Two days later, we had a functioning time machine according to a test run Barton took. I missed the show, but got the gist of things from the others. Now, we just needed to know about our targets. Which meant bringing together everything we knew about the Infinity Stones. We were getting close, so close. This wild dream was starting to look more like a reality. Once everything was in order, we gathered in the conference room.

A ragtag team of Avengers, the only ones left. Rogers and Stark were preparing to lay things out for us, a number of screens displaying the six stones and the other forms they'd taken over the years.

"We've got a functioning time machine," Steve began, walking along in front of the screens. "The how, works... Now we gotta figured out the when, and the where." Right, the easy part hopefully. "Almost everyone in this room has had an encounter with at least one of the six Infinity Stones."

"Or," Stark chimed in, "Substitute the word encounter, with damn near been killed by one of the six Infinity Stones."

"Well, I haven't." Scott shrugged, "But then again, I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"Regardless," Hulk walked around to the front as well. "We only have enough Pym Particles for one round trip each, and these stones have been in a lot of different places throughout history."

"Our history," Stark continued, "So there's not a lot of convenient spots to just drop in."

"So we've gotta carefully pick our targets." Clint surmised.

"Correct."

"Let's start with the Aether," Rogers decided, "Thor, what do you know."

All eyes turned to the chunky, slubbish king of Asgard. As he sat in a chair in the corner, beer resting in his hand. Making no move to react to Steve's words.

"Is he sleeping?" I asked.

"No," Rhodes answered, "I'm pretty sure he's dead."

I'll spare you his embarrassing testimonial about the Reality Stone, and just say that both Thor and Rocket would be going to Asgard when the Stone was there inside of Jane Foster to extract it. Them came the Power Stone, the purple one that Thanos used to absolutely rock me and Venom, appropriately named I suppose. Located on Morag, and obtained by one of Rocket's companions, Rhodes and Nebula would see to its retrieval.

"Thanos found the Soul Stone on Vormir." Now, Nebula was explaining the location of the next stone on our list.

"And what is Vormir exactly?" I questioned, standing behind Nat and Scott along with a few others. The former taking notes as Nebula spoke.

"A dominion of death, located at the center of Celestial existence." She explained, looking away slowly. "It's where... Thanos murdered my sister."

We digested that information for a moment, before Scott chimed in. "Not it."

"I'm down." I replied with a nod, "Dominion of death? Sounds rough, and as for Celestial existence..." My thoughts turned to the Purifier, "I've got some experience, I guess."

"Well you're not going alone," Clint added, giving me a nod. "You've got muscle but I think its safe to say you could use a good set of eyes... And an extra hand."

Cheeky little bastard, "And I guess that means I'm going as well." Natasha sighed lightly, "If only so you two don't kill each other."

That was three stones located and decided on, with my position clear I made my way out of the conference room. To let the real brains handle the remaining three, which was fine by me. I had something I wanted to take care of before we went through with this.

. . .

"Hey, didn't think I'd be stopping by here again for some time but... Well, the way things are going it sounds like we might actually pull this time travel thing off."

I was here again, talking to a rock.

"I'm going to outer space, in the past... Wild stuff."

Amy's grave, if it wasn't obvious.

"I don't know how this is all gonna work out... But I know that, no matter what happens... You aren't coming back."

I suppose I couldn't be sure, but the fact that we were all talking about undoing the snap made me question if any other deaths could actually be undone.

"No matter what happens, next time I come to visit... I won't be alone."

I steeled my resolve, one final time. No matter what, this was it.

. . .

"We have our objectives... Six stones, three teams, one shot."

After the hours of discussion, and after I'd returned to the compound, we were all suiting up. Garbed in the new time travel gear, meant to help us travel the Quantum Realm. The sun was setting now, as we made our way to Stark's Quantum Tunnel.

"Five years ago we lost, all of us..."

Nothing but the Captain's inspirational speeches to listen too before departure.

"We lost friends, love ones... We lost a part of ourselves."

I didn't need the optimism, I had stubborn determination.

"Today we have a chance to take it all back... You know your teams, you know your missions." We all ascended the platform together, while Bruce manned the controls. "Get the stones, get them back." He held out his hand in the center, the rest of us joining in with our fists. Each one carrying one of the time travel GPS devices. "One round trip each," He reminded us, "No mistakes, no do-overs... Most of us are going somewhere we know, that doesn't mean we should know what to expect." Looking around to each of us, "This is the fight of ours lives, and we're going to win... Whatever it takes."

Rocket handed off his shrunken ship to Clint, while Banner joined us on the platform and tunnel began to fire up beneath our feet. I felt anxiety just looking at the swirling vortex of light. While Nat seemed almost excited, looking to our comrades, "See you in a minute."

Before we were sent hurtling through the Quantum Tunnel, the GPS keeping us on track as we began to break off into our teams. It was almost impossible to keep track of what was going on, but in a matter of seconds we were flashing back existence on a dark, storm covered world. Where I had been before was nowhere to be seen, and as the nano-suit melted away back into it's container I felt exposed out here.

"Hey," My eyes darted to Natasha as she placed a hand on my arm. "You good?"

"Yeah... A little shaken, but good." I looked past her, and could see Rhodes, Nebula and Clint. "We really did it..."

Clint deployed the Milano, I flinched as the ship grew rapidly before my eyes. This Pym-tech was something else, "Alright, I'll get the shuttle deployed," Nebula stated, heading into the ship. "Then you three can take the ship to Vormir."

And that left us to stand around waiting, my eyes scanning over the planets surface around us. "Man, this place is a dump..."

"I see ruins in the distance," Natasha pointed out. "Somebody used to live here."

I looked up at the dark clouds, rolling thunder overhead. "Well with weather like this I can't imagine why anyone would leave."

Nebula deployed the pod she and Rhodes would use to reach their destination, and we boarded the Milano. It had been some time since coming aboard this ship, not since we killed Thanos I guess. "Good luck, no messing you grab that stone and you come back." Rhodes ordered, seeing us off.

"You guys be careful," I answered with a smirk, "I'll protect these two."

"How thoughtful." Nat rolled her eyes with a smile, before we closed the hatch and made our way to the controls.

"You ever been to space before?" I asked Clint, as we began strapping in to our seats.

He shot me a confused look, "No, why?"

"Then you'd better hang on, and don't throw up on Rocket's ship."

We lifted off, breaching atmosphere in seconds. No need to man the controls, Nebula had set everything to autopilot. So we just had to sit back and enjoy the ride. Just like the last time, I watched as a hole opened up in space before us and we jumped right through. Flying into a whirlwind of colors, luckily I didn't start feeling sick this time. Too bad though, the ride didn't last long. In just a few moments, we were exiting the hyper space jump.

The view didn't get much worse though, as we were brought face to face with a massive planet. Much of it surrounded by a thick fog, while an eclipsed star rested beyond it shining dim light throughout the system.

"Looks like this is it..." Natasha noted, taking to the controls. "I'll bring us in."

"Oh boy..." Clint muttered, staring out at our target. "We're a long way from Budapest now..."

Flying down to the surface, breaching atmosphere we began to search for our target. Not exactly sure what we were looking for, Nebula didn't have any details beyond the planets location. But luckily there didn't appear to be anything else here. No living creatures as far as I could see, scanners weren't picking up life signs either. Not even plant life, as if this entire world was dead.

"Whoa," I blinked, noticing a massive energy spike on the radar. "Over there, that mountain is giving off some crazy readings."

Nat shifted our direction, and began taking us lower to the ground. "I'll land us, I don't think we wanna try flying the ship through whatever that is."

"So we're climbing a mountain?" Clint questioned, not sounding too pleased about it.

I nodded, "That is about the size of it." As we touched down.

He sighed in response, "I bet the raccoon didn't have to climb a mountain..."

. . .

Now, you may be wondering, "Gwen, how did you climb a mountain with only one hand?" And the answer, may surprise you.

"HRAAAGH!"

I came crashing down on the summit, having jumped the distance as She-Hulk after Clint and Natasha climbed up. They marked the spot for me, while I spent the time working myself up into a fit. Purposely stubbing my toes, inflicting sharp little pains that I knew could set me off. As landed and tumbled across the ground, stopping at their feet, Clint backed up quickly.

While Natasha stood her ground, "Nice aim." She offered, smiling down at me.

"Hmph, only took four tries..." I grumbled, rising to my feet and brushing off the dirt and snow. Unlike when dealing with Banner, I wanted to calm down now so I was quickly going through the breathing exercises. And being around people I didn't want to punch certainly helped, though it might still be some time before I change back.

"Welcome." In an instant, Clint and Natasha drew their weapons and turned on the new arrival. While I moved between them and our greeter, ready for a fight. "Natasha, daughter of Ivan. Gwen, daughter of George. And Clint, son of Edith."

"Okay, that's creepy." I muttered, staring at the form of this wraith. Nothing but a shadowy mass hovering just above the ground. We stepped forward slowly, but nobody dropped their guard. We'd come too far to be careless.

"Who are you?" Natasha questioned.

"Consider me, a guide." He explained, "To you, and to all who seek the Soul Stone."

Jackpot, "Cool," I replied, "You tell us where it is and we'll be on our way."

The wraith seemed to sigh, hovering forward. "Oh... If only it were that easy." Getting close enough that we could see through the veil of shadow, revealing his blood red face.

He beckoned us to follow before moving deeper into the mountain. With no other options, we followed. Moving through another passage, we soon came out between two monoliths, reaching up into the sky. Carved stone was beneath our feet, like this was some kind of ritual site. It was creepy, and lead to nothing but a sheer drop. In fact, everything here seemed centered around that drop...

"What you seek, lies in front of you." The red faced wraith explained, hovering towards the edge. Natasha followed, peering over it. "As does what you fear."

"The stone's down there?" Natasha questioned.

"For one of you," He answered, "For one of the others... In order to take the stone, you must lose that which you love." This was getting grim, fast. "An everlasting exchange, a Soul, for a Soul."

The gravity of the situation weighed on all of us. And we stepped back from the ledge, knowing we would need to think about this. I started pacing back and forth, while Natasha took a seat on one of the fallen stones nearby. Nobody said anything, but I knew we were all thinking the same thing.

"Who's going to take the plunge."

The Stone Keeper said it had to be someone the other loved. So it could be any of us. Clint and Natasha were life long friends, even if it wasn't romantic they did love one another like family. And... Admittedly, the same could be said about Natasha and I. Over the last five years, we'd bonded. She was like the mother I never had, and I was the daughter she could never have. Though... Maybe our bond wasn't as strong as hers and Clint's.

Barton spent some time staring at the Stone Keeper, before shaking his head and approaching Nat. "Maybe he's making this shit up."

"No," Natasha shook her head. "I don't think so." Staring off into space as she spoke.

"Why? Because she knew our parents names?" Barton questioned.

"Because Nebula said Thanos left here with the Stone," I intervened, "And without his daughter... It can't be a coincidence."

Clint sighed heavily, staring at the ground. "Yeah..."

"Whatever it takes." Natasha muttered.

"I'll do it." I offered, looking between them.

"Gwen, no." Nat answered firmly, rising to her feet and looking up at me.

"And why not?" I scoffed, "I already lost one arm saving the world you think I can't do this?" I didn't want to die, but I'd rather kick the bucket than let someone else die for me.

"You said it yourself Gwen," Natasha argued, "You've got two families waiting for you, people that won't want to be brought back if they knew it meant losing you."

"Also," Clint chimed in, motioning to my body. "Look at you, do you think that fall would even kill you?"

Alright, fair point. "Oh come on, I'm sure it'll kill me... Hey! Spooky ghost guy," I barked at the Keeper, "You think the fall would kill me right?"

His gaze shifted over to me, eyeing me up and down. Before his eyes drifted back to the horizon. "I have my doubts..."

"Ugh, what do you know?" I scoffed, turning back to the others. "Come on, let me do this... Please."

"It has to be one of us," Natasha said, looking to Clint. "And... I think we both know who it has to be."

Clint returned her gaze, crossing his arms. "I'm starting to think we don't."

Great, all three of us were willing to bite the bullet and now we were just arguing over it. "Clint," Nat replied, "You've got a family waiting for you too, don't make this harder than it needs to be."

To which he shook his head, "You know what I've done Natasha... What I've become over the last few years."

"Well I don't judge people on their worst mistakes," Before looking to me. "Gwen, you know who it has to be, right?"

"Natasha, please don't do this..." I muttered, my voice quivering a bit. "I don't want to lose anyone else, especially not you..."

"I know," She nodded, her own eyes glistening with tears as well. "I wish things were different... But I've spent the last five years trying to get to this moment." She offered a hand to Clint, one that he cautiously took. "Let's save everyone." Before she suddenly shoved him back against me. "Take him!"

Out of reaction, I grabbed Clint. Using my one powerful arm to hold him in place against me. "Nat!" He began to struggle immediately, trying to fight out of my unyielding grip. "Let me go! Natasha please!"

My eyes never left her, and I could feel the tears spilling over already. "Thank you... Natasha, for... For everything."

She was smiling, as she backed towards the ledge. "And thank you Gwen, for being part of my family." She stopped, just as she reached the ledge. "Goodbye."

"NOOO!" Clint cried out, as Natasha threw herself from the edge. I clenched my eyes shut tight, openly crying as she fell to her death. After a second, I released Clint once he stopped struggling.

I fell to my knees, the weight of the decision resting on my shoulders before the monolith began to flash. I looked to the sky above, and watched the clouds ignite with bright lights. Something passed up into them, was that supposed to be her soul? I'd never find out I guess, as the world around me went white and I passed out.

. . .

"Gwen Stacy... Awaken."

I gasped for breath as my eyes opened, looking around quickly to see that I was no longer on the mountaintop. And I had also reverted back to my normal form, now sitting in warm shallow water. It looked like I was still on Vormir, but the snow had melted completely and everything was much warmer.

"Clint? Are you here!?" I called out, rising to my feet as I looked around. I didn't see any sign of him, or the Soul Stone.

"Calm yourself." My head whipped around to the feminine voice behind me.

"AGH!" I screamed and stumbled back, coming nearly face to face with the entity. The figure before me was wearing robes that hugged her body, and sheltered beneath a black hood was a skull face with no eyes. "Kinda hard to calm down when somebody is sneaking up on you with a freaky mask!" I shouted at her, "Where is Clint?"

"Safe," She answered calmly, "You will be returned to him, and the Soul Stone, shortly."

I steadied myself, never lowering my guard in this woman's presence. Something about her had me on edge, "Are you a Keeper like the red guy?"

Her response came with an amused chuckle, "No." And she would give me no more than that.

"Alright... Why are we speaking?"

"Because I am very curious about you, Gwen Stacy." She explained simply, that amusement coloring her voice. She began to walk around me, it was only than that I noticed she was walking on the surface of the water and making no ripples. "Not often do mortal beings traverse my domain, and all the way from Earth... Strangely enough, you're not from the Earth in this time period."

Now I was really getting creeped out. "How do you know all that?"

"I know many things, and both your past and future interest me..." Oh good, that makes me feel safe. "So, I wanted to speak with you and see for myself if you are capable of tipping the balance."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded, starting to think this was a lot more than some freaky space ghost. "What balance?!"

"The balance of life, and death..." The way her empty eyes flashed as she said that sent a chill down my spine. "You are going to do many great, and terrible things before the end of your life... I'm sure you'll be in touch with another me, in your time."

She was beginning to fade away before my eyes, "Wait!" I reached out, wanting more answers. But before I could get anything else out of her, she was gone. "Dammit..."

I began to look around, the world shifting slowly. I almost thought my vision was getting messed with the way things were distorting. Before it all settled, and I noticed something in the distance, the form of Clint staggering through the waters. He was clutching something in his hand, hopefully the stone. I'd have to put what just happened aside for now, we still had a future to save...

And a friend to mourn.