➢𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗣➢

⟶𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 12: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍⟵

-𝙼𝙰𝚈 𝟹𝟷𝚂𝚃, 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾-

𝚆𝙰𝙺𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰

The Mad Titan has arrived.

The wind howls, trees brush as a result and everything is... eerie.

Something feels... strange, not right.

The Mad Titan has arrived.

The breeze of the wind picks up into the light hair of Dani Rockland and Steve Rogers, who from across one another aim their gazes upwards as another branch snaps from above. 

Dani curls inwards. 

Her right hand comes up to tenderly hold her neck again, chills resurfacing—she is aware of his presence.

The presence of five other energy sources, unparalleled, just like hers.

One of them... like hers.

Captain America raises his hand to his earpiece, calling out, "Everyone, on my position."

"We have incoming."

Agent Rockland swallows thickly.

As the ominous atmosphere heightens, Natasha Romanoff and Sam Wilson are in utter disbelief, "What the hell?"

Okoye and T'Challa are more straight-faced, though a bit of heartache still presents itself inside the Black Panther's heart.

Thankful he is, though, that his Ingelosi is NOT here seeing this.

He'll regret that...

Bruce Banner still inside the Hulk-Buster suit turns his head as blue clouds coming from the Space Stone begin to appear, then a portal.

Thanos steps out.

"Cap." Bruce tips low, "That's him."

The presence of the Titan is strong, far greater than any enemy the Avengers have ever faced before, and will to this day. This time.

Wanda Maximoff watches with tears in her eyes while Vision has on a look of horror, mind still glowing as the yellow gem in-between his forehead is unsettled by the demigod. 

So is Dani. Her boots plant themselves further into the ground to stop the shaking, and the thirteen-year-old with a breath that is held for eternity secures her stance a moment later.

Agent Rockland prepares to attack, though remains behind her fellow and older Avengers as the former adopted father she knows hyperextends his panther shields.

Before ordering, "Eyes up. Stay sharp."

Stay sharp.

That was one thing they couldn't do.

That she couldn't do.

...That they couldn't do.

Thanos only sees and has one goal in mind, bringing balance to the world. With all six Infinity Stones, it has been mentioned, he could so much as snap his fingers with the Infinity Gauntlet, and BOOM ... the universe was his.

Would fall victim to whatever version of murdering half the universe looked like. Gruesome deaths, painless ones that will always be remembered. 

Nonetheless, the Avengers, the protectors of this world, and Earth band together here on Wakanda in order to try and stop him.

To fight him off.

He is strong.

Very strong.

Bruce is taken down easily, Hulk-Buster suit rendered and half-buried into cement rock by the Space Stone. Steve is next. The SuperSoldier's body flies up into the air uncontrollably when Thanos this time uses the Power Stone to easily take him out. Black Panther charges with his Kinetic Energy, though one large hand clasps around T'Challa's throat, and it only takes one move from the Titan before he is taken down. Falcon, too.

"Wanda..." the synthetic being shortly takes hold of his girlfriend's arm, and when she turns to face him he tells her all the same, "It's time."

The plan he suggested before, and she isn't having it, "No."

"They can't stop him, Wanda. But we can," Vision says again and clarifies, "Look at me."

"You have the power to destroy the stone—,"

She refuses, "Don't."

And he becomes desperate, "You must do it. Wanda please...!" he tugs on her once more, pulling the source of her powers—her hands—towards his face, "We... are... out of time."

Wanda denies it once more, becoming emotional, knowing what it will cost—if she does this, "I can't."

"Yes, you can." Vision encourages her, voice cracking painfully before clearing it, "You can."

"If he gets the stone, half the universe dies."

Wanda's lip trembles and she struggles to come to terms with what he is saying while stammering, "I-,"

"It's not fair." He insists, and says truthfully and wholeheartedly, "It shouldn't be you, but it is."

"It's all right," the being claims, "You could never hurt me."

Vision repeats their mantra, "I just feel you."

The woman is shattered.

Though to save the universe, presumably, she complies, and it's gut-wrenching. Wanda has backed up until she is an arms-length away, and with that arm, red power begins to drip out of her palm.

Drip out of her palm and right into the head of the man she loves. The only man she's loved.

The man who is willing and about to sacrifice himself, and there is no going back.

Forever.

The Power Stone crushes War Machine, bringing Rhodey's suit down. The same stone is used on Bucky who charges at the Titan with immense fortitude and strength. That isn't enough.

Immobilized is also General Okoye, and then Black Widow who is wrapped in bands that come from the ground of the Earth.

There is no action or heroic scene of fighting, the Avengers are losing. 

They... are... losing.

Wanda watches Groot's failed attempt to bind the Titan in his extended branches before sorrowfully turning away, and upping the power emerging from her palms.

Thanos nears closer to her, and another steps in his way. In the line of fire, alone, the FINAL line of defense... is Agent Rockland. The only force here right now. The first one. Who possesses power like no other. Who is like no other.

The enhanced child is the only one who will battle Thanos head-on, and rightfully be the least successful.

She will be left scarred, not only from mental wounds. 

The eyes of the Titan raise ever so slightly upon laying eyes on her, her protective stance in front of Wanda and Vision, and slowly but dignifiedly, blue aura trickles outside of Dani Rockland.

Outside and surrounding her, the girl's strength and determination purely are fueled by witnessing the other adult figures around her be thrown to the side or defeated so easily. She doesn't have the luxury of watching them kick robot butt in Sokovia... or even each other in Germany.

It was an extraterrestrial threat that had brought them down, and with power that is outmatched, leaves the job to her in taking him on. Seeing as fighting fire with fire, Infinity Stone with Infinity Stone, seemed like the best plan of action here.

Also ... everyone else is down.

Not Dani. She'll have wished she was.

"There were pieces..." the low voice of Thanos sends a shiver down her spine, and Dani's body loses temperature fast.

He continues, "Pieces of the Space Stone... missing."

He stops in his large stride to stare down at her, at the rippling barrier surrounding her, and slowly grits his teeth.

"Pieces that were taken out... and put into you."

Dani doesn't give him a verbal response, instead readies herself further. She is uncomfortable when he then starts to chuckle, his voice menacing however a smile is there, threatening as the figure of Thanos dangerously is.

He speaks softly to her, though, voice above a whisper, and his tone is extremely fascinated, by her, "...With power like that, my child... you are capable of more than anyone could imagine."

The thirteen year old's only response is with intent, "You're about to find out."

Thanos just smirks.

Agent Rockland trudges forward.

Starting with a simple high kick is not the right decision, and Thanos easily grabs the ankle of the child and nearly twists it if it weren't for her previous mistakes coming back to help her. Dani emits a sharp breath when that does not work, as she conjures up a blast from the ForceField, that fuels her spring up to strike again but Thanos counters it by pushing down on her barrier.

Pushing down until more power surges through Dani, and she, slowly, is able to stand up.

He tries to shove her, but it's no use, the ForceField protects her like it always does.

Except, when it doesn't.

"You... are strong," Thanos strains, continuously putting all his weight into defending himself, and Dani while not even half of him does the same, exhausting herself, and suddenly the pressure is released.

The thirteen-year-old struggles with remaining balanced, particularly because she finds herself being lifted off the ground when a golden hand currently wielding five Infinity Stones breaks right through the blue aura surrounding her and another large purple hand takes hold of her throat.

Dani chokes and struggles to inhale as she is brought into the air, and once becoming eye level with the Mad Titan who easily holds her captive, he finishes his sentence. Indefinitely.

She ... was strong ...

"But, it isn't enough."

Green eyes widen.

Raising his left arm, Thanos yet again draws from the Infinity Stones and uses all of them at once, to slice right through the ForceField harnessed by Agent Rockland. 

Through it and into her left thigh, injuring her with the one thing that could make someone like her scar... with her own power. Abilities.

And it is the worst pain Danielle Mairead Rockland has ever felt in her entire life. More than emotional, or physical. She screams. Howls of agony and unbearable throb overcome the thirteen-year-old as a long and deep slice cuts through her black-mesh leggings, and Dani is dropped to the floor helplessly as her body smacks down.

It's unavoidable, the pain, the girl cries it all out.

Hands that shake to an absurd amount can't even reach down to cradle her fatal wound because Dani is in so much pain. She releases another yell.

They break off into cries soon enough, still at a reasonable volume when rolling around in the dirt and Thanos takes this opportunity to finish the young girl off. 

To prevent her from ever becoming stronger than she already is, to kill her before Deborah Rockland could. 

To put her out of her uncontrollable misery, as an uncontrollable, repulsive tirade . . .

Thanos tries to kill her.

Somebody steps in front of her.

A long-haired and bearded Steve Rogers slides in front of the Mad Titan before he can lay another hand on his adopted child. 

Extending both muscular arms in front of him, Captain America takes hold of the Infinity Gauntlet wielded by Thanos. 

He lands a few blows out of pure anger that does almost nothing, and with only being a few inches away from Dani's crumpled form, Steve does his best to hold Thanos back. 

To keep him from touching her.

Protecting her, like he always will.

Until he can't. Thanos punches the Soldier in the head and he falls to the ground, immediately knocked out. 

Dani watches Thanos walk away while she is still suffering so intensely that her whole body burns, but the thirteen-year-old on the ground manages to turn on her side and tend to her adopted father's figure, which is unconscious. 

She looks over Steve while fathoming that it really is the end now.

There is no time to die. Not here, not now . . .

Wanda is the last Avenger standing.

She is forced to hold Thanos back all by herself and on her own, fully capable of doing so but she also is tasked with destroying the Mind Stone that begins to crack in The Vision's head, and Wanda's eyes are blurred with tears.

Tears of regret, sadness, remorse, and grief that won't ever be repaired, only controlled, and the synthetic being's last expression is one of a smile.

He whispers, "It's all right. It's all right."

"... I ... I love you."

I love you.

The universe is saved. The Mind Stone is destroyed.

Overtaken by grief Wanda is crumpled as the Mad Titan walks by her, in shock that this young woman was powerful enough to emit such a strong force whilst holding him back.

He isn't crushed, though, "I understand, my child."

"Better than anyone."

She snarls, "You could never."

"Today I lost more than you can know." He pats her head while walking past her and towards the spot where Vision used to be, "But now is no time to mourn."

"Now is... no time at all."

He reverses time.

Bringing the body of Vision and the Mind Stone completely back to life, and from behind him, Wanda's eyes widen. 

Dani gulps. Then she loses the ability to breathe, gasping.

"NO!" the redheaded woman is pushed to the side when Thanos picks up a reanimated Vision, taking his hand and plucking the Mind Stone right out of his head.

The synthetic being's body turns gray.

After tossing him to the side, the Titan inserts the sixth and final Infinity Stone into his gauntlet and it overpowers him in strength as he strains loudly.

He doesn't get to do that for long when from the sky a lightning-filled Stormbreaker launches and lodges itself right into Thanos' chest, Thor Odinson following as he lowers to be next to the demigod.

"I told you," he tells him while the purple man is on one knee, "You'd die for that!"

The Titan struggles to get a word out, much less breathe as the God of Thunder shoves his hammer further into the chest, and Thanos tries, "You should have... You should,"

He tries and succeeds, stating, "You should have gone for the head!"

Thor can only look at him in pure shock... because it's then that Thanos raises the Infinity Gauntlet worn on his left wrist, and pulls his fingers together.

... And then, he snaps.

"NO!"

━━━✰━━━

Exams were long . . .