This story is a collaboration between Malady Pond and Calixa Cochrane. It picks up soon after the events of Fantastic Four (2005) and ignores the events of Rise of the Silver Surfer. There will, however, be a few passing references to events and characters from the comics.
Disclaimer: The Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom belong to Marvel Comics. We, the authors of this fanfiction, own only the original character, Jasmine/Cynthia Fortunova, and a few minor characters that we create, and we make no profit from the posting of this multi-chapter story. We write it simply for our own amusement, as well as, we hope, yours.
Victor von Doom was an intelligent man. Did you really think he wouldn't have a plan?
Prologue
"Victor, I owe you my life." With those six words, my fate was sealed.
Had I known then what was to come, I don't know that I would have changed anything. Maybe this was how my life was always meant to play out. If even one choice had gone the other way, if one step were timed differently, I might be somewhere else now. And I can't imagine that somewhere else being any better than here. This is where I belong.
But, to understand how I got here, you have to know where I started.
Back in Latveria, there is a forest. As a young girl, I used to walk past it, skirting the edges of the darkness.
Even though I'd heard the stories of the evils that dwelled therein, I was never afraid. One day, I would learn how foolish I was not to be more cautious.
I don't remember much of the attack; I'm sure Victor could tell you more, if he were so inclined. All I can recall is a sudden pain, a struggle, then waking up to a gentle hand caressing my forehead with a cool cloth.
I had been in and out of consciousness for four days.
Once I was truly awake and coherent again, much of my memory was gone. I knew my name was Jasmine and that I enjoyed my afternoon walks past the forest. My parents were dead and -
And that was the extent of what I knew of my life. To this day, what my life was and who I had been before Victor von Doom rescued me from the wolves is cloudy, hazy, buried in a fog.
After that, I never wanted for anything. I attended the best schools, had the finest tutors, and anything I wanted or needed was at my disposal.
When Victor set about creating his empire, he gave me control of the trust fund he'd set up for me all those years ago. I went to finishing school and then to university.
He decided I was ready to take my place at his side, and he began to teach me everything he knew.
Yes, he told me of his plans for the so-called Fantastic Four. It wasn't personal, of course. It was all just business.
Because of Reed Richards' miscalculations, Victor was in danger of losing Von Doom Industries. Though the board wanted me to side with them - they audaciously offered me more shares as well as a prominent seat - I refused to betray the man who had saved my life.
After all, Victor von Doom made me the woman I am today.
Next, meeting Johnny Storm