Season Two

Four

Renewal

Chapter One

Bizarre.

Was that the proper word?

Doctor Stephen Strange wasn't sure.

What words could possibly describe Thanos, or the 'Snap'?

Or, in fact, everything that led up to it?

The abruptness, the unexpectedness, of it all?

Battling aliens, and, battling on, alien planets.

The horrifying knowledge of defeat, destruction. The inability to do anything about it, except to allow it to happen.

To enable it...to happen.

Desperately hoping, as he dusted away into an ebony cloud of dreamless sleep, that Tony Stark would actually figure it out.

Jolting awake from that years long slumber, to be immediately be thrown into a battle that would, yet again, decide the fate of their cosmos.

And the victory, which had come at a terrible cost.

Stephen hung the dark suit back into the armoire that held his clothes, feeling as if he didn't have the strength to stand straight.

With a deep sigh, he sat on the edge of his bed, shoulders slumped, staring at the floor.

Despite the fact they hadn't been friends, really, had been barely acquainted, attending Tony's funeral had been one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do.

Coming back here, to the New York Sanctum Sanctorum, had been almost as difficult.

Outside, the world fought to regain a sense of normalcy after five years of...well, the disappearance of half the population of the known universe, and then, the abrupt return of it.

While Wong was back at Kamar-Taj, attempting to keep up with training the surge of new apprentices, Stephen was struggling to decide if this job was something that he could ever do, again.

There came a soft whisper of sound, and his beloved Cloak Of Levitation swirled onto his shoulders, offering a gentle embrace.

As always, Stephen couldn't help but smile, despite an unexpected rush of tears.

'Ah, my friend,' he murmured, stroking the soft crimson folds on his forearm,

'Where do we go, from here?'

Cloak gave a little ruffle, carefully brushed away his tears. then, after a moment,

produced a dusty envelope from its folds, handed it to Stephen.

It was addressed to him, but had clearly been sitting, unopened, for some time. The paper was sun faded, as was the ink.

Intrigued, he opened it, unfolded the letter.

It was dated, in the upper right corner, a few months after the 'Snap', written in a woman's hand.

'Stephen;

I have every confidence that, one day, when all this chaos sorts itself out, you'll return home, to New York.

When you do, I would love to have you join me, at the London Sanctum, for that cup of tea.

Perhaps both of us will be in dire need of some reassuring words, from a friend.

I anxiously await that day.

All my best,

Master Jade.'

Stephen read, re-read, the brief message, and a gave another sigh, but, this time, he chuckled, shook his head, squared his shoulders.

Stood, looked out the window, at the glorious blue sky, streaked with clouds.

Listened to the bustle of traffic, comfortingly familiar.

'Everything old, is new again,' he nodded, and Cloak gave a vigorous swirl of agreement.

'Time to visit an old friend,' he said, and swirled up a portal to London.

Wow. it seems an eternity since I've posted anything for you all, and I apologize. I hope everyone has survived all the events of End Game and are looking forward to what new things are in store for us!

one of those things is NEW CLOAK AND DOCTOR STRANGE ADVENTURES! This short story will roll us in to the new generation of Marvel, and I have a pretty cool story that I've been thinking on for quite some time that I'm pretty excited to tell. I'll be posting new artwork for it in connection with chapter one.

PLEASE R&R this story, gang! I read and treasure all feedback!