//------------------------------// // Chapter 126 – Time Heist // Story: Infinity Era // by JDPrime22 //------------------------------// 126 Upstate New York New Avengers Facility 4:59 p.m. “Five years ago, we lost. All of us.” The evening sun dipped just above the horizon, sending a golden array of lights to shimmer into the New Avengers Facility and spread across the hangar bay’s floor. It was so utterly still. Not a sound, not a movement, nor any form of life filled the hangar bay. Until the door to the armory finally opened. And they walked in. Steve Rogers naturally led his Avengers, the black and white Quantum Suit donned with his red, white, and blue shield resting on his left forearm. On his expression, pure determination was set, Captain America making every step worth it as his eyes were only set on one thing, one machine lying before him and his team in the heart of the hangar bay. Behind him, Natasha Romanoff strode confidently, her red hair tied in a ponytail behind her. Alongside the Black Widow, Tony Stark, Scott Lang, Clint Barton, and Nebula all marched ahead, all wearing the appropriate suits suitable to survive in the Quantum Realm. All of them ready and willing to commit the impossible. They weren’t alone. By God, they never were. “We lost friends. We lost family. We lost a part of ourselves. Today, we were given a chance to take it all back. I want each and every one of you to understand that, to know that this is our only shot to see our loved ones again. Everything that was taken from us, every life in the universe that suffered under five years of tyranny and unrest… can finally be changed.” Matthew Murdock crossed himself, touching his forehead, heart, left and right shoulder. One last bit of assurance from above to keep himself and everyone he loved safe down below. His face was clean, no Daredevil mask to cover it like the Quantum Suit covered his body. Elektra was right by his side, her long, dark hair reaching the back of her upper spine. Frank Castle and Robbie Reyes punched knuckles, the Punisher striding forth in his bulking suit of armor courtesy of Tony Stark. Starlight Glimmer observed herself for a moment, the Quantum Suit hugging her body tightly, stopping just at the bottom of her neck. She looked over to Twilight, the Alicorn sending an assuring glance back. There, Twilight strode alongside Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, a ponytail adorning her violet mane as the Quantum Suit shielded her Arc Reactor. Just like it did Rarity’s. Just as it did Rainbow’s. The trio of mares all walked together to lead the rest of their equine friends. “You know your teams, you know your missions. Get the Stones, get them back here. Some of us have been given the tools and the opportunity to jump more than twice, but that doesn’t mean you waste it. Every second you’re out there, it’s a fight for survival. Not just your own, but insurmountable others. Trillions of lives hang on the line if we don’t do this right. Others were not given that opportunity. No mistakes. No do-overs.” Carol Danvers and Sunset Shimmer walked side by side, Captain Marvel herself proudly marching forward in her Quantum Suit, golden hair flowing behind her. Sunset Shimmer raised her left foreleg to analyze her Time Travel GPS one last time, turning upwards to smile assuredly to Danvers. She didn’t return it, her burning frown centered on the end to their destination. Tempest Shadow, Maud Pie, and Derpy Hooves all walked accordingly with Thor Odinson, Daisy Johnson, Bruce Banner, James Rhodes, Groot, and Rocket. The final end to the brave souls willing to take that jump. Their team finally coming together one last time. “Most of us are going somewhere we know, others to places that are completely alien. Expect nothing, predict nothing, but be ready for anything. We do this by the plan and do not break off from it. Change nothing else in the past if you can. Only take the Stones, and if you have to, by any means necessary.” The teams were set. The time machine was ready. They all reached the Quantum Tunnel and rode the pathway up to stand upon its face. In position, everyone took a moment to observe one another, to take note of every team and every Avenger present and accounted for. The largest team, by far, was Steve and Tony’s, raking in almost a dozen members for the journey ahead. They were, in total, Captain America, Iron Man, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Sunset Shimmer, Captain Marvel, Ant-Man, Hulk, Quake, Daredevil, and the Punisher. Their mission lied with the most Infinity Stones, so they needed the numbers for every assurance possible. Next to them, the smaller team consisting of Thor, Rocket, Groot, and Rarity stood ready. A tad apprehensive, both from Thor and Rarity respectively, but ready regardless. Their mission lied with a familiar home to the God of Thunder, to a certain time where the Reality Stone just so happened to be stuck in the body of a former flame to Thor. Standing near to his height, Groot turned to Thor and laid a vine-covered palm on his shoulder, tightening it to assure Thor who was with him. Who he stood with. Thor couldn’t even feel him, just that fearful numbness slowly overcoming his nerves. Right by their side and facing Captain America’s team, another small team stood at the ready. Black Widow, Hawkeye, Tempest Shadow, and Elektra were side by side, their eyes meeting that of Steve’s, of Tony’s, of Banner’s, of Twilight’s, and even Murdock’s thousand-yard stare. Elektra met his only, her lips softening and expression deflating knowing they would be separated for the mission. Their mission was the Soul Stone, acquiring it by any means necessary. The final team consisted of War Machine, Nebula, Ghost Rider, Starlight Glimmer, Maud Pie, and Derpy Hooves, each standing tall and proud in their Quantum Suits, even Rhodey’s managing to overcome his War Machine Mark VI armor. Like Thor’s team, they were going somewhere most of them had never been, somewhere completely alien. Unlike Thor’s team, it wasn’t a place very welcoming. The Temple of the Power Stone awaited them in 2014, upon the wretched planet known as Morag. There, they would find the Orb. There, they would find the Power Stone. Four teams. Six Infinity Stones. Twenty-five brave souls embarking on a journey that only the brave could endure. Whatever awaited them on the other side of the Quantum Realm would be something none of them had ever experienced before, not even Scott Lang. Whatever thrived on the other edge of reality was something they would face together, battle through whatever storm awaited them, pushing through no matter what to ensure the Infinity Stone they sought would be in their hands by the end of that long, tiring day. Just one more mission. One last chance. No mistakes. Those who didn’t walk upon the Quantum Tunnel stood near the bottom of the machine, tapping away at the lone control console that powered the entire mission. They were Friday, Shuri, Director Alphonso Mackenzie, Melinda May, Piper, and Davis. Shuri and Friday did most of the work near the control console—setting the coordinates, double-checking the suits to see if they were synced in, and checking the status of the Quantum Tunnel—while Mack, May, Piper, and Davis stood with their arms crossed, eyebrows hardened, and sweat glistening off their foreheads, witnessing their last hope stand together in a large, empowered circle upon the time machine. Even if they didn’t stand with them, they felt as if they did when Steve Rogers began and finished his long-winded and utterly powerful speech. “Be careful, all of you. Look out for each other. Today, you are not S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. You are not aliens. You are not equines. You are not vigilantes nor will you ever be. Today… you’re a team… you’re Avengers… and we will avenge the fallen. This is the fight of our lives, so no matter what happens… you do what needs to be done in order to bring those Stones back to this time.” Rainbow Dash gulped, the mare turning over and looking up to Steve, alongside everyone and everypony else who did the same. That overwhelming fear of the unknown, of the dangers within the Quantum Realm, of the unpredictable was slowly being overcome and shadowed by Captain America’s words of wisdom and assurance. He didn’t stop. He finished. “I can’t promise many things. What I can… is that we’re going to win this. No matter the cost. Whatever it takes,” Steve said with a firm nod directed at a certain Iron Avenger. Tony Stark smirked to him, watched as Steve sent that same promise to the rest of his team. To every Avenger and every heart willing to take that leap of faith. And he couldn’t have been prouder to stand with them one last time. He held out his left fist, the remaining Avengers coming together and pressing their left fists together. Hooves, claws, and hands all together as one, unified heart. One body. One team. “Good luck,” Steve finished, taking a step back to get into position. “Swoon,” Maud mumbled, sending that amorous smile up to the First Avenger. “Thank God I wasn’t the only one who got chills from that,” Scott commented. Daisy shook her head, chuckling softly, “Same.” “All right!” Shuri announced, the four teams upon the Quantum Tunnel turning around and eyeing the control console and the lone Wakandan Queen who stood behind it. Friday approached the machine, eyeing the Avengers while Shuri stated, “The coordinates are locked, and the suits are ready. Quantum Tunnel is fully functional and awaiting the suits for activation. Remember, most of you will have enough Pym Particles for a few jumps each, minus Captain America’s team. They only have enough for a couple jumps, that is why we are requesting Captain Marvel’s team to make the jump with them, to assist them in assuring the three Infinity Stones are brought back safely.” Rightfully known as Captain America’s team; Tony, Steve, Twilight, Rainbow, and Bruce all turned down to the Time Travel GPS on their left hands and hooves respectively. They felt their belts for the Pym Particles, sighing to know that they were given only a couple of vials. The merger of Carol’s team with their own would be a welcome and helpful hand, considering Danvers, Scott, Murdock, Frank, Sunset, and Daisy all had three vials. They could make that jump with them to ensure the Infinity Stones were brought back to their time. If anything turned south, then they had at least one more chance to do it all over again. “Again, I think I should take the blame for that,” Scott spoke out, earning every eye in the hangar bay onto him. “I just… couldn’t find any more Pym Particles back at Hank’s lab. If I had known how to make the particles myself… we wouldn’t be in this situation.” “That just means we don’t make many mistakes,” Twilight offered, sending that helpful glance back to Lang and nodding to him. Starlight shakily breathed as she stared into the swirling lights and machinations of the Quantum Tunnel beneath her hooves. She closed her eyes. “Hopefully we don’t make any.” Mack took a large step forward, announcing loudly from below, “Remember, you’re gonna be gone for God knows how long, but when you come back it’ll only have been one minute! Something to keep in mind!” Friday held up her forearm, tapping away at it and showing all of their individual faces hovering about in a hologram. Each of the Avengers turned to her, gazed upon the hologram and their faces. The AI said, “I will have contact with each of you in your GPSes during the journey. If anything goes wrong on either end, we don’t hesitate to contact each other.” That was that. Those who stayed giving their final words and goodbyes to their friends and allies making the jump, especially Daisy. Before they could make that jump, however, the teams stood apart only for Elektra to make that push forward. Matt had the same idea in mind, it seemed. They both approached one another, each offering one last strong hug to each other, both knowing they would be gone for God knows how long, only to return a minute later. The longest minute in their entire lives separated, perhaps even more so than the five years. When they broke, they still held onto each other, their foreheads pressed together, each whispering to the other to be safe. Elektra had her eyes closed, shaking breaths escaping her lungs while Murdock stared straight ahead, his hands pressed firmly against the sides of her face. That was enough of a sign for the rest of the teams to congregate and give their final goodbyes and good lucks. Ponies hugged one another, Twilight and Starlight especially. Then Rarity with Rainbow, with Sunset, with Maud, Derpy, and Tempest. Steve and Clint gave one last hug to each other, the same being done for Natasha and Rhodes. Various others. Various goodbyes done in special and unique ways. Everyone needing that possible final goodbye just in case… When it was over, everyone returned with their respective team, standing in a massive circle and awaiting on that conjoined and unified progression. Waiting for one to take that leap and start a chain reaction. As Elektra returned to stand between Clint and Natasha, the Widow looked over to Matthew and his team. Assured him most of all with that warming and beautiful smile. “See you in a minute,” she declared. She slapped her left wrist. Clint followed. Tempest did, too. As did Elektra. The chain reaction began. Every other Avenger upon the Quantum Tunnel pressed down on their Time Travel GPS, watching as the red lights upon the suits they wore ignited even brighter, the floor beneath them shimmering and spinning uncontrollably. The lights were practically blinding to the naked eye, but once the masks materialized over their faces, their eyes, then they were fine. They were ready. Ready to go back in time. Natasha’s mask covered her face, revealing only a blue shield over her eyes as she gazed skywards to the machine beginning to whirl to life. Each mask resembled that of the Ant-Man, only a select few donning the masks of their own suits beneath. Matthew Murdock’s black Daredevil mask closed over his face, the black faceplate shielding him from the dangers that awaited them. His red eyes burned as he turned about, spotting Frank’s mask closing shut over his face. The Punisher Armor’s mask bore the same skull painted on the armor’s chest, those same red eyes joining Murdock’s. James Rhodes’ mask from the War Machine fell to cover his face, turning about to acknowledge every other eye on the Quantum Tunnel shielded by that blue visor. Carol's mask shielded her face, unable to hide her eyes and the nod she sent James' way. Twilight caught her breath as the mask materialized and covered her face, only her widened, anxious eyes able to witness the swirling energy of the Quantum Tunnel burning beneath her hooves. Each mare saw that, felt the mask cover their heads, their manes, their horns, and shield themselves from the brightness that enveloped every Avenger standing upon the time machine. Shuri pressed hard on the control console. Then those who stayed watched as twenty-five Avengers shrunk down to microscopic size and only continued to shrink from that point on. What they didn’t see were those Avengers break off in the limitless expanse of the Quantum Realm, those teams of four entering separated and distinct time vortexes within the madness of the unknown. Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes as that time vortex swallowed her whole. Her and her team.