When we last left Scott and his friends, they had just managed to escape the Forest of Darkness, which had long suffered under the reign of the merciless Kulan Gath. Now, having lost their companion Dr. Stephen Strange in the crash that stranded them, the heroes continue on their way to the Iron City, where King Anthony Stark awaits their arrival. But for now we direct our attention eastward, across the ocean to the land where a man named Doom sits on the throne…

There’s a terrible secret I try to keep entirely to myself. Something about me that no one else can know. If the wrong people found out, my life would be over. They would expose me…take advantage of my secret. No one would ever be able to look at me the same way again. I try to hide it…the fact that I’m naturally gifted. But there’s just times when something needs to be done, when someone has to step up. And that someone is me. It’s my responsibility.

I’m a huge loser.

“Parker!”

“Parker!” Eddie Brock yelled, shaking young Peter Parker from his reverie just before the schoolyard bully put the smaller Parker into a firm headlock. Peter didn’t bother to squirm or flail; this was, after all, a nearly daily routine. He would sit through classes in the schoolhouse, enduring the constant teasing and nagging of his crueler classmates. The town bells would chime, and class would be dismissed. The bullies would be waiting in the schoolyard. So accepting of this ritual was Peter that he no longer attempted to run after class was let out. He would trudge out of the schoolhouse, kicking his feet through the dirt, waiting for the inevitable.

Eddie was always the first to line up. Everyone seemed sure that Eddie would soon be called upon to join the ranks of Latveria’s military forces. He was broad and well defined, even at the age of seventeen. He stood tall at just about six feet, and filled out his student’s robes in such a way that all the girls swooned. As if he weren’t Adonis-esque enough, Eddie seemed to have the perfect short crop of blonde hair and a piercing set of baby blue eyes. He was the polar opposite of Peter Parker.

Peter’s thin, weak frame was helpless in the Eddie’s vice. His short brown hair was constantly being mussed up by Brock’s fist, which he applied vigorously to Peter’s head. Parker made one vain attempt to pull free, an action that served only to intensify his tormentor’s determination. The bifocals he wore dropped to the ground, and he prayed that Eddie wouldn’t destroy them. He seemed prepared to do just that when the voice of an older man called out from the doors of the schoolhouse.

“Eddie Brock! Let Parker go immediately, or I’ll be having words with your parents,” Curt Connors yelled menacingly. Eddie paused; looking back towards the teacher, although he still kept Peter’s head firmly entrenched between his arm and chest. Only after thoroughly weighing his options (as thoroughly as one of Eddie’s intellect could) he released Peter, who dropped like a sac of potatoes to the ground, fumbling for his glasses before Brock “accidentally” stepped on them. The crowd of school children that had circled the tussle quickly dispersed, leaving a dejected Peter Parker sprawled on the ground. It wasn’t until the shadow of Curt Connors fell over him that he even bothered to look up.

“You shouldn’t let them pick on you like that Peter,” Connors said as he hoisted Peter off the ground with his one arm. Professor Curt Connors was long considered to be one of the wisest men in Latveria. Rumors constantly floated around that the only thing preventing him from joining the royal court was the fact that he was born with only one arm, his right one. The left sleeve of his tunic lay flat, pinned against his chest to prevent it from flapping about. Connors was a few inches taller than Peter, and had a short layer of brown hair, with only an occasional white hair signaling his middle aged status.

“Thank you Professor Connors,” Peter said sheepishly, brushing off the lenses of his glasses before putting them back on. To his dismay he had a few scuffmarks on his school robes, and a slight bruise on his cheek. Aunt May would pester him relentlessly about what had happened, not satisfied until every detail had been extracted.

“You’re one of the most talented students in your class Pete, and I’d hate to see your potential ruined by a guy like Brock. He might be the big shot now, but he’ll just be another knight in a few years. You’ve got potential to be something more…and I’d hate to see that wasted Pete,” Connors said sympathetically. “Now you’d better hurry home. Curfew will be here before you know it.”

“This whole curfew crap is the worst thing ever,” Bobby Drake complained, kicking the dirt at his feet as he walked. He stuffed his hands inside the royal blue robes that draped down over his teenage body from adolescent shoulders. The robes were plain and simple, save for the illustration of an enlarged snowflake on his right breast. Bobby’s face matched his rather immature form, with boyish dimples and a pair of brown eyes that seemed to constantly sparkle with mischief. His brown hair was cropped short to his head, obviously the work of his mother.

“Do you ever stop complaining? Why don’t just use some of your magic and chill out,” Angelica Jones replied from beside him. Angelica, or Angel as her friends called her, wore a set of robes similar to Robert’s, although hers were a bright red, with a fire-shaped emblem on her right breast. Angelica had a mane of bright red hair, and her light green eyes seemed to contrast perfectly with her otherwise fiery image. She was just beginning to develop the curves of womanhood, although it was difficult to determine by simply looking at her heavy cloth robes.

Bobby was about to say something smart in response when he realized one of their party was lagging behind. He glanced back over his shoulder to the young boy trudging along behind them.

“Hey Pete, don’t let that butt wipe get you down. When Angel and I go to regular classes we’ll make sure that overgrown jock itch doesn’t bother you,” Bobby boasted to Peter, a puff of frozen air escaping from his mouth at the end of his statement.

“Bobby,” Angel said, slapping the boy’s arm, “ you know we’re not supposed to use our powers outside of class. And Peter,” she added, looking back to their third member with a smile, “can stand up for himself. He doesn’t need the help of some cocky snowman.”

“That’s Iceman,” Bobby replied sharply.

“You’ve given yourself a nickname?” Angela looked back to Robert, an incredulous look on her beautifully young face.

“Well, yeah,” Bobby replied almost sheepishly, causing Peter to laugh. “Ever since Johnny got called up, he’s been callin’ himself the Human Torch. He’s not even that good…he’s only there because his sister is married to King Gloom,” Bobby said, a tone of disgust polluting his voice.

“That doesn’t mean you have to have one too,” Angel said, rolling her eyes. “And as for Johnny being in the Latveria Guard…well, it’s all about who you know,” she offered with a slightly more defeated manner.

“Bobby’s got a point,” Peter finally chimed in, sounding somewhat preoccupied. “You’re much more diligent about practicing. Johnny was always too busy trying to impress girls. Anyways, here’s my stop guys. I’ll see you for tomorrow’s history lesson,” Peter said before veering off down the path towards his aunt and uncle’s cottage.

“Later Pete,” Bobby replied.

“See you tomorrow Peter,” Angela called out.

“Man, this is so lame…when do I get to go out and do some real stuff,” a young boy, no older than Peter Parker or Bobby Drake, complained. He also wore a set of deep green robes similar to the other young teens, although his appeared far more regal, composed of a different cloth, its sheen and quality far superior. His short blonde hair sat upright in jagged spikes, enhancing the premature look of his teenage face, which was only further accentuated by a set of baby blue eyes.

“Quit your whining Johnny. Guarding the Destiny Well is important ‘stuff’,. You should be thankin’ Reed for puttin’ you here,” commented the burly man beside him. The other guards, littered around the lush garden setting, simply rolled their eyes and went about their business.

“You mean that total creeper who’s got the thing for my sister? Come on Ben, this job is snoreville. What am I supposed to tell all the girls? That I’m standing around some stupid watering hole?” Johnny Storm continued, gesturing at the solid metal gate directly behind them.

“Watch your mouth runt. Reed’s a good pal o’ mine. Lot more of a man than that ‘creeper’ your sis Susie is married to,” Benjamin Grimm said, folding his thick arms over his sterling silver chest plate. Grimm was a tough, rugged man, although not terribly tall. His skin possessed a leathery, hardened look and his facial features were heavyset. All of these somewhat off-putting features figured well in his role as one of Doom’s most efficient enforcers in the Latveria Guard, but were ultimately betrayed by his kind and jovial blue eyes. Ben’s shape and stance spoke of a man as hard as rock; his eyes said quite the contrary.

“Jesus Ben…and you’re telling me to watch my mouth,” Johnny yelped, looking anxiously to his partner. “The man’s got ears and eyes all over this kingdom. If he heard you talking like that,” his voice trailed off, allowing the thought to finish itself.

“I ain’t afraid of anyone kid. That’s why I’m in charge here. And if you need somethin’ for the ladies, just tell ‘em you’re watchin’ the most important place in all o’ Latveria. Didn’t you ever pay attention in class?” Grimm replied confidently.

“Nah. Too busy doin’ more important stuff,” Johnny said with a laugh. He snapped his nimble fingers and a soft yellow flame appeared, dancing mere centimeters above the tip of his thumb.

“Behind us is one of the best ways o’ tappin’ into the Destiny Force…you know what that is, don’t ya?” Ben said before drawing in a deep breath and exhaling forcefully, blowing out Johnny’s flame immediately.

“Yes,” Johnny answered, annoyed.

“You get the wrong folks in here, and we’re in a whole lot of trouble. Which is why we’re here, and not goin’ after the bums that hang around the Badlands. Doom figures they’ll come to us. But Reed’s the one who insisted you stick with me, and not on some lousy boarder patrol. That’s where Doom wanted to put ya,” Ben said. He leaned against the stonewall that surrounded the Destiny Well’s garden, his suit of armor jostling slightly as it settled into its new position.

“At least there I would’ve gotten more practice…all we do here is stand around. And working with the royal tutors…I’d rather be in school. Blegh,” Johnny stuck his tongue out.

“If you don’t stop complainin’ I’ll tell Doom ta send you back there,” Grimm replied, casting a harsher look across the path at his junior partner.

“No thanks…I’d never hear the end of it then. Although then I’d be able to see Angel again,” Johnny mused, casting his eyes towards the twilight sky and letting his mind begin to wander.

Angelica Jones twirled a lock of her crimson hair idly around her ring finger, trying her best to remain amused while everyone assembled inside of the classroom. Slowly but surely the desks around her began to fill up with the students in her class. Eddie and his cronies sat as far back as possible, hounding many of the students that went past on the way to their seats. Angel could hear the nasty teens jeering remarks when Bobby and Peter entered the room, and a few moments later the two boys assumed their seats on either side of her, with Bobby to her right and Peter to her left. Peter just drooped his head as the cruel remarks continued, while Bobby fumed tirelessly.

“Settle down class,” Professor Connors announced as he entered the room, casting a wary eye back at Eddie as he did so. It took several prolonged moments before the class actually settled down, falling into a gentle hush as Connors stood patiently before them, hands folded behind his back. Once he was satisfied with the state of the class he reached for a musty, leather bound book sitting on top of his desk at the front of the room before retreating to the side, where unfiltered rays of light streamed in from the windows on the wall.

“Today’s lesson is a departure from our current unit on Alchemy. Today I would like to discuss the Infinity Crystals and the legend surrounding the Sinister Six. I’m sure you’ve all heard rumors, either from your parents or older siblings. What we will discuss today is the account widely agreed upon and verified by historians. What actually occurred is up for some debate though, as even our most accurate sources, generally scrolls and tablets, remain cryptic…”

Long ago, before man and beast, before land and sea, it is believed that there was the Destiny Force. The Destiny Force, in its purest form, was neither good nor evil, neither light nor dark. The Destiny Force simply was, the great power that framed all of its existence. Debate continues to this day, and probably shall for all eternity, about when our world took shape. It is simply accepted that our world, formed over many eons, is a physical manifestation on the Destiny Force. Except that the world was barren, having no more detail than a ball of clay. Lore explains that the Destiny Force birthed beings of great power, the Marvels, in order to oversee this new world.

The Marvels, much like the Destiny Force itself, are said to be impartial in their interests. They remain hidden from the human eye, steering our history from an unseen alter. That is not to say there are no accounts of interaction with the Marvels. Although with no pattern or degree of regularity, the Marvels have made themselves known to mortal beings, even lending their power to some of the great wizards of lore. With the Marvels borne of the Destiny Force, scribes write that, in time, the land began to flourish with hills and valleys, great seas and flowing rivers that connected all. Not long after, although not too soon, man and beast as well roamed the realm. The darkest of beings migrated beneath the world’s surface, to the Underworld. Those capable settled in the depths of our world’s great oceans. Everyone who remained settled on the surface, beneath the warm glow of our sun. It was here, out in the open, that man began to congregate in kingdoms. And for a time, there was peace. The beings of this world soon discovered that there were those among them who had a limited access to the Destiny Force. This is what came to be known as magic. But the discovery of inequality among living creatures came with a great price. Greed and gluttony began to spread as men of evil intent strived to gather power and riches for themselves. For a time the peace was upheld by the virtuous, but it was a fickle barrier.

There was a time, not so long ago, when peace failed and the world seemed to be cast in perpetual darkness. Evil ruled the realm, cast over it like a suffocating fog. From the land to the sea, from the sky to the world of demons beneath the surface, no place was secure from the corruption that spread throughout all of existence. Blight spread throughout the fields, leaving the land fallow and impotent. The sea was host to hideous monsters that would capsize the ships of brave travelers on nothing but a whim. The sky was stricken with towering thunderheads that never broke, and the moon was the hue of blood. Even the land of demons and monsters, a place long abandoned by surface and sea dwellers, was lost in an unmitigated chaos. For those attempting to survive, it seemed as if there was no hope.

The civilizations of today, organized into kingdoms and villages with pleasant town squares, were inconceivable to denizens of this world since passed. The kingdoms that had been built were systematically destroyed. Surface dwellers roamed in nomadic tribes or hid in the hills, buried deep within mossy caves and darkened burrows. Only the bravest attempted to build villages. Even they would construct their buildings of straw and sticks, understanding that they might have to abandon their homes at a moment’s notice. The threat of total destruction was always present, and this is how life was. It is because of this that no one attempted to erect any castles during this era. Such a grand undertaking was certain to draw the attention of those responsible for casting this world into its darkest age.

The records of this darkened era are severely lacking for accuracy, only a degree more precise than some of the earliest accounts of life on our planet of Earth. It is because of this that we are unable to name the precise year that the Sinister Six rose to power. Descriptions of these terrible beings were long lost to the fear and terror that gripped the land, save for the scarcest details. Even the names of these oppressors are unknown, save for one. Of the six malicious creatures that cast an endless shadow of horror across the land, one was said to stand a half step above the others. It was he who called for the tenuous truce between the other five evils. Had they acted on their own, the might of men may have been enough to prevent their seizure of power. But the most ruthless of the Sinister Six, the dread lord Mephisto, knew this to be true, and so held council with those he knew could help him bring about the fall of mortal beings. Once their dominion had been established, the Sinister Six parted ways, agreeing not to encroach on the territory of one another. One ruled the sea, while another controlled the Underworld. The remaining four partitioned the land and those who dwelled on it. An interesting fact often noted by historians is that Mephisto, who it is believed to have originated in the Underworld, was not the one to claim it as his territory.

If details regarding the Sinister Six and their rise to power were scarce, the facts regarding their downfall are even more so. After decades of repression and torturous living underneath their reign, man, beast, and everything in between placed aside their differences and began to rise up against their oppressors. The Six, because of their selfish desires and lust for power, delayed in combining their might until it was too late. They staged their last defense in the Badlands, and their combined force might have been enough to save them were it not for the Infinity Crystals. This is where the Crystals first make their introduction in the annals of history. The Crystals, six in total, are themselves the subject of great debate. The official opinion of historians is that the crystals were delivered by the Marvels as means to turn back the tide of evil that threatened to drown the world once and for all. Dissenters believe that man crafted the crystals with the aid of Destiny Wells. Others still believe that the crystals were actually constructed by the Sinister Six, to be used as doomsday weapons against the uprising of man and beast.

When the dust cleared on the final field of battle, only the crystals remained. The Sinister Six had perished, as had the legendary heroes sent forth to challenge them. The crystals were divided among the six major kingdoms of the world, and a period of great restoration began…

“Man…I drooled all over myself in class,” Bobby complained, whipping his sleeve back and forth through the air. A darkened spot sat just below his cuff.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have taken a nap during the lesson,” Angel said disapprovingly, taking a step to the side when Bobby’s swinging sleeve nearly clipped her cheek. Peter only laughed a little bit as they made their way along the dirt path leading from the schoolhouse to the town square.

“Oh come on. History is in the past…I want to learn useful stuff, like magic,” Bobby said, wishing at the moment he had some mastery over heat so that he could dry the sleeve of his robe.

“History is useful Bobby. Otherwise we wouldn’t understand people like the Thanos Cult,” Peter chipped in, coming to Angel’s defense.

“You mean those nut jobs that just want to destroy the Infinity Crystals? Come on…they’re just a couple of crazies,” Bobby replied, dismissing the notion.

“Stop being so childish Bobby,” Angel chided her friend. She was about to continue when a woman screaming interrupted her. The three teenagers looked quickly down the path towards town, where large plumes of smoke began to rise ominously into the dusk sky. The buildings visible to them weren’t on fire, but it was clear that something close by was. Peter watched the smoke spill into the sky for several moments. The screams strengthened and multiplied as flames appeared. Before any of the three could react, several guards rushed past them on the way into the town, their armor clanking together loudly.

“This must be serious…those are some of the guards normally posted at the Destiny Well. We’ve gotta go help!” Peter said, looking anxiously between his companions.

“We will Pete…but you should stay here,” Bobby was the first to speak. His tone differed greatly from when he normally joked and complain. He was looking only at Pete now, and with a grave expression on his face. “Angel and I probably won’t be of much help…and we’ve got magic. It’d probably be best if you stayed here,” Bobby admitted, although it pained him to do so.

Peter’s face twisted bit with anger, and he looked pleadingly to Angel, hoping for some support. The young red head matched his gaze for a moment before biting her lip and looking down at the ground. She remained silent even as Peter continued to stare at her. She didn’t want to admit it, but Bobby was right. There didn’t seem to be much Peter could offer in such a crisis.

“I’m really sorry Pete…sorry,” Bobby said, taking a step or two backwards, eyes locked on Parker the entire time, before turning around taking off towards the town. Angel held her silence, finding difficult to even look at her friend before following Bobby along the pathway. Peter remained where he stood, watching as his friends eventually passed the first set of shops and turned into the town square. The feeling of dejection settled into his stomach like a rotten fruit. He felt betrayed, but he knew his friends were right. Admitting it just wasn’t very pleasant. He had resigned himself to turn back and head to his aunt and uncle’s cottage, which sat just a ways outside of town, when several chocobos emerged from a darkened stable on the outskirts of the village.

The chocobos stormed down the lane, a thick cloud of dust kicking up in their wake and seeming to grow as they drew closer. Peter remained frozen in place, straining his eyes in order to better see the riders. There were several of them, five or six, riding in a tight formation. All were clad in thick brown robes that looked more like burlap sacs than anything else. Large, baggy hoods arched up over their heads, cloaking the riders’ faces in darkness. Peter was so intent on discovering the identity of the riders that he almost failed to notice that the chocobos weren’t slowing any as they approached. The giant yellow birds were actually speeding up, charging right at Peter. It wasn’t until the last possible moment that Peter threw himself onto the grass, landing awkwardly on his arm. The riders stormed past without even acknowledging that they had nearly trampled someone.

Peter lay on his chest panting, watching with confusion as the chocobos and their mysterious riders stormed along the path and into the forest. Where could they be headed? If they were trying to get out of town they were certainly going the wrong way. All that lay along this path were a few cottages and…

“The Destiny Well…” Peter muttered. He propped himself up with his arms and looked around. Smoke was still belching into the sky from town, and ugly black against the red and orange tinctures of the evening sky. No one was to be seen. Everyone had either gone to see what the commotion was about or had fled to their homes. That’s when Peter was reminded of the guards that had run past him earlier. The Destiny Well would be under protected…what should he do? Running into town to try and find help could take a while, especially with the fire distracting everyone. But what could a kid like him do if he chased them down? Like Bobby and Angelica had communicated earlier, what good could he do? He didn’t wield any magic, and wasn’t much of a fighter, being pummeled by Eddie everyday. At the thought of Eddie Brock and his constant teasing, Peter’s resentment flared.

“I’ll show them I’m not useless…” he said stubbornly before scampering into the forest. He knew a hidden trail that would take him to just outside the Destiny Well’s walls, hopefully just in time to warn the guards there that they might have some suspicious company.

“Johnny, I really don’t think we should be here!” the blonde girl squealed. She was the sort of girl that could easily garner the attention of a sixteen-year-old boy with raging hormones. She herself was a woman of seventeen years, which in itself held some allure. She had long blonde hair that seemed to have a heavenly sheen to it, as if she had combed it with the brush of a goddess. Her eyes were an enchanting shade of blue and her face was elegant, with high cheekbones and devoid of the fat that still remained on the faces of other girls her age. She wore a long, light green dress that flowed around her from the waist down. Her body was svelte in all of the right places, namely her arms and legs, while still managing to offer the one thing that seemed to draw young men more than anything else; breasts.

“Don’t worry babe, we’re just going around the back anyways,” Johnny said, wrapping his arm around the shorter girl’s shoulder and escorting her through a thicket of trees and bushes. “Besides, I am supposed to be here. I’m one of the special guards,” who boasted with a smarmy grin on his face. He had been lucky enough to run into this girl in town just earlier in the day, and she had instantly caught his eye. She had seen impressed when he listed his credentials, encouraging him to bring her out here. ‘Now this is what I’m talking about,’ he thought to himself.

“Oh…does that mean you’re in charge?” she asked eagerly, stroking Johnny’s ego even further. She placed a lithe hand against his chest and looked up admiringly at him, awaiting his answers.

“Well…uhm…yeah, of course!” Johnny said, rubbing a hand bashfully against the back of his head. What he said couldn’t have been any further from the truth; Johnny was barely even a fully established sentry at the well. He was normally posted far outside of the Destiny Well’s inner sanctum. But that didn’t mean he was kept in the dark about all of the secret entrances and protective enchantments littered about the area.

“Oh my god…Johnny…do you think I could see it?” the girl gushed, laying it on heavy now, with the thick bricks of marble that comprised the garden’s outer wall coming into view. The blocks were unblemished and bare, save for a mass of ivy that hung from the top of the wall, a little over ten feet in height, to the forest floor. The curtain of green seemed to extend for several feet along the wall.

“Uhm…see what?” Johhny asked, realizing his little tour might be coming to a stop.

“The Destiny Well silly,” she replied with an infectious giggle. She left Johnny’s side, prancing several feet in front of him until she came to the wall, observing it closely.

“Well, you could maybe climb up the tree and look, but enchantments keep anyone from coming in, and make it hard to see. But hey, do you want to see me light something on fire?” the teenage boy asked, eager to find something else for his date to become interested in. He may have been rebellious enough to bring her here, but he didn’t consider himself stupid enough to actually take her into the garden. If Ben found out about something like that, he’d flip his lid. Doom would probably skin him alive, come to think of it.

“Awww, please?” the girl replied. She turned to face Johnny, flashing him an enchanting smile. She sashayed up to his side and pressed both hands against his chest, drawing her lips close to his. “I’m sure you know a back way in…you’re the boss around here,” she replied in a husky tone that surprised even Johnny, who naturally expected all girls to just fall for him on the spot. He was left speechless, stammering as his lips moved without words, his mind racing for an option. He had to make a decision on what to do with the beautiful young woman that was throwing herself at him.

His flapping lips were soon pressed firmly against the blonde girl’s, their bodies pressed tightly against one another. Except it wasn’t Johnny who had initiated the kiss. The girl’s arms were wrapped closely about his back, while his flailed in the air a bit. He was caught completely off guard, and in that moment the decision was made for him. The girl drew away and looked at him knowingly, a mischievous glimmer in her formerly innocent blue eyes. Johnny smiled feebly and wavered over to the cloak of ivy that hung over a large portion of the wall. He muttered a few words in a droning tone. Rustling could be heard as the strands of ivy drew back over the wall on their own accord. A moment later a spark of red materialized at the foot of the wall. The spark scorched its way upward, leaving a charred outline in its wake. It arched upward after going six feet straight up before turning and going back down. When the spark reached the ground once more it extinguished itself, but not before leaving the outline of a door in the wall.

“Now what Johnny?” the girl asked, standing behind the boy and clutching his shoulders, peering over them after standing on her tiptoes.

“I’m…not really sure…” Johnny said in a flat tone. “Ben didn’t teach me this part,” he admitted, although not as sheepishly as he normally would. The girl sighed and remained silent for several moments, eyes closed as Johnny stood there in deep thought.

“I’ve got it!” he snapped to attention, jolting her a bit, before muttering an incoherent phrase. A great rumbling shook the ground and filled the air, causing several birds perched in the trees above to fly away, cawing. The outlined door shook itself free from its surroundings and slowly slid inwards. Sand and pebbles fell as the door continue to push inward, going through two solid feet of stone before stopping and beginning to shift to the side, creating an opening into the garden. Johnny took several hesitant steps in, the worry of being discovered returning. But when he arrived inside the garden on the plush grass, there was no one to be found.

“Where is everyone…” he mused. That was when he saw the first wisps of smoke high above the tree line in the direction of the town, framed by the menacing appearance of Doom’s castle in the distance. No answer came for Jonathan Storm though; only a sharp blow to the side of his head. His body dropped to the ground like a sac of potatoes, landing just before the rock that had been used to bludgeon.

Peter was gasping for air as he flung himself through the foliage. Sweat dripped down his brow as his legs churned, carrying him as fast as they could. The trail he used to travel was now cluttered with weeds and large tree roots. The lack of light filtering through the leaves and branches certainly didn’t help matters, nor did his school-mandated tunic, now drenched in sweat as well. Twice he had nearly tripped, while once he just missed lost his head to a low-hanging branch. It was after that near miss that he seriously considered turning around. But the thought of Bobby and Angelica leaving him behind spurred him forward. So caught up was he in his resentment that he almost failed to notice the line of trees right before returning to the path up ahead. And just beyond that, Peter could make out several chocobos standing pat on the dirt trail, their riders peering darkly at the ornate metal gate to the Destiny Well.

Not wanting to draw any attention, Peter came to a crashing halt several feet before the trees ended. Twigs and sticks cracked underneath him as he tumbled to the ground, and several of the riders looked up, casting their glances into the trees. Peter lay deathly still, afraid to even breath. He closed his eyes tight and clenched his fists, praying for one of two things. The first, that they would not come searching for him was obvious. The second, that the end would come swiftly, was shameful. The sound of thick metal boots landing on the path made him pray harder for the second.

“Stay here,” he heard a heavily accented voice, a man’s, say. Before anyone could respond, or any more footfalls could be heard, the gate began to swing open, signaled by the loud churning of gears.

“Amora! Damn you woman, it certainly took long enough,” the man’s voice chided.

“Do not presume to lecture me you old fool,” the alluring tone of a young woman responded. At the sound her voice Peter couldn’t help but look up. A young girl, not much older than him, stood before the chocobos and their riders. She had long, luxurious blonde hair and a body Peter found himself greatly admiring, despite his bruised and aching body. The girl turned and returned to the garden, with the rest of her party following. Peter scampered forward, pulling himself to the edge of the wall before craning his head around the corner and peering into the garden. The robed figures were standing around what appeared to be a small pool of water bordered by a rim of stones one layer high. Peter nearly yelped when he saw his old school mate, Johnny Storm, lying off to the side, face down and motionless.

“Now hurry,” the girl continued. “If we’re caught we’ll all be strung up in the dungeon and believe me, he won’t risk his neck to let us out. It’d make him look suspicious. Let’s do what we came here to do. And after that, all of Latveria will tremble,” the girl commanded before laughing infectiously.

Thus begins the second part of Marvel Fantasy. I’m reluctant to call it volume two…because, for what I have planned, this is still early volume one. Anyways, this issue might read a bit slow to some people, and that’s fine, it probably should. I wanted to firmly establish some of the history and myths surrounding this world I’ve created, especially with regards to the Sinister Six and the Infinity Crystals. Expect to see much more Marvel Fantasy, now that Sabretooth is coming to an end. Please feel free to post or e-mail me any questions, comments, or criticisms (praise is welcome too of course). Here’s some of what has been said so far…

For issue #1:

An excellent start to this series. A few surprises thrown in and a good look at the kind of fantasy world the story takes place in make this issue worth reading.

I'm a big Final Fantasy fan, so it's refreshing to see a Marvel version of the genre. The blurbs on the gatefold help to see how the two realms are mixed (which is a lot better than Marvel has done itself in this type of sitatuation). Looking forward to the next issue.

-David Golightly

A nice start to what looks like to be a nice addition to M2K’s now resurrected Alternate Branch.

-Brent Lambert

On issue #3’s Editor’s Choice Award:

Ben's engaging and light-hearted prose has had me enjoying the first two issues of this series, but it's with Marvel Fantasy #3 that the story really kicks off! It's easily the best of the series so far due largely to the new layers it introduces to the story. The Marvel Fantasy world is developing nicely, as shown with this issue, and its taken a decidedly darker turn when compared to the first two issues. This is particularly meaningful here due to the easygoing, though adventurous, nature of the title and its characters. Plus, there weren't too many faces introduced from the get go, nor were many others given spotlight in the first two issues besides our main protagonist, so the Marvel Fantasy versions of Luke Cage, Danny Rand, and the Wrecking crew are greatly welcomed here!

-Cory Wiegel

On the monster issue #6 (which I think a lot of people were afraid to read):

One of M2K’s gems IMO and an overall strong title. People always talk about doing different things with fanfic. Well, look no further than this title. Ben has taken two concepts, smashed them together, and is making it work

-Brent Lambert

This was definitely a tough release to choose from with the monster Holiday Special, the amazing finale of Matt Hrubey's "What If...?" tale, and Tony Thornley's finest issue of Web Of Scarlet Spider to date. However, the big winner of 2006 had to go to none other than one of the Alternate Branch's (unofficial) flagship titles, Marvel Fantasy. This issue is simply epic! Not only has Ben really managed to bring this title’s concept into its own, but in this issue he has reached a new level of strength in his style and technique of writing. His re-imaginings of Cloak and Dagger are by far my favorite re-imaginings in this series so far, as not only are they creatively envisioned but they’re masterfully introduced into Ben’s world with one of the most poetic stories that I’ve ever read at the site, period.

-Cory Wiegel, for the Editor’s Choice Award