A/N:

Originally, this fanfic was supposed to be satire that explored a little more of character depth, but I had a little change of heart. This story is heavily influenced by a lot of pop culture reference, several great fanfics, and Sam Raimi's style in MOM. Enjoy.

2012

New York

Her feet pounded on the pavement as she avoided running into other pedestrians who were running the opposite of her. Despite the screeching sounds of the sirens emitting from the emergency vehicles and the screams and cries from the panicked citizens of New York, all she heard was her heart pounding through her ears. There were explosions coming from these creatures in the sky. She could not understand any of it and quite frankly she had one thing in mind. Her mother.

"Get out of my way!" She hurled herself away from others who kept shoving her in the opposite direction. She then braced herself as she saw police tape in the way. She knows how this looks. Insanity a young woman rushing into the chaos. She ducked so she would not run into the tape, and she heard an officer shouting at her to stop. It was not long before she saw her mother's home. She launched herself inside and rush up the stairs. The muscles in her legs were screaming in exhaustion. "Mom! Momma!" She coughed out as she moved the rubble out of the way from the apartment door. The door had been broken from the inside out. What she saw made her heart sunk and her mind panicked. "No, please, no!" She climbed through the broken wood and there she saw her on the ground, bleeding from her neck. Her knees collapsed alongside of her mother as she brushed her mother's hair away from her face. Her mother was still conscious as her hand kept applying pressure to her neck, "Elise." Her mother croaked.

"Shh, I'm here." Elise cried as she assisted her mother into applying pressure on her neck. When her fingers grazed the exposed artery, she knew the chances of her making it were very slim. Her mother felt it and all she did was smile at her daughter, "Go..." She tried speaking.

"N-no, mom, I'm going to get you help."

Her mother shook her head, knowing her time was almost up, "Go to… Kamar" Her voice was now barely a whisper. "…taj."

Elise did not understand her, and she shook her head trying to keep the blood from flowing. The light in her mother's eyes were fading as she whispered, "I... love you." And now they were gone.

"No, mom, no come back!" Elise sobbed and she did not bother with the incoming barrage that was coming down around her, "I am so, so, sorry!" A mixture of anger and absolute sorrow flowed in her as she continued crying over her mother's dead body.

The battle of New York rages on above her as the Chitauri made their way closer to her location. Another wave of an assault made its way toward her once again. Elise closed her eyes as if she accepted what was to come but suddenly a golden cloak of lights emitted before her. She felt a tingling sensation in her hands, and it travelled up her arms. Eventually, it encompassed her whole body. It was as if she felt invigorated. She opened her eyes and pulled her hands away from her mother. It was faint but she could see her hands glowing from under the blood, "What is happening to me?" A loud bang from above seized her body. The anger and the sorrow she once felt were immediately replaced by fear. She looked up and saw a person floating above her with their hands spread above. It was then she quickly realized this individual was responsible for the golden lights that acted as a barrier between the attacks from the alien ships to her. The individual before her wore strange garb and not a hair on their skull. None of this made any sense to her. The individual in question turned around with one hand still above them and the other made a clockwise motion near her. There right beside her appeared a golden circle to another room.

"Go! Quickly!" The individual, a woman, ordered. Elise did not move, half of her was still frightened and the other half was her logical side trying to decipher everything that is happening. Aliens? Portals? Robed woman and magical barriers?

"Cassandra would want you to be safe!" The woman had stated her mother's name and she quickly snapped out of it and got on her feet. She dragged her mother while the bald woman was closely behind her. As soon as all three made it on the other side of the portal, the ancient one dropped the barrier, and her apartment was no more.

Elise's legs collapsed once again beside her mother as the adrenaline slowly faded away. The ancient one stared down empathetically but her movement was urgent, "Come," She said softly, "You will be safe here." All Elise did was broke down and cried because at the end of the day, she had lost her only living family.

Four Years later

There was bounce in her steps as she walked alongside her companion. Amongst the crowd you would think that she was the only normal dressed individual. She wore just regular pair of light-colored jeans, a little loose for her comfort and the fact that her inner child would cry out sensory issue nonsense. A short forest-green tank top to match her friend and a long beige cardigan.

"Can't you act accordingly?" Mordo grunted walking at a normal pace and catching the weird looks from others.

"Says the man hiding behind a hooded robe." Elise responded annoyingly, "Yes, very obscure."

"Excuse me, but you're the only one who is dressed like a dumb American tourist."

Elise then stopped abruptly and crossed her arms, "Yes, because the person we are seeking is just that correct? He'd be more drawn to me if anything."

Mordo scoffed and walked off with a smirk.

She rolled her eyes at him and continued to hum going back to the rhythm in her head before she was rudely interrupted. She then walked right behind him and tried to mock him, "Look at me, I am Mordo the broody."

"I should have left you back there."

"If you did, you wouldn't be able to find him."

"Him?"

It was her turn to smirk as she was now in front of him, "Did I say him?" Then she led the way. Mordo shook his head and followed closely behind.

Elise Berg was many things. A college drop-out, musically inclined, and one of the masters of the mystic arts. Looking back, she could tell you that she has probably lived many versions of her life back in New York City. Though, it was after the Battle of New York where she actually started living her life. One common theme, she never quite got away from. Finishing something she started. She is not a big fan of the man walking alongside of her but for the sake of everyone's peace of mind, she tolerates him. Mordo is not the main reason why she left Kamar-Taj earlier this year. The other mysterious reasons will be stated a lot later for the plot. Her reason for coming back on other hand, she found something hidden away in her mother's storage back in New York. Her mother was also several things. For as long as Elise can remember, her mother Cassandra, was a physical therapist. After her death, is when she discovered that her mother delved into the mystic arts. She never understood why she kept that a secret from her. It drove Elise to the point of silent obsession as she tirelessly read her mother's journals and the old texts from Kamar-Taj's library. That portion nearly consumed her life. The other half dedicated itself to… well her. For the sake of her sanity, she tries to dedicate herself to the piano whenever she is stressed out. Like stated earlier, she cannot finish a project. All this distraction in her mind made her lose focus on the individual she had scouted earlier. She stopped in her steps and silently meditated once again.

Mordo stopped right beside her and looked at her with a puzzled expression. She breathed in deeply as her eyes closed and there, she can see with her mind's eye. She felt this stranger earlier when the ancient one commanded her to. The ancient one stated that she was expecting a lost and broken stranger to show up at her front steps. She had asked of Elise, upon her return, to assist her. Elise knew that the ancient one was just trying to get her to comply and restore old friendships. Especially after what had happened between all of them and Kae-

They were both standing at a crossroads near a bridge. Across from them were a group of old men dressed as monks and playing musical instruments to fit the bill for the "Holy Tours" that tourists buy when in the Himalayans.

"Kamar-Taj." A whisper amongst the crowd that caught her ears. Her eyes opened, and she spotted the man she had been looking for all night. Long matted dark hair that looked like he hadn't showered for days. His blue eyes were faded and distant, the color was not vibrant. It was similar to watching an old pastel painting that had been sitting outside in the sun. She almost mistook him for the homeless. Frowning, she felt sorry for him, but she knew her job was done. She nudged Mordo and waved her head in the direction of the stranger, "Good luck," was all she stated.

"You're leaving already?" Mordo questioned, though he was not surprised one bit. Still his tone shouted disappointment.

"You can't handle him on your own?"

Without going into another argument and for the sheer fact that Mordo did not want to lose the stranger, he shook his head and carried on, "Do what you want." He grunted. This made her frown as she watched him follow the dirtied man. She did not want to get involved. At all. Whatever the ancient one had planned for this unfortunate soul had nothing to do with her. She could not deter away from the underlying little investigation she had going on. She took not one not even two but three steps in the opposite direction before… She placed her hand over her stomach. Her body was then filled with anxiety. As if something bad was going to happen. With a deep sigh, she turned around and followed their fading energy signatures.

She hopped onto the ledge as she could see they were going into a dark alley, and she had to make a short cut to catch up. She then lunged and climbed to the rooftop; this earned her an angry shout from the civilians below. Ignoring them she picked up her pace and hopped from one rooftop to the other till she made her way to the designated alley where others gathered. She stopped and provided overwatch as soon as Mordo caught onto her. Her eyes squinted as she counted, "One, two… three douchebags." She debated whether to make the first move. Doing so, would annoy Mordo. Not doing so, well… she could always be the wallflower. Then that's when she witnessed it was the stranger that threw the first punch. Her eyes lightened; the corner of her lips perked upward into an amused smile. Her first impression of this broken spirited stranger actually had a kindle in him. She hopped down to one balcony and then lunged forward to the guy who had her stranger in a chokehold. Mordo then stepped in and grabbed the watch from the other thief before striking him. She then grabbed the under arms of the stranger and her eyes met his deep blue ones. So there is a little color in them.

"Hello, there." She smiled and dragged him out of the way and crouched beside him, "You're a little heavy but thanks for the help!" She commented and she swiftly turned and delivered a kick right underneath the jaw of the assailant. The attacks from Mordo and yours truly had all three thieves turned tail and ran off. Mordo went around her and lifted the frightened man from the ground. He then gave back his watch and lifted his hood, "You're looking for Kamar-Taj."

The man stared at them bewildered and he didn't say anything else but nodded. Mordo looked to Elise and confirmed this was the man they were looking for. He said nothing else and walked back to the direction they came from. She rolled her eyes at the silent communication cause the man beside her was still confused. It reminded her of the first time she met the ancient one. "Follow us." She told him before stepping off to catch up to Mordo. She guessed this was okay. As soon as they get back she needed to catch up on lost time.

"Are you sure we have the right place?" He finally spoke up for the first time, "That over there looks more Kamar-Tajey…" He pointed right across the street to where the holy tourists where at. She rolled her eyes at him and responded, "Are you always this much of an asshole?"

Mordo cleared his throat and she looked at him questionably, "What?" Mordo shook his head and then stated, "I, once, stood in your place and what my partner is trying to say is that… you're disrespectful." She raised an eyebrow at him. Partners, huh? "Forget everything you once knew."

"Right." The man cleared his throat and looked at her apologetically. They walked right inside, and Elise could not for the life of her entertain this anymore or whatever new project the ancient one had in mind. As soon as she heard, "Thank you, Master Berg." She disappeared and made her way to the library.

She had to know. The first year she spent her days here, she learned that her mother, the previous "Master Berg", was one of them. Her recent journals that she read made her realize that she dabbled with the dark arts as well.

A/N:

Hello and welcome. I have not written fanfiction or anything for that matter. I have only read amazing imaginations on here and AO3. This little idea of mine is just for me to stretch and get my feet wet to write. What better way to do it using one of my favorite comic book heroes. I hope you enjoy reading as I have enjoyed writing it during holiday.