Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, Doctor Strange and his team returned to the Sanctum Sanctorum, only to be met by Captain Marvel just in time for Lilith and Malefor to attack. After taking out just about everybody else, Scarlet Witch is the one who sends the two villains packing. Realizing the two are only going to get stronger as the Midnight Sun approaches, Doctor Strange opens a portal to an unknown location, one that Spyro and Scarlet Witch apparently have a history with, so Cynder goes with Strange, Iron Man, and Captain Marvel to check out what is apparently their last hope. So, what awaits through the portal? Read on to discover...

(Our scene opens in the garden Doctor Strange opened a portal to, with himself, Captain Marvel, Iron Man and Cynder stepping out of it, only for Iron Man to fall face first to the ground from the portal slightly suspended in the air while the other three float to the ground)

Iron Man: (As he starts to get up) Okay, you did that one on purpose.

Doctor Strange: The fabric of magic is unwinding. We are lucky to have made it at all!

Captain Marvel: Speaking of here, where is "here" exactly?

Cynder: For once Carol and I are on the same page.

Doctor Strange: Salem, Massachusetts. Rather, a pocket dimension in Salem, Massachusetts.

Cynder: What is it with you magic folk being drawn like moths to this town?

Iron Man: Maybe they just really enjoy Hocus Pocus?

Doctor Strange: (Gesturing to the building before them) Welcome to The Abbey. The base of operations for...

?: The Midnight Sons.

(And just like that, the source of the voice is made known. It's Blade, the Daywalker, accompanied by the team he just mentioned, the Midnight Sons: Nico Minoru, Magik, and Robbie Reyes: the current Ghost Rider)

Iron Man: (Preparing his repulsors in surprise) What is this? Lilith's Demon junior league?

Nico Minoru: Hey, aren't you that jerk from TV?

Magik: Which one?

(It seems things are going wrong from the start as everybody save Doctor Strange and Cynder are preparing to attack one another)

Doctor Strange: Now, if we could all just take a moment...

?: Enough!

(And just then, a bolt of magic comes from the Abbey's entrance, and there stands the leader of the Midnight Sons, a woman known only as The Caretaker)

Caretaker: (To Iron Man) You're standing on my flowers.

(Iron Man realizes where he's standing and moves over just as the Caretaker moves to talk to Doctor Strange)

Doctor Strange: It's been a long time, Sarah.

Caretaker: It's Caretaker now. (Sees Cynder) And of course, there's another one.

Cynder: Starting to see why Spyro doesn't like this place.

Caretaker: His strange Aether aura throws off the magic of this place. And now, I see he lied about being the only one.

Cynder: I may have Aether, but its not near as strong as Spyro's. Since its not in my natural elemental aura. Nothing beyond Wind truly is, the rest were added by Malefor's corruption.

Caretaker: (Staring into Cynder's soul) Hmm. Indeed it isn't. But there is something more... familiar to you. However, that still doesn't mean you are welcome here.

Doctor Strange: Look, if I could have avoided this moment, I would have. But...

Caretaker: Spare me the speeches. I know about Lilith's return. She is my sister after all.

Cynder: Sister?

Caretaker: Yes. Now, I do believe time is of the essence. (To Doctor Strange and Cynder) Come, both of you. We have much to talk about.

(Not questioning this at all, and frankly not having time or patience to, Cynder joins the Caretaker and Doctor Strange in heading into The Abbey.)

Nico Minoru: Guess we're suddenly invisible.

(Meanwhile, within The Abbey, the trio who entered descend into a crypt, with a sarcophagus very similar to Lilith's, arguably not a good sign)

Doctor Strange: Nobody can doubt that The Hunter earned their rest after the first battle with Lilith. We can only hope they'll be ready to do it again.

Caretaker: You wizards make everything sound so lofty. I raised my own sister's child as a weapon against her.

Doctor Strange: And saved the world in the process, last I checked.

Caretaker: And now you want me to dig them up and ask them to do the whole thing all over again.

Doctor Strange: I didn't write the prophecy, Sara.

Cynder: Wait, if Lilith's been enhanced by bonding with Malefor's spirit, won't that make this Hunter sort of useless.

Caretaker: That's why I picture Stephen brought you here.

Cynder: Please tell me this isn't a "my soul for theirs" kind of thing. Because I know Spyro will kill you for that one, Strange.

Doctor Strange: Not even remotely, Cynder.

Cynder: Still doesn't make this any less awkward.

Doctor Strange: (Materializing a spell book and casting magic into the sarcophagus) We are not vandalizing their grave, we are simply reuniting ethereal essence and corporeal form. (To the Caretaker) Speaking of, it would be nice to have a mental image of the person we're reviving. Spiritual identity theft is not a joke. Spare no detail.

Cynder: I still really don't like this. I'm going to wait outside with the others.

Caretaker: Not a chance. I have a feeling you'll be crucial to this process. Whether you know it or not.

(And as Doctor Strange starts casting his spell, our scene ends for today)

And that looks like a good place to stop for now. Perfectly timed, since during the game at this point you'd get to design your own take on The Hunter. However, that doesn't work too well for this story. I worked on what to do with The Hunter for months planning this, and I've finally got an idea as to what to do. So what is it? You'll have to tune in next time to find out. Same time... same channel!