When two worlds collide

Chapter 17

The quiet hum of the car engine was the only sound as Y/N and Wanda left the diner, the night settling in around them. The air was cooler now, a reminder that the world outside their battle hadn't changed. But inside their heads, everything had shifted.

Doctor Strange's warning still echoed in Y/N's mind. The doppelgänger was out there, more powerful than before, lurking in the shadows. Every second they wasted felt like another step closer to something darker. Wanda seemed lost in thought too, her fingers tapping absently against the steering wheel as they drove.

The silence stretched until Y/N finally spoke. "So," they began slowly, "what happens if we don't stop this thing in time? I mean... worst-case scenario."

Wanda's jaw tightened. "If we don't stop the doppelgänger..." she trailed off, as if trying to find the right words. "It's not just about us anymore. This thing—it's drawing power from somewhere. Something bigger."

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Bigger like... how big are we talking?"

Wanda glanced at Y/N, her expression serious. "Remember how Doctor Strange mentioned the balance between dimensions? That's what's at risk. This doppelgänger—it's not just trying to take over your life. It's trying to collapse the lines between worlds."

Y/N stared at her, their pulse quickening. "Wait, collapse the lines? As in... what? Multiverse-level collapse?"

Wanda nodded grimly. "Yes. If it succeeds, the barriers between realities could start to unravel. It wouldn't just affect us. It would affect *everything*—our world, other worlds, maybe even realities that haven't formed yet. Chaos like that could rewrite existence as we know it."

Y/N blinked, the weight of her words sinking in. "And all this started because some evil version of me wants a new job?" they joked weakly, but the fear in their voice was unmistakable.

"It's not just about you," Wanda said, her tone firm but gentle. "It's using you as a doorway. Something about your existence makes it easier for it to tear open these boundaries. That's why it keeps coming after you. You're the key."

Y/N exhaled, rubbing their temples. "Great. So if I screw this up, I could potentially bring on the end of everything. No pressure."

Wanda gave them a sidelong look. "We're not going to screw this up," she said, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

But Y/N wasn't sure. The scope of what they were facing had expanded far beyond a rogue doppelgänger. They weren't just fighting for their lives anymore—they were fighting for *everything*. And the doppelgänger was playing for keeps.

As the road stretched out before them, the night seemed darker than it had before. The looming threat of a multiversal collapse hung over them like a shadow, and the gravity of their situation weighed heavily on Y/N's shoulders. For the first time in a long while, they felt... small. Insignificant, even.

"What if we can't stop it?" Y/N asked quietly, their voice barely above a whisper. "What if... we're not enough?"

Wanda's hands tightened on the wheel. "We don't have the luxury of 'what ifs,'" she said, her voice hard. "We have to stop it. There's no other option."

Y/N fell silent, knowing she was right. But that didn't stop the creeping doubt from gnawing at them. They weren't superheroes—they were a stunt double, someone used to mimicking the heroes, not actually being one. How were they supposed to stand up to something like this?

As if sensing their turmoil, Wanda reached out and placed a hand on Y/N's arm. "Hey," she said softly, "we've come this far. We've survived everything this thing has thrown at us. We can do this."

Y/N looked at her, their eyes searching hers for reassurance. "I don't know, Wanda. I mean, I'm just me. I'm not a superhero. I'm not some magical powerhouse. I'm just... normal."

Wanda's gaze softened. "You're not just normal, Y/N," she said firmly. "You've got more strength than you realize. You're smart, resourceful, and you've managed to hold your own against forces that would break most people. That's not nothing."

Y/N let out a small laugh. "You're really good at the pep talks," they admitted, though their heart wasn't fully in it.

Wanda smiled faintly. "I've had practice."

But even with Wanda's encouragement, the enormity of what they were up against lingered like a dark cloud over Y/N. If they failed, the consequences would be catastrophic. Entire worlds, entire realities, could cease to exist. And it was all hinging on whether or not they could stop this doppelgänger in time.

As they approached the safe house, the landscape around them seemed to shift subtly, as though the world itself was holding its breath. The weight of their mission pressed down on Y/N's chest, and for the first time in a long time, they felt truly scared.

"We need a plan," Wanda said as they pulled up to the house. "Doctor Strange is working on figuring out where the doppelgänger is pulling its power from. If we can cut it off at the source, we might be able to stop it before things get worse."

Y/N nodded, though their mind was still racing. "And if we can't?"

Wanda hesitated before answering, her voice low. "If we can't, we'll be facing the start of something none of us can predict."

They both exited the car, the cool night air prickling their skin as they stood in front of the safe house. Y/N looked up at the sky, where the stars glittered above them, unaware of the cosmic stakes now resting in their hands.

"You know," Y/N said quietly, "I never imagined that saving the world would be on my résumé."

Wanda chuckled softly, though the weight of their reality still hung between them. "Neither did I," she admitted. "But here we are."

Y/N smiled weakly, trying to push down the fear that threatened to overwhelm them. "No pressure, right?"

"None at all," Wanda replied, her tone wry but gentle.

As they entered the house, the warmth of the interior contrasting sharply with the chill of the outside, Y/N couldn't help but wonder if they were truly ready for what lay ahead. The stakes had never been higher, and the weight of the entire multiverse seemed to rest on their shoulders.

But despite the fear, despite the uncertainty, one thing was clear—they weren't alone in this fight. Wanda was with them, and together, they would face whatever came next.

Because failure wasn't an option.