A feather floated in the air above the palm of my hand, gently swivelling as if brushed by a breeze, while I went through a series of seals with my free hand, fractal spell formulae swirling about it as it blurred into an 8-bit 1980s JRPG caricature.
The spell finished, I reached for the feather, grabbing its shaft with one hand and pulling at the barbs with the spell-hand. The feather shimmered and shook like a leaf in the wind, blurring into a whirl of oscillatory motion as it began to split, two distinct images splintering from its core like Reverse Flash.
Yes, yes! C'mon, just a little more…
The feathery images became more and more distinct as I pulled at it, carefully and delicately, from the tip to the plumage, till it reached the afterfeather, when suddenly-
CRACK!
POOF!
The feathery images shattered into a thousand pieces, while the feather itself exploded like a fluff bomb, spewing tiny barbs everywhere, joining the remains of its fluffy friends on my lap.
That's never gonna get out of my robes, it's like hair, but finer, and that makes it so much worse.
"Dammit!"
"Perhaps if you focused on training one power at a time, you would find more success, a lesson I had hoped I wouldn't need to repeat quite so soon." The Ancient One spoke as she crossed the shimmering fractal veil of the Mirror dimension, "Or you could start with something simpler than a feather. The Images Of Ikonn isn't exactly a spell I recommend for beginners to Mirror dimension magic."
I gestured at the smattering of wooden spoons and bowls littered around me with a shrug.
"I was wondering where my tea set went." She chuckled softly, taking a seat beside me, before she gently asked, "Why the haste?"
"Today's the day." I sighed, falling flat on my back in frustration, "I'm just feeling somehow…unprepared. Like a test I studied for at the last minute on the ride to school."
I had been training relentlessly the past two weeks, even stepping up my training of my reality manipulation powers at the same time, as soon as they had recovered. I had also managed to attune myself to the energies of the Mirror dimension without hassle.
Apparently, the Ancient One had convinced the ruler of the Mirror dimension, Ikonn to seal himself away during the aforementioned Splinter Wars, in something called the Wager Of The Octessence, alongside seven other dimensional rulers, till the wager could be fulfilled- something about who had the biggest dick or whatever- in an eight way death match on Earth. They couldn't awaken until their chosen champions got their special entry passes; icons of power hidden in eight temples across the world. Till now only one had been found, some years back by some dude. You might not have heard of him, he's called the Juggernaut. Real small-time guy, I know.
So only Cyttorak, Lord Of Oblivion and Master Of The Raging Storm, the ruler of the Crimson Cosmos dimension was awake.
This meant there were seven dimensions with no active entities, that I could attune to with no problem, including the Mirror dimension, which I had already attuned to.
Though, I hadn't had the time to do that, nor ponder the implications of the goddamn Juggernaut being in this universe, not that there was much to ponder. It was obvious the X-Men were apparently part of this universe as well, something a simple google search confirmed, which means that this isn't the MCU. It's Marvel, though which version I don't know. But, I suppose it wouldn't matter much anyway, I'm not nerd enough to point out minute differences between the bajillion different comic runs.
Which is also why what she said next did not surprise me.
"If you feel like you are not ready, don't do it." The Ancient One said as she collected the tea set with a swipe of her hand, the utensils flying into her hands as the images merged into one another to reveal the true objects, which with a snap of her fingers, disappeared into thin air.
A conjuration trick I can't wait to learn. Infinite inventory at the snap of a finger is too good a power to pass over; and hella cool. So damn cool. Bet that'd really make you feel like a wizard, conjuring stuff with a snap and swiping trash away into another pocket dimension. The convenience is unmatched for a lazy bum like me.
What's more, with enough mastery, you could even conjure spikes inside your enemy, or shunt away parts of their body into pocket dimensions, carving their flesh away with a swipe, like a hot knife through butter. The variety and power are just indispensable.
In fact, if it wasn't for the necessity of mirror magic in my plans, and the insane advantage being able to jump into a safe dimension to avoid attacks, escape or even infiltrate places like say, an ancient alien ruin that is likely to be booby trapped, I would have gone for conjuration spells next.
"You are making remarkable progress and your affinity at spatial magic never ceases to amaze me. In a few more weeks, you will be far more accomplished. I can even guide you to someone who can guide you in the development of your psychic gifts." She offered.
"Is it Professor X?" I asked.
"No." She replied with knowing smile, "Its Emma Frost."
"That is even worse." I couldn't help but let out a hollow chuckle.
"Worry not. She owes me a favour, enforced by a binding vow." The Ancient One assured, "So lay your fears to rest. She will not be able to put a secret geas on you."
"Huh, that's reassuring. I thought you'd tell me to not be too paranoid…" I raised an eyebrow, "How did that come to be? I don't see Ms. Frost agreeing to a binding vow unless she was really backed into a corner. Any hidden dangers I need to be aware of?"
"We live in a multiverse of horrors, there is no such thing as being too paranoid." She said, "As for Ms. Frost's ordeal, all I will say is that the dissolution of the Hellfire Club was anything but peaceful. In the aftermath, my services were…necessary."
"Ooh, a two-way magical NDA." Intriguing, but I knew better than to ask for the tea.
Still, that tells me Selene was still a threat. Good to know. She's a hedonistic, witchy nightmare of a wild card. Another one I'll need to account for…
As if she had read my mind, the Ancient One added, with just a hint of pride in her eyes and the faintest smirk on her face.
"She won't be a problem for a long time now."
Dayum girl! Slay~
Selene is no easy mark; she's even older than the Ancient One, older than what we would even call civilization at over a whopping 17000 years old.
I'm just as surprised she was beaten. And the Ancient one too...
She's just been dropping the dad lore of the century this week. Or should it be mom lore? Grandma lore?
I nodded.
Well, no point worrying about every little thing. There's a lot of villains in the verse and I'm not about to track down every single one of them. I don't even know most of them, I mean who remembers small time crooks like The Wall, or Condiment King-wait, no that's DC- and more than that, who cares. The other heroes will deal with them. I've got enough on my plate as it is.
One thing at a time.
"I appreciate the offer." I smiled warmly, turning over before leaping to my feet, "But I really need to do this today, prepared or not."
I had been back to the mothership a few days ago to check on the progress, and what I learned shocked me to my core.
The ship had been hailed dozens of times over the past five weeks, all from Chitauri ships.
They knew, and it was only once I checked the logs, did I realize the gravity of my mistake.
I had assumed that Loki had taken the mothership to the edges Asgard before invading Earth. It would make sense if he planned another coup soon, and having an army on the borders of Asgard would be perfect for that.
I was wrong. And stupid.
The mothership I had stolen had been in Chitauri Space at the time. Right under Thanos' nose.
In fact, on second thought, why would he need the ship to be near Asgard in the first place if he planned on getting the Tesseract?
HE could just portal into the capital and take over.
Sure, I didn't have the wiki memorized and frankly it's been almost 12 years since I last watched Avengers, so my memory's been spotty at best when it comes to the minutia of the plot, but this should have been common sense, dammit!
UGH! How could I have been so stupid?!
It's a miracle Thanos didn't just blow the ship out of orbit the moment he found out, I mean-wait a minute.
Gears began turning in my head as a horrifying realization dawned on me.
He knew.
Thanos didn't just let me escape on a whim or out of incompetence. That would be unlike him.
No.
Thanos knew I would go for the Infinity Stones. He's using me like a goddamn K-9!
Fuck! That means there's an ambush waiting for me at Morag.
I fucked up. I fucked up so bad!
And now, I need to deal with the consequences. Fortunately, I'd had week and a half to plan since that revelation and I knew what had to be done. I'd lose the mothership, but…that's a small price to pay for the lives of trillions, even quadrillions of people across the universe. To keep the Power Stone out of Thanos' hands.
I steeled my resolve.
This needs to be done, because if I leave them to it, if I wait them out- go in a few weeks, hell even a few days, they will find the stone themselves, before I do, and that would be a disaster. Better to let them follow me and deal with them as they come.
I raised my hand and pushed into the air, shattering it into a kaleidoscopic veil of fractal shards, opening a way back into the real world.
I made to walk out, but stopped, and turned back to the Ancient One.
"About that offer, is it okay if I consider it after I return?"
"Of course. Take your time." She smiled back in a motherly fashion.
Such a kind woman. She had done so much for me, tolerated all my bullshit and asked for so little in return. I don't think I would have extended that same courtesy to someone, were I in her unenviable position.
I…I can't just leave like this.
"If I don't return…Find Wanda Maximoff in Sokovia. She is fated to become the Scarlet Witch. She has a good heart, one I would trust over a flaky prophecy. She alone holds the power to save the world from what is coming, should I fail. Guide her, please."
"No."
"No?" I almost did a double take.
"Don't be such a drama queen." She jabbed nonchalantly, "Bring her here yourself."
"Damn. You sure know what to say, Gran-gran." I whistled, "Way to give a pep talk."
"It isn't polite to mention a lady's age, Dr. Bhaagi." She said with a muffled laugh, followed me out of the Mirror dimension, and before I could mumble out a half-hearted apology, she raised a hand to stop me.
"Now go." She said, "And return safely."
"Aww!"
"You can't die before you keep your end of the deal." She added with a cheeky smirk.
"Aaand you ruined it." I grumbled dramatically, "You sure you can't send someone with me? I'm sure JARVIS can whip up a space suit in no time."
"There aren't enough masters to spare, and fewer who would be able to hold their own in a space battle." She spoke apologetically, "Understand, we cannot lose the few combatants we have, even with an Infinity Stone at stake. We have two to protect here as well, after all."
"You can't lose me either, right?" I asked only to be met with a deadpan expression, "Right?"
"I'm entirely confident in your ability to run away." The Ancient One joked and I huffed with mock indignation.
"Fine. See how much I care." I stuck out my tongue and opened a portal to the mothership, and jumped in, "See you later, alligator."
The Ancient One smiled warmly and waved back, whispering softly as the portal closed.
"In a while, crocodile."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey guys!
Been a while, sorry.
Exam prep and stuff. Also, last three days i got sidetracked again by the hauntings of an alternate history 17th century indian revolution fic plot bunny and I chased it deeeeeep into that research rabbit hole.
Did you know Emperor Shah Rangila suffered from erectile dysfunction? Or that the british taxed big boobs which led to a median decrease in boob size in south indian women over the centuries. I'll never forgive by the British!
Well, now you too are cursed with knowledge on what you have missed out on, my fellow comrades in arms!
Rage! Rage against the dying of the G cup boob size!
Anyways, thanks for reading.
Tell me what you thought of the chapter. Did you like the grandma-grandson dynamic between the ancient one and mc? Tell me in the comments.
Leave a review, and of course,
DONT FORGET TO DONATE YOUR POWERSTONES!
OR ELSE THE BRITISH WILL REDUCE THE BOOBS OF YOUR COUNTRY'S WOMEN TOO~
Next time, epic battle, Gamora pov and a lot more.
Till then, adios amigos!