A/N: Okay, I'm back with this new chapter for When Winter Fell. I actually posted another story while trying to write this chapter. The story is called "Sound & Vision" which is an experimental story of mine that is a crossover with BBC's Merlin and Harry Potter. I don't know if any of you are interested, but check it out if you are. Thank you to all those you reviewed, followed, and favourited. I hope I keep this story still interesting. And now that's done, let's proceed to the chapter and enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avengers: Age of Ultron, but I do own my OCs.

"Holy shi—"

BOOM!

He jumped away from an incoming explosion, barely escaping it. There was a threatening boom not far from where he stood. The cold winter coiled around the skin of his arms like a snake with its prey. The enemy was here…or at least HYDRA's enemy.

Pain.

That was the very first thing that registered in Wang's mind. He opened his eyes hazily with the sound of a high pitch buzz rang in his ears. He stood up from where he was flung to, looking around the place. There were corpses on the floor, covered in snow and blood. He remembered what happened now. The base was under attack and he was in the middle of a battlefield. His surroundings spun in his sight as he looked at the gruesome display. The smoke was everywhere flowing into a mist. He looked around and only saw destruction and death.

Looking at the corpses, he recognized a few of them. They were his colleagues, lying on the floor with no life in them. They can be cold bastards, but he had worked with them for years, and despite their wicked ideals, Wang knew them. And he betrayed them.

A cold stung pierced his heart in the realization. He did this. He brought this destruction and this death…and because he couldn't bear to watch his friends suffer their ways. And thinking of this now, he could have said this was a mistake.

The scientist coughed as he heard loud sounds around him still raging on. Gunshots were fired and so were the frightening booms of explosions. Wang was yanked away lest he be shot, going through the forest again. He hyperventilated in worry and thought. Maybe it was a mistake. He knew that calling the Avengers could risk so much lives especially that of Pietro, Wanda, and Aerith. He wasn't even sure if those three would even appreciate the Avengers' liberation of them. God knows that Pietro and Wanda despise Tony Stark, and he's part of the whole Avengers, so the twins hate them all which would cause problems of escape and explanation. Once the twins find out it was he that called for them, they would feel betrayed; probably more betrayed than they already are.

For Aerith's case, he didn't know what to think. There was no reason for her to hate the Avengers, but she had grown to think that they were bad men by the influence of the twins. In her mind, they might as well be as bad as HYDRA, but that was just his guess.

The guns blazing; the complete chaos around him was starting a heart attack inside him if he lasts in this place any longer. Something gripped his arm again and he was dragged away by Bonifacio, or rather Elias as he later had learned is his first name. They ran through the forests with Elias protecting him from every angle. The way Elias shot those soldiers—shot those men that he might have been friends with was terrifying in every aspect. All bullets met their marks, delivering a swift death to them. It made Wang wonder where he had come from.

"Look out!" Elias pushed him out of the way as a soldier was thrown between them.

The ground was cold and hard by his sudden impact, making him rethink all those days playing on the snow. The scientist looked up to see the soldier's limp body. He shouldn't be startled anymore with all Hell around him, and yet he still couldn't remove the haunting images in his head. It was Death—all around him. Death, a natural phenomenon that is viewed as ghastly and taboo or even joyous and much awaited. Something natural that comes at the end of your battery days. He didn't like thinking of death. He didn't like saying goodbye. Sometimes he blamed Aerith for bringing up the question of it in one of their earlier conversations. It's been years since then, but he still couldn't forget it. Wang wasn't naïve. He knows that they would eventually die, but the way of how he is to die was questionable.

How did he want to die?

Certainly, he wanted to live through his life first, but did he want to die young with a bang? Or die old in an empty bed hooked on a machine and surrounded by nurses? He was fairly certain that the prior was more likely with his line of work, but it still bothered him how there were people younger than him that suffer a fate worse than this.

There was pressure again on his arm and he was hauled back up to his feet by Elias. Elias didn't seem like he was afraid—in fact it seemed as if he seen this before. A man such as him had been hardened by war—with its sights and its smells; with its bloodcurdling sounds. Wang knew that men like Elias employed by HYDRA didn't have a good life. Some were forced into it by means of last resort to support their families; some are there to start over from their barren lives. He wondered what drove Elias to HYDRA—obviously it wasn't their ideals, but if he was doing this for someone, is it possible that there is a mole in HYDRA? It almost seemed so amusing and confusing for him.

And if you think wondering during a battle is a good thing, it's not.

Wang plopped down on the hard ground, groaning as he felt a thrumming pain on his back. He lifted up his gaze to see Elias battling another soldier in the same uniform.

"TRAITOR!" The soldier shouted, pulling out a huge knife, intending to stab Elias, but he was fast. He dodged the advance, grabbing the soldier's arm, and breaking it in one swift action. What was more terrifying in that scene were his moments. Wang could be delusional, but did he just use the Vulcan nerve pinch? Elias kicked the soldier's leg from under him, and the soldier smacked on the ground with a loud crack. Four more men charged at him. It was scary how fast Elias was. If he had blinked, he would have missed it. Wang didn't know whether it was just Elias' special skill set and training or if it was something else entirely. If only the scientist wasn't busy watching Elias, he would have heard the knife being drawn from its sheath.

A twig snapped and he stood up and turned around to see another soldier with his knife at his side. Fear gripped his heart as he looked for his shoulder to see Elias fighting another four soldiers. He stumbled back in a feeble attempt to get away. Yet he could not tear his eyes away from the cause of his certain doom. The knife's metal was shiny as its dim sheen could be seen. God help him. If only he could move his legs more than just feeble backtracks as the soldier got closer.

"Elias!" He called out weakly as the soldier continued his menacing march towards him. His the sound of his heartbeat made his head ache.

"Elias! I-A little help here!" He yelled.

There was a crash from behind, signalling that his saviour had company. The soldier stared at him—a blank look in his eyes, causing him terror. This was it. He could feel the fear grip him tight with his head screaming at him to flee, but he couldn't. He could see his breath visible in the cold weather, showing how deeply the soldier had affected him. Alas when Wang prayed to God for something, he fell on his back. Feebly, he tried to crawl backwards away from the soldier.

Looking as if he had enough, the soldier lunged at him. And in that moment, Wang closed his eyes. And feebly shielded his face with his arms, he shouted one last time,

"ELIAS!"

Wang expected mass pain at any part of his body, making him scream. He expected to weak and drowsy with the loss of blood. He imagined death to be so bittersweet. Apparently…not. Wang opened his eyes and was shocked to see the sight. The soldier was still standing, but his bloody knife was now on the snow-covered ground. It wasn't Wang's blood, but his own. There was a huge blood-covered branch that went through the soldier's gut. The branch recoiled, leaving the soldier standing. There was shock in the man's eyes as he looked at the hole the branch left. He dropped to his knees as Wang stood, looking around.

There was no sight of red hair anywhere. How did that branch come alive and stab that soldier and save? The only person who can do that was Aerith, but she wasn't in the vicinity…unless there was another one…no, no, no. NO. He recognized this…It was…oh god—she managed to do it!

"David!"

Wang spun around to the mention of his first name. Elias jogged towards him, his uniform covered with blood that the scientist was sure wasn't his. He stopped to see the body next to Wang with wide eyes. They nodded to each other, having a silent agreement. Before the explanations, they needed to get out of the battle first.

Yet something hit his back that made Wang curse in pain. He looked around to see a soldier, holding some weird gun. He reached at his back to find something metallic that looked like a tranquilizer, but he didn't feel drowsy nor sleepy. The soldier just looked as confused as they were, looking at the gun as if there was something wrong with it. Wang and Elias shared a look before the Latino soldier promptly shot the shooter, pushing Wang forward into a steady jog.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"You just saved, so yeah, I guess."

"No, I mean—"

"Ah, the tranquilizer thingy." Wang said. "It's no biggie."

"Are you sure?" Elias pressed on.

Wang sighed. "God, you sound like Aerith when I tripped over the duck pond."

"A duck pond?"

"Never mind!"

Whatever he was shot with wasn't really working, seeing as he's still alive. Although, the more he ran the more exhausted his legs felt which he tried to ignore, but little did he know how important a sign that was.

There were no words to describe how possibly idiotic this plan was.

Wanda lurked in the dark corners on her way through familiar pathways. She knew what Pietro was suggesting about taking the Avengers out—in fact, all three of them knew. This was the day Tony Stark would get what he deserved. The Merchant of Death would know their pain. Alas, they could not charge out right for when you threaten Stark, you threaten the Avengers as well. The enhanced trio wouldn't fight them outward—just play with them. Right now, her brother had already departed out into the forest, leaving Aerith and Wanda in the base. She had questioned the reason why the redhead stayed, but she said that she had another idea.

Yes. The forest may, technically, be her natural habitat, but it was too risky for Aerith to go off there on her own especially since those psycho grey-skinned mutants came along. And unlike Pietro, who could easily get away from them, she has a higher chance of being captured. Thankfully, she had another way in fighting using the forest while staying inside the base. It had come to as a shock for Wanda since she witnessed it herself. The amount of power that Aerith kept hidden from HYDRA was astonishing. Some kind of orb concealed her and in it, the flower girl had use the forest as her advantage. And now, she has eyes, ears, and hands in the battle.

Wanda remembered Wang called it Sleeper Mode. While Aerith remains conscious and attached to the orb, her mind is at the forest. It's like the forest is her body. She had control the trees by her will, hear everything, and see everything. The only downside to this was if she gets hurt, she will feel that pain. She had also create a hive connection to the animals in the forest. And it was hard to master this particular mode is hard to master due to the fact that if she immersed herself too much, she would be forever bound to nature. Her real mind and body would only be a hollow shell of who she used to be. To which is the reason why Pietro had vote against it.

And clearly, Aerith didn't listen.

While their plan of action was risky, she did have to admit that this was the day they would finally have peace. She knew that they were technically helping HYDRA, and she also knew this was not the best course of action to honour Pietro and hers' parents' legacy, but what choice did she have. Sokovia was a turbulent since it is ruled by dictators. She had been a powerless girl who needed to be empowered. It has been a year—they finally got their chance.

She remembered the conversation like it only happened a few seconds ago…

Pietro leaned closer so his whispers can be heard by both Wanda and Aerith, "We are leaving. We won't be going down with HYDRA especially when it's in the hands of the Avengers."

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Aerith countered. "We tried escaping once. What makes you think we'll be lucky this time?"

There was no anger in her voice, only concern. Truth, it was that the first attempt wasn't successful, but there was no reason to doubt the second.

"We have an advantage." Pietro said. "They'll be too busy with the Avengers than with us."

The two girls shared a look, contemplating before they nodded in confirmation.

Then the plan was laid out and has so far been successful.

Cold.

That was the first thing that registered in Aerith's mind. It was so cold. She couldn't see herself, just the area around her displayed like a screen. There were fading whispers and sounds came with the feeling of pain as something scorched her arm, but it didn't matter. Flashes came to her, probing her brain as scene played out before her. The soldiers were being played with by her own will of the forest. She didn't kill them—no, she played with them like mice in a maze. Doing this left a curious feeling that left her stomach churn. She was not used to this kind of resort, but the plan was to confuse them. She made the forest her playground, making the soldiers run in confusion like mindless beasts that would shoot anything within a mile's radius—even if it's their own kind.

Aerith didn't like the bloodshed that came with it, but what was done is done. There was nothing for her to amend for their destruction was brought upon their own doing or by the hands of the Avengers, but still she wished it not. Almost as if Aerith stood before the battlefield, she continued to watch as HYDRA agents fought with the Avengers. Her consciousness roamed freely, merely observing in a distance, observing in another plain. Her vision scouted through the woods with her fingers touched the barks of the trees that communicated with her. The trees, at this instance, were her eyes and her ears. Strucker had ordered them to do their biddings with the Avengers. Pietro had done just that which his "fight" with Hawkeye in the woods. Wanda had remained in the base, preying in the shadows.

Speaking of the Earth's Mightiest Heroes, she now understood what Wang and the twins had meant with their sheer power. Some had most of it than others, but it didn't make them any less dangerous. She watched as the blond hammer-wielder smack the soldiers away as if they were flies. She watched as the star spangled man defeat them by the flick of his shield. The speed of a widow's bite killed more men than a bullet could in a second.

They terrified her yet fascinated her as well.

The scene changed around her to find Elias was fighting, at least, four men on hand-to-hand combat. There was a shout and her vision changed. Wang was there lying on the ground, looking scared to his bones. A soldier loomed over him, wearing the same white camouflage get-up; a knife in his hand. Aerith knew what the soldier intended to do. And without another thought, she did something she'd never thought she'd do.

A thick branch was summoned and pierced through the man's flesh. She could feel the blood the slithered down the branch and the flesh that surrounded it. She felt it—felt everything as if it was her own hand that went through. Breaking from her trance, she summoned the branch back. She should be shocked, he and been knocking HYDRA agents for a while now in her state yet it did not sit well with her, but this was the first time she ever directly killed someone.

Deciding it was better to set her sights somewhere else, her vision changed.

Curiouser and curiouser.

A line she'd never forget. The words she muttered in such a strange sight. Aerith caught sight of a woman with short red hair, almost the same shade as hers. The woman wore a black bodysuit with blue lines tracing her bodice which seemed to be connected to the metallic cuffs around her wrist; a gun was strapped to her hip. There was something about that seemed familiar—something about her that she should know. A throbbing pain was something to her head, but she ignored it. Aerith had to admit that the woman was very beautiful with her heart-shaped face and stunning green eyes. The woman was going somewhere, and so Aerith followed her to the strangest creature she had never seen the likes of before. It was huge with green skin. The creature almost reminded her of a human, but with bulging muscles and angry face.

Never in her life had she scene pure anger yet it did not scare Aerith at all. It merely intrigued her. He got chunks of metal from the destroyed bunker and throwing it to the ground, making Aerith flinch a little.

"Hey, big guy." The redheaded woman said, garnering his attention.

The green creature spun around to look at the woman.

"The sun's getting real low."

There was a huff from the creature that reminded Aerith of train for some odd reason. The woman removed the glove on her left hand, crouching down, but never breaking eye contact. Aerith watched with curiosity as the woman took the hand of the green creature. The sight was truly intriguing as they communicated with hand gestures. And a moment later, something happened that she did not expect. The creature staggered back and transformed into a man. Aerith could feel the transformation of the creature from the branches he held onto.

Yet her vision was focused on the red-haired woman. There was a small smile on her face which disappeared and replaced with something more…guarded. She suspects something. The woman knows something was watching her. Aerith needed to go lest she be discovered. And away she went to farther lands this time. He was huge and green, but he wasn't a monster…at least not to her eyes. Soon, the thing had turned into his human form.

As much as she wanted to linger on watching, she knew the woman was beginning to be aware of her presence, so she went away.

There was something out there. Natasha could feel it. Eyes staring right at her through the darkness of the forest. She looked around the clearing. There was nothing there yet she could not suspend the feeling someone—or something being out there. Although, what troubled her was the feeling that came with it. Usually, it was foreboding and dangerous, but what he felt inside was something akin to calmness—like the curious stare of child that happen to look at you from across the room.

Then…it was just gone like it left.

Natasha shook the feeling off, but unable to forget the experience. Something told her that the moment was something special, but she didn't know what. These feelings always say that there was trouble ahead, but instead, this was different—making it even dangerous.

There was a rustle behind, making her aware of the area again. She listened attentively. Two footsteps, hurried like they were running but swiftly and quietly as they could. When it came near, she drew her gun and aimed, but she didn't expect the sight in front of him. A Latino soldier is in front of her; his gun aimed at her face while someone hid behind him. A head popped from behind the soldier, revealing a boy that looked younger than twenty-three. His face mostly hiding by the hat he wore, but she could discern that he had a buzzcut.

"Move the gun away and pretend you never saw us." The Latino soldier said softly, his accent clear as day.

"Why should I do that?" Natasha shot back, her gun still aimed at his head.

There was something about the soldier that seemed off, making him different from all the rest. An unsettling feeling coming towards her, but she did not allow that to show in her face. Stoic, emotionless, that was what she gave, but the soldier seemed unaffected by what men quiver in fear. Did this soldier honestly think that she would do what he asked? Clearly, he didn't know that she is the Black Widow.

"Nat?"

The voice made her stop in her tracks. It's been so long since she heard that voice. She saw moved to see the boy behind him walk from the soldier's guard. His hand raised as he removed his hat. Then, there he was found again.

"Wang?" she asked as she had seen a ghost.

"Hey, Nat." Wang said softly, smiling up at her.

There was movement from the corner of her eyes, making her grip her gun to the soldier whose aim never faltered. Wang went between them quickly, trying to play peace keeper.

"No, no, no, no" he said, panic at the edge of his voice. "The guy's a friend. He helped me escape from the base."

Natasha assessed him for a long while, looking at the soldier. Wang never failed in the prospect of good character judgement, and so she'd trust him with this choice once again. She was the first to put her weapon down, and later the soldier did so too.

"Do you have a name?" she asked him.

"Elias Bonifacio."

A sharp gasp escaped Wang, turning her attention towards him. His body began to sway as he reached for something to hold on to. Elias ran forward, catching Wang's body.

"I-I-I-I can't—I can't—I can't feel my legs." Wang said to Elias, fear and confusion clear in his voice. "I can't feel my legs. Why can't I feel my legs?!"

Natasha said something through the comms, and turned to them.

"We need to get him back to the quinjet." Natasha said, looking at Wang urgently.

"Where is it?" Elias asked.

"I'm not about to disclose that information to a HYDRA agent—"

"I'm not with HYDRA!"

"Even if you weren't you have to prove it."

"Then take a leap of faith and trust me." Elias pleaded. "David needs medical help."

"I found Wang."

Steve couldn't explain the relief in hearing those words. He may have not known the kid as much as Clint and Natasha did, but he knew him well enough to care. The circumstances of how the two met was something he couldn't forget. Well, how could you forget getting in an elevator in the Triskelion with a scientist handling a tall pile of folders? The fact that Wang could still manage his own was impressive. And when it was revealed he was art of HYDRA, it did sting because this was a kid that tried his best to teach him the ways of the modern world. And Wang did that with the help of Hetalia.

"He has company—a friend."

Romanoff's next words weren't exactly welcomed the same way. Who was Wang with?

"His name is Elias Bonifacio. He apparently helped Wang escape."

A friend in HYDRA? It didn't matter so much to him, who the man was for the moment only that Wang was there. Although, right now wasn't a good time to celebrate, but unfortunately, there was more.

"Wang was also hit with something. He can't feel his legs. Bonifacio's carrying him back to the quinjet."

With his shield, he knocked out another HYDRA agent as he walked through the halls of the base. He didn't know what do feel about that, but surely they can trust this Bonifacio character a little. The life of Wang is on his hands, and he prayed that Wang wasn't dead before they made it out of this war-torn country. Turning on a corner, it was luck that he happened to find Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker in the next hallway.

"Baron Strucker." Steve said as Strucker gave him a small smile. "HYDRA's number one thug."

"Technically, I'm a…thug for SHIELD."

They circled each other slowly.

"Well then, technically, you're unemployed." Steve retorted. "Where's Loki's sceptre?"

"Don't worry," Strucker began to say. "I know when I'm beat…You'll mention how I cooperated, I hope."

"I'll put it right under human experimentation." Steve said in fake joviality. "How many are there?"

There was a force that knocks him down the stairs, taking him off-guard. Steve got up quickly, stepping up. He looked to see a woman with brown hair and glowing red eyes, quickly leaving and the shutting the door.

"We have a second enhanced." He said through the comm. "Female. Do not engage."

Steve looked at Strucker, who began to say: "You'll have to be faster than—"

Steve didn't let Strucker finished as he stepped on his shield, flipping it and while it was in mid-air he kicked it again, knocking the German out.

"Guys, I got Strucker." He said in the comm.

"Yeah, I got…something bigger." Tony said as Steve cuffed Strucker.

There was clink behind and he turned around to see a bird in the air, nipping the wall, making a sound as if to call his attention—at least that's what it sounded like. Maybe he was just exhausted or is he really thinking that the bird is calling his attention?

Before he could do anything, the bird flew into the dark passageway where the woman from earlier emerged from. The reason why Steve chose to follow was beyond him. He followed the bird into the lowest level. It was damp at this part of the base, making Steve wonder where the bird brought him. For a while, he lost the bird until there was clinking sound again. There he found the bird again, clinking on the wheel of a watertight door.

Returning his shield to his back, he held the wheel, moving it until the door opened. There was light inside, confusing Steve. He opened the door and stepped inside to see a greenhouse he did not expect. Why would there be a greenhouse in a HYDRA base?

He found the bird again on his shoulder, chirping at him. Tony will definitely never let this one go. The bird flew forwards again, navigating him through the maze the greenhouse seemed to be until he reached a large sea of wildflowers accompanied with luscious green. Steve stopped for a moment to admire the view. Beyond that was a small bridge over the pond that later evolved into a river with water lilies surrounding the tiny land that had perched a golden chain tree and a bed of lilies. Yet something caught his eye, there under the golden chain tree was something glinting in the light.

The bird flew in front of him again, gesturing him follow. And follow, he did. He jogged on the stone pavement towards what seemed to be a large crystal orb surrounded by slithering vines. It was like the size of a boulder. It wasn't the rock that drew his attention, it was the crack on it. There was a mass of steam came out of the crystal orb, making it a bit hot to touch.

Steve looked at the bird questioningly as it titled its head to the orb.

When the steam subsided, he looked inside the orb to see a kind of slime substance that coated the wall of the crystals as well as vines in the walls. Overall, it reminded him of an egg both inside and outside. And he found himself wondering what it could be. There was a rustle behind him, but when he turned around, shield at hand, there was no one. Going back to the orb, he began to think. The orb was obviously not cracked out before. It suggests that something came out of it. There was nothing else that could have gone out except if it was…wait…

Inside the orb, there was something inside. Steve reached in and pulled out what seemed to be a fabric of sorts coated in one of the slimiest things he had ever touched. He looked at it, seeing it was a red woman's coat. Then he realized.

Steve said over the comms, "We have a third enhanced. Female."

Wanda was in a vast chasm beneath the fortress that housed all of HYDRA's stolen alien artifacts. She could see Stark approach the sceptre and speak with one of the other Avengers. As her tormentor went even closer to the sceptre, she raised her hands and showed him his darkest fear. Wanda would get to torment her tormentor before his life would crumble into ashes upon her feet.

She could see the tension in his body as he experienced the vision and was about to send a whirlpool of energy through him when she saw his subconscious. A thought came into her head. She put her hands down and smirked. The man would be his own demise.

Wanda quickly backed away until she was out of Stark's way, creeping in the shadows. By now, her brother had speeded to her and was about to engage the man that killed their parents when she put her hand on his chest. Her twin brother looked at her, before glancing back to Stark, who was about to take the sceptre.

"We're just going to let him take it?" Pietro asked angrily.

She smiled at her brother. He didn't see what she saw. "Yes." A little smirk crept up her face. "Don't worry, our fight is far from over—it just got a little better."

They walked away from the scene, Pietro carried her back to the greenhouse where they would get Aerith out. They used a secret passage that Wang showed them once to get in. They couldn't wait to share their freedom with Aerith—their revenge so close and their freedom at their hands. Wanda smiled to herself to see Tony Stark finally crumble to his knees. They wanted their revenge. And they were so close, they could almost taste it. Life couldn't get any better, but unfortunately…it could get worst.

They were greeted by the sight of the orb opened and cracked, steam coming out from it. Pietro ran towards it, shock and anger obvious in his face. Wanda watched as he took out Aerith's red wine coat that was left on the floor in front of the orb.

"The Avengers took her." Pietro growled, before he could run back outside to get her, Wanda stopped him.

"We can't."

"What do you we can't?" Pietro asked angrily.

"If the Avengers took her, we can't risk being captured as well." Wanda said as calmly as possibly.

"Then, we risk it!"

Pietro shrugged her hand off hand, purposely getting ready to run out when there was a moan from the trees around them, making them jump in surprise. And no later than a second, the golden chain tree moved. Its roots moving out from the earth. Both were confused yet worried. Only Aerith can do what the tree had just done. So, they did what anyone would do, they stepped closer. Warily, they looked at what the roots had kept hiding. And beneath a blanket of golden leaves, Aerith was shivering and covered with slime. Pietro did not waste time in hauling her up, and letting her lay down the green tall grass. Wanda went away getting a warm blanket to cover the redhead.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. "Are we free?"

Those were the first words she said, her voice—raspy and hoarse. Those words brought a smile in both their faces.

"Yes, we are free." Wanda said confidently.

A/N: Now that concludes the chapter. Don't forget to review! :)