THE SCARLET WITCH #1
FAMILY REUNION WELCOME TO DISTRICT X
By:Jeremy Las Dulce
In a cheap two bedroom apartment in downtown Manhattan, Wanda packs her final belongings into a suitcase. As she places the picture frames that once sat on her nightstand in the suitcase she paused. In her hand was the first picture she took with the Avengers. Captain America, Hawkeye, and Pietro looked so happy with frozen fireworks illuminating the night sky behind them. She sighed as she placed the picture on top her clothes and as she reached for the last picture frame it fell to the ground and broke. As she looked down amongst the broken glass was a picture of her wedding with the Vision. She remained speechless looking down at the photo. Then the sound of the buzzer echoed through the apartment.
Lorna: Wanda! Wanda! It's me Lorna, buzz me in.
Wanda stands up and walks over to her intercom and presses the door button. Within a few moments there is a knock on the front door. When Wanda opens the door Lorna stands smiling. She embraces her in a hug.
Lorna: Hey sis. It's moving day huh?
Wanda: Yeah. I'm not going to miss this place. Besides it's not like Dad is going to send me any money anyway.
Wanda and Lorna both laugh and a slight chuckle can be heard from within the hallway. Wanda hears the voice and makes a slightly puzzled face.
Wanda: Who is in the hallway?
Lorna: I brought you some help for moving out.
Lorna turns to the side and gestures down the hallway as Pietro walks into the light of the apartment room. Petro smiles and approaches Wanda for a hug but is instead greeted with a punch to the throat.
Pietro clutches his throat and coughs.
Pietro: Hey! What the hell is that for? Is this how we say hi now?
Wanda: Yeah that's how I say hi to somebody that disappears for a few months and leaves me to pay the rent by myself.
Pietro: Look. I understand that you're pissed but I had to leave and before you say anything I can't tell you anything about it.
Wanda: But…
Pietro: Nothing.
Wanda: So you're doing solo work now? You have always been part of a team.
Pietro: No I'm not doing solo work … Wait a minute didn't I just tell you I couldn't tell you anything.
Wanda: Yeah, yeah, yeah fine, now you have to carry all my luggage.
Pietro: These are all metal suitcases. Why not have Lorna move them?
Wanda: Lorna actually keeps in contact. You owe me bro.
Pietro sighs
Pietro: *whispers* Thank god for Terrigen Mist.
Pietro uses his super speed to move the bags of luggage one at time to the foyer in the lobby of the apartment. Wanda and Lorna leave the apartment and walk down the stairs. Pietro then moves the luggage to the trunk and backseat of Wanda's car. Once he was done he paused with a face of confusion.
Pietro: Why didn't you just tell me where it was you are moving to and I could have just run all these there in less than five minutes.
Wanda: Good idea. Here take this; it has the address on it. I'll meet you there.
Pietro: You hate me don't you?
Wanda: Love you too.
Pietro then removed the luggage and ran it to the address listed on the piece of paper. As he took the last piece of luggage to the house Wanda and Lorna went back up to the apartment.
Wanda: I just have one more bag to bring with me. I couldn't have Pietro super speed juggling my personal stuff.
Wanda and Lorna entered her bedroom where Lorna noticed the broken picture frame. She walked over and removed the photo from amongst the broken glass.
Lorna: Did you tell Vision that you are leaving?
Wanda: No, I didn't want to disturb him. He seems to be busy teaching over at the Future Academy.
As she said this her face was expressionless and she zipped up her bag and walked out of the room. Lorna quietly followed behind, folding the picture and placing it in her pocket.
Lorna: So you ready to go?
Wanda: Yeah but we are going to teleport there.
Lorna: What about your car?
Wanda: Oh I'll come and get that later. It's not like it has gas in it anyways.
Wanda and Lorna smile to each other as a scarlet red dome of energy engulfs them and a flash of light floods the apartment. They reappear in an alleyway beside her new apartment complex. They came around the alleyway where Pietro was resting against a wall.
Pietro: Teleport?
Wanda: Yep.
Pietro: You really do hate me don't you?
Wanda ignores him as she walks into the lobby of the apartment.
Wanda: So you already moved the stuff up?
Pietro: Yeah your landlord let me in. Did you know that he has…
Wanda: Horns? Yeah he is the local Goat Man.
Pietro: What is this place?
Wanda: Oh I didn't tell you? This apartment is in District X better known as Mutant Town, San Diego.
They walk up to her new apartment and unlock the door.
Lorna: It's better than your old apartment at least.
Wanda: Yeah I suppose it is. At the very least its home now.
Lorna reaches into her pocket and removes the picture. She then places it in Wanda's hand. She then turns around and walks out the door who is followed by Petro. Wanda looks at the picture and then places it down on the kitchen counter before locking the door and returning outside.
Lorna: Show us around town. I've never been to the mutant district.
Pietro: Yeah show us around sis.
Wanda: Alright then.
Wanda begins to show Pietro and Lorna around the district, taking them to all the local landmarks. They are impressed by the flourishing nature of the District and the peaceful interactions between there residents. Their idealism however was crushed when they arrive at a large church. Outside the church were gathered two different groups. On one side were a large group of human decenters lead by a group of extremist known as the
Purifiers and on the other side a local gang known as Nation M.
Purifiers: DOWN WITH MUTANTS! UP WITH HUMANITY!
Nation M: THIS IS OUR TERRITORY! WE ARE THE FUTURE!
Then the Purifiers rushed towards Nation M in a fanatical blitzkrieg. They swarmed towards the mutants of Nation M when a blue haired woman appeared from the crowd and using a powerful electromagnetic wave sent the initial assailants flying through the air. The area then collapsed into a massive battle between the humans and mutants. The mutants made quick work of the normal human forces but soon found themselves being matched by the more highly trained and well equipped Purifier forces.
Pietro and Wanda both turned to Lorna.
Pietro and Wanda: Alright baby sister. This one is all you.
Lorna: I had a feeling you were going to say that.
Lorna walks towards the group and begins to levitate in the air. Then using her powers she begins to cause the Purifiers weapons to malfunction and then uses them as battering weapons to strike human and mutant alike. The blue haired woman notices this and sends a fire hydrant flying at her. Lorna was able to deflect the hydrant and the woman levitated into the air to meet Lorna at eye level.
Lorna: Who are you?
Blue-Haired Woman: I am Polarity! I am the leader of Nation M and the true Mistress of Magnetism.
Lorna: That's funny. I was Polarity, a few years ago.
Polarity: You didn't deserve the name so I took it.
Lorna: Will see how worthy you are.
Lorna then begins to levitate multiple objects from the ground and sent them flying towards Polarity. Polarity uses one hand to rip a stop sign from the ground and the opposing hand to form a shield which she uses to deflect the incoming objects. Polarity then bends the stop sign into crude blade and rushes Lorna. Lorna is caught off guard by her aggression and can only defend with a shield. Polarity crashes into her shield and begins to try to force her way. Polaris begins to put more power into the shield which causes Polarity to begin to smashing her head into the shield which begins to slowly lose strength. Lorna then smacks Polarity off her shield with a car and sends her into a building wall. Polarity pushes the car off her and rips it shreds before firing the pieces at her in rapid succession. Lorna's shield dissipates and the shrapnel cuts her face. Finally, slightly enraged Lorna levitates multiple cars from the street and smashes them into Polarity who then falls to the ground unconscious; surviving only through the use of a last minute shield.
Wanda: Well then. That was something
Lorna descends to the ground.
Lorna: I don't like violence.
Pietro: You could have fooled me.
Lorna: Can we focus on stopping this riot before things get even more out of hand?
As Lorna spoke these words the church behind them became engulfed in blue flames and screaming could be heard coming from inside. Wanda looked to Pietro and Lorna.
Wanda: Pietro, crowd control. I want this riot cleared five minutes ago. Lorna you're with me. We are saving whoever is in that church.
Pietro: Yes mom.
Pietro then super speed dashes into the crowd knocking several of them into the air. He then moves through the crowd disarming the Purifiers and forcefully separating the two sides. He then begins to run in a circle producing a large vortex which drive both sides away, but has no effect on the flames charring the church. The Purifiers and Nation M retreat.
Wanda: Alright lets go.
Wanda and Lorna moved into the church, avoiding the burning doors and fallen beams. Inside the center of the sanctuary was a collapsed mutant female with two backwards curving horns extending from her head and a blue skinned male mutant with a long arrow-headed tail lifting her up from the ground.
Wanda: Kurt! I thought you were dead?
Nightcrawler: Oh. Hello Wanda. It is a pleasure to see you here.
Wanda: What are you doing here?
Nightcrawler: I live here now and when I heard they had trapped this girl inside the church I came to rescue her. I was a little late however.
Nightcrawler gestures to the ground where the charred bodies of four unidentifiable people lay; still burning in blue fire.
Wanda: Did she do this?
Nightcrawler: It's irrelevant. For now I have to get her to a safe place. I would recommend the same for both of you.
Nightcrawler then teleports from the church, leaving Wanda and Lorna alone in the now collapsing building.
Lorna: I don't mean to interrupt but can we get out of here?
Wanda: Yeah let's go.
She then uses her powers to teleport them out of the church and back to the street where they meet up with
Pietro. As they reappear the church collapses into burning cinders.
Pietro: Who was inside the church?
Wanda: You wouldn't believe me if I told you?
Pietro: Trust me in my time gone I've seen some things. Try me.
Wanda: Kurt.
Pietro: Kurt as in Nightcrawler? The blue elf, pointy ears, tail, and brimstone?
Wanda: Yeah that's the one.
Pietro: So, what do we do now?
Wanda: I guess we go back home.
They returned to Wanda's apartment and as they went up to the room they smelled the distinctive odor of brimstone coming from next door.
Wanda: It couldn't be.
Wanda then proceeded to knock on her neighbors' door and within moments Nightcrawler teleported behind them.
Nightcrawler: Hello, fraulein. It's good to see you again. I see you made it out safely.
Wanda: Where is the girl? Is she okay?
Nightcrawler: Her name is Maggie and she will be fine.
Pietro ear piece makes a low audible ping and then a voice comes through. Pietro nods in silent acceptance.
Pietro: Sorry, I got to go. Girlfriend is calling me.
Wanda: Girlfriend?
Pietro smiles and runs down the stairs where he enters through a mysterious portal that just opened and closes upon his entry.
Lorna: Well that was interesting. Either way I've had enough excitement for one day I think I'll head back too. It was good seeing you again sis. Does all this craziness mean that you're back in the hero game?
Wanda: It was good seeing you too Lorna, and if every day is gonna be like this I'll need to.
Lorna: (smiles) Look out District X, the Scarlet Witch is back in business. You mind sending me back?
Wanda: Sure no problem. It's just a simple teleportation spell.
Wanda then teleports Lorna back to New York and then turns her attention to Nightcrawler who still stands before her.
Wanda: Who were those people outside the church and how is this girl involved with them?
Nightcrawler: It will be easier if I just show you.
Nightcrawler teleports them into his apartment and they walk over to the sleeping girl. He pulls back her cloak and a large red M is tattooed on her lower shoulder blade.
Wanda: Is that?
Nightcrawler: Yep. It's the symbol for the militant mutant group Nation M. She is one of them, or at least she was.
Wanda: So what do they call her?
Nightcrawler: They call her Hellfire.
Who is Hellfire? What is her history with Nation M? How is Nightcrawler alive? What else is in store for Wanda in District X? Find out in the next issue of The Scarlet Witch.