AN: Enjoy!


Wanda and Vision set off in search of Doctor Strange. As they searched, they passed by various unusual objects, and a group of Sorcerers practising manoeuvres with portals like the one Strange had opened over their heads the previous day.

Just as they were about to give up and ask for directions, the man they were searching for poked his head out from a door.

"There you are, finally. Come in, we've got quite a bit to go over.."

Vision and Wanda shared a slightly nervous look, before entering the room, which appeared to be a library. The pair sat at a table across from Doctor Strange. As the Sorcerer opened his mouth to speak, Wanda raised a hand to stop him. His eyes might have been deceiving him, but Vision thought he'd seen a tiny wisp of red at the tip of her fingers.

"First," said Wanda, "We need a few answers. Why did you help us? And how did you even know that we were in trouble?

"We here at the Sanctum have been keeping tabs on you for a while, Princess" replied Doctor Strange with a smile. "And we've been looking for Vision.."

"Why?" Vision frowned.

"All that will be explained in the course of what I have to say."

"Okay" Wanda nodded, but was clearly still wary of their mysterious rescuer's motives. "Go on, then."

"Have either of you heard of The Scarlet Witch?"

Wanda immediately scoffed, but Vision nodded.

"They told us the story a lot in the orphanage."

"How much do you know?" Strange asked him.

"Just the basics.. That centuries ago, when the Kingdom was in great danger, a brave young woman sought out the magical Mind Stone.." The golden stone in Vision's pocket suddenly grew warm. As much as he'd heard the story, he never considered.. No, it couldn't be..

"Go on" Doctor Strange pressed him.

"The Stone gave the woman the power she needed to fight off the evil plaguing the land.. She became known as the Scarlet Witch. The Scarlet Witch gave the Mind Stone to her Sweetheart, to help protect her until her work was done."

"Yes" Strange nodded. "The story goes on to say that the power was carried in the Witch's bloodline, laying dormant until the Kingdom needed it again. When that day came, a new Scarlet Witch would be born, and the Mind Stone would choose a new Protector."

The Stone burned again in Vision's pocket.

Wanda rolled her eyes.

"How is that supposed to explain anything?" She frowned. "The Scarlet Witch isn't real. She's a fairytale people tell their children.. A pretty little lie, so they all keep hoping things will get better."

"Oh no" Doctor Strange stood, shaking his head. "According to all the evidence we've been able to gather, the Scarlet Witch was very real. She was a Queen, and her power is passed down through the women of the Maximoff Royal bloodline. But women are rarely born into your family, are they?"

"That's true.." Wanda shifted uncomfortably.

"You are the first girl born to the Maximoff line in ten generations, as Sokovia was approaching dark times.. You have exhibited unusual powers.."

"Yes" Wanda didn't like where he was going with this at all. "But I have no control over.."

"We believe" Strange continued, cutting her off, "That you, Princess Wanda, are the new Scarlet Witch, and Vision is your chosen protector."

"Me.. But.." Vision slowly drew the stone from his pocket, "Why would it choose me?"

"Well, it seems you gave it an easy choice. Already caring about her.."

"Oh.. Well you see, that is.." Vision's cheeks reddened.

Wanda looked at him for a moment, as if interested in this new information, then shook her head.

"No. This is ridiculous."

"Princess, I understand this a lot to take in" said Doctor Strange sternly. "But if you are the Scarlet Witch, we have work to do. We can train you, teach you to control.."

"I'm not!" Wanda snapped, standing up. "I'm not the Scarlet Witch, I'm not a hero, I'm not important, I'm.. I'm nothing!"

She stormed out of the room. Vision wanted to follow, but hesitated.

"You should go after her."

"I don't think I'll be able to make much difference.." Vision warned as he stood. "Our path to getting here was.. well.. complicated. And I won't make her do anything she doesn't want to do. I don't think anyone could make Wanda do anything she didn't want to do."

"Yes, I'm starting to understand that" Strange chuckled. "Just.. try."

"Alright.. But no promises."


When Vision eventually found Wanda, she was standing on a balcony on one of the Sanctum's higher floors. With a light breeze whipping at her hair, the early Morning sunlight shining down on.. Vision shook his head. This was definitely not the time to get caught up in the feelings he definitely should not be having.

He slowly approached.

"Wanda.."

"I'm not the Scarlet Witch."

"I'm not trying to convince you that you are" said Vision gently. "But.. Why do you think you're not important?"

"Because I'm not" Wanda shrugged. "At least, not as important as Pietro was. My parents loved me, of course they did, but I always knew Pietro was more important.. the son and heir. That's just the way things are. But if I didn't already know, Ultron definitely made sure of it.. He loved reminding me that I was nothing, in the great scheme of things. I was okay with that.. I just wanted to run away and be not important somewhere else."

"Well, if you're not important" Vision chuckled ruefully, "I'd hate to think how unimportant I am."

"What do you mean?"

"At least you had people who loved you. I didn't. Like you said, Sons are important to most people. Even when they're given up, they're often left with some little symbol or trinket.. something the parents can use to lay claim if the child grows up to do something significant."

"I'm guessing you didn't.." Wanda gazed at him sympathetically.

"Nothing at all" Vision confirmed. "Not even a blanket. Just a little naked babe with strange eyes dumped on the steps of the orphanage. The Son of no-one.. I'm lucky Mr. Jarvis found me before I died of exposure."

A small, sad smile crossed Wanda's face.

"The Princess of Nothing and the Son of no-one.. we make quite a pair."

"I suppose we do."

They fell silent for a while, but it was quite a comfortable silence.

"Vision.."

"Yes, Princess?"

"When Doctor Strange said.. When he said you already cared about me before the Stone.."

"Oh.." Vision reddened again. "That.. Um.. It's just a feeling I've had.. since I was small..It must sound a bit creepy.."

Something flashed in Wanda's mind. A boy with strange blue eyes and golden hair.. her own tiny arms reaching. An old dream.. or was it a memory? Whichever it was, she'd seen it in her mind's eye many times.

"It.. feels less creepy than it probably should be."

"It does?"

"It does."

Another pause.

"Wanda.." Vision began, "Have you ever considered that maybe, the reason why Ultron was so eager to remind you how unimportant you are is because he knew that you were important?"

"I'm not the.."

"Not the Scarlet Witch, I know. But you do have gifts, gifts you've been struggling with. If Doctor Strange and the other people here can teach you how they work, how to control them.. Well, I think it's worth a go."

"Hmm.. I think so too."

Wanda managed to smile. A real smile this time, one that reached her eyes and made them sparkle. Vision couldn't keep his heart from soaring at the thought that he was the one to cause that smile.

He was in So. Much. Trouble.