Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, after deciphering the journal left behind by the late Doctor Faustus, Cynder and company have discovered the location of every HYDRA facility he knew of in NYC. Trying to get the Midnight Sons further into the mission, Cynder takes Magik and Ghost Rider on what she calls a HYDRA stomping marathon. But not before it's revealed that both Cynder and Caretaker have their suspicions as to who fired the Dark Gem that killed Doctor Faustus in the first place, and neither are liking who it might be. But, more on that later. Right now, we've got some HYDRA stomping to catch up on. So how's the marathon going? Read on to discover...

(Our story picks upon a rainy night in New York City, where Cynder, Magik, and Ghost Rider have just taken out a HYDRA base, and clearly they're starting to get exhausted.)

Cynder: Why is it that every time we take one of these bases down, two more seem to pop up in the immediate vicinity?

Magik: I guess HYDRA really does live up to their namesake.

Ghost Rider: Cut of one head and all that jazz.

Caretaker: (Via their comm system) Keep patience first everyone. This should be over soon enough. I've just has Nico send Illyana the next location. I'd have sent it myself but I still can't figure out how to operate these cellular telephones.

Cynder: Trust me, it took me five years to figure mine out, and I'm still not sure Spyro took to his much easier.

(Suddenly, a clawed hand reaches out and grabs Cynder by the shoulder, tossing her back before revealing it's master, Sabretooth.)

Sabretooth: Trust me, this certainly won't be easier.

(Magik and Ghost Rider try their damnedest to contain Sabretooth, but he breaks their grip easily and leaps onto Cynder)

Cynder: Why am I not surprised to see you here, Creed?

Sabretooth: Hell of a price Crossbones put on your head, kid. Too bad for you he never said the rest of you had to be attached.

(But before Sabretooth can cut off Cynder's head, she gets something on the breeze, a familiar scent, followed by a familiar voice. Looking up towards a nearby rooftop, there he stands. The most famous and dare I say overrated of the X-Men, Wolverine.)

Wolverine: (As he extends his claws with a snikt) Big words for a dead man, bub.

(And with that, Wolverine leaps into battle against his longtime nemesis, forcing him off Cynder with a swift kick)

Wolverine: You got one thing right, Sabretooth. Heads are going to roll tonight.

Cynder: (Getting to her feet) Good to see you, Logan.

Wolverine: Hey, I owed you one for that mess in Madripoor last month.

Cynder: Hey, we agreed not to talk about that. (Gesturing to Magik and Ghost Rider) And definitely not in front of the kids!

Wolverine: No offense kid, but you smell... wrong...

Cynder: Compared to Sabretooth?

Wolverine: Good point. (Realizes something) Wait a second, where's Spyro? I almost never see you two apart.

Cynder: It's a long story we'll have to fill you in on later, Logan. Right now, we've kind of got a situation to handle.

Wolverine: Fine. We'll settle this once Sabretooth is dealt with.

(And just as the two make that agreement, Magik and Ghost Rider rejoin the party just as a truck of HYDRA goons arrives, with Sabretooth leaping on top of it.)

Sabretooth: Now I get to kill two runts with one claw! Maybe I should be paying HYDRA!

Cynder: Bring it, you ugly mother...

Wolverine: (Sarcastically) Hey, not in front of the kids!

Cynder: Touche, Logan.

(And with that, the battle begins. The addition of Wolverine to the party certainly helps, as he balances out the relative inexperience of Magik and Ghost Rider, but by the end of the battle, they've gained some serious experience, and Sabretooth is down for the count as Cynder puts a blade to Sabretooth's neck.)

Sabretooth: I guess you got me after all, runt. Go ahead, finish me.

(You can tell Cynder is tempted, but in that moment, something causes her to hesitate, a charm around Sabretooth's neck)

Cynder: (Angrily pointing it out with her sword) Where did you get that?

Wolverine: (Confused and kind of annoyed) What are you doing?!

(Only in this moment, does Cynder realize Sabretooth was waiting for his, as his healing factor has all but mended his wound)

Sabretooth: Not much a of a hunter, are you kid? A shame, given your reputation. (Smacks Cynder into a car) You'd fit right in with Xavier and his little pets.

(Cynder attempts to fight back, far angrier than earlier, but ultimately raw fury is no match against Sabretooth and his predatory instincts)

Sabretooth: Now hold still, pup. This is going to hurt!

(As Sabretooth tries to rip Cynder's neck out with his teeth, The Hunter's collar reacts, sending Sabretooth flying backwards, and burning his face a bit, forcing him into a retreat)

Ghost Rider: (Rushing to Cynder's aid) How'd you do that?

Cynder: (Feeling The Hunter's collar) I... I honestly don't know.

Wolverine: Regardless, it's a nifty trick. Nobody expects the neckpiece to bite back.

Cynder: Can Creed heal from that?

Wolverine: No idea. But I'm going to find out, after you tell me what the heck is going on.

Cynder: Long story, there's an ancient sorceress on the loose, bound with the spirit of Malefor, they've captured Spyro and Wanda, turned Venom into some kind of demon, and now we're trying to track them down.

Wolverine: Wait, did you just say they've got both Spyro and Wanda?

Cynder: Yep. Please don't tell Pietro.

Wolverine: Hell, it's Magneto I'm worried about. If he finds out about his daughter...

Cynder: Hence why we're trying to wrap this up quickly.

Wolverine: Don't worry, bub. I'll make sure Sabretooth doesn't heal up so quickly. Feel free to call me if you need some help.

Cynder: Will do, old friend.

(With that, Wolverine leaps out of the scene in pursuit of his mortal enemy.)

Magik: What is their deal?

Wolverine: It's a long story. I'll tell you when we get back to The Abbey.

(With that, Magik opens a Limbo portal back to The Abbey, while we focus in on Sabretooth, fleeing from the scene with one critical detail, his face is still scarred, despite his healing factor.)

Sabretooth: Can't... heal...

(At this point, Sabretooth turns around and sees Wolverine is still on his tail)

Sabretooth: Have... to keep... moving...

(Unfortunately for him, he doesn't get very far, and collapses to the street. But just as things look done for Sabretooth, green and purple flames emerge, and from them step Lilith, no sign of Malefor though, and a new figure, the very same one that killed Doctor Faustus. We only see the second figure from behind, and from it we observe Malefor's crown-like horns adorned with Lilith's green flame)

?: Just as I told you, Mother. A warrior unlike any I have known.

Lilith: You have done well, young one. I can sense Malefor is pleased with you. (To Sabretooth as she picks him up off the ground) Don't worry, my child. Mother is here.

(And with that Lilith pumps her dark magic into Sabretooth, turning him into one of her Fallen, just like Venom and presumably the figure standing beside her. Wolverine catches up just as the transformation finishes, but we only get a fleeting glimpse of Fallen Sabretooth, as instead Wolverine sees the other figure standing with them, and is absolutely shocked)

Wolverine: No, it can't be!

?: But it is.

(And with that, the new figure strikes at Wolverine, just as our scene ends)

And that looks like a good place to end for today. I'm willing to bet the majority of you can guess who the mystery figure is. If you think you know, please keep it a secret, I don't want to ruin the surprise for when it comes up. Which, actually, should be pretty soon now that I think about it. Not more than a week or two if I'm being honest. So be sure to tune in for that! Same time... same channel!