C494 Spider-Man (Patreon)
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As Pepper and MJ led Morgan away to give the two Peter’s and Tony’s some privacy, Peter wasted no time in getting to the heart of the matter. He turned to Anthony with a determined look in his eyes.
"I need to know where Wanda Maximoff lives in this universe. It's urgent," Peter said, his voice laced with a sense of seriousness.
Anthony, still baffled by the sudden appearance of an older version of himself and another Peter Parker, initially hesitated. "Why do you need to find Wanda?" he asked cautiously.
Peter didn't beat around the bush. He decided to lay out the truth, or at least part of it. "In my universe, I've been protecting a young girl named America Chavez. I have reason to believe that Wanda is after her."
Anthony raised a brow. “Why would she be after some random girl?”
Peter shrugged. “I think it’s because of America’s ability to travel the multiverse, but who knows really? I have a feeling your Wanda has been corrupted by the Darkhold, so she’s probably not thinking clearly.”
Anthony frowned, his skepticism evident. "The Darkhold? What’s that?"
“The Darkhold, or also known as the Book of Sins, the Book of Spells, or the Book of the Damned, is a dark magic spell book based on ancient engravings carved by a powerful demon named Chthon.” Peter explained. "I've seen some of what the Darkhold can do when I destroyed it in my universe. And If my suspicions are correct, Wanda might be a danger not only to America but to this entire universe."
Anthony weighed the gravity of the situation. While he didn't fully believe that Wanda would do such a thing, he trusted Peter, especially after all that Peter’s done for him.
"Alright," Anthony conceded. "I'll tell you where she lives. But on one condition… I'm coming with you. If there's a chance she's in trouble or needs help, I want to be there to for her. It’s the least I can do..."
Peter didn't hesitate to agree. "Sure, two Tony’s is probably worse than one, but we should be fine. Try to follow my lead and stay quiet though. I have an idea to solve this without fighting. But of course, I doubt she’ll accept."
Tom raised a curious brow. “Why not?”
“As I said, she’s been corrupted by the Darkhold. I doubt she’s even thinking straight at the moment, so we’ll most likely have to beat some sense into her before anything else.” Peter explained.
With their agreement sealed, Tony told them the address and Peter opened a portal using his newfound magical abilities. The swirling vortex of energy transported Peter, Tom, Tony, and Anthony from the luxurious penthouse to an open piece of property surrounded by lush fruit trees, just outside a small town.
The sight that greeted them was unexpected. Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch herself, was leisurely picking fruit from the orchard surrounding her home and filling her basket. Her presence was calm, and she seemed entirely unaware of their arrival.
Though it didn't take long for her to sense their presence, her powers tingling with awareness. She turned slowly, her gaze locking onto the newcomers with a facade of surprise and curiosity.
Tom, Tony, and Anthony exchanged glances as Peter walked up to Wanda, realizing that their mission had just taken an unexpected turn. Based on what Peter said, they expected to find Wanda in some dark cave, changing an evil ritual over a black leather book, not peacefully licking fruit in the sunlight.
Wanda eyed each set or twins with a guarded expression, her powers crackling around her. "Who are you, and why have you come here?"
Peter took a step forward, his voice calm and reassuring. "We mean no harm, Wanda. We just want to talk."
Peter eyed Wanda Maximoff warily as they stood in the lush orchard, surrounded by fruit trees. With a snap of his fingers, Peter summoned a table and chairs into existence beneath the shade of a nearby tree. He gestured for everyone to take a seat, including Wanda.
Eyeing Peter warily, Wanda hesitated for a moment before finally taking a seat. Her crimson eyes bore into Peter's. “So, are you related to Spider-Man, or?”
Peter offered a small nod, confirming, "I'm from another universe. But I have a feeling you know a lot about that, considering your recent activities."
Wanda's eyes widened momentarily, realization dawning upon her. She had been sending her monstrous creations across the multiverse, all in pursuit of America Chavez. It seemed her secret was no longer safe.
Her clothes shifted, and her appearance transformed into the iconic red Scarlet Witch attire, a manifestation of her power and abilities. Anthony and Tom watched in awe as her transformation unfolded before their eyes, realizing that was telling the truth.
Wanda's voice took on a more authoritative tone as she spoke, "So, you've figured me out. What do you want?"
Peter wasted no time in addressing the matter at hand. "I want to know why you're after America Chavez."
Wanda's gaze remained fixed on Peter, her expression unyielding. "She's important to me. I need her. You should just hand her over, and we can make this quick."
Peter raised an eyebrow, unwilling to give in so easily. "Why do you need her?" Well, technically he already knows. But he can’t appear to be too omniscient in front of others.
Wanda's frown deepened as she contemplated whether to reveal her true intentions. Finally, she decided it was time to confide in Peter, hoping her story could help speed things along. "I dreamwalk into other universes every night, and in every one of them, I have two beautiful children, twin boys. But in this universe, they never existed. At least, not really."
She continued, her voice tinged with sorrow, "After finally beating Thanos, I was devastated and lonely. In my grief, I used my powers to warp reality, creating a family with a fake Vision and our two children, Tommy and Billy. But they were never real, and now they're gone, erased by the actions of others."
Wanda's voice trembled as she spoke, revealing the depths of her pain and longing. "Can’t you see? I'm just a mother, trying to reunite with her children."
Peter nodded in understanding, empathizing with her plight. "I see your perspective, Wanda. You want to kill America by taking her powers and then go take another Wanda’s children. Maybe kill off their mother and just replace her without them knowing, right?”
Wanda didn’t like the way he worded it, but he wasn’t wrong. “Yes…”
Peter nods as those behind him didn’t look happy with their fellow Avenger’s plans. ”But what if I said that I have a better proposal?"
Wanda's eyes narrowed. "What do you suggest?"
Peter leaned forward, his voice earnest. "I can find you a universe where the Scarlet Witch is dead or dying, leaving poor little Timmy and Bobby alone.”
“Tommy and Billy.” Wanda corrects, an annoyed frown marring her face.
Peter shrugged uncaringly and continued. “Right, anyway… The multiverse is infinite, and it shouldn't be too hard to locate such a universe. I can transport you there, free of charge. You can be with your children, give them the love and care they deserve. No need to kill off any mothers or steal any children. Sounds good, doesn’t it?"
Wanda's mouth dropped in astonishment at the unexpected offer. She had never imagined such a possibility, and it tugged at her heartstrings. "How... how would you transport me to another universe? And how can you find one with a dead version of me?"
Peter grinned mysteriously. "Let's just say America isn't the only one who can travel the multiverse."
Wanda pondered his words for a moment before finally making a decision. "I accept your offer, but how can I trust you to keep your end of the bargain?”
“Wait, not so fast...” Peter leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "There's one small thing that you need to do to before anything else."
Wanda raised an eyebrow, wary of what Peter might ask of her. "What is it?" She thought this was supposed to be free of charge…
Peter's smile turned wry as he stated, "Hand over the Darkhold, Wanda." He said, holding out his hand.
Wanda's entire body tensed at the mention of the ominous book. The Darkhold appeared in her arms as she clutched it protectively. She regarded Peter with a mixture of defiance and apprehension.
Seeing the book in her possession, the truth of Peter's claims became undeniable. He was right, she did have the Darkhold and it was most likely corrupting her mind.
Peter leaned forward, his voice filled with urgency. "Wanda, the Darkhold is not safe. It was created by a demon with malicious intent. If you keep it, there's a high likelihood it will find a way to hurt your children, or even make you hurt them. To protect your family, you must let go of the Darkhold."
Wanda hesitated, torn between her maternal instincts and the realization that the Darkhold posed a genuine threat. But as she considered Peter's words, her ears began to ring and a cacophony of sinister whispers echoed in her mind, urging her to keep the book at any cost.
The Darkhold was fighting back, manipulating her thoughts and emotions, making her believe that Peter was lying. With a sudden surge of red energy, Wanda unleashed a blast that cut down the surrounding trees, destroyed their seating arrangements, and sent Peter and his group flying backward.
A/N: 1600 words :) Eating really quick and then I’ll start the next chapter.