In a hidden base, Steve and Natasha were discussing the current situation.
"Every day we save fewer people," said Natasha, arms crossed. "Ultron is starting to counter magic."
Her tone was as cold as the concrete around them.
"I know..." Steve replied calmly. "But that's not going to stop us."
Natasha nodded. She knew Steve Rogers well. Once, that unshakable optimism had felt naive—but necessary.
After a moment of silence, Steve changed the subject.
"And Pietro?"
"Still looking for her. Every day, in every corner."
She paused, then lowered her voice.
"I think it's possible that she—"
"No" Steve interrupted without hesitation. "Ultron's a psychopath. He loves broadcasting our deaths, making the world lose hope. If he hasn't shown Wanda's... it's because he doesn't have it."
"I know..." Natasha said, with a faint smile that barely held together. "But not knowing where she is, not even if she's alive... it hurts."
"Have hope, Natasha. If anyone can survive this... it's her."
She nodded again. Even if it was just a slim chance, she needed to believe in it.
Minutes later, Natasha stepped away. Tony was the next to approach Steve.
Steve commented:
"I heard there's a kid among the new ones you actually like."
"Yeah. He's brilliant. Has potential. If something happens to me, he could take my place."
"Come on, Tony," Steve said with his usual confidence and optimism. "That's not going to happen. We're going to win. Together."
"Easy to say..." Tony added, voice lower now. "But there's fewer of us every time. Leonardo. Gwen. Bucky. Fury. Clint. Sam. Hank. Mordo. Antonia... how many more?"
Silence.
At that moment, a portal opened before them. Loki emerged, accompanied by Scott Lang.
"What did you find?" Steve asked.
"Nothing useful," Loki said, handing over a book. "This was the most suspicious thing."
"A magic book?" Tony raised an eyebrow.
"It was in a vault. Sounded suspicious enough," added Scott.
"Call Strange."
Minutes later, Stephen Strange appeared in the room. He examined the book carefully.
"What do you think?" Steve asked.
Strange flipped through the book. His expression grew more serious.
"Page seventeen is marked. It's a message. For me."
"They couldn't leave a note like normal people?" Tony asked sarcastically.
"Maybe they didn't want Ultron to understand the contents," Strange replied, closing the book. "Listen."
He paused, as if gathering his thoughts.
"For a long time I tried to understand how we got here. How peace was lost. But I realized something... that peace was never real. It was something the Avengers maintained—with their choices. With their sacrifices."
His gaze hardened.
"But there was a reason that peace lasted. Laplace. He knew what was going to happen. He let us prepare. Gave us time."
"And Laplace failed," Tony interrupted. "We shouldn't have trusted him so much."
"Maybe. But what if there's another way? What if I could do the same? Go back and warn everyone. Maybe..."
"That wouldn't work," Tony interrupted again. "You know how time works. If you go to the past, that becomes your present. You're not going to change this future. Just create another one."
"Thanks for the lesson, Stark," Strange replied with forced patience. "But I have something you don't."
He pointed at his chest. The Eye of Agamotto glowed faintly.
"The Time Stone. Time itself, turned into stone. With it, I can break the rules."
"And why are you only mentioning this now?" Steve asked.
"Because no one's ever done it before. Rewriting this timeline is risky. Dangerous. I've been working on several methods... but all of them come with a high cost. I might die. Or worse."
"And what makes you think it'll work now?"
Strange lifted the book and showed it.
"I came up with exactly seventeen methods. The only one with a real chance... is the last one. And that page was marked."
"It won't work," Tony said sharply.
"And why not?"
"Because Leonardo already failed. What if he fails again?"
"I have to try."
"No. If you die, we lose the most capable sorcerer we have. We can't afford to lose anyone else. Not again."
"It's not up to you."
Tension rose. Steve stepped in.
"This can't be decided like this. Let the team vote."
Tony and Strange nodded. Soon, the remaining Avengers were gathered. Everyone arrived quickly. It was an emergency meeting.
When they explained what Strange was planning, silence fell over the room. There was surprise, fear... and quiet hope.
But after the vote, the answer was clear.
The majority said no.
Too risky. Strange was too valuable to lose.
Only three voted in favor: Strange, Pietro, and Loki.
Strange, frustrated, said nothing more.
Later, in another room, Natasha and Loki talked.
"Why did you vote against it?"
"It's too high a risk," Natasha replied.
"But what if it works?" Loki insisted. "We could fix everything. We could bring her back."
Loki looked down. He was exhausted.
"She's alive," he finally said. "I know it."
He dropped into a seat, covering his face with one hand.
"It's my fault. If we had been here when it all started..."
"You and Thor were in Asgard. It's not your fault."
"But I should at least be able to convince my father."
Natasha placed a hand on his shoulder.
"And it's not your fault Odin chose not to intervene."
Loki closed his eyes. He nodded.
"Come on" Natasha said. "We have to get ready."
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Hey, until the Age of Ultron arc is over, there's a 30% discount on my Patreon using the code "ULTRON"!
+20 chapters in advance on Patreon.
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(just delete the hyphen)
80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)