AN: So, I've decided to continue this one instead of ending it after this arc. I've dropped hints in the spoiler tag at the end of this chapter about the next villain. After that, there will be 2 more arcs and villains who will pose great threat to Tony.🫡🫡 So, gimme those powerstones. I need them to keep this one floating.Â
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[Mars]
The observation deck curved outward in a broad arc of reinforced glass and energy shielding, providing a clear view of the red planet below. The colonization project created sharp geometric shapes on the rust-colored surface. Habitation domes glowed softly, transit rails formed silver paths between buildings, and defense pylons stood like quiet guardians on the horizon. Almost half of Mars has been reshaped by human design through engineering, patience, and a frankly irresponsible amount of money.
Tony stood with his hands clasped behind his back, staring down at it all with an expression that was unusually quiet for him.
"This is the part where I say something dramatic," he said at last. "Like how humanity is taking its next great step or how I am definitely not playing god. But honestly, I am mostly thinking about how much paperwork this would have been without the Reality Gem."
Wanda smiled faintly and stepped up beside him. She could feel the energy coming from the Reality Gem in Tony's hand. It pressed against her senses like a held breath.
"You are nervous," she said.
Tony snorted. "I prefer the term respectfully cautious. This thing rewrites the rules of existence. I once almost blew up the Horizon Island while mastering it. I am allowed to be nervous."
Wanda folded her arms and looked down at the planet. "You have done more reckless things with less preparation."
"True," Tony said. "But never on this big scale. Anything could go wrong, like unstable energy output or me vaporizing myself... So, I'm glad you are here with me."
She turned to him, meeting his eyes. "Thanks for the trust. If things go wrong, I'll anchor the reality and make sure nothing happens to you. But you do remember our deal, right?"
Tony scratched his head. "Alright, I'll go on a double date with you and Janet. Truth be told, I always liked you and her. But I wasn't sure how to approach you two, thanks to my complicated relationship situation. And yeah, I noticed the hints you girls have been giving me lately."
"I thought it was kinda weird at first, but you know... after working for this long with that charming face, I couldn't help it. It's the same with Janet. With the dangers we are facing, I thought that it's better to live my life to its fullest rather than regretting it tomorrow," She said with a little smile. "So, you just go on and do what you must. I'll keep a watch out."
Tony nodded.
He turned away from the glass and extended his right hand. The nanites flowed instantly, forming the gauntlet. The Reality Gem sat embedded in its housing, glowing red.
The moment Tony focused on it, the air in the deck shifted.
Wanda inhaled slowly and let her own power rise, spreading outward in a controlled lattice. Her magic wrapped around the space, around Tony, around the Gem itself, creating a stabilizing field that hummed just beneath perception.
"Start small," she said calmly. "Do not try to fix everything at once."
Tony smirked. "You sound like my better angels."
"I am," she replied without humor.
He raised his hand toward the glass and focused on what he wanted.
A burst of red energy emerged from the Gem and swept over the planet.Â
Reality bent.
The Martian surface began to change.
The rust-red ground darkened, minerals reordering at the atomic level. The soil shifted from hostile dust into fertile earth capable of sustaining life while retaining the red color. Ice trapped beneath the surface loosened and rose, spreading into underground reservoirs and controlled waterways that threaded naturally toward the colony infrastructure already in place.
The sky responded next.
Atmospheric density increased gradually, carefully. Carbon dioxide ratios adjusted. Oxygen formed in stable concentrations, and the usual gas and other ratios stabilized, copying Earth. Winds picked up, not violent, but alive, carrying warmth instead of razor-edged cold.Â
Tony exhaled slowly and adjusted his focus. The Gem's glow softened. The changes continued.
Vegetation followed.
Hardy plant life emerged first, mosses and engineered grasses spreading across the terrain in expanding patterns. They did not appear suddenly. They grew, cell by cell, roots sinking into newly cooperative soil. The green stood out against the red, creating a unique sight. He also created multiple new lifeforms, similar to Earth's but with a slight twist, just to make it unique for Mars.
Tony then raised new buildings, roads, teleporters, and everything one would need to live on Mars. He also gave his defence system on and around the planet, an instant upgrade and he also multiplied them 30 times. So, anyone who tries to invade will be obliterated into nothingness except for some overpowered cosmic entities.
Over the next few hours, he double-checked everything to avoid unnecessary surprises.
Tony lowered his hand.
The Reality Gem dimmed, settling back into dormancy.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Tony let out a breath that sounded like it had been trapped in his chest for years. "Okay. That was a lot. I'm surprised I didn't collapse this time." He looked at Wanda. "Thank you for being my safety net."
"Wow! This is amazing," Wanda said, looking at the new Mars. "You think it's okay to step out?"
"Yes," Tony said as he took her hand. "Let's go together?"
He used teleportation to go outside.
[Outside]
The air was cool and clean, carrying a faint mineral sweetness instead of the sterile tang of filtration systems. Tony took an instinctive breath and then paused, surprised, before taking another—deeper this time. His lungs didn't protest. No artificial assist kicked in. Just air, doing what air was supposed to do.
"Well," he said, exhaling slowly, "that's new. Mars just officially outperformed Earth."
Wanda smiled as she looked around. The ground beneath their feet was firm but soft with life, dark red soil threaded with green growth that shimmered faintly in the light. It was not Earth green. It was subtler, deeper, as if the planet had chosen its own shade rather than copying anyone else's homework.
The sky was a warm rusty orange, like a late afternoon that never ends. The sun was low in the distance, its light shining through the air and casting long shadows. Everything around was painted in reddish and copper tones.
They began to walk.
After a few steps, Wanda stopped and looked down at her boots. She smiled to herself and slipped them off, setting them neatly to the side. Tony watched her for a moment, then sighed like a man surrendering to a good idea.
"Oh come on," he said, kicking off his shoes. "If I get tetanus on a planet I made, I will never hear the end of it."
They stepped forward barefoot.
The ground felt warm and firm under their feet. The grass bent easily without breaking, soft and springy, giving a sense of life. Fine red soil stuck to their skin, clean and dry, very different from the thick dust Mars used to have.Â
Wanda closed her eyes as she walked. She slowed her steps, letting herself feel everything. The texture of the grass. The faint pulse of life beneath the soil. The planet was not loud about it, but it was there, steady and calm.
"This feels right," she said softly. "Like it has always been waiting."
Tony nodded, watching her more than the horizon now. "Yeah. I think Mars just needed someone to listen instead of shouting science at it."
A small bird hopped across their path, its feathers catching the light as it tilted its head at them. It chirped once, curious, then fluttered up into a nearby tree. In the distance, something small moved through the grass, a squirrel-like creature darting between roots before freezing and staring at them.
Tony crouched slightly. "Okay, buddy. We coexist peacefully. No need to write an origin story here."
The creature twitched its tail and ran off.
They laughed and kept walking.
Further ahead, the land opened into a wide field. A group of deer grazed quietly, their movements slow and careful. When Tony and Wanda approached, the animals lifted their heads but did not run. They watched for a moment, then returned to eating, calm and unafraid.
Wanda felt a tightness in her chest, not pain, just emotion. "They are not scared," she said.
"They know we mean no harm," Tony said.
The sky slowly changed above them. The orange light softened, and blue colors crept in near the horizon. The air was cool enough to be refreshing. A gentle breeze moved through the grass and trees, carrying the sound of leaves and distant water.
They walked in silence for a while, side by side.Â
They stopped before a little pond, surrounded by trees and there was enough space for camping.
Tony finally spoke, "So, what do you think about a little camping?"
Wanda turned around and raised an eyebrow, "Is this your way of asking me out?"
"Yes," He walked forward and stopped before her. Then he took her hands and looked into her eyes. "Wanda. Will you go out on a camping date with me on Mars?"
Wanda's eyes got a little glossy as she nodded with a smile. "Yes."
...[Spoilers. Upcoming chs names. Click and read][1]
..[POWERSTONES AND REVIEWS]...
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[1] Ch: 204 [The White Queen’s Mercy] Ch: 205 [Moments and Consequences] Ch: 206 [A Weapon Given a Family] Ch: 207 [Tony: 0X Upgrade] Ch: 208 [Namor: Survival Over Pride] Ch: 209 [Primordial Waters] Ch: 210 [All-Black Chooses] Ch: 211 [Thor vs Gorr: Judgment of the Necrosword]