A/N: Hello everyone. Forgive my long absence. I was gone to unprepared and sudden Vacations with my Girlfriend. But Now that I am back, I am ready to Update you on this piece I am writing.
I Really hope the long wait has not turned people off from the Idea of my Story, And I really do intend to release more, Even if it takes me years, I want to complete this story.
This was it. This was Ruby's first official Day as Kamar Taj's newest Sorcerer-Apprentice and she was EXCITED! She kept hopping around, unable to even remotely contain herself, she was like an overcharged battery, and god forbid someone tells her to calm down.
"Calm down." Strange said, as if having broken the fourth wall to anticipate my Narration of the incident and purposely provoked a troublesome conversation. He himself sat down on a couch and drank a cup of tea while Ruby was opposite to him, keeping eye contact with him.
"But How do I do that?! I am so excited! I am finally gonna learn real Mysticism!"
Stephen slightly bit his lip to contain his own annoyance. He was more and more regretting that he accepted this cursed test of his patience. He used parts of his magic to restrain her arms and legs and bring her down to a kneeling position, which prompted her to calm down because she realized he would make her either way.
"Now, First we need to teach you the theory of all. The Knowledge and the know-how of Magic. What do you know about Magic?"
Ruby was humming out as she thought. She honestly didn't know all that much. She just knew that Magic was the force that operates outside of Logic. That it was what you would use, in an argument per say, if there was something you just could not explain whatsoever.
"I don't know..." She finally confessed, thinking it was a bad thing. Strange saw her lowering head and immediately moved himself to kneel before her and lift her head.
"First rule of Mysticism. No shame. Failure is one of the traits of Human nature no force in the universe can change that. You can't know everything and you most certainly can't do everything. Improve on the things you can do, learn the things you can know. Never waver in your capability to maximize what you Can do."
Ruby nodded, returning to her eager self and looked into strange's eyes with a strong look. Strange himself only gave a slight smile then started to slowly form a magical Circle. "Have you ever worked with a computer?" Ruby only shook her head to which Strange was thinking about how to formulate this then, if not in modern terms. Maybe...
"Alright, Then let me explain it like this. Each piece of Nature, every law, every fact, everything is like a Recipe to a Potion. Certain Ingredients must be met at certain amounts with the proper mixture and treating in order to create the right Potions. Noting that you are a Witch, you surely have learned that Recipes are final and cannot be edited unless you want to poison yourself to death."
Ruby nodded intently at everything the Sorcerer Supreme was saying and approved to his explanation of Potions. She indeed did learn that Recipes to each potion must be studied with utmost caution. Small mistakes could create big problems. Mass-genocide, ugly mutations or unwanted curses just because you poured 2 gramms of Rathair into the pot instead of 1.
"Now, Magic allows you to break some rules and Edit others. Certain recipes can be influenced by magic, which allows you to either rewrite ingredients, rewrite the entire recipe or create and undo potions without needing any ingredients or antidotes to begin with. Except those Recipes are a metaphor, and those rule-benchings apply to the very universe itself. Certain laws of nature can be bent, others broken, and a selected few can even be edited. Such as Gravity. With Magic, you can fly, heal wounds untreatable otherwise. One example, I know this man who permanently damaged his spine and was meant to be paralyzed for life. Magic allows him to walk despite his injury."
Ruby was amazed and surprised when she heard the last part. Magic truly was amazing, a paralyzed person being able to move the body parts that were permanently taken out of commision just because. And so much more was possible.
"However..." Strange resumed. "There are certain rules that must not be attempted to change. Laws of nature such as Balance between good and evil, or death. No power in the Universe can bring back the dead unless that power was the cause of it. If someone dies a natural death, then there is no way around it. Immortality is, and will always be, a myth to provoke the power-hungry and the desperate. Do not get tempted by promises."
Ruby understood once again. She thought about it for a moment and realized the good reference in this situation.
"So...kind of like the Jedi? Do not listen to the Dark side or you get seduced by it?"
"Now I know why Stark hates it when Parker makes pop culture movie references. Yes. It is like the light side and Dark side. Don't listen to what the dark side says. Do you know why?"
Ruby shook her head in response.
"Because it gives promises, but no guarantees. You COULD do, you COULD destroy, but that does not mean you WILL. Learning the difference between trust and certainty is key to remaining sane and rational when using Magic."
Ruby noted that in her mind as she kept listening and only then noticed that Strange had finished with the Magical Circle, thrusting his hands forward to make it erupt in a strong light. Ruby smiled widely and lifted her arms up in an attempt to replicate the Magical Circle, but to her surprise, BUT not to Strange's, she failed. Not even a single Line appeared in the air.
"Don't get frustrated. Despair will lead you to lose confidence which will tempt you to seek out power from the dark forces you cannot control. Keep trying until you get it. Read the books from the library, but stay away from those Wong tells you not to touch."
With that said, Strange just disappeared with the use of his Spacial replacement Magic, leaving Ruby on her own to keep her training.
After he left the main Room and made his way to the Library, he was halted by Wong who seemed to have a very concerned expression.
"Who would have thought that you of all people would ever take a student?"
Strange just scoffed and walked past Wong. "I have my reasons, my friend. She reminds me of myself in a way." Was his answer before he vanished around one of the bookshelf corners to see if there were any books he had yet to read.
Wong was not very convinced, but he would investigate later. For now he would keep tabs on Strange's apprentice.
Meanwhile at the Yokai Academy, Tsukune and the Driver were sitting in the principal's office to discuss Tenmei's last will. Apparently, one of his will's demands was that Tsukune is to be taught much harder so he could within one year become the next Principal.
"This is crazy" Tsukune said while leaning back in his seat. He was not really convinced he had it in himself to be principal, and so out of an instinctual reaction he denied that to be true. He couldn't be the next principal.
"Believe it, because this Will was written using a fracture of his own magic. It cannot be replicated or faked. This Will is the real deal kid. You're the successor."
Tsukune was beyond overwhelmed by this revelation. Out of all the things he could have been for this school, he had to be the newly appointed Principal. This was one road he knew he would get hurt at walking. "But are you sure I can do this? I don't even know how to lead a team, how am I expected to lead an entire school of kids?"
The Busdriver kept chuckling to himself in his own well-known low and sinister tone then turned to leave the Principal's office, waving goodbye to Tsukune. "You will figure it out. Incase needed, you can always get a coach appointed".
Tsukune frustrated himself over the thought, rubbing his forehead in the thought of the entire situation. "Aw man, what did I walk into this time"
Just when he thought things would not get more troublesome, the Principal's door was kicked open and Moka ran inside, followed by Kurumu and Ginei. "We have a problem. Ruby is missing"
Tsukune jumped from his seat and widened his eyes, worry washing over him. "What!? Where was she last seen?"
"We don't know! We have to find her" Kurumu said loudly and Gin tried to use his wolf-like nose to maybe trace her smell. "She is not in this realm, she must be with the humans!"
"Then the best way to find her is to ask the one who probably knows the human world best. But how do we find the Sorcerer?" Tsukune threw out, one hand resting on his chin as he was thinking. Then it occured to him.
"Maybe if Moka lets out enough vampiric power, he will sense the threat and come to us. But we should hurry!"
With the order given, the team of 4 rushed to the busstop where the busdriver would take them to the human world through the all too familiar tunnel in the mountain. As they traveled, they decided to spread out so Kurumu would be with Moka while Tsukune and Ginei would search possible locations. Due to the Tunnel's magical properties, and the still to be known powers of the driver, they somehow ended up out in New York, having exited one of the Tunnels from a nearby region then drove the rest of the way there.
"Something is off, They are back" Strange mumbled to himself as he got up from his seat, tossing his eyes towards north as if seeing through all walls which got a worried expression from Wong. After Strange went into the Library, he found some records about the old Civilization of Babylon and was fixiated with them, but because the book harnessed particularily deadly practices, even Strange was not permit to leave the Library and so he sat with Wong while reading it through.
"You think they came for their friend? I suspect she forgot to mention that her presence here was unnoted to them" Wong concluded and shook his head as if having predicted a bad omen from her just being there.
Strange only nodded and used his powers to disappear right before Wong's eyes, startling him as he always does.
"He has to stop doing this" Wong noted to himself and rubbed his temples in sheer annoyance. This was going so wrong in so many ways.
As if sending the arrival, the Busdriver immediately halted his vehicle right before getting off the Brooklyn Bridge. Since he just happened to be near a parking place which was made next to the Bridge in the aftermath of the second New York invasion - right before Thanos' arrival - the Busdriver decided to park just there and open the doors for the others to get out. Once exited, they saw the Sorcerer standing there, arms crossed, awaiting them already.
"I thought you gave me your word not to cause trouble anymore, and yet here you are trespassing into Human territory again while news about the Yokai reveal are still ongoing."
Tsukune stepped forth and gave the sorcerer an angry look in return. "We are looking for-"
"-Ruby, I know" Strange cut him off in his reply and opened a Sling Ring path right into the Sanctum Sanctorum which was where Ruby currently was training herself. "She is this way. She came on her own volition, so I invite you to hear it from herself"
It was hard to believe, but Tsukune nodded to the others and they all walked through, one by one, so they could meet Ruby and hear what she has to say about this. Once through, they saw her sitting there, reading a book while waving her hands in the air, creating what seemed to be the replica of a Magical circle, but no lights or anything, so it was just her hands at that moment.
"Ruby!" The four cried out and she got startled by their voices, jumping almost before then realizing who it was and ran to hug them all, cheering loudly.
"Why did you not tell us? We were really worried, we thought you got kidnapped" Moka spoke, her voice shaky from the emotional reunion. Ruby looked down while being hugged and sounded like she was nearly sobbing.
"Sorry, I was just so impressed I wanted to be a better witch and magic just sounded so cool to have and I-"
"We understand" Ginei said and pat her head to try and comfort her, ruffling her hair a bit as well. "But you should have told us. What if you were in danger?"
Ruby understood and nodded once again, smiling brightly at her friends and gave them a salute. "I will be save, Mister Doctor is training me really well!"
"It's Doctor Strange." The Sorcerer complained from the side and moved the Sling Ring-portal closer to the group and had waved them to go in. "And before we forget it, you have to return to your realm. I will supervise Ruby and will keep portals open so she will be residing within your world while she trains in mine."
The group understood and did as they were advised, giving Ruby their goodbyes before they left through the Portal which Strange closed behind him. However, despite them having been brought back to the Busdriver through the Portal, Strange felt that something was off.
"Ruby, Stay inside the Sanctum. I need to check on something" He announced and in the blink of an Eye, he was gone from her sight. She marveled at how cool that was and geeked out loudly, not even trying to hide the inner fangirl anymore. Much to her surprise, she was seen by Wong doing just that. He could only shake his head and sigh before leaving the room she was in again.
Strange was standing on the top of the Statue of Liberty, looking over the entire Area using his Sorcery. He was anxious, something he hadn't felt ever since he faced Thanos a good while ago, so he knew very well to be cautious and worried. Just when he was about to give up the search, he felt something behind him and immediately turned around, fists closed and the Sorcerer's Combat reinforcement spell was activated, coating his fists in a light, glowing gold. The usual shields he used often were pretty practical, but their size lowered mobility so Strange experimented a bit in order to make a more compact form of the Spell.
He looked at the person that stood now infront of him. It was a male from the more obvious traits, Long white hair, very bleachy face but there was something peculiar standing out. This person had very long and pointy Ears. They reached past the hair behind the male's head. Strange could only theorize what species it was, but knowing the living forms in the different Realms and Dimensions made classifying easier.
Strange kept observing his opposite. He wore a black armor from neck to toe, and althought it seemed like it was a form of light Armor, it looked sturdier than it should be. Before Strange could finish analysis, the Opposite drew a sword from their back and lunged themselves at Strange. He could narrowly dodge, but had to make a very large wave with his hand to balance himself. They were ontop of the Statue of Liberty and her head was not really big so they had limited Foothold.
"Who are you?" He asked while he took a step forward to close the gap, delivering a Punch to the Male's abdomen. He however tanked the hit with zero signs of Damage and punched Strange back, causing him to roll back and eventually fall down from the head of the Statue, forcing him to cast away the Combat Reinforcement and use his Sorcery to hover himself down so the landing would not hurt.
The Male who gave himself out as an enemy jumped down and landed with a Force strong enough to cause a crater which measured a good 10 Meters in diameter. The Male opened his mouth after the landing, attempting to speak.
"Sorcerer Supreme. This is our only warning. Do not interfere with what is about to happen. War is coming with the Yokai and we intent to end it along with them".
"I cannot let you do that. I stand as the Protector of all Realms and life. If you are intent to end life in order to save it then we have a disagreement". Was the response Strange gave. He prepared a spell to attack again, but before he could do so, the Male put his fists on his chest without crossing his arms and disappeared behind a Portal that opened behind him. Said Portal was a deep shade of Blue and Purple and had energy give it a fashionable decoration in form of waves.
Strange, taken aback by the disappearance, sighed out loudly before he looked around to make sure he was not seen. Once he verified that there were no witnesses, he returned to the Sanctuary, going straight for the Library where he stumbled upon Wong who was currently reading a Lecture.
"My old friend. We have a problem."
I am so godawfully sorry that this chapter took so long. I will try to keep the story updated, but I can not promise regularity for anything.