Forged

"Open up! Open up! Please." The girl's muffled sound echoed in my head as I rub my forehead. There was lots of banging noise of desperate fists banging down on thin metal with all of their might, but it didn't budge even once.

With a blink, I looked at the surroundings to see, a shitty high school locker area where the noise was coming from. I was the only one, standing in front of the locker where presumably this girl was trapped in.

Who made this big locker for the high school students? I asked myself puzzly before snapping out of it.

"Emma! Sophia! Madison! Please. Whatever I did, I'm sorry! Please let me out." The girl begged in misery as my heart clench uncomfortably before I calmed down.

Emma? Why did that sound familiar? Emma! Emma! Emma!

Emma!

With a snap, I remembered. I remember when I lived as a 19-year-old Nepalese kid and died. It was swift death in sleep. Without any pain.

Then there is the next part. I was reborn and lost my memories of that life. Yuck! I was reborn as a girl. A girl named Emma Barnes.

Shit! I got reborn into the doomed world of the superheroes as the high school bully of the protagonist.

With that thought, memories of this life flooded into my brain mercilessly. Shit. Damn, was I really that vicious toward my former bestie? Of course, I was. How did I even manage to turn high school bullying into a mild horror show? Don't ask me, ask Sophia! That bitch!

Even thinking being her friend with that psychopath was disgusting! Even my canon-self was disgusting. So I'm in some kind of AU? As far as canon goes I would die in Gold Morning which was exactly what I deserved after the shit I've put through that girl.

Shit. Now I'm feeling guilt worth of the cosmic storm. And I'm already starting to address myself as Emma, which meant that Emma's side was more dominant than my older self. That made some sense since the boy from a past life is dead and what is dead should remain dead. But I didn't want to be like Emma either. I was very impulsive, maybe a little asshole on some occasions who held childish grudges but I wasn't some sociopath making someone's life Hell for shit and giggles.

"Please Help…" Taylor sobbed inside the locker in despair. After shoving inside her locker full of biohazard and rotten tampoons, we all laughed like Hyenas an hour ago.

That's when this AU began. Unlike other bitches, I didn't leave this room. I made some excuses like watching over she doesn't die or someone saving her after we got away from the room. Those dumb bitches believed my words like law and left me with a sobbing girl in the Locker. For some reason, I awakened my past life memories, which say that this life was fictional.

So multiverse theory is true then. Or Omniverse in this case?

With a small step, I approached the Locker. I tried to open up the door but it was shut tightly. There was a key in my pocket so I took it out and unlocked the door.

With the clanking sound of the metal, the tall girl fell and jumped over me. We both went to the ground as the girl kicked and screamed.

"Calm down it's okay." I tried to say soothingly but it seems to have no effect. I was about to retaliate but then I decided against it. She continued to claw, punch, kick and knee all over my body like an animal. I just covered my face protectively and left my entire body open for her assault.

This is what both of us deserve. I thought almost smiling before yelping in pain when she started to grab my hair and bang my head on the floor.

"H-hey t-that's taking too far." The girl froze on top of me as she looked at me with deep hatred and Rage once she got a good look on my face.

"Too far?! You almost killed me, you bitch!" With that, she resumed her punching. Her blows were while weak still manage to hit me since I was also fragile fifteen years ago girl.

She's snapped. I thought numbly as the girl didn't stop for a second. It hurt like hell but I didn't retaliate. This was nothing compared to what she felt when we broke her mother's flute. Last significant item she had of her dead mother.

And we crushed it like psychos without any empathy. And this was certainly nothing compared to what this girl was going to go through in the future till Gold Morning. After she saves the world, two bullets to her head and hatred of capes she controlled to kill a god, will be her reward.

See, nothing compared to what I am feeling right now.

After a few moments, she finally ended her beatdown while breathing heavily. After a few stunned silent moments, she finally looked down on my bruised and battered body and shrieked.

"Oh god! What'd I do?!" She said in horror before getting off me and bolting out of the room. And this time it was me who was angry.

This girl was going to leave like this? Trying to run after this? If I was the original Emma she would be faster in jail before she could say 'Cape'.

Even if she was the protagonist, this was one thing I hated about her. Sure she had a hard time and she was genuinely good inside but a matter of the truth is she was a coward. She constantly endures everyone's shit and abuse in the name of heroism. But when chips are down, she escalates, forgetting all those bullshit morals she had bound herself in the name of the greater good. For someone who endured our abuse for years and didn't want to revenge, killed Alexandria, her favorite hero, her ideals for her friends.

Hell, I'm not saying she did wrong by killing that cold bitch for her friends, but what pissed me off was how she didn't accept her friend's plea to help her from her bullies because of her heroic ideals.

"Don't RUN AWAY YOU COWARD!" I screamed from the ground, staring at the blurry image of my former best friend. She could not just leave it like this.

Something unexpected happened. Something just CLICKED in my mind before time slowed down. Red hues and mist exploded out of my body before they spread around the room.

Time again resumed as the red mist snaked out of the room and attached itself to Taylor's back.

Taylor who was running in the hallway halted on her footing before she begin to float. Like a puppeteer pulling her strings, she flew back to the room before the door locked itself like old nineties horror movie.

She dropped in front of me like whatever string pulled her here left its hold on her. We both stare at each other with wide eyes before I punched her in the face.

"Ow," I said, wincing while she flinched. "You idiot. Running will do what? We both know how much of Bitch I am. What did you guess was going to happen after you just ran away after beating me up?" I asked.

"You're Cape." She said in horror. I just sighed before standing up. She got even more paled while staring at me like she was in a room with a monster.

And She was right!

I'm not going to make any excuses like 'I'm not the same Emma who bullied you' crap. I'm man enough(woman?)enough to take responsibility for my own actions, I'm not going to give her the same crap everyone is going to in the future.

"Come on bathroom this way," I said, walking toward another corner of the room where the girl's bathroom was located. The perk of being the girl I suppose. I'm pretty sure there would be no bath for boys in public schools, even in States.

She just gaped at me before snarling at me. There was fear inside her deep, but she held her anger to her face than fear.

"Why the hell do you think I would go with you anywhere?" She asked in a hateful tone. She was right to ask that. I was the girl who made her life hell, using every weakness I learned from our friendship. Hell, we were practically sisters once upon a time.

I pointed at my bruises and her own scraps of clothes and smaller wounds. "Those need to be clean up. To sweeten the deal, I will answer your every question truthfully." I offered.

"You think you'd be able to hide this? I'm going to the cops." She said in anger. Before she could say anything else small giggle escaped my mouth.

So innocent little Taylor. Hard to believe this girl would be a fearsome warlord of bay one day.

"Honey we've been harassing you from day one. Why do you think anything changed? My father is still a lawyer, the teachers will suck up to me as always. The thing is Taylor, even if you told everyone how we nearly killed you, the best you can hope for is some hush money from school in the best-case scenario, or your expulsion because of you being framed liar in the worst. There is no victory for you here." I said coldly. Slowly her resolves begin to crumble down as she stares blankly at my face, still on her knees.

Slowly buzzing sounds begin to amplify as Taylor grabs her head in pain. With a sigh, I begin to take off my clothes. Not getting bothered by the fact that I could very much die here because of bug bites from all bugs on the Locker now.

People tend to portray Taylor in fanfiction as a boogyman, who would shove down a spider on your throat If you anger her, but I disagree. She may do that to scare you but killing others is another matter entirely.

Well, she might try to kill me now that I have shattered her hopes to bring the evil trio to justice but I like to think I know little more about Taylor than what Wildbow wrote her.

"Relax. You can try to murder me and all other bullies with a calm head. It's no fun when you'd be outed instantly after your first murder." I advise with a grin. So exciting. Is this situation when playing with fire metaphor can be used? Playing with bugs to be exact but you know what I mean.

I was always the thrill-seeker, just imagining that I could very well die if she snaps, my heart is just ready to burst out of my chest, already pounding in my throat.

Nope! This is not the way to die! I reminded myself before calming down. Taylor raises her head with teared-up eyes. Hug her! My instinct all but demanded but I held back. That would simply make things worse and awkward.

Whatever she was going to say or do, she didn't get a chance as she was busy gaping at my naked form.

"W-what're you doing?" She stuttered, wiping tears away from her eyes as she put her glasses on.

"As I said before, we're both going to the bathroom. To prove there are no hidden cameras to blackmail you, I'm going naked first." I replied with a chirping tone. Taylor visibly restrain herself from lasing out as she glared at me with contempt. She knew she was trapped here with me and she also thought I was a cape. That alone reason she started to take her clothes covered in all filth and bugs. The only fear was keeping her at bay.

"What's your game here? Haven't you done enough already? Just kill me, I can't keep up with you bitches anymore." She yelled while hugging herself. I just sighed and look her in the eyes.

"First bath. I'll explain everything without any excuses. Come on it's been years since we bathed together." I said, wincing when she begins to tear up again. Damn. This was only the result of a few years of emotional and psychological damage? How about people who had worse than Taylor?

No wonder Parahumans are fucked up in the head to some degree. Every single one of them.

She followed me as we entered another room. Each step was rigid and trembling from her leg, it was like she was going for her execution.

I gently pushed her as she stumbled on ahead. She immediately winces when water starts dropping from showers after I cranked the knob.

Her limbs were full of gashes and cuts but nothing serious. In canon, she wasn't in the hospital because she was dying. She was actually placed in the psychotic ward after she attack the janitor in panic after triggering and police delivered her to the hospital.

"Okay, I know you're probably thinking I'm up to something.." She gave me a flat look while washing filth off her body. I didn't even have to guess what was she thinking.

"Right of course you would," I mutter while rubbing my head.

"Okay let's start from the beginning." I took a deep breath while Taylor turned to me, showering her back.

Damn, she's flat as a washboard. I didn't let anything on my face while thinking that. The girl in front of me was taller than me by a few inches. To be honest, she wasn't ugly in any way. She looked like a cute neighbor girl, to be honest with a face and legs like that. Her black hair was long, kinda curly even while dripping wet.

"What're you looking at?" She scowled. Damn, she is really suicidal, isn't she? Normally civilians don't even look at unknown capes funnily. Fearing their retaliation.

I clear my throat, trying not to blush to look at another naked girl in front of me. Damn you hormones.

"As I said before I'll start from the beginning before anything else right now. We both had enough of bullying life don't you think?" I asked gently, that only made her face more distrustful and frosty.

"Okay let's start with your summer camp where it all began. When you've been gone, one night I was with dad when we were attacked by ABB thugs. Dad was already on knifepoint without any fight. They're going drag me to their rumored whorehouses after they did raping me." I said, without any emotions on my face. Truth be told I still fear ABB subconsciously even now. Getting my past life memories hasn't done a thing against my fears it seems.

Taylor just stared at me before going wide eyes. So she still cares huh, even after all this shit I've put her through.

"That's when I fought back with nails and kick. It was useless but I didn't want to go down without a fight." I smiled bitterly at the next part. "That's when the new vigilante of that time showed up and rescued us. Shadow Stalker."

"How does it have to do anything to do with this?" Taylor asked, trying to calm her nerves from fear and anger.

"Everything. I was so in Hero-worship mode that I let that psychopath in my head. She taught me her bullshit ideology. How the world only worked in two things. Prey and Predator."

"You expect me to believe a hero made you bully me? Are you really this stupid or insane?" She raised her voice. I frown.

"Then how do you explain all this happening around you. Hell, the whole school knows about you being bullied and nobody says a word. If you think I'm using dad's name, you're a bigger idiot than I thought. My dad's a divorce lawyer, not a mayor." I replied swiftly. Taylor stiffened before slumping her shoulder with a defeated look.

"I thought about that already but I didn't want to believe it. One of the Heroes would be this cruel. Pray and Predator? What kinda human thinks that? I've been wishing for heroes to save me from you guys." She said in despair. Before her eyes become cold and distant. She suddenly grabs me and turns my body in the opposite direction.

In instant, her hands were around my neck. I tried to shake her off but the girl was strong, too stronger than me. The good point is that she wasn't wringing my neck to finish me off, a bad point is that she was slowly applying pressure on my wind tunnel on my throat,

Who the heck taught this girl how to put someone in a sleeper hold?

"I've had enough of your games. I don't care if I go to jail anymore. I want answers now." Girl commanded. Breathing was hard but it was not impossible. I took a deep breath before speaking.

"Shadow Stalker aka Sophia Hess is the main one here. Her views are very distorted. She views meekness and endurance as weaknesses, labeling them as Pray. And in her words, Predators are stronger and can do whatever they please. As for me, I was so frightened from the whole ABB fiasco, I took her words to my heart. I'm not justifying what I did to you. I doubt my sorry will mean anything to you." I said with heavy breaths.

Her hand tightened threateningly before she loses her grip slightly but still held onto my neck tightly.

This is what I get for interacting with freshly triggered teenagers when I'm the one who caused the trigger. I thought bitterly while relaxing under Taylor's grip.

I just hope she doesn't kill me and take the villain route.

"No, it doesn't. Why is PRT allowing her to be a hero? There's no way they didn't know about Sophia's personality. You said it already, the whole school knew it but why nobody did do anything?!" She screamed in rage, shaking me like a ragdoll. After she calmed down I continued.

Today I was going to confess everything. No more bullying bullshit anymore. If I'm going to bully someone it would probably be Scion or something.

"Oh, they did know about the bullying. But they chose to ignore it. I mean there are very few heroes on their side and villains and rogues everywhere. They need every Parahuman as they can get. One normal girl suffering is worth the prize in their eyes." I might add a few little tiny lies to my confession but that doesn't matter. Skitter is always best not that Weaver bullshit.

I mean I technically didn't lie. Even if PRT as a whole doesn't know about Sophia's bullying campaign, her Ward handler does. In a bunch of fanfics, she's portrayed as a lazy, corrupt woman. So technically PRT does know about Bullying.

"Just another lie. Why the hell should I believe you over PRT, you traitor," she said.

"The world is not that simple black and white Taylor. All these heroes, villains, and rogues are the labels people placed on Parahumans. This hero worship you had since we were kids, those people are also humans. They can be good just as bad as monsters. Hell Sophia, your bully is verified, hero. This world already has forgotten the true meaning of the Hero since Capes. Now if you work for the government you're Hero. If you only obey the law but not the work, you're Rogue. If you oppose government and Law in any way, you're Villain. But if you are an evil villain, really evil monster villain like slaughterhouse nine, you're Classed threat. That's how our world works." I explain truthfully from my perspective.

"And what about you? Villain or Rogue?" She asked tensely.

"I gained my powers today, just like you. Currently, I'm just your high school bully with some unstable mentality." I replied truthfully.

"Just like me? Ah! These headaches." Taylor said while grunting.

"Those are Corona Pollentia and Gemma working on your brain. Close your eyes and try to focus, I won't move. I promise." I said with a sigh. As I close my eyes, I looked for my own power.

Holy Shit! I have a superpower! I squeal in my mind while laughing maniacally. In canon, I didn't have any Corona Pollentia so I didn't trigger any powers. Given that I was quite Rich, I could've afforded to buy Cauldron Vial. Alas, my canon self was content as a high school bully bitch.

? Is not born! She's forged!

Gasp! I went to my knees immediately as a sudden wave of nausea hit me in full force. When I open my eyes, I wasn't in the bathroom with Taylor. Hell, I wasn't sure if I was on Earth anymore. Or Earth Bet in this case.

Everywhere I can see was covered in red. Not bloody crimson red, it was scarlet red, everywhere.

The stones were red on the red ground, and some pools of blood or water I couldn't tell were red, with hues and mists that surrounded me was red, up above in the sky, clouds were red, and on top of that star was bright crimson red.

EVERYTHING WAS RED!

Suddenly shadow loomed over me as I could finally open my eyes without discomfort from the brightness of the red star.

Finally, I locked up to see the silhouette of a woman who was blocking the star's very brightened light for me.

I couldn't make out any features as she was releasing a large amount of red energy herself. Only in shadow, she looks beautiful with a curvy body. She was in a strange garment. I could feel more than see her gentle smile toward me as she spoke once again.

"Scarlet Witch is not born, She's forged!

You are forged to eradicate ?"

She announced as I finally recognize who was I looking at. That was me but not me. She was my future as Scarlet Witch?

What the fuck! Is this some kind of Marvel crossover?

No, I don't think so. I'm not a Parahuman, I'm a goddamn Witch!

Gasp.

The next second I was in the bathroom once again. Taylor was already at the door with my dress on her.

"You thought I was gonna leave you naked here didn't you?" I said with a deadpan look on my face. She didn't even twitch her face as she give her own deadpan look.

"What else did you think." She replied. And walked toward the locker room while I followed her. There was no discomfort in my body as I looked down. All of my bruises were gone, along with small cuts from Taylor's scratches.

"You know, you're more confident than an hour ago," I said. Walking behind her as we both entered the Locker room. All stench of filth, garbage, and biohazard hit like bullets to nostrils.

"I had to endure that for hours. Maybe I should put you inside and lock the door." Taylor said in a threatening tone. "I'm done being nice and ignorant. Next time anyone tries to shove their shit at me, they may find their house full of unknown bug assaults."

I rolled my eyes at her. "If you had this backbone before none of this would've happened. You just stood there and took it. Encouraging us to do more and get away with it." She made face as if my word slapped her physically as she clench her teeth.

"You don't feel sorry in the slightest, do you? After everything you've done, you are so…."

"So nonchalant about this? I told you already. I already admit that I'm not mentally stable. Not saying I'm insane or anything but it's getting there sooner or later." To be honest, isn't being a little unstable a qualification to becoming the Scarlet Witch?

Still weird to call me that. I hope I don't become Wanda's copycat too much.

"After we broke aunt Anne's flute, I would've been happier if you'd stabbed me in the gut," I said wistfully while spreading my arms.

As I spoke, I concentrate on the same feeling from before as red energy answered my call. My locker, which was a few distances away from Taylor's opened up with a slam as clothes rocketed toward my open arms.

In a few moments, I dressed up with the second set of clothes I always carry around with me. Perks of being a mature modeling student I suppose.

And holy shit I'm hot! I'm sure I'm just fifteen? Cause I'm racked like a succubus on Anime. Is this result of good genes. I could theoretically pose as an eighteen-year-old easily.

"You need Help," Taylor said with a complicated expression while I was busy checking myself out. I shrug and turned toward her.

"I don't know about that, I think I don't want to be helped. To be honest, Emma you know, the girl that was sister to you is already dead. Sharing the same memories and body doesn't make the same person. So please don't hate Emma you know even if you do hate me."

She didn't know how to respond to that as she stare at me with an unknown emotion. "I'm going home. I'm warning you, traitor. After what you put me through I'm done. Tell that to all of your lackeys or lots of students who are going to get sick mysteriously if you start something new again." She threatened one last time before storming out of the room. All the bugs on the locker followed her subtly by celling and corners of the hall.

"Creepy," I whisper while shivering. The girl could've killed me with those if she really wanted to. Yup no more angering teenagers who could call forth biblical plague easily. It was probably a good discussion on her part to go home and rest instant of staying in this shithole we call Winslow Highschool.

The girl deserved it after what happened. She handled the situation more calmly than I feared but the queen of escalation didn't escalate anything in the end.

But there was one thing still on my mind. "Holy Shit! I'm freakin Scarlet Witch!"

-666—--

After a few moments, I eventually get out of the room and headed toward the next class. Even in this new life, I have to endure this hell we call the school.

Not that it's going to last since Leviathan will wreck it to the ground. I thought grimly. Shit, I completely overlooked that one of the Endbringers was going to come to visit us in a few months.

"Hey there Emms, you done playing security?" The dark-skinned pretty girl placed her hand on my shoulder. In response, I threw a punch at her face in surprise.

Without even looking her open palms intercepted my fist with a flesh-smacking noise.

"Good, this is why I love you." Sophia fucking Hess said in approval with a little hint of a smile. The only time I've seen this bitch smile is when she's in her sadistic mood, torturing poor souls on her radar.

"Christ! You surprised me. And just for the record, you're not my type."

Sophia pouted as if she could ever look cute. "I'm hurt. Don't you love a beautiful, healthy, and athletic body?" She asked in a joking tone while walking. I quickly walk beside her as I glance at her face.

"That is my type but not you," I replied while the girl beside me snorted. There was not much I can do to anger her these days. I know she is not interested in me in that way but she is pretty fixated on me.

"So what happened to the bitch?" She asked once we entered the bathroom on the second floor. She was in front of the mirror, washing her face.

I let out a convincing giggle as stand behind her with a smirk. "After thirty minutes all yelling and screaming stopped then she start to cry," I said with a smile. Inside I was disgusted.

The girl joined me in barking laughter as she smiled genuinely. This was sick, smiling happily at someone else anguish.

"Anyway, could manage my homework for me, piggy finally let me on patrol this week even if it's with a midget." She said with annoyance at the last part.

She means Vista! This bitch! She's the cutest of the Ward! I yelled mentally while maintaining the cheerful facade.

"No problem Soph," I replied while thinking about what should I do about this whole mess. Taylor already knows that her bully is a hero and she triggered her powers just a moment ago.

In canon, she had one week's worth of time to adapt to her powers while staying in the hospital psychiatric ward. This time she might take drastic action and live up to the title the fans had given her, Escalation Queen.

Nope. I'm not staying put. I can already imagine Taylor bugs eating away Sophia next time she harasses the girl tomorrow.

So what can I do now? There is the nonlethal route but I'm not feeling particularly mercy toward the psychopathic bitch who turned me into a sociopathic bitch. And making my best friend's life hell through my own hand was just another reason to add why should I dispose of Shadow Stalker.

Big sister Wanda, please guide me even though you're a million universes away. I thought jokingly before taking one deep breath.

With thought red sparkling light lit between my fingers subtly. These were beautiful but not very strong. But what was I planning to do to Sophia, I didn't need to be a brute.

I brought both of my hands slowly toward the unaware girl's temple as she looked at me through the mirror with a confused expression.

"What're you doing…..?" She drawled in last as her expression falls from her face. I didn't have any clue what was I doing but I just copied what Wanda did to Tony Stark.

And it worked.

The girl was in some kind of trance as red hues from my fingertips begin to enter her head through the temple.

My first victim slumped her always guarded shoulder in a lax manner.

"Now what?" I asked myself more than any other. I don't know if my powers are coming from Shard or not. If not I can't exactly ask about my power and how to use them.

Isn't the Scarlet Witch's powers came from the Mind stone? In comics, however, it was from some demon or Elder God Chrothon. Real-life Cthulhu in Marvel.

What about this one then? Is it from Entities like Warrior or Thinker or Abaddon? Ah, whatever.

Focusing on the subject, I don't have clue what I'm doing but there is something I can do if my power is the same as Scarlet Witch.

"Scarlet Witch doesn't need to weave hand-sign nor any incantation to cast any spells. If that is the case….." Red energy begins to surround me as focus all this chaotic energy in my hand.

I don't need to understand my power. It's Chaos magic or reality warping. Therefore it does what I want, when I want and where I want. Chaos is not meant to be understood, as Scarlet Witch, I could command it without understanding the Chaos.

Without any further questions about my own abilities, I guide my energy inside her brain. I nearly dropped my concentration when I was startled looking at my reflection in the mirror in front of us. My usual grey eyes were eerie red, really giving a creepy and demonic vibe.

Thankfully my heart didn't leap out of my chest as I again focus on my energy manipulation. At first, I aimed at mind control or brain control. It immediately failed. Almost as if my powers were refusing it. After a few minutes of trials and errors, I finally found something.

While I couldn't control her like remote control, I could access her emotions. And the surprising thing was I was not manipulating her brain in any way. I was breaching her mind. The same metaphysical organ of the human body.

Again I could only access her emotions and dial them down and up as I wanted. From all the Marvel knowledge I have, I could only conclude that Mind control is not possible for me right now because I don't have much experience with these powers. It's new to me and I have yet to learn to use it through many experiments and uses. I need time to learn and master my powers.

"Well, the perfect time to learn then."

-666—--