Avengers: Infinite Wars

by free man writer

The Clone Wars are in full swing with the galaxy divided. The Jedi lead the clone army against the infinite droid army of the Separatists. Yet a wild card enters the fray. The Avengers. From there, newer, more sinister and deadlier threats emerge and The Galaxy, no, the universe, shall never be the same again. Co-written by Jebest4781 and BulletStormX. Now in Season 4.

59. Scarlet Desire

Rate Read and Review and As Always Have Nice Day.

Avengers Infinite Wars Chapter 59: Scarlet Desire.

"Oof!"

'Urgh, I didn't realize I was that out of practice.' Came the mental criticism towards one Scarlet garbed superhero. 'Nat was right. I really should've done more hand-to-hand combat.'

Currently, the Avenger known as Wanda Maximoff was lying on her back in the middle of a circular ring with a slightly dazed expression after being knocked down on her ass.

She groaned and covered her eyes momentarily when she heard the sound of dirt being shifted about next to her.

Removing her hand for her eyes, she was met with the sight of a grinning Nightsister standing over her.

"Well now, this is a lovely sight." The Dathomirian said with a smarmy tone.

"Very funny Junn." Wanda blandly responded, lazily lifting up her hand. "Now quit being smug and help me up."

"Why would I wanna? I would love to see you by my feEET-"

Wanda used her powers to spin herself around in order to knock Junn off her feet.

Though she had remained on the ground, Maximoff took solace in seeing a grumpy Junn lying right next to her.

"You are such a sore loser." Junn deadpanned.

"And you are an abysmal winner." Wanda shot back.

The two devolved into snickers between one another as they helped each other back to their feet and resumed their original stances.

Wanda went for an overhead strike that Junn blocked.

The Nightsister pivoted her body to go for an arm drag throw but Wanda instinctively lurch forward and wrapped her other arm around Junn and latched onto her other arm that Junn had grabbed.

She pulled the pale skinned woman back and tried to go for a chokehold that Junn was resisting.

The Dathomirian pivoted her body with her face to the ground and her elbow getting jabbed into Wanda's stomach.

Maximoff grunted slightly and pushed her back and instantly jumped up to avoid a sweeping leg kick.

She was on the defensive now as Junn threw several jabs which Wanda blocked.

Junn went in for a mid-section kick with her opponent managing to catch her leg and have her arm wrap around it.

Wanda tried tripping her up but Junn displayed great dexterity and leg strength by hopping on her one leg while managing to pull her sparring partner around.

The Sokovian released her, stumbling slightly whilst Junn simply right herself and dove in for a tackle.

Out of sheer instinct, Wanda curved her fingers and threw her hands up, capturing Junn in a red energy field.

The Nightsister blinked, looking from side to side at her floating in the air like that before looking up at her sparring partner with a dry look.

"You lose." Junn bluntly stated. "Again."

Wanda scowled in a faux manner. "Oh darn it. Woe is me to lose when I have my enemy in my grasp so easily."

"Very amusing." Junn remarked. "Now how 'bout you-WA-MMPH."

The Avenger released a fake gasp of horror.

"Oh no~, Junn~ are you ok?"

It didn't take long for Wanda to start laughing a second later at seeing the Nightsister raise her face up off the ground and blow sand out of her mouth at Maximoff.

"What?" Wanda rhetorically asked with a wicked smirk in place. "I've been eating dirt for two hours now. You don't like the taste?"

"You are such a child sometimes."

"Oh, what, and you're not?" Maximoff retorted.

"I happen to be a mature child." Junn replied in a haughty fashion.

Before Wanda could make another retort, they heard the sound of applause from one person who had approached them.

Both women turned and in an instant, the local to the planet bowed her head forward.

"Mother Talzin." Junn said in respect.

"Mother Talzin." Wanda spoke in a more neutral tone.

"Very good, Sister Junn." The Clan leader of the Nightsisters said with her strange, raspy voice. "You have done well in training young Wanda here in our martial ways. She has improved considerably since she began."

"She had a solid foundation to begin with." Junn stated. "I only helped in bringing out the better parts of her.

"I'd like to think it's I have determination and drive." Wanda shrugged off before remembering something her brother told her. "But it's really a lot of stubbornness."

Several chuckles were heard as a response.

"Then you shall make for a strong Nightsister." Talzin assured with a devious smirk. "Only the best have your kind of stubbornness."

Maximoff could only give her a strained smile upon hearing that.

It had been some time now since she first came to Dathomir.

She believes it has been at least several months, possibly more by now and she has been residing with the Nightsister clan of Dathomir Witches since that time.

Building up relationships with the clan and more or less solidifying it to a degree. And her schedule changed significantly ever since obtaining XoXaan and Kreia's holocrons in her initial first few weeks on the planet.

The two Sith ghost ladies had since been her personal, private instructors, away from the prying eyes of the Nightsister who remained oblivious to her practices.

As much as she would more or less openly present them, Wanda withheld such details due to Mother Talzin.

No matter how long she's been here, she still can't seem to trust the coven head.

It didn't help that at times, it felt like the older woman knew that Wanda was hiding secrets from her and she was content to just wait her out in order to uncover said secrets.

The looks she would receive from the Witchmaster were unsettling and unnerving at times.

It was like she was some sort of prize or trophy who wants to eventually flaunt it around at some point. Or… something worse.

She blinked as she noticed Junn begin to pat herself down, brushing the dust of her form and Wanda quickly followed suit.

Now, one may ask the purpose as to why Wanda was here.

Being a user of powers that don't require physical contact, there wouldn't really be a need for this sort of martial training.

But there is a purpose for her being in this situation, training with the Nightsisters.

When she joined the Avengers, she did so with the want and notion of becoming a better person while seeing it as her means of redemption for her mistakes with Ultron and Sokovia.

Wanda didn't want to be left behind. She wanted to be stronger and protect her comrades and even her brother. And to redeem her mistakes.

So she had undergone some physical training under Captain American and Black Widow's mentorship with the other military oriented and veteran Avengers helping out.

Sam, Rhodey and Clint all contributed to her hand-to-hand combat training.

And yet she didn't do well enough as she heavily focused on her powers and powers alone.

Granted, the Avengers were more than willing to help her in this regard, practicing a number of moves and formations that were all about bouncing off each other's capabilities.

It's just she wasn't as physically oriented as some of the other Avengers were.

Flash forward to now, in her training with the holocrons, Kreia questioned her physical capabilities. Once stating that she had the bare minimum, it made the Force spirit rather upset.

One cannot always rely on the powers that they have to get themselves out of tough situations. One must rely on their other skills such as their mind or even their physical prowess. It even applied further with Kreia's thoughts on getting away from the Force and not always being reliant on the "untrusting" cosmic Force.

Even XoXaan contributed to this that even she needed to fight hand to hand when she didn't have her lightsaber in past conflicts. Certain moments in her life didn't give her the option of using her more offensive Force abilities.

Improvising was key to this aspect in all aspects, not just in what she excelled at.

Yes, she was encouraged to continually train the powers she already had but she was also told that she needed to broaden her abilities.

Thus Wanda was instructed to convince the Nightsisters to let her join in on their training regime. Their fighting style, their weapons style, everything they had to offer.

The Sokovian Avenger did honestly try not to seek Mother Talzin to allow her to join. She was the clan's leader after all and can overrule the decisions of others below her. Yet Wanda didn't want her to hold anything over her with a favor or something of the like.

So she went to Merrin's mother for help. She complied and things snowballed from there as Wanda began learning from several specialists.

Though eventually Talzin did hear of this and approached her as to why she never came up to her.

Wanda was surprised and unsurprised by the Witch's willingness in having her join the clan in their exercises.

Though it was more on the latter with how clear Talzin conveyed her intentions in regards to Maximoff.

She wanted and needed her to join her clan. Officially and legitimately. Apparently there was some ritual for that.

Something Wanda told herself not to do.

She was already part of a team.

And she was confident that they were searching for her. She was sure of it.

Pietro would be too bullheaded and stubborn not to.

Other than that, her lessons with Kreia and XoXaan continued on as they have been for the past several months.

Wanda learned a great deal about the Force and its two main competing ideologies rooted in the Dark Side of the Force and the Light.

In the Jedi and the Sith.

It was a heavily Sith oriented set of lessons though Wanda was quick to reject them.

When listening to how they spoke of power coupled with the self-destructive and self-harming nature of the Sith, it was not an appealing path to go down on.

But she was also taught by Kreia in particular about the ways of the Jedi. XoXaan occasionally chipped in, talking about the Jedi that she knew and the two Sith Ladies compared their respective orders they walked away from.

Wanda had found that while the Jedi were more preferable, she was disturbed by the dogmatic doctrine that they had when it came to their ways.

Especially when it comes to the way in which they should handle their emotions.

While they don't downright tell those in their order to ignore and repress them, something felt off in the ways they conducted their training and teachings.

Kreia often told her of how both Orders were incomplete in their teachings and how both sides refused to learn from one another.

This earned a derisive comment from XoXaan of how little appears to have changed and the Jedi are still stubborn fools.

Thus Wanda teased the Sith founder that she may have spotted some Jedi in her, often earning some fun rising reactions.

Leaving the training field, Wanda took flight and went over to the secluded area outside where two young Dathomirian girls often played.

But now it has become something else.

Arriving on the scene, she saw them lifting pieces of the crashed ship for their Force exercises with Kreia's holocron activated to supervise the lessons.

"Remember, when using the Force you must know when to impose your will and when to let it guide your action." Kreia instructed the two girls seated before her. "It is the equilibrium that must be balanced. Be mindful of your emotions. They can be useful or an issue."

"Yes Master."

"Yes, my Lady."

"Good, good." Kreia said in approval. The spirit within the Holocron perked up at the sight of Wanda landing before the crashed ship.

Both girls turned their heads and immediately had wide smiles in place and ran to greet her.

Wanda beamed at the sight of the two, dropping down to her knees and laughed when they pounced on her.

"Your back!" Merrin proclaimed happily.

"I wasn't gone all that long, Merrin." Wanda remarked, poking her nose. "How have your lessons been going today?"

"Master Kreia talked about how we should use the Force differently and all." Ilyana stated before her face scrunched up. "I… don't fully get it yet."

"Me neither." Merrin admitted.

Wanda only smiled fondly at the two and rubbed the tops of their heads.

"You two are gonna go far." Maximoff assured. "You just need to take your time. You've got your whole lives ahead of you both to become better."

Both girls puff their chests out in stereo only to get poked in their bellies and tickled down into submission, the area now aloud with laughter.

Upon Merrin and Ilyana learning of the Force came a bit of an issue.

How it's done was primarily focused on having Kreia being the instructor. She was considered a far better instructor towards "younglings" over XoXaan by a long shot. It was merely biased in Wanda's opinion as the hooded Sith spirit was a Jedi instructor for a long while and had better experience in helping ones so young.

If it had to come to it on a number of occasions, XoXaan was able to teach Merrin and Ilyana; only when Wanda was supervising. A means so XoXaan wouldn't go overboard in making things far too stressful for the children.

There were some forms of difficulty for the two Dathomirian girls practicing and training in their lessons at the beginning. It heavily revolved on the topic about their age.

When asked about this, Wanda learned of the recruitment of Force users in both Orders. They often seek children of a very young age, even as infants and begin having them begin their training at one point in time. It all pertained to them becoming more malleable and adapted to using the Force. The older one gets when beginning training could become a hazard to themselves and others around them, with or without a proper instructor.

With Merrin and Ilyana being exposed in their present environment was more or less a saving grace given their unique heritage. With the Nightsister magic and practices, it may have expanded the window of when both may or may not be capable of using the Force in their present age.

Wanda can arguably be an exception with her unique powers. Yes she is beyond the age limit on learning and safely wielding the Force, if she was a normal person. But with present circumstances, she may as well be a faux practitioner.

Then came the details on where the children are recruited.

The moment all this went through Wanda's head, she was more or less peeved about the means of recruiting "younglings".

Yes taking in children from orphanages and slavery was fine at the beginning as it would at least give them a better life; depending on the Order in question. But taking them from loving homes where one's family was still around was where Wanda drew the line.

"How were they today?" Wanda softly asked, watching the two young girls who had endeared themselves into her heart.

She didn't deny that she was growing to love those two, seeing them as younger sisters/daughters even with how much time she had spent around them both.

More time was spent with the two of them than any other Nightsister other than Merrin's mother, Junn and Mother Talzin.

Sure there was Ilyana's aunt but they didn't have any substantial interactions with one another.

It was cordial for the most part since Ilyana's word was enough to assuage her aunt's concerns about spending time with an outsider.

"Quite well, as usual. They'll hopefully be ready for the next stage very soon." Kreia answered with a hint of pride.

Wanda nodded in understanding. "Quite eager, aren't they?"

"Most certainly. I'm still surprised at how well the Force responds to their people."

What Kreia was referring to was the uniqueness of the dominant people of this planet.

Within the past six hundred years, the Dathomirians greatly developed, not in technology but through the Force.

Now Dathomirian women had a more natural inclination towards the Dark Side of the Force over other practitioners. This was due to their unique mastery through their lifestyles and being one with it.

To the understanding of Wanda and the Sith ghosts, the Nightsisters were not "slaves" to it or corrupted by it like many other factions; they merely used it as a tool to enhance themselves.

They lived in tandem with it.

For example, the Sith -the most well-known faction to the Dark Side- are stated to have been "slaves" to it and wielding it often came at a cost. Like heavily changing them over the years in both physicality and personality to outright becoming addicted to constantly using it. Thus it eventually makes them want to be fully committed in serving the Dark Side and doing whatever it takes to make it their entire life until their last moment.

The Nightsisters -however- were different as they were able to retain their individual freedom and remain the same person while tapping into that power. This allowed them to still live and care for others without the plaguing thoughts of betrayal and the need to gain more and more power.

This was partially due to their upbringing since birth as they are surrounded by the Dark Side throughout their lives. Little by little, they grew up and greatly adjusted to it throughout their childhood until they were ready to start becoming practitioners.

Before they can dive into it, they must undergo a certain trial which tests their will and control. Something involving subduing a unique aquatic creature native to this planet without killing it. The Nightsister must bring a piece of it back for a ritual, thus allowing them to become a true member of the clan before learning of their magic through their elders.

Wanda had wondered if the Nightsisters were in fact stronger than the Sith, but in truth they were far from it.

Through a number of conversations, the Sokovian learned many of their abilities relied on illusions and body enhancements rather than attacks. Only the strongest members of the Nightsisters can unlock the most powerful Dark Side abilities like Force Lightning. But even then it paled in comparison to that of a master of the Sith.

This bit of information did bring in some interest with XoXaan and Kreia if there were perhaps some other limitations at play here through the "safe method" of using the Dark Side.

If given the choice on which side to take in wielding the Dark Side, Wanda would rather retain her individuality whilst tapping into that side of the Force whenever needed. She didn't want to lose who and what she was and become a complete stranger because of it.

Both Sith ghost and Avenger simply watched the two young girls play around until…

"They have formed an attachment to you."

"Are they not already attached to their mom and aunt?"

"Yes, but they have one with you as well now." Kreia stated. "And it is a powerful bond. I can feel their adulation and the way they look up to you."

"And is that a problem?"

Kreia only shook her head. "It may be. It may not. That will depend entirely on them and how they develop. They can use this bond as a means of strengthening their own power or rely solely upon it and achieve nothing but ruin."

"That doesn't sound reassuring."

"It is the curse of the Force." Kreia bitterly said. "Both Jedi and Sith see attachments as a plague and should be cut off. With the Jedi at the very least there's a chance that they would live. The Sith… the only way to "sever" ties with those you've grown attached to is in the most physical way possible."

Wanda shivered. "Don't remind me."

Another reason as to why she had a growing spite against the Sith.

It all went back to self-destruction in the end.

Killing surviving family members, killing loved ones or violating them were among a number of examples from Kreia's time. Who knows what it's like years later up to now.

She had her criticisms of the Jedi, yes. But the Sith… in all their power, all they ever equated to was loss and needless death and destruction.

And why the training more or less went away from the rest of the Nightsister clan was somewhat similar to Wanda's thoughts with Mother Talzin.

At some point or another, the secret would be unveiled and the knowledge of their Force capabilities would be well known.

Hopefully that bridge won't be crossed anytime soon.

Wanda no doubt expected a number of trust issues would be addressed. It all depends on the level of severity.

Deactivating Kreia's holocron, Wanda pocketed it as she addressed the two children.

"C'mon you two. It's time to head back for the day."

-Scene Cut-

Returning to the Nightsister cavern, Wanda freshened up after returning the two girls to their respective homes.

She watched the duo run towards their mother and aunt and embrace them, being hoisted up into their arms and taken into their homes.

Wanda let out a sigh and began her walk towards the hutt that she had made to serve as her home when-

"Ah yes, the outsider is coming to join us." spoke a snide female voice.

Wanda rolled her eyes upon hearing this Nightsister and turned to face her.

"Yes Rezna, I am indeed coming to join you. And by that, I mean I'm going to my hutt and going to eat there by myself without looking at you." Wanda said in a false polite tone, locking eyes with the Nightsister who sneered in contempt at her.

Though Wanda has spent a considerable amount of time amongst the Nightsisters clan, there were still some that conveyed mistrust and now resentment towards her.

It was not hard to see why.

Mother Talzin displayed an immediate open favoritism towards an outsider and appeared to go out of her way to help or do whatever it was that Wanda may need. And it was an open secret of her wanting the Sokovian to officially join them to gain more power over the other Dathomirian clans.

For a few, it was aggravating to say the least.

It was getting to the point where it'll really get on their nerves.

Despite not having much experience in politics, Wanda was starting to get a little crash course of it through the Nightsister clan.

In a sad way, this was way worse than sitcom and soap opera drama by a large margin. Hell, high school drama would be considered a vacation in comparison to this.

Until Wanda is basically baptized into their coven through their ritual, she would be forever seen as an "outsider". Not that she minded at all.

Quite frankly she had no intentions of joining this clan and getting all that weird makeup all over her face.

It looked like too much of a process to both get on and off.

Then again, all that was natural for the Dathomirians. The Sokovian didn't know what it would be like for her afterwards if she so happened to join.

And the last thing she needed was something for her brother to take a picture of and use it against her in the future.

Walking towards her hutt, Wanda saw several other Nightsisters pass her by.

A few gave her polite enough nods and greetings while the rest were terse, dismissive and unimpressed looks.

She was used to some of these by now really cause none topped Rezna's loathsome glare.

But… she couldn't help but notice that some of the ones who gave her the cold and annoyed looks were some that actually had decent interactions with at times.

They weren't overly trusting but they didn't go out of their way to be mean or rude.

"Did I do something to them?" Wanda quietly asked herself.

She quickly recounted the events of today and thought about who she had interacted with.

Junn, Tina and Ilyana's aunt were in the morning and she had done some sparring with Junn before speaking with Talzin.

Then she had spent the whole day up to now with Merrin and Ilyana so…

The Avenger stopped in her tracks at the sound of grinding metal.

She turned to see her sparring partner at a rack attending to the weapons hung upon it.

"Hello Junn." Wanda greeted in a kind fashion.

"Hey Wanda." The Nightsister idly greeted, sharpening a spiked mace of sorts. Seeing the tips sheen with sharpness, Junn nodded in satisfaction before moving onto a set of short, bladed sabers.

"Have you been doing this since training?"

Junn shrugged. "It was my turn this month."

"Uh-huh." Maximoff slowly nodded and looked behind her to see some clearly displeased Nightsisters.

And they weren't looking at her for once.

"Anything special happening?" She couldn't help but ask. "Seeing a number of people being a bit more agitated than usual."

Her Nightsister friend scoffed. "It should come as no surprise. Another clan of Dathomir Witches are here."

Maximoff blinked and looked at her friend in surprise. "Another clan is coming here?"

"Didn't you hear?"

"I'm kinda kept out of the loop for most Nightsister things unless Talzin allows it." Wanda reminded her. "Not that I really mind. I'm not one for gossip."

"Ah, yes, tend to forget that at times." Junn said offhandedly. "Well, if you should know, Queen Zalem has come to "grace" us with her presence."

Wanda did a small double take upon hearing that. "Queen? You have royalty on this planet? I don't remember that in my crash course of lessons here."

Junn let out a disgusted snort. "She's not exactly the entire planet's Queen. Zalem stylizes herself as one and flaunts it, given she essentially commands the largest and most powerful territory on Dathomir."

"Huh… Salem sounds like Zalem." Wanda mused.

"What now?"

Wanda waved her off. "Nothing, nothing, it's something from Earth… actually, in hindsight, it's a rather appropriate comparison given where I am all things considered."

"Maximoff." Junn said with a flat look.

"Sorry." The Avenger said with a sheepish look. "So, this Zalem Queen, how would you describe her?"

"Well, like I said earlier, she calls herself Queen but none of the other clans recognize her rule."

"So she's a bitch then."

Junn guffawed at such a crass word to describe Zalem.

"I wouldn't say that out loud, but the few times I saw her in person, she basically is." The Nightsister said with a shaking laugh. "Force me Wanda, sometimes you surprise me with how you talk."

"I grew up with a crass brother and know a lot of clowns." Wanda stated. "I was told I needed some humor in my dreary life. I'm merely expressing it in my own way."

"Then express it in a lesser fashion once she's here. We don't want to cause an incident."

Wanda rolled her eyes. "If you say so."

Junn shook her head. "No, Wanda, I'm serious. Don't start trouble where none is needed. I know you're not like that at all but still, please. For me and your two favorite people on this planet."

Maximoff bit her lip slightly, put off by her friend's unusual seriousness before nodding in compliance.

"So what's this whole thing about then?" She asked. "Simple meeting of territory leaders or what?"

Junn flicked her wrist as a silent means of saying 'no, not that'.

"Zalem wants access to the mountain that is our home temple."

"The mountain?" Wanda said in confusion, looking up at it. "What does she want with the mountain? A place with a view? I mean I can understand, cause it's quite nice on most evenings."

Junn chortled and lightly flicked the Avenger' temple.

"No you dummy, it's what's inside the mountain."

"Once again, I'm hearing these details now?"

"Well…" Junn looked at her and her shoulders went up and down. "You haven't earned enough trust yet to be in the know."

"I'm very aware of that." Wanda drawled out. "Then what's so special about the place?"

"You know about the Kwa, yes?"

"The first recorded civilization to use the Force, more or less, right?"

Junn nodded and gestured to the mountain. "Within our temple lies ancient technology that has laid dormant for thousands upon thousands of years. The history of the Kwa has been lost other than carvings in the walls and limited scrolls that have been salvaged. What we do know is that they had a greater understanding of the Force than we ever will."

"So… Does Zalem want something Kwa related in the mountain?"

"I wouldn't put it past her." Junn stated. "Like I said before, the Kwa knew a lot about the Force in ways lost to the galaxy. This is their original home planet after all."

"Really now? That's interesting to know." Wanda remarked. "So if this was the homeworld of this ancient race, are there any other Kwa temples or ruins here on Dathomir?"

Junn shrugged again. "Supposedly so, but it's hard to really know where they're located in certain territories. And it's not very great to access another's property without permission."

"I guess animosity runs deep between clans."

"Extremely so." Junn said. "A number of wars happened because of it."

"You don't seem to have a problem with them." Wanda noted.

"What makes you say that?"

Wanda thought about it for a moment. "Just the way you're talking and all. Only Zalem seems to be the one you have a problem with."

"Well Zalem is *ahem*, said word you used to describe her." Junn said comically. "As long as they don't bother us, I have no issues."

"Then I'll be on my best behavior." Wanda said, hand over her heart as a means of assurance.

"That's all I -and everyone else- will ask of you." Junn said, patting her friend on the shoulder before resuming her task at hand.

Thinking of this new bit of information, Wanda wondered if the two Sith spirits knew of this or not. They probably do, but the issue would never have been brought up until addressed.

Wanda was probably glad she didn't know of this beforehand as she may have wanted to take a gander in seeing the Kwa artifacts.

Yet that would've gotten her more negative responses from other members of the clan because of it.

Perhaps when Merrin and Ilyana are older they can go see them for themselves and learn more than she can ever get.

All she knows now is that tomorrow's training regime will be held off until the next day.

-Scene Cut-

"The Kwa?" Kreia spoke in clear surprise. "I was not aware that you knew about them."

"I don't know much, only that they apparently originated here and were the first recorded civilization to use the Force."

"The Kwa." XoXaan spoke in a reminiscent fashion. "I haven't heard that name in a very long time."

"So who are they really?" Maximoff asked the two. "They seem really important."

"Well, as you should know, the Kwa were among the first recorded sentient beings to learn of and figure out how to utilize the Force." Kreia said. "And they were extraordinarily gifted at it. They, like the ancient Sith and Jedi of old, knew the ways of the Force that many in my time and in his one could only dream of."

"They were hyper intelligent in the sense of understanding how to fuse technology with the Force." XoXaan said, remembering the old lessons of the Kwa back when she was still a Jedi. "If rumor is to be believed, they were able to utilize and create the fabled Infinity Gates."

"Infinity Gates? What are those supposed to be?"

"A means of instantaneous travel across the galaxy." Kreia spoke in a near reverent fashion. "Hyperspace would be outclassed when compared to this sort of technology."

'Instantaneous travel…' Wanda internally said to herself.

Would these Infinity Gates in fact be like that "stargate" back at the HYDRA base?

Maybe that was what happened to her and the rest of the Avengers. Instantaneous travel that made them wind up here in… well she didn't know if it was the Milky Way galaxy or not but they were in space now.

"So what happened to the Kwa?" Wanda asked. "Are they all dead?"

"They have long since perished even by my time." XoXaan said. "The Kwa civilization were the precursors to the Rakatan Infinite Empire, who directly learned from them by tricking the Kwa to teach them everything they knew; making them believe they wanted to further spread peace among the stars. In truth, they used this knowledge to conquer every known territory within the galaxy while turning on their teachers. The Kwa seemingly vanished after that."

"Another species that fell due to the blindness that they possessed, not realizing just who it was the Rakata were." Kreia said in a clipped tone. "I hope you know where I stand in this, Wanda."

"Well aware of it by now, Kreia."

"Wanda." Ilyana's voice cut through their conversation and the three women looked over to see Merrin and Ilyana staring ahead back towards their village.

Maximoff gazed ahead with her eyes squinting slightly and off in the distance, she saw a caravan of sorts making its way towards the Nightsister village of Mother Talzin.

"Who are they?" Merrin asked, looking up at Wanda who's eyes were narrowed.

She didn't respond for a few seconds until she held out both hands for the girls to take.

The Avenger had a pretty clear idea as to who it was but it was better to be safe than sorry. "Let's go find out."

Using her power, she levitated the trio off the ground while quickly recalling the Holocrons to her and she propelled them forward back to the village.

She knew coming in from the front would attract unwanted attention from the newly arrived Nightsister clan so she used the "back" entrance to return to the village.

Upon landing, she let go of both girls and directed them to return home.

Rather than complying, the two instead held onto Wanda's hands tighter and gave off nervous looks.

"What's the matter, you two?" Maximoff asked in concern. "Is everything alright?"

"I feel… strange." Merrin said softly.

"Like a really bad feeling." Ilyana added.

"Is it a gut feeling?" Wanda asked.

Merrin shook her head. "No, it's… I think… I think it's the Force. I can feel a shiver going down to my fingertips."

Feeling Ilyana nod her head against her arm only served to place Wanda on edge.

"Be on your guard, you two. We don't know what will happen with this meeting." She instructed. "Stay close to me and if not, go to your mother and aunt."

The girls simply went along with whatever it was that she said and kept close to Wanda as she made her way through the village towards the entrance.

There was next to no one within the interior of the village with all being at the front of the village.

She saw the assemblage of the Nightsisters at the gate, a clear sign of discomfort and guarded demeanors being shared by them all.

Towards the back end of the group were two very nervous and jittery women.

"Tina." Wanda said aloud, gaining both their attention.

The women turned and instantly had their expressions change into that of relief as they rushed over to the trio who had just arrived.

Merrin ran into her mother's arms while Ilyana was hoisted up by her aunt.

"Are you alright?" Tina asked her daughter with Merrin nodding in response.

"Wanda brought us back when she saw what was coming to our village." Ilyana said a moment later.

Both Nightsisters gave the Avenger grateful looks before promptly walking away to get their daughters away from here.

Maximoff gave a small little wave goodbye as the two young girls waved back.

"Wanda."

The Scarlet garbed heroine turned to see Junn approaching her.

"Junn." She greeted her.

"Where were you, Wanda?" Junn asked, crossing her arms. "Mother Talzin was looking for you."

"I was with Merrin and Ilyana." Wanda answered.

"Yes, I saw." Junn remarked. "But where were you exactly?"

"Just spending some time with them." Maximoff said with a shrug. "You do know that other than you and Talzin, those two are the only ones here who actively go out of their way to see me."

Junn rolled her eyes at that though she knew that her friend was telling her the truth.

Wanda had too few allies in this village and even less friends.

"So what's going on?" Wanda asked, gesturing her head slightly at the entire village being in attendance. "Must be important for all of you to be here."

"What do you think it is?"

Taking a moment to listen to the way Junn voiced the question, the Sokovian realized it was a more earnest question that came out sarcastically.

"Ah so the mighty queen has finally graced her presence here."

Junn nodded. "Her and her whole country by the looks of it."

"Tad excessive, don't you think."

"Flaunting, remember?"

"Yeah, but her whole country?"

"It was an exaggeration."

"Are you sure? From what I saw, that travelling party looked pretty long."

"She likes her security detail."

"Right… Wonder if I could just hide out in my hutt for the duration of her stay."

"You and just about everyone else." Junn drawled out. "Unfortunately a great number of us have to be present while others have to stay close to the Kwa temple."

"You think Zalem won't pull a fast one?"

"It would be naive not to think so." Junn stated. "And be prepared to be called upon if anything."

Wanda blinked. "What? Why me?"

Her friend shot a deadpan look at her as if not believing she had just asked that question.

"Maximoff, in case you forgot, you're Mother Talzin's new favorite and you're an outsider who has been given a place to stay in a Nightsister clan." Junn listed off. "Even if we aren't as open with the rest of the clans of Dathomir, rumors still run rampant. You being here is likely already known."

The Avenger stared ahead at the caravan that was filtering into the village entrance.

"...Huh… And here I thought this clan was a tad more isolated from such things."

"Your arrival here wasn't exactly subtle." Junn wryly reminded her. "Our magick went haywire and not a moment too soon, you show up."

Upon that reminder, Wanda couldn't fight off her grimace.

"So then she probably knows I'm here then." Maximoff stated more than she asked.

"Pretty much, yeah."

"Yippee~" Wanda said sarcastically.

The Sokovian continued watching the oncoming travel party continually walk into the village until at last, one sole Nightsister accompanied by several others in garments that had some armor attached to them walked forward.

"Walked" being a loose word as she was being carried on the shoulders of these Nightsisters atop a grandly designed chair.

The litter carrying "Queen" Zalem was rather extravagant in Wanda's eyes. Fine silks by the look of it with a number of pillows and cushions keeping the one clan leader rather comfortable on this long trek from god knows where on this planet.

Those who lifted the litter were not Nightsisters upon further inspection but several large, muscular men. Half were Zabrak males with the others being human. They were clearly slaves, given a few chained shackles attached to them.

The Queen's chair was soon placed down in between the two clans and she stood up in an elegant fashion just as the clan leader Wanda knew stepped forward.

"Mother Talzin." Zalem greeted first.

"Queen Zalem." Talzin said with a gracious bow. "I welcome you to my village."

"I am most relieved to be welcomed here, old friend." Zalem said in response, tone cordial and polite.

"Refreshments are already prepared for you and your retinue for the duration of your visit." Talzin said, gesturing towards the direction of her temple.

Looking from afar, Wanda wondered if Zalem's party used actual transports from their territory. For the life of her, she can't imagine them coming here all by foot. Surely their means of travel were stationed some large clearing away.

Wanda took the time to observe a number of the individuals that had accompanied their Queen to Talzin's village, noting the presence of male Zabraks apart from those who carried Zalem here.

They all bore similar markings to one another and "looked" fearsome but didn't display themselves as such.

All held their eyes down to the ground in a submissive manner with some even having collars around their necks.

As much as she'd like nothing more to free them, she was restricted by the cultural norm. All she could do now was give them looks of pity as she walked passed.

As the large group of Dathomirians walked on by, Wanda caught sight of one individual in particular that was a direct juxtaposition from the rest of the caravan.

And it appeared those around this… she wouldn't even know how to call it a person from the looks of it, made sure to keep their distance from this person as if they were the plague.

Wanda squinted at the deformed person and realized it was a woman.

This person was a hunchbacked creature, looking like quite the old hag. She was a tad more crippled in appearance. With each step, she shuffled along to keep up with the others.

"Who's that?" Wanda asked with a frown.

Junn looked over to whom it was her friend was asking about. "Ah, I believe that would be Ros Lai, the queen's own daughter."

"I hear she's called the Rancor, given her appearance." Said a Nightsister next to the two. "Zalem's so embarrassed by her ugliness, she ignores her just about completely."

"I guess… but still, she's her daughter, right?" Said the Sokovian. "Why bring her here if she would be... an embarrassment?"

Junn shook her head in disapproval as to what she was about to say. "Appearances sake, despite her disabilities. Ros Lai is her heir, until Queen Zalem takes on another mate to conceive another child."

A frown marred Maximoff's features as she looked upon the hunchbacked woman.

No matter where she goes, it seems the stigma with such beings is ever present.

She honestly felt bad for them. It wasn't right for them to be badly treated, just because of a deformity.

Seriously, it felt despicable just watching this poor girl struggle and get no help.

The looks being directed at the heir to Zalem made Wanda's fists clenched tightly.

The Avenger wanted to help but she felt that causing a scene wouldn't be to her benefit.

Of course this thought was thrown out the window the moment she saw Ros Lai trip and stumble slightly to the ground.

Looks like the decision was made for her.

She damned the consequences and immediately went over to help her up.

"Hey, are you alright?" Wanda softly asked, reaching out a hand to place on her back.

The moment she touched her, Wanda felt something was rather… off about her. She couldn't quite place it.

Shoving such thoughts aside, she helped the hunchback woman up.

"Th-Thank yous." She slurred. The smile she received was crooked but genuine and Wanda was surprised to feel that it was indeed a true look of gratitude.

"Think nothing of it." Wanda said sweetly, holding out a hand for Lai to take to keep herself steady.

It was pathetic how quickly her telepathic powers picked up on the distaste and disdain directed towards the hunchback Dathomirian that was directed towards her by her own kin.

There was also a great deal of contempt sent Wanda's way as well though it was easy for her to ignore them all and just help the poor woman.

"Do you need help getting-"

"Ros Lai." Interrupted a sharp and deadly voice.

In an instant, the crippled Dathomirian in Wanda's care froze up and cowered before a furious Zalem.

"M-m-m-mamasss." Ros stuttered out. "I-"

"Silence!" The Queen spat out venomously. "I will not allow you to-"

Zalem froze upon having her eyes land on Wanda and they widened considerably as her expression changed into one of surprise and awe.

"You…" She whispered.

Wanda gave the woman a hard stare in response.

'Oh boy, here we go.' She thought before attempting to be cordial.

"Queen Zalem?" Wanda heard the voice of Mother Talzin from behind the Nightsister Monarch. "What are you- Ah, I see you have met our guest who has been staying with us."

Talzin walked out from behind Zalem and stood beside the Queen.

"Is… is she the one?" Zalem inquired in enraptured awe.

"Huh?"

"Yes." Talzin nodded, clearly upset about revealing this. "She is the source of the disturbance the planet had felt those months ago."

The look Zalem conveyed put a knot in Wanda's gut.

'Great~~~ we're already coming to this.' She internally grumbled.

"Tell me, young child." Zalem said in a low voice, a grin slowly forming on her face. "What is your name?"

The Avenger chewed the inside of her cheek and her teeth clenched in anger as she felt the Queen's daughter in her arms shake with fear in being so close to her mother.

She saw Mother Talzin give her an expectant and annoyed look, both at her and at herself for not remaining inconspicuous until it was necessary.

Oh well.

"Wanda Maximoff."

"Wanda Maximoff~~~" Zalem repeated the name, testing it with a wide grin in place. "A pleasure to meet you. I am Queen Zalem."

"You made that much apparent." Wanda remarked. "Your majesty."

The Dathomirian Witch didn't react to the way she had said those last two words.

She only stared intently at her.

There was a peculiar look of hunger behind Zalem's gaze. It wasn't… sexual in nature, but that of ambition and power. And it was aimed directly towards her.

Talzin was one thing but Zalem…

A feeling swelled within her gut, telling her to be careful and wary about this woman.

Made her feel oddly safer around Talzin more than this supposed queen.

Talk about irony.

"Well then, I hope I get to know you whenever I have the time in my short visit here, Wanda Maximoff." Zalem said, the glint in her eyes only increasing. It disappeared in an instant upon having her head tilt down to her deformed daughter.

"Make yourself useful and stay out of sight." Zalem scornfully commanded.

"Yesh memah." Ros Lai said quietly in a downtrodden voice.

"And apologize to Ms. Maximoff for being such a burden on your part." The Queen added in.

"No need for that." Wanda coolly said. "She is of no trouble to me."

"Oh~ do you hear that my "dear" daughter?" Zalem said with a sneer. "You had better be thankful for this generosity given to one as undeserving as you."

With a whirl of her robes, the Queen turned and walked away with the large party she had traveled with dispersing.

Most exited the village, a few stayed inside and even fewer made to follow after their kin.

A number of looks were aimed towards them. Mixed for the most part. And a good chunk was of disgust and annoyance towards Zalem's only child.

Once thanking the Avenger, the hunchback woman shuffled along to make herself scarce elsewhere at the village.

Wanda was to be sure to look after Ros Lai when she could. She'll need it with all the scorn she had to go through in her life.

If not her, then she can be sure two little girls in mind can do the job.

"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?"

Wanda sighed and turned to an annoyed and amused Junn.

"Not even if I tried." She freely admitted. "If I see someone who needs help, I have to do what I can for them."

"Careful, that good nature of yours might get the best of you one day."

"I'm well aware."

"She's gonna be watching you now."

"I know." Wanda groused out, brow twitching.

"Do you? Cause to me it seemed like-"

"I will hang you from your underwear from the top of the mountain."

Junn cracked a small grin upon her successful badgering of Wanda.

The Sokovian let out an irritated sigh, picking up more disgusted and spiteful thoughts from Zalem's large clan that walked by her.

Even Talzin's Nightsisters weren't this annoying.

God, she can't wait for them to leave.

-Scene Cut-

"Your thoughts deceive you, Wanda. You are troubled in more ways than one."

"I thought you couldn't detect anything from me?"

Kreia scoffed at this. "One doesn't need to sense through the Force to see the obvious body language and way you have been acting this entire time. So either speak on this matter that plagues your thoughts and be done with it or continue to let it fester and grow into something of a greater annoyance to be dealt with for later. Likely in a degree of volatile aggression."

Wanda huffed. "Great, just what I need, a therapist."

"And your snark is a dead giveaway." Kreia countered. "And if you should know, I have begun to grow accustomed to your presence and the unique signature you give off despite being a void in the Force."

"Aren't you a spirit? How does all this even work?"

"You ask these questions to which you already have the answers to, Maximoff. Why ask such frivolous things when you already know what I am to say?"

"Mostly for myself if I'm being honest." Wanda admitted with a shrug.

"Speak what's on your mind, Wanda." Kreia encouraged. "You were in not such a foul mood a few days ago when I last saw you and the girls. Does it have something to do with the increase of Force-sensitives that had arrived at Talzin's village the other day?"

"You can say that." Began the Avenger. "From what I sensed, a good number of them are rather strong. Zalem was chief among them as she outclassed them all together."

"Zalem? Who might that be?"

"The leader of the visiting clan. There was something rather unnatural about her power." Wanda grimaced. "She felt… stained. Dirty even. And all around bad."

"From eloquent descriptions to one even Merrin and Ilyana could do better in terms of describing those who make them uncomfortable." Kreia commented. "What has she done to gain your ire in such a manner? You seem as though you're restless for conflict. Very much unlike you."

"It's nothing." Wanda said dismissively.

"Clearly." Kreia dryly responded. "Now, are you going to start talking like an adult or continue pacing about in anger like a petulant child?"

Maximoff turned to glare at the unperturbed Sith spirit who simply floated there patiently.

After a few moments of silence, Wanda relented.

"It's just the way she and her followers treat her daughter." Wanda spat out.

"Oh? And how is it that they treat the daughter of Queen Zalem?"

"Like a blight, a disgrace, a nuisance. They humiliate her, bully her. All because she's a misshapen cripple."

"A cripple you say?"

"Hunchback and looked rather old."

"She's rather lucky she wasn't killed once her afflictions came."

"That doesn't matter, that's her daughter!" Wanda nearly yelled and in doing so, Merrin and Ilyana, who were nearby, stopped what they were doing and looked over to her in concern.

Cringing at her raising her own voice, she quickly apologized to them both and encouraged them to resume their playtime.

"You seem far more bothered by this than you should be." Kreia commented. "Why should the wellbeing of one who you had just met matter to you? She's a cripple yes, but she is also to be the heir to her mother's clan and kingdom, is she not? She has gotten by this long without anyone harming or attempting to kill her, yes? If she has her own strength, you need not interfere in her life."

"It wouldn't matter if Zalem gets another child. Even then, she just ignores her and treats her like garbage." Wanda said. "If that "Queen" does get another child…"

"Then she would most certainly die."

"I will not let that happen." Wanda fiercely declared.

"Will you even be around if that were to happen? Why try to prevent something that is inevitable?"

"Because I'm an Avenger who was trained by Captain America." Wanda proclaimed with pride. "Interfering in the business of others to help and save people is what we do!" Wanda stressed out.

"I commend you on your firm beliefs, but one can only do so much and go so far with words alone."

Wanda shook her head, hands alight with her scarlet energy. "Luckily I don't need words."

"To impose your will upon others doesn't sound like something you or your Avengers would do."

"Not impose." Wanda countered. "Just kick some ass."

Kreia raised a wry brow. "That phrase is unbecoming of you."

"There's a lot of quippy people on my team." Maximoff remarked. "They tend to rub off on you."

The Dark Lord of the Sith hovered in the air above her holocron while continually staring at her new pupil who shifted about slightly from her gaze.

"What?"

"There's something else you are not telling me." Kreia stated with certainty.

"Huh?"

"In case this has slipped your mind young lady, I was both a Sith and a Jedi and in my tenure under both orders, I have had a litany of students from all walks of life. So know when I can sense there is more to your reaction then just having to do with the treatment of Zalem's heir."

Wanda ran her fingers through her scalp, composing together her thoughts on the matter.

"Something about Ros Lai is quite strange. Every time I touch her, I sense this unnatural feeling."

"It could be your feelings on her disability."

"Could've been that at first, but these past few days. it isn't that." Wanda stated.

"Explain."

The Avenger crossed her arms and frowned deep in thought.

She thought about the small interactions she has had with Ros Lai since first helping her and brief as they were, there was a strange consistent feeling she kept getting from the deformed woman.

Maximoff tried picking the best words to describe what she was feeling. "It's like… her misshapen form shouldn't be there at all."

Kreia displayed an expression of clear interest now. "Hmm… Go on…"

"Every so often, I somewhat see her from the corner of my eye as if she's following me, watching me."

"You were befriending her. She may have been timid and shy to approach you on her own."

"True, but there comes a fine line separating a stalker with everyone else."

"Is it? An outsider whom she never met displaying a greater degree of kindness than even her own kin? I would say she sees you in a more positive light perhaps then as a stalker."

Kreia was right about that.

Even if some actions may be a tad suspicious, responses were quite genuine with how well Wanda treated her.

Still, she had some sneaking suspicions about Ros Lai.

It's probably some of the lessons Natasha taught her starting to finally come out and work out accordingly.

Maybe.

"Urgh." Wanda lightly clenched her hair on the sides of her head. "I hate this right now. I was fine just dealing with some annoyed Nightsisters, now I'm dealing with a country's population worth."

"Instead of bemoaning your circumstances, use this as an opportunity to use your powers through different means." Kreia spoke up.

"My powers? How? Better yet why?"

"Every moment, every situation presented before you can and should be used as a means of challenging oneself in any shape or form befitting of the circumstance at play. Your powers and skill sets are ever growing and changing. This arrival of a group of individuals who despise and mistrust you is the perfect time to apply that what you have learned in your time under my tutelage."

Hearing this made Wanda think of what may possibly be the best way in the present situation.

She could get into their heads and get whatever information out of them while putting up an illusion. She had done this before a number of times to mess around with her enemies.

But she always felt dirty and wrong in doing so ever since Sokovia.

After Ultron, having used her powers for the benefit of near global extinction, there was always a lingering feeling of guilt that came over her from the usage of forcing people to go through an illusion that could torment them.

It was one thing to use it on civilians to get them to safety.

It was another for using it in a discreet or offensive manner.

Then again… Natasha did tell her that extracting information from hostiles was always important and it was clear that Zalem's people would treat her this way.

That and seeing how they acted towards Ros Lai-

…

…

…

Yeah, guilts gone now.

"I see your point." Wanda conceded. "I'll have to tail someone and get them when they least expect it while their guard is down."

"Good, good." Kreia commended. "There seems a bit of Sith in you after all."

"Please don't." Wanda deadpanned. "And I thought you hated the Sith."

Kreia hummed to herself. "Even in my old age-"

"You're dead."

"-Some habits can be difficult to break."

Wanda sighed, running a hand through her long hair.

She casually looked over to Merrin and Ilyana who were tinkering with cups and bowls with a number of liquids inside them.

Quirking a brow, she went over to them both while making a quick wave of her hand to have Kreia rescind back into her holocron.

"Hey you two." She greeted them with a small smile. "What're you doing there?"

"We're making potions." Merrin declared happily.

"Potions?" Wanda repeated in confusion and surprise. "What for?"

"My aunty." Ilyana said with a shrug, mixing a red liquid with a green one.

"Uh… for what purpose?" Maximoff said in an unsure tone.

"Aunty gets nightmares sometimes." Ilyana said, expression falling slightly. "I heard her once talking about… about getting her daughter taken away. And losing me."

"This potion should help her sleep without the nightmares." Merrin stated confidently.

Wanda blinked upon seeing this before smiling brightly at the two and reached out to stroke the tops of their heads affectionately.

"Look at you both." She said with a more loving smile in place now. "Looking out for your parents when that should be their job."

"We can help." Ilyana said, cheeks puffed out.

"Of course you can." Wanda said kindly, going down to sit beside them on the floor. "Now scooch over. I wanna learn how to do this too."

-Scene Cut-

She sat at the far end of a table that had been set up for the banquet that was underway for the honored guests that were Queen Zalem and her retinue.

Next to her were her two dearest friends Merrin and Ilyana being accompanied by their mother and aunt respectively.

Junn would have joined them but she was assigned guard duty to watch over the borders of the village in case of any funny business.

Wanda watched from afar as the two clan leaders sat by one another and conversed with each other.

All around her were Nightsisters conversing and eating with one another though there was a heavy tension in the air.

The looks that some of the Nightsisters of the opposite clans directed at one another were less than friendly and outright hostile at times.

It felt like the supposed peace between the two were balanced upon a knife's edge being tempered only by the fact that Zalem's clan was visiting and Talzin was clearly outnumbered.

Yet the Clan Mother was eerily calm and serene almost with how she portrayed herself to her Nightsister.

Zalem echoed this demeanor yet Wanda had spotted her gazing upon the mountain temple a number of times, discreet as they were.

Once more, Natasha's training came into play.

Then of course there were the moments where Zalem directed her gaze on Maximoff or managed to corner her into a conversation a few times.

Honestly, the clear desire Zalem had for Wanda was unsettling.

She knew it wasn't in terms of lust but a clear sign of want in the abilities that she possesses.

This was one of the rare few times where she would rather have it that Talzin was in her place then Zalem.

The Clan Mother at least had the decency to still speak with her without looking at Wanda as though she were a piece of meat.

From what she heard in passing, Zalem and her retinue were going to be leaving very soon. Whatever business her royal highness had with Talzin finally concluded.

In part, Wanda was happy to have them out of her hair. But after her chat with Kreia, it made her frustrated that her window of opportunity of testing and reusing her mental powers on Zalem's people will be on a time crunch.

There was a soft croak from behind and Wanda turned to see Ros Lai shuffling by.

In an instant, Wanda's face fell, not at the sight before her but at the sentiment around her that was directed to the crippled Nightsister.

The scorn and disdain was potent to say the least.

Ros tripped slightly upon her own footing though she managed to remain standing.

The derisive laughter sent at the deformed woman made Wanda's fists clench up tightly with anger.

Just about as she was going to stand to go over and assist Zalem's daughter, she caught Lai's gaze and the two locked eyes with each other.

In that brief moment, Wanda saw pain, frustration, apathy and above all else.

A burning desire for vengeance.

How did she know that look?

Simple.

She used to see the same expression on her face whenever she looked at her brother or herself in the mirror. Especially during the days in the protests, her time as a volunteer as a HYDRA guinea pig and working with Ultron for a time.

Without even realizing what she was doing, Wanda slightly held her hand out and her eyes glowed her scarlet power.

Ros Lai seemed to have seen it since her eyes widened considerably and before either of them knew it, a litany of images flashed before their eyes.

It all began when there stood a perfectly healthy little girl, training her hardest to succeed and meet her demanding mother's approval.

Said child then learned certain truths, making her innocence break and shatter.

Her body started to become "unnatural", for whatever reason at first.

As flashes come and go, the endgame slowly becomes clear on the motivation and drive.

Whatever people she considered friends years ago faded away due to her "ghastly" appearance. Her mother, who once gazed at her with small forms of pride, became that of disgust.

Another vision flew by, Ros forcefully drinking something with an artery worm in it, caused by one of her mother's guards. Her veins swiftly burn and ache before they get out of her system.

Pots and pans tossed at her, small examples making things difficult to complete whatever tasks the hunchback woman had to work with.

Just about every time, Ros sought out help by anyone. All the same, her pleas were ignored as she was laughed and sneered at.

In a way, it was a means of personal endurance. To see the results of her testing of any and all around her, seeing her as just the deformed daughter of "Queen" Zalem. Never seeing beyond that.

For years, Ros Lai went through the ringer on both a physical and emotional toll. It was only her Will that kept her together to keep up with a facade.

This changed upon this visit where she was treated kindly and thoughtfully by someone not of this world. And through her some little children who didn't see her as a deformed monster.

Before anymore could be seen, another force shoved her out.

Wanda let out a startled gasp and felt her knees wobble.

"Wanda?" Merrin hopped up to her side, Ilyana joining in a second later.

"Wanda?" Tina echoed, placing a hand upon her back in concern. "Are you alright?"

"Wh-what?" She murmured, looking around blankly at the four Nightsisters around her.

"You gasped like you were in pain." Ilyana's aunt pointed out. "Is everything ok with you?"

The Avenger stammered out some words for a number of moments until she quieted down and briefly locked eyes with the now stunned Ros Lai.

Their gaze only lasted for a second or two when the Queen's daughter quickly turned to hobble away.

Wanda reached out with her hand in an instant. "Wait, don't go."

"Go away!" Lai hurriedly responded.

"Ros, I just wanna talk."

"Speak Later." Ros hissed, eyes ablaze with anger and the Dathomirian green magick.

Wanda recoiled, as did the girls behind her, completely caught off guard by this shift in character.

The five of them watched as Ros limped away a lot faster than usual, the two grown up turning their heads to Wanda.

"What was that about?" Ilyana's aunt asked in bewilderment.

Maximoff's mouth opened and closed several times until she put on a determined face.

"I don't know but I'm going to find out."

-Scene Cut-

Wanda stood before the crashed ship, eyeing the large vessel as she did at times whenever she was lost in thought.

She had come here not long after the feast at Talzin's village and with a purpose outside of training or conversing with Kreia or XoXaan.

No, her purpose in being here revolved around that of another outsider, though to the clan of Mother Talzin.

"I know you followed me here." Wanda said aloud. "And if you don't come out I'll make you."

No response.

Only the ambient sounds of the wind and nature around her.

This went on for a few seconds until…

From behind a large tree, out hobbled Ros Lai though the aura that she carried was anything but the pathetic charade she put on whenever she was around her people.

Instead, the Avenger saw the eyes of a woman who held determination and focus as the Nightsister drew closer to the Sokovian.

She eventually stopped before Maximoff and the two just stood there for a time and only gazed upon one another without saying a word.

…

…

…

"You made it pretty obvious you wanted me to follow you." Ros spoke clearly and concisely, no stutters, no slurs.

"You said you wanted to talk later." Wanda reminded her, arms crossed with an expectant look. "Or did you forget?"

"Hard not to do what Force trick you did."

"It wasn't the Force I used, but something else." Wanda said, holding up her hand to reveal her ability. "It's my own power that I got recently."

Ros Lai's suspicious aura went away for a brief moment as curiosity replaced it.

"What is that? You say it's not the Force?"

Wanda shook her head. "I've been trying to figure out and understand just what this is but… after all these months, I still understand nothing."

"What was that that you did to me earlier?" Ros asked a moment later and Wanda bit her lip with a look of guilt washing over her.

"Look, about lunch, I'm sorry for what I did." The Earther said earnestly. "I honestly didn't mean to invade your privacy in such a way."

"You still haven't answered my question."

Wanda sighed to herself, rubbing her arm with her hand. "The ability I used, I held back on what I've done in the past. I stopped doing it months ago in order to become a better person."

"And yet you use it on me?" Ros asked in rhetorical anger.

"It was an accident." Wanda quickly responded. "I didn't mean to do it on you, I wanted to do it on someone else from your clan."

"How is that supposed to justify it or make it any better?"

"Ok, stupid comment." Wanda admitted. "But it had to do with my training and your clan being her. Talzin's people were incredibly suspicious and honestly, so was I. It didn't help that your mother kept giving me some real weird looks since she first saw me."

"Your training?"

"It's complicated."

Ros didn't respond for a time, gazing intently at Wanda when slowly, a look of realization dawned upon her face.

"By the Book of Law… it's you."

"Huh?"

"You, you." Ros emphasized further. "That feeling that we all felt months ago. Our magic went haywire, so many Nightsisters screamed in terror and fear from this… Force… shockwave or something like that. I wouldn't be surprised if every Force user and practitioner felt your arrival. You're a…"

Ros scrunched her face up in thought, trying to pick the right words.

"A blank spot in the Force. A-"

"Void." Wanda finished for her. "Yeah, I've heard."

"What are you?" Ros asked now, any suspicions or animosity disappearing from her.

"Something extraordinary." Wanda rolled her eyes. "Least that's what Kreia likes to call me."

"Who?"

Wanda shook her head. "Story for another time. Look, I just want you to know I'm not your enemy. I never wanted to be and I still don't. It's just your mother-"

"She's an evil, vile woman who must be eliminated."

"...I wouldn't have jumped into that right away… and that far…"

Ros now shook her head. "No, you don't understand. My mother is planning something that can endanger all Dathomirians on this planet. If she goes through with what it is she has planned, everyone will die."

Wanda stared in a blank manner. "Well now… that was a quick escalation of events. Luckily for you, I have recently stopped several world ending threats from where I come from so…"

Ros was greatly surprised by this. "Wait, you mean… are you offering to help me stop my mother?"

"If your mother's plans involve genocide or death of innocent lives then yeah, basically."

Lai scoffed. "I wouldn't call all of my kin "innocent" but… they're still my people. And I will not have my mother's twisted machinations lead to their doom."

Wanda then sensed something from the Queen's daughter as a "miracle" occurred.

Her skin became far healthier, just like her hair and eyes. Her hair became bright red, which matched her eyes. Her malshappen body twisted and turned to an upright manner as it reformed into something proper.

Her plump face became thin, angular and smooth. Her figure started to appear very normal and seemed to match Wanda's to a certain degree. From muscle mass, length, etc. Other areas of her body grew to enviable proportions and shapes in which a number of women may consider cheating. And to finish things off, a number of black tribal marks appeared on her flesh.

To say the least, the ugly duckling became a beautiful swan in a true literal sense.

"I guess I'll just have to trust you on this." The drop-dead gorgeous woman spoke with an air of confidence radiating around her.

The Avenger certainly wasn't expecting this transformation despite having seen the woman's memories, brief as they were.

"...Huh… That explains why you felt off when we first met."

"Really? You could?"

"A little. Just made me start guessing." Wanda narrowed her eyes a little to drink more of Ros' appearance. "You were truly putting the unique Force abilities your people are often known for to the fullest. The illusion and body modifications."

"A means of deceiving them all." Ros said in a plain fashion. "The more I can put off attention from my clan, the more I can work in the shadows to overthrow and kill my mother."

"I'd say you did a good job." Wanda remarked until registering Ros's last three words. "Hang on a second. Kill your mother? Isn't that a bit extreme?"

"My mother deserves no sympathy or mercy of any kind." Lai spat out with pure venom in her voice. "She's done so many heinous acts, she's far beyond the point of redemption."

"Like what?"

Ros gave her a flat look which then morphed into a contemplative one.

"Say, since you were able to look into my thoughts by accident, can you do it-"

"Willingly?" Wanda guessed, seeing Ros nod. "I can but, wait, are you sure?"

Lai walked forward and stood only a foot away from Maximoff with a stern look in her eyes.

"You want to know why my mother must die? Let me show you."

Though hesitant at first, the intense eyes of the Nightsister stirred Wanda forward as she placed her hands on the sides of the woman's temples and closed her own eyes.

Both girls subconsciously leaned their foreheads against one another and breathed slowly.

There they remained for a few seconds until...

"Open up your mind."

"Huh?"

"You've got mental blocks on. Loosen them up."

"Oh! Oops. Sorry about that."

Wanda let out a stifled chuckle with even Ros being unable to resist one of her own before they focused up once more.

Ros opened her mind to the small nudges and prodding's that she had mentally felt from the scarlet garbed woman's powers and unleashed the floodgates of her memories.

Wanda's expression changed into that of troubled and soon after, disturbed concentration.

Slowly, horror began creeping up on her face until at long last she disconnected herself from Ros and fell to her knees.

The Sokovian was pale, a sheen of sweat visible on her forehead, dry heaving with a hand over her mouth and tears streaming down her eyes.

"Oh my God." Wanda croaked, voice hoarse. "Oh my God."

Ros held a forlorn look, tears out of the corners of her own eyes as she felt Wanda's emotions on top of her reliving those memories.

"Now you see." Lai's voice was barely above a whisper, Wanda almost not even registering it. "The true thoughts and nature of my tormentors. My mother being chief among them all."

"How could she do that?" Wanda asked in horror. "How could your own people allow that?!"

"They all have their reasons." Ros bitterly said.

"Oh God, the children." For the first time since coming to this planet, Wanda was starting to become overwhelmed by her emotions. Her powers started to slip out of her control. "All those children…"

Ros closed her eyes and turned away in guilt. "I'm just as responsible for allowing it to happen."

Several tears streaked down her cheeks. "I… I didn't do anything to save them at all. Consumed with my plan and want for vengeance. I kept telling myself that they'll be avenged when the time comes. I shall avenge those who have been wronged by my queen and my people and make things right."

Whatever mental turmoil Wanda was going through abruptly stopped and her mind cleared as a certain someone's voice echoed through her mind.

"You are an Avenger."

Hearing Clint's voice made her snap out of her thoughts and her seeping power dispersed in an instant.

A look of righteous determination came over the Sokovian as she stood back up and faced Ros who was clearly surprised by her change in demeanor.

"Avenge you say?" Wanda stated. "Well, you couldn't have found a better person to help you. Wanda Maximoff, Avenger at your service."

"...Is that supposed to mean something?"

Wanda gave her a coy smile. "Just something I'm a part of."

Ros tilted her head yet she found herself smiling. "I'll take your word for it."

Wanda crossed her arms. "So then, what's your plan?"

Lai hummed to herself, mulling it over in her mind.

"Since you could read and see within minds, do you think you can do it again so I could show you?"

The Avenger nodded and the two seated themselves before each other with their legs crossed.

The Nightsister reached out both her hands with Wanda taking them and they rested their arms upon their knees.

Her energy flared, it's scarlet power rolled off and reached out towards Ros like a fog. Making contact, Wanda was able to see the rough estimates of what she knows of her mother's plan.

A pyramid, a temple, within the middle of a desert. Zalem's territory to be exact. Something peculiar about it is the primary focus of the clan leader's attention.

Dwelling far below, there is this structure; safeguarding something radiating unadulterated power.

There was another location in Zalem's desert, something unnatural to Dathomir's ecosystem. It was large, consuming and outright dangerous. And Ros' mother has been feasting on it. Growing stronger from it.

So too with this unnatural power, Zalem too will feast at what's at the pyramid.

In an instant, both women were back in the real world staring at each other.

"Your mother is insane." Were the first words out of Wanda's mouth.

"Insane is an understatement." Ros dryly stated. "That hunger of hers is becoming insatiable. If this keeps going, she's not gonna be satisfied with just what this planet has to offer and she knows it. It's why she's come here, to Mother Talzin's territory."

"Here? What could Zalem possibly want with-" Wanda paused in thought and remembered a conversation she had with her friend Junn about what made Talzin's clan so special amongst the Nightsisters.

"Does it have something to do with the Kwa here that sparked her interest?"

"An Infinity Gate." Ros answered in an instant. "An ancient technological means of getting around the galaxy in an instant."

Wanda narrowed her eyes at the reminder. "What does she plan on using the Infinity Gate for?"

"Asides from gathering more meals and slaves, getting to her long desired prize."

"And that is?"

"Something else the Kwa created. Something of untold power."

"Always something more, isn't there?" Wanda grumbled, frowning slightly as a passing thought went through her mind. Something that felt out of place in all this.

"What was that blob thing I saw in your memory? How'd it get in your territory?"

"I wish I knew. It only appeared before your sudden arrival a year and a half ago."

'2014.' Was the passing year that went through Wanda's mind.

"Do you have any idea of what it could be?"

Ros shook her head. "I can only guess honestly. It's unnatural and doesn't belong here but any attempts to destroy it have been useless."

She then sneered in disdain. "My mother, on the other hand, found another idea for it."

Given what Wanda saw in Ros' mind, she already had an idea on the implications.

"So that thing has energy then?"

"That which is unnatural and not of the Force." Ros answered. "And… it's not like that thing isn't of the Force. It's just what it is is beyond anything we've ever encountered or understood. It's like a higher, greater power and the Force is just the surface of it all."

"Huh…" Was all Wanda said.

She understood or at least had an idea of what the Force was after all the lessons she's had under Talzin, Kreia and XoXaan but she had yet to truly understand it.

"How'd she do it?" Wanda couldn't help but ask.

Ros frowned as she thought about it for a few moments.

"I know that the use of our sorcery was at play but… I feel as though there's more to it than just that."

"Huh." Was Maximoff's answer. "Any idea as to what that is?"

"The magic of the Nightsisters allows us to practice the Force through a unique method that many would be unfamiliar with." Ros explained. "It's like the Force but it is its own thing in the end."

"I get that but what does that have to do with the weird blue blob thing in your territory?"

"Likely that my mother enacted a ritual to siphon the energy within it because lately she's been growing stronger just as she's becoming more insane."

"So she's here for what's under the mountain." Wanda said, more to herself then she did to Ros.

"She is and I know she does not intend on asking politely longer than intended."

"These past few days have must've tested Zalem's patience on seeing it."

"Indeed. She expressed her anger quite thoroughly."

"Really now?"

Ros grimaced and stood up, turning around to reveal her bruised back that made Wanda flinch. One which remained in her transition from the "hunchback" facade.

"Did she-"

"Yes." Ros said dejectedly. "Every time she endures a perceived failure of her own making or those that were beyond her control. I was always her outlet."

Wanda felt her lip tremble as she turned her head in the direction of the village.

She wondered if Talzin knew of the possibility. Then again, the Avenger wondered a whole number of things about her.

Regardless, she might have to-

*KRAKABOOOM*

Ros and Wanda jolted from the sound of a not so distant explosion.

Both turned to see the green magic of the Nightsisters being thrown about followed by the telltale screams of a collective war cry.

Maximoff's eyes widened considerably and was about to go when she heard Ros speak.

"It's started." She whispered in a low and horrified voice.

The Avenger whirled around with widened eyes.

She saw the defeated and forlorn look and in an instant, a tidal wave of rage filled the Sokovian.

Wanda grabbed the Dathomirian and whirled her about to make Ros face her. "Did you know?"

"Wha-" Was all Lai could muster up.

"DID YOU KNOW?!" The Avenger screamed in the witches face, eyes ablaze with her powers with the energy seeping off her form.

Ros's eyes widened even further than before, fear being palpable as she managed to stammer out.

"I-I-I was g-going to t-tell you." She whispered in defeat. "I-I d-didn't know i-it was happening t-today."

The human saw Ros was just as surprised as she was with the genuine response. She briefly prodded into her mind, completely disregarding any tact and detected that she was indeed telling the truth.

Another explosion was soon heard and Maximoff released Ros and her head snapped back in the direction of the village with fear and panic welling up within her.

"Merrin! Ilyana!" She cried out, tears perking up near the corners of her eyes.

Scarlet energies swirled around her, making her float and rocket from her position.

Ros gaped in utter astonishment as she watched the Avenger fly through the air and quickly make her way back to the village.

She looked ahead and saw the Zalem's raid on Talzin's village in full swing and rage soon filled her very being.

"Just you wait mother." Ros hissed in a deadly voice, rediscovering her resolve. "Your time has come."

Zooming towards the mountain, Wanda saw the chaos being ensued due to Zalem's impatience.

The witches that Wanda has grown accustomed to were fighting back a vicious ferocity but…

They were outnumbered.

And they had been caught off guard.

Floating above the village, Wanda clapped her hands together before pulling them apart to form a glowing red sphere in between her palms.

Hefting it up with one hand, Maximoff plummeted downward to the very center of the village as that was where the fighting was the most fierce.

The minute she landed on the ground, the scarlet sphere in her hand was slammed into the ground and from that spot came an expulsion of intense psionic energy that sent all in front of her flying back.

Thankfully, they were all part of the enemy clan.

"Wanda." Came a voice of relief from behind.

The Avenger turned back to see a beaming Junn and next to her coincidentally was Tina.

"You two alright?" Wanda asked straight away.

"Us?" Tina said in bewildered astonishment. "Where'd you even-"

"We're alive and still fighting." Junn cut in. "That's what counts."

"Good." Maximoff said in satisfaction, turning back to the large wave of enemy Nightsisters.

Scarlet energy flared once more as Wanda hurled the enemy Nightsisters away and incapacitated them.

"Steer clear of me." She warned the two behind her. "I don't plan on holding back."

Junn however was not about to let her friend fight alone. "Wanda, you can't seriously consider-"

The Nightsister didn't have time to finish her statement as she witnessed Wanda unleash a gargantuan wave to ensnare any other attackers. A number were fortunate to not get hit, as they were outside it's radius.

Junn's mouth was agape as was Tina's yet she subconsciously managed to move her hand up to grab Junn's arm and began lightly tugging her away for them to leave the Avenger by herself.

Sensing that she was alone in the vicinity, Wanda smirked dangerously as her powers around her intensified.

Scarlet tendrils that wafted all around her body began to vibrate until they were sucked into two spheres that Maximoff summoned for both her hands.

She reared her arms back and threw the red balls of psionic power into an oncoming cluster of Zalem's forces composed of Nightsisters and brothers.

The spheres sailed in between them all until reaching their intended points of targets and erupted.

The shockwave sent many sailing through the air with a few being hurled away by Wanda's telekinesis.

Some had recovered and began firing their weapons or utilizing their magic against the Avenger.

Maximoff had instantly thrown up a shield in response that absorbed the oncoming attacks. She bent her arms back before thrusting them forward and sent the barrier flying towards her foes.

The Nightbrothers in the way had tried brute forcing their way through the shield only to be swatted aside.

Several of the Nightsisters used their magic to propel themselves up and over the barrier and ran for the superhero.

Maximoff beat back several in rapid succession via a combination of her physical skills and her enhanced ones.

Some enemies got in too close for comfort, letting Wanda get into her other form of training as of late.

Retrieving a fallen Sabre from the ground, she used it to defend against a downward strike.

Performing a telekinetic backflip, she kicked an enemy from underneath their chin. With a swing of her blade, she more or less disposed of them. And as much as she would naturally look at the sword to see any blood on it, she couldn't afford to be distracted.

'Ok Wanda.' She mentally told herself. 'Remember what Kreia said. Form I, Shii-Cho.'

Since her time in learning under the tutelage of both Sith Lords, they had exposed the young woman to a new method of fighting that would complement her ever growing prowess both in the physical and "mystical" so to speak.

Lightsaber forms.

Since she was only a novice in this regard and wielded a power different from the Force, she had to make do with her present arsenal.

Whilst there were seven forms of Lightsaber combat, Shii-Cho was the one she was to start with as it is the first and basic in all forms of the use of a saber.

Used from the very inception of the Jedi Order, it is a form that has persevered to this day and taught to any and all Force users under the Jedi and Sith order. A practical requirement for all of them to know to begin with before learning other suitable forms.

Kreia had this to say when she first introduced this style to Wanda.

"It is simple and its simplicity is strength. It allows focus. A slightly improved chance of connecting with one's opponent. It has no other advantages or disadvantages. It is an effective form to fall back on when no other form will do."

A form based on allowing yourself to flow, become erratic and unpredictable as a torrent of rapids.

A style meant for taking on multiple enemies at once.

Like so.

Swiftly moving to defend herself, Wanda had to go against a few of Zalem's forces. She used her powers to enhance her movements to hopefully get over her opponents. One by one, she was more or less successful in overcoming them.

Wanda panted slightly, flinching at the feeling of her blistered and calloused hands as she gripped her newfound blade tightly.

She had yet to fully accustom herself to such combat and consistently relied upon her powers for better flow and finishes in her sequences.

The Avenger quickly unleashed a psionic shockwave around her to get some space to flick away some of the aching pain in both hands before she resumed her defensive assault.

This kind of fighting went on for a number of seconds before one of the Nightbrothers swung at her sword with a mace and snapped it in two.

Wanda gaped in stunned surprise. "Rude!"

The Nightbrother was sent hurtling back from a scarlet enhanced palm strike to the chest a moment later.

Energy arrows homed towards her, but a number were stopped by her erected shield. The rest came near and were halted when Wanda focused upon them. With a flick of her wrist, she had them return to sender.

She had been so focused on her own battle that she hadn't realized that she was among the last few standing in the village that still resisted Zalem's clan.

But that didn't matter as she still had a battle to win.

Using her powers, Wanda procured two other discarded sabers from the ground. They hovered around her as they started to defend her against other opponents.

At one point in a Force practitioner's life, they create unique forms to best suit them and throw off their opponents.

Darth Kreia was no different.

This was a form or really style of sorts that the ancient Force user styled for herself.

The use of three lightsabers at once, floating around her as a means of constant offense and defense.

It was a technique Kreia had only recently begun teaching her so Wanda was only able to keep track of two.

Two was enough at this time.

Flaring her powers, Wanda started gliding across the battlefield as her hovering sabers started cleaving, striking and defending. The force behind them were able to start turning the tide as the Sokovian sought to get to her allies still remaining here.

She saw several get bound and captured which ramped the intensity of her attacks.

The Avenger became a scarlet blur of motion, striking down and striking back against any and all that got within her way.

As time passed, her weapons came and went due to the intensity of the fight. Using her powers to enhance the blades till they started to shatter. Thus Wanda had to find more and use other weapons.

Once taking an energy bow, she had to focus on her inner Hawkeye. She was an amateur compared to him. But she had to make do until finding other bladed weapons.

When she did, things seemed to repeat themselves as her blades broke once more.

"Oh my God, will you guys just stop and let me keep one of these swords?!"

Just as Wanda was about to conjure another string of attacks, the ground around her suddenly shifted.

Distracted by this movement, her eyes widened considerably and she barely managed to erect a barrier around her entire body as stone pillars formed out from the ground and thrusted themselves against the Avenger.

She was sent flying back and crashed into the ground in a painful grunt.

Maximoff managed to get to her knees but she was dazed.

The attack was sudden and swift, breaking her concentration.

Due to her dazed state, she failed to notice the particles of dirt swirling around her before they came together to form tendrils. They quickly shot up and attached themselves around her wrists and pulled her hands down into the ground.

The sudden jolt snapped her out of her confusion. She stared at her hands in confusion and trepidation and began to try to free herself only to feel more constrictions around her hands.

She let out a small pain moan when she heard a cackling laugh. Wanda looked up to see the perpetrator of the attack whose form was glowing a sickly green color.

But there was also a strange, indescribable energy rotating around the woman's hands. A light bluish-white energy that appeared to have small pebbles interwoven into the swirling mass.

"Ah yes~~~" Zalem regarded Wanda with a leering want and lust. "Mother Talzin's new pet."

"That's Wanda Maximoff to you." The Sokovian spat out with a rage plastered all over her face.

"Oh~~" The Queen conveyed faux-terror. "The little witch has thorns. How utterly frightful."

Wanda sneered in pure contempt at the Dathomirian. "Why are you doing this?"

She felt rather stupid in asking this as she was well aware of it by now.

"Come now, is it not obvious?" Zalem rhetorically asked.

"Excuse me if I'm sick of hearing the generic responses from megalomaniacs from people like you." Wanda retorted.

Zalem let out a false sigh of weariness and exhaustion.

"I grow tired of the factionalism that dominates my people." Zalem said as if the weight of the world were on her shoulders.

The Queen held up her hand that still had the strange glow around it.

"But with this," She said in a near fanatical fashion. "With this, Dathomir shall submit to my reign. I shall take my people to heights unseen before. No longer will we be an isolated splinter of covens. We shall show the galaxy a new power that can rival any and all Force users that would dare to challenge us."

'Ok, so she's generic as all hell.' Wanda internally said to herself.

Zalem continued on in a grandeur fashion as she held out a hand for Maximoff. "Join me or die. It doesn't matter. I shall see my unification complete either way."

"I'd rather not."

The clan leader scoffed. "Pity."

Wanda expunged a powerful wave of her powers into the ground to free her hands and she raised them in time as the Nightsister queen unleashed her next attack.

A torrent of Nightsister Force Lightning shot out of Zalem's palms. Wanda staggered back from the massive force behind it but held as long as she could. Her scarlet barrier started to strain with each passing second from the invading green energies.

It was too much for her to handle. She had greatly taxed herself with her fighting earlier prior to confronting Zalem.

As her barrier finally broke, Wanda was hurtled away. She crashed into some debris with a large amount falling on top of her. She was rendered unconscious, not being able to do anything else as Zalem's forces soon made their departure.

The Queen only cackled to herself, a mad glint in her eyes.

She wanted to grab the one that had stirred up a commotion a few months back with her arrival.

But alas, she already got what she came for.

And she also knew that this woman would make her way to her by her own means. If she was alive for that matter.

-Scene Cut-

Her head was swimming.

There was a pounding on the side of her temple with her ears ringing.

She couldn't see much from her blurred vision and she was barely able to make out the sounds of movement and talking.

"...nd….ing…?"

"No… I… Wa-"

She began to hear grunts and the pressure upon her body was slowly being alleviated.

"Mother Talzin! We found her!"

"Get her out of there."

Debris was being lifted off of Wanda, showing the Sokovian underneath who had a number of scrapes and bruises.

Overall, she survived.

Extracted from it all, she was hoisted and carried out.

"How are you feeling?" asked the Nightsister to her right.

"Like shit, but I'll survive." Wanda managed out in a slur, head hung slightly to the side.

"I know I may not trust you much, Maximoff, but I am grateful to see you are at least still with us." Said the woman on her left.

"Oh~" Wanda groaned. "That's -Urgh- That's nice to hear."

Some time had passed as the clan members under Mother Talzin had assessed their present numbers. A number were dead, others were swiftly taken. Everyone else remained due to Wanda's actions.

Though… there wasn't much left of them unfortunately.

Those that had survived and remained in the clan's village were gathered at the center.

Less than a dozen or so were here.

"This is it?" Wanda whispered in slight despair. "This is all that made it? All I managed to save?"

"Some are resting and recovering from their wounds." The Nightsister to her right stated and Wanda looked up to see it was Junn.

The Nightsister she had come to call a friend looked down at her with a smile.

"If not for you, who knows how many of us would have been killed."

"But so many of you got captured." Wanda retorted.

"We'll get them back." Junn stated in confidence.

The superhero slowly nodded before turning to the remaining Nightsisters in attendance.

"Given the fighting is over, where the hell is that bitch?"

"Back to her territory." One of the Nightsisters responded.

"Figured."

The Sokovian heard some rapid foot movement a moment later.

Looking over to a ruined hut, she saw a familiar girl coming her way.

"Ilyana." Wanda whispered, holding up her arms for the young girl to run straight into as the two hugged one another tightly.

"I thought I lost you." the young child whispered into Wanda's shoulder.

The Avenger shushed her gently, hand running through the girl's hair. "It'll be hard to take me down."

She then heard someone else standing before her and she opened her eyes to see a battered but standing Tina.

"They took Merrin." The mother whispered in a low, dejected and broken voice.

"I saw my aunt get taken." Ilyana said a moment later, tears streaming down her face.

Wanda felt her lip tremble upon seeing one of the two young girls she had grown to care for so deeply in such a state and held her close.

"We'll get them back. We'll get them all back." She assured the young Nightsister initiate.

"Quite the bold promise, Maximoff." Spoke a familiar, distorted voice.

"I'm not just gonna sit by and let them take your people like that, Talzin." Wanda declared. "You and your clan may not have been the best but you gave me a place to stay. At the very least, this is what I can do for you in return."

"One can do is hope. And one can inspire it." Spoke Talzin as she approached the Sokovian. "We saw how you held her off. Impressive."

Wanda had a bitter expression on display. "Not well enough with what's occurring now."

"Indeed." Spoke the Nightsister leader. "We must recover and retaliate for what they've done."

"Are you certain that is a good idea, Mother Talzin?" Tina asked in uncertainty. "A good number of our warriors are either injured or taken prisoner."

"Be that as it may, we must retaliate swiftly and efficiently." Talzin chided with a stern tone. "I have long since held suspicions towards Zalem and her intentions for our clan and the rest of Dathomir for that matter. She has done well in blocking much of my knowledge of the other covens as of late, but now things are clear."

"Likely them being dead or kidnapped like yours." Wanda said in a grim tone.

"How do you know that?" Tani asked in bewilderment.

"I have… come across an inside source that confirms it." Wanda stated.

Suspicions started to arise amongst many of the Nightsisters. Some were starting to think of accusing Wanda as a double agent or something worse.

"Being who?"

"One that none of you would have suspected." Maximoff said. Tilting her head to the side, she was able to pinpoint her "source" amongst the crowd and locked eyes with her. "One who hates Zalem far more than any of you combined."

Those that remained gazed upon Wanda in confusion until several turned their heads towards what or better yet who it was she was staring at.

Those closest to this person jolted in surprise at her sudden appearance with the woman giving off a wry look.

"Who is this?" one asked.

"I don't recognize her from the others."

"She looks… more human than Dathomirian."

"That would be Ros Lai." Said Wanda.

The collective of Nightsisters save Talzin gasped in shock and disbelief.

"What?!"

"Zalem's daughter?!"

"Impossible! Ros Lai is a hunchback creature."

The Avenger rolled her eyes, holding Ilyana in one arm whilst the other rested upon her hip. "Oh this is very much her."

Zalem's daughter gave Wanda a dry look before exhaling a sigh.

Stepping forward towards Mother Talzin and Wanda, she gave her greetings.

"I know this is all rather sudden but what Maximoff says is the truth." Ros said aloud for all to hear. "I am the daughter of Zalem."

"How can you be her daughter?" Junn asked in slight suspicion.

Ros looked over to her before exhaling and called forth her own application of Dathomirian magick.

In mere moments, her metamorphosis occurred before them all to prove she was indeed the being they have known to be. Shortly after everyone present drank in the knowledge, she returned to her original appearance.

"Fascinating." Talzin murmured, wide grin in place. "I had no idea the deformed and neglected daughter is capable of such an advanced technique."

"Years of practice, trial and error. No one of my clan has seen through my facade. All in order to reach my goal."

"So you wish to kill your own mother then?" Junn inquired, eyes narrowed at the technical princess before them.

"Is it difficult to understand as to why?" Lai rhetorically asked.

"You wish to join us in attacking your home." Talzin stated, not questioned.

"In order to free us all from my mother's shackles and machinations." Ros proclaimed. "She is a monster who has been sacrificing our own people for the past year, garnering more power as time goes on and only grows stronger with every passing hour."

Talzin narrowed her eyes on this implication, finally understanding what seemed off by her fellow clan leader during these past days.

"With her taking the Star Chamber you've safeguarded, the next phase of my mother's plan can begin."

Talzin grimaced. "I see. Then we must prepare quickly."

Several of the Nightsisters voiced some displeasure and objections though they were not to last as they dutifully went towards their homes and prepared themselves.

"What is her plan again?" Wanda abruptly asked. "The destruction of all Dathomirians?"

Ros shook her head. "The expansion of our people. She just needs to cull the weak and those resistant to her goal."

"Lovely." Came the sarcastic remark.

Wanda looked at the still nervous and distraught Ilyana and sighed, placing a comforting hand on her cheek and giving her a kind smile.

"Would you like to stay the night with me?"

Ilyana only nodded silently and placed her head on Wanda's shoulder, clinging onto her older sister figure tightly.

This was a troubling time for the young Nightsister and she needed any form of peace for what may occur next for her people.

"Do you have room for one more?" Tina asked, stepping forward and getting a nod from Wanda.

"Something isn't adding up for me."

Ros, Wanda and Tina all looked over to a troubled Junn who had her arms crossed.

"Credit for your thoughts?"

"Zalem. I knew she was powerful but… not this powerful." Junn remarked in thought.

"What do you mean?"

Junn rubbed her chin, thinking on how to elaborate this further.

"Ok, so… a while back, before you even came here actually, our clan felt a strange shift in the air on Dathomir." The Nightsister said. "It was a sudden explosion or vibration in the Force and our magic that lasted for far longer than the overwhelming shockwave that was your arrival, Wanda."

"Lasted longer?" Wanda said in confusion. "Longer how?"

"For minutes, things became erratic." Ros let out a shiver. "It was like… like something of a quake that permeated through our very beings. We all felt a change in Dathomir or at least the feeling of one coming. Then all of a sudden, it all ceased and never occurred since."

"Yes, I remember that feeling." Junn said aloud.

"Hard to forget something like that." Tina added. "It was one of the first times I ever bore witness to a coven gathering of all the clan leaders of the witches of Dathomir."

The Avenger found herself frowning, looking over to Lai who caught her gaze. "This sensation or feeling or whatever it was that happened… did you ever figure out what it was?"

"It took time for me to find a clue, but it involves that which is not native to my clan's territory. And what began my mother's newfound hunger for power."

A memory flashed through her mind. A memory that was not hers.

Wanda was quick to surmise Ros was talking about the unknown blue blob within her lands.

"Zalem has gotten stronger in a short amount of time. Unnaturally so." Junn pointed out. "The abilities I saw her use against our clan and Wanda is not any Nightsister or Dathomirian magick that I am familiar with. Unless that old hag has developed a new form of it."

"Nothing of the sort." Ros said with a shake of her head. "The power she has gained can best be described as not of our own or our ways. It is of an outside source and the power that it possesses… is indescribable."

Junn frowned, sharing a look with Wanda briefly.

"What can you tell us about it?"

Lai closed her eyes and felt herself shiver.

"The only way I could describe this power is that it is far greater and older than anything I have seen in my life." Ros said, voice deadly grim. "She can manipulate and create virtually anything that she wishes and her control has only grown with time just as her sanity has dwindled. A number of known abilities the eldest and strongest among us have been known to wield have been amplified."

"Normally, I would honestly be a bit more dismissive of what you're saying." Tina spoke up. "But your tone coupled with what I witnessed today… Are we certain that this is the right course of action?"

"We must go." Wanda said resolutely. "If we don't, everyone you know will die."

"That feels like a bit of stre-"

"No." The Avenger cut her off emphatically. "You don't understand. I've seen people like Zalem before. Her kind of people are the kind you do everything in your power to stop. It's either that or the end of the world as you know it. Delaying this any further will make things more difficult than we can hopefully imagine."

The Nightsisters who were still present stared at the scarlet garbed heroine with troubled expressions.

"You've dealt with people like my mother before?" Ros couldn't help but ask.

"Well… not exactly." Wanda remarked. "Your mother takes prisoners. The guy I knew exactly… didn't."

"What did this other guy you speak of want?" Junn asked.

"The extinction of all life on my planet." Maximoff's tone was grim. "It was only with my friends and comrades were we able to live another day."

The Nightsisters that were around her stared with a myriad of emotions running through their hearts and minds.

They felt a troubled feeling stemming from their Force abilities, signifying the coming conflict to be would be dangerous.

Wanda's unnatural seriousness was a huge factor as to why as in the time that Talzin's clan had gotten to know the woman, she seldom appeared to ever lose her patience or aloof demeanor.

Eventually they all disbursed, went to gather their dead for a proper ceremony for them that night.

Come morning, Wanda and her allies will head out to avenge the fallen.

AN

Alright, so, here we are, still on Dathomir and still with Wanda. Like we said in the last chapter, this was intentional as this was an arc planned instantly after Wandavision had ended.

Some rough around the edges plot details we needed to focus on but overall, we more or less know how things will go for Wanda.

Jebest4781: Indeed. But now we'll be seeing more with what we planned. And yes like before it has been difficult to organize things together for our intentions.

FMW: The main thing that's been a slightly recurring problem is trying to formulate original content that works within the confines of these two universes that we're making. When we know what to write out and do, it comes naturally, when we hit a wall, can be a huge pain in the ass. But that's the way it can be when writing so nothing new there. Was really fun though seeing the response to Kreia as Wanda's new teacher. Gonna have a lot of fun having her around.

But Anywho, I digress, thanks again for reading.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.