Defying Gravity
The Quinjet pulled up over a scene that could come from a move: a group of super-powered villains running over a secluded town. For the Avengers, it was routine, however. But the Scarlet Witch was worried.
Not because she thought they might not win, but because the villains were her former teammates, the Brotherhood, and with them was Magneto, her father. Nonetheless, she did what she had to do and dropped into the middle of the foray with her teammates.
The fight was relatively mediocre, both sides fighting furiously, and the Avengers doing well. Wanda began to feel a lot more cool and collected. I can do this. I can do anything.
But then her father saw her, and called out "Wanda! Why do you ally yourselves with these humans?"
"They are my friends, Father!" She called back, hoping it wouldn't end badly.
"What? Sweetums, is that you?" Toad, perhaps the world's most annoying and useless mutant called out as she groaned.
"I'm not your sweetums and I'm an Avenger now, and I mean to avenge your wrongs!" She called out, hoping she sounded a lot more confident than she felt.
"You…you don't think she knows, do you?" another mutant asked.
This struck her. "What? Knows what?"
"Nothing." Magneto said quickly.
"Oh, something indeed. You see, when you were young, your father-"
"SHUT UP!" Magneto cried out, blasting him aside.
Then Wanda felt the tugs of someone attempting to enter her mind. She tried in vain to block it out, but it was too late. Through their interference, she saw the haze of true memories returning to her: memories of betrayal, loss, and revenge.
"WHAT? You…you locked me away! You betrayed me!" Wanda exclaimed in shock. Magneto tried to calm her down, but it was easier said than done. She fled into an abandoned building, weeping.
Then she heard behind her footsteps.
B – Wanda, why couldn't you have stayed calm for once, instead of flying off the handle! I hope you're happy! I hope you're happy now! I hope you're happy how you hurt your cause forever, I hope you think you're clever!
W - I hope you're happy! I hope you're happy, too! I hope you're proud how you would grovel in submission to feed your own ambition!
All- So though I can't imagine how, I hope you're happy – right- NOW!
Toad, Avalanche, and Blob had followed her. Avalanche groaned. "Wanda, did you have to join these super-wannabes? And did you have to keep going nuts? Well, I just hope you are happy how you've probably ruined any chance of every making things right!" He yelled in anger.
This infuriated Wanda. "I hope you're happy too!" She yelled, turning around and making them cringe. "I hope your proud how you'd kiss up too anyone just to make yourselves better!"
B – Wanda, listen to me. Just say you're sorry. You can still be with your father, what you've wanted and waited for. You can have all you've ever wanted.
W – I know. But I don't want it – can't want it – anymore.
Toad was the only one dumb enough to try to calm her down. "All you gotta do is apologize to your dad, poopsie. You can come back. You can have him love you again. It'll be perfect!"
She dropped her head. Now that she knew the truth and the fake, she felt like it would rip her head apart. She realized she did want to have her father's love, but not at any cost, and not with the cost of the truth. "I know", she said quietly, "but I can't have it."
W – Something has changed within me. Something is not the same. I'm through with being a pawn in someone else's game. Too late for second guessing. Too late to go back to sleep. It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes, and leap…
She looked at them all, her soul filling with resolution. "Now that the truth's back, I know I have my own truths. One is that I've changed with the Avengers. It's too late to try to delude myself again, and it's time to just take a move of my own."
W - It's time to try defying gravity. I think I'll try defying gravity, and you can't pull me down!
B – Can't we make you understand? You're having delusions of grandeur-
W – I'm through accepting limits, 'Cuz someone says they're so. Some things I cannot change. But till I try, I'll never know! Too long I've been afraid of losing love that I've already lost! And if that's love, It comes at much too high a cost! I'd rather buy, defying gravity. Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!
"I'm going to be a hero." She said boldly. "One of them, a good person, my own woman, and no one can stop me this time!"
The Brotherhood exchanged worried glances. "Wanda", Avalanche said nervously, "I think you're going a little too far, a little crazy again-"
But the Scarlet Witch wasn't listening. "I'm done letting other people tell me what's right for me. Maybe I can't make everything better, but I'll never know if I never try! For so long, I've wanted my father to love me, at maybe any price. And now I say that price is too high! I'll by being an Avenger first!"
W – Unlimited. Together we're unlimited. Together we'll be the greatest team there's ever been. Dreams the way I plan them, if I work in tandem, there's no fight I cannot win!
"The Avengers are Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the greatest team ever. I can have my dreams if I work with them. So say your goodbyes, or join me! Join me, and I'll care whether you lose or win! Otherwise, go your own ways and never dream of being better!" She looked at them all, challenging them.
They all looked down, limited by their fears of losing, of failing, of never dreaming again.
B - I hope you're happy. Now that you're choosing this.
W – You too. I hope it brings you bliss.
A – I really hope you get it, and you don't live to regret it! I hope you're happy in the end, I hope you're happy, my…friends.
They all murmured goodbye and good wishes, and then they departed the building.
W - So if you care to find me - Look to the western sky! As someone told me once: "Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!" And if I'm flying with a team, At least I'm flying as ME! To those who'd limit me, take a message back from me! Tell them how I am defying gravity! I'm flying high, defying gravity! And soon I'll join them in renown!
And nobody in all the world
No Father that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!
Wanda rejoined the fight next to Captain America. "Steve", she said quietly, "let's go."
"But –" he began, then stopped when he saw her face. "All right", he nodded, and summoned the rest of the team. As they flew from the battlefield, Wanda allowed herself one last glance, then turned to Vision, who was able to hold her as she wept for what she lost.
AN: That's the finale for Act I! Next Up: Thank Goodness, as Wanda thinks on what she's sacrificed for being a hero.