mouth, passing it on to Steve.

"Right, here we are," Teyla held up a small glowing device, tapping a button so it could expand, "This will examine your bodily systems to make sure they're functioning properly. (Y/n), you first."

I straightened up as she moved the scanner over my body. The others watched in interest as the device worked.

"Yes...Your stress levels are high, and your feptis is malnourished. Do they not have gunga on earth?"

"No, they don't," I shrunk under her intense glare.

"I'll be looking into substitutions. Steven, you're next."

"What's a feptis?" Bucky asked quietly.

"An extra organ. The one that helps us shift. Gunga is the key plant in a healthy diet for us."

After all the examinations were finished, all of us headed back to the palace. There, the others went into their rooms to change into outfits the servants had prepared. Steve an I went to my old room.

"Wow," Steve admired my old room, "It's big and...weird."

I laughed, pulling a pair of organic clothes from my bag. My room was a bit straigne. On the ceiling, the night sky was painted. THe wall my bed was on had a waist high shelf the length of the wall on each side, full of nicknacks. Opposite my bed was a large bookcase. The door to my bathroom and closet was another wall, and the last was full of pictures.

"My escape wall," I walked over to the torn book pages, "Whenever I read about a place I wanted to go, I put it up here."

"How many did you visit?"

"Two," I pointed them out, "Asgard and Earth. A few more I fought at when I was staying on ASgard, but I don't count battles."

"Why did you stop after two? There have to be at least a hundred here."

"Because of SHIELD, the Avengers, you," I nudged Steve playfully, "Now come on, the servants left an outfit for you on the bed."

While Steve was changing into his predetermined outfit, I was shifting through a few others.

"Mirror, retrieve past dinner outfits." Moving pictures appeared on the glass. I swiped through until I found one I liked, shifting into it.

"That tech is amazing," Steve marveled.

"It's not tech, it's magic," I corrected, smirking when I saw him all dressed up, "Well don't you look like a prince."

Steve smiled sheepishly, tugging on one of his sleeves. A small knock at the door told us that it was dinner time. We met Uhara at the door, the others herded behind her in their own outfits.

"All of this is very medieval," Bucky commented, motioning to everything around us.

"You guys ride in carriages, but have mirrors that are like cameras," Steve added in.

"Worlds with a deeper connection to magic are less reliant on technological advancements, I explained, pausing just before the dining room door.

"Are you alright your majesty?" Uhara questioned cautiously.

"Fine," I grit out, pushing open the door, "I just haven't had dinner with my family in a while."

My parents and brother were already waiting when we all stepped inside. I instinctively took the seat I had since childhood, Steve sitting next to me, and the others spreading out randomly in the remaining seats.

The food was brought out by servants and set across the table. Despite my nerves, I grinned. One of the things I missed most about home was the food.

"This looks interesting," the Avengers grimaced at the sight of our food.

"It's similar to beef on Earth, but a bit easier to cut. It's quite delicious," I reassured all of them.

I began to dig into my meal. Steve was the first to try his. When he didn't immediately spit it out, the others tried theirs as well.

"So have you come to invite us to your wedding?" My father seemed a bit upset asking that, "It's on Earth, isn't it?"

"Actually, we wanted to get married here. Soon. Like this week."

My father choked on his drink. Mother dropped her fork. Varian seemed to think it was the funniest thing in the world.

"Oh sis, that is too good! What did you do? Get banned from Earth?" Varian was so caught up in his laughter he didn't notice the uncomfortable looks our group shared.

"Varian this is serious," Mother scolded, clapping her hands, "Mortis, get the binder."

"What binder?"

"I've been planning this since the day you were born. Everything will be handled. After dinner we'll discuss things further."

The rest of dinner was spent chatting idly. Bucky and Sam were snarky so they got along well. My mother was interested in the female politics of Earth so she talked with Wanda and Nat, and Steve talked to my father about the 'common good' for civilians.

I stayed silent most of the time, just enjoying my good and the company. I felt more at home in those moments than I had in my childhood, or on Earth. Old family met new family and created the perfect time.

After dinner the others were led back to their rooms, but Bucky was led to the doctors he could work with to get better. Varian retired, and Steve and I went into a sitting room to discuss the wedding.

"This is the binder," Mom dropped a large book onto the table, "Final decisions and invitations will be made tomorrow. For now, we'll do simple questions to get an outline. Traditional or Terran?"

"Mix."

"Gold or silver?"

"Gold."

"Colors?"

"Purple and blue?" I looked to Steve, who nodded.

"Music?"

"We'll handle that."

"Guest list."

"Close friends and high standing."

"Anything else?"

"I don't think so," Steve and I both shook our heads, "I am trusting you two. Don't blow it."

"Said like a true Terran," Mother sighed, closing her book, "Tomorrow will be dress fitting. Nine in the morning."

"Steve, you'll join me to get your suit done."

"I understand, thank you Your Highness."

"Call me Holdren, you'll be my son soon enough."

~*~

The next morning, Steve went with Bucky, Sam, and my father to get all of their suits tailored and made for the wedding. Nat, Wanda, and I went with my mother to figure out their dresses and my own.

"I had the seamstress start on an idea. Obviously you can't just shift into a gown, that would stray very far from tradition. And here it is!"

"Oh my Atreya!"

Wanda looked on in horror, "It's so poofy."

Nat barked out a laugh, tears springing to her eyes, "I love this planet so much."

"Try it on, try it on," Mother pushed me behind a magic changing screen.

I pulled the monstrosity over my head, nearly getting lost in the layers of fabric. When I pulled my head through, I felt the tightness along my torso. Tightening threads, similar to a corset. Lifting up my skirts, I waddled out and spun in a small circle i front of the others.

"No." I said without hesitation, "This is not happening. I can barely breath, much less walk and feel comfortable. On top of that, it's very purple."

"It is a bit much," Nat agreed, snickering under her breath.

"It's purple in purple," Wanda continued, "Which, (Y/n) looks lovely in all colors but for a wedding dress it's too much."

"This dress was based off of my own," Mother crossed her arms, brow raised.

"Oh," all three of us shared a grimace, "It's not that bad..."

"I hated my wedding dress more than you can imagine. Your grandmothers forced me to wear it," my mother laughed, waving over the seamstress, "I just wanted to mess with you a bit. Can you pull out the set?"

"Yes Your Highness."

"I was so scared I would have to wear this," I sighed in relief, walking back behind the screen to get out of the dress, "So how many dresses are in the set?"

"Five so far, all different. Some with gold and white, purple and white, or a mix of all three. Since you wanted Terran and traditional I did some research. As soon as you said you were getting married I had the best seamstresses on Orveon start working on some. Anything you want to change can be, don't worry. And your ladies in waiting have a few options as well."

"Ladies in waiting," Wanda chuckled, chin resting on her hand, "Makes me sound a lot more classy than I am."

"No kidding, I've taken down governments and I get to be a lady in waiting for it."

"What kind of friends did you make on Earth?"

"Weird ones," I grunted as I pulled the purple dress over my head, leaving it in a large pile on the floor, "So what dress is really first?"

"Dress number one," a white dress was thrown over the screen.

"It was a ballgown, but still not as big as the other one. The border was purple, and the long sleeves were covered in golden lace.

I stepped out in front of the others, looking at myself in the mirror. It wasn't bad. The seamstress adjusted some of the fabric as I stood.

"I like the idea of the border, but that dress is a no for me," Wanda gave her opinion.

"Yeah, the sleeves clash, and it's pretty warm here."

"Number two then."

Number two was drastically different. The empire skirt was bunched around my feet, making it near impossible to walk. Purple lace snaked up my neck, irritating my skin and scales.

"I don't think this is the one," I pulled up the gold belt around my waist, "I like the belt though."

"I have something in storage," the seamstress rushed into her rows of clothing, her broken english flowing back to us, "It was made for ball, but it could be perfect wedding dress."

She came back with a dress laid over her arm, draping it over the screen. I carefully walked back behind, taking off dress #2 and put on the new one. As soon as I touched the smooth fabric I liked it. It felt like silk on the inside, with a few layers of tulle that poofed up the outside to an A-Line.

"Guys," I took a few tentative steps towards the others, "I think this is it. This is the one."

"You look beautiful," Mother took the belt off of dress #2, wrapping it around my waist, "And there's the finish touch. The off-shoulder makes it easier for us to give you your markings as well. Acina, would you be able to make the sleeves and top and bottom border gold?"

"Of course Your Highness."

"You got your purple," Nat motioned to the fading purple climbing up the bottom, "I think Steve will like it."

"Steve would like you walking down the aisle in a garbage bag. He worships the ground you walk on."

"You picked a good man then," Mother pulled out a com screen, sending out a few messages, "Women are inherently more capable of ruling."

"Amen!" Wanda and Nat called in unison.

I walked back behind the screen for the last time changing back into my original outfit. When I came back out, Wanda and Nat were being ushered into the maze of clothing surrounding us by Acina. I took a few steps to join them before they were out of sight, but my mother stopped me from going any further.

"They'll be fine. I told her the ladies in waiting dresses were to be blue. Trust her. There are a few things I wish to talk to you about."

"Like what?" I asked nervously, sitting down on the couch behind us.

"Well, darling, you leaving so suddenly and willingly all those years ago hurt us," she admitted, taking my hands in hers, "You were so glad to be able to leave us. Leave your planet behind."

"I know what I did hurt you Mother, but I was hurting too. I wasn't born to sit idly and be served life from a golden spoon. I know I was constantly breaking traditional and social expectations by training with the soldiers, but if they got to learn to fight, why couldn't I?"

"Because darling, not everyone in the universe shares out mentality. If we were to ever be put under the threat of war, we had to protect our people."

"That what I wanted to do!" I cried out, desperate that she understand, "I wanted to go out there and use my abilities for good. I wanted to save lives, and change minds. There are so many people suffering in the universe...I spoke to Atreya. Not hypothetically, I really spoke to her, and she told me that it was okay to be who I was. I want to believe that by being different I'm doing what a hero should."

"Oh ursbi," Mom pulled me in for a tight hug, "We knew you were hurting, I'm sorry you felt so out of place all those years. But you could have talked to us about what was bothering you."

"No offense Mom, but I don't think you would have understood. I just knew that I wasn't meant to stay. I'm sorry that leaving hurt you, and I'm sorry it took so long for me to come back."

"You were helping people, and making friends, and falling in love. You never would have done that if we made you stay here. You're different, but it's people breaking the mold that are the ones who ignite change. From what I've heard from our calls, and news that flows through, that you've been doing a good job with that."

"Not to toot my own horn but I have," I laughed slightly, pulling Mom into a tight hug, "I love you, so much. I wouldn't be as strong as I am today if all of you weren't there to guide me."

"We're so proud of you. No matter what we may have implied or said, that will never change."

"Hey (Y/n), so we found some dresses and we wanted your opinion on how long-" Nat stopped mid sentence when she saw our tearful eyes, "Oh this is a family moment."

"We can um, we can go look for a few more," Wanda offered awkwardly.

"No it's okay," I laughed slightly, running my hands under my eyes, "We need to get down to business. I still have to look over the rest of the details for the wedding before Saturday."

"Don't worry (Y/n), you've got us to help you out, we won't mess up. At least not too much, you said you like Sokovian love songs didn't you?" Wanda smirked, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Don't add Sokovian love songs to our wedding playlist I swear to Atreya," I chuckled, jumping up so we could look over their dress options.

"What about Russian love songs?"

I rolled my eyes, holding up two of the dresses so we could compare and contrast. Acina gave her opinion on a few of the fabrics as well, allowing the process to go much faster.

Two days until I would be getting married.