Written before Avengers: Endgame

After Avengers 4

3rd Person

Loki stands over a crippled Thor, silently crying. He closes Thor's eyes, whispers a prayer and Thor's body disappears. Onto another life.

Meanwhile, Mantis tries to look away from the lifeless form of Drax whose blood now seeps into the Earth. She gives him one last hug, before stepping over to comfort the mourning Peter Quill.

Gamora lay there, surrounded by a living Groot, Rocket, Quill, and Mantis. She had to relive so much unnecessary pain. To save the world. She did it, at the cost of her life.

More Avengers lay scattered throughout the pavilion dead or mourning.

T'Challa, Shuri, and Nakia surround an ashen Okoye, who was stabbed in the heart from behind.

But, no matter how much pain and anguish the remaining heroes were in, nothing could compare to that of Tony Stark. His worst nightmare came true. In front of him, lay his best friend, Rhodey, suit shattered along with his spine. Next to him, lay his teammate, Steve Rogers. Hands still outstretched, reaching for a long dead Bucky, but worst of all was Peter Parker, Spider-Man.

Peter was still alive, leaning against the wall that was slowing sucking his life force out of him. With a spear jutting out from not only the wall, but his gut, as well. All Tony Stark, Iron Man, could do was watch as blood dripped on the floor. They were nowhere near Wakanda or anywhere, really. Dr. Strange was in some realm, trying to repay the bargains he somehow managed to bargain for. Something about your mom moo or something. Bruce disappeared after Thor died, so there were no doctors (even of science) and there were no supplies anyway.

Tony looks at Peter. "Hang in there, kid, I'm so sorry, just hang in there."

Tony heard a noise in the distance. A large pickup truck was speeding their way, a young girl, about 16, at the wheel.

Before the car even fully shuts off, the girl is out of the car. She is soon followed by a boy carrying medical supplies.

The girl stares at Tony, and strides up to him, "Where's Peter." She says, not even like a question.

"Umm... I am sorry?" Tony replies.

The girl ignores him and steps around, seeing something behind him. She pauses to take in the scene of death and carnage, before dashing up towards the boy on the wall. Her eyes instantly soften, and she cradles his cheek with her hand.

MJ's POV

After all the apocalyptic stress was over, I could feel something wasn't right. I could feel it in my gut. I knew where the final battle had been fought, Peter had told me... then he webbed Ned and me in the school, which took us 2 hours to get out of.

Finally, when we got to the battle sight in the middle of nowhere, all I could think of, was Peter. I swiped right past Iron Man, to a dying Peter. I couldn't believe it. Peter Parker, genius and superhero, was dying. I barely see Ned handing out medical supplies to what is left of the Avengers, while occasionally glancing at Peter and me.

When I look at Peter again, I know what I have to do.

3rd Person

Wanda Maximoff looks at the newcomer with recognition and understanding. She sees the love for Peter in MJ's eyes, it was the same love that she had felt for Vision just hours ago, and still now.

The remaining Avengers look at her face for an explanation.

"Pietro and I... were not the only humans tested on with the mind stone. And we were not the only ones that survived. There was one other person. One who they let go, on the condition that she never reveal what happened, and thinking she would never use her powers again, or die trying. You see, this girl's power had a huge side effect that made her deemed useless to Strucker. Her name is Mj, and here she is."

Suddenly, everyone looks over at MJ, who grabs the sharp end of the spear protruding from Peter, and gets ready to yank it out. "I'm sorry Peter, this will hurt." She pulls it out of his chest.

"Aaaaahh!" Peter yells, as everyone gasps. MJ, gently lowers him to the ground. "MJ! Mj...mj... don't do it. I love you, live for me." he says.

"Peter, we both know I can't do that. You are Spider Man, you save people's lives. I love you, Peter." MJ says. "Peter. You live for me."

Peter can't do anything, as his face gets paler and paler.

Tony starts to step forward, trying to stop the madwoman who basically just killed Peter, but Wanda holds him back.

"You see, her power is to heal. The thing is, the side effect is so major, that she could never do it on a large scale. The side effect is that, any injury she heals, gets inflicted on herself." Wanda says.

Everyone realizes what is about to happen simultaneously, and tries to rush forward, only to be stopped by a blinding gold light, emanating from the curly haired girl leaning over Peter.

Suddenly, like a seesaw, MJ falls back, and Peter sits up, catching her head before it touches the ground. MJ chuckles, "This is a lot more painful than you let on."

Peter can see her life fading from her eyes, as she says her last words. "I love you, Peter."

Everyone watches this happen, with nothing they can do about it. Everyone knew, that his pain was equivalent to the strongest pain in the universe.

It was easy for Mantis to see the absolute truth as well. They were soulmates, plain and simple. They felt each others pain, they could feel when something happened to the other. It was a bond so strong, that even death couldn't break it. It wasn't just a High School romance, it was written in the stars themselves.

The Avengers had all watched the light leave MJ's eyes, just like the light left their comrades just a while before, but now, they watched the light leave Peter's eyes too, as he cradled her lifeless body. Tears were streaming down his face, showing an emotions that he had suppressed for far too long.

It was then, that all the Avengers realized they had never seen, Peter Parker, Spider Man, Youngest Avenger, cry before. And, it was then, that they finally realized who the strongest Avenger really was.