World On Fire

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Ana woke up in a haze. She didn't even remember where she was. Or what had happened. Slowly, it came back to her. Maw and Obsidian. Tony, Stephen and Peter. Where were Wong and Bruce? She felt the brick wall on her left side, and used it as a crutch to stand from the cushion of damp boxes underneath her. She had mindlessly applied too much pressure on her struggle to find her balance, and caused a dent into the side of a small office building that was now deserted due to the warning of possible aliens entities in the area. She listened to the way the mortar from the bricks fell into the puddle of sewer water and blood at the base of her feet.

"Wha-where..." Ana swallowed thickly, cradling the back of her sore head with her right hand. She stepped forward once. Then again with her other foot. Before she knew it, she was walking out of the alley she didn't recall wandering into. Judging by the muting daylight, it couldn't have been more than a few hours since she watched Tony disappear into the sky. She then patted herself down for her phone. It had been placed into her front pocket. She plucked it out and turn it on. Ten missed calls. Most likely from Bruce. And a horde of messages she didn't have time to go through. She clicked it off and stuffed it back into her jacket pocket.

It was quiet. Nobody was around. It was like the whole of New York City stayed inside with their doors locked and windows shut. She didn't blame them. They probably even had it all planned just in case another alien invasion devastated their city. Stocked up on supplies and canned food. Preparing for the worst. Ana hoped the citizens were safe. She couldn't stand to see what happened all those years ago when the Chitauri arrived to happen again. There was too much loss. Too much death. One of the good things that came of it were heroes. Vigilantes. People who took it upon themselves to help others in times of crisis — by doing the right thing.

It's what Ana loved about New York — it was the birth place of heroes.

And that's what the universe needed right now.

As Ana wandered down Ninth Avenue, heading south for the Sanctum Sanctorum, she felt eyes on her. She didn't stop walking and instead looked over her shoulder at the rooftops behind her. She squinted, believing to see a figure crouching down on the edge of a tall building. She blinked once and he was gone, making her question if she even saw the man with the black mask correctly in the first place.

"...Matt?"

"Ana, where have you been?"

Wong stepped away from the pile of debris in the middle of the room and looked to Ana when she entered through the front doors. Seeing as Stephen was off-world and Ana would be preoccupied trying to save the universe, Wong had to do his duty as a Master of the Mystic Arts and guard the Sanctum. Before meeting Stephen or Ana, the thought of abandoning the search of a missing sorcerer would have very little effect on him. Now, he wouldn't admit it, but he was struck with a sense of sadness. Wong and Stephen had become close friends, and having to accept the responsibility of protecting the Sanctum instead of finding Strange was conflicting for him.

"I woke up in an alley. Where's Bruce?" She asked, clearing her throat as she adjusted her sleeves anxiously.

"Here." Ana heard his small voice behind her and turned to see him walk into the space with Tony's flip phone in his hand. "Vision's in Edinburgh with Wanda. Cap's on his way there." He informed her.

Ana lowered her head, thinking heavily. Bruce and Wong stood by, and waited. "If Maw and Obsidian came here for the Time Stone, then it's possible that Proxima and Corvus broke off to get the Mind Stone from Vision." Ana turned to face Wong. She looked at her hand, knowing it would be impossible for her to use a Sling Ring. Time was key, and as much as Ana wanted to go to Kamar-Taj and grab a new Sling Ring, she couldn't. "Portal me there. It could already be too late."

Bruce moved forward. "Hey, you just went toe-to-toe with two of them and you want more? God, you're bleeding at the back of your head. You probably got a concussion." He listed off, scoffing softly at the idea of Ana continuing to put herself in danger.

Ana waved him off. "I'm fine. Eyesight could be better, but I'm good. There's no way anyone can talk me out of this. Wong?"

Wong sighed. "I've learned to not argue with you on matters such as these. Ready?"

Ana nodded and got into position as Wong raised his hands up. Bruce caught Ana's eyes, and he frowned. "Ana, come on..."

"Go to the compound upstate." She said, "Tell Rhodey what happened. All of it. I'll meet you there, Bruce."

"But..."

"Trust me." Ana pleaded, brows furrowing. "Go."

Wong placed a hand on her shoulder, lips pressing into a thin line. "I don't want to lose another friend today." He muttered. Ana patted his hand, giving him a hopeful smile,

"You won't."

Ana trailed across the rooftops in the night, keeping her eyes and ears open for any alien activity. She hadn't spotted another Q-Ship, meaning Proxima and Corvus hadn't arrived yet or she was too late. Ana stopped suddenly and swallowed thickly, dropping her head when a wave of terror washed over her. She couldn't let herself think of the worst. With a sharp intake of breath, Ana carried on, eyes glued to the horizon.

Ana hadn't seen Wanda in a couple years. The time apart was hard. She was just getting used to the young Maximoff visiting her room in the facility to talk about whatever was on her mind. Pietro. Her powers. Even Vision. Ana very much enjoyed her company. It was like having a sister. Ana was undeniably protective of Wanda. Ever since the witch healed her mind and brought back memories she didn't even know she had — though they were unpleasant — Ana felt responsible in a way. It was instinctual. Ana chuckled under her breath. She believed Wanda was getting stronger by the minute. Her powers were growing. Ana liked to think that despite Wanda being able to hold her own against anything that was thrown at her, she might need a little help from her surrogate big sister from time to time.

When Ana realised she wasn't getting anywhere playing Santa Claus on the rooftops of the buildings, she stopped and slid down the edge of an inn, stopping on the side of the roof. She gripped the satellite pole next to her that was slippery from the rain and extended her body over the edge. She focused her hearing on the sounds that bounced around the streets at what she guessed was almost midnight. People chattering. Dogs barking. Cars driving. Ana frowned. She closed her eyes and manoeuvred her torso in the direction of sound of glass breaking. Then, a sharp intake of breath followed by a voice screaming out,

"Bingpot." Ana muttered and jumped off the building.

Vision was lying on the ground, screaming at the top of his artificial lungs as Corvus plunged the sharp end of his glaive into the Mind Stone embedded into his forehead, aiming to dig it out. Ana hurried her pace, practically zooming towards the scene like a predator ready to strike. Instead of greeting her two close friends with a bright smile and a warm bear hug that'll leave them both without air in their lungs, Ana barrelled into Corvus Glaive like a high-speed wrecking ball. There was no time to waste. She could already feel her adrenaline run high. It was time to hit something.

"I'm just about done with you two." Ana growled and catapulted herself towards Proxima Midnight, hand outstretched as it flashed with a bright blue.

Wanda's eyes widened when she saw it happen. "Ana?!" She cried out.

While Proxima clawed at her face, Ana turned around, trying to look at Wanda through the hands that pulled and scratched at her eyes. "Get Vision out of here, Wanda. Now!"

Wanda went to argue, not wanting to leave Ana alone with the two aliens. Her breath caught in her throat when Ana's eyes flashed blue when she hadn't yet adhered to her demand, and extended her hands out, letting her scarlet powers surround Vision protectively. She lifted him off the ground and without another look back at Ana, Wanda soared into the air, aiming to create some distance between her and Vision and the people that wanted to hurt them all.

Ana then cried out when Proxima's nails scratched her left eye. With a frustrated and borderline sob of a huff, Ana flung Proxima over her shoulder, slamming her into the ground. "Anything else you want to take from me?" She glowered, fisting the material of Proxima's collar in her good hand.

"This, and much more." Proxima mused, and called to her lance. Once the weapon found her open hand, Proxima used it to push Ana off her. Ana was frightened by the weapon and dove out of the way when another burst of its energy was shot at her. She didn't want to know what would happen if the blasts got her square in the chest. Ana supposed it was game over for her.

Corvus had recovered and intercepted Ana into a brick wall. Ana was fine. The wall wasn't. It caved in, swallowing her whole. Ana landed on the other side of it, surrounded by piles of rubble. She looked up at Corvus and Proxima as they stepped through the opening. On a whim, Ana threw her right hand out with a pressured yell. A bolt of light that escaped from it caused Proxima to hurl into the air. The sound that came from the blast sent tingles up Ana's spine — it was similar to a shockwave.

Just like Marc's, Ana thought to herself when she stared down at her hand, eyes wide.

Ana climbed to her feet and shrugged at Corvus' angered expression. "Till death do you part, right?" She quipped, twiddling her fingers.

It took a few seconds for Corvus to understand what she said and when he did, Ana raised her arm and pulled the exact same moves. Though, this time, nothing happened. Ana sighed at her turn of luck. Before Corvus could retaliate, Vision appeared in front of Ana as a shield, and absorbed the strike of the glaive against his chest. Corvus took Vision by the throat and sprung high into the air, focusing on retrieving the Mind Stone rather than Ana.

Ana felt herself being pulled in the direction of a church. She looked down at her feet as they skidded against the cobbled roads and grunted when her back met with a pillar. The red energy that had engulfed her completely faded once Wanda's hands took hold of Ana's shoulders. Wanda looked Ana over, having to stare at her darkened, limp arm for few seconds longer. "What happened to you?" She asked, desperate for answers.

Ana's head lulled back into the pillar. She took this time to catch her breath. "I met my father."

Wanda pulled a face that caused Ana to chuckle. "Yeah, I know how it sounds. But we don't have time for that. All you gotta know is that those things are here for the Mind Stone in Vision's head, and they won't stop until they collect the others just like it."

"The two creatures in New York, the ones you fought, they're together aren't they? I saw it all on the news. Tony... he's..." Wanda trailed off, unable to form the words.

Ana placed her hand on Wanda's trembling shoulders. "Tony will be fine. Vision won't unless we take him far away from this place."

"You're not going anywhere."

At the sound of Proxima's lance humming with energy, Ana pushed Wanda away from the line of fire. She shielded her eyes with the blast hit nothing but air and scurried around the pillar to face Proxima. The blue haired woman thrust her lance towards Ana. From the sound of Wanda's ragged breathing, Ana knew she was too close, and that the weapon would strike her if she didn't move fast enough. Ana lifted her dead arm, taking the hit meant for her friend. Seeing as the nerves in her left arm had been numb ever since the arm took the dark matter blast, Ana didn't think it would hurt as much as it actually did. She was forced back with an agonised scream, her left arm trapped between the pillar and the lance that crackled with dark matter energy.

"Ana!" Wanda exclaimed.

Proxima Midnight fought Wanda in a hand-to-red bolt combat. Scarlet Witch wanted to maintain a certain distance between her and the persistent creature that had seemingly bested the Warrior. Ana in the meantime removed the lance from her arm and dropped to her knees when she freed herself. The weapon had then flown into the hands of its merciless owner as she gained the upper hand.

Ana looked up at Wanda as she struggled to dodge the oncoming lance attacks and shouted, "Don't let the bolts touch you!"

Wanda heard Ana and opened her palm, allowing her red flares to gleam brighter as they blocked the lance from coming into contact with her body. Her equally red eyes shone as she glowered at Proxima. Ana was already running for Wanda. A beam of energy coming from Vision's Mind Stone was sliced into different directions by Corvus' blade. The streams of energy prevented Ana from continuing on in her path and she stumbled back, cautious of being hit by it. One of the streams had cut a vehicle behind Wanda and Proxima in half, and Wanda bent at the waist, flinging Proxima into the vehicle as it burst into flames.

Ana and Wanda shared a confident smile. They both, in their own mystical ways, ascended. Wanda, with her magic lifting her to where Vision was, and Ana, running for the nearest fire escape. It was at a time like this where she wished she had taken a pair of Vaulting Boots of Valtorr from Kamar-Taj to walk on air.

At the sight of Corvus with the edge of his blade pressed into the Mind Stone once again, Wanda's anger flared at the sound of Vision's screams. She lifted her hands, balls of red energy growing vibrantly as Corvus turned around to look at her over his shoulder. "Hands off." Wanda drawled, and shot the bolts of chaos magic at him, causing Corvus to crash into the stained glass window and fall to the ground below.

Ana placed a hand on her waist as she watched Wanda pick Vision up. "So, are you two like a thing or...?" She questioned, genuinely curious.

Wanda pulled Ana towards her and Vision with her magic and Ana shrugged when their faces were inches apart. She pressed a quick kiss to her forehead and grinned. "Not judging, just happy to see you the two of you... happy." Ana said.

With a short chuckle, Wanda nodded, "Let's go." She lifted the three of them into the air and towards the train station a few blocks away. From the ground, Proxima aimed her lance at the trio and sent a blast of blue energy at them. The three of them were separated from the hit, raining down into the roof of the train station, shattering glass and rolling along the ground.

"Wanda! Vision!" Ana called out, brushing the glass from her jacket as she got to her feet.

Wanda bent over Vision as his artificial body phased in and out since his systems were failing due to the gaping hole in his chest. They were joined by Ana who wrapped one arm around Vision's back, helping him to sit up. "Come on. Come on. You gotta get up." Wanda breathed out, "You gotta get up. Come on. Hey, we have to go."

Ana stepped back when Vision's weighed heavier by the second. She remembered his ability to alter his mass and frowned when he lifted his hand to rest on Wanda's cheek. "Please. Please leave." He requested, voice wavering as he was unable to catch his breath.

Ana was in awe at Vision's display of deep affection. She could see it in his eyes as he looked at Wanda. He was desperate for her to leave so she would be safe. He was more than willing to stay and sacrifice himself for the woman he loved. After all, Wanda had given him the true experience of human emotions. And that was something he could never repay, much less take for granted.

Wanda looked into Vision's eyes. Her breathing slowed as she gazed at him, "You asked me to stay. I'm staying." She said, soft and stern at the same time.

Ana glanced down at her bleeding, utterly useless arm that hung limp at her side. She was sure she would pass out in a few minutes. Exhaustion and good old blood loss was getting to her. But she wouldn't go until she knew Wanda and Vision were safe. So, Ana formed a fist with her good hand and stepped in front of them, posing as a human shield as Proxima and Corvus entered the station, looking well and ready for another round.

Ana's ears picked up the sound of an express train entering the station. It zoomed along the tracks behind her, creating a wind tunnel throughout the open space. She stepped forward, squaring her shoulders. Wanda, after seeing what Ana was up to, mirrored her movements and stood by her side. Ana turned to face Wanda, who only nodded in response. If this was the last time they would see each other, then they would fight together because there was no better way to go than to go down fighting alongside family. Protecting the people you love. The people you would die for.

The wind picked up. The train tracks squeaked and creaked as the cars moved along them. Apart from that, it was quiet. No one had said a word, nor were they going to. Ana noticed Proxima switch her focus from them to an unknown figure on the other side of the tracks. Wanda's brows furrowed as she followed her line of sight. At first, she didn't see it. But then the train picked up speed as it was exiting the tunnel, causing the cars blur altogether. She swore she saw something standing in the shadows. A man. He hadn't moved. Not yet.

Ana angled her torso so she could get a better look. The train had finally passed. It was obvious someone else was with them. Watching. Waiting. Proxima was done waiting and threw her lance at the figure. He was quick and caught the weapon, stepping into the light. Dark hair. Thick beard. Black suit with a faded star in the centre of his chest.