"Guardian... Guardian... wake up..."

"Wake up!"

I woke with a start, sunlight pouring in from my windows automatically blinding me. "Ow!" I mumbled to myself, rubbing my eyes. I looked over to my nightstand and saw that the clock read 8:35 a.m. I huffed, rolling out of bed, grabbing my phone and turning on my Bluetooth speaker on my dresser.

Flicking through my phone I smiled when I found the sound to start off my day. "Gypsy" by Fleetwood Mac blasted through the speakers and started getting ready for the day.

Traveling back and forth between my room and my bathroom, I danced and sang along to the song. I also opened up all my windows letting the music flow out of my apartment and to the people that passed by. Looking in my full length mirror, taking in my choice of clothing and giving myself a nod of satisfaction. I ran my fingers through my long wavy black colored hair getting any loose knots out. I playfully pouted and decided not to put any makeup on, or put my contacts in.

I put my square framed glasses on and shot finger guns at my reflection. "Knock em dead." I laughed at my own silliness, grabbing my bag and turning off the speaker. Heading down the stairs I grabbed an apple from the kitchen counter and headed out of my apartment, locking the door behind me.

Before heading out into the bustling streets, I pulled out a piece of paper from my bag. 177A Bleeker St. I bit my lip in thought. I found this piece of paper in my bag about a week ago, I thought it was just some dumb kids or some sort of prank, so I threw it out the minute I found it. It was strange though, I kept finding it back in my bag after every single time I threw it out.

I took a bite out of my apple and shrugged. "How bad can this be?" I asked myself. Oh, I don't know. Could be walking into you're untimely death? My brain was sending me warning signals but my feet were already on the move as if to protest.

I ate my apple as I walked along the streets of New York, enjoying the wonderful profanities of cab drivers yelling at their passengers and vice versa. Why did I even move to New York? My green-blue eyes searched the buildings that I passed, looking for the address stated on the paper. I came to a sudden halt, finding the building that I have been searching for. It was quite odd looking for the area, I would think that small stores or even a deli occupied this space. How could I have missed this?

I threw my apple core away in a nearby trash can and walked up to the door. I knocked on the door twice and before I could a third time, I was suddenly inside the building. I stumbled feeling like the earth beneath me shifted. "What the...?" I looked at my surroundings and saw what looked like artifacts laying about the room. "Hello?" I called out, my voice echoing.

My surroundings changed again, causing me to drop my bag and lean on the table that was now in front of me. I groaned letting my head sink onto the table.

"It takes some time getting used to." A voice said behind me. I turned around in shock and tripped backwards onto the floor. The voice belonged to a woman wearing yellow robs with some sort of gold necklace around her neck. She smiled softly at me putting out her hand to me.

I looked back and forth between her and her hand. My own hand clasped hers and let her pull me up to my feet. "Um..." I trailed off not knowing what to say.

She didn't stop smiling at me and folded her hands behind her back. "I see you finally decided to come. I took you long enough. I tried my best to persuade you." I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and showed the paper with the address on it to her. "You kept on putting this in my bag? How?" I asked.

My feet shift again and I stumbled once again, falling into a chair and a cup of tea in my hand where the piece of paper once was. The woman sat across from me drinking her own cup. I kept my eyes trained on her, taking a sip of mine, the taste of green tea filling my mouth. I sighed in content loving a good old cup of tea. "This is amazing." I shyly said to the woman.

She smiled fondly at my reaction. "I can see why you were chosen Miss Molinari. You have a pure heart and a kind soul." She told me. I licked my lips, the bitter after taste of the tea on my tongue. "Please, Miss Molinari is... was what people called my mother. Riona is perfectly fine, and chosen? I'm sorry, but I don't fully understand why I'm here or what has happened in the past few minutes." I set my tea down to the side and played with my fingers.

"You are very special Riona." She waved her hand and more tea filled my cup. I picked it up and looked at in disbelief. "There is a powerful being called The Guardian. The Guardian is a being of unimaginable power, she gains the abilities of whom ever she touches and comes form a dimension completely different from ours. The protector of the worlds, and the keeper of balance." A book appeared in her hand out of nowhere and opened it to a page, handing it to me.

I shook my head. "I'm sorry a 'dimension completely different from ours?' Are you not from this dimension?" She nodded her head at me. "Yes, I am here in your dimension to bring you to mine. Though I will say this isn't the first time you were called to action." I choked on the tea I was drinking and looked at her in confusion. "Excuse me, apologies if I am repeating everything you're saying, but I have done this before?"

She sighed. "In a different timeline, yes. I would explain more but it's a large amount of information to understand and to take in at once. I suggest that you figure it out in your own time. I wouldn't want you to go crazy at the thought of it." I blinked at her letting her words sink in.

I huffed, running my fingers through my hair and leaned back into the chair. "Dimensions, timelines, this seems so impossible." "But it's not." She said to me.

"So, I'm able to basically copy other people's abilities just by touching them?" I asked. She nodded. My eyes widened realizing that I touched her hand when she was helping me up. "Wait, I touched you hand! Does that mean...?"

She smiled at my reaction. "Yes, you now can anything I do. It will take practice to control and learn your new powers as you go along. It's not just the ability to copy another ones powers, you have some of your own." She continued explaining knowing she had my full attention. "You can control the elements; the main four, the secondary elements, control over the weather and even some of the minor elements that derive from the main ones. You are quite powerful even without copying another powers."

I chuckled at her words. All of this just seemed like a dream. "This is just so much to take in. I feel like a heavy weight was placed on my shoulders."

"It's a lot of responsibility." She countered.

"I have so many questions..."

"And they will be answered." She reassured me.

I nodded, questions upon questions racing through my mind, so I just went with some easy ones first. "Where am I and who are you?"

"Sanctum Sanctorum and I am The Ancient One." She told me. My eyes widened at her title. It sounded just as impacting as my own new title. "That sounds...heavy." I laughed at my own choice of words. She was just as amused as I was.

"I know you have many more questions, but unfortunately we do not have that much time. We must-``''Wait a minute." I then realized who the hell I was talking too. "You've got to be kidding me right now." I covered my face in my hands, and then looked at The Ancient One with wide eyes.

"You're the Sorcerer Supreme a-and you taught Doctor Strange!" I stood up in shock. "You're a fictional character. You're not real. I'm going crazy!" I whispered to myself.

She chuckled at my realization. "I know that in your dimension we are nothing but fictional characters that were made for your entertainment. But I assure you that I am real and you are needed. Come." My surroundings shifted once again, I was standing at the base of the stairs, falling backwards onto the steps from the sudden change.

"Can you please stop doing that. I think I'm going to be sick." I muttered, managing to stand up.

"I truly am sorry." She handed me my bag that I dropped. Nodding and giving a 'thank you', I grabbed my bag which felt heavier than it did before. The Ancient made a series of hand gestures and opened a what looked like a portal. "Once you step through, there is an apartment all set up for you. Everything you need to have a stable lifestyle is there for you and everything you own is there as well. If you shall need anything, please let me know." She explained.

I looked at the portal in hesitation. Did I really want to do this? Did I even have a choice in the matter? Leaving everything behind to take up the responsibility of being this all powerful Guardian?

The Ancient One smiled softly at me, as if to almost comfort me. "If you would like to say goodbye to anyone before you leave, we can wait a little longer." I bit my lip at her words. "I can't refuse this can I? Give up being The Guardian?"

She shook her head at me. I gave a nod. "Then no. I never really had any friends in the first place and... I don't have any family left. Since I can't give it up, I'll use it to help those who need it. Can't let it go to waste can I?" I smiled at her.

She tilted her head. "No I guess not, Guardian."

I rolled my eyes playfully at her. The title was going to get old really quick. "One more thing. What year will it be?"

The Ancient One gestured down to my right wrist, a watch now attached around it. "It will be the year 2007. The watch will tell you your dimensions time and my dimensions. Time works differently there. A year in my dimension would only be a single week in yours. You will age slowly, it could be decades before you even age one year. It's slightly confusing without the watch, but it will help you keep track." She paused and moved her hand toward the portal and raised her other hand toward me.

"I wish you luck."

I grasped her hand, but this time I felt the full extent of her abilities now coursing through my veins as well. "Thank you." And with that, I let go of her hand and walked through the portal ready to begin my role as The Guardian.