𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄.

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
act four ━━ 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿.
· 。ﾟ୧ ⋆. 𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗦. ₊˚.༄
━━━ A QUEEN AND KING,
❝ you should have gone for the head ❞

𝓜elody sprinted to the opening of the barrier, alongside everyone else, her eyes now a burning gold.

The Avengers and Wakandans were struggling against the Outriders.

Bucky went down first, and fights off an Outrider's fangs snapping at his head. Captain America and the Black Panther still are fighting side-by-side. War Machine hovered over the breach, pouring ammunition into the flood of bodies until a huge hammer - Cull Obsidian's - knocks him out of the sky and to the ground. The Hulkbuster is soon dog piled and pinned to the ground.

"Get. Off." Melody shouts plunging her Trident through the Alien's chest, "Of. Him!" She growls as a light burned through the creatures chest igniting it into flames. Bucky's eyes widened as Melody helped him up, "Now isn't the time." She nodded down as Bucky's cheeks flushed slightly.

"There's too many of them! GYAH! AAAAHHHHH!" Bruce grunted in pain.

Suddenly, a large beam of what looked like to be a rainbow-hued light lands in the middle of the action, and an axe flies out of it, wreathed with lightning and tearing through the Outriders, freeing the heroes.

It soon flies back to the light and into its master's hand just as the beam cuts out, revealing Thor, Groot and Rocket; who chambers a round in his large gun.

Black Widow, Captain America, Black Panther, Melusine, and The White Wolf pause in astonishment. Where as Proxima Midnight and Cull Obsidian pause in apprehension.

Bruce's head popped up from the Hulkbuster's helmet and laughs with joy, "AH-hahaha! You guys are so screwed now!"

"BRING ME THANOS!!!" Thor belts out as he charges toward the hordes of Outriders, followed by Groot and Rocket, lightning gathering around him as he launches himself into the air, and lands in the densest concentration of Outriders and makes a crater where they had stood.

Having found a clear spot, Rocket taunts the creatures, "Come and get some, space dogs!"

Another wave of Outriders heads right for Rocket. Bucky, having come up behind Rocket, grabs him with his mechanical arm, holds him at arms length and spins 540 degrees, firing his own M249 at the same time. "Come on, get some, get some! Come on, get some!"

Melody turned back to the two with raised brows before shaking her head in amusement as Bucky drops Rocket, who looks up at him with an impressed gleam, "How much for the gun?"

"Not for sale."

"Okay, how much for the arm?" Bucky gives the racoon a look of disbelief before walking away, "Oh, I'll get that arm." Rocket mutters to himself.

Melody smiled seeing Thor who waved to her with a bright smile.

He turned to Steve who questioned him, "New haircut?"

Thor grinned, "Notice you've copied my beard."

Steve nodded, wearily gesturing at his own face with a shield-covered hand. Groot skewers three Outriders with his right arm.

"By the way, this is a friend of mine. Tree." Thor gestures towards Groot with Stormbreaker.

Melody awed from next To Bucky who sighed.

Groot says in a full battle snarl, "I am GROOT!"

Steve nods formally, but bemused, "I . . . I am Steve Rogers."

Melody looked to her left seeing Kai fending off a group of what looked like to be dogs, she sprinted forwards raised her hand as a small but forceful tornado appeared dragging the three aliens with it.

The two fought alongside one another.

Melody's eyes widened as a set of Threshers separated into individual wheels and started veering all over the battlefield.

"Fall back! Fall back now!"

Kai rushed forwards and shielded her with his body as Okoye and Natasha cringe readying themselves for impact. Only for Wanda to land in front of them, eyes glowing red, lifting the whole Thresher well clear of the ground. Looking behind her, the friendly forces have scattered and were replaced by a charging mob of Outriders - the perfect place to throw a Thresher.

Black Widow straightens with a pleased smile, Okoye with an amazed look.

"Why was she up there all this time?" Okoye questioned.

Melody smiled up at the strawberry blonde who nodded to her good friend.

"Guys, we got a Vision situation here." Sam panicked over his ear piece only to be tackled by a leaping Outrider and grounded.

"Somebody get to Vision!" Steve instructed.

"I got him!" Bruce has figured out the Hulkbusters repulser thrusters and makes a beeline for the android.

"On my way." Wanda nods before running off.

"Go." Kai nodded to Melody who shook her head, "Go, help save him. We'll be fine down here."

Hesitantly Melody ran after Wanda.

The two were knocked down to the ground off a small hill.

Melody coughed looking up at Proxima, "You will pay for what you did." She seethed.

Melody turned her head spitting to her side, a wad of metallic blood coming out. "You're going to have to be more specific then that."

"How's this for specific?" She taunted taking one of her knives and plunging it into Melody's hand, a shrill cry left her lips as her scales separated from the wound, no longer able to heal at the moment.

Proxima grabbed Melody up by her long locks facing the field where Kai and Bucky were fighting alongside one another. "Which one, which one?" Proxima muttered to herself and Melody menacingly. "Why not two for one?" She asked as she pressed on her glove.

Everything was in slow motion from that point on for Melody, a cry left her throat as Kai was plunged through his chest with swords, one from his back and one from his chest.

"He'll die alone. They all will." Proxima hissed in Melody's ear tossing her down to the ground.

"She's not alone." Natasha denied appearing behind the two helping Wanda up to her feet. Okoye silently brandishes her spear on the other side of Proxima and nods at Black Widow.

Red. Red is what Melody saw at this point, with foggy vision she stood up on shaky legs. Turning on her heel weakly seeing Proxima fighting off the three women.

Grabbing the knife that was wedged in the palm of her hand she ripped it out and tossed it to the ground. Scales formed around her right hand mending her wound back.

Bucky helped drag Kai to safety shielding him away into the forrest lining. Kai coughed as his lips and beard were covered in a metallic substance, his breathing was becoming slow as he groaned clutching his chest.

"Atlantian Steel." He muttered clutching his chest, Bucky heaved unknowing what to do. "Melody." Kai whispered reaching to her vicinity, "Go, help her." Kai grunted to Bucky who helplessly looked around them then to Melody. "GO!" He demanded hoisting himself up against a large boulder, resting.

"Just, hold on." Bucky panicked pressing his hands to the man's chest trying to add some sort of pressure to his large wound. "Damnit." He cursed.

"Keep - keep her safe." Kai whimpered. "I'll be fine, go! Please." He begged looking up at Bucky whose jaw clenched before standing up and leaving Kai behind.

Melody raised her hand towards Proxima.

Falling to her knees she clutched her head letting out a shrill cry. Melody's doe eyes shifted from brown to gold as she stared at the alien emotionless.

Natasha sat up with wide eyes as Wanda stood up next to Okoye.

"MELODY?" Bucky's frantic voice shouts behind her. "Melody!"

Proxima's cries grew louder just as her head exploded.

Blue slime decorated the floor and Natasha's legs who cringed at the sight nearly gagging.

"Rot in hell, alien bitch." Melody muttered.

Arms wrapped around her figure pulling her backwards. Too weak to fight she allowed Bucky to drag her away, just as realization set in.

"Kai?" She mumbled, "Kai." She repeated whipping her head around her frantic eyes looking for the familiar man, pushing Bucky away from her she shoved him back with force as she stumbled through the field of chaos looking for her best friend. "KAI?!"

Following her senses she came across his bloodied body, sobs fell from her lips as she fell to her knees and crawled over to him.

"Daor, daor!" She sobbed, "Please, don't leave me too." She cried shaking her head.

Kai placed his over her own that clutched his armour, his hand enclosed around her own. "It's okay." He murmured as he coughed up more blood.

"It's not - it's not okay! You're dying." She whimpered, "Please, please!" She begged and pleaded.

Bucky shifted his footing behind the two, his grip on his gun tightening as he looked behind them through the greenery onto the battle field.

Kai smiled, "All our lives we wanted to be free." He breathed out, "And we are. You are."

Melody sniffled shaking her head, "I'm nothing without you." She whispered clutching his hand tightly, her knuckles turning white. "Kostilus, Kai. You promised you wouldn't leave me too."

The sky above them began to crackle and turn into a dark grey, signalling the worse had just arrived.

"He's here." Vision informed the group over their ear piece.

Kai looked to Bucky with a pleading look, glancing down to the sobbing girl in his chest.

Bucky looked up then let out a ragged breath as he reached down grabbing Melody up by her arms as she protested hitting his arms repeatedly.

"I love you." Kai whispered watching as Bucky dragged her way despite her struggle and screams. His head lulled to the side where a familiar gold object laid next to him.

"LET ME GO!" She screamed as Bucky dragged her away from her dying best friend. Reaching a clearing Melody fell to the dirt floor her nails digging into the terrain as she glared up at Bucky. "Why did you do that?" She demanded over the crackling of thunder above them.

"I wasn't going to leave you there to die too." He said, "Come on." He reached out to her, only for her to slap his hands away. "Melody, stop acting like a child." He gritted out reaching for her forearms.

"How could you say that?!" She pushed him back harshly, "Kai is dying!"

"He's dead! And we're all going to be next if we don't help everyone with killing Thanos!" Bucky exclaimed back his ocean eyes now resembling a storm at sea.

"I'm sure if someone you loved died you'd be acting the same way!" She shouted back.

Bucky winced at her words, "Well, it's a good thing I don't then."

Melody sniffled looking at her boyfriend in hurt, "What's - what's that supposed to mean? Y-you don't love me?" She whispered more so to herself then to Bucky.

"I didn't mean it like that." He sighed rubbing his hand over the bridge of his nose, frustrated that they were having a fight in their current situation.

"Well, that's how you said it. If you didn't mean it, you wouldn't have said it." She remarked stubbornly.

"I didn't have anyone to lose then and now I have two." He explained looking down at his combat boots. "I had Steve before I was The Winter Soldier, then I was brainwashed. Now -" He sighed his sad eyes meeting her's, "He has the team, and everyone. Now - now I only have you. And if you die . . . I will go even more out my Goddamn mind."

Melody frowned, before she could say anything else or James, Steve's voice rang through their ear pieces.

"Eyes up. Stay sharp. Melody, Bucky where are you guys?! We need you!"

Melody and Bucky rushed through the forest to where their friends were fighting off the titan. Wanda destroying the Mind Stone, War Machine joins the fight, firing his guns at Thanos until he uses the gauntlet to crush his armour around him and toss him aside.

Bucky ran in firing, only to be punched away by the Power Stone.

A growl left Melody as she ran forwards her hand raised as a rush of electric blue and green shot at Thanos who stumbled back. A look of surprise took over his features, soon turning into a glare.

Kicking him in his gut then sending an upper cut to his jaw, he stumbles back. Only adding onto his irritation, he reached out grabbing her by her neck despite her struggle and throwing her off to the side, her body and head hitting the trunk of a tree knocking her down next to Bucky where vines wrapped around her limbs keeping her locked in place.

Okoye then activates the vibranium-powered elements on her spear and flings it to the titan; with the help of the Power stone, he stops it, and throws her and it aside while wrapping Black Widow in unescapable bands of earth.

Groot stabs his hands into the ground to wrap Thanos in cables of roots, which he breaks easily.

Wanda watches as one by one each hero and leader fails. Turning back to Vision, she continues to destroy the stone.

Captain America slides under one blow and comes up swinging his deployed arm-shields, punching Thanos in the gut and chin. He grabs the gauntlet, keeping Thanos's fingers unclenched.

Thanos looked down briefly impressed at Steve's efforts as he screams before slamming a fist into his head and rendering him insensible.

Wanda looks over her shoulder again and sees Thanos approaching unopposed. She swings her left hand around to fend him off with a stream of scarlet energy, and pushes him back despite his blue-purple energy shield, but then he starts to make slow headway.

"It's all right. It's all right. I love you." Vision said to The Scarlett Witch who sobbed at his words.

At those words, the Mind Stone finally began to crack. Vision's face is soon overcome by an expression of joyful peace, and as the crystal fragments completely, a pulse of pure yellow energy explodes from him, shuddering the trees for many meters around his epicenter. Wanda's and Thanos's energy subsides.

"I understand, my child. Better than anyone." Thanos said to Wanda who glared up at him in hatred and disgust.

"You could never." She snarled.

Thanos reached down to presume to stroke her hair, as if in comfort. "Today, I lost more than you can know. But now is no time to mourn. Now . . . is no time at all." He reached forwards, clenching the gauntlet, emerald filigree surrounding his wrist, making a gesture very similar to that Doctor Strange made when activating the Eye of Agamotto.

In response, a bead of yellow light starts gathering in on itself as time is reversed and growing in size, solidifying into an intact and conscious Vision.

"No!" Wanda screeched and lunged for Vision and is swatted away.

Thanos picked up Vision by his throat, lifting him to eye-level, and digs the fingers of his right hand into Vision's forehead, digging out the Mind Stone. He pulls it loose, and Vision goes limp and colourless; he tosses the lifeless android aside like trash.

Bringing his gauntleted hand up, he slowly moves the Mind Stone over the last empty setting, and drops it in. The energy surge is much more than any previous one - his torso is wreathed with iridescent static and he bellows from the sensations.

As Thanos studies the completed gauntlet, a massive bolt of lighting strikes him, digging him into the ground and grinding him back for meters.

Thor jumps down, eyes glowing with power, stooping down from the sky like a bird of prey. The God of Thunder pauses his attack, reverses his position, he raises Stormbreaker above his head and hurls it - Thanos fires the whole might of the gauntlet against it, but it only creates a rainbow-like bowshock, not slowing the axe as it slams right into Thanos' chest.

Thor lands in front of Thanos, who is down on one knee; hatefully. "I told you. You'd die for that!"

He takes hold of the back of Thanos's head and forces Stormbreaker deeper into his chest, staring angrily into his eyes while Thanos cries out in pain.

"You should have . . . You . . ." Thanos weakly begins, "You should have gone for the head!" Raising his gauntlet he snapped his fingers.

"NO!" A flash of light appears before everyone's eyes, and the gauntlet is now burnt to a crisp. "What'd you do?" Thor questioned in anger and confusion, "WHAT'D YOU DO?!"

Using the Space Stone, Thanos quickly teleported away, leaving Stormbreaker behind on Wakandan ground.

Steve stumbles into the clearing alongside his team mates, "Where'd he go? Thor . . . where'd he go?"

Bucky hoists Melody up he frowns as he begins to loose feeling in his hands, "Melody?" He whispered earning a look of confusion from the nymph. "Steve?" Bucky looks over to Steve in confusion.

Within a matter of seconds Bucky suddenly stumbles over, and collapses into ashes.

Melody stumbled backwards into Natasha who held her up against her side, unable to form words only to stare at the ground where ashes replaced her lover's figure.

Steve walks over and places his gloved hand where his best friend had been moments ago.

"What is this? What the hell is happening?" James Rhodes questions Steve who sat down now looking over to Vision.

"Oh, God."

❨ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 ❩
🐚ঌ ࣪₀🧺 .˚🌿✦

● 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱
○ 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱

* 𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐲'𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐫 *

i am so sorry.

one more chapter until Act V and then we gotta wait till Endgame 🖤

════════ ∘♡༉∘ ════════

𝐌𝐂𝐔 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓
࿐ ཾ.ミ☆ ❛ AVENGE THE FALLEN ! ❜

════════ ∘♡༉∘ ════════

𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 :
kostilus : please
avy jorrāelan : i love you
daor : no

𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍, 𝟤𝟫𝟦𝟤