Chapter Five

"What the hell?!" He yelled at her, back inside the temple. She smirked, as she called for someone to show Strange to his room.

"That storm wasn't my doing." She said calmly.

"Well no duh. You want me to believe that you're some kinda wizard? I'm a genius, lady. You spiked my tea." He said, crossing his arms. "Just give me a bed and leave me alone."

"Very well," She said, as Drumm appeared, bowing before her. "show our guest to his bed." Drumm nodded, walking off, Strange following him.

"So, she's some kind of nutjob?" Strange said angrily, as Drumm led Strange to a small room, a comfortable bed being lit by a single candle.

"No." He said as Strange entered the room. Drumm closed the door, leaving Strange alone in the room. He mumbled to himself, slumping on the bed, as his exhaustion quickly overtook him. For the first time in a long, long time, Strange slept peacefully. No nightmares, no memories of his mother, no pain. He slept, and slept, without dreams or without emotions. He rested.

A light knock on the door brought the doctor out of his slumber, his eyes slowly opening, as he remembered where he was.

"Mr. Strange," the Ancient One's voice said through the door. "The storm has passed. You're welcome to leave at any time, but I ask that you listen to my council before you depart." Strange said nothing for a moment, sighing.

"I'll be there." He responded, groaning as he got out of bed, stretching. He walked out the door, the warm sun greeting him as it shone through the stained glass windows. People walked around, talking among each other. Strange followed the path to the Ancient One's room, peeking his head through. The Ancient One was sitting in her chair, waiting for him.

"I'm glad you came, Mr. Strange." She said, standing up.

"Well...I'm curious." He said. The Ancient One smiled.

"I would wish to teach you the ways of magic."

"That wasn't magic…" He said.

"You believe what I showed you was fake?" She asked.

"I...don't know." He responded, scratching his neck. "It doesn't make sense."

"Not everything does. Not everything has to, Mr. Strange." She said wisely.

"I'm a surgeon, a man of science. You want me to believe that? And...it's...Doctor, actually."

"You think you know how the world works? You think this material universe is all there is?" She responded.

"Obviously." He said, knowingly. "You gonna tell me there's something in a galaxy far, far away, right?" The Ancient One looked sternly.

"Not a galaxy, Mr. Strange. Realms. Dimensions."

"So you're some religious nutjob?" He asked.

"No. I am someone who knows more than anyone else. What if I told you the reality you live in is one of many?" Strange laughed at this.

"So you're saying there's places like hell? Heaven?"

"Similar places exist, yes."

"Prove it." Strange retorted.

The Ancient One sighed, reaching her hand out, her fingers moving in intricate ways. Strange stared at her, not saying a word, as a mist began to flow from her hand. Electricity crackled around her, and her eyes began to shimmer silver.

"I give to you, Beverly Strange." She said, strained. Strange's eyes widened, as his jaw dropped.

"W-what…? How…? How?! How do you know that name?!" He yelled, his voice shaking.

"S-stephen..?" A voice called from the eerie mist, which now filled the room.

"Mom...?" Strange asked, his eyes wide with fear, looking at the Ancient One who concentrated.

"Is...it really you Stephen..?" The voice said again. "Oh...look at you...you're all grown up..."

"Mom, how are you...how are you doing this?" He said, focusing his voice to the Ancient One.

"One of the many dimensions that inhabit the multiverse. Accessible though hard to reach, there is one where the spirits of the fallen may go." She said.

"Mom, how do I find you?"

"I..I don't know Stephen, I don't know what anything is...where am I..." Her voice began to fade.

"M-mom!" He yelled, moving through the mist as the Ancient One's hands began to move smoothly, flowing through the air as the mist began to subside.

"It's okay son…" The voice said as it dissipated. Strange gasped angrily.

"Bring her back! Now!" He screamed. The Ancient One shook her head.

"To bring back someone I have no connection with is impossible, Mr. Strange. Simply summoning her soul was straining. If you wish to speak with her, you'll have to learn the Mystic Arts." She said. Strange gasped in desperation as he fell to his knees, his face in his hands. He looked up at the Ancient One, who stood before him, looking at his disheveled face, his beard messy and unkempt, and his hair crazed, the sides of his head being covered in lighter, silverish hair, also messed up. He stared into the Ancient One's eyes, desperate and wanting.

"Teach me!" he said, begging. The Ancient One smiled.

"With pleasure, Doctor Strange."

Hello my lovely viewers! I know this chapter is a bit shorter, but that's intentional. This is very pivotal to the story, and I wanted to keep it to what it is: Strange's introduction of magic. The next chapter will be a bit of his training, and then a TIME JUMP. Yes, as in "training is hard to write because '"He read a book for 6 hours"' doesn't make for an interesting chapter" time jump. From here on out, it'll be completely original, no old stories or inspirations, and I have to say, I'm proud of the plot point I have. Please, if you enjoyed, review, follow and favorite, and stay tuned for the next chapter of Doctor Strange: Redemption!

-Darth Ganon