Phoenix <Book 1>

Part 1 Chapter 1

Ashlyn stood by Erik Selvig and kept an eye on the tesseract, "Phil begin evac." She got a reply from her friend and she let out a breath, "Has anyone contacted Director Fury?", Maria came over her ear comm, "I just did, he's on his way." Ashlyn glanced around and her eyes met with Clint's, "No one has messed with this thing right?", he gave her a nod and she turned, "That means the reaction is from the other side.", Selvig looked at her and she walked over to one of the computers right has Nick Fury walked in, "Energy levels are rising, nearing unstable levels. We've got to get out of here." She walked over, "Where's the bird?", Ashlyn glanced at Fury, "Was that a rhetorical question?", Erik smiled at the girl, "Barton is in his nest, he sees better from a distance." She turned slightly and nodded her head, an arrow whizzing right passed her head and sticking into the beam behind her, Clint landing beside her. "Report.", the pair glanced at each other, "Nobody has messed with it on this side, I've watched the actual tesseract, Ash has been monitoring the computers. If there's any tampering, it's from the other side.", Nick glanced at Ashlyn, "What he is saying is that the tesseract is a portal, portals work both ways. Someone on the other side is trying to get to this side." There was a bright light and it quickly made Ashlyn transform into her Phoenix form. Clint grabbed an arrow and the two stood in front of Selvig and Fury, "Sir, put down the spear." The man rose and Ashlyn put her red energy toward her hands, "Who are you?", she narrower her eye slightly, "Loki, God of Mischief and Lies, brother of Thor." Loki smirked, "Phoenix." Clint stepped closer to her, "What are you doing with the tesseract?", Loki smiled at Ashlyn, "To the point, I like that." She glared and her swords appeared in her hands, "I have come to set Earth free.", she tilted her head, "From what?", he looked at Nick, "Freedom." She farrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "You're a special kind of special aren't you?", Clint softly smirked at that and Nick shook his head, "We have no quarrel with your people.", Loki nodded slightly, "An ant has no quarrel with a boot." Ashlyn spoke, "So you plan to step on us." Loki looked at her and went to speak but she grew annoyed and shot a energy ball at him, making the quarrel between them begin.

Ashlyn and Clint both jumped forward and shoved Nick and Erik out of the way of the blast, "Loki, the tesseract cannot be controlled. Leave now." Clint stood with Ashlyn and Loki shot her with a blast, Clint running to her side, "You have heart." Clint was touched with Loki's scepter and his eyes grew black, and his veins blue, "Clint." The black disappeared and his eyes were the color of the tesseract, "Ah, I still need that." Ashlyn stepped toward Clint and he quickly began to fight with her, she was blocking, "Wake up Barton." Loki and Nick were talking when Selvig went to move and Loki got him with the scepter has well. Clint used the distracted and kicked Ashlyn in the gut making her collide with the far wall, "Director Fury and Agent Walsh are stalling." Selvig spoke next, "He is right the tesseract is closing in on itself. We'll be buried beneath the rubble, "Like the pharaohs of old." Nick noticed Ashlyn had a look of betrayal on her face has she came and joined him, even though she knew it wasn't Clint's fault. "We've got to move." Loki shot at the two with his scepter and the two jumped and dodged out of the way, letting the trio run off. Ashlyn leant up and Nick looked at her, "Are you alright?", she nodded but tears pooled in her eyes, "I'm fine." She stood up and shook her head, "Let's go." She hurried out of the room and to a QuinJet, the entire time all she was thinking about was Clint being the enemy. Her and Nick boarded the QuinJet and were following the jeep Loki, Selvig, and Clint were in. Loki shoot them down and Ashlyn quickly grabbed Nick and the two landed safely. Nick's words caught her ears, "Has of now, we are at war.", she glanced up and all she could think was that she was at war with her best friend.

"You're helping Coulson get the big guy.", she looked at Nick, "Bruce Banner?", Nick shook his head, "Stark." She sighed, "Is this because I owe you one?", he nodded, "Yes ma'am it is." She sighed and quickly changed into her S.H.I.E.L.D uniform and sighed, "You sure you're okay?", she glared at Nick, "I'm fine." She spun on her heel and marched away to find Coulson, she wasn't fine and Nick knew that, her best friend was taken and made an enemy. Phil looked at her and noticed the emotions in her eyes, but they were covered with a stone hard glare, "Let's get to New York City and talk to Metal Head." Phil gave her a soft smile and she gave one back, though he knew she meant it it just didn't reach her eyes.

"Sir, Agent Phil Coulson is on the line, he has-", Tony landed in his suit, "Tell him I'm not in right now, I'm actually out." Ashlyn rolled her eyes because she could hear everything, "Let me try." She began hacking into Jarvis's system and she apologized to the program, "It's a urgent matter.", Tony rolled his eyes, "Leave a message urgently." Ashley huffed and Tony finally answered, "You've reached the life size model of Tony Stark." The elevator doors opened and Phil walked out first, "Security Breach." Ashlyn rolled her eyes has Pepper spoke up, "Phil." Tony looked between the two, "His first name is Agent." Ashlyn transported behind Tony and put her hands over his eyes, "Guess who?", he smirked, "An annoying little leprechaun." She glared and slightly burned him but she also healed it, "You're best friend." He looked at her, "I don't see Rhodey anywhere." She glared, "Don't test me right now." He looked at her, "You seem hotter than usual." She gave him a look but quickly smiled, "I have something for you." Phil and Pepper were listening to the two, "I thought I didn't qualify." Ashlyn smiled, "Do any of us?", he gave her a nod and noticed her staring at Clint's file, "Trouble in Paradise?", she looked up, "Loki took him and Doctor Erik Selvig along with the tesseract." Tony picked up the small tesseract and looked at it, "I'll let you go, I'll hopefully see you later." Tony nodded and Pepper walked over for a few moments, then walked over and the trio walked out of Stark Tower.