The Violet Witch

VIII.

When I open my eyes, I fall to the floor, landing on my stomach.

"Ow." I mutter.

"Carlos?" I hear Wanda's voice. I turn on my back.

"Wanda!" I smile up at her. "And Peitro!"

They look down at me.

"Where did you come from?" Pietro asks.

"Oh, I teleported from some highway. Captain America is fighting Ultron." I pat my ear and realize that my earpiece did not come with me.

Wanda looks down at me.

"Are you okay?"

"Gimme a sec." I say, closing my eyes. "Do you guys have water?"

Pietro zooms off and quickly comes back with a bottle of water. He holds out his hand. I grab it and he lifts me up, getting me on my feet then helping me sit down on a crate.

"Dr. Cho said that you betrayed Ultron?" I ask the two of them as I drain the water bottle.

"I read Ultron's mind. He wanted destruction, not salvation." Wanda says. "And after you freed us from his control, we began to see the true nature of his actions."

"We figured that." I reply.

"Were you fighting Ultron?" Pietro asks, putting a protective hand on my shoulder. I shake my head.

"Cap told me to leave when Ultron came out of the truck. He was about to blast me, but then I closed my eyes, and then I was here. I was probably pulled towards our link."

"What link?"

"You didn't tell him?" I ask Wanda.

"Tell me what?!"

"Carlos and I shared a dream yesterday. During my shift. We believe we are linked, since we have the same powers and we entered each other's minds."

"Are we linked?" Pietro asks me. "You put your memories in my mind. Were those real?

"I don't know. And yes, those were my real memories."

I inhale and exhale deeply, then stand up.

"They need our help." I state. I look up at the older versions of my friends.

"Will you come with me?" I ask.

Pietro and Wanda look at each other, then up at a small tv showing news footage covering Steve and Ultron's fight. They look back down at me and nod.

"Good. I don't think I could take us there though. Can you teleport, Wanda?"

She shakes her head.

"I will carry the both of you." Pietro says.

"Are you sure?" I ask him.

"Oh yeah, you are both tiny." He smirks.

"I'm not tiny! I'm just growing!" I exclaim.

Wanda laughs and pats my shoulder.

"You look ten years old." She states

"I'm thirteen!" I cross my arms and pout.

"Oh, stop that you little baby." Pietro chuckles. He walks over and squats in front of me.

"Get on my back."

I sigh and get on, my legs wrapping around his waist, my arms circling his shoulders. He stands up and picks Wanda up bridal style.

"Everyone comfortable?" He asks.

"Yes."

"Yes." Wanda says

"Good. Neither of you weigh much. Like carrying two grapes."

I put my head on his shoulder to look at Wanda. We both roll our eyes.

"Okay, hold on tight you two."

I hold on tighter as he starts running. It is like nothing I've ever experienced before, going so fast. I expected everything to be a blur as he runs past everything, but it just looks like everything goes slower, as clear as day.

We make our way through the streets of Soel until we find the train Steve and Ultron are on. Pietro speeds up and jumps through a window. The people in our section freak out and jump up.

"Sorry!" I exclaim as I let go of Pietro. I pick up all the shattered glass and put it back into the window.

"Sorry." Pietro says sheepishly.

"Look, there they are!" I point to where Steve and Ultron are.

Pietro puts Wanda down and takes off running toward him. He slams into him, and Wanda and I are close behind. She takes control of some railing and blocks Ultron from going closer to Steve or Pietro. I begin ushering the passengers farther back into the train, then close the compartment door and seal it. Once I'm done, I grab more railing to separate Ultron from Wanda.

"Please. Don't do this." Ultron tells her.

"What choice do we have?" she answers.

Ultron sighs before blasting the railing, propelling Wanda, Pietro, and me backward. Then he flew out the window. 

"I lost him! He's headed your way!" Steve says into his earpiece, running to the driver. I follow him and help him move her out of the way. We look out the window to see that we are running out of train track.

The train crashes into what looks to be a loading dock, the wheels grazing the floor.

"If you have the package, get it to Stark! Go! Go!" Steve yells, presumably talking to Nat or Clint. He turns to Pietro.

"Civilians in our path." he says. Pietro nods and speeds out of the train.

"Can you stop this thing?" He asks Wanda and me.

"Yeah!" I say. Steve runs off. "Wanda, stop the wheels! I'll slow us down!"

She nods and shoots her magic downwards. I spread my arms and let my magic take over the train. I pull with all my might, slowing down the train. It comes to a stop in between apartment buildings. People outside the train begin to help those inside.

I cling to Wanda as we exit the train, my magic and energy nearly exhausted. She sits me down next to Pietro, also panting heavily. She puts worried hands on both our shoulders.

"I'm fine. I just need to take a minute." Pietro says. I nod, leaning against his shoulder. He sighs and puts an arm around me.

"I'm tempted not to give you one." Steve says as he walks over.

"The Cradle, did you get it?" Wanda asks him.

"Stark will take care of it."

Wanda looks shocked at this.

"No, he won't." she says.

"You don't know what you're talking about, Stark's not crazy."

"He will do anything to make things right." Wanda says slowly.

This seems to mean something to Steve.

"Stark, come in. Stark. Anyone on comms?" he says, stepping away.

"Ultron can't tell the difference between saving the world and destroying it. Wanda says accusatorily. "Where do you think he gets that?"

I look up towards Steve.

"He's going to use the body he's made to become stronger." Pietro says.

"That's what Dr. Banner meant by 'evolve'. We can't let Tony turn on the body. It might still have some Ultron in it." I tell Steve.

He looks at me, then the twins.

"You trust them?" he asks me. I nod.

"And not just because of some magical mumbo jumbo?"

"Yes. I trust them Steve. I do."

"Okay kid. Then I'll trust them too."