ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɴɪɴᴇ | sᴛᴏᴘᴘɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs, ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴀʟʟ

————

LEXI GRINNED WIDELY AS SHE RUSHED TO PETER, THROWING HER ARMS AROUND HIM HAPPILY. Peter was taken back, but quick to return the hug.

The rest of the Guardians moved closer together as Rocket floated down by his aero-pack. Lexi's smile still remained as she let go of Peter, looking around as the Guardians were finally together again.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a small flaming ball of debris shot down, smacking Mantis in the head and knocking her out.

"Mantis! Look out!" Drax called out after, leaning down.

Since Mantis was unconscious, this gave Ego his power back, and woke him up. The roots glowed brightly again as the white energy flowed up and around the interior of the cavern.

Drax picked up Mantis bridal-style, staring down at her. "She's just unconscious."

Peter looked over to Rocket, who was still hovering in the air. "How long until the bomb goes off?!"

Rocket looked around as the destruction around them worsened. "In a likely event that Groot doesn't kill us all, about six minutes."

Gamora raised her eyes up, watching as the shell above them started to split into two. Yondu pressed his comm. "Kraglin! We need Quadrant for extraction, T-minus five minutes!"

"All right, capt'n!" Kraglin replied instantly.

"Someone's gotta be up top when Kraglin arrives!" Peter called, now everyone looking up towards the split.

Peter reached behind him, taking the aero-rig from his back. "Drax, take Mantis." he stuck it onto Drax, between his shoulder blades and it instantly formed a vest over his chest.

Drax cried out as he began flying upwards. "Ah! My nipples!"

The ground beneath everyone started to shake, and pieces of it broke off bit by bit. Nebula and Gamora were caught in the crossfire, the two falling into the darkness below.

"Gamora!" Peter shouted, reaching out for her, but it was too late.

The arms of energy returned as a face suddenly appeared behind Yondu, Rocket, Lexi, and Peter. As the whisps of energy tried to grab at them, Ego's booming voice was heard above the noise. "Peter! Come now, Peter. I know this isn't what you want! What kind of father would I be to let you make this choice?"

As Ego spoke, Yondu used his arrow to pierce through the energy. Peter used his guns, and Lexi used one of Rocket's guns.

Peter stood in front of Ego's face, while Yondu and Lexi stood closer together a few yards away from him.

Yondu looked up, whistling continually when he was about to be attacked. The arrow flew back into Yondu's hand, and he turned around, throwing it out and continued to whistle again.

Rocket zipped around in the air, dodging Ego's many attacks. When Ego's energy was close enough, Rocket threw out small lasers, which adhered to the energy. Then, he activated a shield around himself. Rocket quickly grabbed his control, pressing the red button on the end, which exploded the energy.

Lexi was on her heels, turning every which way and firing relentlessly at Ego.

"Soon Peter, we will be all that there is. So stop pissing me off!" Ego yelled at Peter, looking down at him as one of the energy whisps came up behind him. Peter turned around, looking up at it as he raised his guns towards it.

Firing again, he quickly ducked as another swung at him. But, Peter didn't have enough time to dodge the other hit, and was struck, flying backwards and landing on the ground. Peter rolled onto his back, his helmet cracking in two and falling off his head.

He got to his knees, watching Rocket get overpowered by Ego, and getting tangled in the energy. Looking up, he saw the shell in front of him break open to reveal an endoskeleton of Ego slowly walk out. As he walked towards Peter, his body built up by layers slowly; bones, nervous system, muscle, and flesh.

Peter glanced to his right, watched as Yondu was smacked down to the ground, with his arrow breaking in half. Yondu yelled out as his body was covered with rocks, making it impossible for him to move anything.

Then, he looked to his left, seeing the same for Lexi. She screamed in pain as she was pinned to the ground, the rock slowly inching its way up her neck towards her face.

"I told you, I don't want to do this alone." Ego said in his chilling voice, striking Peter in the back with a tendril of energy. "You cannot deny the purpose the universe has bestowed upon you!" Ego raised his voice, pointing his finger at him.

Peter's eyes rolled back as more energy struck him, draining him of almost all his power. Behind Peter, the core lit up, finally fully powered.

"It doesn't need to be like this, Peter." Ego said, his voice now softer yet still firm. "Why are you destroying our chance? Stop pretending you aren't what you are. One in billions, trillions! Even more! What greater meaning does life possibly have to offer?!"

Peter's eyes rolled around again, until Yondu spoke up, making Peter look at him. "I don't use my head to fly the arrow, boy! I use my heart–!" his voice was drowned out as the rubble covered his head, starting to suffocate him.

"Peter!"

He looked over to Lexi, seeing tears stream down her reddened cheeks. "I love y―" her voice was also cancelled out, and Peter's eyes went wide for a moment.

Peter looked back at his father, who was staring at Lexi's covered body, his skin a deadly grey. Tears filled his eyes as he replayed all the memorable things in his life in his mind.

His mother and him listening to her mixtape in a field; Drax and him laughing loudly in the Milano; Rocket and him soaring in the sky, with Groot upon Peter's back; Gamora and him sparring, as she was training him on how to properly defend himself; Lexi and him slow dancing along to Bring It On Home To Me by Sam Cooke alone one night, beneath the stars; and Yondu teaching Peter how to shoot a gun for the first time.

Peter's gaze darkened as he clenched his fists together tightly, letting out an audible growl. The dust and small rocks around Peter swirled up, surrounding him.

Ego's eyes widened, taking a step back. Under him, the ground lit up, taking Ego back.

Peter clenched his teeth. "You should't've killed my mom and squished my Walkman."

He lashed at Ego, taking off into the air. Peter yelled as he lifted his fist, a thick shell of rock building around it. Peter punched Ego across the face, repeating his actions until he smacked the wall with Ego.

By this, the rock capturing everyone broke off, freeing Drax, Gamora, Nebula, Rocket, Groot, Yondu, and Lexi. This also stopped the expansion; the blue glob stopping suddenly across the entire universe.

Rocket flew up to where Groot was, yelling into the hole. "Groot? Groot! Hurry up! I don't know how much longer Peter can keep him distracted! Groot, hurry!"

Nebula and Gamora climbed their way to the surface, running back to the Quadrant. Drax was already on board, with Mantis laying on the floor of the ship.

Rocket flew down to Lexi, who was bent over, panting loudly. He landed on the ground, took off his aero-rig and held it up to her. "You're flying me outta here."

She gave him a look. "You're joking...right?"

She glanced at Rocket's shoulder, spotting Groot hanging on by Rocket's fur. Lexi smiled, giving the baby sequoia a wave.

Lexi growled in annoyance, snatching the device from Rocket and stuck it to her back, the vest forming over her chest.

When she went to pick up Rocket, he protested, before rushing off towards Yondu. "Yondu! We're about to blow!"

Yondu looked down at the Procyon Lotor. "Get to the ship!"

"Not without Quill!" Rocket argued back.

"You need to take care of the twig."

Rocket's voice wavered. "Not without you!"

Yondu shook his head. "I ain't done nothing right my whole damn life, rat. You need to give me this."

Lexi shook her head. "Yondu, that's not true!"

"It is, and you know it!" Yondu raised his voice at her, shaking his finger at her.

Rocket reached for his utility belt, pulling out two small devices. "A spacesuit, and an aero-rig. I only have one of each..."

He handed them to Yondu, who returned with a grateful nod.

Rocket turned to leave but stopped. "I―"

"I am Groot." Groot said, smiling.

"What's that?" Yondu asked.

Both Rocket and Lexi smiled.

"He says welcome to the frickin' Guardians of the Galaxy, only he didn't use frickin'."