Marvel: The Journey

Back in Poland,

"Noooo!"

Erik's eyes widened in sheer horror as he looked at the arrow closing in on his family. He thought that he would lose his family. His world. But...

* BOOOM *

The ground beneath his feet shook lightly, and he noticed that the arrow had stopped moving and merely hovered in the air. He turned his attention to the figure among the dust who had landed right now.

As the dust settled, the figure was revealed to be none other than Val, clad in a suit. With a severe expression, he looked at Erik and said, "Erik! We need to tal–" He stopped and frowned as he looked around. First, at the three men with their guns, then at the arrow in front of Nina and Magda, and finally, at the fourth guy holding on to the bow, he realized. "Ohhh..."

He walked to the arrow and grabbed it.

* CRACK *

He broke it into two and let it fall on the ground. He lifted his gaze from the arrow to Nina and smiled. He affectionately rubbed her head and greeted, "Hello, Nina!"

Nina smiled toothily and replied, "Hello, Uncle Val!"

Val smiled, pinched her cheeks, and thought, 'She has the same toothy smile as Amber.'

Then, he raised his gaze, met Magda's, and greeted, "Hello, Magda!"

Magda was still shaken by the events and clutched Nina toward herself and replied, "H-Hello, V-Val!"

The smile on Val's disappeared when he turned around and looked at the three men. He remembered the fourth one. He flicked an energy orb near where he was.

* BOOM *

The orb exploded, and the man was flung in the air, and he screamed, "Aaaah!"

* CRASH *

* BANG *

He landed on the roof of one of the two cars and weakly muttered, "H-H-Help... m-m-meee."

But, the three men were shaking with fear. Their legs and hands were shaking, and they couldn't help but sweat at the thought, 'H-H-Help y-you?! S-Starlance's here! W-We are done for!!'

Val turned to Erik, who was staring at him, and asked calmly, "You want to kill them or capture them?"

"No," Erik said and turned around. He gazed at the people who were going to kill his family, hadn't it been for Val's timely intervention, and spoke with hatred, "I want to capture them."

He turned around and ordered Magda, "Take Nina inside!!"

Magda hurriedly nodded and picked up Nina. She ran inside the house and shut the door behind them.

Erik saw Magda and Nina safe inside the house and turned around. He immediately used his powers to crush the cars and the rifles.

* CRUNCH *

The men collapsed in fear when they saw what happened to the cars and rifles.

Val cracked his knuckles and said, "Now, let's begin capturing them..."

. . .

Val and Erik buried the last body in the ground a few minutes later.

Erik turned around and asked Val, "I still don't understand how they managed to obtain my location. Sure, I wasn't hiding my face here, but..."

Val sighed and replied, "These people were extreme mutant haters. They wanted to kill you, and their goal was to cleanse the world of the mutant disease. They had hatred in their hearts, and we have seen how hatred could drive people insane and lead to wars."

"I know, I know. But..." Erik replied, "Somebody had to leak my location. It can't be my fellow workers. Although they made fun of me and talked shit behind my back... they wouldn't don't something like this. I know them. I've been working with them for 5 years."

"If your co-workers didn't do it, then somebody else must have done it.", Val said.

"Somebody else?" Erik murmured, and Pitor's face flashed in his mind, causing him to smile. He said, "Yes, I know who it was."

Erik then looked at Val and said, "Thank you, Val, for saving my wife and daughter. They are my world. They're everything to me. If it weren't for you..."

Val stopped him and patted his shoulder with a smile on his face. He said, "That's enough, Erik. There's no need to thank me. I consider you my friend, and my friend's family was in danger. Of course, I had to help."

Erik smiled and asked, "What were you here for anyway?"

Val glanced around and said, "Let's go into the house. I can't say it out here."

. . .

Val and Erik entered the house and saw Magda sitting at the dining table while Nina was feeding the doves that gathered around her. Magda's worried expression softened when she saw Erik enter the house, and she asked, "Are you okay, honey?"

"Yes, I'm alright.", Erik replied and sat beside her.

Val looked at the doves and asked Nina, "This is your mutant gift?"

"Mmm!" Nina nodded, and a dove approached Val and sat on his shoulder. It affectionately rubbed its head on Val's neck, causing him to laugh and ask her, "What's it doing?"

Nina glanced at the other doves, rubbing their heads on Val's feet, and said, "They... like you. They are telling me that your presence brings them happiness."

"Oh?!" Val exclaimed and asked her, grinning, "How about I make you happy too?"

"Huh?" Nina tilted her head in confusion, but when she saw Val take out a small bag filled with chocolates, she couldn't help but squeal in joy, "Yes!!!"

Nina took the bag, ran over to Magda, and excitedly said, "Mom! Mom! Look, it's American chocolates! American chocolates!"

Magda smiled and rubbed her head. She said to her, "Yes, I can see that. But don't forget to thank Uncle Val for it."

Nina nodded and thanked Val, "Thank you, Uncle Val."

She ran upstairs, shouting, "I'm going to eat them!!"

Val smiled as he watched the doves fly after her. However, the smile on his face disappeared, and he sat across the table from Erik and Magda.

"So?" Erik asked, "What were you going to say?"

Val sighed and asked, "Do you know about the pyramid unearthed in Cairo?"

Erik thought about it and replied, "Yes, I know. The news channels make it to be a big thing."

"Because it is," Val sighed and said, "S.H.I.E.L.D. and C.I.A. have found out that the pyramid belongs to a person who was the world's first mutant."

Erik and Magda frowned when they heard that.

Val continued, "This guy is alive and kicking. His name is Apocalypse or En Sabah Nur. And, he's not here to sightsee and be in awe about technological advancement. He's here to change it back and make it his kingdom. He's looking for people who could be his horsemen. His minions, to be honest. And... he might come to you."

Magda clasped Erik's hand fearfully as Val continued, "He would discuss your deepest fears. He'd brag about how much power he could give you. Or, he might say that this world has killed your parents, and you don't have to save it. He would try to mentally manipulate you to accept being his horsemen."

"What does he want?" Erik asked.

"Total world domination. Everybody must worship him and only him. They should bow only to him. Or else, he'd kill them. But... he's got the power to back up his outrageous desires. He's powerful. Immensely powerful. So, don't be foolish enough to attack him. He would kill you with a snap of his fingers."

Val leaned forward and said, "I want you to accept to be his horsemen before he manipulates you. I know it would be dangerous, but this is the only way to attack Apocalypse. I want you to continue being his horsemen until I give the signal, and then, you would attack him from the back. He might anticipate my attacks but won't anticipate his horsemen betraying him. We might have a chance of defeating him if everything goes according to plan."

"And.." Val said, looking at Magda, "Magda and Nina aren't safe here. You've seen what happened today. It might happen. No! It would happen again."

"B-But... where would we go?" Magda asked.

Val replied, "You don't need to worry about that. I know a place in Queens where both of you can stay safely. And, I would personally look out for your safety."

Erik sighed and looked at Magda, who nodded her head.

He looked back at Val and asked, "If this... Apocalypse knew that my wife and daughter were alive. What would he do?"

Val replied, "Kill them. Without hesitation."

"Then, I'm in."