Loki's Perspective:
An hour has passed since the confrontation. The young shapeshifter lies unconscious in his quarters while his telepath maintains her vigil.
"His neural patterns are all over the place," Stark announces, his technology-first mindset evident in every word. "JARVIS can't make heads or tails of these readings."
"Perhaps," I observe dryly, "because some things transcend your mortal instruments."
"His mind is... realigning," Emma reports, her usual ice queen demeanor cracking with concern. "Whatever happened in there changed something fundamental."
Thor paces with characteristic restlessness. "The creature spoke of possession, yet this was something else entirely."
"Obviously," Stark mutters, typing furiously at his displays. "Because possession would be so much more logical than whatever quantum anomaly we just witnessed."
The air shifts suddenly - not just physically, but on levels that make even my centuries of magical knowledge take notice of the potency of power.
A woman appears, her bald head and ancient eyes marking her as something far more than human.
"The Ancient One," I acknowledge, noting how reality itself seems to bend slightly around her.
"Two gods, a genius, a telepath, and a boy who just touched powers nearly as ancient as existence itself," she observes with subtle amusement. "Quite the gathering."
"Great," Stark mutters, already used to the weird now to react in surprise, his displays flickering at her presence. "Another one with the mystical mumbo-jumbo. Any chance we could get some actual scientific readings?"
"Science," she replies with that particular smile that makes even Thor shift uncomfortably, "is merely our attempt to understand forces that have existed since the first moment of creation."
Emma's eyes narrow, her telepathy likely encountering the same barriers I sense around the woman. "You know what happened to him."
"I know," the Ancient One responds, moving closer to Sam's unconscious form, "that two forms of power clashed within him. One born in the darkness between realities, the other..." she pauses, studying the crimson traces, "flowing from the very essence of magic itself."
"The boy," the Ancient One continues, her eyes studying the crimson traces with interest, "channeled something that resonates with the fundamental forces of creation. Not unlike what we at Kamar-Taj study, yet... different."
"Different how?" Thor asks, Mjolnir humming in response to the ambient energies.
"Oh please," Stark interjects, fingers flying over his displays. "Are we really going with 'fundamental forces of creation' when there are perfectly good quantum explanations-"
"And what," I cut in, enjoying his discomfort with the mystical, "quantum explanation would you propose for what we witnessed?"
Emma's mental abilities probe deeper into Sam's unconscious mind. "His thoughts... they're reorganizing around new understanding. Like his consciousness is adapting to process what happened."
"The mind," the Ancient One observes, "is remarkably adaptable. The clash between these forces - one born of darkness, one of light - has changed him. Though perhaps not in the way either force intended."
Stark's machines finally give up trying to quantify the readings. "So what you're saying is, the kid's brain is basically upgrading itself to handle whatever just happened?"
"In crude technological terms," she replies with that subtle smile, "yes."
Her expression shifts to something more serious, that particular look that suggests she's seeing beyond the present moment. "The boy's consciousness adapts because it must.
What happened tonight has drawn attention - not just from those who felt the ripples of power, but from forces that maintain the balance of the universe itself."
"You're here to what - warn us?" Stark challenges, though his usual skepticism carries a hint of genuine concern.
"I'm here," she responds with that serene certainty that makes even gods pause, "because choices are coming. Paths that branch from this moment, each carrying consequences that echo through the fabric of of the unverse itself."
Emma's mental link with Sam strengthens protectively. "What kind of choices?"
"The kind," the Ancient One replies, "that determine whether power serves balance... or threatens it."
Thor steps forward, lightning crackling subtly around Mjolnir. "You speak of threats. Are you threatening the boy?"
The Ancient One's expression carries that particular serenity that somehow manages to be more unsettling than any show of force. "That is not my wish, God of Thunder. For now, I observe. But should the time come when balance itself is threatened..." She lets the words hang in the air, their weight more potent than any direct threat.
"You'll find," Emma's voice carries ice that could rival Jotunheim, "that threatening Sam tends to end poorly for those who try."
"Not a threat, Miss Frost," the Ancient One responds, her smile unchanged. "Merely... perspective. For now, I watch. And wait."
The crimson energy pulses stronger beneath Sam's skin, his consciousness stirring at the edges of Emma's mental link. The Ancient One's eyes flick to his form, noting the change.
"My words have been spoken," she states, preparing to depart. "The warning delivered."
"Running so soon?" My voice carries that particular edge of mockery I've perfected over centuries. "Why not stay? Share your... perspective with the boy directly? Unless you fear his response to your thinly veiled threats."
The Ancient One's smile doesn't waver, but her eyes carry ancient knowledge that makes even my silver tongue pause. "Some conversations are better had from a position of understanding, God of Mischief. When he wakes... he'll know exactly what I meant."
She begins to fade from reality, but not before adding: "After all, power recognizes power. And choices... choices always have consequences."
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Ebony Maw's Perspective:
I observe from my place in the shadows as my master and Mephisto discuss recent events. The Great Titan sits with characteristic stillness, while the demon lord's flames flicker with unusual restraint.
"The surge of power from Earth," Thanos states simply. "Not mere magic."
"No," Mephisto replies, his usual mockery absent. "The device we thought to claim - it's bound to the boy's very essence. His soul given it form and purpose. It being a manifestation of his own spirit of desire of protection and power."
I dare to speak, knowing my master values precision: "Which explains our failure to acquire it."
"One cannot simply pluck away what is born from someone's soul," Mephisto muses, flames dancing in his eyes. "But this new power we felt..."
"The darkness that emerged," Thanos prompts, his interest evident even through his measured tone.
"Perhaps a reflection," Mephisto's smile carries ancient knowledge but also a hint of uncertainty. "The boy's own nature given form through powers that rival the universe itself. He proves... far more intriguing than anticipated."
"Perhaps," Thanos echoes, his tone carrying the weight of someone who has seen countless civilizations rise and fall. "Yet twice now this boy has channeled power that resonates across the cosmos itself."
I watch as my master's fingers drum once on his throne - a rare display of genuine interest. The sound echoes through the ship, as Mephisto's the flames flicker.
"The first surge," Mephisto notes, "pure creation energy. This second... something that exists in the spaces between realities. Both wielded by a mere child."
"Not mere," I dare to interject, "The boy's power grows with each manifestation. The device evolves with him."
"Indeed," Thanos agrees, his eyes carrying that particular focus that has made worlds tremble. "Continue watching. But for now... we wait."
Mephisto's flames dance with ancient amusement, but I can sense his displeasure at the words. Yet he must know when my master intends a conversation to end as his flames beginn to back into themselves.
"The universe itself felt his power, Great Titan. I suspect... waiting may not be our choice to make."
As his flames fade, I dare to voice my concern. "Master, dealing with the Lord of Lies is... precarious. His interest in the boy's soul-"
"Your caution is noted, Maw," Thanos interrupts, his tone carrying neither concern nor dismissal. "But necessary tools must be used, regardless of their nature."
"Even if those tools seek to claim power that rivals the Odinforce itself?" I press carefully, knowing my position allows certain liberties. "To aid him in acquiring such a soul..."
Thanos rises, shadows deepening around his massive form. "Who said anything about aiding him?"
The words hang in the air as my master departs, leaving me to contemplate their implications. Sometimes, I forget that my master plays games far deeper than even demons can comprehend.
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
Do tell me how you found it. I hope it makes more sense now, how the situation happened that led to Ghostfreak's appearance.
So Mephisto and Thanos are working together...
See, I'm having some problems writing Thanos, not his power, since I plan to have it not be the whole boring,
"Oh, we need to be worried about Thanos" yet when he arrives he gets crushed - No, I'll give Thanos the respect he deserves when it comes to his intelligence and power without ignoring the capabilities of the Ultimatrix.
No, what is making me a bit stuck is his personality.
Graymatter, and Anodite powers, should technically be able to fix the whole too little resources problem, yet I don't think Thanos would back down just because of that.
I'm thinking... A mesh between comics ego of Thanos and MCU Thanos goals?
What do you all think about that?
Well, that's all from me, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)