Time.

Space.

Reality.

It's more than a linear path. It's a prism of endless possibility.

I am the Watcher. I am your guide through these vast new realities. Follow me and dare to face the unknown and ponder the question…

What If…?

Fourteen million six hundred and four ways to end the universe and one to save it. However, in a realm of infinite possibilities, Doctor Stephen Strange hardly scratched the surface. Trillions of lives were affected across millions of planets. Many of them are willing to fight after seeing their friends and families turn to dust in front of their eyes.

Ruby smiled at the practice going on in the training ground below her. Of course, there were Riders practicing their swordsmanship and aim. A few people were working on other forms of combat. Some were working with newly hatched dragons on one thing or another. Normally that last one would have attracted all of her attention. But at that moment, she was more than content to watch her daughter practice with a few elves before the KFL combine in Armen. Angel was expected to go third overall, and the Krakens just traded up to that same place. A best-case scenario. As Ruby watched, Angel threw a perfect spiral that flew about fifty yards in the air, right into the waiting arms of one of her receivers.

"Wooooooow," Crey breathed. "Angel's good."

Ruby and Cerise laughed. Do you ever get tired of saying that, little one?

Crey looked past his mom to the dragon on the other side, face beaming. Besides his cheekbones, nose, and earlobes, he looked so much like his father. "I'll stop when it's not true anymore."

"So you'll be saying it forever." Ruby ruffled her son's hair. Crey wined and brushed his mom's hand away. "She'll make it in the hall of fame for sure."

Down on the field, Thorn growled in Angel's face. From the way her shoulders jerked up and down, Angel laughed at something before she shoved her dragon's head away. The elf that caught the ball handed it back to Angel. Her practice squad lined back up, two receivers, two defenders. Angel held the ball out in front of her then brought it to her chest. Her receivers took off downfield with the defenders chasing. She waited a few seconds before launching another beautiful pass. Ruby watched this one the whole way. Not a hint of a wobble. The ball fell and… bounced on the ground.

Ruby blinked. What happened to the receiver? The defender picked up the bouncing ball and looked around. The Elder Rider searched the area as well. She didn't see that elf anywhere.

Just as she opened her mouth to ask, an anguished dragon roar filled the air. Ruby stiffened and faced the sound. A chill ran down her spine. Somewhere in the city, a dragon just lost her Rider. But… how? Bonded pairs were always deployed together. Assassins? Grimm?

"Cerise?" Ruby whipped around to face her dragon.

Cerise nodded. I'll-

Another scream reached Ruby's ears, one much closer. She looked down into the training grounds. One of the defensive players collapsed and writhed in agony. He just lost his dragon. Ruby prepped a step toward the downed Rider but stopped herself as she saw the elf's skin and clothes turn gray. The elf cracked and the grey bits flew off like dust in the wind.

Ruby froze in horror. "What?"

More and more screams of Riders and dragons filled the air. Humans, elves, and dragons alike turned to dust around her. Some screams were cut short as those uttering them disappeared as well. Overhead, a training fighter spiraled out of control and nosedived into the ocean, sending up a large wave, followed by fire and smoke. Worse, she saw two people falling through the air without parachutes or slowing down. A dragon in another part of the sky nosedived with limp wings.

"Mommy?" Crey whimpered.

"Hold onto me, Crey." Ruby drew Máni Bláto to full scythe form and stretched her mind out as far as it could go. She only felt various forms of panic. No hostility. There was barely any from the Grimm she could feel.

Cerise growled and threw a wing over her Rider. What black magic is this?

Ruby stuck her head out from under the wing. Her daughter was still down there. Angel stared at where her receiver disappeared, then brought her hands up… Her fingertips were turning gray and flaky. Her mom's blood ran cold, and not because of Maiden magic. "ANGEL!" Ruby called on her Semblance to move but her baby boy was still attached to her leg. She didn't want to take him along while he was so young.

Thorn made a terrified scream himself and pounced toward his Rider. Angel's Aura wings burst forth and she met Thorn halfway. Her arms, legs, and wings wrapped around his face. Help me, mom! She didn't need to grab the necklace she wore to send those thoughts.

Just hang on, Angel! Ruby stepped out of Cerise' protection, collapsed her weapon on instinct, and called on her Maiden magic. All she could think of was cryofreeze. She sent a wave of her Aura toward her daughter. But before the blizzard hit its target, Angel turned completely gray, and her Aura wings disappeared. She blew away as if she never existed.

Thorn screamed, but it couldn't have been from all the cold hitting him in the face. He swiped at the dust with his claws as it blew away. He even tried catching it with his wings, but it always leaked out. After his third attempt with his wings, the dust disappeared entirely. He stared at the last place he saw the remnants of his Rider for several seconds before roaring in pain at the sky.

Ruby felt water run down her cheeks. Her baby girl, her perfect little Angel, was dead.

"Where's Angel, mommy?" Crey whispered.

"Angel…" Ruby tried to blink away her tears. "I…" She looked around the area. So many others were writhing in pain, including a few less than one month old hatchlings. Still, more were up and moving around, trying to help those down. She needed to be one of them too.

Ruby knelt in front of her baby boy and clamped her hands on his shoulders. "Crey. We're going to the command center. You are going to wait in the conference room until I come to get you. I need to go to work. Understand?"

Crey blinked twice. "Where's Angel?"

Ruby swallowed air. "That's what I'm going to find out." She picked Crey up, held him to her chest, and pulled herself up Cerise' side. Once in the saddle, she looked around the area once more. From what she could tell, no more people were turning into Dust. Hopefully it stopped. Her gaze stopped on Thorn. Angel's dragon now stared at the abandoned football, occasionally nudging it with his snout. Ruby grit her teeth then pat Cerise' neck. Her dragon took off at the silent signal.

Cerise didn't stop until she landed at the command center, this one built on a hill a mile away from the ruins of the old Keep. Ruby dismounted, pulling Crey with her, and walked into the building while holding her son's hand. No security guards stood in the reception room, not that they would have stopped her. She left Crey in the nearest conference room, where a few non-Rider elves had gathered. Her son would be safe with them.

As she proceeded to the communications room, Ruby hardened her face and wiped the tears off her eyes. Her heart had just been torn out a second time, but she needed to keep her head straight and put up a brave face. The Riders needed their leadership calm and focused. She pushed open the door to the comms room. "Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?"

The elf that was normally in charge of this division stood in the back of the room with arms behind his back. He turned to face Ruby. His skin flexed like he was clenching his teeth. "What is happening here is happening planetwide," he said. "I'm getting reports from all continents of our people disappearing, along with a large percentage of the people they were with."

"Does anyone know the source?"

"No, but no science or magic I know of could do this."

"I know." Ruby bit her lower lip. "Have Arya or Fírnen reported in?"

The communications director shifted on his feet. "Her guard reported that they turned to dust.

"Damn." Ruby scowled. "Have we heard from Weiss, Saphira, or anyone in Alagaësia?"

"At the moment, Alagaësia appears unaffected, but we have not heard from those two."

Ruby crossed her arms. Due to the… crisis, as small of a word as that felt, she was in command of all Riders and support staff on Remnant once again. She grimaced and nodded. Until they knew what the hell was going on, she could only think of one thing. "Institute worldwide Code Black." Code Black, all Riders and support staff are to drop what they're doing and defend the locals from Grimm attack.

The elf bowed. "Of course, Shadeslayer." He turned to face the few elves remaining in the room. "Send through the CCT, Code Black. All are required to leave their current duties and defend from the creatures of Grimm. Tell Rider Intelligence to inform their deployed operatives as well."

"Let me know if you hear any updates." Ruby grabbed her two compacted scythes but didn't expand them. "I've got to join the fight."

Of course, multiverse theory is no stranger to this force on Remnant, for their sister world, Alagaësia, is in another universe entirely, one where Thanos was defeated at Xandar, but that is another story. All on Alagaësia were spared from the Snap, adding to Remnant's number. Together they survived. Together, they mourned.

One Year Later

Ruby stared at the breakfast Viki set in front of her. Normally, she would have stuffed her face with the strawberry and whipped cream topped chocolate chip pancakes. But not today. Not on the anniversary of the day half the people and animals disappeared. A year since Angel, Yang and Halcyon, Arya and Fírnen, and so, so many more ceased to exist in a Snap.

"Aren't you hungry, sister?" Viki asked. Ruby raised her eyes to one of her few remaining family members. Through all this, Viki kept a smile better than almost everyone else. Ruby didn't know how. Maybe she was trying to pay Ruby back?

"I am. It's just… today."

Viki sighed. "I know, but you still need to eat. We both know how bad it's been lately."

"Can't be for much longer, though." Ruby finally took a bite of her food. By all accounts, the Grimm population was cut in half as well. Since they destroyed all the spawning pools after the Battle of Salem, and since Androids weren't affected at all, all Kingdoms were making immense progress in pushing back the Grimm. Still, they all requested reinforcements to press their attack or asked for help in defending newly acquired territory.

Ruby's Scroll buzzed on the table. She sighed and picked it up. It was from the Rider Vale Command right beneath her. She answered the call on the speaker. "Shadeslayer. Go ahead."

"Shadeslayer, we are hearing from the Atlas and Vale space agencies that a large power source is flying toward Remnant."

"Um… what?" Ruby blinked at her Scroll in disbelief. "Like… what? A ship?"

"They aren't sure, but they have tracked its current trajectory. It's heading for Patch. ETA, thirty minutes."

"Thirty…" Ruby blinked and shook her head. "Acknowledged. If they haven't been already, inform Weiss and Saphira. Cerise and I will fly out there right away."

"Of course, Shadeslayer. Vale Command out." The line clicked dead.

Ruby turned her head to where Cerise lay. "You hear all that?"

Cerise growled. I did. What does it mean?

"I think it means we're about to be contacted by aliens, killed by aliens, or killed by a giant asteroid." Ruby started stuffing the pancakes into her mouth in record time. "I bet you know which one I'm hoping for." She shoved her plate toward the center of the table and stood up. "Sorry, Viki. I've got to go."

Her little sister nodded. "Of course. Do what you must."

Ruby walked to Cerise' side and jumped up to the saddle. Cerise stood up, walked down the 'RunWay,' and jumped off the landing pad. Together, they soared over the city of Vale. It felt so different seeing the city with no aerial defenses. They just weren't needed over the city anymore. If that were true a year and a day ago, that would have been great. Now, it was only a symptom of the times.

Cerise flew across the strait and over the island of Patch until she reached a beach on the far side. Ruby dismounted and looked up. It was a clear day so she might be able to see something coming that much sooner, if it wasn't for the fact it was morning. "Let me know if you see anything."

Of course. Cerise sighed. Gem, why are we here?

Ruby cocked her head. "What do you mean?"

You said it yourself. Things are either going to go really good or really bad. Why are we always at the front of everything? Why can't we hang back for once? It's not like anyone else can't do this. Thorn has always called me his mother. Maybe I should finally live up to that expectation. Cerise snorted. It's not like I'll need to listen to anything.

"What?" Ruby stared at her dragon. "Where is this coming from?"

I'm tired, Ruby. My whole life I've been training for one fight or another. Cerise growled. This past year has been a special kind of hell. We lost half of everyone. So much more fighting. She snorted. I don't even have my mate to take my mind off things. For once in my life, I'd like to not be at the center of some world changing event. She sighed and laid her head on her forepaws. I'd like to just take some time and teach the new hatchlings for a while. Just live the quiet life.

Ruby blinked and sighed. "This have something to do with you carrying eggs?"

Cerise growled. I would be lying if I said no, but I've been thinking about this since before that last session. She snorted. Of course, it would be with that self-absorbed wild.

"I know. Can't believe he was ever in the rotation." Ruby scowled. No one liked the program, but after half the dragons disappeared, including eggs, it was necessary. She put a hand on Cerise' side. "If I knew you felt the same way, I'd have told Weiss to take us off active duty. I've been keeping this up for you. You know I'd love to spend more time with Crey. I'm his mom, not Nalia."

Cerise hummed and nuzzled her Rider. Sorry I never said anything. Like I said, we've been busy this past year. And… I would like to raise at least one from this clutch myself.

"No bonded dragons this time?" Ruby asked with a smile.

Maybe. I haven't decided yet. Cerise blinked. Last deployment for a while?

"Works for me." Ruby hugged her dragon's snout. She looked up and saw a portal open in the sky. Saphira flew out and nosedived for the beach. She landed and Weiss dismounted. "You two got here quick."

"We were just heading out to a restaurant when we got the call," Weiss said. She stood by Ruby and looked up at the sky. "See anything out of the usual yet?"

"Not yet. ETA's in five minutes. Let's see what happens." All four of them stared at the sky. Ruby started to call out a few birds, then she realized they were actually birds. Otherwise, there was nothing in the clear blue sky.

I think I see something, Saphira said. She raised her head and neck and used them to point. There. Ruby looked up as well and closed her natural eye. Her bionic took over and sure enough, began tracking something high in the atmosphere. She zoomed in on it as far as her eye would allow. It still couldn't pick out details, only that it was small and moving fast. Then it redirected directly toward Ruby.

"There goes the asteroid theory. It's coming right toward…" Ruby trailed off as the object came into focus. It wasn't a ship, an asteroid, or anything else she could have thought of. "It's… It's a person?" A blonde-haired woman in a red, gold, and blue outfit flew right toward them. "Is… anyone else seeing this?"

Cerise' jaw dropped. Am… Am I asleep? What kind of Semblance is that?

"One straight from one of my comic books," Ruby breathed.

Cerise turned her head to Saphira. That's it. I'm retiring after this. I'll help hatchlings grow but I'm done with all this.

Saphira blinked. You will really earn the title of Elder then.

Weiss stepped forward with a serious expression on her face. "You two, follow our lead." Saphira stepped up beside her Rider.

The flying woman slowed down and pulled out of her nosedive so her legs were now leading her down. A golden Aura surrounded her. Ruby didn't even need to stretch her mind out to feel the sheer amount of power the woman output. Not even a Maiden could match. Not even a Relic had that much. If this woman was hostile, it would be a short fight.

The stranger touched down and her Aura disappeared. She looked over the four on the beach with a curious expression. Weiss cleared her throat. "Greetings. Welcome to Remnant." The woman raised an eyebrow. Weiss proceeded to introduce all her people on the beach. The stranger nodded at all of them.

"I'm Carol Danvers," Carol said. "Some people call me Captain Marvel. I'm traveling the galaxy helping planets in need after the Snap."

Ruby blinked and looked at Weiss. Her boss glanced back, saying nothing. "We've experienced something we call the Snap too," Ruby said. "You're not using our terminology, are you?"

"Probably not, but many places in the galaxy call it the same thing." Carol paused. "The Snap I am referring to is the event where half the life in the universe was turned to dust in the snap of a madman's fingers." Silence took over the beach. Ruby blinked several times in a row and her mouth hung open. She could only stare at the alien woman.

"I… I'm… sorry," Weiss stammered. "Half the life in the universe?"

Carol nodded. "I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. I know I can't prove it's happened on other worlds. You'll have to just take my word for it."

After a few more seconds of silence, Weiss nodded. "It may have been half originally, but many more died from accidents and Grimm attacks right after. Some people think we lost up to fifty five percent of the population before stability was restored."

"That appears to be a common number."

"But… why?" Ruby asked. "Why would anyone want to kill that many people?"

Carol shook her head. "Reportedly, Thanos the Mad Titan wanted the universe to be 'perfectly balanced' between people and resources. There were too many people, not enough resources. His idea was to eliminate half the population."

Cerise growled. Waves of anger rolled off her. Fantastic idea that was! Ruby looked up at her dragon. Cerise' eyes were slits and her ears pointed straight back. Her claws dug into the sand beneath her. Half the population? My species was barely viable as is! Now we have to take several mates a month in the hopes we can get even a single egg! What was he thinking? She jumped away, smashing a tree with her tail as she flew.

Ruby winced as she faced everyone else. Everyone gave her looks of worry or confusion. "Sorry. She's carrying eggs."

Carol blinked and shrugged. "Some things are the same, no matter the species." She turned her head to Weiss. "Like I said, I'm going planet to planet to help where I can or arrange help to come. Some places are much better to help than others. I would like to know where yours is." Saphira growled and Weiss cocked her head. Whatever she said was only for her Rider.

Weiss crossed her arms. "How do we know you aren't with the one who killed half the universe?"

"Assuming you have decent radio technology, I can put you in contact with the greater galaxy."

Weiss stayed silent and glanced at Ruby. Advice?

My wards found no lies, Ruby thought to her partner. We can trust her that she's helping out where she can and that she is here to help.

Thank you. Weiss nodded at Ruby then started telling Carol just about everything that happened in the past year, from the initial disappearances, to the food panic, to the recent Grimm repulsion efforts. Surprisingly, she also mentioned their connection to Alagaësia and that they weren't affected by the Snap. Carol, surprised, asked a few questions about that but never asked how that was achieved. No one would have answered her if she did.

Carol crossed her arms when Weiss finished. "Well, it sounds like you have things under control here. Someone will be in touch." She looked up and her golden Aura returned. Without further ceremony, she launched off the ground faster than Ruby could run.

"That was… different," Ruby understated.

Weiss nodded. "Not how I expected to meet an alien."

Saphira snorted. You expected to either meet the Bios, the Culvans, or some unimagined horror.

"Yeah. I suppose this is better." Weiss returned her attention to Ruby. "Are you going after Cerise?"

"Yeah. She's still on the island." Ruby tapped the side of her head. "I'll get a report ready and let Coco know what happened."

"Thank you." Weiss paused. "What do you think she meant by 'she'd be in touch?"

Ruby sighed. "I've got no idea."

Four Years Later

Two young dragons growled at each other with ears pinned back. They jumped, the blue scaled female going low, the silver scaled male going high. The female rolled as she dove and kicked up, her paws going right into her brother's stomach. Ramsek yelped as he flew away from his sister and out of the ring. Lapis raised her head at the sky and roared in victory. She stared up at her mother with narrowed eyes. That was just her way of seeking Cerise' approval.

"Another one for Lapis." Ruby ticked another mark on her Scroll. She led this year's competition… er… a heck of a lot to three. There were a lot of marks by her name. Most fights lasted longer than that, but Lapis loved them nonetheless.

Cerise growled at her daughter but not angrily. When she was done with Lapis, she shifted her attention to Ramsek and growled at him as well. Whatever she said stayed between her and her hatchlings. A brown head poked out from beneath Cerise' right wing. Even at three years old, Moch was small, his back barely reaching the height of his mother's legs. Unlike his recent siblings who were fighters, Moch such a mama's boy and a cuddler. He would have gotten along well with Orchid if she didn't turn to dust. Cerise' other two recent hatchlings were bonded and in training in Alagaësia.

Ruby checked the time on her bionic eye and nodded. "We have time for one more before dinner." All three young dragons faced Ruby with ears raised. Ramsek hummed and immediately jumped back into the ring. He growled at his sister with rear end shaking and tail wagging. Lapis growled back and lowered into a pouncing position. Both dragons tensed their rear legs to pounce-

-and an elf ran right in between them. Both dragons stopped themselves and stared at the intruder.

Ruby let her jaw drop as she stared. "What were you thinking?" Ruby yelled as the elf came to a stop. "Even the youngest elf we bring here knows that…" she trailed off as the elf turned around.

He looked at his hands then at Ruby. "Weren't you on the hill?" he pointed at the hill overlooking the training ground. He turned to face another part of the field. "Where did Angel and Thorn go?"

Ruby blinked and let her arms hall to her sides. That was one of the elves that disappeared with the Snap, one of those training with Angel.

Joyful roars filled the air. There were also a few pained ones though not nearly as many as before that fateful day. She looked around the field. Dust rose from the ground all over and coalesced into the forms of so many people. Once complete, the forms either screamed, looked around with shock or fear, or ran a few steps before stopping.

Everyone was coming back.

That meant…

Ruby whipped around to where she last saw her baby girl. The dust clumped together in the air. Angel's white and gold cape formed first and blew in the light breeze. As soon as the rest of her body came together, her Aura wings burst forth in the hugging position she was last in, and she fell to the ground. She barely caught herself on all six limbs before she hit the dirt.

"Angel!" Ruby threw her Scroll to the side and ran to her daughter's side. She slid in the dirt, grabbing her daughter's shoulder, and pulling her into a spine crushing hug. Cerise pounced over a second later and covered her Rider and her Rider's daughter in a wing. Angel returned the gesture but not as hard.

"Mom," Angel's voice quivered. "What happened to Thorn? Where is he?"

"Thorn's close." Now that Ruby knew what was happening, she swore she heard Thorn's roar in all the rest. "He's looking after Crey. Something tells me they're both on the way here."

"I feel him but…" Angle's grip on her mom grew in strength. "Oh my gosh…" Ruby barely heard her daughter's whisper. "Thorn… What happened to me?"

"It's a long story." Ruby barely held back a laugh of happiness. "Five years' worth."

"Five… years?"

Thorn's roar grew in Ruby's ears. "I'll do my best to explain." Ruby forced herself out of her daughter's death grip and backed away. Cerise did as well. "But right now, I think Thorn needs you."

Angel blinked at her mom, their first eye contact in five years, then looked up. She opened her arms and a second later Thorn appeared to crush her. A small form jostled in his saddle. Thorn rolled to the side, making Crey dangle from the saddle. As Ruby jogged to her son, Angels' Aura wings wrapped around Thorn's chest.

"Mom?" Crey asked Ruby as his mom reached him. "What's going on? Is it happening again?"

"It's happening in reverse." Ruby couldn't hold her smile or her laugh back. She freed Crey from his saddle restraints and helped him back to his feet. "Angel's back. That's why Thorn freaked out."

Crey straightened and looked at the rolled dragon. The tips of Angel's wings rounded the dragon's bulk. "Angel!" Crey ran around the dragon before Ruby could stop him. Ruby walked around as well to see her youngest climb Thorn's toes and rest his head on top of his sister's.

Ruby's scroll rang in her pocket. She was ready to let it ring and watch the adorable sight in front of her, then she saw the caller ID in her bionic eye. 'Goldmane.' She fumbled around in her pockets and managed to answer the call on the last ring. "Yang?"

"Uh, Ruby, there's something going on in Vale," Yang said. "A few dragons and Riders are yelling at the air. Civies are acting all crazy, and Orchid is trying to lick Violet's face off."

"It's happening there, too." Ruby smiled and shook her head. "I'm sure Weiss and Saphira will put out a report soon." She grimaced. "You also might want to detail a few bonded pairs to search for any of us that are acting like they lost their soulmate."

Yang stayed silent for a few seconds. "Ruby, what the hell is going on?"

Ruby sighed. "Long story short, half the population of the universe was snapped away and turned to dust… and it looks like they're all coming back."

"Five… half… what… Ruby, you better be joking."

"I wish." Ruby now heard a few anguished roars herself, those who lost their soulmates to suicide or Grimm. "We've got work to do here too. Things are…" She blinked as orange sparks began to flare in a circle a few feet in front of her. The air inside began to blur, then took shape to form the inside of a building with a few people inside. Even more surprising, one of them walked out. "I'll… call you back." She ended the call without another word.

Cerise let a low growl escape her throat as she approached Ruby. I don't like the feel of this one, she told her Rider. Others in the area stared at the newcomer as well, but more in curiosity than anything else.

Well, there's one way to know for sure. Ruby stepped toward the stranger. "I am Ruby Shadeslayer. What are you doing on my island?"

"Captain Marvel gave my people your location," the woman said. Ruby and Cerise stiffened. "We need your help."

"After four years? What's going on?"

"Our allies were able to reverse what Thanos did five years ago. But now he's trying to do it again."

Ruby grit her teeth. No lies. "How many people do you need and how fast?"

"As many as you can get as fast as you can."

Ruby and Cerise exchanged a glance. "Send in waves 15 minutes apart?"

I'll send in the first. Cerise took in a deep breath and roared into the air, sending a gout of fire hundreds of feet high. Other dragons in the city took up the battle call until the sirens were activated from the command center. Once that happened, Cerise took off and flew to the new armoring station. Cerise' hatchlings followed her away.

When the dragons fell silent, Ruby returned her attention to the portal woman, who crouched low and stared up at Cerise. The portal had disappeared behind her. "I don't know what else you'll have for an air force, but you'll have us."

The woman stared at Cerise for a few more seconds before facing Ruby. "I will stay here until you gather your forces."

"Mom?" Angel called. Ruby faced her daughter. Angel now stood but Thorn held his Rider close to his chest. "What's going on?"

"The guy that killed all those people is going to try to do it again." Ruby scowled. "We're going to stop it."

Angel looked at her hands and her face leveled out. She nodded and locked eyes with her mom. "Let's do it." Thorn whimpered and pulled Angel closer to him. His Rider glared up at his head.

"You're going to go beat the bad guys?" Crey asked his mom, his face lighting up.

Angel took her glare off her dragon to stare open mouthed at her little brother. "Crey?" Crey smiled up at Angel. "Wow… you've grown."

Ruby's Scroll rang again, this time Arya showed up on the caller ID. She answered the call right away. "Shadeslayer."

"Ruby," Arya's melodic voice came over the Scroll, "the sirens are sounding in Mor'ranar Vera. What is the situation there?"

"Have you been briefed on what happened in the last five years?"

"Yes, I have. But if everyone's coming back, I'd assume the positive emotions would overwhelm the negative."

"That's the feeling I'm getting here, but this isn't about that. We just got word that the one that did it before is going to do it again. We've got a way to the battlefield. I'm just rallying the troops here. Waves fifteen minutes apart until all who are able are over."

Arya stayed silent, but Fírnen's growl made it over the Scroll. "Understood. I'll spread the word."

"Pass the word to Admiral Bradford on the Hammer of Atlas. I'll work with the people here and set a beacon on the other side." Ruby blinked. "I suppose Winter's back now too. Not sure which of them will be in charge."

"I'll contact both. Good luck. Arya out." The line clicked and Ruby put her Scroll away. She returned her attention to Thorn. The red dragon still held Angel close to his chest with his snout brushing his Rider's head. He kept whimpering as he snuggled his Rider. Crey stood by Thorn's head, resting his forehead right by the dragon's right eye.

Ruby was sure Thorn was that affectionate when he was alone with his Rider, but never in person, not even around Ruby. Since Angel disappeared, he practically attached himself to Crey and was almost Orchid levels of friendly, with occasional anger flashes that almost always attracted low level Grimm attacks. It could take a while for him to recover.

Ruby turned around and looked for her dragon. A few seconds later, Cerise appeared over the hill, fully armed and armored, with a dragon flying off each of her wings. With the new armor, every inch of scale and skin was protected by at least an inch of armor plate in addition to moderate hard light shielding. The armor could support a few kinds of missiles and heavy guns on their shoulders. The jets on their flanks put out much more power than the old ones. The trio landed with Cerise aiming her back at Ruby. Grab your armor.

The Rider took the metal case off Cerise' saddle and opened it up. She began fitting her own armor over her body. By the time she was done, the only part of her clothing that remained visible was her cape. Her helmet visor could be a translucent or opaque yellow. Other Riders chose to model their helmets after their dragons' heads, but Ruby chose for something simpler, a sleeker yet more armored version of the helmet she first used when riding Cerise.

She held her helmet under her right arm as she approached Thorn. Angel took her eyes off her dragon and faced her mom. Her eyebrows rose. "Wow. Nice armor."

"Most Riders and dragons have this stuff now. That tends to happen when we find out aliens are out there and some are powerful enough to kill half the universe." Ruby paused. "I know you'll help. What about-" Thorn hissed and pulled Angel closer.

Cerise growled as she stepped up beside her Rider. Her growl turned into various grunts and snarls. Whatever she said to Thorn, she didn't let Ruby in on it. Thorn snarled and growled back. Angel looked up at her dragon again and smiled. It looked like Thorn was getting a pep talk, though his were a lot different than the ones Ruby gave and got. After about a minute of this, Thorn stood up, releasing Angel in the process and gently pushing Crey away, and roared in Cerise' face. The older dragon just took it without blinking or flinching. When Thorn silenced, Cerise snorted once and gestured toward where she flew in from. Thorn snorted back and flew off in that direction.

Those were the first words I've heard him say in five years, Cerise hummed. She lowered her head to Angel's head. It's good to see you again, sweetie. She nuzzled her Rider's daughter.

Angel returned the hug. "Sorry, but it's only been about a half hour since we last hugged."

We'll have to catch you up after the battle. Cerise pulled her head back. Thorn's carried your weapon and ammunition since you disappeared. He'll have them when he returns.

One of Cerise' escorts stepped forward. Wolf's Bane, Shadeslayer, she started, the Thunder is waiting.

"Got it." Ruby nodded at the dragon then faced her daughter again. "I suggest you fly there too."

"I'll be there." Angel's Aura wings formed and she smirked. "I'll beat you there." She took off and flew toward the parade ground.

Ruby watched her daughter go with a smile and sighed. "That's my KFL quarterback." She looked at her son then up at her dragon. "Take Crey to the command center and go make an inspiring speech. I'll find out more about our enemy from our new ally."

Cerise snorted. Fine, but I'm not leaving you alone. She growled at her escort on her right. The pale blue dragon stepped away from his partner and rested behind Ruby.

"Go kick butt, mom." Crey walked up to Ruby and gave her a big hug.

"I will." Ruby leaned down and kissed her son's messy hair. "And you be a good boy for the secretaries."

"I will. I love you."

"I love you too." Ruby pushed Crey toward her dragon. Crey climbed the dragon's side and settled in the saddle as best as he could. Cerise then jumped away and her remaining purple escort flew after her.

"Now," Ruby approached the one who came with the warning, "what are we up against? I'm assuming Thanos has an army?"

The woman nodded and began explaining the extent of Thanos' threat. He has an army of hundreds of thousands ready to deploy to reclaim six things called 'Infinity Stones.' At the moment, only a dozen stood against them. His ship, flying only a few miles off the ground, was several miles long and had more than enough firepower to level cities in minutes, if not seconds. His best soldiers had beat down a group called the 'Avengers' several times before being bested, but now they were back as well. Thanos himself could take and give a beating, even taking down a creature called the 'Hulk' and barely breaking a sweat. That bit made the woman explaining all this shiver.

And that was without these 'Infinity Stones.' Each individually sounded more powerful than the Relics. Together, they sounded unstoppable. Those things killed half the Universe before and brought them all back. Though Ruby hadn't tried anything that extreme before, she did take out all spawning pools on Remnant. That took a lot out of her and it felt like the Relics could do a bit more, but the universe was something different. The self-proclaimed sorcerer never told a lie in her whole explanation. Ruby thought about getting the Relic of Creation from its Vault, but that would take too long.

"And you said more of your people are getting more reinforcements?" Ruby asked when the so-called sorcerer finished her briefing.

"They are," the woman nodded. "We are approaching the agreed upon time."

"Then we better not keep them waiting." Ruby stepped up to her escort and grabbed one of his legs. She gestured at the other front leg and the sorcerer grabbed on as well. The dragon jumped away and angled toward the parade ground. Cerise was wrapping up her speech to the crowd. Of the almost hundred dragons assembled, ten of the assembled dragons and Riders had the new armor on. She even saw Velvet standing near the stage. Another person returned from the dead. Still no Shruikan yet, but he was doing something in the interior of the island when he disappeared. He might not even know all this is going on.

Cerise roared at the sky and all dragons assembled followed suit. The humans and elves gathered pumped their weapons towards the sky. Ruby's escort touched down and she dismounted. She waited until the crowd quieted down before speaking. "We're going in at fifteen minute intervals. If you're waiting on armor, get back to the station. If you don't have armor and still plan on coming through, you're on medical duty, whether that's actual healing or acting as medevac. Those with armor, wait for further orders." Ruby nodded at the sorcerer then jumped onto Cerise' back.

Form up! Cerise ordered. All those in armor gathered up behind Cerise.

The sorcerer stood on the beach and held her left hand in place while moving her right in a large circle. Orange sparks flared in the air as the circle formed. The air inside blurred until it showed a gray field. Two armies stood a few hundred feet apart. Ruby ran on the assumption that their portal was on the side of their allies. Here we go, Cerise.

To war we fly again. Cerise jumped off the ground and flapped into the portal.

On the other side, Ruby took in her new surroundings. It looked like their battlefield was a crater, a recent one two if the dozens of fires burning were any indication. The army on the other side of the crater certainly was large, and it had vehicles and brutes Ruby couldn't describe. There were probably more people, or 'things,' arrayed against her than could fit in two Amity Colosseums. Their air force consisted of chariot-like platforms, cylindrical fighters with wings pointed down, and giant, flying, armored, snake alligators. Then there was the ship above everything that looked larger than Farthen Dûr. It was much wider than it was long, but Ruby couldn't see any weapons. That sure as heck didn't mean anything. The laser projectors on the newest Atlesian ships just looked like holes in the engine pods.

The army below and to her left was much smaller and was much more varied, and not always in the best way. There were people with spears standing side by side with what looked like futuristic laser rifles. It also looked like there were half as many people on the ground as they were facing. A few human-like shapes flew around, and there was another literal giant seventy feet tall. Their air force looked formidable, with dragonfly-esque and beetle shaped fighters in the air, but even with the dragons from Mor'ranar Vera, they were outnumbered.

Ruby reached forward on Cerise' saddle and pulled a lever back, then locked it into place. "Beacon activated." She searched the sky behind her, hoping to see reinforcement portals. A few seconds later, three giant purple and black circles joined the sparking ones. A golden dragon flew out of one of the smaller two, one Ruby hadn't seen in five years. Halcyon was followed by more dragons and a few smaller military aircraft before a Maris class frigate emerged. The other portal of the same size disgorged about the same amount. Above and behind them, the Hammer of Atlas flew out from the biggest portal in the area. The aerial battle carrier began spewing its own fighters and a few dragons.

The Rider faced forward again and finally put her helmet on. Her heads up display synced with Cerise'. Hostiles and friendlies were identified. Ruby keyed her comms to all Riders and dragons and the Hammer of Atlas. "Shadeslayer to all Rider forces, coordinate through the Hammer, and Hammer, get me into the command channel of this force, if there is any."

"Hammer copies, Shadeslayer," Winter Schnee's voice said in Ruby's ears. "We are already in their comms."

"Shadeslayer copies, though if I may make a suggestion," Ruby looked at the ship looming over the battlefield, "send some of my people to paint our logo on that flying fortress."

"I'll see what we can do. Good hunting, Riders."

The comms in Ruby's helmet clicked but she didn't say anything. This wasn't her show, yet anyway. She just drew both her weapons and expanded them to scythe form. Targeting reticles automatically appeared on her HUD. She felt two familiar minds come up beside her. She looked to her right. Halcyon in his full sized metal body flew beside Cerise with Yang in her now out of date armor on his back. Elsewhere in the line, a Bullhead in Rider colors flew with doors open. Coco and Velvet stood with miniguns pointing out, one real, one wireframe. Pyrrha and Nora stood just inside, their own weapons at the ready. Ruby touched her mind to her sister's. She almost shivered at the feeling she hadn't felt in five years. Glad to have you back, sis. Cerise hummed in agreement.

Back? Yang mentally scoffed. I have no idea what you're talking about. We saw each other last night.

I even missed your sarcasm. Ruby smirked to herself then let it fall. I hope you two are ready. This is going to be a big fight.

When was the last time we had a numerical advantage? Halcyon asked. He growled and the guns and racks of missiles jumped from his sides. This is just like all those others.

I like your enthusiasm, Cerise growled. Let's get to it.

Ruby's comms clicked. "Avengers!" a man's voice yelled. She searched the ground and her eyes settled on a wedge formation in the center of the friendly army. A hammer flew from elsewhere in the battlefield to the hand of a man in a blue uniform. "Assemble." People started running forward. Their war cries reached Ruby's ears a second later. The other army also started advancing.

Ruby yelled and thrust Crescent Rose and her right arm forward. Cerise roared and thrust her wings down. All dragons flew to keep pace with the army below them.

Cerise angled for one of the flying… leviathans. Ruby aimed at the thing's eyes. The forces on the ground opened fire, and so did the Riders. Twin laser blasts burst from twin scythes and burned into the creature's eyes. The thing roared in pain, turning its head away. Cerise slammed into the thing at full speed and began tearing off flesh and armor. Once she had a big enough hole, she held open the leviathan's mouth and breathed fire directly down the monster's throat. It roared once more as it lost altitude. Cerise let go and watched as the creature hit the ground, and its escorting army, hard. It didn't move after that. Thanos' army just ran over the corpse.

Ruby grit her teeth. There were just so many of them. "Cerise, let's split up." She freed herself from the restraints and stood up in the saddle. "Drop me…" she searched the battlefield for the highest concentration of enemies. "…there." She sent Cerise a mental picture of the area.

If you're sure. Cerise banked toward the area Ruby chose and dove toward it. Give 'em hell. She rolled and launched her Rider to the ground. Ruby spun her scythes around like an old-style helicopter. Just before she touched down, her scythes cut into ten surrounding soldiers, slowing her down enough to not even worry her Aura.

"Who's next?" Ruby twirled her weapons in her hands as she glared at those surrounding her. Most hesitated before turning their weapons on her. Ruby sliced through the closest ones who had their weapons leveled at her before moving onto the hesitant ones. Blood, gore, and alloy flew everywhere as her scythes cut into flesh and armor. None of it stuck to her armor or scythes because of the magic protecting them.

Once her landing zone was semi clear, Ruby searched for more targets. She found it in the form of what looked like an artillery piece. "Oh, that gun's mine." She sped toward that, planning to cut down everything that stood in her way.

Winter Schnee stood at the fore of the Hammer of Atlas' bridge. Normally her place would be near the holoprojector, controlling the battle as more information came in. But the last thing Atlas needed before going into a major battle was a change in leadership. Admiral Bradford was more than capable of doing that part.

The General's gaze wasn't on the battle going on beneath her, or even the furball in the sky. Her eyes were locked on the giant ship that had yet to join the battle. She knew that even the largest cannons ever built on Remnant would never take that ship down. Ruby said she wanted to take that ship for herself. They could discuss ownership later, but that idea was solid. From the reports on the ground, the enemy soldiers weren't the most skilled. Those on the ship itself had to be even less so. They just needed a small hole to fit an elite squad into. If they found an airlock, that was doable.

Her decision made, Winter turned on a heel and faced the Commander of all Atlesian forces. "Admiral, if I may, I'd like to lead a team into the enemy flagship to capture or destroy it if necessary."

Admiral Bradford nodded. "Who do you want?"

"The Ace Ops that made it through in the first wave, Alpha and Bravo squads of the one-oh-eighth, teams JNPR and CfVY if they are in the area, and any dragons and Riders availible."

"You'll have them. Good luck, General. A Manta will be waiting for you on the top deck."

"Thank you, Admiral." Winter walked off the bridge and strode to the nearest elevator. She had a battle to win… and it had been too long since she was in combat herself.

Yang scowled at the piece of work in front of her. That mummy looking alien decided it was a good idea to bleed on her hair. She reeled back her right fist then thrust it forward into the thing's head. Her armored fingers plunged straight into the thing's head and out the back. She pulled her hand back and grabbed the alien's weapon. After a second's inspection, she found what looked like a trigger and pulled it. A purple blast flew from the gun and hit the closest alien. Yang blinked at the circular hole she just blew in the thing's chest. She grinned evilly and looked around. "Oh, ho, you're all screwed."

She raised her left hand and released a stream of fire from Ember Halcyon. Yang fired the alien weapon in her right and killed everything her fire didn't. A few of the supposed natives stood behind her and fired both rifles and spear things that also fired laser beams. If these were Grimm she was killing, she would have cackled.

Something in her peripheral vision caught her eye but she was too slow to get out of the way. It hit her like Halcyon smacking a Beowolf at full speed. Yang flew through the air flailing as she went. During one of her flips, she thought she saw it was a weird axe/hammer thing on a chain. She hit the ground hard, rolled over and through several people, she hoped they were all enemies, and finally stopped when she crashed back first into what felt like a rock.

Yang groaned as she stood up. She lost her alien weapon somewhere in the air. But as she hoped, her armor held up and felt right. Better yet, she absorbed so much energy. She stood up and opened her eyes that she didn't realize she had closed. Everything had a red tinge as she stared in the direction she thought she flew from. A gray and black behemoth strode toward her with that same axe/hammer weapon in hand. She worked her neck from side to side, cracking it twice. "That the best you can do?"

"Whoa…" someone nearby said. Yang traced the voice to a green, eight-foot-tall giant that had muscles to go with the height. "You can take a hit, blondie."

"And dish them out too." Yang cracked her knuckles for show as she stared down the approaching behemoth. "Care to join me with this thing?"

The big green guy looked at his burned right arm then nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

A crowd of the near plastic soldiers filled the gap between. Yang cocked her head. "Metalflapper, care to clear a path for us?"

"On our way, Goldmane," Halcyon's voice came through Yang's earpiece. "Danger close."

"Our?" Yang looked up to where she felt her dragon. Cerise and Nalia flew on his wings. The second wave must have arrived. The three dragons banked toward her and flew low over the ground. Halcyon roared and all three opened up with the guns on their sides. Dust rounds tore into the opposing army, shredding nearly all of them between Yang, the green guy, and the brute. The brute itself hid behind its weapon but a few bullets still made it through, even though they didn't appear to do anything.

"Gotta love air support," the green guy said.

"You know it." Yang started running toward the brute with the green guy right beside her. Both of them finished off survivors of the strafing run as they passed. There weren't many of those. The brute roared and hurled its axe at the two charging it. Yang jumped ahead, planted her feet in the ground, and held her hands out to catch the weapon. The weapon slammed into her hands, forcing her backward, her legs digging into the rock. That charged her up even more.

Yang smirked. "You just messed up." She shifted her grip and her footing and yanked the axe toward her. The chain went taught and shot out of its former wielder's hands. The green guy kept on running and delivered an uppercut to the brute's chin. The thing punched back to green's stomach, doubling him over. Green backed up, reeled back and threw both fists forward. Brute caught the fists and tried to push its way forward.

"Now just keep him locked in place…" Yang crept behind the brute while still holding its axe. Once she was completely behind it, she charged and swung the axe over her head. Green pushed Brute back and dove away. Brute looked back just in time to see Yang turn the weapon for a horizontal swing to a vertical. It took a hit right under the chin, with a significant portion still hitting its torso. The thing's head popped right off as its body rose several stories into the air before slamming back down.

"How much assistance do you have from that armor?" the green guy asked.

"Not as much as you'd think." Yang threw the axe at another group of soldiers while letting the chain run through her left hand. "I can take hits and dish 'em back harder than I took 'em."

Green stared for a few more seconds before nodding. "Not the craziest thing I've seen today. Good luck blondie." He ran off without waiting for a response.

"Goldmane," Halcyon called over the comms. "You take care of that thing yet?"

"Yep, it's headless and I'm back to killing these plastic soldiers." Yang yanked on the chain and the axe flew back to her. "I'd expect soldiers in one of the fiercest armies in the universe to be a little more dangerous than this."

"The Hammer is asking for available Riders and dragons to help board that ship."

Yang looked up at the black ship that hovered above the battle. "I suppose that thing's too beefy for the fleet we have." She twirled the axe vertically once more and threw it up in the air. "You want to grab that?"

"A little more warning would be nice." Halcyon swooped down and grabbed the axe. Yang grabbed the chain as it continued to run past and flew off the ground. She climbed up the length of metal, not worrying about the shots that flew her way. The Rider didn't climb onto the saddle. She just stayed on her dragon's front right leg and took the axe from his toes.

Halcyon banked toward a large group of transports, fighters, and dragons hovering away from the main battle. "Looks like we're the last ones," Yang said before clicking on her comms. "Goldmane and Metalflapper reporting."

"Glad to have you two," Winter said in Yang's ear. "We have identified a possible entry point. One of the Hammer's escorts is preparing to fire a laser at the location."

"With all due respect to our boys with the big guns, I think them firing at the ship is a great way to get them all shredded." Yang held up the axe and shook it at the small force. "I've got a key right here and I've still got enough stored energy to use it."

"Acknowledged. We'll follow Metalflapper in."

"Follow the shining golden target," Halcyon said sarcastically as he turned toward the ship, "great idea! I'll draw all the fire!" He flapped toward the ship with his engines kicking in. "Want me to fling you or can you get it from my leg."

"Throw me. I can get more momentum like that." Yang paused. "I take it, they sent you the place?"

"I'm flying right there."

Yang squinted at the ship. She thought she saw what looked like a door on it. "I see our entry point." She began spinning the axe again. "Whenever you're ready."

"Almost…" Halcyon's growl grew in intensity until he gave it force at once. "Now!" Halcyon pulled his head and wings in, did a front flip in the air, then flung his Rider at the ship. Yang let the axe spin her around more before she let go. The axe flew true and slammed directly into the airlock. Halcyon caught her and they glided to a stop beside the ship as the dust cleared. The axe punched a hole straight through the airlock and into the rest of the ship.

Yang smirked. "Goldmane to General, we've got our door."

Ruby paused to catch her breath and scanned the area. So far it looked like an even fight. The allied force was giving more pain than they were taking. But they were taking losses, and more and more enemies kept coming. As she watched, a teal dragon took a laser shot to the chest and fell from the sky. An Atlesian fighter flew from behind the dead dragon and launched a missile at the machine that shot the dragon.

On the ground, nearby commotion caught her eye. A purple giant in gold armor stormed through a squad of friendly soldiers, slicing through them with his giant double bladed sword. Ruby gripped her weapons and clenched her teeth. "I have eyes on Thanos. Engaging."

She ran toward the Mad Titan, slicing through the enemies in her way like unarmored Grimm. Ruby jumped and held her weapons out behind her, ready to decapitate and bisect while letting out a war cry.

Faster than she knew was possible for something that size, Thanos reached out and grabbed Ruby's helmet. The action threw off her timing. Crescent Rose flew over his head and Máni Bláto just bounced off his chest plate. Thanos reeled back and launched Ruby through the air. She crashed through something solid before something even harder stopped her movement.

"Ow…" Ruby pushed herself out of the rubble. Enemy soldiers surrounded her, weapons raised. She grit her teeth. Screw secrecy. It's the fate of the universe. Just before she could use her Maiden Magic, they all rose from the ground and struggled like they were caught in something. Translucent bands rose from the ground and surrounded the soldiers. They pulled the hostiles down and… vanished. A fairly attractive man in blue robes and a red cape landed near her.

Someone else in red and gold armor flew into the area and landed. His helmet dissolved away from his head, like the nanite prototypes Atlas recently came up with. "Hey," the armored guy walked up to the caped man. "You said one out of fourteen million, we win, yeah?" He paused to catch his breath. "Tell me this is it."

"If I tell you what happens," the caped man started, "it won't happen."

The armored guy nodded once and gazed around like he was trying to process what he was told. "You better be right." His helmet reappeared and he flew off to rejoin the fight.

"Nice cape," Ruby groaned as she stood up. The caped stranger turned to face her. "What does he mean by one in fourteen million? Can you see the future?"

"In a way." He nodded. His eyes narrowed by the smallest margin. "I never saw you or your people."

"Well," Ruby picked up her weapons from where she dropped them, "let's hope we make it two in fourteen million." She ran back into the fray, planning to use her full power this time.

Weiss saw a large force of aliens charge toward a single friendly soldier. The man in black leather-like armor carried what looked like a large red and silver gauntlet in his arms and a bow on his back. Out of nowhere, a man in metallic black, cat-like armor crashed into the ground, sending out a purple shockwave. His helmet peeled back and said something to the other man. The bowman gave the gauntlet to the cat soldier and the latter jumped away. Enemy forces on the ground now followed him.

"What is that thing?" Weiss whispered to herself. She heard the orders from the locals about getting something to an ugly brown van, but she didn't catch what. She risked stretching out her mind to the cat soldier to see if he knew what he carried.

The Rider gasped and stumbled back as she felt the pure power that resonated from the gauntlet, or rather the six points in it. Weiss retreated to her own mind and shook her head. Those things had to be what killed everyone off then brought everyone back. Not even all the Relics combined were that powerful. She keyed her comms. "Rider Command to all Remnant forces, be on the lookout for allies carrying a red and silver gauntlet with six colored stones embedded in it. That is what Thanos is after. The locals have a plan to get them away. Keep it out of hostile hands. If these people can't keep the gauntlet away, we get it to Remnant or Alagaësia and mop things up here."

Without waiting for a response, Weiss twirled Myrtenaster and stuck the point into the ground. Two dozen summoning glyphs surrounded her. Grimm of all kinds rose from them, along with a couple former drug dealers, and the dragon she killed in Urû'baen. She mounted a Griffon and directed her Summoned force to follow her.

Weiss followed the man in the black armor through the air. The soldier ground pounded a few more times before a double bladed sword came out of nowhere and hit him in the upper chest. The gauntlet flew out of his arms and he went sprawling. Weiss directed her Griffon toward the now discarded gauntlet. She leaned over the side of the Summon and scooped the gauntlet off the ground. "This is Rider Command. I have the objective." She looked behind herself. A woman in red held a purple giant in golden armor in red tendrils… and a good chunk of the enemy air force began following her. "I could use some backup."

"Ocean responding," Saphira called over comms. "Get back under our guns and we'll- LEFT!" The warning came over comms and into her head. Weiss made her Griffon roll left, narrowly avoiding a large laser blast. She looked over her shoulder. The black ship had finally opened fire, but only about half of it. The boarding crew had done its job.

Saphira, Weiss called with her mind, I haven't felt a hostile telepath. Guide me through all this. Her dragon's mind washed into her head. Saphira's directions were instantaneous, some might have been the dragon's instincts. Weiss guided her Griffon through a series of maneuvers, ducking, rolling, juking and out speeding several dozen shots from the ship above the battle. But there were too many, and there were still shots coming from the ground.

One of those slammed into the Griffon's belly. The Summon bucked Weiss off and dissolved. The Rider curled herself around the gauntlet as she fell to the ground. She hit hard, rolled, and came to a stop underneath a downed Atlesian transport. Weiss groaned and tightened her grip on Myrtenaster. She rotated the Dust chambers to Ice and stabbed her weapon into the ground. An ice barrier rose in front of her. It wouldn't hold long, but it would hold long enough. She glared up at the ship. If that thing hadn't joined the fight… Why did it stop firing altogether? Wasn't the Remnant air fleet out of range? There were still a lot of friendlies on the battlefield.

Then the ship started shooting up. Weiss didn't have an angle so she couldn't see what it was shooting at. An orange… something came down from the sky and plunged into the top of the ship. The same something shot out the side that was shooting and all the ship's guns went silent.

The thing that disabled the ship turned in the air and angled toward Weiss. The Rider looked around herself. She trapped herself in. Well, she wasn't going down without a fight. She raised Myrtenaster in a defensive position… then let her weapon fall as the form resolved itself into Carol Danvers. The Rider shifted her weapon's chambers to Burn Dust and melted her ice barrier. "Where have you been this whole time?"

Carol shrugged. "Space. It's big, even for me." She nodded at the gauntlet. "You know where that thing's going?"

"All I got is an ugly brown van." Weiss pointed toward an advancing horde as she stepped out from her cover. "My guess is that way." She handed the gauntlet to Carol. "You're faster and you just punched through a ship. I think you can take them."

A woman with dark skin and red and gold armor jumped over the wreck. "We'll take you in just the same," she said in an accent Weiss had only heard from the Wandering Tribes before, but this woman wasn't one of them. More and more women flew or ran into the area. One appeared out of nowhere. Saphira landed behind the wreck and growled. Nalia and Cerise flew at her wings. Your doing?

You needed an escort, Saphira said. You're still small and easily squished. Now we'll guard this space woman.

Weiss returned her attention to the land in front of her. All of the women had started running with Ruby well out in front. "Let's go." Weiss formed a few dozen speed glyphs in front of her and ran to join her partner. Ruby had already frozen a good chunk of their current enemies solid. She missed one though, and that one was going for her back. Weiss leaped, yelled, and drove her weapon directly through the alien's helmet.

"Thanks, sis," Ruby said before whipping her weapons around and delivering twin laser blasts to one of the gorilla-like aliens' eyes.

"Someone's got to watch your back when Cerise isn't around." Weiss stabbed another one who ran up to face them. A wind overhead caught her attention. She looked up at it… Carol flew over them and punched through even more enemies and a few walkers. She didn't even slow down. Weiss looked at her partner's helmeted head. "Why were we escorting her?"

"I came to escort you." Ruby waved a hand and dozens of ice spikes rose from the ground. Even more enemies impaled themselves on the ice. "She's got-" Something exploded and Carol flew back and the Gauntlet went flying. "Whoa. I guess that's why." Her helmet turned and she tensed. "Thanos." Ruby twirled her scythes and aimed them at a purple giant. "Shadeslayer to Hammer, I'm lasing in a target. Can your long guns hit?"

"Negative, Shadeslayer," the voice said in Weiss' ear. "Their fighters have disabled most of our long guns and we are out of missiles. We would need to approach."

Ruby growled. "Acknowledged. See if you can get some air over here." She looked over her shoulder at Weiss. "Keep them off me." She ran off without waiting for a response.

Saphira, Weiss called, get Cerise. Things could get ugly here. She felt that all her other Summons had been killed, so she summoned a few of her more recent kills with their weapons. "Form a perimeter. Be prepared to kill Thanos."

Just before Ruby entered the fight, a man wielding an axe and a small war hammer and a man in blue armor got knocked out by Thanos. Worse, he just grabbed the gauntlet. The Huntress activated her Semblance, speeding toward the giant. She rematerialized at speed between her opponent's legs and slashed her scythes out. They didn't cut through the armor, but they tripped him up and made him fall flat on his face.

Ruby jumped to her feet and reeled her scythes back to drive their points into Thanos' head. The giant pushed himself up enough for the blades to catch on his armor. He reached back, grabbed the barrels of both weapons, and yanked them out of Ruby's hands.

The Maiden growled and light filled her helmet as she let her Maiden Magic flow free. No one held her weapons without her permission, especially not genocidal maniacs. Ruby held her weapons out to her sides and two new sniper scythes formed in her hands. The entire area around her froze in a thick layer of ice. Wind and snow blew in all directions, but she could see and move around just fine.

Ruby skated forward as fast as she could and slashed at Thanos' arms, then legs, then anywhere she could hit. But ice without any magical enhancements just couldn't cut it, literally. She thought that maybe she could chip away at the armor or at least draw a line of blood. She didn't think she even managed a papercut.

A flash of red reached her eyes and her helmet shattered around her. Something cut into her forehead. Crescent Rose or Máni Bláto, she didn't know. Ruby hit the ground and hissed in pain. The wind and snow died with her concentration. Strong fingers wrapped around her neck and lifted her off the ground. Her wards drained fast. Way too fast. Cerise! I need evac! She didn't direct the call for the help

I've got you, Ruby! Saphira called instead. A shadow passed over Ruby and Thanos and several claws connected to blue scaled toes attacked the giant's face. Something also wrapped gently yet firmly around her midsection. The madman stumbled back and released Ruby. Saphira flew Ruby away from the battle… and away from her weapons. No…

Nalia watched young-leader-Saphira carry second-Rider-Ruby away. Long-tailed-Cerise now attacked the strong-purple-two-leg with more claw-tear ferocity than Nalia had seen in years. Nalia growled. She already lost her own partner-of-her-heart-and-mind. Her second was away. Now the one who almost took her away needed to be punished.

Nalia looked at the power-paw-covering. Everyone here was after that. No one was watching it. Nalia tucked her wings in and dove for the wanted power-paw. She reached for it and hooked one of her claws into the opening. "I have the gauntlet," she thought into the comms as she banked toward the flying-sailing-carrying-dragon-nest. "Where do they…" Nalia blinked as the power-paw began shifting on her claw. "Why is this thing changing?"

No one said anything for a way-too-long-time as she dodged solid-fire-arrows and flying-teeth-snakes. "It's supposed to form itself to its user's hand," an unknown male voice said. "Careful with that. That thing can destroy the universe."

Of course, it could. That's why everyone was killing each other here… Nalia's wings hitched for a second as a thought came to her. This thing killed all good-life in the universe and brought them all back… It could surely kill all these terrible-taste-creatures… maybe even… Her eyes widened as the power-paw shifted and grew. She beat her wings faster. She needed this thing to work.

Nalia landed underneath the flying-sailing-carrying-dragon-nest and stared at the form-changing-power-paw. It had lost its two-leg-paw-shape and was now crawling across her extra-metal-scales. It might be in her extra-metal-scales if she was feeling it right. Each of the six power-gemstones moved to a toe with the sixth moving toward the center of the back of her paw. She cocked her head. She felt the six power-gemstones with her mind once. They held more power than the Remnant-magic-Relics. Where was the-

Power surged into her body. Nalia roared in pain and fell to her side. She knew that Riders described their bonding as shock-pain-electricity, but this felt so much worse. So much was going into her. It felt like she was going to burst… then the pain went away. She felt… normal, but stronger. So much stronger. Nalia opened her eyes and glared at the enemy army. Many others stood around her in the wounded-fighter-nest. She stood up, growled, and roared with all her might. Even that felt break-ear-louder.

Nalia closed her mouth and raised her front left paw where the power-stones lay. "I feel these stones. How do I use them?"

Another long pause followed. "Snap your fingers, or whatever you got," the same voice said, only strained. "Think about what you want done and it will do it."

The dragon turned her paw over. She had never tried to snap before, but she knew how the two-legs did it. Kill Thanos and his army. She clicked two claws against each other.

The battlefield disappeared around her. Everything turned a dull orange color. Nalia stared at her paw. The power-stones and extra-metal-scales were gone too. She looked around herself and stiffened. This was… this was Irolon and her cave on Vroengard. She hardly thought about this happy place anymore, certainly not then.

"Hey, Nalia," a very familiar voice said, one she just hoped that she'd be hearing again.

She whipped her head around. Standing in the entrance to the cave was her soulmate, her partner-of-her-heart-and-mind, her Rider, her Aaron. A whimper escaped her throat as she stretched her mind to his. It was him, not a happy-dream-fake… but he didn't fill her mind like he should have.

"You saved the universe, huh?" Aaron walked up to her and laid a hand on her snout. She leaned into it so hard she nosed her Rider's torso.

Why can't I feel you? Nalia asked her Rider.

"You know why." Aaron petted his dragon's snout.

I'm bringing you back. Nalia pulled her snout back and looked deep into her partner-of-her-heart-and-mind's eyes. As soon as I get back, I'm getting you back.

Aaron smiled sadly. "No, you're not."

Nalia let her ears fall. Ruby would love to see you. Angel wants to hug you. Crey wants to know you. I want you back on my back and under my wings at night. We all want you back.

"I don't doubt it." Aaron stepped back. "I know it's hardest on you most of all. But you need to let me go, live your life." He smiled. "Besides, how can Crey not know me when you'll tell him anything he wants to know?"

Nalia whimpered again and tried to approach again but Aaron backed up even more. But… I love you. I don't want you to go again.

"I love you, too, Nalia." Aaron's smile returned. "Besides, it's not like we won't see each other ever again."

Nalia's heart raced. She blinked and when her eyes opened, she was sprawled on the fire-blasted-battlefield. Fire ran through her body but not nearly as much as when she first felt the power-gemstones. The Rider healers had surrounded her with a few of the locals around her.

Cerise flew in from elsewhere in the battle and landed in front of her. Are you okay? she asked.

I'll live. Nalia forced herself to her feet with a hiss of pain. She stared at the power-gemstones on her paw. It would be so easy to snap and bring her-partner-of-her-heart-and-mind back… but if that was him, he didn't want to be brought back. She set her paw back down. How's Ruby?

She's with Orchid. She'll be more than fine. Considering her relaxed stance and tone, she really wasn't worried… Now that Nalia listened, she didn't hear any small-and-deadly-arrows being fired. The air was quiet except for the moan and wails of the injured and the metal-growls of the metal-birds. She looked up at the flying-death-bringer. Someone actually painted the Dragon Rider's notice-symbol on the front. We won?

Cerise growled and nodded. You did it, Nalia. All those creatures turned to dust before us.

Nalia growled as well, just not with the same ferocity. Good.

What's wrong? Cerise cocked her head.

Nothing. Nalia looked at the power-gemstones once more. I need to figure out what to do with these. She jumped away, not knowing what she was looking for, and Aaron's last words to her ringing in her head.

A single soldier in the right place can change the course of a war. Another army can change the course of history. In this reality, a new galactic superpower is about to rise. However, their rise will not be uncontested, and a new enemy will rise to face them.

Holy crap, that was long! That wasn't my intention. I just didn't want to leave this off like the actual What If...? series. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it!