The relief was short-lived at the Avengers Headquarters. Scott had heard the return of wildlife outside, and Clint's phone buzzed with the name 'Laura' gracing his screen. Everyone had returned and the universe was whole again, but the team were blasted by an array of missiles. The Sanctuary II, the ship of Thanos and his army, jumped from 2014. They rained down on the Avengers who were trying to reverse Thanos' future deeds, and he needed to stop them.
The compound was reduced to rubble and the team was separated. Rhodey, Rocket, Clint, Scott and Bruce were buried under debris, the Banner using his remaining strength to hold up the caving roof. Thor, Steve and Tony were able to escape the compound's demolishment, and three receiving minor injuries. The base was flattened and the sky turned dark from the smoke that wafted from combusted wires and electronic fixtures.
'Come on, buddy, wake up. That's my man,' Tony helped Steve to his feet, the shield of his father's making in hand. 'You lose this again, I'm keeping it.'
'What happened?' Steve let out, looking at the disarray of what was their safe place.
'You messed with time. It tends to mess back. You'll see.'
A crater laid in the middle of the land where the missiles made impact. A hill of debris shielded what occupied it's centre and the two men coughed at the soot and ash that polluted the air. Dirt caked their cheeks, and they did their best to ignore the aches and pains in their joints from the explosion.
Tony and Steve joined Thor, who stood on the light incline that overlooked the crater. The Odinson's face was hard as he stared into its centre where Thanos waited. Although from the past, the titan was equally as menacing and driven as the last time they saw him. With his minimal armour and violet complexion, Thanos waited for the original trio of the Avengers to join him in the crater.
'Where are the Stones?' Steve asked without taking his eyes off their enemy.
'Somewhere under all this,' Thor motioned to the mess beneath his feet. 'All I know is that he doesn't have them.'
'So, we keep it that way.'
'You know it's a trap, right?'
'Yeah. And I don't care much.'
'Good. Just as long we are all in agreement.'
Thunder rolled into the sky and the crackle of lightning lit up the clouds of dark smoke. Thor's hands were greeted by his axe, Stormbreaker, and his hammer, Mjolnir from Asgard. He brought the hammer back from his planet that now ceased to exist and exchanged his Earth clothes for his silver armour and red cape. The beard that reached the middle of his chest was braided and he appeared as Thor Odinson. He was no longer afraid and ridden with guilt from the blip. He was the rightful king of Asgard and wielder of two great weapons that proved he was the worthiest.
'Let's kill him properly this time.'
Below the rubble, Rhodey, Rocket and Bruce were at risk of drowning. Water flooded from broken pipes and the roof weighed heavier and heavier on Bruce's already weak shoulders. The constant whoosh of water pooled up to their shoulders, Rocket kicking his small hands and feet to stay afloat. But he would soon grow weak, and the water would consume his lungs, as it would to Bruce and Rhodey.
'See you on the other side, man,' Rhodey gasped, the water climbing up his neck. After years with the military as War Machine and being a part of the Earth's mightiest heroes, Colonel James Rhodes never thought he would lose to water.
'Hang on!' Scott cried into their earpieces. 'I'm coming!'
Scott was in his miniature form and slipped through the few cracks of the compound. Jumping through holes and skidding under fallen beams, he tried to get to his teammates before the water pooled above their heads. But his coverage of ground was minimised, a metre taking seconds to leap across. No matter how hard Scott pushed himself, he wouldn't be able to make it at his size. But if he were to return to normal, walls of debris would prevent him from getting through at all.
'H-Hold on, guys!' Scott panted into the intercom. 'I-I'm nearly there!'
'It's okay, Scott...' Bruce breathed through gritted teeth as the roof creaked and his shoulders ached. 'We did what we could...'
'I can get there! J-Just hold on!'
'We were a good team,' Rocket spluttered, his eyes meeting Rhodey's and Bruce's. 'I didn't mind you meat bags.'
Just as the three's heads were forced against the roof that dropped lower and lower, the debris around them was disturbed. Pieces of plaster and cement fell into the water, before it all crumbled. The men thought that this would be their deaths, crushed by the compound that once housed them. The water drained through the disrupted mess, but the walls fell around them. They breathed in the delectable air that retook the pool's place while the crashes of brick and cement crashed and clattered. As if they were a disease, the falling debris parted for them in a perfect dome. They were bewildered and to their right, the same parting effect occurred. In a smaller dome, something walked through to meet them, unharmed and calm amongst the chaos.
'I was in 2009 for three minutes and this happens?'
'I knew there was more to you, Storm,' Rocket laughed, the grin wide on the racoon's face. He shook off the water that beaded into his fur and wiped at his eyes with his clawed paws. Rhodey took the time to increase his intake of air while Bruce worked on easing his shoulders. The three looked to the voice that they knew all too well, and couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Susan Storm stood amongst the falling debris, her dark blue forcefield stronger than ever before. Without lifting a finger, she encased herself and three of her teammates in barriers that held up against the destroyed compound. Her red suit was pristine, its blue shift unbothered and bright against her figure. Her skin that was once slick with sweat was clean but disturbed by blue veins that shown from underneath. Her cheeks were cracked with the violet roots, a few creeping their way from under her fringe and from her temples. But despite this, she didn't look to be in pain. In fact, she looked powerful.
'Can't leave saving the world up to the men, can I?' Sue grinned. 'Nat would never let me.'
---
Tony, Thor and Steve were beaten and bloody. They had endured Thanos' strength that was beyond their abilities and were currently faced with his army that descended from above. Outriders, Chitauri and Sakaarans joined the titan and roared for a battle of blood and glory. Thanos was confident in his odds to win, the smirk on his face already evident at his inevitable success. This time, he would make sure that there would be no ungrateful creature in the universe. He would snap everything and everyone out of existence and create a new universe; one that was unaware of what was sacrificed for their birth.
Steve's shield was broken, his leg wounded and weakened. Tony and Thor had already battled Thanos and were thrown in different directions, their confidence hindered. But Steve attempted to stand tall and faced Thanos' army alone, the solider way out of his time and depth.
'Hey, Cap, you read me?'
Steve froze at the sound in his ear and looked around in confusion. Through the Outriders' hisses and Chitauri roars, Steve's ear peaked at the voice from the intercom, and he hoped the other two heard it as well.
'Cap, it's Sam. Can you hear me?'
'I think he can hear you, birdie.'
'On your left.'
Steve's heart jumped at the confirmation of his two best friends' voices. He looked to his left, where a portal formed with shimmering edges and sizzling sparks. From Wakanda, Okoye, Shuri and T'Challa stepped through to the scene. Sam Wilson flew out, his wings spread wide and his gaze meeting Steve's, who couldn't help but grin at the sight of his revived friends.
Doctor Stephen Strange stepped through another portal, his hands at the ready with orange crests and symbols. The Guardians of the Galaxy stepped out with him; Drax, Mantis and Quill. They last saw Thanos on Titan, their job in dire need to be finished. Peter Parker jumped out and landed next to Doctor Strange, once a long way from home, now back and ready for a fight.
Asgardians stepped out of one portal, while Wong stepped out of another with Ravager ships. The Wakandian army returned to stand with their king, and the last of Wakanda's losses stepped onto the battlefield. Bucky, Groot and Wanda lined up and the familiar inferno flew into the sky. The flames landed next to Pepper Potts, who was clad in her new suit named Rescue. The flames cleared and Johnny stood with his wife, determined to avenge the time he had lost of their daughter's life.
'Feels good to be back,' Johnny grinned, and Pepper rolled her eyes at his one-liner.
'Is that everyone?' Doctor Stephen Strange said aloud.
'What, you wanted more?' Wong questioned.
A rumble erupted from below the debris of the compound. Thanos' army shrunk back in slight cowardice, but the titan himself stared at his growing mass of opponents. With a shrift of rubble, Scott Lang burst through in his enlarged form. With the top of his head skimming through the smoke in the sky, he created an access to the surface for his team that were once trapped. Bruce emerged from the shifted debris, followed by Rhodey in his War Machine suit and Rocket who grinned at the sight of Quill, Groot, Mantis and Drax.
And finally, Susan flew out from the debris. Her hands swam with spheres and a haze of blue surrounded her. Like the clouds of storm, the blue guided her into the air and lowered her gracefully to her feet. Her red suit beamed with blue waves and her lips were tight at the sight of Thanos. No one expected to see the woman fly and radiate such a powerful aura. The veins that cracked through her cheeks were the strangest of the sight, Tony having to stare intently at Sue's face to ensure he wasn't hallucinating. But he was beyond ecstatic to see her alive, and ultimately more powerful than before. Whatever the extra dose of radiation gave Sue, it made her intimidating and a force to be reckoned with.
'Well, you look different,' Johnny met Sue in the line up of Avengers. He stared down at his sister who he had to admit unnerved him. The prominent purple streaks underneath her skin were abnormal, but judging by the way she turned to look at him with soft eyes and a relieved smile, she wasn't in pain.
'Saving your ass had its advantages,' she shrugged, the blue still glimmering around her hands. Johnny didn't bother to question what she meant and turned to face Thanos, his stare murderous but confident.
Steve stood in the middle of the army that had gathered from all edges of the universe. Tony and Thor stood by his side and Johnny and Bucky made sure they were near their best friend for backup. He could see that Thanos was disappointed that the battle wouldn't be an easy one, but to see a drop in the titan's face was worthy of a celebration. Steve took a deep breath and took his place as a leader, the years of his elongated life leading up to this moment. He had faced Red Skull, HYDRA, Chitauri, Ultron and even Tony Stark, but everything had come full circle. Steve Rogers was meant to fight alongside the Avengers and if it was his last, he would make it count.
'Avengers!' the group went silent at his call and Mjolnir flew into Steve's hand. 'Assemble.'
The front line broke out into a run, Thor and T'Challa letting out battle cries as they thundered into the crater. Thanos raised his weapon, which was a large sword, to send forth his own army. Outriders ran on all fours and the Chitauri raised their electrified weapons at the Avengers, following their master to the very end. Sides collided and blood was spilled, but the battle would ensue for hours.
Sue jumped into the sky and her blue carried her amongst those who had the ability to fly. She looked to her right and saw Wanda, her scarlet mist similar to hers. The Maximoff turned her head to meet the Storm's gaze, and the two beamed at each other after five years of being separated. Sue grinned, aware of the stares she received from those who were confused at the fact that she could fly. She wasn't sure why she suddenly had the ability, but she wasn't complaining.
Diving down, Sue powered her fist with a blue sphere and collided it with the head of an Outrider. The alien attempted to open its jaw to consume her limb, but its skull was shattered and exploded with green brains. Another Outrider jumped over its comrade's dead corpse, but a transparent disk sliced through its torso and tore through its side. Sue slid her foot across the dirt and spun to throw a spike through a Chitauri's leg, ducking as its weapon swung to cut across her throat. Throwing her hand back as she faced the other way, a swipe of blue sliced through the same Chitauri's chest. The alien fell to the floor and Sue continued to the next, alien corpses in her wake and her suit splattered with foreign blood.
Sue was unstoppable. The power that came from within was charged to the maximum. Spheres, disks, spikes and waves of invisible entities rolled off the woman's being like it had a mind of its own. She leapt into the sky and dived into groups of Chitauri, ripping through their organs and tearing a part alien flesh. It came naturally and she wouldn't be tiring anytime soon. The radiation had stunned her at first and her body struggled to adapt to the foreign invasion of cosmic energy. Her human body had the choice of merging or letting it take over. But it was like the universe needed Susan Storm once more to right the timeline and the prophecy that was told. The Invisible Woman was born again.