The remnants of the Statue of Liberty groaned as they sank beneath the churning waves, leaving only twisted metal and shattered stone bobbing in the harbor. The X-Men stood on the shoreline, their bodies battered but their spirits high, watching the wreckage disappear beneath the waterline.
"That's one way to bring down a symbol," Gwen muttered, brushing debris from her suit.
"Could've done without the property damage," Cyclops added, adjusting his visor with a scowl.
Wanda stood at the edge of the group, her eyes locked on the sinking wreckage, the Chitauri Scepter resting casually in her hand. The glow of her chaos magic flickered faintly, a quiet warning in the aftermath of their so-called victory.
But then, the water rippled.
A dark shape rose from the ocean depths, dragging metal debris with it. The figure emerged, water cascading from his battered frame, but the unmistakable gleam of his helmet shone defiantly under the moonlight.
Magneto.
With a knowing smirk, he hovered above the waves, his cape dripping, his eyes sharp despite his weakened state.
"Well," Magneto's voice carried across the water, smug and cutting. "Did you really think it would be that easy?"
The X-Men tensed, but before anyone could react, Magneto's gaze settled squarely on Wanda.
"And you…" His smirk widened. "Still hiding behind these children? I expected more from my family "
The words didn't land—yet. But what did land was the sneer in his tone as he turned his eyes toward Jean Grey.
"Especially protecting that fragile redhead. She's a ticking time bomb, and you know it."
Wanda's chaos magic flared.
"Oh, you did not just go there," Storm muttered under her breath, exchanging a knowing glance with Jean.
Jean chuckled softly, leaning toward Wanda. "He's got a death wish. You gonna grant it?"
Wanda grinned, stepping forward with the scepter glowing in her hand.
"This is how it should've always been," she said, her voice laced with confidence. "Just you and me."
The air crackled as Wanda launched herself forward, chaos magic swirling around her like a crimson storm. Magneto raised his hands, summoning the metal debris from the statue's remains, but it was sluggish—he was sluggish. The earlier battle had taken its toll, and it showed.
"You sure you're up for this, old man?" Wanda called, dodging a twisted metal beam with effortless grace.
"Age brings wisdom," Magneto shot back, sending another jagged piece of steel hurtling toward her. "Something you clearly lack."
Wanda snorted, deflecting the attack with a flick of her wrist.
"Wisdom? Is that what you call talking shit to the woman about to kick your ass?"
From the sidelines, Storm cupped her hands around her mouth. "Go on, Wanda! Show him who's boss!"
Jean chuckled, her eyes glowing faintly with Phoenix energy. "Knock him into next week, babe."
Wanda's grin widened. She darted closer, chaos energy coiling around the Chitauri Scepter like a living thing. In one swift motion, the energy surged, reshaping the scepter's form until it resembled a glowing, crackling bat.
"Batter up," she muttered.
Before Magneto could react, Wanda whacked him upside the head with a resounding THWACK, the sound echoing across the harbor. His helmet flew off his head, spinning through the air before clattering onto the ground.
The world seemed to pause for a beat. Then—
"Ohhhhhh!" Gwen hollered from the shore, doubling over in laughter. "That's gotta hurt."
Magneto staggered, blinking in disbelief. "You… you little—"
But he didn't get the chance to finish. With his helmet gone, Wanda's psychic abilities surged forward, slamming into his mind like a tidal wave. Magneto froze mid-sentence, his body stiffening under the weight of her mental grip.
"You talk too much," Wanda muttered, tightening her hold. Magneto's body convulsed, his powers flickering out as she held him suspended in the air.
The X-Men rushed in, securing him with mutant-dampening restraints as Wanda finally released her psychic grip. Magneto collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, his pride more battered than his body.
From the shadows, Mystique—disguised as Crystal Frost—watched the entire scene unfold. Her sharp blue eyes narrowed as she fingered the concealed weapon at her side, ready to intervene. One well-timed distraction, and Magneto could be free.
But then her gaze drifted to Rogue, standing among the X-Men, her expression tense but safe. Mystique's heart twisted.
For you, Anna, she thought, lowering her weapon. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you.
Without another word, Mystique melted back into the shadows, her mind already racing with plans to safeguard Rogue—and their future.
As Magneto was dragged toward the awaiting transport, he managed one final smirk, his voice hoarse but laced with venom.
"You don't even realize," he rasped, locking eyes with Wanda. "You're fighting your own family."
Wanda's brow furrowed for a split second, confusion flickering in her eyes. But then she scoffed, waving him off.
"Yeah, sure," she said. "And Santa Claus is my uncle."
The X-Men chuckled as Magneto was hauled away, his cryptic words lingering in the air like an unanswered question. Wanda dismissed it as the ramblings of a defeated villain, but deep down, a small seed of doubt had been planted.
Later, back at Xavier's School, Wanda stood by the window, staring out at the horizon. Jean and Storm flanked her, their presence warm and steady.
"You okay?" Jean asked softly, her hand brushing against Wanda's.
Wanda smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah. Just thinking."
Storm grinned, nudging her playfully. "About how you knocked Magneto's helmet off like a pro?"
Wanda chuckled, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Something like that."
But as the night stretched on, Magneto's final words echoed in her mind.
You're fighting your own family.
For now, it was just noise. But soon, Wanda would uncover the truth—and everything would change people she never dreamed of where conspiring in the background to for Wanda into greatness and her battles were only just beginning.
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