scarlet_chaos | Kamar-Taj | Monday Morning

True to her word, Wanda had showed up to Kamar-Taj the next day after giving Stephen her warning. She hadn't told him she'd be bringing a guest, but that was Stephen's fault for revealing there would be resistance and Annie's fault for offering to help her weeks earlier.

They'd both learn a lesson in keeping their mouths shut today.

"They're going to do this the hard way," Wanda told Annie. "Be ready."

As ready as one could be while dangling in the air at the mercy of Wanda being able to multitask with her magic.

Annie Hargreeves	"I'm ready," Annie told her, and normally this was where she'd square her feet or something but those feet were dangling so she just...tried to feel a little readier as she looked down at all those sorcerers. And speaking of feeling, that was a little alarming. "There's no electricity." A couple blips here and there that might be like...someone's phone, sure, but this place didn't have any substantial power she could sense, and that was going to be a problem as far as Annie's usefulness. Oh well. She'd do what she could to help Wanda. She was backup here, anyway.
The Scarlet Witch	"You won't need it. I'll take care of them." Yes, all...fifty or sixty of them. "I just need you to get in there and get the girl." They didn't know that Annie came with super strength and some degree of invulnerability. So all she had to do was Leeroy Jenkins in there and grab America long enough for Wanda to finish up and get there. Wanda sighed when she spotted Stephen flying up to join them. This should be good. "All this for a child you met yesterday?" Wanda called.
Dr. Stephen Strange	See, Wanda, you said the key word there. Child. "Wanda. And friend?" That was a surprise. Stephen didn't expect anyone else to join Wanda in this madness.
Annie Hargreeves	"Annie. Hi," she supplied with a faint smile. The reflex to identify herself as Starlight was immediate, but if Dr. Awesome Cape here was calling Wanda Wanda, then Annie it would be. They were all friends here, right? They could settle this amicably and just, like, get a beer, maybe? It was also a lot easier to be intimidating when your friend wasn't holding you in the air and when you had access to electricity and could make your eyes glow all threateningly, so Annie didn't bother trying.
The Scarlet Witch	"You brought friends, why couldn't I?" Wanda said in a tone that indicated this would not be a friendly chat. "I warned you, Stephen."
Dr. Stephen Strange	"Wanda, you are justifiably angry. You've had to make terrible sacrifices," he said, in what he thought was a calming tone. Unfortunately it came off more like placating. "You--Annie," Stephen said, turning his attention. "I don't know what she told you, but nothing Wanda has been through justifies killing an innocent girl."
Annie Hargreeves	Annie was all set to argue with him, that Wanda had been through all kinds of things that warranted a little light kidnapping -- they just had to borrow the kid for a second, what was the big fucking deal here -- but then one word changed everything. "Hang on -- you didn't say we were killing her," she said, ignoring Stephen and jerking her head towards Wanda with wide eyes. That was the big fucking deal.
The Scarlet Witch	Well, Wanda knew this part would be coming, though she didn't expect to be having this chat with Annie so soon. "I blew a hole through the head of the man I loved. Don't talk to me about sacrifice." Certainly that justified a little killing! She focused her attention on Annie. "That girl's power is dangerous--too dangerous for her to control. She could tear apart the multiverse. It would be for the greater good."
Annie Hargreeves	"Wanda -- honey, no, she's a child," Annie protested, shaking her head even as her heart broke for Wanda again. She had been through so much, but -- "What about her mom?" What if this was one of Wanda's boys with this power? Would it be for the greater good then? For that matter, that description could have easily applied to the woman holding Annie in the air, but she could only think of so many things at once, and right now appealing to Wanda's maternal instincts felt like her best shot.
The Scarlet Witch	Wanda had thought about America's mother. And the Wanda that the twins had. This was not an easy decision for her. However, she determined it was someone else's turn to make the sacrifice for once. "Annie," Wanda said calmly. "I'm getting my children back, with or without your help."
Annie Hargreeves	"There has to be another way," Annie pleaded, shaking her head. "Wanda, I can't -- I'm not going to let you kill a kid." So that would be the 'without Annie's help' option, yes. Though Annie might want to check her use of 'let,' there.
The Scarlet Witch	"You're not going to let me?" Wanda repeated. That was, indeed, a poor choice of words. Wanda didn't bother pleading any more; she gave Annie a choice. With a flick of her wrist she loosened the magical hold she had on Annie and let her drop. She'd survive. Probably.
Annie Hargreeves	In hindsight, Annie would reflect that it hadn't been especially smart to disagree with Wanda while being suspended in the air, no matter how many children were being threatened. She could have negotiated on the ground. She should have used her head. But thinking on her feet -- or off them, in this case -- had never been a strong suit, and Annie was left flailing as she plummeted towards the ground. Her eyes and palms sparked, just for a second, as she desperately sought out the power from the phone batteries she'd sensed on arrival. It was sort of funny -- she'd actually had nightmares that went like this. But it had always been Homelander dropping her, not Wanda, who she would never see the same way again. If Annie survived, anyway.
Dr. Stephen Strange	"No!" Stephen whipped the Cloak of Levitation off his shoulders. "Get her!" Have you ever been saved by a piece of clothing, Annie?
Annie Hargreeves	No, but she actually needed saving from a certain orange knit top with clear bad intent, now that you mention it. "Oh! What the hell?" One second, Annie was falling to her death at the hands of one of her best friends. The next, she was wearing this sweet cape and...not falling anymore, because the cape was flying? The cape was flying? Okay. Just gonna roll with that, 'cause it beat hitting the ground, thank you. She still couldn't find enough power to do shit, so she was watching Wanda pretty warily for retaliation -- not that she could have done much to Wanda on her best day, but Annie wasn't used to feeling so...helpless.
The Scarlet Witch	Wanda didn't retaliate. Didn't even have the urge to. Dropping Annie had been an impulse; one dictated by the same part of her that was so determined to do anything to get her kids back. She hadn't actually wanted her friend to die. Still, she had wished she had done something before the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj pulled together and put up a shield around themselves, Strange, Annie and the person she wanted the most. "You...have no idea how reasonable I've been."
Dr. Stephen Strange	"Yeah. Book of the Damned, conjuring creatures to abduct a kid...I don't exactly call that being reasonable," Stephen said, glad that there had been time to get Annie past the barrier before the shield went up. "You okay, kid?"
Annie Hargreeves	"I'm fine," Annie promised. Super into this sentient cape thing, mildly resentful at being called a kid (she was nearly twenty-five, sir!), and reeling from the revelation that Wanda was out to kill this America girl -- but fine. "Wanda, we can still go home," she called a little louder, biting her lower lip. "There's got to be another way." Bullshit, of course, but -- look, Annie would be so happy to help you do more research so you wouldn't kill this girl, Wanda. She would give herself such eyestrain. She could suck up to Margo, see if there was other magic that might help. Whatever you needed! Anything but this.
The Scarlet Witch	"You don't understand," Wanda said. "Sending those creatures after her instead of myself was mercy." She had been working for months on this. This was the only way she could get what she wanted without taking the rest of the world down with her. "In spite of your hypocrisies--" That was directed at Stephen specifically. "--I have begged you to safely get out of my way. You have exhausted my patience." Yes, folks, apparently this had been patience. "I do hope you understand that even now, what's about to happen? Is me being reasonable."
Dr. Stephen Strange	Okay, so, that probably was their cue to go back to the temple. Annie didn't have much of a choice but to follow Stephen since she was wearing a sentient cloak and all, but at least it let her go once she was safely on the ground. "So, uh. Nailed it."
Annie Hargreeves	"She's not gonna stop," Annie huffed, eyeing the cloak curiously before turning her attention to Stephen. "We should keep trying to negotiate while someone gets the girl out." Fighting Wanda did not seem like a real path to victory, as far as she could see. Also, the idea kind of hurt to even think about, even after being dropped.
Wong	"This is the safest place she can be," Wong said, coming up behind Stephen and Annie. The fact that Stephen failed peace talks was the least surprising thing in the world. At least America was safe inside the temple. "Reinforce the shield!" Wong called out to the sorcerers before giving Annie a little nod. "Wong. Sorcerer Supreme." Just ignore Stephen eyerolling at that last bit.
Annie Hargreeves	"Annie Hargreeves," she offered, returning that nod. "Currently kinda useless superhero." Sorry if she drained your phone in the process of seeing how useless she was, Wong. "I'm pretty durable, though. If she gets through," she added, not exactly doubting the shield so much as having a whole lot of belief in Wanda's determination to get through.
The Scarlet Witch	Speaking of, that was exactly what Wanda was trying to do right now. From a layman's point of view, it looked like she was flying back and forth across the shield, trying to find a weakness. Which she was, in a way.
Dr. Stephen Strange	Even Stephen was confused at first, wondering what good that would do. Then he realized she wasn't looking at the shield. She was looking at the sorcerers. "She's trying to get in their heads," Stephen warned. Wong immediately sprang to action. "Sorcerers! Fortify your mind!" Stephen didn't think that would work for long. Annie had been right; Wanda was going to get through one way or the other. "The girl," Stephen said, turning to Annie. "She's straight back in the temple. Her name is America Chavez. If Wanda breaks through, you need to get in there and protect her. We'll hold her off out here."
Annie Hargreeves	Annie nodded, eyes flicking from Stephen to Wong to the sorcerers and doubt coloring every one of her features. "America Chavez," she repeated, already taking a few steps back. "Got it." Maybe America had a generator or something with her. Or at least like...a toaster? Anything. If all else failed, though, she could put her very tough little self between America and Wanda. Who knew what good it would do against someone as powerful as Wanda, but it'd be something.
The Scarlet Witch	Wanda found a likely candidate for weakness in the form of a young, nervous-looking sorcerer. It didn't take much for Wanda to slip past his defenses and ensure that her voice was the only thing he could hear. "Run."
Wong	Once one sorcerer took off into a sprint, several others followed. Wong couldn't blame them, really, but it meant that the shield soon weakened before disappearing entirely. "The shield is down!" Seconds later there was an explosion, sending bits of shrapnel and debris everywhere.
Annie Hargreeves	Annie didn't need to hear it twice. She had exactly one way to be useful here, and it wasn't standing around near explosions, trying to help with magic where she was clearly outmatched. She turned heel and ran as fast as she could back into the temple, trying to focus on staying calm just in case her panicked mind somehow attracted attention. If she could get to America, they could figure it out from there. But she had to beat Wanda, and -- she couldn't think about anything but that. She had to get to America. The end.
The Scarlet Witch	Later, much later, it would occur to Wanda that Annie had never actually seen Wanda fight. Not that this was much of a fight, it was more like Wanda decimating anything that came in her path. Bolts of red shot everywhere, taking off limbs of some poor young sorcerers-in-training, taking off the head of another. A few managed to get a few shots off at Wanda but she dodged them easily, almost like she was twirling in a dance. Then she got a few of the dead sorcerers moving again, making them fight against the remaining students while she tore down whatever building she could. She did warn you guys.
Dr. Stephen Strange	...okay, even Stephen Strange wasn't prepared for this. "We need to fall back," he said, glad Annie had already taken off. "Wong, we need to fall back now."
The Scarlet Witch	Good. They should run away. Once the dust started to settle some, Wanda lowered herself to the ground, following Stephen into the temple. It was time to get this over with.
Dr. Stephen Strange	At least that part of being a villain seemed to be universal. Stephen kept a brisk pace, ensuring Wanda could see him as he crossed the threshold into the temple. Then he turned on his heel to face her. "If you want the girl, you'll have to go through me." A cliché line, sure, but a good one.
The Scarlet Witch	"Fine." She didn't even like you that much anyway, Stephen. Wanda took a few steps forward, not aware of any of her surroundings outside of the smug guy in a cloak. She realized her mistake as soon as her foot touched the large seal Stephen had been standing in front of. She had a moment of realization before she was sucked down into...a room of mirrors. Well played, Strange.

America Chavez	America could hear all hell breaking loose outside, the walls of the temple shaking around her. She did her best to try to focus, summon her power, wishing she could just make it work-- Nothing. Of course nothing happened. Why would her powers work when she wanted them to?
Annie Hargreeves	"Hey!" You know what, if this wasn't the famous America Chavez, Annie would be surprised. And also kinda impressed, since she seemed a lot younger than any of the other apprentices around here. Annie came tearing into the room, looking both relieved and very worried at finding America -- and even if they didn't really have time for the niceties, she offered out as much of a reassuring smile as she could muster. "Your name's America, right? I'm Annie. It's going to be all right." More bullshit! But she was at least going to do her best, and maybe that -- along with Stephen, Wong, and those poor sorcerers' best -- would be enough.
America Chavez	Yeah, even America could tell that was bullshit. She might not have been able to see the destruction outside, but she could hear the explosions and screaming. "Annie." America offered up a smile, but kept her distance. The memory of the other Stephen--whom she thought was her friend--trying to kill her was still a little close. "Are you--do you do stuff?" Powers. She meant powers.
Annie Hargreeves	Hmm. To tell this scared teenager the truth -- that Annie was almost useless in this temple that could really use a 21st century remodel -- or to kind of skim the details here so as not to scare her worse? "I can do stuff," Annie assured her, glancing around for anything she could use and managing to illuminate her eyes for about a half-second thanks to her nearly-drained phone battery, dying slowly in her back pocket. "I know this is scary, but we're going to get out of here once it's safe." Like, speaking of -- wasn't that a thing you could do, America? No pressure, but like....
Dr. Stephen Strange	She was working on it! Moments later Stephen and Wong entered the room, both looking more than a little stressed out. Wong, especially, looked emotional. He had lost so many students in one swift blow. "We have to get out of here. Now." Wanda was trapped for now, but he knew better than to think this was over.
Annie Hargreeves	Annie wanted to comfort them -- like, she didn't even know these guys, but she could tell the losses had been severe and maybe a little personal -- but they didn't have time, and she knew she had to focus on America over two grown men who had probably been traumatized a few times before. "Too much to hope for a secret tunnel or something, right?" Annie asked Stephen and Wong, her gaze flicking for a moment to America before returning to them. And for good measure, she carefully maneuvered so her body was between America and the door the two sorcerers had come through. Not that it would do any good, but Annie didn't know that.
The Scarlet Witch	Meanwhile, back in the mirror dimension, Wanda was trying to get her bearings. There were no doors, no windows, and she learned very quickly that trying to blast her way out was not a good idea. But there had to be a trick. There was always trick. Some movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. As she moved closer she realized that the mirrors had some give to them, almost like they were made of liquid. This she could work with.
America Chavez	America felt more than a little guilty she couldn't help out here. She hadn't yet explained to Stephen or anyone else that she couldn't control her portals, so she felt like they thought she was purposely standing there doing nothing. She turned, trying to find an exit strategy. That was when a hand came out of a pool of water and tried to grab her ankle. "Oh my god!"
Annie Hargreeves	"Oh, fuck!" Cover your ears, America -- Annie wasn't from the MCU. She reached out to grab America, trying to put herself between the girl and the creepy as hell hand grabbing for her. "What the hell, she's in the water?" Close, Annie. Super close. And that was her dodging that same (?) hand as it snatched at empty air, and like -- maybe they needed to disrupt the puddle? Had she known Wanda could do that???? (Answer: fucking no, no she had not.)
Dr. Stephen Strange	"Reflections," Stephen said, realizing he had indeed fucked up here. "She's using the reflections." Wong quickly went to work trying to cover any reflections he could find but this was a damp place and there wasn't a whole lot of things to cover with.
The Scarlet Witch	You know what else Wanda could do as of this movie? Fold herself into origami to shove her body through the reflection in a gong and piece herself back together. So. Surprise! "All those lives just to keep me from my children." Yeah, this was all your fault.
Annie Hargreeves	"Nuh-uh, Wanda, you're not blaming us for your murders," Annie replied, her voice a lot more even than she felt as she planted her feet firmly in front of America, casting an arm back to make sure the girl stayed behind her. Side note: Wanda CRAWLED OUT OF A GONG, EVERYONE. Annie had never done drugs but that felt like something you'd see on drugs, she was just saying. (Maybe Annie would start doing drugs after this? Seemed like a real good occasion to start.)
Dr. Stephen Strange	"She's right," Stephen said, widening his stance and holding his arms out. He'd magic you so hard, Wanda, you didn't even know. "You cannot be allowed to cross into the multiverse." God knows what else she'd screw up if she managed it.
The Scarlet Witch	"I'm not a monster," Wanda said, looking a little hurt by Annie's tone. This was the one person that was supposed to understand. "I'm a mother."
Annie Hargreeves	"And she is someone's daughter," Annie pointed out, eyes on Wanda even as she took a careful step back, closer to America. "Your motherhood doesn't trump her life, Wanda, I'm sorry." God, that would have been a cool moment to light up her eyes. Goddamn ancient temple!
Dr. Stephen Strange	"She has no children," Stephen said, not aware of how callous he was being. Sort of his default-mode. "They don't exist."
The Scarlet Witch	"They do." Wanda waved her hand and the Darkhold appeared, the pages flipping until a vision of two boys playing appeared. "In every other universe. I know they do." Her lower lip trembled slightly as she looked at her sons. "I dream of them every night. Of our life together. Every night, the same dream. And every morning, the same nightmare." Which would explain why she had looked so rough over the summer before she discovered the multiverse.
Annie Hargreeves	"I wish you'd talked to me," Annie said, softening just a little as she watched the boys. Or maybe Annie had been too busy planning her wedding and running from Homelander to notice. Guilt could wait. Right now she was fumbling a hand back to try to reassure America she was still here to protect her, even as she tried to appeal to Wanda. "We can find your boys without hurting anyone else," she tried. "I know we can." She knew nothing of the sort. But she did know that Stephen acting like these kids weren't real -- when they clearly were the realest thing in any world to Wanda, right now -- was a mistake.
Dr. Stephen Strange	Nope, it was too late for that. There were dozens of dead outside, and Wanda would need to answer for that. They could help her after they subdued her. So here Stephen was, choosing violence in the way of shooting orange bolts of magic towards her. Soon Wong was doing the same thing.
The Scarlet Witch	Good. Wanda had no intention of coming quietly anyway. She was getting that girl, even if she had to kill the Sorcerer Supreme. Before going straight to the killing, however, Wanda was nice enough to just lift Wong off the ground and slam him into a stone column.
Annie Hargreeves	"Wanda, stop!" Annie yelled, but she knew there wasn't a lot of point. And given that she couldn't do anything to help -- her phone was dead, now, she could tell, and there was no way the guys' were doing much better -- she was left doing the only thing she could do: ushering America back away from the destruction. "Stay behind me, America," she called over her shoulder, looking back as reassuringly as she could. In case it wasn't clear that Annie was here to be a human shield, somehow. "I've got you. I promise." As long as she could have her, anyway.
America Chavez	Look, it's not like America didn't think you didn't think you could protect her, Annie, but there was a giant magic fight happening and she was the target of the angry witch. Which was scary enough now in person that America's powers jumpstarted, a star-shaped portal blasting open behind her. "Come on!" America said, reaching for Annie's wrist. "Through here!"
Annie Hargreeves	Well, that was a whole lot better than just making empty, desperate promises to a kid while she quietly hoped they all wouldn't die at the hands of one of her best friends. Thank you, America. Thank you, God. Thank you, who-or-what-the-hell-ever had just intervened, because that was some beautifully good timing. Annie was glad she had so much experience with portal-hopping at this point -- and once she had her wits about her again, she was going to be all about the star motif. She was pulled pretty easily, glancing back worriedly at Stephen and Wong before following America. Maybe wherever they were going would have some fucking electricity.
Dr. Stephen Strange	Stephen turned towards the portal when it burst open, relieved to see America and Annie were leaving without worrying about them. Keeping America safe was the important thing. He was closer to the portal than Wong, who was still trying to pull himself up from the ground. He thought about the risk of trying to help him versus running, but the decision was made for him when Wanda started doing a full run towards him and the portal. He jumped through. He'd have to come back for Wong. He needed to protect the girl.
The Scarlet Witch	Of course the portal closed just as Stephen hopped through it. Of course it did. Whatever, it was just a minor setback. She had come this close, she wasn't about to stop now. She turned towards Wong, a smile on her face. Now they could work on this little problem together.