Okay guys this is the end of the line. I've loved working on this story, and I hope you guys have enjoyed reading it! And I'm always open to requests if there's a fix you've been wanting to read that hasn't been created yet. Just shoot me a PM!

I own nothing and please review! And thanks to all who have read this!

The pain was unbearable.

The combination of the electricity from the restraints and Mastermind's hold on her mind forced her body into a state of pure agony. It was as if every nerve in her body were on fire. Wanda screamed in pain and struggled against her bonds, but she couldn't break free.

She was running out of time.

Wanda could barely think with all the pain, but she knew she only had a few more precious seconds before she would be taken away. She threw every ounce of strength she had left into her telepathy. Her eyes glowed red as she visualized spears of red energy shooting from her head and penetrating her friends' overtaken minds. The pain intensified, but Wanda didn't back down. She was an Avenger, after all, and Avengers never gave in.

Suddenly, the pain started to lessen, and Wanda began to hear the voices of her friends floating around in her head.

Her telepathy was working.

Now that the door was open, Wanda quickly shifted her focus to Mastermind and what he had done to them. All of the torture her body was going through made it harder and harder to sustain the connection, but Wanda held on. She could hear her friends screaming inside her head as she drew back the curtain on the cruel production Mastermind had forced them to take part in and reintroduced them to their dark reality.

Once all of her energy had been drained from her body, Wanda slowly removed herself from the Avengers' minds. The electricity that had been coursing through her veins faded, causing Wanda to sigh in relief. She looked over to where her friends had been standing. They all looked to be in various stages of horror and confusion. Tony had dropped to his knees and seemed to be having a panic attack. Natasha was visibly shaking with both of her hands covering her mouth. Bruce had turned several shades greener, but it wasn't because of the Hulk returning. Wanda was assured of that when he turned to throw up in some nearby bushes. They all, in one way or another, seemed to be internally debating which reality to believe in.

Wanda only hoped they would choose hers.

Just as she was about to call out to her friends, she felt strong hands wrap around her throat.

"I'm afraid your condition is too much for us to handle," Mastermind whispered in Wanda's ear as he tightened his hold on her neck. Wanda gasped like a fish out of water. Her lungs burned from the lack of oxygen, and dark spots began contaminating her vision. She desperately needed air.

Mastermind continued, "I'm sure your friends will understand. You are a danger to everyone around you, and it would just be too risky to keep you alive. But don't worry, I'll take good care of –"

Mastermind was cut off by a large fist connecting with his jaw. Freed from his deadly hold, Wanda drew in large gulps of air. Once her vision cleared, she saw that Thor had been the one to save her. He picked Mastermind up as if he weighed no more than a doll and threw him several yards away.

"I am so sorry I did not believe you before, Wanda," he said as he undid her restraints, "but I assure you my mind now knows what is right."

There was a deep sadness in his voice, but Wanda didn't say anything. They all would mourn once Mastermind was brought to justice.

Wanda slid her legs off of the stretcher and placed her feet on the ground. She tried to stand but collapsed immediately. Thor caught her and slung one of her arms over his shoulder. Together they made their way over to where the others had gathered around the unconscious Mastermind.

"I say we slit his throat," Natasha growled.

Wanda looked around at the others. A few of them, such as Thor, Clint, Steve, and Natasha, seemed to have accepted what Wanda had shown them, even if they weren't happy about it. Bruce and Tony, however, were still struggling. Wanda understood why. They were both scientists, after all, and something of this magnitude didn't seem possible. But regardless of whether they believed or not, no one opposed the Black Widow's proposal. Wanda couldn't say she did either.

Before Natasha could carry out her plan, however, Mastermind's body vanished.

"Now, now, now, Natasha, that wouldn't be very nice, would it?" a familiar voice called out.

Wanda froze. The voice hadn't been Mastermind's.

It was Pietro's.

The Avengers whipped around to see Pietro standing smugly about twenty feet away. Thor immediately yelled in anger and started charging the man, but it proved to be fruitless. Pietro had surrounded himself with the same kind of sparking green energy Mastermind had been encased in when he had expelled Vision from Wanda's mind. As soon as he made contact with it, Thor was thrown back several yards and nearly crashed into Steve.

"Now do you get it? This is my world. I created it, and therefore I control it. You never stood a chance," he taunted. "But why would you want to leave anyway? I have worked very hard to keep you all comfortable. Why go back to the real world where there's no such thing as a happy ending?"

"Oh there will be a happy ending," Clint assured darkly, "when my friends and I kill you in the slowest and most painful way we can come up with."

Pietro looked unfazed. "Maybe I should try a different tactic," he shrugged. His eyes glowed white, and soon he was no longer alone.

All of their families had joined him.

"If you do not wish to accept the perfect lives I have given you, then I suppose I should honor your decision," Pietro announced.

Suddenly, Thalia and Jane began to scream as blood began pouring from their eyes, nose, and mouth. They dropped to their knees.

"Daddy, it hurts!" Thalia cried.

"Thor, please help us!" Jane begged.

Wanda looked over at Thor. She had never seen the Asgardian so shaken. His eyes were glossed with tears, and his skin was very pale. He seemed to barely be holding on to the truth. It filled Wanda with even more hatred for Mastermind. She didn't see how anyone could be so sadistic.

"It's not real, Thor," Steve said putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Don't listen to it."

Sharon was the next to go down, followed by Pepper and the Bartons. Claire was the last to fall.

Wanda could barely stand the sight of her teammates as they listened to their loved ones' cries. Steve, as the team leader, tried at first to be strong, but when Bucky suddenly appeared and joined the others he sank to his knees and broke down. Natasha and Bruce were holding each other tightly, each whispering assurances to the other. Clint was covering his ears and yelling profanities at Mastermind.

Tony was by far the worst.

It seemed as if he had decided that screams so realistic couldn't be fake. Tony tried to run to his wife, but before he could reach her he was repelled by the electric green energy surrounding her. He repeated the process several times until he didn't have the strength to get up anymore. When that happened, he curled into a fetal position and murmured fervent apologies to Pepper.

"See what happens when you don't appreciate the gifts people give you?" Pietro called. They almost couldn't hear him over the screams of their loved ones. "Bad things happen."

"You're a monster," Wanda yelled.

Pietro tilted his head. "Why are you so upset, Wanda? I haven't even gotten to you yet."

With that, Mastermind reverted to his true form. His eyes glowed white once again, and Pietro reappeared beside him.

"Wanda, I'm so sorry!" he said. "I should have protected you better. I should never have suggested we volunteer for Strucker's experiments. All of this is my fault."

Wanda knew that Pietro wasn't real. She knew he was only an illusion Mastermind created. But when he started screaming in pain like the others, all she could think about was the fact that Pietro was real. Mastermind hadn't created him from some familial desire he had found inside of her. Pietro had actually been her brother, and he had died. He had died, and she hadn't been able to save him.

And now it was happening all over again.

Wanda fell to the ground and buried her face in her hands. She couldn't take it. It was too much to handle. She just wanted to make it stop.

She wanted it all to stop.

Suddenly, she realized something. She had thought getting everyone to believe was the way to escape Mastermind's realm, but maybe it wasn't them she should have been concentrating on.

She took a deep breath in preparation for what she was about to do. She was still very weak from all she had been through, and what she planned to do could kill her if it didn't work. Still, she had to try.

Wanda slowly pushed herself up. Her joints ached, and she was extremely exhausted, but she did her best to put her physical pain aside. Using her teammates' suffering to fuel her determination, she shakily took a step forward and began to clear her mind.

Mastermind chuckled. "What exactly do you plan on doing, Wanda? You don't actually think you can defeat me, do you?"

"Avengers do not think. They know," she declared.

She summoned her powers with everything she had. Tendrils of red energy snaked from her fingertips and began swirling around her. She willed them to grow bigger and bigger until they collided to form a massive cyclone. Then, just as her vision started to become spotted once again, she threw her arms towards Mastermind and commanded the wave to follow.

Mastermind cried out as the red energy penetrated his shield and crashed into him like a tidal wave. The sky above them turned completely black, and the neighborhood around them slowly faded from existence.

It was working.

"No! This is my world! You cannot defeat me in my own world!" Mastermind wailed as Wanda's red energy continued to overtake his green. The families collapsed, seemingly dead, but Wanda didn't check on her teammates. She couldn't allow herself to let up at all.

Wanda fell to her knees, no longer having the strength to remain conscious. She looked over to where her brother lay bleeding with the others.

"I'm so sorry, Pietro," she whispered as the darkness overtook her.

Her head hurt.

Correction. Everything hurt.

Wanda groaned softly as she peeled her eyes open. Every inch of her body ached, and her head was throbbing painfully. Thankfully, the room she was in was fairly dark.

She slowly sat up and took in her surroundings. There was no furniture to be seen, and the walls were made of some kind of dark stone. Her fellow Avengers lay about the floor, all unconscious but seemingly uninjured.

Wanda was about to get a closer look when the realization hit her.

She had lost Pietro again.

The wound had only just begun to heal, and Mastermind had violently reopened it. She would have to get used to living without her brother all over again. Tears pricked the sides of Wanda's eyes. She wasn't sure if she could handle it.

The sounds of her teammates waking up forced her to pause her mourning. She watched silently as they all took in their surroundings as she had done. They all seemed dazed and confused as first, but soon the realization hit them as it had hit her. They were back in the real world where none of their happy endings existed.

Nobody said anything. The silence was heavy with grief and anger. Wanda studied her friends' reactions. Steve looked around frantically, as if he desperately wanted to comfort someone but didn't know who needed it the most. Natasha, unlike when they were in Mastermind's world, turned away from Bruce and tried to avoid eye contact at all costs. Tony's face was hidden in his knees, and he was shaking slightly.

"I never wanted kids anyway," he said at last. His voice broke a little, but no one commented on it. They were all stuck in their own tragedies.

Natasha was the next to speak. "Mastermind is going to pay for this," she growled. The Black Widow was angry. Very angry.

Speaking of angry, Bruce did not seem to be holding up well at all. Wanda's eyes widened as she noticed his skin was turning slightly greener, and his muscles were beginning to swell.

"Bruce?" Wanda asked unsteadily, causing the rest of the group to stare at him.

"I'm…fine," he said through heaving breaths. "I had just… gotten used to… not having him around. I'll be okay in a minute."

"Dealing with this is not going to be easy," Steve said sadly, still keeping a nervous eye on Bruce, "but right now we need to put our emotions aside and deal with the situation at hand. Wanda, is there anything you can do to protect our minds from being taken by Mastermind again?"

Wanda sighed. If she were being honest she probably couldn't even walk by herself, let alone use her powers. But despite how much her body told her it was a bad idea, she found herself agreeing to try.

She slowly stood up using the wall to keep herself balanced. She then summoned her telepathy. She started with Bruce because with the Hulk it would take the most energy to protect him. She reached into his mind and created a barrier of red energy around its center. Once she was satisfied he would no longer be susceptible to Mastermind's attacks, she retreated from his mind and did the same for the others. She almost didn't have the strength for Thor, but luckily the Asgardian needed very little power to protect his advanced mind. An overwhelming feeling of dizziness came over her as she finished, but she did her best to hide it. At least now her friends were safe from Mastermind's influence.

Steve sent a nod of thanks towards Wanda. "Now that that's taken care of, we need to break out of here. Thor, would you care to get the door?"

"It would give me great pleasure," Thor declared, a thirst for vengeance prominent in his voice. He stretched his hand out, signaling that he was calling Mjolnir. The hammer crashed through the wall less than a minute later, leaving a gaping hole in the structure.

"Let's go get ourselves a dead man," Tony said darkly.

Wanda was only able to make it two steps before the dizziness and exhaustion caused her to collapse. She hit the ground hard, causing her to see stars.

"Wanda, are you okay?" Bruce asked as he knelt beside her.

"I suppose the battle against Mastermind has left me weaker than I thought," she answered softly.

"Then let us handle it from here, Wanda," Steve said as he slid his arms under her knees and back and gently lifted her off the ground. "You've done more than enough."

Wanda only nodded in response. She was too tired to argue. She just wanted to go to sleep. She needed to go to sleep. Even if it was just for a minute or two…

The sound of gunfire jolted Wanda from her slumber. She didn't know how long she had been out, but she did notice she was no longer in Steve's arms.

"Sam?" she questioned, confusion lacing her tone.

"Welcome back," he greeted.

"What is happening?"

"The others are fighting off Mastermind's hired guns while I get you to safety. The quinjet is right outside the compound," Sam replied as he carried Wanda through the dark halls.

"I want to help the others," Wanda insisted.

Sam chuckled. "I admire your dedication, but I'm afraid the only thing you could do right now is try to fall on Mastermind when you pass out."

Wanda sighed but didn't protest. Sam was right. She wouldn't be useful in this fight.

They traveled through the halls until they came to a large hole in the wall that led outside. Wanda could see the quinjet about fifty yards away and almost cried in relief at the sight. She knew the quinjet would take her home – her real home – and that sounded like absolute heaven at this point.

Sam carried her up the ramp and laid her on a stretcher. He then removed his wings and sat down beside her.

Wanda raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you go help the others?"

"I promised Steve I wouldn't leave you," he replied. "Besides, I can pretty much guarantee that they're not the ones who need help."

Wanda nodded in acceptance. She had seen the expressions her friends had been wearing and was extremely glad they weren't intended for her. Mastermind was going to die slowly and painfully, but Wanda held no sympathy for the man. She only wished she was strong enough to get in on the fun.

"So from what I've heard you're the MVP of all this," Sam said, pulling Wanda from her dark thoughts.

"I blacked out four times," Wanda snorted.

"True, but the others told me you also defeated Mastermind in his own realm. If it wasn't for you, you all would still be trapped there."

"You would have freed us anyway."

Sam shook his head. "I think you're overestimating us. I'm not saying we aren't awesome, but we weren't making much progress on getting into the base until you guys opened the door. Every time we tried, Mastermind sensed it and forced us to retreat. Vision's really the only one who did anything useful."

Vision.

Hearing someone else talk of him as if he existed reaffirmed Wanda's relief that they were back in the real world. Here, Vision wasn't some figment of her imagination. Here, everyone knew him.

"Who else came?" she asked.

"Other than Vision and me, Rhodes and Barnes."

"Bucky?"

It was true that Bucky had been getting better and that the Avengers trusted him, but he very rarely followed them into combat. They learned very quickly that fighting often triggered flashbacks and caused him to revert back to the Winter Soldier. Once this happened, usually Steve was the only one that could bring Bucky back.

"He insisted when he found out Steve had been mind controlled," Sam replied.

"I see," Wanda said. It made sense that Bucky didn't want Steve to go through the same thing he had.

The pair fell into a comfortable silence. Wanda could hear heavy gunfire coming from the inside of the base, but when it was followed by the Hulk's angry roar and the crackling sound of thunder any qualms she had immediately went away. She looked over to Sam. He was sitting perfectly relaxed with his arms crossed against his chest. It was obvious he wasn't worried either. Their team could handle this.

Suddenly, Sam put his hand up to his ear.

"Rhodes, what's your status?" he asked.

Wanda couldn't hear the reply, so once Sam got off the comm, she looked at him expectantly.

"They got Mastermind," he said simply.

"Did they kill him?"

Sam nodded. "Saying they killed him would be an understatement. Needless to say, he won't be bothering any of you ever again."

A feeling of satisfaction rose inside Wanda at the news. Mastermind had gotten what he deserved. As she lay on the stretcher, Wanda watched heavy smoke drift from the windows of the compound as it continued to be destroyed from the inside. It made her happy that the place where they suffered so much would soon be no more.

"So what happens now?" she questioned. She had no idea how she and the other Avengers were going to overcome this. Mastermind had done some serious emotional damage.

Sam shrugged. "Personally, I figure you guys deserve a vacation – some time to deal with everything. But for now, I think you should get some rest. No offense, but you really look like you've been put through the wringer."

Wanda sighed. "I suppose I do. Thank you, Sam."

"Superman don't need thanks for saving lives," he said with a big grin.

Wanda chuckled and rolled her eyes playfully. She could always count on Sam to keep things light even in the darkest of situations. Her eyes grew heavy once more, and she allowed herself to slip into blissful unconsciousness.

Wanda woke up and was surprised to find she was in her room. Her real room. In Avengers Tower. She looked over to the clock on her nightstand and found it to be four o'clock in the evening. Wanda furrowed her eyebrows. It had been the early morning when they had broken out of the compound. That meant she must have been asleep for hours.

Nevertheless, she felt much better than she had. Some of her strength had been restored, and the pain in her head had been reduced to a dull ache.

She decided she should check on the others. She slowly got out of bed, pleased to find she could support her own weight. She took a few shaky steps towards her door.

Then she saw the picture.

It was a picture of their family, taken just a week before their parents were killed. It was the last picture their family had taken before everything fell apart. Pietro had carried it with him in his pocket since the day they were rescued. It was one of the few physical possessions he allowed himself to keep.

Seeing the picture made Wanda's stomach drop and tears well up in her eyes. She vividly remembered the moment Clint had given it to her while showing her Pietro's lifeless body. Somehow, it had remained intact throughout the battle. When she had moved into the tower, she had asked Tony to frame it for her. Now it sat on her dresser as a reminder of what she had lost.

Of course, it had gotten easier. It had been almost three years since their battle against Ultron, and every day she had gotten more and more used to living without him.

But now she felt just as bad as the day it happened.

Being in Mastermind's world and being with Pietro had reminded her how badly it hurt that he was gone. It was as if every bit of progress she had made since that day had been obliterated, and she had a feeling it would take twice as long for her to return to where she had been. She told herself she would be okay eventually, however. She would just need the support of her friends.

Her friends.

Wanda had gotten distracted by her own grief and forgotten her previous mission. She needed to see her friends and make sure they were okay.

Wanda wiped the tears from her face and resumed her path to the door. She stepped into the silent hallway then began making her way to the elevator. She pressed the button for the common floor, and when she arrived she was met with a shocking sight.

All of the couch cushions had been placed on the floor, and Steve and Bucky were laying on top of them. The TV was playing an American movie Wanda had never seen before, but she could tell it was very old. Steve had fallen asleep at some point and had been covered with a blanket.

"I remembered we used to do this a lot as kids," Bucky said quietly. "I thought maybe it would help him feel better."

Wanda nodded in acceptance. "Do you know where the others are?"

"Bruce and Tony are up there," he replied, pointing up to the transparent walls of the lab. Wanda could see the two men working furiously to keep themselves busy and decided it would be best not to disturb them. She doubted they would take the time to notice her if she went up there anyway.

Bucky continued. "Clint and Natasha are in the gym sparring, and Thor flew off a while ago. I think he said something about needing to visit someone. Probably Jane. Wilson and Rhodes went to SHIELD to debrief Coulson."

"And Vision?"

"I'm not sure. Last time I saw him was when he carried you to your room. I don't know where he went after that."

Wanda thanked Bucky then headed back to the elevator. She pressed the button that would take her to the training floor. Normally, she knew better than to interrupt Clint and Natasha while they were training, but she really needed to see them. She had always been comfortable with them, and now comfort was something she greatly needed.

She arrived at the gym a few minutes later and quietly entered. Just as Bucky had told her, Clint and Natasha were sparring. However, Wanda noticed they lacked their usual sharpness. She began to think that perhaps now would not be a good time to interrupt them, but she still didn't want to leave. She crept a little closer, doing her best not to be seen, and hid behind a piece of workout equipment. She saw that Natasha's eyes were red and puffy. Clint showed no signs of having cried, but Wanda did sense a bit of guilt coming from him. She understood why he would feel that way. His family was real, so he had no idea what it was like to love a child so much only to find out she had been a mere illusion. His happy ending – for the most part, anyway – existed in the real world.

Wanda didn't know how long she had sat and watched them before the two assassins finally ceased their sparring.

"You don't have to hide, Wanda," Natasha said as she wiped her sweaty face with a towel. "If we didn't want you here we would have told you a long time ago."

"I'm sorry," Wanda said sheepishly as she emerged from her hiding place. "I did not want to disturb you."

"It's okay, Wanda. You weren't disturbing us. It's actually nice to see you up and walking. You've been asleep for hours," Clint said.

Wanda gave a small smile. "I'm feeling much better now. Physically, anyway."

"And the nonphysical?" Natasha questioned.

"I suppose I am doing as well as I can be," Wanda said with a sad sigh. "It just really hurts to have to get over losing him all over again. It was hard enough the first time."

Clint and Natasha nodded in understanding. They didn't have to say anything to let Wanda know she had their support just as they had hers. That was the best thing about being an Avenger – everyone always had each others' backs.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Vision's voice said over the intercom, "but Thor has returned and requests that everyone meet him in the common area."

The three Avengers exchanged glances then did as Vision had told them. When they arrived in the common area, everyone else was waiting on them.

"Greetings, my friends," Thor began. His voice still held a grievous tone, but he was doing his best to sound cheerful. "I hope you all do not think lowly of me for leaving during this time of sorrow. I needed to see Jane after what happened. Nonetheless, the reason for my departure was for more than my own selfish motivations. I also have made arrangements for all of you to accompany me back to Asgard for a time of rest and fellowship to help us heal from the wounds Mastermind inflicted upon our emotions. That is, if you would like to."

"Would my family be invited as well?" Clint asked with a raised eyebrow.

Thor nodded. "Yes, of course. You all may bring whomever you would like."

There was a moment of silence as everyone considered the Asgardian's offer. Wanda had to admit a vacation to Asgard sounded pretty exciting. She had only ever heard stories of the mythical land, but it sounded like an amazing place.

"Hell, I certainly could use a break from this God-forsaken planet. I'm in," Tony announced, interrupting her thoughts. The cockiness that usually held a constant presence in his voice had been replaced with a dull emptiness, and the strong smell of alcohol seemed to radiate from the man.

No one said anything to him about it though. One by one, they each agreed to go on the vacation. Bruce was the last to give his support. He had been sitting in a chair by himself with his knees pulled up to his chest while Thor presented his offer. He refused to make eye contact with anyone, especially Natasha, and when he was asked to give his answer he responded with only a small nod.

"Excellent. We will leave in two days so that you all may have adequate time to prepare. I will return to Asgard in order to oversee the arrangements for your arrival. I will be back by sundown tomorrow."

With that, the Asgardian left them once again. Everyone slowly went their separate ways until only Wanda and Vision remained in the common area.

"I have not had the chance to thank you yet," Wanda said.

Vision slightly tilted his head. "What have you to thank me for? You are the one who did most of the hard work. I merely helped you get started."

"You showed me the truth when I was living a lie. Without your intervention, I probably would have never figured things out."

"You're more powerful than you give yourself credit for, Wanda," Vision insisted. "Mastermind had to put more energy into keeping you under his influence than he did for all the other Avengers combined. You are an extraordinary person."

"I do not feel extraordinary," Wanda admitted. "All I can think about is how happy everyone – including myself – was in Mastermind's world. I know that it is wrong, but a part of me wishes I had never realized the truth."

Vision put a gentle hand on Wanda's shoulder. "It is understandable that you feel in such a way. You needn't scold yourself for yearning to live in a perfect world. However, instead of focusing on what you lost, I would recommend finding something you can gain from this ordeal. You might be surprised at what beautiful things may rise from the ashes of tragedy."

Wanda pondered Vision's words as she readied herself for bed that night. She didn't see how she could gain anything from what she had experienced. Except more emotional scars of course. He had never led her astray before, however, so she decided she would keep searching.

It wasn't until the next day when Thor returned with the announcement that he would be proposing to Jane while they were in Asgard that Wanda started to piece it together. They may have lost the happiness Mastermind's realm provided them, but perhaps they could make their own in the reality they lived in. They now had seen how great their lives could potentially be. Of course, they could never achieve everything Mastermind had given them – Pietro would always be dead, Ultron would never be successful, and it seemed like Earth would most always need the Avengers. But somehow Wanda knew she would be okay with that. Though the loss of her brother would forever remain as a prominent scar on her heart, Wanda had faith she could find happiness alongside her fellow Avengers.

She just couldn't see what it would be yet.