Chapter 1. The Fight
As Kang was running towards the portal in order to escape from the quantum realm, an unexpected force struck him, knocking him to the ground. It was Hope who emerged from the portal in her Wasp suit, wings buzzing behind her, eyes filled with concern for her battered partner on the ground and a sheer determination to bring Scott back home.
Several minutes ago
When the Pym-van-Dynes went through the portal together with Cassie, they quickly realized that Scott had failed to follow behind. Worries drawn on their faces, Hope immediately moved toward the portal, decided to go back and check out what had happened. Janet, with a mother's instinct, sensed impending danger coming in her daughter's way. Yet, with a heavy heart, she respected Hope's decision. She called at her before Hope plunged into the portal, "Come home safely with Scott, Jellybean." They exchanged one last glance with determination and reassurance. Hope gave her a slight nod and dived through the portal without looking back.
Hank and Janet stared at the portal, eyes filled with unspoken concern and also their very understanding of a superhero's life. They are confident in their daughter's capability and yet they're more aware of what kind of enemy they are dealing with. Cassie, on the other hand, is torn between the need for Hope to bring her father back and the genuine concern for her safety. Given how much they have bonded during the journey in their shared life, Hope being both a mother-like character and a mentor in science and superheroing, Cassie couldn't help her fear of losing another parental figure in her life. Together, they waited anxiously yet patiently for the return of their loved ones.
Current time
Hope was the first to act, firing continuous energy blasts at Kang, catching him off-guard. Ever the Conqueror, Kang was not a random foe who is easily defeated. With his combat skills and mounting experience of conquering different timelines, he quickly recomposed himself, engaging in the fight with intensified rage. Kang is not ready to get defeated by the small "bugs" he looked down upon. He unleashed a barrage of attacks aiming at Hope. Shrinking and dodging, Hope maneuvered between the attacks, skillful and precise, trying to find chances to return the "favor". Kang seem to anticipate her every move, leaving no space for Hope's return of fire. The air crackled with tension as Hope's suit buzzed with energy, her shrinking and phasing abilities pushed to her limits. Kang responded with waves of energy surges that threatened to overwhelm her. As time extends, a surge of energy from Kang caught Hope off-guard, sending her spiraling through the air. Scott, despite his weakened state, recomposed himself after taking some time lying on the ground. Seeing Hope in distress, Scott somehow mastered strength to stand up and joined the fight against Kang. Ant-Man and the Wasp once again teamed up to defeat their common enemy. Their cooperation seemed flawless and somehow elegant, with combos of attacks that even looked like an art piece of human actions. Any other time, they would have won with no doubt. However, Kang managed to knock down either Hope or Scott every now and then. Battered and tired, Hope and Scott realized that they are fighting a losing battle. Their movements, once fluid, became staggered, and every exertion seemed to intensify the toll on their battered form. With unspoken understanding of each other, Hope and Scott are clear of what they are trying to do. They are not trying to defeat Kang in the fight, but they are trying to guide and push Kang into the broken multiverse engine.
As they maneuvered their way toward the broken engine during the fight, Kang sensed the sneaky intention of the "bugs". Rage consumed him as he mastered a blow at Scott, sending him to fall backward. Scott couldn't master anymore force to get back into action but could only wince on the ground. In this very moment, Hope shrank once again, darting toward Kang, pushing him once more toward the broken engine. Feeling the pull of energy leaking from the broken engine, Kang unleashed a devastating energy surge toward the duo. Hope, summoning the last reserves of her strength, sprung forward, intercepting the attack while shooting one last time from her blasters. The impact of Kang's attack was so brutal, sending shockwaves through her body, critically damaging her suit and sending her flying all the way backward in the air. As Kang gets absorbed by the broken multiverse engine, the engine exploded, creating another huge shockwave consuming the entire room. Hope crushed so hard against the wall, crumbling to the ground with a loud thud. Scott could only watch on as the scene extends in front of him, eyes wide with horror.
As the energy settled, Scott immediately crawled his way toward his fallen partner. He couldn't believe what he is seeing. Her suit, once pristine, now bore the scars of the intense confrontation. The impact of Kang's relentless assault had taken a toll on her entire body. Blood stained her suit, a grim testament to the internal injuries she had sustained. Scott, kneeling beside Hope, felt the weight of the moment pressing upon him. The once vibrant glow of her wings had dimmed, a sense of urgency gripped his heart. Hands trembling, Scott started to assess the extent of Hope's injuries while trying to rouse her from her shocked state.
"Hope." Scott broke, his voice shaken as he cradled Hope's head. Scott tried to look into her eyes, yet Hope kept staring beyond Scotts face, eyes unfocused. "Hope, please, look at me." Scott pleaded, gently patted his hand on her shoulder. All of a sudden, Hope drew a shaken breath, blinking her eyes trying to focus on Scott's face. As the adrenaline waned, the cascade of pain threatened to consume her. Hope's face twisted in an agonized expression, each movement sending searing waves of pain through her body. The damaged suit, once a symbol of invisibility, now flickered sporadically, echoing the instability of Hope's condition. Every breath became a laborious task, and her attempts to shift were met with stifled groans. "Hope, just hold on for a little while. We are going home." Scott comforted. Battered himself, Scott tried to gather Hope in his arms, eyeing the portal back home that is only meters away. Unbeknownst to the duo, a more insidious threat lurked within. As Hope struggle to breathe, the injuries to her lungs became apparent. The internal bleeding caused blood to accumulate, and with each breath, the airway became obstructed. She began to suffocate, the life-giving breaths becoming a desperate struggle for oxygen. Afraid of causing secondary injuries moving Hope, Scott had no clue of what to do. The portal that is only meters away seemed so far away that is almost unreachable. He could only murmur comforting words, hoping the rest of the family could come to their rescue from the other side of the portal. The inner guilt was eating him, seeing his once invincible partner in such a weakened state. Hope has always been his anchor in difficult times and regardless of the reason, Scott always felt he is the weaker one in the duo. Scott started to say sorry over and over again. He was sorry for not being strong enough. He was sorry for not being skillful enough in the fight. He was sorry for not being rational enough when all of this turmoil happened. He was sorry that Hope had to come back to his rescue. Choking on her own blood, Hope struggled to stay awake. She heard bits and pieces of what Scott has been saying. She really wanted to say it's okay to Scott and there is no need to be sorry. They are a team and they always watch each other's back. She wants to be there for Scott but the darkness is slowing creeping up to drag her underneath.