Necessary Good, Unnecessary Evil | No rest For Wounded Souls [Bucky Barnes]

Queen Of Ashes

"But the one thing they love more than a hero, is to see a hero fail, fall, die trying. In spite of everything you've done for them, eventually, they will hate you. Why bother?"
-Norman Osborn, SpiderMan (2002)

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Nova's POV

Angus guides me through the palace, stopping in front of a door. 
I walk in, seeing Nat sitting with her back against the wall. "Nova?" She utters, standing up.
In a second, she's hugging me. "I'm so sorry, Nat," I whisper.
"I know, I know." She mutters.
Angus clears his throat, standing behind us. "Now that I've done my part..." he mentions.
I let go of Nat, sighing deeply. "What is he talking about?" She inquires, concerned.

"It's going to be alright, I promise." I say, staring at her.
Nat stutters, moving her gaze to Angus and back on me. "What? What are you gonna do?" She frets, holding my hands.
I hesitate, feeling a lump forming in my throat. "What do have to do ensure no one else will get hurt." My voice is croaky, barely coming out.
Natasha brows knit together, and she shakes her head. "What about you? Are you going to get hurt?" She asks, a crease cutting deep into her forehead.
I hesitate, not really having an answer. "No. I won't." 

She nods, quietly following me as Angus takes us back to the throne room.
He stands in front of me, leaving the Pneuma in my palm.
A guard stands at the feet of the dais, his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword.
I walk up the stairs to the throne, stopping in front of it.
My eyes move to my hand, studying the small crystal I'm holding. "Place it in the engraving." I hear Angus instruct.

I step forward, pushing the stone into the deep incision on the left armrest.
A few seconds pass by, but nothing happens. "Now what?" I ask, turning around.
A slight vibration starts to grow under my feet, till the whole place begins to shake violently.
I see Natasha charging at the guard and hitting his leg and taking his sword, pointing it at Angus.

He moves to the side, avoiding the blade and holding up his hand.
"No!" I shout, energy leaving my hands and throwing Angus across the room.
My heart pounds in my chest as I rush towards Natasha, grabbing her hand and running away.
The footsteps of hundreds of soldiers echo in the hallways. Too many for just the two of us.
We get outside, and keep running till we hear a loud noise, and turn around.

A bright beam rises from the Palace, up to the sky, higher than the clouds. "What is that?" Nat asks, holding onto my arm.
"The throne." I heave, looking around. We need to get to the gates.
I grab her hand and run down the path in the garden. 
We stop in front of the tall gates, and I turn to her. "Listen to me. I have to end this before the others get here and this turns into carnage." I urge.
Natasha frowns, her eyes moving frantically on the space around us. "You can't do this alone, Nova." She frets.
"Angus wants me on the throne. Once I get there, I'll be strong enough to stop him." I say, trying to remember how to work this thing.
 
"Why would he allow that?" Nat inquires.
I hesitate, rubbing my hands together. "I don't know."
"Nova, this doesn't make any sense." She exasperates.
I shake my head, facing my palms toward the two tall columns in front of me. "That's the only option."
My powers start to form a thin wall of energy, and colors start to form shapes.
I focus on the destination, struggling as Nat keeps talking to me.
"There must be another way." She shouts.

I recognize Asgard's gardens, and I stop. I did it. I opened the gates.
"I'm sorry, Nat. I love you." I whisper, pushing her through the portal.
She falls on the other side, shock painted all over her face. "Nova, no!" She yells, trying to reach me again, but I close the gates again, sending her away. Safe. 
I feel hands grabbing my shoulders, dragging me down to my knees. 
"I told you no one else would get hurt, Angus." I grunt, squirming in the hold of two guards. 
I could fight them. React. I could kill them, but this would only kill my friends.