The Final Battle is behind us, and that means we're now officially on the final chapter of "Scarlet Winter". Thank you all the ones who followed it from start to finish, but I'll save the long thank yous for the end. Meanwhile, let's get going to our finale!
Enjoy the reading!
SCARLET WINTER
Final Chapter: Freedom, Justice and Love
Anna Molly Duvall went through a very infernal ordeal for the past few days. She wanted to avenge the deaths of her brother and his girlfriend at the hands of a dark magic cult, she tried to infiltrate said cult and she managed to steal the Grand Master's medallion, searching for help to be free of them and get justice done. Fortunately for her, the Winter Soldier and the Scarlet Witch answered her calls and after hard battles and escapes, is finally over.
The Kurios Magic Clan was shut down with the remaining acolytes being held in custody and Karl Mordo being sent to the Raft under heavy magic restraints, being provided by the combined efforts of Doctor Strange, Agatha Harkness and Daimon Hellstrom, but there was still one last detail set for her, but before she could get it, she needed to visit one last place for a moment of peace, calm and remembrance.
The day after that battle, Anna visited the cemetery where her brother and his girlfriend are buried; both of them were victims of the Kurios Clan, her brother was manipulated and brainwashed by the clan while his girlfriend became another victim, another soul devoured by Marduk Kurios. Both of them finally found justice after the downfall of both Mordo and Kurios himself, and Anna wanted to let them know that.
"Hi guys" Anna speaks to the tombstones in front of her with the inscriptions 'JACK DUVALL' and 'KARLIE WATKINS', gently laying two flowers, one on each side, as they were buried together "I didn't wanted to come over until I found a way to bring peace and justice to you guys, and thankfully…that day has come" she slowly crouches in front of the tombstones, caressing the inscription of her brother's name "You died by the hand of evil men, and I wanted to bring down those men and that cult so you guys could finally find peace…it was hard, but it's done, two great heroes helped me do that for you" she then smiles, wiping the tears that keep falling down "They helped me finding justice for you, and now…you guys can rest in peace…" she then takes a deep breath "There's not a day that goes by when I'm missing you, I still miss your jokes, your help, your nagging and even your kindness to me and everyone around us…you were taken away too soon, but I'll carry on for the three of us" she then slowly stands up "I'll promise you that" she bids her farewell and then turns around, walking away from the tombstone and taking the long road down the exit of the cemetery where Bucky and Wanda were waiting for her, alongside Doctor Strange, Agatha Harkness, Daimon Hellstrom and Sharon Carter.
"How're you feeling?" Bucky asks with a bit of concern, but Anna smiles at him.
"At peace, finally" Anna replies, wiping away the rest of her tears.
"Your family can finally rest now knowing that Mordo and this clan won't harm anyone else" Wanda explains.
"There are more bad guys like him out there…" Anna replies with a serious tone "But I know that we got guys like you to stop them" she adds, now with a calmer tone, walking towards them and hugging them "Thank you for this…for everything" she comments, while Bucky and Wanda smile at her.
"If I may…" Harkness steps in "I'd like to issue an apology for what transpired" she comments, giving her the overdue apology that Bucky warned her about "While I don't regret my stance, I do acknowledge that I should've been more tactful about your situation" she adds, keeping a calm demeanor "I'm sure you'll think of me as a condescending hag, but I want you to know that I'm glad that you're still alive with us, and I have learned about this for future references" she concludes, to which Anna remains calm.
"I accept the apology" Anna replies "Thank you for the help" she adds, giving her a gentle smile.
"Although you must accept that this situation escalated because of your brash decisions" Strange steps in with his condescending tone, prompting Bucky, Wanda and Anna to frown at him "It was a good fortune we were able to deal with it"
"Wow…" Anna sighs "I was told you're a condescending prick but they were wrong" she then looks at his eyes "You're a condescending #$%&+*&" she gives him a sarcastic smile "Don't get me wrong, I'm truly grateful for your help, but that attitude is why you're way below the list of cool Avengers" she adds, prompting Harkness to smile and Hellstrom to laugh at him.
"Seems that the little girl schooled you, Stephen" Hellstrom pokes at him, but Anna also frowns at him.
"You're the guy who Bucky tried to contact earlier, right?" Anna asks him "The guy who also teaches at the Academy where Wanda works in New Orleans, right?" she asks again.
"That's right" Hellstrom replies with a smirk "You need some schooling, girl?" he asks her, raising an eyebrow but Anna looks at him in disgust.
"Eww…" Anna replies with disgust and annoyance "Bad response from a guy whom I fear, teaches shirtless"
"You have a problem with that?" Hellstrom asks her, now slightly upset.
"The words 'Statutory Rape' come to mind" Anna replies with a serious tone, prompting Strange to look sternly at him.
"I told you someone would mention that" Strange comments to him.
"Hey! She's not a student! It doesn't count!" Hellstrom complains while Harkness laughs at their expense.
"Oh, I definitively take back everything I ever said or thought about her" Harkness comments, now taking a liking to Anna "She reminds me of a younger me"
"Very well, now that this situation is over, is time to return to our duties" Strange comments, then he looks at Harkness "Just because Wanda requested it, I'll transport you back to England" he tells to Harkness.
"No need" Harkness replies, gently rejecting his offer "I prefer to accompany Wanda to New Orleans" she then smile at Bucky and Anna "While it's not Mardi Gras time, New Orleans is always open to party" she comments, revealing her reason to visit the city, to which Strange reacts by rolling his eyes.
"I thought you rejected our offer to join us because you did not wanted to waste your time around us" Strange sarcastically quips.
"I said I'm visiting New Orleans, not that poor imitation of Hogwarts named after you" Harkness replies with her dry wit, then she looks at Wanda "Seriously, my child, why are you wasting your potential with them?" she asks her, but Wanda simply laughs.
"Well, are we leaving or what?" Hellstrom asks, visibly frustrated.
"Just a sec" Wanda tells them and then she holds Bucky's hand to walk a few feet away from them so they could have a private moment.
"So…this is where we take our separate roads, Huh?" Bucky asks her while they both hold hands.
"It is" Wanda whispers at him "But…aside from the things with Anna and this whole dangerous situation, I want to say that I'm thankful for having taken this road with you, Bucky" she tells him, smiling at him.
"So am I" Bucky tells her, also smiling "I must admit, it's been quite a while since I've connected with someone like you this way but…it's something I really want to explore further, you know, when things aren't that hectic" he adds, letting her know that he wants to pursue something more with her.
"Believe me Bucky, so am I" Wanda replies "There is something said about two broken souls, you know?" she tells him.
"Really? What?" Bucky asks her with genuine curiosity.
"It is said that when two broken souls meet…it is so they could complement each other and bond as one stronger soul" Wanda replies, looking at Bucky into his eyes.
"That…that is quite accurate" Bucky replies, laughing a bit alongside her.
"WOULD YOU TWO KISS ALREADY?" Anna yells at them, just to tease them "if she doesn't do it, I will" she whispers at Harkness, who laughs at her comment.
"Seems that Anna is getting anxious to go…" Wanda comments but before she could say something else, she is interrupted by Bucky, who gives her a soft kiss on her lips, a kiss that Wanda returns with the same affection.
"Needed something for the road" Bucky whispers at her, winking an eye at her, but before he steps away, Wanda stops him, holding his normal arm gently.
"Bucky, wait…" Wanda tells him, then she uses her magic to summon a small red metallic talisman "This is a magic talisman attuned to my energies" she explains to him "It'll help you to find the Academy, you know, if you ever visit New Orleans" she tells him, hoping that he does visit her.
"You can mark my words, I will" Bucky replies, smiling at her and giving her another kiss that she returns with the same affection. Then they both slowly step away, her stepping back until she reunites with the rest of the sorcerers, just as Strange begins his teleportation spell "Thanks for the help" he tells Strange and Harkness his gratitude for their assistance "And Daimon…for #$%&+ sake, check your damn phone once in a while!" he scolds at him and as a response, Daimon 'flips the bird' at him.
"Bite me, Barnes!" Daimon responds just as a flash of light appears, effectively disappearing and heading back to New Orleans. After that, Bucky walks towards Anna and Sharon Carter, ready to do his part of the work.
"Anna, I'd like you to meet Sharon Carter, she's the one who helps me with the work through the Tor Network" Bucky makes the introduction, with Anna extending her hand and Sharon shaking it gently.
"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have noticed the emergence of these kind of dark magic cults" Sharon talks to her "It's something I told Steve to pay attention further, so let's hope that the Avengers work on that" she explains, hoping that Steve warns his fellow Avengers about this kind of situation.
"Thanks for your help, Agent Carter, right?" Anna asks, to which Sharon nods in response.
"You can call me Sharon" Sharon replies kindly "And now, what I came here for" she says while she walks to the passenger side of her pick-up truck and grabs a package wrapped in brown paper "Your new papers, passport, apprentice drivers license, documentations, all the necessary IDs for you" she explains while Anna checks the papers, now having the identity of 'Anna Walton', bringing a smile to the young girl's face.
"Walton...isn't that…?" Bucky asks, feeling a familiarity with the name, until Sharon nods in response.
"Pops' last name" Sharon replies "I think that it's a way of thanking them for helping you guys" she replies.
"It's perfect, thank you" Anna replies as she hugs Sharon.
"And as Bucky requested, I've already arranged your relocation to Battle Creek, Michigan to live under the custody of Lt. Salt and Sgt. Pepper" Sharon adds, causing Anna to gasp in excitement.
"You didn't!" Anna exclaims giddily and then jumps hugging Bucky "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you" she adds, kissing him on his cheek.
"You're finally free Anna, you deserve it after all this Hell" Bucky tells her, giving her a much needed confidence after the whole ordeal.
"You better come visit at Battle Creek, I'll tell them to put those Bucky Bears for sale" Anna pokes fun at him, prompting Sharon to raise an eyebrow.
"So this Bucky Bear thing is real?" Sharon asks Bucky "I thought it was just Steve teasing about it"
"It's real" Bucky responds to Sharon and then looks at Anna "I'll come by to visit over there too"
"YES!" Anna exclaims triumphantly, raising her fist in the air "With that said, let's get going then" she comments, heading to the truck and getting in the passenger's seat.
"I'll take care of her Buck" Sharon comments to Bucky "Oh and that other favor from Salt and Pepper? Already done" she points out about a second favor Bucky asked her to do.
"Thank you" Bucky replies "So…I guess I'll have to call for a cab or something" he jokes, remembering that he still does not have a vehicle, but then Sharon snaps her fingers.
"Oh, thanks for reminding me!" Sharon exclaims while she heads to the bed of the pick-up truck, untying the ropes of the tarp that enveloped its cargo and lowering it to reveal Bucky's Harley Davidson bike, fully rebuilt.
"Hey! You fixed it!" Bucky exclaims, smiling at the sight of his restored bike.
"Steve fixed it" Sharon points out that detail "But yeah, let's just hope you don't blow it up this time" she jokingly pokes at Bucky, who then jumps to the bed while Sharon slides a metallic plate that serves as a ramp. He slowly lowers the bike from the truck and after checking it for any details; he boards it and starts its engine.
"That's one loud bike" Anna jokes as she pokes her head out of the window.
"It sure is" Bucky jokes, pacing the bike right next to the truck "Take care, ladies" he bids his farewell to both Sharon and Anna while the young girl waves goodbye, just as Bucky revs the engine and throttles away, up to the road where he takes his own path, now happier that another job was done, but also because he has something greater that will help him in his personal path of redemption: the knowledge that someone else is there for him and will guide him through the hardships, and an even greater reason to go forward, a new love that encourages him to thrive and be the force of good the always aimed to be.
MEANWHILE, IN NEW ORLEANS
A flash of light emerges nearby the main access to the Strange Academy, a place only reachable through magic means, but looks like an ordinary vegetal shrubbery to the eyes of mortals. Doctor Strange, alongside Daimon Hellstrom, Agatha Harkness and Scarlet Witch have arrived after the arduous work against the Kurios Clan, heading to a much needed break, and then to resume their educational duties, except for Harkness, who came to the city just to visit.
"Thanks for the free ride, gentlemen" Harkness comments with her dry wit "If any of you need me, call someone else, as for you Wanda, you know how to find me" she tells her, bidding her farewell in her own way as she leaves the group, heading deep into the city.
"It's a good thing we're not on Mardi Gras or we'd be committing a crime against nature if we set her loose and she gets one of those beads" Hellstrom comments, then shuddering at the thought of Harkness receiving a set of beads and performing the 'tradition' of flashing to the crowd.
"Thank you for that visual Daimon" Strange tells him while he unlocks the door to the Academy "In spite of everything, I want to thank you for the help doing this favor Wanda" he talks to Wanda, showing gratitude for the favor he asked her to do.
"In a way, I should thank you too" Wanda replies "It did helped me to cope with all the stress I was carrying with the work in the Academy and the things with Jericho…in fact, this helped me to move on" she tells him, recalling what she just went through with Bucky, smiling at the thought of him, but before they enter the Academy itself, the trio is intercepted by Zelma, the school's assistant.
"Hey guys, you're not gonna believe what happened!" Zelma comments excitedly "I was at my apartment when someone delivered this package to me" she then shows a box to the group "The guy told me that I had to give it to Wanda, so here you go" she immediately gives the box to Wanda "Don't worry, we already had it checked, there's nothing dangerous on it" she adds, looking at the group.
"Who send it?" Strange asks her while Wanda checks the package.
"It says 'Salt and Pepper Antiques…Battle Creek, Michigan'" Wanda replies, slowly realizing where it comes from and starting to have a suspicion of what does it contain "Excuse me" she tells them, quickly rushing to her private quarters in the Academy, holding the box as she enters the room. Then she slowly puts the box on the table and rips the paper enveloping it to open it, slowly smiling as she takes off the contents, looking at it with eyes wide open: A Bucky Bear, just like the one she saw when she visited them in Michigan; but then the bear holds a note that Wanda grabs and smiles widely as she reads what it says; 'Until we Meet Again, Bucky'.
"Knock Knock" Zelma steps in, trying to look at the box "So, did you open it? What is it?" she keeps asking while she approaches Wanda and then she notices the bear "Awww, is that a Teddy bear?"
"No, it's not" Wanda replies with conviction "It's a Bucky Bear" she corrects her and then cuddles her bear "My Bucky Bear" she whispers.
"Can I see it?" Zelma asks while she slowly approaches her but Wanda quickly moves away, like a child refusing to lend her toy, and in a swift move she casts one of her hexes over the bear.
"Can't let you hold it, the bear is attuned to my energy signature" Wanda quickly replies, prompting Zelma to gasp.
"So if I touch it…" Zelma asks her, to which Wanda nods her head.
"It'll cause a catastrophic result around here" Wanda replies, trying to scare her so she could not consider touching her Bucky Bear, to which Zelma pouts and lowers her head in defeat "But here" she then passes her the paper with the address "You can buy your own one at that store, I know the owners" she tells her, bringing a small smile to Zelma's face, but then the sound of the door knocking interrupts the conversation.
"Hey girls" Nico Minoru pokes her head to check the room, finding the girls inside "The Doc and the Headmaster are calling for a staff meeting"
"Oh right! We'll be right there!" Zelma replies and then looks at Wanda "Let's go!" she then quickly leaves the room with Wanda following her, but before she steps out of the door, she goes back to her table and gently puts her Bucky Bear on it, then she casts her magic and changes its attire from the WWII outfit to Bucky's Winter Soldier attire, complete with a 'bionic' arm, prompting her to smile at the sight of it.
"Much better" Wanda whispers, giving it a gentle kiss on the head and then leaves the room, now much more confident and happier than when she left, for now she has a good reason to move on, and to face the challenges ahead, one that she anxiously hopes to meet again soon.
THE END
And here you have it! Another story wrapped up!
I want to thank everyone who read it, who hit "Favorite", who hit "Followed", the reviews of my good friend and loyal fan Timeless Writer, the support of my other loyal fan B4TM4N-WH0-L4U6H5 and my dearest Laurentina for this hard work.
I knew from the beginning that this one was another challenge in terms of popularity, but those who know me should be aware that no matter what, I go through until the end. I'm genuinely surprised that this one ended up being more popular than my Clint/Bobbi one (maybe it's because it featured Avengers characters LOL!), yet I know it's not as popular as my Spidey/Kitty series (Speaking of which, check out the third installment "Royal Pains", still ongoing!).
What's next? I have a couple of one-shots before my next long term series (starring the Avengers and certain archer) so stay tuned for those to kickoff the year! And once again, thank you for all the support here and in my other stories! Thank you very much!
Oh, and as you guys should also know, expect a Post-Credits Scene after this one!
THANK YOU FOR READING!