This is War

XII

WAKANDA

M'Baka bashed another Outrider -- the ground game had improved considerably with the audition of the God of Thunder. His tribesmen were equally successful around him.

"Mayefa!" M'Baku yelled.

"Ya Hu Hu!" the Jabari warriors answered.

Thor was in the air, using Stormbringer on the Outrider drop ships which were retreating. He was having considerably more success than the Wakandan Dragon fliers firing on the fleeing ships.

Wanda, landing as she finally located Vision, asked, "Are you okay?" Vision flinched in pain before he could answer. "What? What is it?"

"He's here," Vision told her.

The wind picked up, feeling eerie.

"Everyone, on my position," Steve ordered. "We have incoming." He was joined by Black Widow, Falcon, Okoye and Black Panther in short order.

"What the hell?" Natasha questioned.

Bruce saw the blue-black clouds of a Space Stone relocation just before Thanos stepped forward, and confirmed what he was seeing. "Cap. That's him. Angel! That's him!"

"Eyes up," Steve instructed. "Stay sharp."

Bruce reached Thanos first, lunging fist-first -- but Thanos used the Space Stone on him, rendering him immaterial until the Hulkbuster was half-buried in the stone of the cliff behind him, and froze Bruce in place.

Captain America was sent flying by purple energy before he even got to strike a single blow.

Black Panther, armor fully charged kinetically, leapt high and with claws extended, but was easily grabbed by the throat and punched to the ground, his armor discharging violently.

Falcon stooped, strafing with both Steyr pistols, but was felled when his wings became rubbery and unable to sustain flight.

"Wanda," Vision called. "It's time."

"No," Wanda argued.

"They can't stop him, Wanda, but we can. Look at me. You have the power to destroy the Stone."

"Don't."

"You must do it. Wanda, please. We... are... out of time."

"I can't."

"Yes, you can. If he gets the stone, half the universe dies."

"I-"

"It's not fair. It shouldn't be you, but it is."

"It's all right. You could never hurt me..."

"I just... feel you." She extended a trembling hand and started beaming her energy at the Mind Stone.

War Machine joined the fight, firing his guns at Thanos until he used the Gauntlet to crush his armor around him and tossed him aside.

The Winter Soldier and Blue Angel ran in firing, and were punched away by the Power Stone. The Winter Soldier pulled the blonde up and the two nodded to each other that they were both okay.

Okoye activated the Vibranium-powered elements on her spear and flung it; Power stopped it inches from Thanos, and threw her and it aside while wrapping Black Widow in inescapable bands of earth.

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

Scarlet Witch watched over one shoulder, then turned back to Vision to add her left hand to her tearful effort.