"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Scott, not for the first time in the last few minutes, was thrown across the street, with his trusty legion of ants unable to cushion his fall. It seemed that, following the brief moment he'd been able to take the Scarlet Witch by surprise, she was now fully aware of his tactics. Even when he shrunk himself down to a miniature size, she somehow saw him coming, evading his attacks and, worst of all, dealing some damage of her own. His visor was already cracked and the suit was blaring out warnings at him left, right and centre. He wasn't looking forward to taking it back to Hank, who would no doubt launch into a lecture about how exceedingly expensive the equipment was and how, if he broke it beyond repair, it wasn't as if he could simply make another one. It was a speech that Scott had been subjected to a few times already, and he wasn't at all excited to catch the rerun.

"I'm starting to regret all the gloating I was doing," he grumbled, taking a moment to have a breather as he leant against a chipped wall.

"I wonder who could have warned you about that," Carol quipped, gently placing herself on the ground and offering a hand to help him up.

In the background, America had rejoined the fight and, buoyed by her previous encounters with the Scarlet Witch, she wasn't backing down. A few punches had found their target with a satisfying thud, but nothing that was slowing the other woman down. She'd attempted to dip into her new arsenal of magical powers, thanks to her time at Kamar Taj, but that had ended in utterly miserable fashion. America's poorly constructed spell had ricocheted harmlessly off the witch, landing with a clang on the ground. She'd been thrown into the air in response to her audacity.

"Yeah…well…I'm not as powerful as you," Scott complained, accepting her assistance. "I've got to make the most of the time I do something well. For a second, I thought I'd defeated someone even Captain Marvel couldn't lay a glove on."

"Okay, first of all, I've definitely got a few hits in, before you damage my ego too much."

"It didn't look like it from over here. It seems like she's enjoying batting you away more than anyone else."

"I was just about to comfort you…but I guess I'll forget that now."

"No, no, no!" He held up his hands, just about stopping her from taking off. "I'd take it as a compliment. She sees you as the biggest threat. You're the most powerful Avenger after all. That's why I was so amazed when it looked as if I'd ended the fight. Guess I messed that up too…"

"Aren't you the guy who figured out time travel and saved the universe?" Carol fired at him.

"You've listened to my podcast?"

"I heard you bragging about it just a few minutes ago."

Kamala and Shang were now attempting to partner up in the vain hope of tackling the Scarlet Witch themselves. Kamala would produce a series of glowing orbs, using them to dazzle their opponent and disorientate her. Using the distraction, Shang would then pounce, using his Rings as an almighty power source. The first time they'd done it, it had worked rather well. Wanda, if that was her name in her own universe, had been sent careening across the pavement, her face dragging across the hard dirt. They were pleased to see that their efforts had caused some damage, with a few cuts now visible, but that had only served to anger her more. Shang had just about been able to jump out of the way when a car was thrown in the exact spot he'd just been standing in.

Scott nodded his head. "Ah, that makes more sense. Although…now I've told you about it, it would be great to get you on an episode. I think your name could definitely boost the number of subscribers we're getting."

The Captain glared at him. "Are you really networking right now?"

"I don't know when I'm going to have a conversation with you next, one on one. You only miss the shots you don't take."

"Do you regret saying that just now?"

"A little bit, yeah."

"Can you do one thing for me? Because, right now, you're next to useless. Not to be too rude…"

"That's you not being rude?"

"Right now, you're being Scott Lang, the celebrity, the guy everyone wants to go to the pub with."

He smiled bashfully. "You really think everyone wants to be friends with me?" The grin dropped when he received a hard stare in response.

"I'm currently working on how to better be a part of a team. The crucial thing I've discovered is that focusing on being an individual kills everything. We haven't got much hope right now against Wanda…at least until the others arrive…but we've got a better chance if we fight as one. And that involves you being Antman, the guy who saved the universe. 'Cos if you managed that, then what's one witch going to do to you?"

"Turn me into a frog. Have you not read any of the fairytales?"

Moon Knight's efforts to thwart the Scarlet Witch, or at least to keep her stuck in one place, were a marvel to watch for any spectator. He would charge as fast as he could towards her, wielding a vast array of weapons. Once he was close enough and had her full attention, he would allow Steven to take control of the body. At first, his other self had complained that that would just mean he was put in the firing line, taking the hit in a fight Steven had started. But the switch to Mister Knight was enough to confuse Wanda, now suddenly faced with a completely different target, and his flexibility allowed him to dodge her distracted attacks, giving him the opportunity to land a few blows of his own. He'd very quickly given control back to Marc as soon as he'd seen how furious that had made her.

Carol crossed her arms. "I guess I'm never going to have any spare time to appear on your podcast if you keep this attitude up."

Scott glared at her. "How dare you use my most treasured thing against me!" He paused, glancing around as if to check that no one else had overheard him. "Please don't tell Cassie that I said that. Or Hope. I'll be sleeping on the couch for a month at this rate."

"That depends…I could accidentally let it slip in conversation after accidentally bumping into them…or…you could buck your ideas up and help me with this plan."

"I'm listening…"

"As much as it pains me to admit it, you're the one who's dealt the most damage to her. We weren't able to get close to her before you arrived."

"You're going to make me blush."

"Right now, she's as vulnerable as she's likely to get. She's exposed. If you can prove to be enough of an annoying menace…"

"You'll find that that's my middle name!"

"...then that should distract her long enough for me to get a clear shot."

"But…there's one flaw in this plan of yours…"

"Which is…?"

"She's the Scarlet Witch . She would have killed Thanos on her own if he hadn't decimated his own army to stop her. Not to mention how there's currently a legion of trained sorcerers fighting around us and she's swatting them away like flies."

Carol's body began to glow, perhaps in defiance to his lack of faith. "Well… I'm Captain Marvel. I want to take back the crown as the most powerful Avenger. Do you really think that anyone's going to be able to stop me from doing that?" And she flew away, fully expecting Scott to follow her.

He pulled down his visor, regardless of how cracked it now was. "At least I don't have to answer that question to her face."

The Captain glided through the air, fist poised and clenched as she approached her target. She idly noted that Kamala was cheering her name as she busied herself with picking Shang up from the floor. Carol refocused herself, aware that Wanda also had her sights on her. Watching as the witch lifted herself into the air, Carol continued regardless, picking up speed. If this didn't work as planned, then it was really going to hurt. She'd almost forgotten what actual pain was ever since her transformation, and she wasn't too excited about being reacquainted.

Wanda, perhaps showing a glimmer of uncertainty and fear on her face, began to block the Captain's path with balls of fierce energy, but they were easily navigated. Carol almost suspected that the other woman was going easy on her, which only riled her up further. There were plenty of things she could tolerate, but pity wasn't one of them. With that added incentive (not that she really needed one), she ploughed on, hurtling so quickly that it became impossible to see any of her body, her movements transforming her into a bright blur that streaked across the sky.

For the first time that day, Wanda gave priority to defence rather than attack. She raised her hands in front of her face, producing a wall of energy to shield her from the anticipated assault. That was the moment Carol had been waiting for, completely changing her course of direction at the last second, swerving the floating woman. The shield remained intact, Wanda continued to stay unharmed. At one point, growing confused when the impact didn't come, she even looked past her magic in the attempt of locating the assailant.

With her looking forward, she was finally distracted enough for Scott to strike. He was buzzing behind her, an army of flying ants aiding his ascent. As soon as Carol stormed past, he returned to his normal size, landing a heavy punch on the back of Wanda's head. As soon as she turned around, he was shrunk down again, effortlessly gliding past her gaze before he could land a second hit. He was growing cocky, watching the way she faltered with each thud. Over confidence was always going to be his hubris.

Going for a third attack in quick succession, knowing that Carol was on her way to finish the job, Scott brought himself to his full size one last time, ready to strike. Yet Wanda had anticipated the move, holding out her hand and easily freezing him in place. He struggled against the grip of her magic, feeling its tendrils force their way into his suit, squeezing it around him, choking him alive. There was that malfunction warning again, as if he couldn't already tell that things were looking incredibly dire. He could no longer move and didn't have the ability to shrink down either, the technology betraying him in the face of a stronger power. All he could was look at her, staring into her grim expression. He'd expected her to look satisfied, or almost gleeful, but there was a reluctance in her eyes that confused him.

"Let him go!" Carol bellowed, charging at the pair of them.

Under normal circumstances, Scott would have been thrilled (he'd go as far as saying he'd be over the moon) about getting rescued when everything seemed helpless. Yet, when your saviour was flying towards you at the speed of light, it was natural that your confidence would wane. If she struck them with the force she was showcasing, then Wanda wouldn't likely survive. But he'd most certainly be turned into dust, and that was a fate he'd much rather avoid if it were possible.

He was saved from that awkward predicament by the one woman who was currently threatening to kill him. It was a strange conundrum that Scott found himself in. He shouldn't have been happy about Wanda effortlessly stopping the Captain in her tracks with a single twitch of her fingers. As his suit constricted further, the happiness faded somewhat. He watched as Carol fought against her unseen bonds, creeping an inch forward, worrying the witch only slightly before she increased her level of control.

"I don't want to kill you," Wanda said firmly, gritting her teeth, likely down to her frustrations or the concentration she was having to use. "That wasn't the plan."

Scott looked at her curiously, instantly wanting to know what she meant by that. "If it's any consolation…I don't want you to kill me either." Each word came out as a choke, his breaths taking longer to come.

And then he was falling. He didn't know why, though it felt better than what he'd just been experiencing. With his vision blurry, Scott could just about make out some sort of red wave rolling across the sky, encompassing everyone within a short radius. He should have been scared and yet the scene felt different somehow. He'd go as far as describing himself as hopeful, though that was partly shattered when he landed heavily on the ground. As much as he wanted to watch what was now developing, he'd lost most of his strength, unable to get back up, and it was so tempting to let his eyes drift shut.

The golden portal closed behind them, and the Doctor confidently strode onto the street as if an almighty battle wasn't taking place. Yaz and Dan remained by her side, at least thankful that they'd been allowed to tag along for the ride this time. Wong, on the other hand, had charged forward, joining his comrades in the battle. The other sorcerers had been spooked by their arrival, looking at them in concern. Though that had more to do with the second Scarlet Witch entering the fray, attacking her alternate self.

It would have been difficult to tell which was which as they fought, with their battle in the sky too far above to distinguish between their faces. But the Wanda they knew was clad in a simple outfit, in a stark contrast to the power she was wielding. Set against the multiversal threat, dressed in her full scarlet regalia, most people would have bet against her on appearances alone. But Wanda had the element of surprise on her side, catching herself unawares as she fired crimson thunderbolts in quick succession. She watched as her opponent tumbled through the air, only stopping herself from crashing down completely with a last-minute shield.

"Tell me what you want," Wanda instructed in a commanding tone of voice. "Tell me why you're here."

The other witch brushed a bit of her hair from her face. "I was wondering when you'd show your face. He never knew if you'd be brave enough to come out of hiding."

The comment seemed to strike a nerve, Wanda rashly hurling a few balls of magic at her. Her aiming was off as she was distracted by the memory of her past actions, bringing up chunks of pavement and brickwork. None of them had hit her target, who had deftly moved out of the way in time, as if she'd known what was about to happen. It was starting to dawn on Wanda that she hadn't used her powers for quite some time, thanks to her self-implemented isolation, and she could feel herself working through the rustiness.

The momentary lapse of concentration exposed Wanda just enough to allow an attack slip through her defences. The others watched, wincing and frowning, as she landed on the ground. For a second, they didn't think that she was going to get back up, with the Doctor and her friends especially not knowing the sort of punishment she could handle. Because of that, the Time Lord raced across the road, weaving past half-destroyed cars and an upside down bus to get to her. She turned the witch around, practically cradling her face.

"How are you doing?" the Doctor asked, giving her a hopeful smile.

"Just brilliant," Wanda growled, pushing herself up.

"Can I just say thanks for deciding to come with us again?"

"I'm starting to second guess that choice, if I'm being honest."

"Is there anything we can do to help you?"

"Do you have any powers?"

The Doctor scrunched up her nose. "...I have a sonic screwdriver, which is really good at scanning things. And it's an expert at unlocking things. Besides wood. I've always said I'd fit in an upgrade but I've never got round to it."

Wanda rolled her eyes. "Then I'd suggest you to get out of my way."

"You're not going to win," the other witch pronounced, floating high above them. "I'm surprised, really. You're not as strong as I thought you would be. Is this really what I'm like in this universe? I have to say I'm disappointed."

"I'm sorry that you had such high expectations." Wanda brought herself back to her feet, refusing the support that the Doctor offered. "I was hoping you might understand some of the things I'd been through. I thought you might be the only one who could possibly understand."

The witch's smirk transformed into a scowl. "You have no idea what I've been put through. Do you think I want to be doing this?"

The Doctor latched onto that. "Then don't do it! Whatever your reasons, we can work out a solution."

"The solution's simple: I complete the job. If that involves destroying myself, then I at least expected it to be more of a challenge."

Wanda's hands began to glow. "You may have more power than me. You may have more practice. But I've got one thing on my side that you seemingly don't."

The witch didn't appear too phased. "Which is?"

"I've wanted to destroy the Scarlet Witch for much longer than you."

She glanced at Wong as she flew up, both of them nodding her heads. The Sorcerer Supreme turned to his comrades. "Sorcerers! Assist her!" He wasn't best pleased at their hesitation, even if he could understand why they were so reluctant to help. They'd been fighting against her not too long ago, and she had slaughtered quite a high percentage of their number. But personal grievances had no place on the battlefield. "Do it or I'll be changing the WiFi password at Kamar Taj and I won't be telling any of you what it is!"

That seemed to spark them into life and, as Wanda met her opponent, they began to produce spells of their own. Orange chains, looking as if they were on fire, formed in their hands and, using them as lassos, they hurled them towards the Scarlet Witch. She was able to bat away the first dozen or so as if they were nothing more than mere nuisances. But Wanda chose to join their efforts, using her own magic to bind the other woman. Carol arrived, clinging onto the witch's back as she held her arms at a painful angle, hoping it would stop her from casting anything else.

"You can't win," the Captain echoed the witch's previous remarks. "Because you're on your own."

"Oh, that's where you're wrong." They were perturbed by how she didn't seem too cross about being bound so tightly. "Because I'm not the only one that he sent…"