Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 67:

For the second time that morning, Wanda rushed to the bathroom in the bunker and vomited.

She had been watching over fifty two widows sparring in close combat, training to protect her if the army that was surrounding her failed. She looked over each one and wondered if they would survive. Who would she lose? Some of them she hardly knew. There was only so much time in the day and with the twins taking up much of her time she found it difficult to have in depth conversations with every widow.

Yet here they were, ready to give their lives to give her the chance to kill a monster.

Would it be Aino? She had just met her parents and Wanda could feel their terror. This should have been a happy time for her and Staci but this was hanging over them.

Would it be Lerato or Antonia? They were married two days ago in a church in Novi Grad. Ingrid and Kirstina were married two days before that. Would one of them lose the other or will they both die before they can start lives together?

She had received word the night before that Pym, Shuri and Stark had found out the location of the planet and theorized it had an atmosphere humans could survive in.

They would begin planning the assault tonight.

Wanda would continue lying to her husband and girls.

Thanos had the Soul Stone. He had three and she had three. Chaos magic wouldn’t be enough. She knew to beat him she would need to obtain the six stones and kill him and his followers with one blow. She stopped lying to herself three days ago. She knew she would not survive this. She told Bucky, the girls, everyone that she was confident and she thought they might even have bought it for a while.

He may not have hundreds of thousands of soldiers and monsters but he did have over ten thousand and three of the most powerful objects in the Universe. She had one stone that she couldn’t use without it splitting her head open, Strange had one and the Reality stone was a wildcard. She was outgunned and had one shot. She couldn’t wipe him from existence. It was too dangerous to alter reality in that fashion. She would have to kill him and his army. As Ingrid was fond of saying, one shot, one kill.

“This is a bad time for you to get a stomach flu.” Yelena said, walking up from behind. “We attack soon. You need your strength. You haven’t been eating much either and what you have eaten is coming up.”

“I can’t hold anything down. How can you?”

Yelena looked at the floor almost embarrassed.

“I have nightmares too but we must remain strong for the girls. If they see us…”

“Yelena you know how many can die! How the hell can I eat or hold anything down! It’s all I think about!”

“Every one of them has made this choice. They understand the risk. We cannot take the choice away from them. That is not our place.” the blonde insisted.

Wanda didn’t want to believe that. “Rachel has no field experience! Meg was not supposed to go on any missions, ever! Oksana is no good in this kind of fight. Who will take care of the kids if we are all dead?”

Yelena remained stone faced, giving nothing away by her expression. “Mama and Papa will. I have ensured they have everything they need.”

Wanda quieted, knowing it didn’t matter. She knew the seriousness of the situation. She had fought Thanos more than once already. Still the closer it came to the final battle, the more real the threats to others weighed on her mind.

Would it be Chloe?

She prayed to whatever god was listening that Nat would keep Stannic out of this. She was doing so well. She had a good life. She had horses and had even made cheerleader for the Fall semester. She would be a Freshman and was so excited. She was enjoying junior high school. She was on the honor role.

“I know.” Wanda said and walked to the sink. She drank water then spit it out to clear her mouth of the vile taste.

“Let us walk.” Yelena told her. She took her hand and half pulled and half dragged the witch to the elevator. Soon they were outside.

“You aren’t letting Kate fight, are you?”

Yelena shook her head quickly. “Of course not.”

Wanda wasn’t quite sure. “You let her come to Knowhere.” She reminded Yelena.

“That was different.” Yelena told her. “We weren’t expecting a fight. We have talked about this and she knows she will distract me if she is there. She has agreed to stay behind.”

“Natasha?’

“Is coming to fight. She is furious we went on the mission to destroy Thanos’s fleet and then to Knowhere and said nothing to her.”

Wanda scoffed. “I have no obligation to say anything to her. If we needed her we would have asked her. She does not have a say in what we do and what she should be involved in.”

Yelena sighed, knowing she was right but she had felt a bit guilty about not saying anything. Yet, Bucky said nothing to Steve either.

“Hayden.” Wanda said.

“What about her?”

“She isn’t good. She spent too many years as a cheerleader under deep cover. She is too short. Her reach is not long, her hand to hand is good but she is not good enough with a blade for close quarters fighting. We should move some of the widows in a wider pattern so they have a chance not to be overrun.”

Yelena snorted. “Now Wanda is an expert on Widow fighting technique.”

“I know how to use a knife and what someone looks like when they are not confident. She is great with guns and batons. Her knife skills need work. Say what you will about my fitness and fighting skills but I know how to cut a throat up close. I have watched enough to know every widow has their own style, strengths and weaknesses. Some of them aren’t built for close combat.”

Yelena walked to her favorite tree and had a seat, pulling Wanda down next to her. They leaned back against the bark.

“The army will give up when Thanos is dead. They will run. Black Bolt, Daisy, And Scott will kill many of the first wave. We have the magicians behind them, then the enhanced. Wenwu will lead his army behind them and protect us from being flanked. The New York vigilantes have agreed to use blades or batons set to kill. Then we have the Avengers reassembling for a one time only performance. Stark, Nat, Steve and Clint. Even the bird man will be here. T’Challa will be on the line with them. Then we have Sable’s army, and the Wakandans. It will take those mindless idiots much work to even get to our girls.” Yelena tried to assure her. She knew better though. Once the first shot was fired, anything could happen.

“Is Stannic fighting?” Wanda asked quietly.

“Nat pulled mother card. Told her no. Nat told me she hardly put up a fight. I think she is not so upset. She doesn’t want to lose Steve and Nat of course but… I think our little girl is tired of fighting. This is a good thing.”

Wanda finally had something to smile about. “I hope you are right, Yelena. I really hope you are. Aino’s parents want me to try to convince Aino and Staci to move out of the Mansion when this is over. They want them to try and live normal lives or as close to possible.”

Yelena was not surprised. The Anderson’s were good people but unlike Yelena’s parents she couldn’t’ see them becoming full time occupants of the house.

“What do you think?” Yelena asked.

Wanda shrugged. “I’m going to do everything I can to convince them to leave. It’s not too late for them, Yelena. If they need help sleeping I’m a doorstep away. We agreed they should continue therapy. The Andersons are good people. They haven’t hesitated to take Staci in even with her… history.”

“They know?” Yelena asked, surprised.

“Staci and Aino told them. They also gave Imi permission to talk to them about the girls. They… can you imagine, Yelena? Some of us are never going to change. Mika was too far gone when we found her. She was young but close to sixteen and had been on strike teams for three years. But think about our youngest. Can you imagine Aino, Staci and Stannic moving on? They have come so far. I don’t want Aino and Staci in this fight.”

“They will never forgive us or themselves if they sit out. I know the stakes, Wanda. We all do. There is no point in making yourself sick over this. Have you been… never mind.”

“Have I been what?”

Yelena took a breath but didn’t meet her eyes.

“Have you been drinking again?” Yelena asked quietly.

“No! I wouldn’t do that to… I wouldn’t do that to my girls.”

“Then why are you so sick? You have never been sick before a fight, not even when we invaded Thanos’s ship. You look forward to fights. I know you are worried. I am worried but something more is bothering me. I’m your Yelena. Tell me. You have to tell someone.”

Wanda was quiet for a moment and Yelena waited patiently.

“I talked to Shuri after the mission to Thanos’s fleet. I wanted to know why my head felt like it was split open and my nose was bleeding. It wasn’t good news.”

Yelena became cold and started to shiver despite the pleasant temperature outside.

“How bad?”

They were alone but Wanda still looked around to ensure they were alone.

“You swear this is between us?”

“You always have my loyalty. If you say to keep it to us, I keep it to ourselves but right now you are scaring me.”

Wanda chuckled mirthlessly. “I’m scared. Despite being an all-powerful Nexus being capable of conquering the universe, I still have a human body. My body can only take so much. I used the Mind Stone for too long. Unlike training when I used two stones and the rings for a few seconds if I use the Mind Stone for too long that’s it for me. If I use all three stones I’m dead and the little girls I swore to always be there for will be orphans.”

Yelena understood Wanda’s stomach problems. She felt like vomiting now.

“You will not use the Mind Stone..” she said with conviction. “You will not use any stones. You have chaos magic. You are the most powerful magic welder in the universe. He cannot fight that. You have the Book of Vishanti imprinted in your mind. The Book has spells to defeat any enemy. There is something there for this situation. There has to be.”

Wanda shook her head. “I’ve been meditating for days now, exploring the book. Do you know what the answer is to killing someone with three Infinity Stones? Take all six and kill him with a snap of my fingers.”

Yelena wanted to continue to argue but she knew Wanda well enough to know she wasn’t lying.

“He isn’t a nexus being! How can he use all six? Does he plan to kill himself just to kill half the universe?”

Wanda shrugged. “He is dedicated. He killed a woman he said he loved like a daughter or maybe she was his daughter. I can’t see him committing suicide. He loves himself too much. His pride will insist… it’s the glove. The big glove. It must have something to do with it. It lets him use the stones without killing him.”

Yelena nodded. “So we take the glove off of him. Use your magic and remove the glove. Destroy the stones, do what you have to but you cannot die! I will not allow it. You are my Wanda. We have been through too much for you to die.”

Wanda stared off into the distance as the sun fell behind the mountains.

“Everybody dies, Yelena.”

Yelena had tears running down her cheeks. “Not you. Not you, Wanda. What would I do without my witch?”

“You will lead these girls and be there for Bucky and my twins.”

“No!” Yelena snapped. “You will find another way or I will. You dying is not acceptable! You will throw every spell in the Universe at him, you will change reality with your own magic. Screw the stones! You are the Scarlet Witch! You will hex him, probability hexes, change the odds! You stopped a bomb from blowing up when you were little girl and didn’t know what you were doing! Now you know. You will change reality if you must. Strange will turn back time until you get it right! You dying will not happen!”

Yelena stood up and walked away but stopped before she had walked far and broke down crying. Wanda approached her and wrapped her up from behind.

“I do not want to die. I will not stop looking for a way to beat him without dying. But… Yelena…”

Wanda paused.

“Everything good I have experienced in my life since Pietro died, is because of you. I never thought I could love anyone as much as I loved Pietro but I love you. You filled that half of my soul that was empty after his death. You made me whole. Whatever happens, I want you to know that. You will do what must be done because it is who you are and I want you to. If I die, you will take care of my girls. All of them. Aunt Yelena will keep loving my twins. You will do this for me. Tell me you will do this for me.”

Yelena nodded and wiped the tears from her cheeks that would not stop falling.

“I will do this for you. Please Wanda, please find another way.”

Wanda nodded. “I will try.”

She meant it, but she also knew it wouldn’t make a difference. The army was too large, Thanos was too powerful and it would take all six stones to kill him and his army. She would have to be quick because even though they decimated most of his army, ten thousand aliens and possibly more was much more than their small coalition numbered.

Yelena composed herself and the two walked hand in hand back towards the mansion.

Wanda never noticed that she was being watched by a woman who heard everything. It was a testament to how distracted Wanda was that Agatha was able to cloak her magic from the girl.

Once Wanda was far enough away, Agatha called Stephen Strange.

“Agatha?”

“Have you looked at the probabilities? Have you looked into the future?”

“Yes.” he admitted. “Though with Wanda involved, chaos follows. Anything is possible.”

Agatha knew that was a lie.

“How many futures have you looked at?”

“14,000, 605.” he answered immediately.

“How many do we win?”

“7,000, 303.”

“How many does Wanda live?”

Strange was quiet, giving Agatha all the answer she needed but she asked anyway.

“Strange? That wasn’t a rhetorical question.”

Stephen cleared his throat. In an uncharacteristically shaky voice he told her the truth.

“None.”

Agatha felt her heart clench and lost her breath.

“Stephen there has to be another way.”

“Using the Stones is the only possibility. Our army will be overrun and everyone dies. The only chance we have is Wanda taking the stones as quickly as possible and using them to kill the army and Thanos. I’m sorry, Agatha. I have seen her try every spell and every attack possible. She will die. I haven’t… I haven’t decided if I should tell her.”

Agatha felt herself dying inside and wanted to scream. She kept her composure for the next few seconds though.

“Don’t bother. She already knows.”

While Agatha was on the phone confirming her worst fears, Wanda had made it to her room. The twins were at their desks with Bucky. She took the sight in for a moment before they noticed her.

Bucky sat on the small chair with Nela on one leg and Nadeja on the other. He had an arm wrapped around each one and Nela had her head resting on her shoulder while Nadeja looked at the computer screen as if it held the secret of life.

It only took a few seconds for the girls to notice her. No one in her life had ever been able to feel her presence like the twins. Not even Yelena who Wanda had been in her mind and shared the strongest bond with could feel Wanda’s presence like her girls.

What would they do when they could no longer feel her presence?

Wanda shook her head. This was no time to feel sorry for herself. She would enjoy the time she had, take it day by day and live in the moment as long as she could.

“Mama!” Nadeja shouted. “Come see what we can read!”

Wanda walked over and looked over their shoulder. Pulled up was a news article with a big headline and Nadeja started reading.

“Wanda… Maximoff… that’s your name… we can spell out our last names… Wanda Maximoff safe, no saves, children from terrors… terrorists. Papa said he would find the Sokovian article and we can practice reading it in our native language!”

Wanda smiled and kissed her forehead.

“We are going to read the whole article Mama. Papa says it talks about what a big hero you are. Its good everybody else knows.” Nela told her. “I don’t like the picture though. I like you in pretty makeup. The black makeup makes your eyes look a little scary. It’s cool but I think you look better without it.”

Wanda raised an eyebrow. “Is that right? Well your Papa sure liked it the first time he saw me, didn’t you, Bucky?”

“Oh yeah.” he said quietly.

“Papa, you like the dark makeup?” Nela asked.

“I uh… let’s just say the first time I saw your mother she made quite an impression on me. She was dressed like the old photos you have seen and quite noticeable. She also came flying in with a red storm cloud behind her. I was in a bit of a tight spot and she rescued me.”

“I think it’s cool.” Nadeja said. “You look tough. Nobody messes with you when you dress like that.”

“Nobody messes with her anyway. She is the best and they all know not to mess with her.” Nela countered.

“Girls, there is no they. All the girls here are part of us and we don’t have to worry about each other, remember? We talked about this with Dr. Imi today. You are both doing so much better. Do not think of the new girls as us versus them. If you didn’t get to know any new girls you would have never gotten to know Claudia and she is one of your best friends, right?”

Nadeja shrugged. “Yes Mama. We just know you are the best. Nobody can beat you. Papa said he couldn’t beat you and he is superstrong.”

Bucky met her eyes and the two had a silent conversation. He had been reassuring them. The closer the final battle came, they began having nightmares whether in bed with them or not.

“Papa is right. I am the best and don’t let him forget it. The first time I met him I had to save him from an evil robot. Then the evil robot brought many more evil robots and Papa and the Red Widows had to fight them off. I took out the big evil robot though. I saved him so we have to remind him of it constantly.”

“You beat the evil robot like you are going to beat Thanos.” Nadeja said but Wanda caught the questioning tilt in her voice.

“Don’t worry about that. Do you want to read more of the article or do you two want to get in bed with us and read Harry Potter with me and Papa? We will do the voices.”

“Yes! We don’t have to pretend like we are going to sleep in our own beds tonight?” Nela asked.

“Nope.”

The girls hopped down and they ran with Storm following and taking his place at the foot of the bed.

“Kinda early, isn’t it?” Bucky asked.

“They have eaten dinner. I would like to spend the evening in bed with them reading than doing anything else. Unless you had plans for them?”

He shook his head and kissed her. “Turning in early sounds good. We need our rest. Sasha texted me and said you were sick in the bunker a couple times today.”

Wanda nodded. “Nerves. I’ll be fine. We need to change and remind the girls that they need pajamas on.”

The family of four, one dog and two cats settled onto the king sized bed and began reading from a Harry Potter novel. Wanda did a horrible job at impersonating Hermione’s voice and Bucky wasn’t good with British accents but the girls loved it and that was all that matter. Wanda forced Thanos from her mind for one night.

Three days later, Silver Sable Compound

“You should stay home.”

Natasha was shocked, first that Wanda asked to speak to her voluntarily and second that she would make such an outrageous request. They were in a small office with a small table and two chairs, bare of any decorations or even windows. Nat suspected it to be a low key interrogation office.

“I get that you don’t like me but that isn’t going to happen. You want me in this battle and you need Steve.”

Wanda shook her head. “I don’t want you and I do need Steve. You should stay home. You can’t give Stannic this perfect life and then leave her an orphan. Some of us will die, Nat.”

“Stannic will move in with Laura… I had guardianship paperwork set up in the event we don’t make it back. Stannic will get the life…”

“You!” Wanda snapped. “She chose you! That was the life she wanted, the life she left us for and that is what she should get. She wanted you. She didn’t care about being a cheerleader or having a horse. We could have gotten her dozens of horses. She built this life in her mind but it all revolved around you. You were what she wanted. She wanted you to be her mother. Not Laura Barton, just you. You can’t take that away from her, meaning you can’t take yourself away from her.”

Nat turned red and she burned inside but did her best to keep her cool.

“What about your twins, Wanda? The practically feral little girls who wanted nothing more than to have a mother and they chose you. You adopted them. Are you staying home?”

Wanda rolled her eyes. “You know I can’t.”

“Bucky? Would you ask him to stay at home?”

Wanda was beginning to see she wouldn’t win this argument. Nat wouldn’t care. Her pride wouldn’t let her stay out of the fight.

“I need Bucky out there for the same reason I need Steve. We need all the power we can find.”

Nat’s eyes widened as she began to understand.

“Because I don’t have any powers, I’m not needed.”

“Because you don’t have powers you are the one we can afford to do without so you can stay with Stannic.”

Nat turned her back on Wanda. “You are unbelievable. You think I could stay out of this fight? You said we are the same, remember? What would you do, Wanda? If you were in my position, If I had the superpowers and you had my skills and experience fighting aliens, what would you do?”

“I’d take my twins, hold them tightly and pray you won. If I didn’t have to fight I wouldn’t.”

“Liar!” Nat hissed turning back to her.

Wanda shook her head. “I’m not lying. I don’t want to lose what I have but more than that, I don’t want my girls to lose me and Bucky. I’m terrified but I don’t have a choice. You do. You talked Stannic into staying out of this. That’s great. Now finish the job and stay with her. She needs a mother and Laura Barton isn’t who she chose.”

Nat took a deep breath and remained calm.

“No. I am fighting.”

Wanda had a seat and threw her hands in the air. “Fine. I tried. If you die go to the other side knowing you crushed Stannic’s heart for no reason.”

Nat also had a seat.

“We aren’t going to die.” she told Wanda softly. “None of us are.”

Wanda wondered if she were being hopelessly optimistic or was truly that stupid. She then decided she didn’t want to know.

“If you live and I don’t make it, I need you to do something for me. It involves my girls.”

“Anything.” Nat said immediately.

“You will no doubt be visiting Yelena and Yelena will be very involved in their lives. I need you to stay away from my girls. Don’t make eye contact, don’t initiate conversation. If they enter a room you are in, quietly leave. I basically want you to be nonexistent to them. If nothing else, I can die in peace, knowing you will have zero influence on their lives. Promise me. Promise me to have nothing to do with them.”

Nat stared at her for a few moments in disbelief.

“You are such a bitch.”

Wanda’s straight face cracked and she began to laugh. Nat began laughing as well. It may have been the situation but they began laughing hysterically in tears. This is how Yelena found them.

“What has happened?” she asked. “No one is dead. I thought one of you may be cackling over the other’s dead body.”

Wanda regained her breath and wiped her eyes.

“Nothing. I just needed a good laugh. Are we ready?”

“Are you ready? This is your show.” Yelena reminded her.

Wanda and Nat stood and walked out behind Yelena.

“I am always ready to pick a fight. You and Sable have everything planned? All phases are ready?”

“As much as possible.” Yelena assured her. “Stark has given us the vault locations for garbage control storage. We will have all the alien weapons they have confiscated. We are going to need a few days to collect them all.”

Wanda shrugged. “You may not have a few days. He could be days away, already there or years away. I’ll do the best I can. I want this over with.”

Yelena patted her on the back. Wanda walked onto the large floor where many widows and Sable had gathered, as well as some enhanced. She had a seat, crossed her legs and closed her eyes.

The Scarlet Witch began floating a foot above the ground, her eyes completely red but her soul no longer there.

Instead it was hundreds or perhaps thousands of lightyears away.

She was on Thanos’s ship, in his throne room. He was seated as if waiting for her.

“So you do not have the courage to come in physical form.” He taunted her immediately.

Wanda turned her back on him and walked to the large view port. There were no other ships with him.

“I had such a warm welcome the last time. You had a chance for the two of us to settle this. Instead you attempted to overrun me with your pathetic excuse for an army. Why should I come in physical form? You will not fight me alone.”

“A challenge to my ego. Interesting.”

“An observation, not a challenge. How have you been sleeping after killing your daughter for your own selfish gain?”

Thanos stood from his throne and stood to her right, gazing into the darkness of space.

“I did what I must. I am afraid she never stood a chance regardless. You tried to kill her the moment you realized I planned to sacrifice her. Cold blooded, Scarlet Witch. I would have been impressed but you did not have the courage to do what was necessary. You could not cross a line and you showed your weakness. Children. I find it hard to believe you to be a mother. You are young… and angry. So very angry and frightened. Behind the Nexus Being power you are just a scared child.”

“And you are a purple, ugly monster who is arrogant to think he knows what is best for the universe. You are nothing Thanos. Without the stones you are nothing but a smarter, purple Hulk. I forgot to extend my thanks for killing Loki. I would have liked to have done the job myself but I didn’t have the chance. Of course Loki wasn’t the only one responsible for New York. You were. I won’t let anyone else take the privilege of killing you from me.”

Thanos chuckled.

“As I said, you do not have the fortitude. We both know there is only one way to kill me. Your human body could not handle the Mind Stone. You would need to obtain all six stones and use them at once. You will win but you will also die. Who will be there to take care of your little twins?”

“Not Romanoff.” Wanda answered quickly. “We both know where this is heading. You want my three stones. You need them. I am becoming more powerful by the day and that frightens you. I am tired of wondering if you are going to attack Earth. I am tired of knowing that you breath, or float in space at times. You want this over and I want this over. It is time we settled this. Me and you, one on one to the death. Winner takes all.”

Thanos nodded. “I agree. I am on my way to Earth as we speak.”

Wanda grinned. “Good luck finding the planet. I am placing a hex over the planet. It will be impossible to find. You may know its location now but it will keep changing. When you arrive it will not be there. It will always be just out of your reach. It’s a trick I learned when I was nineteen and wished to hide my house from Tony Stark. He was right in front of it and never realized. It wasn’t just invisible. He walked around it but believed he was walking a straight line. Perhaps your right. Perhaps the stones may kill both of us if I use them but when it comes to Chaos Magic and the power of Nexus Beings, do not forget who this universe belongs to.”

Thanos knew she was not lying.

“You challenge me to a battle but hide your location.”

“I’m not going to hide my location. I have seen the planet you once called home. I have looked at its surface and your graveyard of ships. It is a wasteland. We will battle there. No collateral damage. No one else needs to come to senseless harm due to our quarrel.”

Thanos looked at her glowing form for a moment assessing her, trying to find something to tell him she was lying. Wanda met his eyes.

“Do you accept my challenge?”

Thanos paused a moment, thinking of every angle this could work in his favor.

“You will bring the stones?”

Wanda nodded. “I will bring one with me to hold the Stones but he will not become involved. You may bring one as well provided he or she not become involved. You may use your stones. I will have my magic. You say honorable. We will see.”

Thanos shook his head. “You cannot defeat me unless you use the stones.”

“As I said, we shall see.”

Thanos was silent for a moment.

“In forty eight of your hours I will be on what was once my home.. Come prepared to die. Make your peace with whatever gods you worship and say goodbye to your loved ones. Take solace in the fact that many will be joining you when I take the stones.”

“I will be in your ship graveyard. Forty eight hours. I will be waiting.”

Wanda opened her eyes. She was on the floor, still cross-legged, surrounded by those she would go to battle with. All had moved into the large room.

Despite the gathering, the room was silent.

“Forty eight hours.” she told the room. “Prepare yourselves. If any want to back out, let us know now. There is no shame in this. The Earth will need defenders if we fail.”

No one said a word.

Yelena nodded. “Then we get to work.”

One night later, Wanda had left the twins sleeping in Bucky’s arms and opened a gate to the largest cemetery in Novi Grad then walked to the tombstone with her name on it and had a seat on the ground, leaning back against it.

She conjured a bottle of Vodka in her hand and gazed at it longingly. After many minutes she placed it on the ground in front of Pietro’s headstone.

“Brother, how often have I wanted to die? How many times did I try to kill myself? How many times did I want to stop fighting? Only your annoying voice in my head kept me going.”

Wanda thought of her time before she met Yelena. It was a dark and cold life she led.

“I have the life I want. I have husband and children. I have a sister I am so close to it is like we share a soul, as we once did.”

She paused.

“So of course it comes my time to die when I want to live. Do you know I had a thought for a little while that maybe I could lead Sokovia one day? I would start a new order in Europe. We would have our own allies and no one would ever threaten our country again. I thought maybe Bucky and I could adopt more children one day when Nela and Nadeja are older, have a big family like we both wanted.

“Now I have to lie to my children’s beautiful faces and tell them Mama will be back after I kill Thanos. I have to convince them that I will be back when I know it is a lie. I will try, Brother. I will try everything I have in me to defeat him with magic. We both know it will not be enough.

“Sadly I don’t know if I can take the three stones from him. If I don’t all is lost. The thousands going with us to battle will be dead far from home. So many brave men and women. Sable has given us half her army. She asked for volunteers and they all offered without hesitation. If we fail they will be needed on Earth but will it matter? Sable and Ava will be dead, all the ones I promised… I will send as many back to Earth as I can but… what would you tell me if you could talk to me.”

“I would tell you to stop whining and go kill the asshole.” she heard his voice in her head and chuckled to herself.

“Yes, you would, wouldn’t you? You said I was the one who pushed you around but you were bossy as well.”

Wanda laid her head back on her tombstone. She was impressed. Her parents and brother’s grave were surrounded by flowers. Citizens dropped them off every day. It occurred to her that her body would likely never make it to this grave.

“Damn it.” she whispered to herself then stood up. She took a last look at Pietro and her parents graves.

“I will make you proud, Mama and Papa. I know I have not always. I have done many bad things, but this time, no matter what I will win. It will likely cost me my life but I will not let him kill half the Universe. I will see you all soon.”

The next day, Wanda knelt in front of her crying twins. They were in a dormitory in Sable’s compound and the widows were gearing up. This time the goodbyes were more emotional. Everyone could feel it. This was no small mission with a small team. Everyone was going. Not one widow was staying behind. Seeing Rachel in a uniform brought home the seriousness of the situation.

“Mama, take us with you. I know you said we could never fight but Rachel never fights and she is going.” Nadeja argued. “Nela can stay and watch the cats and Storm and I will stay by you and Papa’s side. You have never given me a chance to show you how good a fighter I am.”

Wanda gazed lovingly at her for a moment and Nadeja looked away, knowing what her answer would be.

“You have to come back, right? You and Papa? Papa won’t get cut this time, will you, Papa?”

Bucky knelt in front of her. “I might get a few cuts but I will be fine. You know I heal fast. Relax and it will be over before you know it. Have fun playing with all of Ava’s toys and hanging out in her obnoxiously pink room she loves.”

“Mr. Garret told us he had special markers we could use on the white walls and draw whatever we want!” Nela told her. “You should stay and draw with us, Mama. Look at these people. There are people in weird costumes and soldiers and tanks outside! There are a lot of those magic guys like Doctor Stephen. They can beat the bad alien.”

Wanda felt a tear drop down her cheek.

“I wish I could.” Wanda told her. “You know I can’t. I love you both. I will be back before you know it. I have to go. The sooner I beat him, the sooner I am back.”

Wanda kissed them both and walked away quickly, not able to look at them any longer, knowing she was lying. If she saw anymore of their tears it would kill her before Thanos had a shot.

Bucky grabbed her hand and walked beside her.

“You’ve been practicing for this.” he told her. “You are the biggest badass in the universe when it comes to chaos magic and chaos magic can’t be stopped, right?”

Wanda grinned, hoping she conveyed confidence but knew she didn’t. she could never fool Bucky.

“Change reality.” he told her.

“What?”

“If everything looks hopeless, or you get in trouble and don’t think you can beat him, change reality. Wipe him out of existence.”

Wanda shook her head. “You know that’s dangerous.”

“The world needs dangerous right now.”

“Not that kind of dangerous. If I change reality, rewrite history, everything changes. The girls history changes, the widows… I’m sorry. I’ve talked about this with Agatha and Stephen. The risk is too great.”

Bucky stopped her. “No risk is too great to save you. Do what you have to do to get back to the girls, Wanda.”

Wanda understood what he was telling her. He would risk it all for her to live. Bucky was a smart man but he didn’t understand the ramifications of what he was asking. With the Reality Stone, Wanda was certain she could write a reality to her liking but the one they lived in, loved in, would no longer be the same. The effort would drive her insane and an insane Scarlet Witch let loose on any Universe would spell the end.

Instead of answering she walked on.

She met Yelena at the launch point.

Yelena was ready, focused, angry and bloodthirsty. It was a look Wanda was very familiar with. This time where something was behind it. A sadness, a bit of doubt.

“It has come to this.” she told Wanda.

Wanda took her hand.

“Ride or die.” Yelena told her.

Wanda nodded. “At least if we don’t make it, it will be a cool way to die.” she teased her.

Yelena’s hardened gaze softened for a moment.

“As if I would let us die in an uncool manner. We are not dead yet. Do not count us out, Wanda. You and I have not lost once. We have never fought an enemy we couldn’t beat. It will be no different this time. Focus on Thanos. We will worry about the war around you. Got it?”

“Got it. I love you, Yelena.”

Yelena shook her head. “I love you too but now is not the time to go soft. Go say hello to the asshole then let us through.”

Wanda walked in front of the large group and raised her hand. A small red doorway appeared in front of her.

It was time.

Titan

Wanda stepped out of the doorway onto the alien planet. Behind her was Tyrone, a shadow in a black cape, his face hidden by a dark hood. In his hands he held a vibranium box and inside the box were three stones, ready for Wanda to call on when the time came.

The sky above her lit up.

She saw what she had expected to see.

Thanos was present already, fifty yards away. His sorcerer was with him. The sorcerer had just cast runes all over the planet. They were not the runes she knew of course. She didn’t know every form of magic in the Universe.

She reached out with her hand and while it glowed red, she only felt the power of the Mind Stone inside her. Her magic refused to answer her summons.

Thanos and Wanda approached one another\.

“Runes? How can I battle if I cannot call on my magic but you can use your stones?”

Thanos waved a hand towards the sorcerer. He walked from behind the remains of a ship and made his way to Tyrone.

“The fate of the Universe is more important than my honor. It saddens me to say but I cannot take the chance of defeat. Do not interfere and perhaps you and your loved ones will survive. Tell your friend to hand over the stones. There is no need for him to die in a battle he cannot win.”

Despite having suspected Thanos of pulling something like this, Wanda became very angry. Behind him, walking out from rock formations and ship remains were his army of monsters. Thousands of them stood behind him. His large ship rose from the ground and looked over the battlefield.

“You do have no honor.” She noted.

“I killed my daughter for this. I will do anything to realize my destiny. I will not let this universe slowly die because of your actions, Scarlet Witch.”

Thanos’s sorcerer was now near Tyrone. Tyrone showed no fear. He knew what to do. He was ready.

The sorcerer reached Tyrone and waved his hand, trying to paralyze the boy. The box with the stones was ripped from his hands and flew into Maw’s grasp.

Tyrone turned into a black cloud of smoke. Maw stared at the boy’s new form, fascinated by this development.

Wanda wasn’t sure if he saw his own death coming. She doubted it. Tandy struck quickly. She flew out the cloud of smoke with a long bright sword of light and beheaded him.

The blonde stood over the body and picked up the box of stones while Tyrone turned solid once again. Cloak and Dagger had done their job.

The runes in the sky disappeared and Wanda fired a blast of Chaos Magic into Thanos’s chest, blowing him back.

He sat up from the ground and saw Wanda raising her hands. Bright red walls of light as far as he could see appeared behind her.

The heroes of Earth emerged. He watched sorcerers, Avengers, Enhanced, Wakandans, Inhumans, and soldiers.

Tony Stark flew out of the wall of red.

He stood speechless as he watched a man grow to epic proportions and tower over the field.

He then saw over a hundred and fifty girls in black rushing the field and surrounding Wanda, weapons raised, ready to defend her.

Thanos took in the battlefield. The walls of red were gone and in their place were thousands of Earth’s warriors.

Thanos let out a slow breath realizing his trap had not worked. She was not as naïve as he had hoped.

“It is war you want.” he told her.

Wanda’s eyes glowed red and she struck, flying forward as the coalition behind her rushed into battle on a collision course with Thanos’s army. The Infinity War had begun.