The Girl Who Held the Universe in her Hands | marvel [1] ✔

THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
' FEAR IN YOUR EYES . '

Peter and Ash leapt off the platform and started blasting vessels with guns and magic. As they fought, Rocket attempted to instruct Groot about the bomb. Rocket, ever so patient, began to grit his teeth as his voice rose in frustration.

"You're making him nervous!" Ash shouted.

Rocket ran to the end of the hole, and Ash peeked in as she shot at envoys. "Shut up! And give me some tape! Does anyone have any tape out there? I want to put some tape over the death button!"

"I don't have any! Peter!" she shouted, and he turned. "Do you have any tape?"

"No! Let me check." He disappeared, and Ash held back the ships.

Peter hollered amongst the chaos, "Yo, Yondu, do you have any - ow! - do you have any tape?"

Ash grunted as one blasted her stomach. "Go shit a brick!" she shouted as it burst into black flames.

Peter appeared outside the hole, shooting an envoy. "No one has any tape."

"Not a single person has tape?" Rocket repeated with annoyance dripping from his tone.

"You have priceless batteries and an atomic bomb in your bag! If anyone had tape, it would be you!" Ash shot back as she launched an energy ball towards a ship.

"That's exactly my point! I have to do everything!"

Peter groaned. "Dude, you're wasting time!"

"We're all gonna die," Rocket said as Groot delved into the tunnel, bomb clutched to his chest.

The remaining Sovereign envoys began to unload their blasters as they encircled the battered Laser Drill. Quill and Ash glanced at each other before flying at the drill and slamming into the wall inside.

"Guardians! Perhaps it will provide you solace that your deaths are not without purpose." The voice surrounded them, and Ash whipped around, brain-racking with ideas.

Lasers blew out of the ship in all directions, and flaming chunks flew into the rig. Fire slid towards the ship's engine, which dripped fuel. Ash didn't get a chance to shout a warning, but Yondu seemed to see it happen before she did.

"We're gonna blow!" Yondu whistled as the flames hit the fuel.

The explosion catapulted the four of them outwards. Nebula launched towards Gamora, with Quill stabilising himself with his aero-rig. Ash had time to anticipate the events and broke her fall with magic. Yondu held onto his flying arrow, arm straight up and his heels touching.

The two siblings seemed to clock the reference immediately, both falling into chuckles.

Yondu frowned at them. "What?"

"You look like Mary Poppins," Peter replied with a grin.

"Is he cool?"

Ash looked toward Peter. "Yeah. He's cool," she confirmed.

Yondu looked at the Guardians as he came in for a landing. "I'm Mary Poppins, y'all!" His reply caused Ash to let out a small giggle, a smile manifesting into one like Peter's. Everyone found their way towards each other, and Gamora saw Peter, immediately marching towards him.

"Now, kiss!" Ash mumbled audibly.

The other Guardians regrouped and surrounded Mantis, who stared forward with concentration, face contorted with the effort of keeping Ego asleep. A chunk of spaceship flew in from the side and flattened Mantis. The others all looked down at her in shock.