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The bombings of Sokovia were a nightmare. The ground trembled with the impact of mortar shells, and the once-proud city was reduced to rubble. Amidst the chaos and destruction, young Wanda and Pietro Maximoff were trapped in their home. Their parents, Olek and Iryna, were gone in an instant—victims of the same senseless violence that had claimed so many lives. But Wanda and Pietro were different.
While the world outside burned, the twins huddled together, unaware of the extraordinary powers brewing within them. Wanda, in a moment of fear and desperation, unknowingly cast a probability hex that turned the bomb into a dud, sparing their lives. But what if this moment wasn't just a chance coincidence? What if someone had been watching, intervening quietly to shape their future?
In the shadows of Sokovia, Javier observed the devastation. He had felt the pulse of potential within Wanda the moment the bomb failed to detonate. The Tesseract—an artifact of untold power—had a particular resonance with her, one that Javier knew could be harnessed. He had the ability to alter the course of events, to give the twins the power they deserved, and perhaps, turn their fate towards something greater than what they had in the original timeline.
He had long known of the Maximoff twins, their tragic beginnings, and their growing powers. But now, as they lay there beneath the bed, trapped in the ruins of their home, he saw a perfect opportunity to intervene. With Red Skull at his side, Javier began to weave a subtle thread of fate, directing the Tesseract's energy towards Wanda.
He whispered to her in the way only a god could, calling upon the hidden depths of her latent power. "You have the strength to change the world, Wanda Maximoff. Embrace it."
In that moment, as the twins were trapped beneath the rubble, a surge of energy washed over them, a new power awakening within Wanda. The probability hex that had turned the bomb into a dud was amplified, and her powers expanded exponentially, a wave of psychic energy pushing debris away and creating a small bubble of safety around them. Her eyes glowed with a vibrant, unnatural light, and she could feel the power surging through her like never before.
Pietro, ever the protector, noticed the change immediately. "Wanda… what just happened?" he whispered, both awe and fear in his voice.
Before Wanda could answer, a shadow appeared, a figure that seemed to rise from the very air around them. Javier, standing tall and resolute, looked at the twins with a quiet, knowing gaze. Red Skull, standing just behind him, kept his distance, but the cold smirk on his face revealed that he knew exactly who was in control.
"Who… who are you?" Pietro demanded, his instincts immediately on alert.
Javier raised a hand, his voice calm but powerful. "I am someone who has seen your potential, and I offer you a path to greater power. You no longer need to hide in the shadows of this war-torn city."
Wanda's heart raced, and for a brief moment, she hesitated. "I don't understand… Why are you here?"
"Because you are special," Javier said, his voice almost soothing. "The power within you is immense, Wanda. I can help you harness it, shape it, and give you the strength to control your destiny. You do not have to suffer in a world that seeks to destroy you."
Red Skull stepped forward, his tone mocking yet oddly respectful. "It is true. Under his guidance, you can become something greater. We can make you untouchable. You and your brother."
Pietro narrowed his eyes. "What do you want in return?"
Javier smiled, his gaze unwavering. "I want nothing from you, Pietro Maximoff. I am offering you power, the kind of power that will allow you to protect each other and rewrite the course of your lives. In return, you may join my cause. Together, we can change the world."
Wanda, still processing the flood of emotions and new sensations in her mind, looked at Pietro. Her brother had always been the one to act first, but now, she saw something different in his eyes. They had been through so much, and this man—Javier—was offering them an escape, a way to rebuild from the rubble of their past.
"Do you trust him?" Pietro asked, his voice low but earnest.
Wanda hesitated, her eyes never leaving Javier. She could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on her, but there was something undeniable about the power he offered. Something that resonated deep within her. "I trust him," she said finally, her voice quiet but firm. "I want to believe in this."
Javier stepped forward, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "Then welcome to your new future, Wanda Maximoff. And you, Pietro—your place will be by her side, where you belong."
With a surge of energy, Javier used the Tesseract to amplify their powers further, giving them the ability to manipulate reality on a scale they had never dreamed of before. Their minds expanded, and they could feel the endless possibilities before them.
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Red Skull's Role
As they stood together, Javier turned to Red Skull, his eyes filled with quiet authority. "Red Skull, you will oversee their training. They are my new allies now, and they will need to learn to control their abilities. Guide them."
Red Skull, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of disdain and admiration, nodded reluctantly. "Understood, my lord. I will train them."
Javier smiled, satisfied with the turn of events. He had just gained two of the most powerful individuals in the world, and with their help, the tides of destiny would shift once more. They were no longer victims of circumstance; they were his agents of change.
Together, Wanda and Pietro Maximoff would rise to new heights, guided by Javier's vision, and their legacy would echo throughout the world.
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End of Chapter 91