Chapter Six

Strange was given his robes, a dull grey color, that tightly hugged his body, leaving tails of fabric hanging around his waist, and he cut his hair, to a more regular haircut, and shaving his beard into a neat goatee. He sat down in the Ancient One's personal quarters, as she lit candles around him. She said nothing, as Strange shifted awkwardly.

"Uh...where do we start?" He asked.

"We start," said the Ancient Once, sitting down a few feet in front of him, facing him.

"With a word:" She put her hands up.

"Magic."

Her hands shifted, and before Strange's very eyes, a flame appeared in the air, crafting itself into a complex design, thin lines of bright energy weaving in and out between other lines. Strange's eyes lit up in shock.

"Through The Mystic Arts," she said, waving her hand, as the projection changed, becoming flat, and circular, weaving closer together, before expanding around Strange and herself, creating a shield-like bubble. "we harness energy, and shape reality." She moved her hands again, in a circular motion, the shield turning to a ring of fire, flames crackling loudly. Strange saw through the circle, a bright sky shining through it, as if a doorway to somewhere else. The Ancient One motioned for Strange to walk through it, and he did, breathtakingly staring as he suddenly was on a mountain snow and wind blowing in his face, the snow beneath his boots crunching, the circle acting as a door to the top of a mountain.

"How...?"

"We travel great distances, in an instant." She said, walking through the portal and back into her room. Strange stared at the sky, before stumbling back through the portal and into the warmth of her room once again.

"S-slow down...I'm not used to not knowing so much...what do you do?"

"We help defend this world against those who would claim it as their own." She said, lowering her hands, the magic leaving the room. "We keep reality itself held together, and keep the layers of the universe from overlapping."

"How?" Strange asked.

"Magic." She responded. "Using one's own energies to access a higher power. To defend. As a surgeon, you saved thousands. As a Master of the Mystic Arts, there are other ways to save lives."

"How do I do that?" Strange asked, looking at his hands. "My hands barely work."

"Focus on the energy around you." She said, moving behind him, holding his hand up, moving his hands to a certain position, his fingers in a particular place. "Those who do not believe in the power of one's self will fail at accessing this power. You have seen other realms, now you will begin your journey to the others. Focus on the energy before you, and imagine a circle of fire, like the one I showed you. Focus." She said, as Strange closed his eyes, breathing heavily.

"Focus..." He said, breathing heavily. He envisioned the flame, circling at the speed of sound, the sparks being let off of it flying wildly. The Ancient One smiled.

"Surprising." She said, Strange opening his eyes, as, to his amazement, a small circle of flames floated above his hand.

"This will be interesting." She said.


Under the training of the Ancient One, Strange excelled in his classes and his learning, quickly climbing through the ranks to become a respected master at Kamar-Taj. Usually spending hours on end in the Mystic library, absorbing vast amounts of new information on spells and techniques, desperately searching for spells to resurrect his mother. Over the course of two years, he became a powerful sorcery, mastering advanced spells and incantations, earning the title "Master of the Mystic Arts" faster than any other student in history, and being considered one of the most powerful students ever. His personality changed, focusing on helping the other students, who he now taught, rather than helping himself, giving up on his attempt to bring his mother back. His attire matched his status, a deep blue tunic wrapped tightly around him. He taught a class on defensive spells, teaching students to block high level spells with shields and deflections, and took great pride in his work, feeling as if he had become more than the selfish person he was before. He had beaten every master save for Drumm and the Ancient One in combat, cementing his status as a fighter as well, earning him the ability to teach many classes.

"I want you to focus on your chakra, and meditate as long as you can, until you're able to Astral Project." Strange said as he strode through the stone halls of Kamar-Taj, making his way to the Ancient One, who summoned him. He entered her room, noting her serious face as she spoke with Drumm.

"Ah, Strange." She said. "Come, we have very important matters to discuss." Strange walked over to them, greeting Drumm.

"What is it?" He asked.

"In these last two years," The Ancient One began. "I have explicitly not allowed you to go on any field missions, instead telling you to focus on your learning. This is for a very specific reason; it would be a waste." She said.

"A waste?" He asked, curiously.

"The power you wield is very special. You are very special, Doctor Strange." She said back. "The possibilities of your powers are endless. You are to be the next Sorcerer Supreme." She said calmly. His eyes widened.

"What?" He said in surprise. "But that title is for-"

"Only the most powerful Sorcerer." Drumm said. The Ancient One nodded.

"My time is coming to an end." She said, solemnly. "I spent years, peering through time, looking for my successor. For you."

"I-I don't understand..." Strange said. "I'm just a surgeon."

"Not anymore, Doctor Strange." She said. "You've seen other worlds, other realities. You've traveled between these barriers between dimensions, and you have opened your eye to a bigger universe. And now, it will be widened." She waved her hand, the barrier of reality bending, a view of a clearly old building, a window near the top, in the shape of a magic symbol.

"177A Bleecker Street." Said the Ancient One. Strange's eyebrow rose.

"I've seen that before, it's-"

"The Sanctum Sanatorium." She said. "A very powerful building in New York, a place where multiple dimensions overlap."

"Yes, I've read about it." Strange said. "Years ago, the Masters of the Mystic Arts sealed it with a powerful shielding spell, right?"

"Correct." She said. "Jericho and I were two of those masters. We knew the importance of this location, and sealed it, for what we thought would be forever. We were wrong."

"The seal is waning." Drumm said. "Someone has been attacking it stealthily, and the shield is weakening. We wish you to investigate the building, in order to find who has harmed it." Strange nodded.

"But, the stakes are higher than even that." Drumm continued. "The assaulter has taken the Reality Stone, one of the all powerful universal weapons, capable of undoing all of reality." Strange's eyes widened.

"You want me to obtain it?" He said, worried. The Ancient One nodded.

"You're the only one here besides Jericho and I who can. And we must remain here for now, this mission is destined for you." Strange nodded, turning to leave.

"But," began the Ancient One. "I encourage you to visit your friends. You've earned it." Strange nodded.

"Thank you, Master." He said, waving his hands, a portal opening before him, as he stepped through it, breathing in heavily as he entered New York.

The Ancient One looked at Drumm.

"It's Mordo. I can feel it." She said.

"Are you sure? Strange might-"

"I trust in his abilities. He excelled quickly, and he will adapt quickly as well."


"Hey asshole!" Said a voice from behind him. Strange turned, to see himself in the middle of traffic, a man in his car yelling at him. Strange stuttered.

"I'm sorry, I-"

"Comic Con's over you freak!" He said, mentioning Strange's odd attire. Strange frowned at the man, stepping onto the sidewalk as the man continued cursing Strange, as Strange walked away, down the street.

"Good to be home.." He said sarcastically. He looked around him, taking in the cold air of New York, remembering the streets he used to frequent. He made his way down the sidewalk, gaining looks of confusion, as he walked towards an old friend's house.

He knocked on the door, awkwardly waiting as he glanced up at the house, waiting. The door opened, a familiar face greeting him.

"Strange?!" Wong said, in surprise. Strange smiled. "Y-you're alive?!"

"Long time no see, my friend."


"We thought you had died, it was all over the news." Wong said, preparing tea. Strange shook his head.

"No, in Nepal I did meet the Ancient One, and she taught me to open my eyes to powers I couldn't have imagined existed."

"So….you joined a cult?" Wong said, handing Strange a cup of tea, his wife beside him with their young daughter, who curiously looked at Strange.

"It's not a cult, it's...an group of extraordinary people." Strange said. "Allow me to show you what they've shown me." He took the cup of tea, waving his hand over it, as it changed, inverting into a kaleidoscopic puddle, before forming into a beautiful flower. Strange handed it to their daughter.

"For you." He said, smiling. Wong's eyes widened.

"How did you…?" He asked.

"Magic." Strange responded simply.

"You've become a hero?" Wong's wife said. Strange's brow narrowed.

"Not quite. I don't have the cape, or the fancy name. I'm just Stephen Strange, with fantastic powers."

"So you need a name?" Wong said. "How about….Mr. Fantastic!" He said, as Strange chuckled.

"I don't think that'll fit me." He said with a laugh, standing up. "I'm afraid I am here on a mission, but I promise to visit you again." He said. "It was nice meeting you two." He said to Wong's wife and daughter.

"Three." She corrected him, placing her hand on her stomach. Strange smiled.

"I'll look forward to it."


Strange stood in front of the address he was given, looking up at the old building. He opened the door, it creaking as his boot landed on the wooden floor. He looked around. It was surprisingly clean, the many display cases shining in the light of the windows. Strange carefully walked through the building, his senses ringing out as he felt through the universe, feeling for other people, as he made his way to the bottom of a set of stairs.

"That won't work, Mr. Strange." Said a voice from above him. Strange's eyes shot up, glowing as his hands moved expertly, a shield appearing in front of him as he held his hand out. Atop the stairs, stood a tall man, his deep black beard contrasting his pale skin. He wore dark green robes, and a black cape that wrapped around him.

"Who are you?" Strange said, alarmed. The man smirked.

"Baron Mordo. The one you are looking for." He said, walking down the stairs calmly.

"You? You stole the Stone?" Strange asked, moving backwards.

"Yes. And you coming here to stop me was a foolish plan of the Ancient One." He said, pointing his hand at Strange. His eyes widened, putting his own hands up in defense as a blast of energy shot from Mordo's hands, knocking Strange back as it shattered his shield. Strange shot back, shooting a red flame from his hands, which Mordo deflected easily.

"I suppose she told you that you were to be her successor?" He said, moving towards Strange as he backed up against a covered display case. "Lies. The Ancient One will never give up her power. And that is where I come in. She hasn't told you, has she?" He said calmly to Strange, who breathed heavily as he pressed his back against the case.

"Should she have?" He said. Mordo's eyes flared in rage.

"Well, Mr. Strange, seeings as I was set to replace her, I am important. And since I am to destroy her, you'll want to know of me. I am-" Strange shot his hands up, blasting Mordo in the face as he stood up.

"I don't care."

Mordo looked at Strange with pure anger, his hand rising to kill him, but the glass behind Strange shattered, a flash of red shooting past Strange, wrapping around Mordo, flinging him into a wall, before flying back to Strange, picking him up and flying him through the building, and out a window, landing him safely on the sidewalk below. Strange yelled, as the fabric moved, forming into a cape behind him, as Mordo shot out of the building, hovering far above it.

"So the Cloak of Levitation likes you does it? No matter!" He took out the Stone, a small, glowing blue orb that radiated power, lifting it above his head. Suddenly, a surge of energy poured from it, circling around the building, creating a barrier, cars stopping in the road to gasp at the event. Mordo laughed angrily.

"All is revealed!" He said, as the stone glowed brightly, the symbol in the window of the Sanctum began to glow, the air around the building kaleidoscopically folding in on itself, the reality warping as portals began to open. Strange put his hands together, muttering an incantation as he shot a powerful spell at Mordo, but to no avail, the stone creating a shield around him. Strange gasped, as Mordo prepared his own counter, but stopped, Strange hearing the familiar sound of a portal opening behind him.

"Enough, Mordo." The Ancient One's voice called, Strange turning to see her. "Whoever your master is will back down, or he will be backed down." Mordo laughed.

"You think I can't overpower you? You are no longer the Master!" He said, the stone glowing again, as a barrier of fire covered the Sanctum. Strange turned to the Ancient One.

"Anything you want to fill me in on?!" He said. She turned to him.

"He is a failed student, attempting to allow a demon access to this world. Doctor Strange, while you may not understand it, the real fight starts now. I'm sorry this is sudden, but we need you to defend this world. Will you aid me?" She asked.

"Always." He responded.

WOAH SUPER BIG CHAPTER YEEEEH

But seriously, that was big. A LOT went down, this definitely being the big driving chapter of the story. I'd say there are...4-5 chapters left, max, with a lot going down in the coming chapters. Like...a lot. A LOT. Please, tell me what you think by reviewing it! And stay tuned for the next Chapter of Doctor Strange: Redemption!

(Be mindful, this is Strange's first fight, so it may go quickly...just a warning. ;) )

-Darth Ganon