"Whatever you do, don't offend her. I'm talking to you Tony."

Doctor Strange said, gracefully landing in front of the enormous cave that seemed to swallow all light.

The Avengers were broken. Their spirit nearly gone by what had taken place just a minute before. The last time they had seen Steve Rogers, he had been barely standing, Clint Barton and Sam Wilson were missing in the debris, the only reason Tony was still able to stand was the iron suit that hugged his body rather snugly.

Bucky Barnes leaned against the rocky surface of the towering cliff, breathing heavily as blood swept through his new suit. Natasha was eyeing their surroundings, taking in the endless mountain range, the glistening sea against the evening sun and the crispy cold air that seemed to caress her sweat and blood-covered skin.
Strange had formed a portal for them all to stumble through, there was only one last chance for them all to really save the world. And they needed urgent help from the creature that resided inside the mountain.

"Who do you take me for?"

Stark said, stepping closer towards the entrance as he gaped at the ginormous hideout. It sent shudders down his spine.

"I take you for a fool who doesn't know when to keep quiet."

Tony turned his bruised and ash-covered face towards Strange who simply hovered by him towards the ominous darkness.

"Oh wow, and I was led to believe that wizards were supposed to be friendly." he grumbled as he followed the sorcerer into the darkness.

Natasha barely managed to smirk at Tony's spirit that never seemed to tire, even after everything seemed to be against them. Despite the pain in his side and heavy bleeding, Bucky followed Doctor Strange and Tony into the darkness.
Natasha gave the wilderness around them one last, fleeting glance to make sure there wasn't anyone spying on them before she too, followed the others.

Doctor Strange summoned a ball of fire in front of them to light the way, the silence was quite eerie and the air around them wasn't the crispy, fresh one they were used to outside.

"Who, exactly, are we looking for here again?"

Tony asked quietly, almost afraid to disturb the silence.

"Someone with enough power to make Thanos disappear."

Strange answered, his eyes darting left and right the deeper they ventured. Bucky and Natasha felt on edge as they followed the two, something about the darkness really unsettling them. They felt watched, as if the darkness around them was following their every move.

"And that person lives here?"

Right as he said it, a low, grumbling sound made them all freeze. The growl seemed to vibrate through the air and it was so near it felt as if Tony was standing right in front of the source. Although he couldn't detect anything but the rocky ground just a couple of feet in front of him, that's how much the tiny light source Strange had summoned managed to show them.

"Never said it was a person."

A pair of purple eyes gleamed at them from a distance, pupils expanding as they focused on the band of heroes.

"Okay everyone, Doctor Strange has turned rogue and brought us here to die." Tony said lowly, readying his open palm and charging the blast should danger arise.

"Tony, don't. Whatever happens, don't make any sudden movements."

It wasn't a hard task to follow for the two assassins, Tony on the other hand, was way too full of adrenaline to stand completely still as the creature slithered closer. The eyes were on the same level as they were, before raising higher what seemed to be three feet off the ground.

"Hello, Astrid."

Strange greeted the creature who had become to a stop. They could make out a wall of dark glistening scales against the light.

"Hello, food."

A pleasant, accented female voice spoke into their minds as an ominous hiss made them all shudder.

"okay Death Eater, we are not food."

"Please excuse my companions. We are in dire need of your assistance."

Doctor Strange spoke calmly, obviously more relaxed than the other three. The creature seemed to snort.

"You come to my home uninvited, insult me and then ask for help. Where are your manners, Stephen."

The creature started circling them, Bucky facing her all times. A dragging motion followed her as something sharp scratched against the rough surface after every step. Claws, the realization made him shudder. What exactly was this thing?

"I apologize on the behalf of Stark. There is a great danger that will destroy the world as we know it. And to stop that, we need the power you possess."

Unlike the other three, Strange was still as statue, not following the dragon circling them. She became to a stop in front of them, her face finally caught by the light.

Natasha's breath hitched, staring at the scaly face of a dragon that towered over Doctor Strange, purple eyes looking at him rather keenly.

"Danger to your world. Not mine."

"What is your price, dragon."

Tony Stark was holding up his hand, this time, he was scanning the creature before them, trying to gather all the data he could before he was eaten alive.

This was a dragon. A living, talking dragon.

"Now we're talking." she chuckled, pulling away slightly to disappear from the light.

She was silent for a while, letting their nerves gnaw at them. She knew exactly what the price would be, it was her last resort.

"The souls of fifty human babies."

"Astrid." Strange said in accusing manner, the red cape flapping nervously. Tony chocked on air, eyes wide and bewildered at the request.

"Oh take a joke, old man. What would I do with annoying, screaming children?"

"What an odd sense of humour you have there." Stark said, ignoring the evil eye Natasha gave him. It was better to leave all the talking to Strange.

"Leave one of your companions here for thirty days. If they survive, they're welcome to return to whatever secret lair you come from. If they don't, well, they'll die and none of your friends nor you shall ever come here again."

The words were ominous to their ears and after no one spoke a word, Natasha decided to take the matter into her own hands.

"No, we will leave no one behind."

"Then fifty babies it is."

"I think leaving the notorious Winter Soldier here doesn't sound too bad." Tony muttered in a joking manner, earning an evil eye from Bucky this time. Leave it up to Stark to throw him infront of a dragon.

"Think of something else." the spy said, refusing to leave anyone behind.

"Uhm, no."

"Then I'll stay." Natasha said, avoiding Tony's stare.

"No you won't, Barton will skin me alive."

"It's not his decision."

As the two bickered, Bucky was closely looking at the man clad in red and blue, studying him. He raised one finger, looking him dead in the eye as he did so. Bucky's heart dropped, so this was it. He knew that it was him who needed to stay, Steve would be fine. He had Sam.

"I think you can all go, I will stay with the dragon." He finally said quietly, clutching his still bleeding side as he stared into the darkness and the glowing eyes in them that studied him closely.

"That's settled then."

"What? No–"

"So where is the great danger to your world, Wizard?"

"In New York, we must hurry."

Strange turned around, the red cape dramatically flapping as he started heading back towards the entrance.
Tony was glad to be out of this suffocating darkness and the damp air, Natasha stayed a little behind, making sure Bucky was keeping up. She didn't like it, and she knew someone who was even going to like it less when he hears about it. 

Tony took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air, enjoying it to it's fullest as he turned back towards Strange who was summoning a portal. His eyes once again widened dramatically when Astrid took a step into the daylight. 

The dragon seemed enormous standing before them, her wings tucked close to her dark scaled body as she stood in front of them with her head held high. Natasha swallowed down her fear when glancing towards Bucky. It wasn't that she felt particularly fondly towards him, she just didn't want Steve to lose his best friend again. 

"And do you think I will fit through this tiny portal of yours, Wizard?" 

Astrid asked in annoyance, glancing lazily towards Bucky who had gone deadly pale from the blood loss. He leaned against the rocky wall, taking in the enormous body of the dragon that stood too close for comfort. He didn't step away either, wary it would come off rude towards their One Chance. 

"Damn, I feel like they should have cast you in Game of Thrones." 

Tony said, his gadget out once again as he scanned the living myth. 

"Stephen, I am really hungry now." 

"Do not eat him, not yet at least." 

Tony's eyes snapped towards smirking Strange who had widened the portal. Bucky pushed himself off the wall to drag his tired body towards it only to find the tip of her tail push him back gently. 

"The deal started the moment Wizard sealed it. You are staying here." 

Bucky's eyes hardened, he needed to know Steve was okay before leaving. 

"I can't-" his eyes connected with Strange's again, and he kept his mouth shut. He wasn't going to mess up their chances, he couldn't do that. With a sigh, he stepped back. Tony was the first to go through, Doctor Strange after him who was followed by Astrid. Natasha was the last one to go. 

And then Bucky was all alone, standing on a mountain side, staring off into the wilderness far below and the sea that seemed to go on forever. 

It felt wrong to feel so at peace knowing there was a battle going on on the other side of the world, a battle that would decide the fate of all humankind.