The Soul World

...and we have a Hulk

"Peter, wake up!" Mantis was shaking his shoulders. He scrambled up and nearly cried to see that they were back on Titan, finally free from the infernal Soul World. The colours were so bright! The landscape was so sharp and full of contrast! They were free!

"Over here." Peter heard Strange's voice and spun around. A portal floated in the air, showing a desolate wasteland with Thanos at it's centre, gleaming in gold armour. Revelling in the joy of swinging again, Peter soared over to him, but stopped short with a gasp.

Where were they? There was smoke and dust and fires everywhere, springing up from sagging foundations and piles of stone and detritus. Even the sun was a weak glow behind clouds of ash, casting a sickening spotlight onto the destruction.

With a jolt, Peter suddenly recognised it. There, half-buried in rubble, was the 'A' of the most unmistakable logo in the world: Avengers. Which meant that this devastated battleground was the Avengers Compound...

Peter's heart sank. If Thanos was capable of wreaking such destruction, what chance did they have against him again?

There...

There was their chance.

A man, coated in blood and dirt, standing alone against the entire army of Thanos. Despite his fractured shield, and ruined uniform, Peter knew him to be Captain America, and he was wielding Mjolnir.

And there: Thor, much larger than he had been 5 years ago, but still an imposing, formidable warrior, hefting a huge axe into the air as he began to crackle with lightning.

And there - Peter's breath hitched in his throat - Iron Man, his armour tarnished and bloodied, picking himself up from the ashes of his ravaged home, and staggering back into the fight.

And there! Bursting into existence, hundreds of other portals filled the sky behind them! They were bright lights beacons of hope, and from them streamed the army that they had gathered in the Soul Realm. Sorcerers, crafting shields in lines. Wakandans, hefting their spears and marching forward.

Wanda soared in with red eyes on her magic and Hope materialized near her, as T'Challa and Shuri lined up next to Captain America, their weapons blazing. Above them, Sam flew in his Falcon suit and Bucky strode out, gripping a gun, with Groot beside him.

And there were others, whole troops of Asgardians and aliens and more Wakandans and wizards, and a woman on a Pegasus and Pepper Potts herself, alighting in indigo armour among the armies. Next to Peter, Mantis' antenna lit up, Drax cradled a pair of vicious, curved knives, and Quill's fingers tightened around the triggers of his guns.

As their group stepped out to join the rest, Peter pushed his way to the front and crouched down, ready to fight. His Spider Sense was heightened in anticipation. He was so scared and excited and restless that, for some reason, he nearly started to cry, yet adrenaline buzzed through his veins and wiped out the other emotions quickly.

"Is that everyone?" Strange said breathlessly to Wong.

"What, you wanted more?" Wong cried.

And there was more: Ant Man emerged from a pile of rocks like a crashing wave. From his palm, the Hulk leapt out and roared. Peter saw War Machine swooping in to join the crowds. Finally, everyone was here, and shouts of encouragement rang up and down the lines, with a resounding and deafening battle cry.

"Avengers!" Yelled Captain America as they came together. He clutched his shield, broken, in one hand, and Thor's hammer in the other. A hush swept across their ranks like a Mexican wave. Everyone was listening intently to his next words. Gritting his teeth, he ordered them; "Assemble."

Peter ran forward, an army at his back.

Into the battlefield.

Into the fighting.

Into the endgame....