Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers, just some fan fic going on here. No money was made nor was any infringement intended, just a big fan :D
Hey everyone! I have taken some of your suggestions to heart and I have done my best attempt to add some more descriptions to this chapter to try to set the scene more. I hope you enjoy! Thank you for reading!
Young America - Chapter 1
"Stop this madness, Amora!" Thor yells from inside the enchanted cell that holds him and his fellow Avengers.
The cell is located in the center of a vast cavern in the middle of a massive pillar. It is as if someone has removed a large slice right in the middle of the pillar and placed huge bars in between the two halves. The enchanted prison bars that rise out of the ground and up into the top half of the pillar are thick and pitch black with glowing flecks floating around inside of them.
The team had assembled to help Thor with an uprising in one of the realms, but it turned out to be a trap. They were ambushed by the Enchantress with her meaty bodyguard, Executioner and her army. The Avengers were overwhelmed with the sheer number of the enemy. They fought and destroyed the majority of Amora's army, but they were captured. Now they are trapped and Amora has Steve.
"Your grievance is with me, Witch!" Thor yells again, becoming more and more angry as Executioner drags Steve by the chain around his neck over the stone arch that connects the prison to the platform that Amora stands on. He shoves Steve forward and forces him down to his knees.
"Oh, dear Thor, not everything is always about you," Amora croons as she runs a cold hand across Steve's cheek. Steve pulls away from her in disgust, only to be pulled back toward her by the chain around his neck. Steve would have considered hitting the lady, if she could be called a lady, if he wasn't being restrained by her bodyguard.
"Come now, Soldier," she whispers as she circles him, never taking her eyes off of him. "Don't turn such a cold shoulder to me. I can be quite…loving, when I want to be. Tell me, Captain, how much do you love your team?"
"Lady, if you touch any of them…." Steve growls as he struggles against Executioner's tight grip on his arms.
"Captain, you misunderstand me," Amora interrupts, still circling her prize. "It is quite obvious that you care a great deal about your team. But just how much are you willing to give up for them?"
"I would give everything for them," Steve answers without hesitation.
"Steve," Clint warns, not wanting him to play the witch's game.
"I am so glad you feel that way," Amora hisses and kneels so she's face to face with the Super Soldier. "And because I am so generous, I am going to give you an opportunity to prove it. I have a little experiment that I need your help with, Captain. You see, I need something from you and since I am in possession of something you care so much about, I seem to be in a perfect position to ask you for a favor." She points over to the Avengers who are vainly pulling, ramming, and punching at the bars of their prison. "Do as I say and you have my word that no harm shall befall your beloved Avengers."
"Don't do it, Cap!" Tony yells as he uselessly fires another repulser blast at the bars of the cage. "Don't give her anything she wants!"
"They go free, no catches, no tricks and I'll do whatever you want," Steve agrees.
"Damn it, Steve, no!" Tony screams as he desperately rams his shoulder into the bars.
"I knew you would see things my way," she cackles and runs a cruel hand over his broad chest. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun."
"Do not go with her, Captain! She cannot be trusted! Her word means nothing!" Thor yells as he punches the bars again. Hulk is beside him trying to "smash" the bars in his anger.
"Don't have much choice, Thor," Steve calls as the Executioner restrains Steve's hands behind his back with another set of chains and Steve offers no resistance.
Executioner grabs onto the chain clasped around his neck and roughly pulls him forward, following the Enchantress up a steep staircase carved into the cave. At the top there is a flat stone platform with a strange statue of an unfamiliar creature and ornate carvings behind it that have been sculpted into the rock. Executioner forces him down to his knees again and secures the chain around Steve's neck to a latch on the platform so Steve is kneeling and his chest is pulled so low he is bowed parallel over the ground. Amora kneels in front of him and pulls his face up in her hand.
"Drink this," She orders and holds a small vial of a glowing blue liquid up to his lips.
"Let them go first," Steve glares from behind his mask. Amora simply laughs.
"You should have listened to Thor. My word means nothing, Captain. I say what I need to say to get what I want," Steve struggles, but Executioner grabs his face and Amora forces the liquid down his throat. Steve coughs and gags against the bitter drink. The Avengers are becoming more and more frantic in their escape attempts. Thor is grasping at the bars with all of his might. The bars begin to bend slightly and he continues to wrestle them with all of his strength.
"What was that," Steve demands.
"Nothing that will bring any harm," She promises. "You should be honored, Captain. You are helping me achieve something very important here that only you can do."
"Forgive me that I don't share your enthusiasm," Steve growls.
"Oh, but you should," She laughs and seductively traces the star over Steve's heart. "This spell only works with the most pure of heart, Captain. Your heart is pure, there is no doubt, but I need to take that purity to the next level. The price of great power is high and sometimes drastic actions must be done to pay that price. Let's begin, shall we?" the Enchantress smiles. She begins to chant something in a language that is completely foreign to Steve. It is certainly nothing from his realm.
A bright light starts to glow all around him and he can feel something strange well up in his chest. His arms go numb and the room starts to spin around him. Steve can feel himself starting to pass out when everything starts to grow dark.
In desperation, Thor gives one final push, holding nothing back, and wrenches the bars apart. The team rushes out and go on the attack.
Amora swings around and is nearly taken out by Thor, but Executioner is quickly between her and the Thunder god. Clint and Natasha fire their weapons at the body guard as Thor goes hand to hand with him.
Hulk goes after Enchantress, angry that the little snake of a woman locked them up. Executioner is struggling to protect Amora and fight off Thor and, on top of everything, Iron Man is heading their way and he's angry.
"One thing you've got to remember about the Avengers," Iron Man shouts as he barrels into Executioner, throwing him into the wall of the cavern. "Is that when you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us."
"Hulk SMASH tiny lady!" Hulk roars, sprinting toward Amora. She quickly jumps to the side before Hulk can grab her and he ends up planting his fist into the cave wall, firmly lodging it into the stone. Iron Man fires multiple repulser blasts at the witch and she rolls and dodges them.
"You were lucky today, Thor," Amora spits, taking cover. "But I will have what is rightfully mine. I will be back for your precious Captain." With that last threat, she disappears into thin air with her body guard.
"Steve!" Iron Man flies up to the stone platform to find the super soldier slumped over, still chained to the ground, with the side of his face pressed against the stone floor. "Cap," he shakes his still body with no response. Tony quickly cuts through the chains and Steve starts to loll to his side before Tony catches him and gently rolls him to his back.
"Is he okay?" Clint asks as he climbs the last of the stairs with Natasha not far behind. Thor is helping Hulk remove his fist from the wall.
"He's not responding," Tony answers and he places a finger on Steve's neck. "Pulse is thready and weak. We need to get him out of here." Tony scoops up the injured soldier when a bright light starts to shine again. It's so bright that the Avengers can't see anything and the light continues to intensify.
"Tony! What is this?" Natasha yells as she shields her eyes with her arm.
"I have no idea," Tony yells. The light is overwhelming and fills the entire cavern in a flash. As quickly as it came, the light is gone and there is only darkness left.
What was the bright flash all about? What does Amora want with Steve? Check out the next chapter to see what is going to happen to poor Steve! Please feel free to Review - I am always interested in feedback, both positive and constructive. Thanks!