It was bright. So bright that he had a feeling that if the situation around him was a normal one, he'd be in the throes of one of the worst headaches ever. As it was, though, he didn't feel any discomfort. He didn't feel anything, really. He just saw the light, and seemed to be floating, waiting. It would have frightened him, this nothingness around him and the fact that he knew, deep within, that something was wrong, if not for the comforting presence of the Mind stone nearby.
He remembered the sanctum. Remembered the relics going crazy, and the cloak coming around him as there was an explosion, and in the back of his consciousness he could feel the ever-present contact of the Mind stone. Even closer than it normally was; more intimate than it could be with him if situations were different. This close to its presence, and Peter knew that the thing's sheer power would have killed him by then. But it wasn't even hurting him. It was just there, and it seemed to be waiting – although he wasn't sure, initially, what it was waiting for.
Even more. This stone wasn't alone. As he waited with it, Peter realized that beyond the subdued power of the Mind stone, he could feel another stone. One even more powerful. One that made him shiver – not with fear, but with a certainty that this one's energy was potent enough to kill him, even though he couldn't seem to feel the magic in the same way, here, where he was waiting.
Soul, came the unprompted answer in his mind.
Peter didn't understand, and he felt a gentle amusement from both stones at his obtuseness. There was the sensation of a conversation. A communication between the two powerful entities and a form of understanding. Suddenly, the world wasn't all white and brightness. And suddenly, he wasn't alone any more.
He recognized her immediately, even though they'd never met in person. Only in a dream. Beautiful, hairless and with a timeless expression of knowledge on her face, she walked up to him, dressed in brilliant white robes. He looked down at himself, and found that he was wearing sweats and a t-shirt – equally bright white.
"Peter…"
Her voice held the wisdom of entire worlds, and the boy knew that he should be afraid, or respectful, at least. He was too confused to be either, however.
"Ancient One."
She smiled.
"Stephen has explained who I am since our last encounter."
"Yes. You were his teacher."
"I was. But now I'm here for you."
"Where are we?"
"The Astral plane." She smiled, again, as if understanding that the answer wasn't truly an answer, for him. "It is a place – a different dimension, or location – where a person's soul can go when separated from their corporeal form."
"So, I'm dead?"
"No. With training, concentration – or even with the right herbs – one can walk the Astral plane without the need for their bodies to die."
"I don't have any of those."
"No. But you are unique, Peter. Your ability to connect with the stones of power has put you in a fascinating predicament. And in terrible danger. Which is why I'm here."
"Are you an angel, then? To lead me forward?"
He'd seen enough movies to know all about the bright light, and the tunnel – although he didn't see a tunnel, anywhere. The thought of being dead would have been devastating if he was able to think hard enough to actually consider it. Not for himself; Peter had nearly died several times, really, and wasn't too afraid. He was thinking more of those who would be left behind. The people who loved him. It was a hurt that he wouldn't want to make anyone go through.
Besides, he had a lot that he still wanted to see – and he hadn't even had a chance to attend his first bachelor party.
The Ancient One shook her head.
"My time is short. The soul stone has allowed my release long enough to speak with you, but it is finite."
"I'm in danger, you said?"
"You remember what happened at the sanctum?"
"An explosion."
"A convergence of magic," she confirmed. "With an awesome and terrible reaction in your case. One that should have destroyed you in one form or another."
"I don't understand."
"I know. Listen well, Peter, because you'll need to be ready when the time comes."
"Okay."
"Because of the convergence in the sanctum, you now exist in two forms. In two very different states. Here, you are sixteen. You have your memories. You conscious. Your soul – mostly. On Earth, where the others are, you are now a child."
"What?"
"A child. A toddler, to be precise. That form is also you, but to protect you – and him – the Mind stone separated the two of you at the time of the convergence. Your thoughts and soul and Mind came here, where it could be cushioned from the blow, and the child left behind was provided only the memories needed to keep him from being terrified in his reality. And he carries the remainder of your soul. Which is where the danger lies."
"I have two souls?"
"No. You have one. At the moment, because of the power of the stones that are connected to you – and to each other – your soul is being shared by two forms."
"How is that possible?"
"Through the Soul stone, almost anything is possible. But there is a great strain, even with the power of the stones involved. If the situation isn't resolved, eventually, the soul will have to be brought together, again, in order to preserve it. You'll both die."
"What do I do?"
"You're the catalyst, Peter. The Mind stone doesn't know what happened – no intellects were there for it to see, other than your own and the Cloak of Levitation – so it doesn't know what relic caused the problem. Stephen and Wong are working on that. When – if – they find the cause, the Mind stone will find the solution, if one exists, and will allow you to cast the spell to make things right, again."
"So I'll be back with Tony?"
"Yes."
"What about the baby me?"
"He's you. He'll be there, too, only he won't be in physical form."
"Oh. How long has it been?"
It felt like years, but he had a feeling that time was a bit skewed where he was.
"A matter of days, so far. Time is growing short, however, so be ready to strike when the window is opened."
"I will. Thank you."
She smiled, and he was surprised when she hugged him.
"Good luck, Peter."
She vanished, and the area grew intensely bright once again.
The boy hesitated, and then reached his mind toward the familiar stone, opening himself up to it completely since it didn't hurt him to do so, here. He felt the thing embrace him, and through that embrace, he could feel the other stone. The soul stone. Even more; linked to him at that one moment, he could feel others – not as powerful as the soul stone, but still infinitely more vast than one small boy. He closed his eyes, allowing their touch, and waited for the time to be right.
OOOOOO
"Is he still awake?"
Tony nodded, looking over the toddler in his lap, still resting against his raised up knees, and watching as Pepper sat down on the other end of the sofa. She was dressed in jeans and a sweater, clearly awake and ready to start her day. Peter looked over at her, as well, and smiled, still clutching the doll in his hand, but no longer clinging to Tony.
"I don't think that he's slept at all."
"Have you?"
"No. I almost fell asleep once, but he stood up in my lap and jolted me awake."
Pepper smiled.
"Poor baby."
"We didn't want kids, anyway, right?"
She reached her arms to Peter.
"Are you hungry?"
"No."
He ducked his head, turning away from her just long enough to let her know that he didn't want a change of holders, and Stark shrugged.
"I could eat. I bet if we feed him something and stuff him, he'll sleep for a while, too."
"It's worth a try."
He got up, with Peter clutching his shirt for balance and the soggy doll for comfort, and went over to the table, with Pepper following. The boy was willing to be let go and assisted into the highchair, and he watched them both, once more shoving the doll in his mouth.
"We're going to have to wash that thing," Tony pointed out.
"Definitely." She got up and kissed him, running her fingers along the stubble on his jaw, lovingly. "I'll go order breakfast. Coffee?"
"Please."
"Coffee!"
Stark smiled, and shook his head.
"How about milk?"
"Yeah."
