Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Date: December 20, 1998

Location: David's Room, Joestar Family Home, London

Three months had passed since the tournament, and the chill of winter had settled over London. David stood in front of the mirror in his room, adjusting his gi for his practice later that day. Outside, snowflakes drifted lazily to the ground, blanketing the city in a soft, white layer. Inside, however, he was ablaze with determination, ready to focus on his training.

He picked up his flute, the polished wood glinting in the soft light of his room. He had continued to practice diligently, and while he still relied on his New Order to give him an edge, he was pleased to find that his skill had grown to a level where he could play without needing to cheat. The music flowed effortlessly from his fingers, and he often used the flute to center himself, creating melodies that echoed in the quiet corners of his mind.

However, as he played, he couldn't shake the feeling of being overwhelmed by the events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that loomed ahead. His mind wandered to the timeline, where significant events had already taken place or were on the horizon. X-Men: First Class had set the stage in 1962, and X-Men: Apocalypse in 1983 felt like mere memories now, having come and gone without his intervention. Dark Phoenix, set in 1992, was also behind him. All these events had unfolded in ways he had no control over, and the realization left him feeling a little lost.

As he practiced the flute, he contemplated the upcoming events in the MCU that would define the years to come. X2: X-Men United was scheduled for 2003, followed closely by The Last Stand in 2006. The Avengers would assemble in 2012, heralding a new era of heroes. Then there was The Wolverine in 2013, and Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015, followed by Deadpool in 2016.

But it was the looming specter of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame that weighed heavily on him. Those events were set to unfold in 2018, and the thought of such monumental shifts in the world around him filled him with trepidation. He had watched those events play out from the safety of his couch in his past life, but now they felt alarmingly real and close.

David stopped playing, the notes fading into silence as he placed the flute down. Should he interfere? His mind raced with possibilities and consequences. Each of those significant events could lead to massive changes in the world, and he was aware that every decision he made could ripple through the timeline. But was it his place to interfere?

He felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. If he could save a life, would it not be worth the risk? But what if his interference led to more chaos? His stomach twisted at the thought of playing God in a world filled with heroes and villains, of altering the destiny of those he had come to admire from afar.

David took a deep breath, grounding himself in the present. He reminded himself that he was only fourteen, with a soul that felt older yet still untested in the face of such monumental events.

He decided to focus on his training, knowing he needed to be prepared for whatever lay ahead. The next few years were crucial, and every moment he spent honing his skills and building his stamina would only serve to help him when the time came to make a choice. With the protection against telepaths order firmly in place, he felt secure in his ability to shield himself from any unwanted mental intrusions.

David stood up, ready to head to the dojo for his practice session. He would push himself to improve, to become stronger, and to prepare for the challenges that lay ahead. He couldn't control everything, but he could control his actions, his training, and his resolve. As he made his way down the hall, he felt a sense of purpose igniting within him.

The future was uncertain, but he would face it head-on, one day at a time. And in that moment, he felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps he could change the world, but first, he had to believe in himself.

End of chap.