The Sokovian Shadow

Chapter 20

TW:
- Fighting
- Near death experience
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I flew over the remains of Sokovia, my soul sense spread out as far as I could send it. I was technically supposed to be making sure that none of the sentinels made it off Sokovia's western border, but I was determined to make sure no one was left before Stark blew the flying hunk of rock to smithereens.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that the Quinjet was raining fire on random people. My eyes widened as I saw Ultron in the cockpit. I made a sharp right and ascended into a wind current that would help me get there faster. I had to stop him, but even with the wind current helping me, I was too far away. I could only watch in horror as the bullets hit home. Cap and Thor would survive, but Clint and the civilian child he was holding wouldn't. I beat my wings faster, the muscles burning in a way that I was unfamiliar with.

I was too late.

But Pietro wasn't.

I finally reached them, diving as Pietro fell to the ground. I saw a shock wave of red out of the corner of my eye. Through my wide-spread soul sense, I could feel Wanda fighting with everything she had to keep her brother's half of their soul in this world. She was putting up one hell of a fight.

I pulled out of my dive as Pietro hit the ground. I held my hands out as I flew over him and called him to me. His physical form dissolved and a ball of light blue light flew to my palms. I held the orb to my chest as I twisted in the air. I could feel Clint watching me but I didn't care. I flew towards the Helicarrier, landing on the roof. I created a cocoon with my wings as I released the sphere of energy. Celes was unable to stop the shudder of fear and the memory of my only friend's death.

As Pietro's still body formed in front of me, I distantly felt Celes open my mind to Wanda, helping her keep her brothers soul in this world. My fingertips trailed gently over the bullet holes as I used my blood magic to slowly knit the skin back together. When all of the wounds were sealed, I leant back as well as I could while still maintaining the cocoon and closed my eyes. I felt Wanda's desperation as she held on to her brother's soul. Celes was helping her, but they were losing.

I went over to Pietro and grabbed onto his arm. Even in Mindspace, I could feel the pull of the Inter World. That was part of why Wanda was losing so severely; even a mind witch had no power when it came to the world that was the bridge between the land of the living and the land of the dead. I turned to Wanda as her grip finally slipped. I felt a light pressure on my arm and raised my free hand to stroke the giant splash of red on Celes' chest and stomach; the blood from the arrow. It only showed in Mindspace.

I took a deep breath, tightening my grip on Pietro's arm as I brought us out of Mindspace. I opened my eyes, and there was a ball of dimly flickering energy in my palm. I held it over his chest and it was absorbed by his body. I started using my blood magic to force his heart to beat and his lungs to expand. After a while, they started working of their own accord. I sighed in relief as he coughed, groaning and pressing a hand to his forehead as he sat up.

I supported him as he blinked, confused, then remembered humans couldn't see in the dark. I released a few plumes of soul fire to float above us and light up the inside of the cocoon. I shook my head as I did, still confused as to how humans survived. His eyes widened and there was a flash of relief in his soul, as well as a hint of confusion.

'Wanda.' I opened my wings slowly, giving his eyes time to adjust. After I furled my wings into my back, I stood and helped him to his feet. Once he was steady, we turned towards Sokovia.

Right as it started to fall.

Pietro screamed his sister's name as I jumped off the Helicarrier's roof. I spread out my soul sense without thinking, desperately trying to find her. I couldn't find anyone, which was both good and bad; there were no more civilians on Sokovia, but Wanda was still here. I eventually found her in the train where they first turned against Ultron.

I dove towards her and started ducking and weaving through the floating rock, metal, and debris, trying to get to her. I reached her just after the Vision did, and as I watched, he flew them both to safety. I sighed in relief; I couldn't save one twin just to lose the other. I caught up to Vision before he got too far.

'Take her to the roof of the Helicarrier. Someone is waiting for her there.' He inclined his head, then glided to the Helicarrier. I went to follow them, then turned in the air, watching as Stark and Thor blew up my home. I hovered for a moment, then touched the first two fingers of my right hand to my forehead, then my mouth, then made a fist over where my heart should have been. Then I turned and flew to the Helicarrier, not looking back.