"How did you learn to do that?" Wong asked as suddenly Maria closed the necklace, she looked back at Mordo and Wong who looked at the couple with a shocked expression
"Where did you learn the litany of spells required to even understand it?" Mordo asked as Maria went close to Stephen and he intertwined their fingers together as he was ready to defend his wife for the yelling that they were going to get
"I've got a photographic memory. It's how I got my M.D. and Ph.D. at the same time. Maria is a quick learner but she practices until she gets it right, she's naturally good at everything when it takes practice and patient.. Although she can get easily frustrated at times" Stephen said looking at his wife with a smile as she nudged him
"What you just did takes more than a good memory or being a quick learner. You two were born for the mystic arts."
"And yet, my hands still shake and Maria can't have children"
"For now, yes." Wong spoke as Maria shook her head "Not forever?"
"We're not prophets." Mordo spoke as Wong took the necklace from Maria and placed it back where it was, Maria and Stephen walking towards the two men as Stephen spoke
"When do you start telling me what we are? I'm here training, The Ancient One is training Maria closely, I want to make sure my wife is safe and won't be in harms way"
"While heroes like the Avengers protect the world from physical dangers, we sorcerers safeguard it against more mystical threats." Wong said as suddenly he projected a couple of pictures in front of them as Maria looked in awe of everything and Wong nodded
"The Ancient One is the latest in a long line of Sorcerers Supreme Going back thousands of years to the father of the mystic arts, the mighty Agamotto... With his wife Lyanna protecting the world from the mystical threats until her sudden death, to this day we don't know why she died or how.. But Agamotto ever since vowed to protect the world until he reunited with her, she actually created the eye. The one you so recklessly borrowed." Wong spoke as Maria suddenly felt her heart racing at the thought of Lyanna..
"Agamotto and Lyanna built 3 Sanctums in places of power, where great cities now stand. That door leads to the Hong Kong Sanctum, that door to the New York Sanctum. That one, to the London Sanctum. Together, the Sanctums generate a protective shield around our world. The Sanctums protect the world, and we sorcerers protect the Sanctums." Wong spoke as Maria scowled "From what?"
"Other-dimensional beings that threaten our universe."
"Like Dormammu?" Stephen asked as Mordo raised an eyebrow
"Where did you learn that name?" Mordo asked, almost defensive and Maria frowned while Stephen spoke
"We've just read it in the book of Cagliostro. Why?" Stephen said as Mordo spoke
"Dormammu dwells in the Dark Dimension. Beyond time. He is the cosmic conquerer, the destroyer of worlds. A being of infinite power and endless hunger, on a quest to invade every universe and bring all worlds into his Dark Dimension. And he hungers for Earth most of all. The pages that Kaecilius stole. A ritual to contact Dormammu and draw power from the Dark Dimension." Wong spoke as Maria's eyes widen as she listened to what Wong was saying and she backed up shaking her head "No.. I can't do this"
"Uuuh… okay. Okay. I… time-out. We… We came here to heal my hands and Maria to have kids one day, not to fight in some mystical war." He spoke as he brought Maria closer "I'm not letting my wife fight in some war that doesn't involve her, she didn't ask for this.. I dragged her into this"
Maria snapped out of her thoughts as her and Stephen were running fast but it was no use as Kaecilius had more control in the Mirror Dimension and Maria with her best tried to move both of them but it was no use as Kaecilius just moved them back and he separated the two and he went after Maria and she tripped over a pipe that wrapped around her ankle and Kaecilius was over her now he created a sharp object with thin air
"It's a shame.. The Ancient One trained me as she's doing with you.. But I guess she saw I wasn't fit to be the next Supreme.. But tell me.. Mrs. Strange.. What makes you better than me?" He said as he was getting ready to stab her but all of a sudden Maria's floor piece was moved away and soon the steel around them was made into a circle and Stephen ran towards Maria and helped her up, clinging on to her tight
"You're okay" he whispered kissing her head as he saw she was shaking and Mordo went towards them and saw the mark on the Ancient One's forehead and frowned "It's true.. She draws power from the Dark Dimension.." He said as suddenly the Ancient One moved them away from her former apprentice and saw they started fighting
"Stephen.. I don't like this.. I don't want to do this" Maria whispered as Stephen looked down and kissed her head "I promise.. Once the Ancient One defeats him, we're packing our bags and leaving" He said as she stood there for a moment before sighing and she saw some of Kaecilius's people running after the Ancient One and Maria was ready to run after them but was yanked back by Mordo and Stephen once they both saw Kaecilius's trick and he stabbed the Ancient One using one of his people and Maria covered her mouth as she watched as Kaecilius kicked her through a portal and Maria suddenly with her cloak, teleported into the air.. Followed by Mordo and Stephen to try to catch the Ancient One.
"You understand the laws of nature. All things age. All things die. In the end, our sun burns out, our universe grows cold and perishes. But the Dark Dimension… it's a place beyond time. That's it. I'm putting this thing back on. This world doesn't have to die, Doctor. This world can take its rightful place among so many others, as part of the One. The great and beautiful One. And we can all live forever."
"Really? Because we aren't meant to live forever" Maria spoke as Kaecilius was in chains and Stephen was standing in front of his wife to protect her.
"What do you have to gain out of this New Age dimensional same as you. The same as everyone. Life. Eternal life. People think in terms of good and evil, but really, time is the true enemy of us all. Time kills everything. What about the people you killed? Tiny, momentary specks within an indifferent universe. Yes. You see, you see what we're doing? The world is not what it ought to be. Humanity longs for the eternal, for a world beyond time, because time is what enslaves us. Time is an insult. Death is an insult. Doctor… We don't seek to rule this world. We seek to save it, to hand it over to Dormammu, who is the intent of all evolution, the Why of all existence. The Sorcerer Supreme defends existence. What was it that brought you to Kamar-Taj, Doctors? Was it enlightenment? Power? You came to be healed, as did we all. Kamar-Taj is a place that collects broken things. We all come with the promise of being healed, but instead, the Ancient One gives us parlor tricks. The real magic she keeps for herself. Have you ever wondered how she managed to live this long?"
"We… We saw the rituals in the book of Cagliostro.. We've read it" Stephen said as Kaecilius nodded as he sighed
"So, you know. The ritual gives me the power to overthrow the Ancient One and tear her Sanctums down, to let the Dark Dimension in. Because what the Ancient One hoards, Dormammu gives freely. Life, everlasting. He is not the destroyer of worlds, Mr. and Mrs. Strange, he is the savior of worlds."
"No. I mean, come on. Look at your face. Dormammu made you a murderer. Just how good can his kingdom be?" Stephen asked as Maria sighed "We don't believe in Dormammu's way.. We aren't made to live forever, I already know how I want to spend my life and that's with Stephen and my family.. I will do anything to protect them." Kaecilius laughed "You.. Mrs. Strange, I can see maybe why the Ancient One likes you.. It's because you have heart, and that's the worst part of you.. Because one day that'll destroy you"
"Christine!" Stephen called as Maria and him were running through the hallways of the hospital, The Ancient One in a stretcher as nurses and doctors were pushing her. Maria started calling for her sister and as soon as Christine heard her sister's voice, she ran as fast as she could
"Maria! Are you oka-" She stopped as she saw the Ancient One was broken and bloody as she froze "Oh my god.." She whispered as Christine ordered for the stretcher to be placed in an emergency surgery room
"No fibrillation." Stephen said as Maria went towards the Ancient One and frowned "Stay with us.. Just please" She whispered as she moved away quickly as the doctors began working on her and it looked like Stephen wanted to help but his hands were shaking..
"Nick" He called as Nick came towards him and he handed Nick a knife "We need to relieve the pressure on her brain." He said as Nick looked shocked at first but nodded, Maria went towards Stephen and she grabbed on to her hand tight as they heard the heart monitor going crazy before starting to flat line
"We're losing her! You need to increase her oxygen!" Christine panicked as Maria heard other voices and she felt like she was shaking
"I need a crash cart!"
"Her pupils are dilated! No reflexes."
"I'm not reading any brain activity."
Maria and Stephen looked over at the screen and saw it started going crazy as Maria and Stephen looked at each other before focusing and soon they were in their astral form. Maria looked back and saw her and Stephen were falling slowly.. She looked over and saw the Ancient One was floating away and her and Stephen floated after her
"What are you doing? You're dying!" Stephen said as Maria called towards her "Get back in your body!" She called as they saw she stopped at the balcony
"You don't have time." Maria whispered as The Ancient One smiled softly as she looked at the thunder happening and then soon a bolt of lighting
"Time is relative. Your bodies hasn't even hit the floor yet. I've spent so many years peering through time, looking at this exact moment. But I can't see past it. I've prevented countless terrible futures. And after each one, there's always another. And they all lead here, but never further." The Ancient One spoke as Maria frowned as her and Stephen were floating beside the Ancient One as well
"You think this is where you die." Stephen said as Maria shook her head "You can't leave.. You just can't, we need you here.. I need you" Maria spoke as the Ancient One smiled at Maria
"I'm so glad I found you, you were the best apprentice I could ever ask for.. You are still learning but growing strong. But now I must go, and that means I name you.. The next Sorceress Supreme" The Ancient One looked over at Maria. Maria looked at her mentor and shook her head "I can't.. I'm not as strong as you, I'm still learning.. I'm not good enough, it should be Stephen.. Not me" Maria whispered with tears in her eyes as The Ancient One looked at the couple
"Do you wonder what I see in your future?" She asked as Stephen shook his head at first, but Maria knew deep inside.. He wanted to know
"No." He whispered as The Ancient One looked at him with an amused look and Stephen coughed and looked down "Yes."
"I never saw your future. Only its possibilities. You have such a capacity for goodness. You two always excelled, but not because you crave success, but because of your fear of failure.. On being doctors and the futures that you had your daughter.. You wanted to be good parents but in the end, you two failed your marriage."
Stephen and Maria looked at each other in shock as they heard what their future might have been if their daughter was alive and Stephen shook his head "I would have still loved Maria, I would have been a great father to my daughter. It's what made me a great doctor.. The fear of failure"
"It's precisely what kept you from greatness. Arrogance for you Stephen and fear for you Maria still keep you from learning the simplest and most significant lesson of all."
"Which is?" Maria asked as The Ancient One spoke "It's not about you. When you first came to me, you asked me how I was able to heal Jonathan Pangborn. I didn't. He channels dimensional energy directly into his own body." She said as Maria looked shocked as she shook her head, not believing what her mentor was saying
"He uses magic to walk." She whispered as The Ancient One chuckled "Constantly. He had a choice, to return to his own life or to serve something greater than himself."
"So, I could have my hands back again? We can use Magic to help Maria get pregnant.. Our old lives?" Stephen whispered as Maria covered her mouth with a hand as she began crying.. She had the choice to have children..? She had a choice to be a mother once again? She and Stephen could have babies.. Just like she wanted to.
"You could. And the world would be all the lesser for it. I've hated drawing power from the Dark Dimension. But as you well know, sometimes one must break the rules in order to serve the greater good." The Ancient One spoke as Stephen shook his head
"Mordo won't see it that way."
Mordo's soul is rigid and unmovable, forged by the fires of his youth. He needs your flexibility and Maria's love and hope, just as you need his strength. Only together do you stand a chance of stopping Dormammu.
"I'm not ready.." Stephen spoke as Maria shook her head "I'm not ready to be the Supreme.. I can't do this"
"No one ever is. We don't get to choose our time. Death is what gives life meaning. To know your days are numbered, your time is short... But you know what I saw in one of your futures that I hope comes true?" The Ancient One spoke as Maria and Stephen were quiet as she spoke
"I saw two beautiful little twin girls.. Running around the garden of our home.. Enjoying life and each other, causing some trouble with Wong.. But then I heard a voice calling them and they ran towards that voice.. One looked like her father with her mother's hair color while the other looked like her mother with her father's hair color.. I saw a pair of hands picking one up while another pair picks up the other and I saw you two.. Loving your daughters, and the best part was.. You two looked so happy and in love. I hope that future comes true for you two" She whispered as Stephen and Maria looked at each other and they were both in tears.. Their daughters.. They would have two babies one day if they wanted it.
"You'd think after all this time I'd be ready. But look at me, stretching one moment out into a thousand, just so I can watch the snow." She whispered as suddenly her eyes went dark as she looked at Maria and she could finally tell her.. The sign that she got.
"The stars are dying.. Blood flowing through the galaxy, screams could be heard throughout the universe.. The stones will cause Death to rise and the Three must come together from Death being courted and the universe from being destroyed"
With that.. The Ancient One disappeared. Maria's heart pounding as she heard The Ancient One's final words.. The Stones..? Death will rise? Who are the Three?
Author's Note:
Woah, I can finally write the Thor story now that the Ancient One's words have been spoken!
I'm so sorry if I'm rushing through the story, I know I skipped a lot in the last chapter that's why I wrote flashback scenes but I will be coming back to edit and add more to this story.
So Maria and Stephen could have kids! Twins at that!
What do you think of the New IW trailer? Looks like Stephen is in real trouble with Ebony Maw and that means Maria isn't far behind
What do you think of the Ancient One's final words ? What could they mean?
Leave reviews and until next time!