Steve looked around the room, seeing everyone tense, ready to fight. He put his hands up, showing he was not here for that.

"Look, we don't want any trouble. We're all going through a lot right now, and I'm sure you are too. Everyone was affected, everyone lost someone. We're trying to figure this out. Lots of help is on the way...who are you?"

"I'm Carol. From Earth originally, but that's a different story." Her eyes dimmed back down, and she crossed her arms. "Fury said he would message me for emergencies. Looks like you've been through a lot these past twenty years."

"Where exactly have you been all this time?" Rhodey questioned.

"There are a lot of other planets out there besides Earth." She turned to face the whole group. "And they unfortunately don't have you guys."

"You're stretched a little thin, you think?" Natasha asked her, messing with her knife casually.

"I'm used to it."

"You look good for your age." Rocket raised an eyebrow.

"And you look guilty...again..." The woman winked at him. "I'm Carol Danvers, former member of the Kree force and before that I was in the United States Air Force where I tested fighter jets."

"Nice." Clint nodded.

"Well, long story, short..." Thor shrugged. "Thanos has gathered up all of the Infinity Stones, and killed half of the universe. And-"

"Exactly half." Tony Stark's ghostly form appeared before the group, and everyone wanted to jump out of their skin, except for Steve, who saw it coming.

"Tony?" Bruce ripped his glasses off in shock. "Are you...um..."

"I guess I'm only half dead..."

"Then why aren't you a zombie?" Clint jeered.

"Legolas, if I knew how to, I swear I would kick your ass right now."

"Tony..." Steve reached for his hand, which to everyone's amazement, Tony was able to grab.

"Ok...well...see, Thanos said he wanted to wipe out half of the universe...what's half of an odd number? There's, you know what? Screw the elementary school lesson. I'm here, but I can also be on the other side. And it's not peaches and cream over there, let me tell you. It's like a foggy darkness with literally nothing to do. Very dull. Very gloomy. Not a fun place to be." Tony looked around, seeing their faces of remorse.

"What do we need to do?" Carol asked. "Because I'm not just going to stand around and let more bad things happen under my watch."

"I like this one." Thor got up and properly introduced himself with a handshake. He did not expect the strong grip from the woman, but was happy to have made a new friend.

"What we need to do is find Thanos." Tony said. "Then we nuke his ass."

"Honey, please..." Steve scolded.

"Way ahead of you terrans." Rocket pulled out a remote of sorts and pulled up a hologram. "I just got a bunch of astronomically bad readings from this place called The Garden, a planet not too many jumps from here. Something pretty damn powerful must've caused a ruckus. So, I propose..."

"He used the Stones again..." Natasha guessed.

"Bingo!" Rocket pointed to her.

"But why? He served his purpose." Thor wondered.

"Who knows." Tony said. "But I do know this...we are going to all go together and take care of this once and for all." He saw everyone with determination in their expressions. Fears were starting to recede.

"Avengers...suit up!" Steve charged, as everyone immediately started preparing for the trip to space.

"Mr. Doctor Strange, sir!" Peter called as Stephen rolled his eyes, then turned to look to the boy in question. "How exactly are we going to um...you know? Get there?"

"That's a very good question..." Stephen looked sad for a moment, then pushed it back down. "Doctor Banner is going to bring us all back after they have confiscated the Infinity Stones from Thanos."

Peter's eyes widened. "You make it sound so easy, like nothing could possibly go wrong."

"I wish it would be that simple." Stephen sighed. "But your father and I can help from over on our end. And in order to do that, I must meditate for a while. So, if you will all please excuse me."

As Stephen walked away, Starlord huffed in frustration. "This has just been a shitshow. I'm sorry, kid."

"Hey, it's not your fault." Peter shook his head, as if what the man said was absurd, which it was. "You heard the wizard. He said this was the only way. Maybe, as ghosts we could like, haunt the bad guys or something really cool, I don't know, that sounds crazy, now that I said it." Peter frowned, trying to wrap his brain around the fact that even dead, they still had a chance. He's surprised he got over his panic attack from earlier so quickly.

I really hope this works.