Chapter 37- Every soul will taste death

A loud noise made an end to Loki's laughter: "Damn, he's here."
"Who?" Finally I was going to get an answer.
"Thanos. Heimdall foresaw the attack and told everyone to get out, the army remained, they are guarding the palace. This cave is on the edge, I doubt they would go this way…"
"Ahm, Reindeer Games I think you got that part wrong, we are trapped." Tony said pointing to the exit.
The army mixed from Chitauri and some other scary looking aliens encircled us. We had no way to get out. "It might be best to surrender boys. We can't punch our way out of this, definitely not here."
"One time I don't take a suit, just one and we are already neck deep in shit. I'm blaming you Rock of Ages."
"It doesn't help you much right now, does it crybaby?" Tony looked like he would jump on Loki and choke him any second.
"Calm the hell down you two, you can only make them attack us. They haven't yet so don't change it."

The army arrested us and led us out. My original plan to run off as soon as we leave the cave failed. There were about 5 rows of heavily armed aliens from each side, so we just kept marching. They led us on top of a mountain on the edge of the realm. A smaller group parted from the rest and we moved on the floating rocks. The rest was making sure we wouldn't consider running away. I couldn't see anything besides darkness beneath us, like a never ending pit. My gut told there was no way all of us would get out of here unharmed. But most of us could…
We finally reached the largest rock on which a big stone throne was built. The lead guard blabbered something in alien that we didn't understand. Well, Tony and I didn't, not sure about Loki, who somehow managed to hide his scepter from the aliens. The big boss growled somehow and the army earlier guarding the other end of the bridge returned to with some escorts of ours to the battle leaving us with about 10 guards. They took position behind us as if waiting for something. I used the time to inspect the surrounding. Some of the rocks were large enough to use as a shield in case they start shooting on us. Few moments of silence later the boss descended his throne. It was the big ugly purple smurf from my nightmares, Thanos. Alright, now we are really screwed. On his left hand there was a golden glove with two shiny stones attached. One was red, the other purple.
"Look at this, how long do you think your army can last? They will fall and so will you. Asgard will be mine as will the Tesseract. Hand him over now." If I manage to get out of here, this is going to make a great footage, if…
Loki didn't take long to respond. "What do you offer for it?"
"Sparing your life. That is my offer. We will find it anyway, sooner or later. Where is it? And where is the guardian of Bifrost?"
"How about you give me a high position in your new world order and I will give you the information you seek?"
Thanos started laughing darkly. The kind of laugh that makes you shiver in a very unpleasant way. I used it to have a quick exchange with the guys.
"Listen, I'll distract him and you Loki bring Tony back to Earth. So on my signal, run like hell."
"What, there's no way we're leaving you here. Just no."
"Tony, this is not the time, I love you, always will, but you have to go. You can return to me later, but someone has to get out and warn the others. Loki, you're up to it, because I'm sure he won't give you a place in his world." Loki nodded and turned back at Thanos who was finishing his laughing. Tony added his own thoughts: "So, purples, if I get it right. You want him to give you the blue cube of doom to kill us in the end anyway. Only an idiot would do that. This one may be crazy, a psychopath, sociopath maybe, but he's no idiot. But you sure are." That unsurprisingly pissed Thanos off.
"What did you dare to call me you tiny human?"
"Purples, idiot. Pick one."
Thanos launched himself at us. I used a telekinetic wave to get rid of the guards behind us and created a spherical shield big enough for the guys to get further away safely. "Run now. Go and don't look back. Go!" Loki grabbed Tony and pulled away from me. I know he didn't want to let go, but some things have to be done. Turning my attention back to Thanos I saw him backing away from the field I knew I couldn't keep up long enough to save myself. I was too tired and too weak for that Thanos aimed his glow at me and prepared to fire. I looked behind me and saw Loki opening a portal, just a few more minutes. The moment I saw the portal close I knew this was my own battle now. I'm a phoenix; I only die to be reborn again, on Earth, but what happens when I die here? Are this my final moments? Is this what looking into the eyes of death really feels like? As Thanos fired energy beams from the two infinity stones, a single tear rolled down my cheek. The field was broken; parts of my body were burned, exposing my metal bones. This seemed to amuse Thanos.
"They left you here to die."
"Because I told them to." I felt my healing factor kick in.
"Where is the Tesseract?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know, huh. Maybe I could help you with your memory. The metal in your body is interesting. It is poison, killing you. I wonder what would happen if someone took it out." Oh, no.
Thanos raised his glowed hand and lifted me in the air. I felt the pressure building up inside me. Slowly and painfully the metal that was so long a part of me was leaving my body ripping every single inch of my skin apart. In short he had my entire skeleton in his hand. Well, almost. "I left you a little souvenir. The last bits left will kill you slowly and painfully…." I didn't hear the rest, for me everything went black. The last thing I remember was hitting the ground and then I was at peace…

Third persons' POV
 Meanwhile at the base

A portal opening in front of the base caught everyone's attention. The Avengers + Fury ran out, armed from top to toe, ready to defend the HQ. A few seconds later, Loki dragging Tony came through, or rather fell flat on their faces from it. The portal closed allowing Tony and Loki to have one last look on their savior. "You have to get her, or she'll die there! Loki, please!"
"Stark listen, I will go back for her, but right now I can't, the scepter has to regain energy in order to open another portal."
"How long?"
"One earth hour."
"Wait, so you knew we'd have to leave her there for another hour, one her own?!"
"She knew as well, I told her about it." Tony stared desperately at Loki. The rest of the gang who was watching the whole thing put their guns down.
"Alright, ok, so she knew the risk, but she'll be ok, I mean she had to have it figured out, right? She's probably hiding somewhere."
"Yes, she is a strong creature and a great warrior. I will bring her back as soon as I can. I owe her my life. Thanos would have killed us if she hadn't interfered. She gave us time to escape."
"We should warn Thor not to go to Asgard or he will fall right into a trap."
"Yes, my brother. Can you contact him?"
Before Tony could answer Fury stepped in. "Follow me, Loki."
The Avengers ran up to Tony. "Buddy, it's good to see you again as an adult, well more or less, but what the hell happened there." said Rhodey, inspecting Tony's newfound youth.
"Long story short, we got trapped by an alien army inside a cave, we got led to their leader which turned out to be Thanos, the big ugly purple smurf from Em's nightmares. Emily told Loki to get me out of there, to warn everyone and she bought us enough time to escape, but… I'm really afraid she won't make it. I just have this really bad feeling."
The crew moved into the meeting room, while Fury was trying to explain videoconferencing to Loki. "So, you look into the camera and you speak. Thor will see you and hear you on the other side."
"Interesting. What kind of magic does it work on again?"
"Electricity, satellite signal, the internet…"
"What is a satellite?"
"It is a big metal thing that circles around the planet. I'll make someone explain it to you later. Now talk to Thor." On the other side of the planet, T'Challa and the gang were faced with a similar problem. The videoconference started with two Asgardians yelling at each other.
"Brother, can you hear me? I will get you out of the glass prison." Thor started to swing his hammer towards the screen to be stopped by T'Challa, who was not pleased at the thought of having to get a new screen.
"I am not imprisoned, Thor. Listen, don't travel to Asgard. It is far too dangerous. Thanos and his army attacked us and they would kill you as soon as you appeared."
"How am I supposed to trust you on this? It may only be another one of your ways to keep me from interfering with your plans. Wait until father hears about your plans…"
"Are you really that stupid? Why would I be calling you if it wasn't the truth, why would I even bother?" Tony barged into the room fully suited up.
"Is it time yet?"
"What Stark, no. You are not coming."
"I am, she means the world to me."
"No, you are staying, I promised to get you back here, not take you there again. I will be going, it will be faster." Tony wanted to object, but was interrupted by Thor.
"Friend Stark, it is good to see you."
"Likewise Thor, Loki gave you the warning already."
"He did say Thanos was attacking Asgard. I do not believe him."
"Well he is actually telling the truth, Point Break, we just got back from there."
"You were in Asgard Stark? Right, Loki had to change you back. How is your friend, Emily, I think?" Tony paled and leaned against the closest wall; the thought of Emily alone on the rock with Thanos was terrifying. Fortunately there was still Loki in the room.
"She went with us and she gave us time to escape. I will go back to get her in a short time, I hope I am not too late."
"So you know what is going on and are still returning to Asgard for her? You truly changed brother."
"Just stay away from there." Loki looked to see that the scepter was fully charged. "Farewell, brother." He said to Thor and left the room. Tony was still leaned against the wall with his eyes closed.
Loki exited the portal in the Asgardian prison as it was on located on the edge. Using his sorcery he camouflaged himself as one of the aliens and began his journey to the throne. Thanos had obviously relocated to the palace as he was not present and neither were his guards. The battlefield was empty, with the exception of a big bloody puddle and a metal cluster. This was not from Asgard. Loki remembered Emily pointing at him with her claws. Could it be that this was the only thing left? Where was rest of the body? He looked around. Thanos could have easily kicked it from the cliff and if he did, there was no way to find her. Given the burn marks on the ground, he could have just turned her to dust. Or had he done something else? Thanos was probably searching the palace for the Tesseract, which was in a hidden chamber inside Odin's vault. With much disgust Loki picked the cluster up and opened the portal. This should be proof enough for Stark…

Meanwhile back at the facility, Tony has been sedated for no one could endure the freaked out hyperactive billionaire. Not even him. With Tony passed out, the team was eagerly awaiting the return of Loki and Emily. But only one returned through the portal. The Avengers stared in horror as Loki placed the cluster at their feet and shook his head. Rhodeys eyes were in tears. Bruce's and even Fury's eyes (eye) were far from dry as well. Vision was playing Ave Maria on the piano. When everyone calmed down, Rhodey broke the silence. "How are we going to tell this to Tony?"
"I have no idea." said Bruce looking over to Vision and Natasha.
"Emily was an outstanding person. Tony won't want to let her go, he will want revenge."
"You are right, Vision, he will want revenge. I don't think he'll ever let her go, we may only hope he won't lose the will to live." Rhodey's statement peeked Nat's attention.
"You think it will be that bad? I know they were best friends, but isn't loosing the will to live a bit too much."

"Well, you don't know the whole truth, Nat. He loved her, she meant the world to him and it was both sided. She loved him; they were like siblings, best friends, two sides of the coin. They were complete opposites and yet the same. When I first met Em it was at the MIT. Let's just say for a fact we didn't like her, she wasn't one of those hot chicks that would come running towards Tony. She was weird to us. Anyway, she and Tony got paired up for a project and eventually after being snowed in for an entire night, they grew to like each other."
"Did he ever tell her? That he loved her I mean?"
"Sure, and she loved him back."
When a sleepy and a bit high Tony walked into room, everyone fell silent.
"Are they back yet?" he asked as he sat down on the chair. Loki walked up to him.
"I am sorry Stark, but I believe I was too late. This is what I found along with a large puddle of blood." Tony stared at the bloody metal.
"Friday, is this what I think it is?"
"It is adamantium vibranium alloy, boss." Tony nodded. His nightmare became reality. He just stared into the ground. "Run a DNA test on the blood. It can't be true, this just can't be right." He shouted storming out of the room, leaving the others staring.

Somewhere in a realm far far away…

"What the hell, where am I?..."