-New Fanfiction- Hands of Fate Issue 1 -Marvel Fanfiction-

Hands of Fate Issue #1
By Luca Baldassarra



Loki sits in a large Asgardian Library, Ikol perched on a bookshelf nearby. Sitting at a large table, surrounded by various tomes, Asgard’s resident trickster pours over the stacks while thinking about his meeting with Mephisto, the Demon Lord.

Loki: Tell me Ikol, how would you react to an offer of such magnitude?
Ikol: Mephisto cannot hope to attain that which he seeks without powerful magic. Within these tomes may lie the very hint we need to uncover what tricks he hides.

(Loki sighs, casually flipping the page)

Loki:  So you have said, many times over. Would we not simply be able to LOCATE the item with a meeting? Surely the Demon Lord would not deny welcome to his “valuable” allies.
Ikol: His enforcer Loki. The Rider. You would be wise not to take him lightly.
Loki: Well I cannot expect to take him darkly Ikol, after all his head is aflame.
Ikol: Cease this worthless prattle, continue your studies.

(Loki sighs, and flips the page once more. As he does so his expression changes from boredom to surprise. He stares astonished at the tome, and abruptly stands.)

Loki: Ikol. The pages…what has happened?
(Ikol lands on his shoulder)
Ikol: What is exactly that which is missing. This is worse than it appears….much worse. We’re running out of time.

----Meanwhile, in the Astral Plane----
(Google Translate what strange is saying “Latin-English“, enjoy.)

Doctor Strange: Dico me spiritus astral planum, quod magicis turbat fabricae re!
(Without warning Doctor Strange is surrounded by a golden ring. In his astral form he struggles to contain his shape. The Ring begins to spin and swing around him, creating a sphere.)
Voice in the Astral Plane: Fatum est infectum. Fila fracti sunt. Chaos venit in ignis. Respice ad fabulis. Sunt diriget novum Manus. Agere.

(Blinding light envelops him, and he returns to his body and is thrown back from the spell circle. Damian Hellstorm is in the room with him and helps him to his feet)

---Back in the Sanctum Sanctorum---

Damian: What happened Strange? You were screaming! Did the spell work? What did you learn?!
Doctor Strange: Legends….need to find new Hand….Chaos in Fire….we’re running out of time.
Damian: Chaos in fire? I do NOT like the sound of that….but what does it all mean?
Doctor Strange: The Riders, they are at the center of this. I know it. We need to find the girl Damian. Soon.

---Somewhere in the American Mid-West---

Alejandra is stopped on the side of the highway, and reaches into her jacket pocket. Alejandra pulls out a blackened chain fragment. The links are severed at each end, with a few links intact. She sits on her bike at the side of the highway, drinking a bottle of water. Alejandra closes her eyes and begins to pray to herself. When she opens her eyes, fire erupts and she transforms into the Rider. The chain links in her hand come to life and glowing red hot, point into the distance, down the highway. She returns to human form, and places the chain which is now smoking, back into her pocket. She climbs back onto her bike, and continues in the direction the chain pointed.

Alejandra (thought): Blaze…I don’t know what you are doing, or why, but when I find you we will end what we started. One way or another, there will only be one Rider. For your crimes against God, I will slay you and your master Mephisto. The power of Zarathos guides me.
(She accelerates hard, and continues down the road)

---In Hell, Mephisto’s throne room---

Mephisto sits on his throne surrounded by orbs. On the orbs the images of his allies Doctor Doom and Loki. On other orbs, Damian Hellstorm and Doctor Strange, Alejandra, and Asgard. He holds the Amulet in his hand, admiring it, as his eyes shift from the orbs to the surface of the piece.

Mephisto: Such a small insignificant artifact…with such great power. How could the Lord of Fear have hidden this away for so long? What do you think Blaze? Any insight?

Blaze stands silently beside the throne of Mephisto, in Rider Form, staring into the distance.

Mephisto: Yes, you are pretty boring like this. Not much conversation in you these days. Not unless I say so anyway. *The amulet glows brightly*

Johnny Blaze (in Rider Form): *Gasp* Where? Where am I?
Mephisto: Indeed, where in the HELL are you Blaze?
Johnny Blaze: *Instinctively reaching for his weapons* Mephisto! What have you done you evil piece of Fu--
*The Amulet glows brightly again, and Johnny reverts to human form, losing his chain weapon*
Mephisto: Now Johnny, don’t get all worked up over this. I wanted to show you something before I put the leash back on.
Johnny: My powers? How do you control them?! You gave them back! That was the deal!
Mephisto: No, no, Johnny. The deal was I give you your power back, and you STOP the girl. When that showdown didn’t end to well, I came back for you. After all, I couldn’t just leave you there, you are still very useful for my plans.
Johnny: Plans? I’m not apart of your plans anymore. *Looks over to the orb with Alejandra* Send me to Alejandra Mephisto. I’ll keep my end of the deal.
Mephisto: Oh no Johnny. The girl doesn’t need to be stopped quite yet, I still have need of her. Besides, I’m finally getting the hang of this fancy little trinket.
*Mephisto lifts the Amulet*
Mephisto: It’s called…the Hand of Fate. One of my servants plucked it out of Dark Asgard before the heroes destroyed it. Nifty little trinket…I’m sure the Lord of Fear won’t be missing it too much.
Johnny: Whatever it is you’re planning Mephisto. They’ll stop you. *Points to the orbs of the heroes* They always do!
Mephisto: What don’t you understand about Hand. Of. FATE! I’m not playing the same “game” anymore Blaze. No one is. When I’m done, everything will be different, and with you protecting me, no one will be able to stop it.
*The Amulet glows once again*
Johnny grits his teeth, and his eyes slowly fill with black. He transforms back into the Rider*
Mephisto: -smiling- Now then, where was I?
Johnny: ……


- To be continued in Hands of Fate Issue 2 -

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New Fanfiction! "Hands of Fate #0: Prologue" ft. on Marvel 2012.

Hands of Fate (Issue 0 Prologue)
Written by Luca Baldassarra


*From a nearby tree, we see Young Loki walking down a park path*

Young Loki sits on a park bench in Broxton, Oklahoma the sun rising in the horizon. Lost in his thoughts, Young Loki reflects on an earlier message he received from Mephisto, the Demon Lord of Hell. The message stated simply. “I would speak with you, young trickster. I have news of which would be most intriguing to a youth of such cunning and treachery. Meet me in six days, on the sixth minute of the sixth hour. Come alone.”

Loki (thought): Is it wise of me to trust a demon to be punctual? Rather, should I place any trust in one whom I have slighted so recently? I am nothing if not bold, though this sunrise is rather lovely. The birds sing such beautiful songs in scenery such as this.
*Leaning back in the bench and stretching*
Loki: Is it not a beautiful morning my silent friend?
*Loki hears movement coming from behind him. A rattling, clanking sound*

Mephisto (In human guise): Young Loki, it seems you have accepted my invitation. I should be thankful that you had the wisdom to avoid an unpleasant meeting.

Loki: *Looking past him to the figure standing behind Mephisto* I am told that I am quite mature for my age Demon Lord. Though I had thought we were meeting alone? Who stalks in the shadows behind you?

Mephisto (smirking): No one to be concerned with, so long as you have kept the secret of our meeting.

Loki: A child must respect the wishes of his elders I suppose. What is it you have brought to concern me with? If you wish to address the business of our last meeting, I apologize but that is quite---

Mephisto (serious tone): Do you feel it Loki? Do you feel the changes?

Loki (surprised): Changes? I must admit I know not of what you speak?

Mephisto (leaning on the bench): The nine realms are in flux. The All-Mothers have saw fit to alter reality. Midgard’s heroes….are easily deceived, but not beings such as us. I seek allies Loki, allies who wish to meet this change and find their place within it. Before it settles more…permanently.

------Scene change to Latveria, the Throne room of Doctor Doom-----

Doom: What would a Demon Lord possibly gain from an alliance with Doom?
Mephisto (laughs): I require those who have adequate magical knowledge Doom, and of the mortal beings you are quite formidable.
Doom: The Rider skulking outside, was he not once your enemy?
Mephisto (smirk): We have reached an agreement ,his motives are not your concern. You need only know that the power he wields supports mine own. Would you join your might to ours?

----Scene change to the Sanctum Sanctorum where Doctor Strange and Damian Hellstorm meet to discuss recent events----

Hellstorm: I don’t like it Strange, Mephisto has appeared all over the world. He is planning something.
Strange: Is what you’ve discovered true? He travels with a Ghost Rider?
Hellstorm: My informants are not mistaken. You can’t miss that flaming skull Strange. But from what I understand, there are two riders now. The battle that happened a few weeks ago, it somehow brought them together.
Strange: They were fighting. The damage was devastating. The girl is incredibly strong, and Johnny Blaze….I have not seen him so distraught in all the time I’ve known him.
Hellstorm: So…it’s all happening then. Just like you saw in your visions.
Strange: The visions were clouded Damian, we don’t know exactly what is happening, we need--
Hellstorm: WE NEED to prepare Strange. We can’t be caught off guard this time, not like Las Vegas. (Referring to Circle of Four, by Rick Remender)
-silence between the two for a few moments-
Strange: I will prepare the initial spell work, in the mean time you must track Mephisto’s movements. Follow him as closely as you can, but stay hidden.
Hellstorm: I will find the girl, we will need her power for the days ahead.

------On the outskirts of Broxton, Oklahoma-----

Alejandra: Explain to me why I should not slay you where you stand Asgardian.
*Pressing her sword against Loki’s throat, she is holding him from behind*
Loki: Well, if you would kindly allow me to *uff* breathe for just a moment, I will do just that.
Alejandra: What do you want? Why did you ask me to come here?
Loki: To warn you, about the actions of your enemy. Mephisto is gathering allies, he has a plan that will change the world as we know it and he needs the power of a Ghost Rider to do it.
Alejandra: Mephisto needs my help? Why would I help the demon lord of Hell?
Loki: He doesn’t need you, because he already has a Rider of his own. Mephisto has possessed Johnny Blaze.
Alejandra: What? But how did he….Tell me everything you know Asgardian, right now.

*In a nearby tree, a magpie watches Loki and Alejandra talk.*

To be continued in “Hands of Fate” Issue 1.
Follow me on Twitter @Lucacosmic AND Check out my fan-page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Lucacosmic!
Like Comics? Check out my comic at www.shadowlinesgame.com! Available in digital!

Free Comic Book Day at Stadium Comics!

Hey comic readers,

If any of you live in the Brampton, Ontario area come out to Free Comic Book Day at Stadium Comics! I will be there signing, greeting, and meeting all who attend. The guest list also includes talented artists such as Marcus To, Vince Sunico, Paris Alleyne, "Fearless" Fred Kennedy, Adam Gorham, and MORE! It's a huge event and is going to be a great time for all. So check it out if you can! Did I mention biggest sale of the year on the entire store? Ya. I'll see you guys there.

www.freecomicbookday.ca

-Luca "Joriko" Baldassarra