#backstory and chronology of the four days that shook the world

[lightdancer1]

A basic chronology of the canon divergence in A Far Green Country:

Sozin's Comet: Azula is defeated at the last Agni Kai and left chained to the grate for hours. The combination of thermal shock and her continuing to erupt in bursts of fires induces a very high fever and Iroh, who arrives 12 hours later, finds her at a literal point of near death.

She spends the next three days in a healing room, treated by others, with aid from more than one waterbender who at the time are frightened lest the Fire Lord's sister die at their watch when the victory is newly won and very much in that unreal state.

When Azula is recovered and physically stable, Zuko tells the physician at the mental hospital, after escorting her over on the fourth day from the Agni Kai "Take Azula out," and gives him a detachment of five Kyoshi warriors who all were trained in Chi-blocking.

On the fourth day, and in this culture as per East Asian cultures IRL, four and death are connected, one of the Kyoshi Warriors is delayed (in her view quite mercifully in retrospect as they were very uneasy about the circumstances and did not sign up to be part of an execution, let alone what thy were seeing unfolded) for thirty minutes by a patient who had a violent episode, and she helped ensure the situation was resolved peacefully.

Then there's a vicious explosion from Azula's cell and they arrive to find the cell with an exploded wall, blackened footprints, the one guard from the facility on duty on the floor with third degree burns on his chest and arms, the chains melted, burnt scraps of the straitjacket and then a boat fires itself off, literally, with Azula's firebending working in that same jet propulsion.

It takes people three days to work up the courage to tell the Fire Lord that his hand-picked doctor was seeking to murder his sister on his orders, and by then Azula is long gone and there's no idea of her fate, where she was, or what happened to her.

They had no way to know that twenty-nine hours after her escape, Azula washed up in the derelict ruins of her boat after withstanding two storms almost dead and with infections in her arms and legs on Karakorum Island, in the wake of one of the storms that sent her ship, which she was too close to death to steer any longer, crashing onto the shore Dracula-style.

For the Fire Nation and the other Three Nations it's a rather damned big detail that this was 'oversight' and it inflicts lasting damage and a deep sting on the ability to trust Fire Lord Zuko's negotiations for peace, or anyone from the Royal Family. It's mostly Aang himself with input from the Fire Sages who does the actual negotiating for the Fire Lord and forces the other nations to consider if not Zuko, then who?

Ozai is absolutely not allowed to retake his throne and Iroh would not be acceptable to the Earth Kingdom after his 'liberation' of Ba Sing Se and his casually devastating both Earth Kingdom subjects and his own people as the collateral damage.

The fear of a military putsch and a junta of generals replacing Zuko also motivates the signing of the formal treaty.....and the fate of the vanished princess and the belief long before the formal declaration that she died a horrific death escaping a brutal execution that even the not so squeamish people of the Earth Kingdom balk at as more savage than they believe Royals deserve creates a major crisis that never fully stops.

The ensuing investigation also sees the tenuous prospect that the Kyoshi Warriors might have become a Fire Nation Dai Li replacing the older Eyes and Ears rudely aborted and a major diplomatic crisis between the Fire Nation and the Kyoshi Warriors, who resent being used as assassins for someone who had not even stood trial and had done them less direct harm than Fire Lord Zuko himself. Aang expected to leave the Fire Nation not long after the victory with the assurance that the Royal Family's bloody cycle was halted....and then he finds out the hard way that it not only didn't halt but it took a dangerous new path and he ends up staying in the Caldera with the rest of the Gaang for a half-year keeping the peace.

[jamlavender]

2, 4, 5, 9, 11, and 13 for Ælysium!! 💞

(Ælysium is an alternate ending for Lord Asriel and Mrs Coulter, where they kill Metatron, avoid the abyss and escape into another world together. Read it here!)

2. What scene did you first put down?

As I mentioned in another answer, I write chronologically, so I started with the first scene of the fic as it’s posted now! I do remember, though, that these few lines of dialogue came to me soon after I’d started planning the story:

“There are worse places to be trapped,” he said. He pressed his lips to her shoulder. “And worse people to be trapped with.”

She let out a breathy, incredulous laugh, her eyes glittering with tears. “I think you’re the only person in all the worlds who would say that to me.”

He smiled against her bronzed skin. “Then it’s lucky I’m the one who’s here with you, isn’t it?”

4. What’s your favourite line of dialogue?

She shook her head. “You are really not curious, about how the war ended? You are content to stay here, for the rest of our lives, not knowing?”

“I do know. Metatron perished. It will change all the worlds. I am sure of it.”

“But what if it doesn’t?” she cried. “What if they don’t know that…” She broke off and let out a ragged breath, tears spilling from her eyes. “…that God is dead, and Dust is beautiful, and they should not be afraid?”

He could never resist her when she was like this: blazing before him, her chest heaving, her jaw rigid with determination. In the past, in moments like this, her eyes would only have swirled with malice; now, they were brimming with a violent sense of hope, and he knew that he was lost.

5. What part was hardest to write?

Hmm, I wrote this several months ago (and have written a lot of other stories since), so I don’t really remember... I do remember being shocked by just how easy this fic was to write though! I wrote the bulk of it in a haze of four days of furious typing, while we were in full lockdown, the weather was terrible, and I had a week off from my classes. It just poured out of me! I love when writing is like that.

9. Were there any alternate versions of this fic?

Not at the time. There were a few scenes that had to be cut for length reasons (my favourite was them exploring the basalt caves under the mountain, finding natural hot spring pools, bathing together, and then making love on the warm stone. Mmm!) and I did very briefly toy with the idea of them not terminating her pregnancy, even though (as she argued in the fic) that would have been ludicrous. But now, I suppose there is an alternate version for the second half: Unholy Ghosts! Lots of people were sad that they didn’t reunite with Lyra in this fic, and after @callhimnowmarisamylove prompted me to write a fic where they did, it made obvious sense for the backstory of their survival to be the same as the first half of Ælysium! You can think of Unholy Ghosts as an alternate version of the end of this fic, where the window hadn’t been closed.

11. What do you like best about this fic?

The Edenic imagery and vibes. That was always my favourite part about this AU. I loved describing the lush forests, the colourful sand and fruit and wildlife, the warmth and the fecundity and the perfect water. The sunlight and the stars and the enormous opal moon. My favourite part is the ending, where they’ve stopped wearing clothes and their dæmons are essentially interchangeable and they’re completely at peace with each other and their fate and the natural world. I also think that I nailed the final section, and more specifically, the final sentence.

13. What music did you listen to, if any, to get in the mood for writing this story? Or if you didn’t listen to anything, what do you think readers should listen to to accompany us while reading?

I very, very rarely listen to music while I write, and if I do, it’s classical pieces or instrumental soundtracks, because I can’t focus on writing if there are lyrics bombarding me too! I certainly didn’t listen to anything while I wrote this, and I wouldn’t know what to recommend either. But if any of you have music recommendations for this fic, I would love to know about it and what they are <3

@takingtheuniverse, thank you so much for sending this ask! I love this story but given that it’s an ~older fic now, I rarely get a chance to talk about it. I hope these answers were interesting!

Send me the name of one of my fics and some questions about it!

[autumnslance]

First Line

Saw some folks doing this and thought why not give it a try.

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favourite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favourite authors!

I’m going with actual “stories” or at least longer scenes, not just short blurbs or WIP scenes I’ve also posted lately for challenges/prompts. Also this goes back past FFXIV Write 2020, so going with the more polished works I posted on the free days and skipping those many prompts (much as I like most of them). Also using the Ao3 links for most of these (which means less visibility in search and tags), though a couple are on Tumblr only. The links go to individual works, though many are found in the “Unexpected” compilation thread I have for Aeryn & Thancred shippy nonsense, where they’re more or less arranged in chronological order. Still, direct linking to the specific chapters seemed the best plan.

I think I like best the ones that immediately give environment details, like “The Old Bargain” and “Sandstorm”, though there’s also something about “The First Day”’s first line that works for me.

1) Celebration: “There’s the hero of the hour,” Thancred said as he ambled over. The child Aeryn had been speaking with waved and dashed off, eager to share with his friends whatever secrets the Warrior of Darkness had divulged. Thancred watched him go, smiling, before turning back to Aeryn.

Shadowbringers 5.0 finale and how two warriors of darkness spend it.

2) Aetherytes: Thancred glowered up at the aetheryte. The morning light was obscured by a light snowfall, the blue glow of the device tinting the plaza. The knight handling the fees had a vague eye on him, but Aeryn was keeping the man mostly distracted with pleasant conversation and a thermos of Fortemps cocoa.

Thancred tries to hide his new condition from Aeryn immediately after Heavensward’s 3.1 patch.

3) Food: “Please tell me,” Y’shtola’s voice from behind Aeryn was positively acidic. “That you have eaten more than a muffin and a few pieces of fruit since our lunch.”

Aeryn is in a research frenzy and Y’shtola is annoyed she has to deal with it.

4) Dawn: Thancred hadn’t slept much.

Morning after the ARR 2.0 finale, kind of a sequel to FFXIV Write’s “Clamor”.

5) Flower: “What?” Aeryn demanded, snapping Emet-Selch’s attention down to her eyes; they were the hard grey of steel arrowheads as she glowered.

Emet-Selch has an unexpected memory thanks to Aeryn’s favored hair piece. Shadowbringers.

6) Indecent Whispers: The ceremony was lengthy, the lists and speeches interminable, and Aeryn struggled to not doze off. She shifted in her seat as the sermon continued.

NSFW for dirty language as Thancred quietly scandalizes Aeryn during an Ishgardian ceremony.

7) 15th Day of the 1st Astral Sun: Aeryn stepped through the mirror and into the familiar space of the Ocular, taking a moment to reorient herself after the rush of journeying between worlds. Once the vertigo had passed she left the Tower, the Crystarium guards greeting her as she crossed the Exedra. It took some questioning before she was finally pointed to where Ryne was currently; training with Captain Lyna just outside the city gates.

Aeryn gets a sentimental nameday present from her conveniently absent partner, post Reflections in Crystal.

8) Thancred’s PoV on 15th Day of the 1st Astral Sun: He always marked the day, even knowing that time was moving differently for her back in the Source.

I apparently had to write out Thancred’s perspective first to get the correct feel in the letters Aeryn read.

9) Girl Talk: Lyse and Aeryn fell on their backs onto the palm of Rhalgr, laughing as their early morning sparring session ended in a draw.

During Stormblood’s “Lady in Red” quest, two besties have a chat after their spar.

10) Only a Little Death for Now: He walked through the empty palace, heedless of the dark or cold due to the heated singing of his blood.

NSFW. Zenos having violent thoughts and finding a physical release for them. Shadowbringers patches.

11) Of Porxies and Pardons: “Oh my goodness!” Ryne squealed. “It’s adorable!”

After an off-screen fight post-Eden 8, Ryne and Gaia bully Thancred into talking things out with Aeryn.

12) Restless: Kugane’s lights were strange as they filtered in through the screened window. The little room was comfortable, and gods knew Aeryn was glad to be off the rocking seas and creaking ship, back on dry land.

NSFW. Aeryn’s got a lot on her mind and an annoying physical need to deal with as the Scions arrive in Kugane in early Stormblood.

13) Teach a Warrior of Light to Fish: A lazy day at the lake was exactly what they had needed, Renda thought, stretching on her towel. She rolled onto her stomach as she opened her eyes. Branden had cajoled Nyelbert and Cylva into some sort of ball game in the shallower water, Lamitt apparently refereeing from atop a rocky outcropping, the four of them laughing and shrieking as they splashed around.

Renda-Rae, Ardbert, and his fishing hobby.

14) The Old Bargain (original fic): The wind moaned across the swampy meadows, long grasses and rushes hushing the rattling cart that slowly moved down the muddy road, pulled by a stooped figure in a wide grey hat and long grey coat. The clouds hung low and dark overhead.

A lone figure acts as the go between for the mundane and fae worlds.

15) Realizations: Rhalgr’s Reach slowly recovered from the assault as the days passed. The bodies had been buried and all rites given, the living granted their too-brief time to mourn. Now came clearing the rubble, repairing what could be repaired, and somehow finding replacements for what could not.

Thancred talks to Y’shtola about his feelings for Aeryn in the wake of the assault on Rhalgr’s Reach in early Stormblood.

16) Sandstorm: The wind was kicking up, sand and grit blowing as they rode across the dusty old roads toward Drybone. Thancred looked up at the sky and frowned as the rented chocobos kwehed and shook worriedly. Aeryn looked to him, a questioning expression on her face.

Aeryn and Thancred on the way their investigations into Ifrit in early ARR.

17) The Parley: “We have time before these negotiations resume,” Merlwyb said. “I suggest we stretch our legs and clear our heads before meeting with the Emperor again, now we have a firmer strategy.” The others readily agreed.

Aeryn and Varis talk during the recess during the parley in “A Requiem for Heroes” end of Stormblood.

18) When Everything Changes: Zaine poked at a snail’s shell frozen to the top of the low stone wall. He guessed it had been stuck there before the winter had taken hold, trying to escape the cool rains of autumn. He wondered if the snail had found a new home, abandoning this one. He liked to think so.

Backstory from the pov of Aeryn’s brother, at five years old.

19) The First Day: Ryne had told herself she would not spend the first day sobbing, yet that was exactly what she did.

Ryne the day after the end of “Reflections in Crystal” in Shadowbringers.

20) Unsupervised, Again: “Ah, you’re back,” Thancred said as Aeryn came in the door, carrying a suspicious number of bags, considering the errand she had been on.

Aeryn got distracted while on an errand.

[lucy-268]

Photographs and Memories

A/N: This meets a couple of challenges. First a request from @openheart12​; next, @wackydrabbles​ where the requirement was to use I can't believe you remembered (noted in bold); and finally, @julychoiceschallenge​ run by @samgtt700 where the challenge for July 17 is moon.

A/N 2: I actually did my own moodboard for the first time with some coaching and encouragement from @oofchoices​, so thank you again!

A/N 3: This doesn’t actually fit in with my chronological series as I’m envisioning Charley as an attending and they’ve been together for a while at this point.

A/N 4: I gave Ethan a bit of a backstory here and named his mom Karen. I also gave her an older sister and a niece.

Disclaimer: Most of the characters belong to PB

Series/Pairing: Open Heart  - Ethan x f!MC (Charley Valentine)

Word count: 1514 (oops, but at least it’s under 2,000)

Request is from here

Alan was still on the phone when Charley stepped outside onto the deck. Ethan was stretched out on the Adirondack chaise staring up at the night sky. She settled herself on his lap and curled against him. She could tell that he was still annoyed.

“Looks like a full moon tonight. If I’m remembering my astronomy correctly it’s the Hunter’s Moon.”

Ethan kissed the top of her head, and she could feel him smile. “It’s also the Harvest Moon this year.”

“Showoff,” Charley teased, snuggling closer.

He shifted, wrapping his arms and jacket around her as protection from the cold October night. He nodded his head to the corner of the deck. “See where Jenner is lying? I used to have a telescope set up there. I spent many nights out here looking up at the sky.”

They settled into a comfortable silence, watching the night sky. Finally Charley had to ask. “So, your Aunt Nancy was your mom’s older sister?”

“I can't believe you remembered that! I mentioned it once during your second year. Yes, she was. And we don’t discuss her any more than we do my mother.”

“But-”

“No. Nancy made a decision to not have anything to do with me or my dad when my mom left.”

“You’ve never even met your cousin Lisa? Has your dad?” Charley shivered.

Ethan pushed up, displacing her from his lap. “It’s time to go in. I don’t want to be responsible for you freezing to death.” He called Jenner as they walked to the door. The dog got up and stretched, plodding to the door. “Tonight, please, girl.”

Charley stepped into the kitchen and opened the jar of dog biscuits. Ethan held open the door and Jenner trotted into the kitchen and sat up, waiting for her reward. “Good girl.” The dog took her treat and headed for her cushion by the fireplace.

“We’ll see you tomorrow, Lisa. Thank you for calling.” Alan disconnected the call and turned to Ethan. “She’ll be here around ten to drop the boxes off.”

“Fine.”

“Ethan,” Alan began.

“I said it’s fine, Dad. Lisa has nothing to do with mom leaving and Nancy pretending we didn’t exist. It doesn’t mean I’m going to consider her family or even a friend, but I can be civil for as long as she stays to drop off a box or two. She can even stay for a cup of coffee for all I care.”

——————-

Charley woke alone the next morning and the sheets on Ethan’s side of the bed were cool so he had been up for a while. The blanket at the foot of the bed was messed up so she knew that Jenner had been in with them sometime during the night.

She showered quickly and dressed before heading to the stairs. She crossed the threshold of Ethan’s childhood room, scanning the walls and shelves of his past. On the shelf were all of his high school yearbooks. She went to pull out his senior year when a voice stopped her. “I brought you coffee.” Charley turned to see Ethan leaning against the doorjamb, smirking at her.

“One of the times when we come down here, I’m going to spent at least a day in here going through your past.” Charley took the coffee mug out of his hands and preceded him down the stairs.

“I would be more than happy to let today be that day.”

“I’m sure you would, but we don’t want dad to have to deal with Lisa by himself. It also isn’t fair to Lisa,” Charley reminded him. “Do I smell bacon?”

“You do. There’s also pancakes.” Ethan glared at her as she turned at the bottom step. “Don’t even say it.”

“You are a fabulous cook. You could’ve been a world class chef! How can you not make pancakes?” Charley gave Alan a hug as he turned off the stove. “Good morning, Dad. Why didn’t you teach him how to make pancakes?”

Alan smiled, handing her two plates of pancakes and bacon. “I couldn’t teach him all my secrets; he’d never come home to visit me.” He grabbed a third plate and they sat at his kitchen table.

Jenner padded over, sitting next to Charley resting her chin on Charley’s leg. “Don’t give her bacon,” Ethan warned as Charley handed the dog half a strip.

Afterwards, Charley cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher, listening to Ethan and Alan discuss Lisa and Nancy. “So, you’ve never met Lisa, either, Dad?”

Alan shook his head. “No. The last time I saw Nancy was about a month before your mother left. She was still living in Waterbury and she had just found out she was pregnant with Lisa. After your mother left, I reached out to Nancy and she told me that she didn’t know where Karen was, she wasn’t interested in ever speaking to Karen again, nor did she want anything to do with either of us. That surprised me, because she had always adored you.”

Charley leaned against the counter. “That sounds strange. She never said why?”

Alan thought for a minute. “No, but-“ He was interrupted by the doorbell.

Ethan reached the door first and opened it to a short blonde with ice blue eyes staring up at him.

“Um,” she stammered, looking at him trying to balance the boxes. “I’m looking for Alan Ramsey? Is this the right place?”

Ethan grabbed the boxes out of her hand. “Yes. Come in, please.” He kicked the door shut after she entered.

“I’m Ethan.”

“I thought you were too young to be Alan.”

Alan spoke, “Please, sit and make yourself comfortable. I’m Alan, and that’s Charley, my future daughter-in-law.”

“Oh, you’re engaged? When are you getting married?” Lisa looked from Ethan to Charley. Charley laughed and Ethan looked startled.

“We’ve only really just begun talking about maybe getting married, someday. Alan just thinks we should do it already,” Charley laughed.

As the four visited, Lisa told Alan and Ethan that Nancy would mention them from time to time but said that her mother had always felt Alan wouldn’t want to hear from her again.

Ethan asked, “Did she ever say why she wanted nothing to do with us?”

Lisa thought for a while. “I think she was really angry with Aunt Karen. She said that when grandfather died, Karen wouldn’t help mom plan the funeral. Then, she just disappeared. Mom said that she was so lost when her dad died and then her sister left. I think that mom was just mad at everyone about everything. I think she wanted to reach out and didn’t know if you would talk to her again.”

Alan said he wished he had known; he would have loved meeting Lisa and seeing Nancy again. “After our last conversation I didn’t feel like I should call her. I guess I hoped she had called me.” Alan asked her, “Do you need any help with your mom’s things?”

“No, I don’t. After clearing out her parents’ house, she never really accumulated much stuff, so I don’t have a lot of ‘things’ to deal with. Her stuff was mostly clothes, a bookcase of books, and a few pieces of jewelry. Oh, there is her kitchen.” Lisa laughed. “She loved to cook, so she had a lot. But I don’t have much, so that works well.”

Lisa nodded to the two boxes she brought. “I found these in her bedroom closet with your name and phone number. She left me a note saying she hoped the phone and address were still correct. I didn’t open them, she had them taped.”

“Do you want to see what’s in them?” Alan asked.

Lisa checked her watch. “No, it’s for the two of you. I need to get back to Connecticut and it’s a two-hour drive.” She left with a promise from Alan that she’d keep in touch.

After she left, Alan got a knife to open the boxes. He handed it to Ethan. “Care to open them?”

Sensing he was about to refuse, Charley grabbed the knife and wrapped Ethan’s fingers around the handle. “Open them. Please.”

Glaring at them both, Ethan set one of the boxes on the coffee table and opened the first box. He lifted out a photo album and handed it to Alan who flipped it the pages. “I haven’t seen these photos in years. Karen was always sending her parents pictures of Ethan.” There were three photo albums in total. Alan flipped through the first, Charley looking over his shoulder.

She yanked the book out of his hand. “These are baby Ethan! I – I need these!”

Ethan tried to grab the album out of her arms, but she held tight and clutched it to her chest. “No! I’m keeping this!”

“It’s for Dad,” Ethan began.

Alan interrupted him and grinned at Charley. “She can have them. I already have plenty of baby pictures.”

Charley smiled at Ethan and he gave up, knowing he would not win this round. He leaned over and kissed her. “Whatever you want.”

My tag list:  @oofchoices​ @openheart12​  @jamespotterthefirst​  @aylamreads​  @catchinglikekerosene  @choicesficwriterscreations​ @ohchoices​​

[themxlodyofmiidnight]

Sunny's bio

** A note ahead of time. She was named by people who couldn’t spell - I CAN spell, and am fully aware her name is spelled wrong. That’s a part of her story and is on purpose! (Blame her cousins, and Howard for not naming her.)**

FC: May vary, but this particular picture is Lara Robinson.

Fandom: Marvel.

Note: I am still working some things out on Sunny, so I am more than willing to bend her story as needed to fit with thread ideas! Also, as needed, some of her information may just be thread-dependant.

More information on her will come later on. <3

*******

Base information

Family:

Biological Father: Howard Stark.

Biological Mother: Maria Stark.

Biological elder brother: Anthony “Tony” Stark.

Elder half-sister: Samantha Ascher. { Written by a good friend of mine, go check her blog out too! }

Eldest Niece: Carter Stark. { Written by a new friend of mine! Please go see! }

Youngest Niece: Morgan Stark.

Sister-in-law: Pepper Potts.

Distant Cousins on Howard’s side & Sunny’s adopted parents: Hannah and George Henton.

Adopted elder sister: Daisy-Anne Henton.

Adopted elder brother: Samuel “Sammy” Lee Henton.

Her purpose intended by Howard:  Obsessed with finding Steve, Howard decided to take his own child and try to replicate the super-soldier serum; to make ‘an improved replacement’ for the hero that they lost…starting from birth.

Original/former name: N.C.A.R.-23*

Why?: Howard saw Sunny as a scientific project rather than a daughter, and did not plan to name her until he was sure if his project was a success or not.

What it means?: “New Captain America Replacement.” The 23 comes from the day she was born.

Name given to her later on: Sunshyne Amarillys Stark.

Pronunciation: ( Sun-shine Ah-MARY-liss St-arr-k )

Who gave it to her: She had no name originally, so her name was given to her by her cousin, who named her after the sunshine gold her hair was when she was little. However..he could not spell, so he only got to pick her first name.

Her nicknames: County Mouse, Kid Genius, Sunny. (Her preferred name.)

Gender: Female.

Age: “Are we speaking chronologically, biologically, how long I have been out of cryogenisis - or, are you inquiring about my mental or emotional growth?” *Her age is explained through her backstory.*

*******

Backstory

Pre-childhood:

Born when Tony was still pretty young, Sunny’s birth was kept a secret from the world. Written off and lied about as being a miscarriage, Sunny was actually taken from her mother in her father’s plans to make a back-up for Captain America - the man that he never truly gave up searching for, but eventually began making plans to replace.

During Maria’s pregnancy with Sunny, Howard had began his work on trying to duplicate the serum given to Steve. He had yet to finish or perfect it, however, when it came time for Maria to have her.

Coincidentally, she was born early. Further cramping the timeframe of which Howard had to work with. Planning for the “greater good” of society and the world as a whole, Howard took it upon himself to put Sunny in a cryogenic chamber for safe-keeping. Leaving her there with a computer hooked up to it to systematically feed her knowledge about the world as it was gained, and to give her what he had managed to put together of the super-soldier serum that had been given to Steve before most of the remaining few records of it even existing were mysteriously ‘lost,’ never to be recovered again.

Thinking that the cryogenisis chamber would aid in slowing the absorption of both the information and the serum down until it could actually be completed all the way, Howard left Sunny in the chamber to be raised at a later time.

Never revealing to Tony that he had a little sister that he was using as a lab rat - or that he even had another sibling to begin with. All memories and questions about his mother’s second pregnancy were shut down with frustration and anger - depending on how Howard was doing at the time with his pet project.

Unbeknownst to her father when he placed her in the chamber, Sunny had been born with mutant genes. Dormant genes that had yet to come to develop her powers; ones that would not only be influenced by his actions regarding her, but forever changed by them.

After Howard and Maria’s deaths, the records of Sunny and the project were shut down and put away for good. No one knew what to do with her; subsequently, she was left in the chamber and forgotten, where she was not found until much later, when a suspiciously caused power failure led to the malfunctioning and shutting down of her chamber. A curious janitor found her days afterwards, dehydrated and alone in the old area.

When her identity was discovered through analysis of her DNA - which showed only abnormalities in the infant child’s blood at the time, not what she truly was or had within her - and all attempts to reach Tony Stark himself about the baby were a bust, Sunny was given to another relative to be raised. A very distant cousin on Howard’s side, living out on an old ranch in the country.

Sunny was not discovered until the mid-to late summertime of 2002, after an aftershock from an earthquake shook up the oldest parts of the building where she was being kept, and the lower to the entire structure had to be rebooted. Found by a janitor who was looking for injured people and who had heard her crying, the search for who she was and where she belonged began.

***

Known childhood:

After the subsequent care had been taken of her and her blood had been drawn for a DNA analysis (though the results were odd and only her parentage could be discerned at the time) the hunt for her family began. Before placing her with anyone outside of their family, multiple attempts to contact her elder brother Tony were made. When this failed, other relatives were tried and exhausted. Many were ruled out to begin with because it was thought that they were not suitable, making the search for placement that much harder. Finally, right when they were about to seek a different kind of homing placement for her, a letter back was received.

Sunny was taken in by Howard’s very distant cousin Hannah, and her husband George. It took them awhile to settle on a name for her, or even to agree to take her in when they already had children of their own to take care of. But when the men in black suits (which raised quite a stir in their rural little community) came from SHIELD to bring her to them, they knew that they had to keep her.

The first few years of raising her, went by at a pace that Hannah and George did not expect. Since Sunny was so different from their own two children, they had a larger learning curve than most parents of an adopted cousin would.

At the age of two, Sunny was already talking better than the other two had. She got around without nearly as much trouble, and always seemed to either want to be starting at the window to watch stars at night, or at whatever screens were available to her. By the age of three, going on four, she had developed more of an interest in taking her toys apart and putting them back together again, than actually playing with them. Her free time, mostly spent in finding things she wasn’t supposed to be in and fixing them up nearly as good as new.

It was not until the age of six, however, that Sunny really got a lot more attention from anywhere outside of their little country haven. Since she only seemed to want to fix or build things when she was supposed to play outside, eventually the other kids got tired of having to watch her and they decided to take her back inside. Having meant to get her in trouble so that she would have to stay inside instead, the other kids waited until Sadie-May wasn’t around and took Sunny up to the attic to let her play with the old computer. Not thinking that she’d be able to do much with it, but knowing that none of them were supposed to be in the attic regardless, Sunny got left up there a lot in hopes that she’d get caught.

This was, however, not what got her noticed by the outside world. It was her ability to fix the computer up, to hotwire the internet for them by toying with cables, and what she did afterwards that truly earned her the unwanted attention that the two SHIELD agents had warned them about letting be on her.

At about six years old, the computer had to be moved downstairs so that the other kids, her cousins and those from nearby families, would stop leaving her upstairs. It was also around this time, that she found out for herself and made connections to things that she wasn’t supposed to be able to. With an abnormally high IQ that was only amplified by the testing done on her and the information being fed into her, Sunny continued on like this - not acting like any other child in the area. Or that any of them had ever heard of, either.

*******

Her approximate age(s) through the movie timelines: **Which would be after she is taken out of the cryogenic chamber, because she didn't start biologically aging until then.**

Iron Man 1 - 2010, she's 8.

Iron Man 2 - 2011, she's 9.

Avengers 1 - 2012, she's 10.

Iron Man 3 - 2012, six months after Avengers 1. Still 10?

Avengers 2, Age of Ultron - 2015, she's 13.

Captain America: Civil War / Spider-Man: Homecoming - 2016, she's 14.

Avengers: Infinity War - 2017, she's 15.

Avengers Endgame - 2017 to 2022, she is 15 through 20.