Episode 127: Mystery of Master Wong!

"This Marémon Realm is off-limits," Wanda said before Peter or Quill could speak. "You need to leave now!"

"Since when?" Quill said in disbelief. "The portal was open."

"And besides, there's a storm coming," Peter added. "If we could just stay here till the storm blows over, we won't demand Strange to have a Marémon Match with either of us. Because as we understand, he's not doing very well."

"No, he is not," Wanda responded. "His battle with Surtur in Asgard took a great toll on his magic, and Straio barely survived."

"What about Thor and his family?" Peter asked.

Pausing in thought, Wanda said, "Let's talk in Wong's office."

"Can I come too?" the curly haired girl asked.

"I suppose, America," Wanda said, though she sounded reluctant.

"America?" Peter looked at the curly haired girl.

"That's my name, America Chavez," said the curly haired girl. "My moms thought it sounded pretty, even though it's the same name as the country I'm from."

"Country? You mean the Marvo Region?" Peter was confused.

"Oh, I'm not from the Marvo Region," Chavez said. "I'm actually from another dimension."

"Another what?" Quill blinked twice. "How are you standing here with us?"

"Let's just say I have…unique powers that allow me to travel between dimensions," Chavez explained cryptically. "It's how I was able to find Doctor Strange and Thor in Asgard before bringing them here."

"Can you go to any dimension you want?" asked Peter.

"Not always," replied Chavez. "Sometimes it works, and sometimes I end up in a dimension I didn't intend to go. But that's why I'm here at Kamar-Taj so I can learn how to control my powers better, just like Wanda."

"Right," Wanda added.

Off to the right of the courtyard, Wanda, Chavez, Peter, and Quill entered a study that had several shelves lined with scrolls and a desk where a rotund Asian man sat with close-cut hair wearing a purple robe under a red vest.

"Master Wong," Wanda said. "A couple of Marémon Wielders have come to see Strange and Thor. Should I send them away?"

"Yes, please," the rotund man responded without even looking up from the book he was reading.

"But we can't leave," Quill said. "There's a storm blowing in, and we have nowhere else to go."

"Yeah, I mean we're not here to challenge Strange to a Marémon Match knowing he's in no condition to battle us," Peter said. "We can just stay here until the storm lifts and leave then."

Wong paused.

"Very well," said Wong after a long silence. "You can stay until the storm leaves. Can you monitor the Seeing Crystal and let me know when the storm's over, Wanda?"

"Of course, Master Wong," Wanda bowed. "I will diligently monitor the Seeing Crystal and let you know as soon as the storm passes over."

After Wanda left, Chavez said, "Um, Master Wong. Do you want to tell our guests what happened to Strange and Thor, or should I?"

Wong shrugged, implying he didn't care.

Chavez then took Peter and Quill to a terrace where they introduced themselves to her.

"So you both have the same first name, but different last names," Chavez said, pointing to Peter and then Quill.

"Pretty much," Peter said. "You can call me 'Peter' and Quill is just 'Quill.'"

"Even though you're both named Peter?"

"Yeah, it just makes things easier," Quill said. "So tell us how you rescued Doctor Strange and Thor."

Chavez sighed. "Basically what happened is that I was trying to find my home dimension, which I got flung from when I was a kid, and stumbled into Asgard by mistake. It was the aftermath of a large battle, with a giant Marémon fallen on one side and a bunch of bodies strewn about. So I checked to see who was still alive before burying the ones who were dead."

"And then what?" asked Quill.

"I asked Strange for several details about your dimension, who was partially conscious, so I could picture where to take him and Thor," answered Chavez. "Then I came here and Wong filled me in on who Thor and Strange were along with the dead ones I buried."

"Then you know who the dead people were now?" Peter guessed.

"Yes," Chavez nodded. "They were Loki, Thor's brother, Hela, Thor's sister, and Odin."

Peter didn't know how to feel. He thought Odin was a pretty awesome guy from the brief interaction he had with him during the battle against the Dark Elves, but Thor's siblings were another story. Because while he couldn't forgive them for what they did to New Asgard Town and stripping Thor of his position as the Champion of the Asgard Realm, he didn't like the idea of them being dead like the thief who killed Uncle Ben.

"Do you know how Strange and Thor are doing physically?" Quill said to Chavez.

"Honestly, I'm not sure," Chavez said. "Master Wong and Wanda won't let me see them for some reason, even though I rescued them from that dead world they were stuck on."

"Odd," Peter remarked. "And I noticed Wong seemed distant in the way he interacted with us. Do you know if he normally acts like that?"

"The students say he's sometimes distant, but not as distant as he has been since I arrived," replied Chavez. "Wanda's also been taking charge more of running things in this Realm even though she's supposed to be obeying Wong, who's been standing in for Strange."

"And Strange made Wanda his apprentice as punishment for what she did to the Sokovia Realm," Quill recalled. "Something doesn't add up."

"I'll say," Chavez agreed. "But I might as well show you around while you're here."

Peter and Quill agreed, following Chavez around the Kamar-Taj Realm which served as a living space for the students of Strange as well as where Marémon Matches with Strange were held. She explained that the place was created by Ancio, a Marémon with human-level intelligence that was the Matured Form of Strange's Marémon Straio. Ancio was not only responsible for Strange becoming the Sorcerer Supreme, but also the reason why Marémon Realms existed. Unfortunately, Ancio was killed during a confrontation between Strange and a rogue Sorcerer named Kaecilius, who stole a tome called the Book of Cagliostro to summon a dangerously powerful Marémon called Dormammu.

"Thinking about Dormammu used to give me nightmares when I was younger," Quill admitted before trying to put on a brave face. "But I quickly got over it."

"Yeah, right," Peter objected. "I remember someone casually mentioned Dormammu in school once and you nearly jumped out of your seat."

"Did not!" Quill argued.

Chavez giggled. But there was a brief moment of melancholy in her eyes before it disappeared with her friendly smile, which Peter noticed.

To be continued…