Chapter 1 : Meeting
Wanda was alone in the field of trees when Strange arrived. She sensed his presence and turned to face him.
"Wanda."
"I knew sooner or later, you would come. I've made some mistakes, and people were hurt."
"Yeah, I'm here to talk about that. I am sent by a coven of witches and they wanted to trial you for your crimes."
Wanda lowered her head and Strange looked at her hands, afraid she would try something. But she raised her head again.
"I knew the right people would find me." Wanda said. "Where are we going?"
Strange smiled at her and turned, then he opened a portal.
"After you."
Wanda was hesitating, but she went through his portal.
They arrived in a small town that looked more like it was still in the dark age.
"Are you still in 2024?" ask Wanda.
"Yes. Those witches still lived like the old days, their golden age."
"More like dark age... Didn't they use to burn witches at that time?"
"Non-magical people think that. All witches know the basic to get out of a fire easily. That fact is even in the Harry Potter books. Have you not read them?"
"When I was young in Sokovia, we didn't have enough money for books. After I lost my parents, we just couldn't afford a lot. And once I got power, I didn't bother to read book about magic, just because it was all so far away from what I could do."
Strange guided her through the village until they reached a big brown house. He knotted three times.
"Will you stay with me? For the trial, I mean." asked Wanda.
"If you want," said Strange nodding.
The door opened and a charming woman came to view.
"You must be Wanda. Come in, both of you."
Wanda hesitated, but stepped in. Strange followed and his cape went to a hook by the door like it knew the place.
"I'm Willy-Ann. I am the one who ask this nice doctor to bring you here. Do you want tea?"
Willy-Ann looked like she was in her 40s, she was well dress and she took care of herself. Basically, she didn't look like the typical witch. Her home was nice too, contrary to what the exterior would advertise, the interior was bright, full of light and modern; it was a nice home.
"Yes, I would take tea." answered Wanda, not really sure of herself.
"Me too, thanks," said Strange.
Willy-Ann left for the kitchen letting them in the living room.
"Don't worry, Willy-Ann is a witch you can trust." said Strange. "She is a bit older than she looked, but she does not abuse her power in that way."
"I did. I abused my power." said Wanda. "Is she the one who will trial me?"
"Today is just a meeting. The trial will be another day." reassured Strange.
"When I understood I needed to end things in Westview, I knew I would have to face some kind of justice. I only knew it couldn't be in a normal court."
Willy-Ann came back with a tray with teacups and biscuits.
"There you go. You have sugar and milk if you want some."
Wanda took her cup, but she didn't drink yet. Seeing that, Strange didn't either.
"As a wizard, I once had a bad experience with tea. I thought someone has poisoned mine to make me live an astral projection and a trip in other dimensions. There was nothing other than honey in that tea, but I stay worried a bit after." related Strange.
"I understand. But don't worry, I didn't put anything in the tea. I don't specialize in potion making and I couldn't even make the simplest truth serum if I wanted too."
Hearing that, Wanda drank her tea.
"My dear, I want to discus your crimes," said Willy-Ann. "Today is not about what will happen, but what already happened, from your point of view."
"In Westview. What I did there, right?" asked Wanda.
"Well, I know you did some other crimes before, when you were a teenager with your brother or with some Avengers in Germany, but you have already been arrested for those. So yes, just those in Westview."
"Those are the worse of all. Germany, I wasn't alone. Captain America was there. But Westview is all on me."
Wanda drank another sip. She didn't like having all the attention on her.
"I didn't know what I was doing at first. I was so in pain, thinking so much about the life I could have had with Vision, that I don't know how it started. Eventually, I found out I was in control of a lot of things, but I also have Vision, so I didn't question it. It wasn't until the twins were there, and Pietro, that I started to understand. I didn't want to end things there, not when I had the perfect life. After that, I just couldn't find a way to stop until Agnes, uh, Agatha told me everything. Then, I put an end to all of it, once I accepted I would lose Vision and my kids."
"I understand it must have been hard to part with them, even knowing they weren't real." ask Willy-Ann.
"I think that's what makes it so hard. They weren't real, but for me, they were. I don't have pictures of them, only memories of events that didn't happen for real. »
« But the pain you inflicted on the citizen of Westview is very real." said Willy-Ann.
"Yes. It is."
"You understand that, as a coven, we need to watch the use of magic in this world. The fact that you also meet one of our former witches make you our responsibility."
Wanda rases her head, then realize what the witch was saying.
"You're talking about Agatha. I left her there. I erased her memory. She is Agnes now and doesn't remember." said Wanda.
"Yes, we know about that as well. We already took care of Agatha." informed Willy-Ann.
"And I took her book. The Darkhold. It is at my farm," confessed Wanda.
"Wanda, tell me the truth," ask Strange. "Did you open that book? Did you read it?"
Wanda nodded.
"Yes. I did read it. Agatha told me there is a chapter about the Scarlet Witch. She told me that's who I am."
"Yes, you are the scarlet witch." said Willy-Ann.
"But the Darkhold is a powerful book. You must tell me where it is and I will take it." said strange.
"On the bedside table in my house."
Strange opened a small portal to Wanda's bedroom and took the book.
"You must never open a magical book without the presence and permission of another witch or wizard. The Darkhold is one of the worst books there is. It was stolen centuries ago from the restricted section of the Sanctum's library. Even Shield was looking for that book at one point."
"And now the book has been returned to you, Doctor Strange," said Willy-Ann.
"It's my payment if I accepted to bring you here. Don't worry, I won't let you here alone if you want me to stay." informed Strange.
"What will happen now?" ask Wanda.
"I will ask you to stay in the village for the next couple of days. There will be a trial to determinate if you have done those crimes, if you are responsible, and, if so, what is your punishment. You can stay at the inn, I've already booked a room for you."
"But I did those crimes. I am guilty." said Wanda.
"Witch trials are different. You'll see."
And on that, the witch took the tray and went back to the kitchen.
"Shall we go to your room?" ask Strange.
Wanda nodded and stood. They both exited the house while the cloak of levitation made its way back on its compagnon. Outside, Strange guided Wanda further inside the town to an inn. He asked for the rooms at the front desk and a small wizard gave him the keys. They made their way up the old and cranky staircase to Wanda's room.
"Do you want to talk? Do you need anything?" ask Strange.
"Yes. I won't mind the company. It you want to, of course. And I never had time to pack a bag before coming."
"You cannot leave the town, but I could go to your farm and bring you a suitcase."
"Yes please."