On the outskirts of Sokovia, something moved through the tall, whispering grass. It was not a mere shadow or a trick of the light—it was a force, something apocalyptic in nature. Wherever it passed, it left behind a path of utter devastation. The earth itself seemed to recoil from its presence, the very air thick with an unnatural heaviness. The trail it carved was one of corruption, an overwhelming aura of malevolence that clung to everything it touched. Even the most hardened soul would falter in its wake, for the presence was so steeped in darkness that mere proximity to it was enough to unravel the mind. The land reeked of decay and death, as if life itself was being stripped away by its mere existence.
Yet amidst this harbinger of doom, another presence flickered—a faint glimmer of defiance against the encroaching void. A bluish flash, almost imperceptible, accompanied the monstrous force. It would appear for only a fleeting moment, a brief pulse of energy, before vanishing just as quickly. But in those seconds, it would grasp hold of anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves in the destructive path, whisking them away to safety before returning to follow the trail once more. Again and again, it moved like a guardian wraith, unseen yet resolute, snatching lives from the jaws of annihilation.
The force came to a sudden halt, standing amidst the wreckage of what had once been a vibrant land. It took a deep breath, shoulders rising and falling with the weight of exhaustion. The devastation stretched endlessly ahead, a grim testament to the power that had been unleashed. Smoke coiled in the distance, the air thick with the acrid scent of burning metal and scorched earth. The silence was deafening, save for the distant, ghostly echoes of collapsing structures.
A figure, clad in torn and dirt-streaked fabric, raised their head, gazing toward the epicenter of the destruction. Their expression was unreadable—part grief, part determination. Their body trembled, not with fear, but with the sheer weight of the moment. They exhaled, breath shaky yet resolute.
A solemn voice, filled with both hope and desperation, broke the oppressive silence.
"Wake up, Sis."
...........
Meanwhile, deep within the Avengers Tower, Tony Stark was locked in intense concentration. His hands moved deftly over the intricate 3D projection before him, lines of energy shifting and pulsing in response to his every calculated adjustment. Around him, various machines hovered, all connected to Rin through a complex network of monitors and Loki's scepter, which pulsed with an eerie yellow glow, its energy coursing through the system.
Bruce Banner stood beside him, arms crossed, gaze shifting between the screen and Rin's still form. "You're sure this will work?"
Tony let out a sharp breath. "Sure? No. But confident enough to bet the last week of my life on it? Yeah."
The other Avengers stood nearby, watching with cautious anticipation. Clint leaned against the wall, arms crossed, expression skeptical. Natasha, ever unreadable, observed in silence, though her eyes betrayed a hint of concern. Steve, standing near the doorway, seemed tense, his fingers twitching slightly at his sides.
Tony barely glanced at them as he spoke, his voice clipped and focused. "We're emitting waves at a specific frequency, creating a destructive interference pattern," he explained. "This should cancel out the residual energy lodged in her mind—the stuff keeping her unconscious."
Clint raised an eyebrow. "And how much longer is this gonna take?"
Tony smirked slightly, not looking up. "About… now."
With one final calculated move, Tony executed the last sequence of the procedure. The hum of machinery filled the room as the energy pulses realigned, canceling out the disturbance within Rin's consciousness. The glow of the scepter flickered, its golden light dimming slightly, as if resisting the process before finally submitting. A tense silence followed, each Avenger holding their breath, eyes fixed on the motionless figure before them.
Seconds passed. Nothing happened.
Bruce sighed, rubbing his temple. "Tony—"
But before he could finish, Rin's body jerked violently, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. Her eyes flew open, glowing briefly with an unnatural light before returning to normal. Her breathing was ragged, her entire body trembling as if she had just surfaced from drowning in an endless abyss.
Exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, Tony leaned back, wiping a hand across his forehead. His smirk was back, though tinged with undeniable relief.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said with a weary but triumphant grin, "she's awake."
The room remained still for a beat longer, the weight of the moment pressing down on them all. Then, as Rin's dazed eyes began to refocus, reality set in. Whatever had held her captive in unconsciousness was finally gone.
...............
Meanwhile in Sokovia The trail of destruction had finally stopped, its devastation frozen in time at the heart of its origin. At the very center, Wanda collapsed, her strength finally failing her. The relentless surge of energy that had driven her forward for days dissipated, leaving her vulnerable, unconscious amidst the ruins.
A streak of blue flashed across the battlefield, a blur of movement that materialized beside her just in time to catch her before she hit the ground. Pietro skidded to a halt, arms tightening around his sister's fragile frame. He could feel it—the first time in days that her energy had settled, no longer an uncontrollable storm tearing through everything in its wake. For the first time, he could approach her without being repelled by the sheer magnitude of her power.
He cradled her gently, concern etched deep into his face. His breath was ragged, his mind torn between relief and the bitter reality of their situation. They had no allies, no sanctuary, nowhere to turn. And yet, as much as it pained him to admit it, he knew there was only one group of people who might be able to help them now.
Pietro clenched his jaw, eyes burning with unspoken conflict. Despite their grievances, despite everything that had happened—he knew what he had to do.
Holding Wanda tightly, he turned toward the horizon, toward the only place that could offer them hope.
The Avengers.