I
Lotkill, New York, where the Griever at the End of All Things examines a strange vessel that sticks up out of the ground, while fires blaze nearby, and ghastly lamprey-like creatures skulk about. The pale-skinned being commends the Stranger's craftsmanship, and decides that the conduits are quite effective. 'Soon, the chaos infecting this soil will simply not be'.
Nearby, at the Life Park, several citizens of Lotkill huddle together, while Darcy Lewis and Pietro Maximoff a.k.a. Quicksilver look on. 'The Griever... she's killing the town. People's lives, Pietro...' Darcy trails off, as Quicksilver tells her that they are safe for now, and notes that the Iozium in the park seems to repel the Griever. 'She didn't even stop us from evacuating – she barely noticed' Darcy remarks. Quicksilver watches as more conduits land across Lotkill and tells darcy that they ar beneath the Griever's notice. 'Wanda wasn't. She did what she does. She fought...I can't believe she's dead' Darcy utters. 'I won't believe it. I know my sister' Quicksilver smiles, to which Darcy tells him that, right now, it's them versus cosmic death. 'I'm thinking...call for help?' she suggests. Quicksilver tells her that he has, but that the Avengers are off plugging a toxic time leak, and while Monet sent a psychic perimeter at the town line, he warned her to stay back. 'No one else will be hurt in my name... or that of my sister!'
Wanda Maximoff is the Scarlet Witch. And right now, she's dead – almost. She lies beside a pool of water, a willow tree hangs over her, and green lights float around her, while a dark sky looms above. 'Wake, Wanda...' a voice utters as a hand reaches down and touches Wanda's head. 'What... where am I?' Wanda asks as she sits up. 'Where you once were, long ago. This... is the Land of the Dead!' a woman announces as she hovers over Wanda. She wears a strange green cape that flows behind her like a scarf, and a green headress covers her head, while the rest of her body appears blank. 'Your flesh was undone, but a part of you refused undoing. You fled. You fell' the mysterious woman announces, explaining that she guided Wanda's landing here, to the Dark Road, the Witches' Underworld.
'The Griever at the End of all Things wanted you gone. I disagreed' the woman reveals, to which Wanda asks her why, and who she is. 'I need to get home, back to Lotkill' Wanda declares. The woman tells Wanda that home is far away, and to trust her. 'I have been a Pilgrim. Now, I am your patron...the Queen of Nevers. Born beyond Space-Time, like my sister, the Griever' the Queen of Nevers explains. Wanda looks around and realizes that her temporal spells didn't phase the Griever, and the Queen of Nevers adds that the spells didn't work on her agents, either. She reveals that she and the Griever have long quarrelled over their purposes. 'I am what I may be. I am possibility. I believe in chance, in chaos. I refuse control'. The Queen of Nevers declares that the Griever is what she will be – the end, and that she favors a grand design, favors controlling all.
'And I threaten her control. Can it really be that simple?' Wanda asks. The Queen of Nevers remarks that the Scarlet Witch is truly free, untethered from the quiet math that corrals creation. 'The Griever and I do not act directly against each other, but through agents. She has her blunt tools – her cults, her endlings... and I have my nexus beings, disruptors sown into creation who enjoy free will' the Queen smiles, as images of her nexus beings appear like tattoos on her body. The Queen of Nevers claims that Nexi bend the grand design, that they change the math, and some think they exist to control. 'In truth, they personify freedom. My sister fears that. But what is life without chance?' the Queen asks. The Queen tells Wanda that her hexcraft, her primordial chaos, and the true Darkhold in her soul, they all wield possibility – they all directly defy the Griever's purpose.
The Queen reaches down and touches Wanda, who remarks that she found out she was a Nexus being years ago, and asks why she is only being attacked now. 'You are finally on the path to more. Not today, not tomorrow, but soon enough... and you have a twin, as only one other Nexus did... until she killed hers'. The Queen of Nevers informs Wanda that her twin is the spark, and she is the oxygen. 'You are the fire, he is the accelerant. The longer you are together... the closer you get to becoming the ultimate nexus, able to reach all realities' the Queen utters, explaining that Wanda will be able to rob the Griever of worlds – even galaxies, which is why she sent the Wizard to divide she and her brother. 'In time, united with your brother, you could avert the heat death of all creation... if you so choose' the Queen announces, while Wanda looks down at her reflection in the pool of water at her feet.
Back in Lotkill, Quicksilver carries Darcy as he speeds through some flames, while Darcy remarks that it is not looking great. 'This lady's sky needles are aerating my sweet, sweet Hudson Valley'. She notes that the shop is toast, and the Last Door is gone, and Wanda with it. 'Thoughts, Quickie?' Darcy asks. 'I think you're in shock to dare call me that' Quicksilver frowns, to which Darcy tells him that she is shock – her life is on fire and her best friend – her only friend – is dead. 'Absurd. Wanda's body is no more... but my sister is beyond flesh' Quicksilver declares, realizing that Wanda's spirit will need flesh to return to, and safely restoring it calls for precise skills. 'If you say so. I say denial's a hell of a drug, but okay, let's think...' Darcy's voice trails off, before she exclaims that she has got it, and it is terrible. “It”? Quicksilver asks. Darcy declares that the vault under the shop should be fine, and that first, they snag some toys, then, Quicksilver has to drop her off at the last place she wants to go. 'Ride, Quickie, ride!' Darcy jokes as Quicksilver speeds past several lampreys, knocking them aside.
Returning to the Land of the Dead, '... If I so choose? Where is the choice in this, Queen?' Wanda asks. 'Forthcoming' the Queen responds, explaining that she cannot ask her Nexi if they wish for such a burden, not at birth, but now, knowing all that Wanda is and could be, all that awaits, she can choose. 'My sister cut her way to you with the edge of reality, sheared you to your core. Already, you walk the Witches' Underworld, you could linger, as many have, but as a Nexus, you could follow me to my domain, to a realm of pure possibility. You could rest there, rest forever, and it would be well earned, or... you can risk a long climb to battle the Griever again' the Queen announces, while Wanda looks on, concerned. 'Above us, in its way, is the Witches' Road, from which a door to life may be opened. Survive the journey and live. Fail...and lose all that you are. There is death. And there are things substantially worse. Risk the climb... and risk discovering them all' the Queen declares.
Back in reality, Lotkill continues to burn as the Griever stands next to one of the giant capsules that crashed down into the town. 'It's deftly simple. All things exist by a grand equation defining every beginning and every end. I am its solution. My purpose is necessary, yet my sister defies that. Her nexi break the equation – and with it, reality itself. 'And thus, we cull the nexi. But Earth's end is not today. Sparing it calls for precision. Never, my best trait...but achievable with the right tools. A monocle to target single sentients...conduits to focus my might on mere leagues' the Griever declares, adding that this is no mercy, but a deferral. 'Earth, its sun, even its tiny galaxy, will all meet me in due time'.
There is a tearing noise, and the Griever glances sideways 'My conduits. Ah, it's the briefest of all mayflies' she utters as energy crackles around her conduits, as Quicksilver speeds towards her, warning her that it is unwise to slander a man holding a cursed circular saw. Indeed, the tearing noise was Quicksilver cutting through the large conduits, which collapse around Lotkill. 'The ruinsaw of Giza. Wanda always has been something of a collector' Quicksilver smiles. 'You cut my sister down. Griever. It's only fair I sever your little trees'. The Griever scowls and asks 'You think I fear the lesser twin? You're an addendum. A pawn in the witch's unmoored destiny' the Griever declares. 'Nonsense' Quicksilver retorts. 'Wanda and I rise together. Though now that I've admitted that, you'll have to die'. 'Only one of us can die, germ' the Griever responds. 'Only if you catch me' Quicksilver tells her as he speeds off.
In Gratzia, the Balkans, southeastern Europe, where Darcy stands before a cabin surrounded trees and snow-covered mountains. 'Okay, Darcy, Quicksilver Express. You made it...now what?' she asks herself, before she shouts 'Hey, listen up! If you're in there – I know you want to kill me. I get it. But think! If I knew that and still tracked you down, it must be important!' she exclaims, before someone inside the cabin responds 'How did you track me down?' 'I'm a reporter with a vault full of magic gadgets, champ. I got here' Darcy responds as she makes her way to the front of the cabin. 'You're trespassing. Killing you does feel like it would make sense' the person in the cabin states. 'I thought you'd say that. That's why I brought the mystic prod. Want to try me? Go ahead...but you better be sure you can get past my death wand. Like real sure' Darcy boasts as she holds up a steel pole. Darcy looks around nervously as she tells whoever is inside the cabin 'You know witchcraft. And, yeah, you hate me. But not everyone. You can't. So here's the scene – Wanda's dead. Lotkill's ash. And thousands of people are going to die' Darcy bites her lip, before the person in the cabin bids her to enter.
Back in Lotkill, Quicksilver continues to use the cursed circular saw to slices his way through the Griever's lampreys. 'Wait – these faceless stains – they're leading me -' Quicksilver begins, before it's too late, as he finds himself in the arms of the Griever. 'Back to me. It's called sacrifice' the Griever exclaims. 'I am averse!' Quicksilver tells her as she starts to choke him. The Griever informs Quicksilver that he will soon be well acquainted, and tells him that she ends things – his vibrations included. 'You can't escape' she warns him, before pointing out that with his perception he can spend what will seem like decades feeling his neck snap. 'Billions of years... and I still love my job' the Griever grins as Quicksilver struggles within her grasp.
But, suddenly, what appears to be a small green string of energy darts around the Griever's face, tapping against her helmet. 'What? What is this?' the Griever asks, concerned. 'You'll see' Quicksilver smiles after breaking free of her grasp. Suddenly, the energy darts into her helmet through the holes around the front of the helmet and she screams. 'Or perhaps you won't' Quicksilver smiles as the energy slices across her body, drawing blood. 'Does this nuisance never end?' the Griever shrieks. 'Nuisance? I'm a doctor. That...and the Mistress of Magnetism...POLARIS!' announces the powerful green-haired mutant as she hovers above Quicksilver, who smiles and folds his arms as he informs the Griever that this is his other sister – the one who is highly zealous and intent on rebellion. Quicksilver addresses Polaris by her human name, Lorna, and informs her that he had Monet set a perimeter. 'Good thing both of us know when to ignore you' Polaris smiles, referring to Quicksilver's partner.
Once again in the Land of the Dead, 'This...this proxy war between sisters... between freedom and control... what can one witch even do, Queen? What can anyone really do?' Wanda asks the Queen of Nevers. 'You can perform the core act of the free, Wanda. The most dangerous thing one can do...you can choose' the Queen explains, asking Wanda if she will accept the reward. 'Will you rest? Or will you pull yourself back up from Hell...and face the end of all things one more time?' the Queen asks. Wanda reminds the Queen that her family is up there and that they are in danger. 'I cannot rest' she announces. The Queen smiles and tells Wanda to dive – to dive until down becomes up , until light dares not follow. 'Dive to one of the deepest prisons ever made... for one of the lowest creatures in existence. There, your crucible will begin... at the feed of the Old Devourer'.
Indeed, the Scarlet Witch dives into the murky water, swimming through the blackness, until eventually, she discovers a strange being within the water. Like some sort of giant sea creature, the being bids grave tidings to Wanda, and to all who tread so low as to attempt his craving, all who feed the emaciated heart of Moridun. He claims that his imprisonment has been short, but long in aching torment. He asks Wanda to name herself, wanting to know who could be so bold as to enter the Starving Wizard's den. Wanda introduces herself and explains that she seeks passage to the world above. 'Only passage, eh? As though it were simple, as though you did not seek my own prize... withheld by every pang of hunger. For this is how the warden keeps me weak' Moridun declares.
Moridun continues: 'Free to suffer here, barred from survival above without a host. Thrown down creation's well... to feed on what scarce scraps fall from above, the detritus of the Splinter Realms'. Energy glows around Wanda's hand as she tells Moridun that if it is sustenance he needs, perhaps they could barter. A tentacle swiftly darts forward and absorbs the energy and the tentacle latches around Wanda's wrist, as Moridun responds 'I was a sorcerer supreme to an entire cosmos. And devourer to another. Yet you insult me with a mere apple?' Wanda remains calm and tells Moridun that it is possible she meant to, and that she offered him words, introduced herself as bidden. 'But make no mistake, Moridun... I do know you. And you will release me'. With that, Wanda breaks free of Moridun's tentacle, and she tells him that it is appropriate that she finds him laid low – after all, a Maximoff put him here. 'You possessed Wiccan, but our family knows how to deal with possession. Billy cast you down to die, to fall beyond to the Land of the Dead'.
Wanda looks angry as she tells Moridun that he has been punished, but reminds him that he did hurt her son, and warns him that his punishment is far from over. With that, Wanda casts a hex towards the ancient being. 'Honestly? I'm glad it's you guarding the road' Wanda remarks. 'As am I. I miss the Demiurge's sweet might, the thrill of riding on his soul's back' Moridun responds as he smacks a large tentacle into Wanda, knocking her about. Moridun then tells the Scarlet Witch that if Wiccan eludes him, then his mother will make a fine steed. 'If you do ever get out of here...as Chthon how using me went for him' Wanda responds as she essentially dives through Moridun, as if she was a spear being hurl through the massive being. Moridun turns back to the Scarlet Witch and responds 'Perhaps I shall. Perhaps I will tell of how I shucked you down to nothing. How I rendered the Scarlet Witch a verdant amateur, too naive to realize that even here... something dwells beneath'.
Wanda's costume has changed to a green version of one of her classic costumes, as there is a rumbling from beneath the water, and strange jellyfish-like creatures appear and latch onto Wanda. 'You ignorant rakefire... there is always farther to fall' Moridun remarks as Wanda is dragged down further into the depths. 'And there is always a hex' Wanda responds, her eyes glowing as she is restrained by oone of Moridun's tentacle. A moment later, Wanda releases the hex, which surges through the waves, knocking Moridun and the jellyfish-like creatures backwards. Wanda then swims up towards Moridun and informs him that the first hex starved his cells, and warns him not to risk another. 'Mock me, singe me with your spawn... I will pass, Moridun' Wanda announces. 'So you shall, Thaumaturge... so... you... shall' Moridun responds as body appears to break apart, when suddenly, Wanda appears to writhe in pain and her complexion turns green, as a tentacle washes across her face. 'And I with you. My old flesh lays withered. A boon then... that I possess another still' the Moridun-possessed Scarlet Witch utters, eyes flashing red beneath the murky depths.
