The throne room was bathed in the flickering light of distant flames, the only sound the faint crackle of debris settling in the aftermath of the battle. Wanda Maximoff and Eska Vryn stood firm, their gazes locked onto Baron Zemo. Though he was defeated, stripped of his power and weapons, Zemo stood tall, his posture composed and his expression unshaken.
"Well," Eska said, her tone dry as she adjusted the strap on her rifle. "He doesn't look like someone who knows he's lost."
Wanda's crimson eyes narrowed as she studied Zemo. "Men like him never admit defeat."
Zemo's sharp laughter echoed through the room, breaking the tense silence. "Defeat?" he said, stepping forward with slow, deliberate movements. "You think this is defeat? Oh, Maximoff, how little you understand."
He turned to face Wanda fully, his piercing gaze meeting hers. "You may have destroyed the Citadel, killed my soldiers, and even removed Dimitri from the board. But Hydra is far more than one man or one fortress. We are an idea. And ideas… they are eternal."
Zemo's voice grew stronger, more impassioned with each word. "Cut off one head, and two more will take its place. Sokovia belongs to Hydra—it always has. We control the narrative, the systems, the people. Do you truly think burning this place to the ground changes anything?"
Wanda tightened her grip on the Chitauri Scepter, her expression cold but composed. "You sound awfully proud of yourself for someone who just lost everything."
"Lost?" Zemo repeated, his smirk widening. "No, Maximoff. This is a mere inconvenience. Hydra is adaptable, resilient. Even now, plans are in motion that you cannot comprehend. You think you're winning a war, but you're just fighting in the shadows of something far greater."
Eska rolled her eyes, her grip tightening on her rifle. "Wow. You're really leaning into the whole 'evil mastermind' thing, huh? Do you rehearse these speeches, or do they just come naturally?"
Zemo ignored her, his gaze never leaving Wanda. "Kill me if you must, Maximoff. But know this: you cannot stop Hydra. Not here, not anywhere."
Wanda's lips curled into a faint smirk. "You suffer from a chronic disease, Zemo."
Zemo paused, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? And what might that be?"
"You talk too much," Wanda replied, her voice sharp.
Before Zemo could react, Fracture's symbiote head emerged from Wanda's shoulder, its crimson maw gleaming. Zemo's composure wavered for the first time as Fracture lunged, devouring him whole in one swift, brutal motion. The room fell silent once more, save for the faint growl of satisfaction emanating from Fracture as she retreated.
Eska tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Well," she said after a moment, her voice breaking the silence. "That was… anticlimactic."
Wanda turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "What?"
Eska shrugged, gesturing toward the empty space where Zemo had stood moments before. "I don't know. I guess I was expecting something more dramatic. At least I get to save the best for last—the epic finale. Hydra fireworks."
Wanda sighed, shaking her head as a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Let's get out of here before you blow us all up."
The two women exited the castle, their steps steady despite the weight of their ordeal. Jasmine padded silently behind them, her mismatched eyes scanning the darkened horizon. Outside, the resistance fighters had gathered, their faces a mixture of relief and anticipation. Eska gestured for them to step back as she pulled a small detonator from her bag.
"Alright, folks," she called out, her voice carrying across the group. "Stand back and enjoy the show."
Wanda shot her a wary look. "You didn't plant anything excessive, did you?"
Eska's grin widened, her blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "Define excessive."
Wanda's sigh deepened. "Eska…"
"Relax," Eska said, pressing the button with a flourish. "No nuclear explosives. This time."
The ground rumbled as a series of massive explosions erupted from the Citadel. Fire and smoke shot into the sky, forming a towering mushroom cloud that lit up the night like a second dawn. The resistance fighters erupted into cheers, their voices carrying across the valley as the flames consumed the fortress.
Wanda stood silently, her crimson eyes reflecting the inferno as the Citadel burned. The flames danced against the night sky, a symbolic end to Hydra's hold on Sokovia.
Beside her, Eska crossed her arms, a satisfied grin plastered across her face. "Well," she said, her tone light. "That was beautiful. A true masterpiece of destruction."
"You're incorrigible," Wanda said, shaking her head.
"Thank you," Eska replied, offering a mock bow.
As the fires began to die down, Wanda stepped forward to address the resistance. The crowd quieted, their eyes fixed on her as she raised the Chitauri Scepter, the faint glow of its tip illuminating her determined expression.
"Today, we stand victorious," Wanda began, her voice steady and filled with resolve. "Hydra's grip on Sokovia has been broken. The Citadel—its symbol of control and tyranny—lies in ashes. But this is not the end. This is the beginning."
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the faces of the fighters before her. "From this moment forward, Sokovia will no longer be a place of fear and oppression. It will be a beacon of hope, a sanctuary where our people can rebuild, thrive, and be free. I promise to lead this nation into a new era of prosperity and happiness. Together, we will rise."
The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing across the battlefield like a rallying cry. Wanda glanced at Eska, her expression softening.
"You're our leader now," Eska said, her voice quieter but no less resolute. "No, Wanda—you're not just our leader. You're our queen. The Scarlet Queen of Sokovia."
The title hung in the air, and Wanda felt the weight of it settle on her shoulders. She gave Eska a small nod, a flicker of determination in her eyes. "Then I will be the queen Sokovia deserves."
As the cheers faded and the crowd began to disperse, a figure emerged from the shadows at the edge of the clearing. Wanda's gaze shifted, her curiosity piqued as the woman approached. She was strikingly beautiful, her fiery red hair cascading over her shoulders like a halo of flame. Her piercing green eyes gleamed with intelligence and confidence, and her lithe, graceful frame was clad in a black tactical suit that accentuated her poise and strength.
The woman stopped a few feet away, her expression calm but alert. "Wanda Maximoff," she said, her voice smooth and commanding. "I've been looking for you."
Wanda raised an eyebrow, her grip on the scepter loosening slightly. "And you are?"
"Natasha Romanoff," the woman replied, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "But you can call me Natasha. I think we need to talk."
Folks, this ends the first arc of Wanda's journey as she gets some much needed rest in the next few chapters. Now let's all welcome Natasha Romanoff, the lady killer. lol.
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