A/N: This is an experiment.


Part 1: Dreamcatcher


Everything tasted like bleach. It wasn't bad enough that multidimensional physics could get uncomfortable, occasionally rendering wayward travelers in shades of sentient color, plaguing them with a maddening and never-ending sense of déjà vu, or introducing them to the baffling non-existence of coffee, but the effects didn't always end with the journey.

Cringing, Doctor Stephen Strange poured the still-steaming cup of tea down the drain, lamenting its loss. Then he sank heavily into his favorite leather armchair with a tired sigh and closed his eyes. The Cloak of Levitation tightened comfortably about his shoulders like a blanket.

He didn't know when he'd get the chance to rest again after this. What he'd done with the Darkhold had far-reaching consequences and though he had no way of knowing for sure what would happen, he'd tried to prepare as best as he could for the day his debt came due. Because as he'd seen time and again, magic always came at a cost. The barriers of the multiverse were thinning and things were creeping through.

He was just beginning to explore the meaning of relaxation when a very familiar sparking sound broke the silence of the Sanctum Sanctorum.

Stephen didn't open his eyes. It was probably just Wong on super important sorcerer supreme business. He hated to be the one to tell Wong their reality was in danger. Again.

"Hey Stephen, you want to go on an adventure?"

It wasn't Wong.

"No," Stephen said.

"Aw come on," America's voice came from his left. "I've been working super hard to control my power. I want to go after my moms."

Stephen cracked open his eyes. America Chavez stood before him, hands on her hips, wearing a denim jacket over her novice sorcerer tunic. He was struck by just how far she'd come since arriving in this universe. For weeks, she'd trained at Kamar-Taj, learning to focus her mind to focus her power. And learning a little magic along the way. She was one determined kid.

"Maybe tomorrow. I have had a trying day." That was an understatement.

"Oh yeah. Wong said you disappeared." America flopped into the chair opposite him and pulled out a small bag of…something. The label was written in runes. "So where'd you go?" She munched on what could only be chocolate.

"It's…a long story." So much for getting any rest.

"I like stories."

Stephen shook his head in half-hearted defeat. "Alright. Though I think you know or could guess most of it. When Wanda and I used the Darkhold, it weakened the walls between dimensions. Something shifted." He looked up at her earnest face. God, she was just a kid. She shouldn't have to deal with such things. "There's going to be an incursion."

"So…that dead universe you and Christine were trapped in. That could happen here? Well you can stop it, right?" There was a lot of hope in the expression she wore.

"I don't know. Honestly, it could happen in a week or a year. That's why Clea came to get my help."

"Who's Clea?"

"A sorceress from another universe," Stephen replied. "She was the first to notice something was wrong and put the first puzzle piece in place. Whatever Wanda and I did, it created a ripple effect with consequences that possibly expand beyond this one reality. All we know for certain is the Dark Dimension is empty. Dormammu is free somewhere in the multiverse and where Dormammu walks, catastrophe follows in his wake."

America stared at him with wide eyes. "Wow. You sure get poetic when things are serious. Um. So what are we going to do about it?"

Stephen laced his fingers together and looked toward the window and the warm sky outside. The other Christine had claimed all Stephens were the same. Always using his power to destroy for the greater good. Because there was no other way. Like a god, he had called the shots that destroyed universes. He'd given up the Time Stone to Thanos, he'd dreamwalked a universe into oblivion. He'd tried to kill an innocent kid. Okay yes, so two of those had been his variants, but in their situations, would Stephen have really reacted differently? Look at him now. When things had come right down to it, he had dreamwalked. He himself had done what he'd condemned others for. For the greater good. Was the multiverse better off because he had dreamwalked to save it from the Scarlet Witch? Or had he doomed it?

Stephen took a steadying breath and tried to dismiss those thoughts. He needed to turn his attention to fixing the problem. "Clea's consulting with some colleagues about the matter. But Dormammu and his Mindless Ones could be anywhere."

America hesitated, probably taking it all in. He hated to dump all of this on her after she'd so recently fought for her life and nearly lost. But she deserved to know. "I want to help. My moms…they can wait. We need to find Dormammu and stop him."

Stephen tilted his head. "America…"

"Come on. You're going to need a friend. And we make a pretty good team." She held the snack bag out to him.

It was going to be pretty difficult to travel the multiverse without her. "Alright. But on one condition." Stephen looked at her sternly. "We keep an eye out for any Mindless Ones, that's a given. But we look for your moms while we're at it."

America's face broke into a grin that lightened some of the burden on Stephen's heart. "Okay. Yeah, okay."

Stephen accepted her offering of one chocolate treat, took a bite, and recoiled. Yeah, everything was still bleach. "Alright, Miss America. Let's see what you've got." He rose and moved aside to give her room to work. America smiled. Her enthusiasm was infectious and he found his exhaustion melting a little. He'd pay for this later, but for now it was show time.

America shoved the treat bag into her pocket and jumped to her feet. She shook out her arms like a boxer gearing up to enter the ring. "Okay. Focus." She made a centering gesture Stephen had taught her, took a deep breath, and punched at the air. Blue-white fire flared but there was no heat, just the wind as a star-shaped hole stamped itself through their reality and into the next.

Without hesitation, the pair stepped into the portal and were swept up in its powerful current.

In some ways, it was like falling into a river. Interdimensional energies carried them along at impossible speed while unnamable colors flickered just past its banks. But unlike their first journey together, this one was over in a matter of heartbeats. They landed on their feet on the sidewalk and the portal collapsed behind them. Stephen crucially didn't throw up this time.

He surveyed the area. They were still in Greenwich village. There were still cars and normal-looking people and familiar buildings, though they seemed to follow a red and brass color scheme. It looked like a heavy storm was brewing judging by the dark clouds, which in this universe were tinted green. "A familiar, non-hostile universe. Good job."

"I totally meant to come here too." America was perfectly at ease as they started to walk, ignoring the people who stared openly at them for their sudden appearance. Remembering their run-in with Mordo and the business with the Illuminati, he conjured up a quick clothes change. Might be better to remain inconspicuous.

"Familiar universes are easier," America said. "Well, more like it's easier to look for things when you're not busy trying to figure out how to breathe."

"Good point."

"We might have to go to the weirder ones eventually. There's no telling where I…where Dormammu's goons went." America shoved her hands into her pockets and looked across the street. It didn't take a genius to figure out what she'd actually wanted to say. Stephen winced inwardly. He wasn't the only one carrying the guilt of past mistakes.

"Then we go to the weirder ones."

America looked up at him and seemed to harden her resolve.

Among the sounds of traffic and chattering pedestrians and the roaring of a jet overhead, a small voice followed them. "Doc? Hey Doc! Doc!"

"Um. I think that's for you," America said, pointing back the way they'd come.

Stephen turned and raised a single eyebrow. Trotting after them – well, not trotting, more like floating – was a basset hound. Or rather the ghost of one, judging by the animal's transparency.

"Oh my god, it really is you. You're alive!" The dog came right up to them and hovered in front of Stephen's face, gazing at him with big, droopy eyes. "But I thought…"

"Yeah, I'm not who you think I am," Stephen said.

"What are you talking about? Is it…are you past you again?" Disappointment entered his voice.

Stephen took a step back but tried to speak gently. "Look, I'm from a different universe. I don't know you."

"Oh." The dog's entire being seemed to sag and Stephen suddenly felt incredibly guilty.

"Awww," America said. "You poor thing. Do you have an…an owner or something?"

"Nah. Just the Doc. Or I did until a week ago. It was this whole thing. I thought…but you don't smell exactly the same."

"Well what's your name?"

"Bats," said the dog.

"America Chavez. I've never met a talking dog before." She stuck out her hand for a shake.

"I'm incorporeal," Bats said.

"Oh."

Stephen was stuck imagining the reality in which he owned a talking ghost dog.

Two fighter jets screamed by overhead. Stephen tracked them as the wind picked up, gathering leaves and debris and scattering them down the street. Dark clouds swirled unnaturally ahead.

"Uh-oh," Bats said.

"I take it that's not normal for your universe."

"Not at all."

Of course not.

As Stephen watched, distant shapes moved beneath the clouds. Lightning flashed. The storm clouds seemed to collapse in on themselves at the point from which the shapes emerged. A portal was opening up right above Manhattan. As it widened, more and more things emerged, swarms of aliens pouring through. And what followed them, singing like some kind of whale, was a massive leviathan, armored in metal scales. Stephen couldn't tell whether it was a machine or a living creature, the way it moved organically through the sky.

He recognized this. It mirrored the Chitauri invasion of New York in his own universe some fifteen years ago. The memory of that day was buried in a haze of chaos and confusion but yes, he remembered. The hospital had been overrun with those injured in the attack. He'd spent…god, he didn't know how many hours in that operating room. He'd never been so exhausted in his life. If this universe was as similar to his as it seemed, there was one likely culprit behind this mess.

"Loki," Stephen said.

"This is bad. Doc, you gotta do something." Bats was shifting his paws and turning his head as if not sure which direction was a good running direction.

"Where are the Avengers? They've dealt with this before." As if he'd given them any credit at the time. As he recalled, he'd given them and Loki an equal share of the blame for the damage their battle had caused.

"What are the Avengers?"

Stephen sighed. "Figures." It occurred to him this wasn't his problem. This wasn't his universe to protect, it wasn't his world. He and America could go home, no consequences. But when he had become a doctor and later a sorcerer, he had made the decision to help people. He'd once wanted to do the selfish thing like he always did but as the Ancient One put it, the world would be all the poorer for it.

Helping out was sort of second nature by now.

The alien invaders were coming down in droves on a helpless world. Their point of ingress was the eye of an expanding storm. Stephen slipped his sling ring on and spun open a portal. "If I have my facts straight, Loki should have a device that's keeping the portal open. Our top priority is to shut it down." He stepped through the portal, conjuring his Cloak about his shoulders and shedding the mundane disguise in favor of his sorcerer garb. "How's your combat?"

America stepped through after him. "I've learned a few things."

"I want you to focus on getting people to safety. But if you find yourself overwhelmed, don't hesitate to retreat to another universe."

"What and leave you behind?"

Stephen glanced at her. "Don't forget, there are a lot of people in the multiverse who would love to get their hands on you for your power. Besides, I trust you'll come back. Bats, stay with her."

"Can do, boss."

Without waiting to see what they'd do, Stephen lifted off the ground, the Cloak carrying him up the length of the skyscraper that stood directly beneath the portal. The Empire State Building, of course. Here, the air was alive with the buzz of alien cruisers and the mechanical groan of the massive beast overhead. This was…going to be a handful.

A Chitauri cruiser sped toward him. With a gesture, he conjured a shield just as an energy bolt from the alien's weapon blasted toward him. He dispersed the energy and lashed out with a sparking whip, catching the Chitauri around the chest and yanking it from its cruiser. He let it go and continued to speed upward.

A jet fell, burning from the sky. Another Chitauri and another came after him and he fought them off with conjured weapons and spells. Something exploded, a wave of heat rolling into him and slamming him into the building. Glass shattered.

Windows flew past. Stephen caught sight of his reflection and the chaos behind him. It was enough to snap him back. He must have blacked out for a second and now the cloak was bearing him upward. No time to diagnose the damage. They crested the building and Stephen conjured a pair of shielding mandalas and braced for what he would find.

All the glass surrounding the observation deck was broken, shards glistening like snow on the floor. A section of the ceiling was torn away and directly beneath the hole stood a device that radiated energy. Even without using his magic, he could feel it like a wave of heat across his face. Nestled securely within its cradle was the Tesseract. The Space Stone. That's what was powering the portal.

Stephen floated down and landed lightly on the floor of the observation deck. Glass crunched under his boots. But he knew better than to assume he was alone here. He kept his senses on alert and his shields handy. Sure enough, a shadow detached itself from the darkness farther in beyond the device.

"Dr. Stephen Strange," Loki said, coming into the ethereal blue glow of the device. "You look awfully lively for a dead man." He was in full godly splendor, adorned in green Asgardian armor with a golden horned helm. Most importantly, he had the Mind Stone housed in a scepter. During Stephen's time as a sorcerer, he'd made a point of reading up on all the Avengers and their escapades, seeing as they seemed to cause almost as many disasters as they stopped. So he was well-versed in their conflicts.

"I could say the same of you," Stephen murmured. "I'm going to have to ask you to stand down."

"That's cute. And if I don't, you're going to stop me with your quaint human magic? I am a god." He stamped the scepter against the floor. "When this world bows to me, you will bow with it."

"I don't think so."

When the attack came, it came from the side. A rush of movement, a blur of sound. Stephen spun and caught twin weapons against his shields as Loki's accomplice sprang her ambush. It was the alien woman from Titan, Nebula. Whatever her deal was, she was no ally in this universe.

Growling, she withdrew and rushed again, her batons humming with electric current. The Cloak detached from Stephen's shoulders and caught her like a newspaper on a windshield, blinding her and tangling her arms. While she was preoccupied, he put his hands together and summoned the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak and sent the red ribbons of energy streaming toward Loki. In a blink, Loki vanished.

Stephen didn't bother looking around trying to spot him; that would be pointless. Instead, he drew his magic back into himself and reworked it into a dome-shaped shield. Just in time too as three knives came out of nowhere and smashed against it. These were followed by a bolt of energy from the Mind Stone. The impact propelled Stephen off his feet. The shield flickered out. A fourth knife grazed the side of his face. Then Loki materialized, striding toward him with the scepter extended. Not good. Stephen scrambled to his feet and conjured a whip of energy that lashed around the end of the scepter and pulled it aside.

"He's using you," Stephen said. "You're nothing but a pawn to him." Loki was the type who liked to be in control.

"We have an agreement." Loki cut through Stephen's magic with the sharp edge of the scepter and pushed a wave of telepathic energy outward in a powerful pulse. Glass shards flew through the air. Stephen caught them and spun them around, sending them back at Loki. The shards coalesced into the body of a frightening beast, a tiger-like maw opening to attack with sparkling glass teeth. Loki thrust out his hand, burying it deep in the glass monster's throat. As it would have devoured him, it dissolved into snow. Stephen followed up by miming the action of drawing a bow. When he loosed, a very real and very deadly arrow spiraled out of nothing, shooting toward Loki.

Loki tried to redirect the arrow but its aim was true. Its explosion caught him full in the face, sending him careening toward the edge of the roof. Stephen strode toward him, summoning the Bands of Cyttorak for a second time.

The blast came out of thin air to Stephen's right. He had no time to dive for cover or do anything except raise his arms to shield his face. The explosion hurled him off his feet. He slammed into the floor, glass slicing at his hands and face. He rolled several times. His body ached and stung and his chest felt tight. Yeah. Ouch. He raised a hand for another spell.

Metal smacked him in the back of the head, sending a jolt of electricity down his spine. His muscles spasmed as he curled in on himself, unable to help the shout of pain that went through him.

Visions of Loki and Nebula swam in front of him as reality seemed to shift and distort. Loki looked unaffected by his magic arrow. That had been an illusion then. And Nebula was free. Where was the Cloak? The floor lurched and everything seemed to bend as Loki's illusions played havoc with his senses. And while he was up here dealing with the minions of Thanos, there was no telling what destruction the Chitauri wrought without the Avengers to oppose them. He needed to shut down that portal. Now.

Stephen regained his feet, drew in a breath, and opened the Eye of Agamotto. With it, his third eye opened and he saw everything.

Loki's illusion blew away with a whisper. The ground steadied. The real Loki stood before him, scepter inches away from his heart. Energy pulsed from the Mind Stone, bright as a sun. Stephen reached out and shaped his hands around it. The air shimmered and became fragmented as he encased the scepter within the mirror dimension, rendering it powerless in the real world.

"Stephen!"

Stephen spared a glance at America, not surprised to see her step onto the roof, his Cloak about her shoulders. Bats accompanied her, his paws skimming air. Once she was settled, the Cloak flew to him. It burned brightly with magic, ancient power woven into every fiber of the fabric. America stared at him with undisguised shock. Right. She didn't know about the newest little talent he'd picked up. He closed his third eye and the world dulled, its threads of magic hidden from his perception.

"You won't win," he told Loki. "Thanos will never have what he wants."

"You have no idea what you're meddling in, wizard." Loki took a couple of steps back and was joined by Nebula, who glowered and looked ready to spring back into action at any second.

Stephen moved so they were both in the center of his vision. The trapped scepter hung suspended between them. "I've seen this before. Thanos wants the Infinity Stones. He thinks he's doing us a favor, using them to wipe out half of all life in the universe. But all that will bring is chaos. And there's no guarantee you'll be one of the lucky ones."

Loki stared at him for a second. "What in Hel are you talking about? Why would Thanos want to destroy half the universe? He's trying to save it."

Stephen blinked and cocked his head. Wow, that was news. "Come again?"

"He needs the Stones to stop the coming incursion."

Another one? Or the same? Stephen glanced at America who looked just as surprised. This certainly was unexpected. "Why does he think there's going to be an incursion?"

"Because the Dark Dimension is empty. Dormammu is free. And he wants the multiverse as his own."

Yep, same one. Oh boy, this wasn't good. Suddenly stopping this one event hardly seemed worth his time. He needed to get this information to Clea right away. If only he knew where she was.

Loki took a step toward him. "Join us," he said. "Help us stop Dormammu."

"This universe must be all out of sorts if a version of me would choose to join Thanos."

"We've been allies in the past, you and I. I can see now that you are nothing like the Stephen I know. I was disappointed when he died."

This day was just full of surprises. "Yeah, well, we don't always get what we want." Stephen kept his gaze trained on Loki and Nebula but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted America sneaking around the observation deck toward the devise that housed the Tesseract.

"He kills you," Stephen said. "Thanos does. When he has no more need for you." Things had happened fast back in that time but he had ways of collecting gossip. A lot of what had happened, he learned after the fact. From Thor at Tony's funeral. From Clint at the edge of a lonely lake.

"I appreciate the warning, but I'll be ready where my variant was not."

Stephen glanced at Nebula, who hadn't said a word this whole time. "And you're so much more than what he made you."

Nebula cocked her head but didn't reply.

Loki watched him with narrowed eyes. "Our Stephen had no patience for those who opposed him. What are you…" His eyes widened. "You're stalling. The Tesseract–!"

America powered up and punched the device. But rather than break her knuckles on solid metal, she tore a star-shaped hole in the fabric of reality. Wind whipped across the observation deck. Loki and Nebula lunged for America at the same time while Stephen propelled himself across the distance, Bats close behind.

He hit America around the middle and the two of them tumbled into the portal along with Bats and the Tesseract. His stomach dropped as the Earth rolled under him in a flash of textures and tastes and burning cold. His eyes turned inside out and he could count the veins in his head. His skin turned to rubber and the clouds sprouted furry red mold. The Tesseract spun away from him and when he reached out to grab it, it melted like mercury between his fingers and was lost.

They splashed into black water, rolled through hills of spongy foam, and came out in a blessedly normal, blessedly home, universe.

Stephen staggered and put out a hand against a brick wall to steady himself.

"Oh, I don't want to do that again." Bats wobbled and made some very pathetic noises.

"What now?" America said. "This is big."

"You have no idea. Dormammu is the master of the Dark Dimension. His power is immense. When he escaped, he wasn't just taking advantage of my mistake. He has a plan. If an incursion's coming, he'll be at the center of it." He straightened up and looked at her grimly. "We're going to need some help."


A/N: Thank you for reading chapter 1 of Grand Cosmos. I plan to throw a lot of characters into this newly opened multiverse. I have vague ideas but not a concrete plan. I'll find out what happens right before you do. If you liked this, consider leaving a review. It would mean the world.