C487 Spider-Man (Patreon)
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After the emotional rollercoaster of the morning, MJ was determined to make sure America Chavez had a proper meal. Despite America's protests that she was no longer hungry, MJ had seen just how fragile the girl's condition was. So, she gently but firmly convinced America to sit down at the kitchen table once again.
"Trust me, sweetie, you need to eat something," MJ said with a motherly tone. "It's been a while since you've had a proper meal, hasn't it?"
America hesitated, her eyes downcast. "Yeah... I guess so." After all, it wasn’t easy to find a reliable source of edible food when traveling through the multiverse.
MJ dished out a generous plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and some fresh fruit. She placed it in front of America, who picked at the food with a mix of curiosity and reluctance. The aroma of the hot food filled the air, making it difficult for her to resist taking a few bites.
…
After America filled her stomach, MJ noticed that the girl was still clinging to her side like a lifeline. It was as if she feared being left alone, and MJ couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her.
Meanwhile, Lily was practically vibrating with excitement. She had spent the past few hours glued to her new friend, trying to include her in every activity, and now she was bursting with questions. Finally, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, she blurted out, "So, America, where did you come from? And those star portals you make, they're so cool! Is it magic? Or are you a Metahuman?"
America's gaze flickered between MJ, Peter, and Lily, unsure if she should share her story. She glanced at MJ, who gave her a reassuring nod. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," MJ said gently. She had a hunch that America might be a victim of some sort of incident or abuse, and she didn't want to pressure her.
After a moment of contemplation, America finally sighed and decided to open up. She owed this family that much, considering how they had taken her in and even stopped her portal as well.
"I don't know what universe I'm from," America began, her voice shaky but determined. "I used to live with my mothers, Elena and Amalia Chavez. When I was just a little kid, about four years old, I... I developed this strange ability. I could create portals to other universes, but I couldn’t control it."
As America spoke, she couldn't help but remember the day it all began. Playing innocently in a field of flowers, a bee had landed on her hand. In her fear, she had unintentionally conjured a portal, which had swept her parents off their feet and into the swirling, star-shaped vortex. She had never seen them again after that day.
Tears welled up in America's eyes as she continued, "After losing my parents, I was alone. I traveled through a bunch of universes, accidentally opening portals whenever I was scared or upset. Not all universes are friendly either..."
Lily listened with wide eyes, absorbing America's story with a mix of fascination and empathy. She couldn't imagine what it must have been like to lose her parents and travel through different dimensions all alone.
MJ, on the other hand, couldn't help but wonder if that was the source of America's scars. She gently asked, "Is that how you got those scars? A dangerous universe?"
America nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah... some of them, at least."
Not the best at reading emotions, Lily continued with her curious questions. "Was that tentacle thing from one of those unfriendly universes?"
Suddenly, a shadow of sadness crossed America's face, and she looked away, refusing to speak about it. After all, if she talked about the monster, then she would have to talk about Doctor Strange’s betrayal.
Peter noticed the change in America's demeanor and couldn't help but feel concerned. ‘Is it about Scarlett Witch?’ He wondered.
Clearing her throat, MJ clapped her hands gently. "Alright, I think that's enough questions for today. America's had a rough time, and we shouldn't overwhelm her. Let's give her some space, okay?"
Lily exchanged a glance with America, and nodded understandingly. “Do you want to play Minecraft with me?” She asked, putting everything else to the back of her mind.
…
As the day went on, America continued to stick close to MJ and Lily, both welcomed the company. It seemed that America had found a sense of security in this new family, and MJ was more than happy to provide it. At least until they could find her missing parents.
————
While Lily and MJ continued to provide comfort and company for America, Peter decided to deal with a pressing concern. He needed to find his universe's Darkhold before it could cause any trouble. Peter was well aware of the dangerous influence the Darkhold could have, having seen its destructive potential in the movies.
To ensure America's safety during his absence, Peter decided to temporarily seal her powers using the Reality Stone. With a snap of his fingers, he bound her portal making ability. It was a precautionary measure to make sure she wouldn't accidentally open a portal and get into any trouble while he was away.
With that done, Peter opened a portal to Kamar-Taj. As he stepped through, he found himself in the midst of a lesson. The Ancient One was instructing Wanda Maximoff in meditation techniques, helping her harness her formidable powers.
Wanda looked up, surprised to see a stranger in the room. She only knew Peter as Spider-Man and had no idea about his true identity. All she knew was that her knew teacher had another student, who didn’t show up very often. The Ancient One, perceptive as ever, introduced Wanda to Peter.
"Peter, this is my new student, Wanda Maximoff. Wanda, meet Peter, your senior apprentice," the Ancient One said with a knowing smile.
Peter extended his hand politely. "Nice to meet you, Wanda."
Wanda shook his hand, still somewhat awestruck. "Nice to meet you too."
With a subtle gesture, Peter turned his attention back to the Ancient One. “Can we speak in private for a moment?”
“Of course.” She nodded and gently dismissed Wanda. “Go to courtyard 17. Master Xiao’s class should be starting up momentarily.”
Once they were alone, Peter got straight to the point. "I need to find the Darkhold, and I need to know the location of the mountain temple where it was recorded."
The Ancient One's eyes widened, and she immediately began to warn Peter about the dangers of the Darkhold. "Peter, the Darkhold is an ancient and malevolent grimoire. It corrupts its user, driving them to commit unspeakable acts of evil. You must steer clear of it."
Peter nodded in understanding. "I get that, and I have no intention of using it. I’m going to destroy the Darkhold and the temple."
The Ancient One regarded him with a mixture of skepticism and concern. She knew Peter had a knack for getting himself into trouble, and she didn't want him to be swayed by the book's dark influence.
"Okay, I’ll tell you, but only under one condition," the Ancient One said firmly. "I’ll tag-along to make sure you don’t do anything stupid..."
Peter shrugged uncaringly before nodding in agreement. "Alright, then let’s go."
With that settled, the Ancient One began to explain. “Let’s start with the book… Last I heard, It was in the possession of a Salem witch named Agatha Harkness…”
————
-Original MCU Universe- (A/N: The same one that Peter visited after the spider-verse.)
In a dimly lit chamber nestled deep underground, the Scarlet Witch paced nervously. Her powers had grown exponentially since her possession of the Darkhold, and she had used its malevolent knowledge to monitor the movements of her quarry, a young girl named America Chavez.
However, her frustration had been mounting. Her attempts to capture America had been thwarted time and time again. The girl's unique abilities to manipulate multiverse traveling rifts had proven elusive, and each time she sent her monstrous creation after her, she always managed to slip away.
Suddenly, Wanda’s scarlet eyes glowed with anger as she realized that her creation, a grotesque monstrosity of twisted tentacle limbs and gnashing teeth, had failed in its mission. But instead of the being unable to catch its target as per usual, her attack dog had been destroyed.
She couldn’t help but curse as she slammed the Darkhold to the floor. America Chavez was her only link to her children. She needed the girls powers to reunite with them, but the America’s resilience was beginning to test her patience.
With a deep breath, she reached down for the Darkhold, a sinister tome that pulsed with dark energy. Its pages were filled with arcane knowledge and forbidden spells, and she had been using it to peer into the multiverse, seeking answers and guidance.
As she delved into the ancient grimoire, her vision blurred and expanded, transcending the boundaries of her own reality. She sought out the truth of what had transpired, reaching out with her enhanced powers to see through the fabric of the multiverse.
And there it was, a vision of a young girl(Lily), wielding powers far beyond normal human capabilities. She watched as the girl, with determination in her eyes, faced down the monstrous abomination that she had sent to capture America. With swift and decisive action, she unleashed a deafening blast of Eldritch energy, defeating the creature with an impressive display of strength and courage.
Wanda’s frown deepened as she realized that this new player was a force to be reckoned with. The girl had protected her target, making her a potential threat. “I’ll have to adjust my strategy…”
Closing the Darkhold, Wanda knew what she must do. She would need to send another universe-hopping monstrosity after America, one even more formidable than the last. And this time, she would use the Darkhold to enhance its power, making it a truly unstoppable force.
A/N: 1688 words :)