UNKNOWN GUEST

#125 Aftermath

Amidst the fires of the battlefield, thick clouds of smoke and debris swirling around us, I saw the creature I had been aiming at vanish right before my eyes, dissolving into ash.

One second it was there, claws extended and ready to strike, and then it was just... gone. Disappeared into a gray cloud of nothingness, the same way we'd disappeared when Thanos snapped his fingers years ago.

I lowered my rifle, looking around, my heart pounding. One by one, more of Thanos' army was disintegrating into the same dust. Creatures, massive and grotesque, who had moments ago been lunging at us, now vanished mid-stride. The once unbreakable force of aliens and monsters that had swept over us was crumbling to ash.

Did that mean... we'd won?

My eyes darted over the battlefield, spotting familiar faces—heroes, Avengers—everywhere, standing amidst the fallen, bloodied and battered but alive. Slowly, cautiously, a sense of victory started to settle over the chaos, tentative but undeniable.

And then I spotted the others, a cluster of Avengers huddled together, their bodies creating a wall, a small circle around someone slumped against a rock. I felt a strange pang in my chest and sprinted toward them, heart in my throat. As I drew closer, the figures parted just enough for me to see who they were surrounding.

Uncle Tony.

He lay there, his Iron Man suit sparking in places, his right arm and side scorched, his face pale, his breathing shallow. I felt my chest tighten, and I swallowed hard as I knelt beside him. "No, no, no..." The words slipped from my mouth like a mantra, an incantation to stave off the reality of what I was seeing. "Uncle Tony," I whispered, voice thick, my throat tight with the fear I could barely keep at bay. "Mr. Stark."

His eyes fluttered open, weak but somehow still familiar, still kind. "Hey... Jason," he murmured, a small smile tugging at his lips. Even here, even now, he had that spark, that sense of humor I had always admired.

I forced myself to smile back, swallowing down the fear. "We won. You did it. You saved everyone. And you're... you're going to be fine."

I stood up, looking around at the others, desperate for a solution. I locked eyes with Dr. Strange, then Black Panther, and I could see the same heartbreak mirrored on their faces. "We can take him to Wakanda," I said, my voice laced with urgency, a glimmer of hope sparking in my chest.

Shuri, T'Challa's sister, stepped forward, shaking her head with regret. "We don't have enough time."

I looked back at Dr. Strange, determination flaring within me. "We have time," I said firmly, willing him to understand. He met my gaze, the realization dawning in his eyes, and then he nodded sharply, knowing exactly what I meant.

"Yes, we have," he said, his voice steady. Without hesitation, he began to weave his hands through the air, summoning the familiar swirl of golden sparks. The portal took shape, and through it, I could see the lush, vibrant plains of Wakanda on the other side, bathed in sunlight. Dr. Strange gestured toward Aunt Pepper, who was crouched beside Tony, tears in her eyes, but her face strong and resolved.

"Let's take him," he said softly. Aunt Pepper nodded, helping Uncle Tony to his feet with the support of T'Challa, their movements careful but swift. Together, they guided him through the portal, surrounded by Wakandan soldiers and medics ready to assist.

I watched them disappear into the portal, praying silently for a miracle, for time and fate to be kinder this once, just once. And then, with a final glance, Dr. Strange closed the portal, sealing Tony's fate on the other side.

Around me, the remaining Avengers glanced at one another, some exchanging quiet nods, others breathing deep sighs of relief. Despite the losses and the scars, there was a sense of triumph, a subtle, unspoken feeling that rippled through the air: we had won. The nightmare of Thanos had ended here.