The Battle of the Multiverse Part 2
As you are on your knees, exhausted and entirely at the Scarlet Witch's mercy, you aren't. Your body is. But you aren't. Mentally you are home, tending to your garden with your wife. She catches you gazing at her and scrunches her nose at you. It's a small action but one that makes you fall for her once again. The more mischievous side of you takes over and raises the garden hose and spray at her once. Her mouth drops in a humorous shock. You start laughing and she starts laughing. Then she is chasing you around the garden until the two of you trip. Wanda lands on top of you and the two of you spare no time before kissing each other even as the automatic sprinklers come on.
That’s where you want to be right now.
You find some comfort in knowing she is safe at home for the moment. However, that peace is stripped away from you the moment you open your eyes. Wanda is not home. She's here, floating behind the Scarlet Witch with sharp pieces of rubble beside her with glowing red eyes. She strikes the Scarlet Witch with them and because every battle and absorption of power weakened her the sharp pieces were able to pierce through her skin.
Unfortunately, she was still strong enough to reroute a few of those pieces straight through her variant's heart. There was no time for you to process. Your reflexes fail you and your wife. “No!” You scream out as you watch life leave Wanda's eyes for the second time. In your weak state, you crawl to her body in tears. “You were supposed to go home,” you whisper to her body.
“It wouldn't have mattered,” the Scarlet Witch pulls out a shard of glass from the front of her hip. “She would have died there anyway. You couldn't save her by sending her home. You were bound to lose to me.” She yanks out a sharp piece of wood from her thigh next.
“I could have won,” you say brokenly.
The Scarlet Witch shrugs as she twiddles with the bloody piece, “I’m not convinced that you wanted it enough. Maybe if she told you, then I could see you having a shot of walking out of here.”
You scoff, “What are you talking about?”
“Well, you see, I have more motivation to win because I actually got to meet my boys. I got to hold them and raise them alongside the most amazing person. You didn't even know she was pregnant. Not really smart on her part if you ask me,” before you can react to the shocking information the Scarlet Witch stabs you in the back with the wood she was playing with. “Might have given you the extra strength you needed. But it's far too late for that now.”
“No,” you grit through your teeth. You focus all of your energy to do the opposite of what you were made to do. Screaming at the top of your lungs, you turn the life saving energy into something so deadly she cannot combat against it. Once her form is reduced to an orb of energy you take that and instead of absorbing any of it, you return it all to the rightful homes. It's a strong spell that requires powers from all of the stones in your body and once every energy has disappeared from your hands you drop to your knees beside Wanda.
You lay your hand over her belly and with this final effort, you transfer all of your power to save her and the boys. It takes everything from you until there is nothing left but the ring you wore to signify your devotion to your wife lying on her chest.
Epilogue
Slowly rocking herself on the porch swing, Wanda gazes out into the backyard as her boys, Billy and Tommy, run around with their uncle Pietro. She smiles as she hears them giggle and squeal here and there. Something she almost missed out on and cherishes every second of. They love their visits with their uncle. He tries to come out here as often as he can to be with them. Has been doing this since the day they were born. Usually he has his daughter with him, who loves her cousins and enjoys spending time with them, but she had a very important sleepover to attend for her social standing. So, he came alone.
Pietro catches one of the boys and he uses magic to get away. Impressing the man. Triggering something in his mother. The boy is using your old sling ring. She hadn't known that they knew where it was, let alone know how to use it. That was something far too dangerous for them to have in their possession without the proper training. Wanda gets up to go take it from them but a hand on her shoulder stops her.
“It’s okay,” the voice soothes her, “I’ve got it.” You walk out into the garden with a stern look. “Billy, what did I say about playing with my things,” you admonish the little boy.
Wanda relaxes into her seat as she lets you handle the problem. It took her years to figure out how to bring you back. All she had left of you was your ring. Whereas when you brought her back to life, her entire body was in your arms. She thought it would be impossible until one day, it worked. You were returned to her. The boys were still young enough for you to return without having to explain too much to them. Though, the two of you agreed that one day you would.
Jean kept in touch with Wanda as the only two who survived the mission. That was, until Wanda revealed to Jean about getting you back. The woman put in a request to bring everyone else back but Wanda refused. She didn't want to risk the balance of life. Jean didn't understand how bringing back good people from the dead would negatively affect the multiverse. She didn't know what it took to bring someone back completely and the witch wasn't going to expose those details. She wasn't about to put a target on her back. Which ultimately put a strain on the relationship. Effectively ending the friendship between the two. Wanda was fine losing that friendship because she didn't need the Phoenix. She needed you. Her boys needed you.
It took you some time to adjust to life again. You still possess some powers but not like you did before. Wanda tried to transfer the powers back to you but you refused. Claimed she deserved them more. She was reluctant at first, but eventually accepted that you no longer wanted them.
“Looks like we're going to have to get better at hiding the dangerous things,” you say as you climb the steps and wave the sling ring at Wanda.
She smiles and takes the device from you when you join her side. “I think I might have a place for it,” she replies.
“Oh? Should I be concerned,” you say jokingly. It widens her smile as she denies it. You repeat her words and she confirms it again and again until you meet her lips with yours. “Alright boys!” You call out once you separate from her. All three males turn their heads towards the house. “Time for dinner, go clean up! Especially you, Pietro,” the man rolls his eyes at your comment but all three come running towards the house. You stand up but Wanda doesn't. “You coming?”
“In a minute,” she says, “I want to enjoy the sunset.”
“Okay,” you lean down and kiss her forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she shoos you inside the home and you laugh as you do as she says. Once you're out of sight, Wanda gets up. She walks across the yard to the shed she has banned everyone from. With a wave of her hand, she uncovers a door that reveals a long staircase once opened. Descending the stairs, she walks into her secret lair.
What you hadn't known when you released all of the energy from the orb was that the Scarlet Witch energy needed somewhere to go. It quickly found its home in Wanda’s body. Once she returned to this universe, the Darkhold called to her day and night until she was reunited with it. She fought so hard against it, knowing the destruction it is bound to cause. But it gave her you and she hopes that by having you and her boys she will avoid becoming as corrupted as her variant. She hopes.
But that is a problem for a later date. Wanda sets the sling ring on a shelf and ignores the floating Darkhold as she passes it on her way back.
Walking into her home she witnesses the sight of her happy family and she knows she made the right decisions that led to this. You wave her over and she quickly joins the table.
After dinner, Pietro leaves and the boys get tucked into bed by you and Wanda. They tell their parents that they love them before they leave, filling the couples hearts with gratitude. The two of you make your way to your bedroom and once you're settled into each other's arms you ask her if she believes there will be another Scarlet Witch threatening to take away everything they have again.
“No, I don't think we have to worry about that,” she assures you.
“How can you be certain?”
She gives you a look, “When are you ever going to accept that once I said 'I do' I instantly gained the ability to always be right?” You chuckle and kiss her cheek as an apology. “Seriously though, you don't have to worry. No one will ever be corrupted by the Darkhold again.”
Or will she?
The End.