"Zzzzt… Zzzt… Sebastian, can you hear me?" Steve's voice crackled through the comms, distorted by interference.
Sebastian commanded the tempest's fury, the sky roiling under his arcane will as lightning danced above. He pressed a finger to his earpiece, responding in a low, urgent tone. "Steve, what's wrong?"
"The people you're looking for—they're here!" Steve's voice cut through the static, laced with strain.
Sebastian's expression tightened, his grip on the storm faltering briefly. "Here? Where? A major city's research hub? Are Wanda and Pietro there?"
"Ye—zzzt—s, they're in the research hub," Steve confirmed, his words breaking through the interference.
"What are they doing there?" Sebastian asked, his voice sharpening. "Are they with Ultron?"
"Exactly," Steve replied, the sound of combat echoing in the background. "We're struggling to hold them off. Wanda's wielding some kind of magic—similar to yours. We're only managing to disrupt them, but if this keeps up, Ultron's plan might succeed."
Sebastian fell silent, his mind racing. Wanda's involvement, her magic mirroring his own, struck a deep chord, rekindling memories of their shared past and his vow to guide her. "I understand," he said finally. "Hold on a little longer. I'm on my way."
Cutting off the call, Sebastian tapped his comms again, connecting to a new channel. "Reed, I need your team's help."
A breathless chuckle came through. "Sebastian, this fight's no small deal, huh?"
"Petty thieves and thugs won't sharpen your skills," Sebastian countered, his tone firm but encouraging. "Consider this your team's final exam. They're no tougher than me, and with the training I gave you, you'll manage. Besides, it's time you synced up with the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. Otherwise, you're squandering your talents."
"Got it," Reed replied, conviction hardening his voice. "We're in."
"When can you join the fight?" Sebastian pressed.
"Right now," Reed answered.
"Perfect," Sebastian said, a note of relief in his voice.
Lowering his wand, he dispelled the storm, the roiling clouds parting to reveal a calming sky. The Mandarin and Mordo, poised for battle, exchanged wary glances, puzzled by Sebastian's sudden retreat.
"What's this, Sebastian Shaw? Surrendering?" the Mandarin taunted, his rings glinting with menace.
Sebastian's lips curved into a faint smile. "Mandarin, I've got bigger priorities than wasting time with you. So, I've arranged some new opponents—ones you'll find entertaining."
With a flick of his wand, Sebastian cast summoning a glowing portal. Reed, Susan, and Johnny Storm emerged, their suits emblazoned with the iconic "4." Surveying the chaos, Reed's elastic form stretched, weaving through the streets with uncanny speed toward Tony and the Hulk's clash.
Susan and Johnny soared upward, Susan shrouded in an invisible force field, Johnny wreathed in blazing flames. They positioned themselves before the Mandarin and Mordo, their presence a defiant challenge.
Sebastian addressed them briskly. "The Mandarin needs no introduction—you know him from our briefings. The other's a mage who's embraced darkness. You know how to handle that, right?"
"Absolutely," Susan replied, her voice steady. "Go handle your business, Sebastian."
Hesitating briefly, Sebastian slipped the Ring of Harnessing Power from his finger, handing it to Susan. "You know how to use this. Don't let that guy take it. And don't tell Reed—if he finds out I lent you a ring, even temporarily, he'll pester me for a month."
Susan laughed, shaking her head as she slid the ring onto her right index finger. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed."
No sooner had she spoken than her form vanished, cloaked by her force field. Johnny erupted in a supernova of flame, hurtling toward Mordo and the Mandarin like a blazing comet.
Sebastian didn't linger. Opening another portal, he stepped through, vanishing from sight. The Mandarin and Mordo moved to intercept, but a sudden shockwave exploded behind them, engulfing them in a concussive blast, halting their pursuit.
The battle near Avengers Tower raged on, but Sebastian was no longer part of it. He materialized in a city's research hub, hovering midair, his cloak billowing in the wind. Below, Steve and his team fought a desperate holding action against Wanda and Pietro, their efforts strained against the twins' formidable powers. Sebastian's brow furrowed, a pang of regret tightening his chest. He'd hoped to guide Wanda and Pietro gently toward their past, avoiding harsh measures, but their alliance with Ultron left him no choice. Left unchecked, their actions could spiral into catastrophe.
Wanda's magic, so akin to his own, stirred a protective instinct, a reminder of their bond and his unfulfilled promises. Pietro, however, was another matter—a reckless rebel who needed a firm hand.
With a sharp whoosh, Sebastian descended, his body dissolving into black smoke through his Animagus death raven's Phase Form. His wand flashed, unleashing a crimson bolt that struck Pietro mid-sprint as he neared Steve. The speedster was flung backward, tumbling across the ground and crashing into a dumpster. The metal crumpled, showering Pietro with reeking garbage.
Clambering out, Pietro gagged at the rancid stench clinging to him, glaring at Sebastian. "I knew you were lying to us! You're still with Stark!"
"Pietro, now's not the time for this," Sebastian said, his voice calm but firm. "When this is over, I'll explain everything."
"Ultron knows where we come from," Pietro shot back, his voice thick with defiance. "He'll tell us our origins and help us get revenge on Stark. What can you offer? With Ultron, we don't have to wait."
Sebastian didn't engage further. Pietro's rebellious streak, like a child testing boundaries, would only escalate with words. Action was needed. Clenching his left fist, Sebastian summoned a spatial bind, invisible forces pinning Pietro's body. The speedster was dragged to Sebastian's side, struggling futilely.
With a precise flick of his wand, Sebastian cast the Deossification Curse, a spell he'd reverse-engineered from Gilderoy Lockhart's botched attempt on Harry Potter. Pietro's limbs went limp, his bones vanished, leaving his arms and legs as flopping, boneless flesh. The spell, slow to cast and limited to human targets, was impractical in combat, but perfect for restraining Pietro's reckless speed.