Getting close

Carol wasn't used to a subtler approach. Right now, though, she felt the need for it. The last head-on fights he'd had, had been in full Kree armor. Right now she had on the best protection Earth could manage, which didn't even come close. So she'd get closer by herself, and wait for the ideal moment to launch herself at Thor and knock him to another continent.

Right now, they were somewhere in Australia. Carol had on a kevlar vest - it couldn't hurt - and pants, and a cloak with the hood pulled up just in case any aliens recognized her face. It was far from the most eccentric outfit she'd seen there.

Face hidden behind the hood, Carol looked around. The party had currently taken over a pier; some people were splashing around in the water, while the people that weren't remained just as chaotic. the Frost Giants were sat on top of nearby houses, apparently unaware that roofs weren't meant to take that much weight.

All the more reason to get this over with sooner.

Thor was in the distance. She moved slowly, trying to get a better angle; if she flew at him in a straight shot, that would be the most effective way of doing it. Siberia was that way, so if she went a bit further left...

"Three, two, one... Rock! Aww, how do you always win?" a rock man with a remarkably Kiwi accent said, sat in one corner. Bewildered, Carol looked away.

Some people were playing music, others were playing games - someone had apparently stolen some Twister from a nearby store and was losing to a blue woman with detachable limbs.

There was an odd, eerie looking figure collapsed against a wall in one corner, skin pale, with pointed ears and softly glowing eyes. He was surrounded by a dozen similarly out-of-it aliens, several of which of other species, passing an odd not-quite-a-vase between them.

"I have seen the nature of reality," he droned. "The truth of everything. Duuuude."

And alien stoners. Carol carefully edged past him; he waved vaguely, lifting up the vase as it reached him. It was wreathed in black, but somewhere inside it there shone a deep, red light.

"Come see reality in the Infinity Bong," he said, utterly disinterested.

"I'm good, thanks," Carol said. Probably not what she needed right now.

"Good call."

There was a woman to her right. Carol turned, trying not to draw too much attention to herself; she quickly looked away, recognising the Valkyrie she'd talked to before. Valkyrie frowned, leaning in.

"Wait, do I know you?" Valkyrie said.

"Er, no, no," Carol said.

"I do! Oh, wow, you're the party pooper," Valkyrie said.

She sounded excited. Either she'd sobered up a little since their last meeting, or had passed through the other side of intoxication and gone full circle. If it could happen, it would probably happen at this party.

"No I'm not!" Carol said instinctively. She adjusted her hood.

"You definitely are!" Valkyrie said. "Oh, relax. The big guy might be annoyed, but if you ask me a party doesn't get going until the first streaker."

Carol blushed.

"Oh, are you trying to be subtle? Gotcha," Valkyrie said.

"Don't say anything," Carol said. Valkyrie shrugged.

"I was a fan," Valkyrie said. "Besides, those elves were party poopers once. Crashed a big party a couple of years back - Thor managed to talk them around. Now we get along, but trust me, it's a massive trip."

She gestured vaguely towards the stoners. Carol tried to keep focused on Thor.

It looked like he was planning to take a running jump at the Opera House. If she reoriented herself a bit, she ought to be able to catch him, and with enough momentum... Part of her liked it when she had the chance to go all out.

She took a few steps to the side, improving her angle.

"Careful," Valkyrie said.

Carol frowned. A little more...

She prepared to jump, and three things happened at once.

Her foot brushed one of the stoned elves, making them jump, distracted from whatever trip they were on, and the swirling red and black brushed past her leg.

There was a sudden flash - Carol didn't know what Infinity Stones were, but if she did, she'd have known how volatile it was to use the power of two in close proximity, at least without some special vessel like a gauntlet made to make it possible for all that power to co-exist.

And as Carol summoned up a surge of blinding light to propel herself forwards, the yellow was met with a sudden, bright surge of red; she felt a sudden chill, and launched herself forwards...

And instead took a staggered few steps and crashed headfirst into Valkyrie, as wild energies exploded all around her. The elves groaned, some of the pier splintered, several partygoers yelped and stumbled in the shockwave, and even Thor was distracted from the jump.

And in the center of the confluence, Carol felt the ripple emanate outwards from her. She almost notice her earth-manufactured clothing rapidly incinerating, more concerned with the fact her attempt at flight had sputtered out, and she was very much not lighting up.

She wasn't powerless; she could feel that same part of her, still there, just... muffled, worn out somehow by coming into contact with something that was its equal.

Carol pushed herself back up to her feet, catching her breath. And then remembered she was naked again. And this time, apparently unable to hastily fly away. Flushing bright red, she quickly tried to hide behind her arms as more and more eyes turned to her.

"Oh, now it's a party," Valkyrie said, grinning.