-Unbetaed and non native speaker so please kindly point out any mistakes. I'm sure there are more mistakes here as it's a long chapter by my standard.
-Warning: language, canon typical violence, a lot of torture although they're not graphic, angst (really, no fluff in this chapter unlike previous ones), victim blaming
Stephen let all those people in his area to go through the portal from the Soul Stone to New York first. After seeing there was no danger at the area he opened, he asked women and children to step through first. He told them there was no need to rush because he could keep the portal until everyone went through. He didn't tell them the exhaustion he felt maintaining the portal open. He could rest as soon as he went to the other side.
He longed to return to the world of living. He missed studying ancient texts and bugging Wong. If he thought of these things two years ago, he might go to see a therapist but those were the less strange things about his life.
When the last person had gone, he wobbled through the portal.
He smiled as soon as he stepped through the other side. He saw the one person whom he missed but he thought wanted nothing to do with him anymore. Now perhaps they could talk and make up. Mordo smiled back at him.
He limped to the front of his mentor and grinned. "I've never expected to see you again in my life. I'm so glad you're the first familiar face I see when I come back to the living. Yeah, that sentence sounds weird."
Mordo approached and hugged him. "Strange, you always want to play the savior and I guess you manage it even when you were technically dead. How do you feel of defying the natural law again?"
Stephen was surprised at his question. Was Mordo still upset about Hong Kong? He wanted to step back and looked at Mordo in the eyes. But he couldn't detach himself from Mordo who hugged him even tighter.
"Come on Strange, time to sleep. You've done enough. Don't you think it's best to let others do the saving for now?"
Stephen struggled to get free but he was too tired and Mordo was too strong. He also felt drowsy. Mordo must have used a spell on him. He could feel the Cloak also wiggled to get free but it was futile for either of them. He struggled for a few seconds but then everything went dark.
Stephen knew he was dreaming. He was in the Avengers Compound with Tony. This thing had happened. So it was more of a memory presented in a dream. He tried to wake up but he couldn't.
When he came around, he realized he was slumping against a wall in a dimly lit room. He didn't remember where he was and how he got here. That itself was not unusual occurrence in his new life. He tried to raise his hands and to his horror, he couldn't move them much because they were chained to the wall. He then looked down at his feet and realized they were chained too at his ankles. He tried to summon his magic to break the chains but was rewarded by burning sensation coming from his neck toward his whole body. He went to touch his neck and discovered there was some sort of contraption around his neck. He stopped using magic then the pain ceased immediately. He remembered now. This must be Mordo's doing. He tried to stand up but the chains around his legs were too short so he could only squad.
A few minutes later, the man he suspected involved in his predicament came in. "Oh, good, you're awake. I should've warned you earlier then you can't use magic here if you don't want to suffer. I've attached the Necklace of Nohomein to your neck so forget about using magic."
Stephen's blood went cold. He thought the Necklace was a myth. He went to his default mode. "I thought I was enjoying myself with these short chains. The necklace was my only problem."
"I know you're scared. Don't need to joke to pretend otherwise. Don't worry. I won't kill you."
"I'm not afraid of deaths. Been there, done that. Quite a lot of time actually. Not sure if I can claim frequent flyer of some sorts. Might be useful to pay the bills."
"Silence and listen what I have to say."
Mordo moved his right hand and Stephen felt the necklace around his neck tightened. Perhaps it was wise to remain silent for now.
"You think you're above natural law that you can defy it anytime you want. You never think about the consequences. The cost of magic. The whole world might need to pay the price for your frivolous activity. You treated the Time Stone like your plaything. You used it to turn back the events in Hong Kong. Those people should just stay dead. You shouldn't just barge in using the Stone to save the day."
Stephen didn't care about repercussion of speaking anymore. "Do you want me to let Wong and other Masters plus a lot of others to die in Hong Kong?"
"Well, if it's time for them to die so yes. Why not?"
"But their deaths were not natural. It was because of magic. I just undid what happened there which was not natural at the first place. Those people wouldn't die if Kaecillius and Dormammu didn't attack them." At least Mordo didn't tighten the necklace this time.
"You always have the answers to everything, don't you? How about your deal with Dormammu? You're as pathetic as her."
This was too much. He didn't care if Mordo insulted or accused him. But accusing The Ancient One who had saved Mordo and him from self-destruction? "She was the reason we still have a world to live in. She did whatever was necessary but it was not for her personal gain. You're too rigid in your view to see that. She died to save us."
"She died to save you." Stephen felt a pang of guilt at the mention. "Strange, you're too flexible. You think you're above the law. Did you know the price of your deal with Dormammu?"
"If you're worried that the world will pay for the price of my deal with Dormammu, don't. I think dying more than a thousand times is enough price."
"You died more than a thousand time?!" Mordo seemed to be pretty shaken by that fact. "I guess you're not a coward anymore."
"I wouldn't really recommend dying multiple times or at all, but we can't be picky. if you bothered to stay in Hong Kong after my deal with Dormammu, I could've explained to you everything."
"That's why I don't kill you, Stephen. I know you're good and you don't use magic for personal gain. But you still defy natural law. One day, it's going to come back to bite you and the world along with it. I know you can't see it now but you'll come to see my way one day. I'll make sure of that even if I need to lock you for years."
Stephen's blood ran cold. "Karl, you don't have to do this. We can talk about this like adults. I'm sure we can come to a compromise."
"There is no compromise. I'm right and you're wrong."
"I think the world begs to differ. We won't have a world to live in if I didn't do what I did."
"Still arrogant as ever. Still like to play God. I guess half of the universe should thank you for your great job protecting the Time Stone."
"You know about the Stone." Stephen's frequent guilt started to resurge. He had been suppressing it while he was stuck in Soul Stone. He kept convincing himself he did the right thing. That they would win eventually. But he knew he let half of the universe died. What kind of doctor did that?
Mordo continued., "You've shown your remorse. Of course I know. You were the protector of the Stone and I know how stubborn you can be so Thanos wouldn't get the Stone unless you wanted him to. So when half of the population was gone, I knew you were involved somehow. Did you think about the people died because of half of the population was gone? The passengers of an airplane of which pilot turned to dust? The patient in a surgery where the doctor turned to dust. Even if half of those who turned to dust have come back, how about those passengers? Those patients? If you didn't play God, they would still have lived."
"But if I didn't give up the Stone, half of the population might not return."
"They might. You didn't know that for sure."
"I did. I looked through multiple futures and tried to find the winning future."
"And you just think that's a natural thing to do. You just use magic and the Time Stone as the crutch to solve all your problems. I guess we have a long way to go. Goodbye Stephen. We'll talk again tomorrow. Perhaps that time you'll have some sense."
Stephen was worried to be left alone with his thoughts. The problem was he sort of agreed with Karl's point about using the Time Stone as a crutch and also playing God. Perhaps Mordo had a point. "Karl, wait, you might be right. Can we discuss this? Perhaps outside this smelly room."
"I know you're full of tricks. I'm not letting you out so you can escape. We'll talk again tomorrow."
"Can I have my Cloak back please? What happened to her?"
"She is safe. And no, you can't be with her. Reuniting you two will be a mistake."
Mordo slammed the door as he left. Stephen was left alone with his guilt.
Stephen tried very hard to wake up now. He could remember his guilt even when he slept. He didn't remember his name or his past but he could remember his guilt. That was not natural. He knew Mordo's magic must be involved in this. But he still couldn't wake up.
Stephen couldn't sleep the whole day or night. He couldn't tell the time. He also didn't get any food or drink. After what felt like decades, finally Mordo showed up with a tray containing a bowl of soup and a jar of water.
"I think it's time for you to replenish yourself. Don't worry. It's not poisoned. I can just use my magic so I won't resort to poison."
As a matter of fact, Stephen would still eat and drink them if they were poison. He didn't realize how famished he was. The last time he ate was his breakfast before he was taken by Thanos's minion. He didn't manage to get the sandwich from the Deli. Then with his luck, of course he died. He didn't know how much time had passed in real world but it has been around six months in the Soul Stone. No wonder he felt like he hadn't eaten for months.
His instinct was to drink the whole jar of water but luckily his medical knowledge took precedence. He took small sips until he finished a third of the jar before starting to drink the soup.
Mordo just looked on with some fondness which kinda creepy given his condition but Stephen was too hungry to care.
He finished the whole jar of water.
"I guess we can continue our conversation now." Mordo smiled. "How was your day?"
"Could've been better. The accommodation is terrible. The host has lack of communication."
"I guess your terrible sense of humor is still intact. Have you taught about joining me? You should see by now that you always act like you know better than anybody. Rules be damned."
"Karl, I know I really shouldn't play God. Do you think I didn't think about it the whole time? That's what I did when I was stuck in the Soul Stone. But as I said, if I didn't do it, all of us were doomed. You said they might come back. But the chance of survival is less than 0.0000007%. Yes, a kid called Peter calculated that. It's better than none. I know that it was still playing God but the universe was at stake. At least we still have a universe to come back to. I still feel guilty about all those deaths you mentioned. I indirectly caused it although the direct cause is Thanos."
"I guess that's an improvement because at least you admitted your mistakes. So will you be joining me?"
"Join you doing what? Attacking other sorcerers and taking their magic? Yes, I'm arrogant. Yes, I defy natural laws if required. But I won't attack other innocent people."
"They're not innocent. They're not worthy to use magic especially for personal gains."
"Who is playing God now? We can't be the judge of other people's worthiness."
"There are crooks who use magic for stealing money, for attracting partners, for cheating their spouses. Do you think they're worthy?"
"Well, I admit what they do is wrong. But it doesn't mean we have the right to take away their magic. We can't be the judge, jury, and executioner. I'm sure our Councils can deal with people who use magic for illegal activities."
Mordo roared, "Those Councils are useless. All they do is talking and making regulations. We need to take actions."
"I think we need to follow their rules."
"That's rich coming from you who only follow the rules when they suit you."
That actually stung because Stephen indeed only followed some rules. But he wouldn't break rules that could cause harm to others. Causing harm to himself was another thing but as Wong said he was an idiot.
Mordo stared at him."There is no retort because it's true. So I'll make it simple, you have to follow me or you will suffer the consequences."
"What is…" Before Stephen could finish his sentence, he felt immense pain from his chest like something from inside was tugged. It felt like his essence was being taken. He saw orange light coming from his chest toward Mordo's chest. He couldn't help but screamed. The process lasted for a few minutes although it felt like aeon.
"That's the consequence. I just absorbed around 5% of your magic. I'll come back again in three days time to let you think this through. If you still don't want to cooperate, I'll take half of your remaining magic. If you don't want to cooperate, I'll take the rest of your magic."
Stephen couldn't stop his tears. "Karl, please don't do this. I need the magic. What will I be without my magic? How can I help people? What's my life's meaning?"
"Perhaps you should think about that before you play God and break the rules. And you rely too much on your magic. Just agree to follow me and everything will be fine. But if you lie, you'll pay the consequences. See you in three days time."
"Karl, please no. Don't leave me alone. I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement."
"Bye, Stephen. Think about what you did."
Stephen tried to wake himself up. He had had enough. He really shouldn't play God. He shouldn't only follow rules when it was convenient.. He remembered about this now. But he couldn't wake up.
For the next three days, Mordo let his minions tortured him. It was terrible but at least he wasn't alone with his thoughts.
Three days later, Mordo came with a jar of water and a sandwich now. Stephen was not as hungry as the fist time he was fed by Mordo because his minions fed him although the amount was very sparse. At least they gave him water so he was not dehydrated. He laughed hysterically because the last thing he needed to worry about was dehydration when he was about to lose his magic hence his self identity.
Mordo looked down with pity as he finally stopped laughing. He hated the pitying look. At least Mordo let him eat in peace first before taking his magic away. That was so considerate of him.
After he finished eating, Mordo asked, "So what's your answer this time? Think carefully before you answer. I can wait."
Stephen raised himself high as much as his chains allowed. "If you ask whether I have remorse, my answer is yes. If you ask whether I'll do it again to save the universe, my answer if yes even if it defies natural law. I'm sure I'll regret it later but at least we have a universe to return to. If you ask whether I want to join your misguided cause, the answer is no."
"Very well then, you made your choice. I made mine."
Mordo did the same gesture again. Stephen pressed both his ring fingers using his thumbs as he sat back down on the floor. He felt the pain immediately. It was hundredfold more than the last time. He screamed and screamed. After around half an hour, finally it was done.
Stephen slumped back against the wall. He felt like his soul was missing. He had no purpose in life anymore.
"I'm sorry I've to do this, Stephen. If you join me, I can return all that has been taken from you. But I know you're stubborn. I'll let you think about it in three days. If you still refuse to join me, I'll take away your memory as well. Perhaps it'll be best since you can start anew."
Stephen felt like he had been drenched in cold water. "Karl, please no. Is it not enough to take away my magic? What will I be without my memory?"
"Someone new. Bye, Stephen."
This time he just closed his eyes in resignation, there was no hope.
How could he continue in this dream? Damn magic. Damn Mordo.
Stephen felt like his missed something important.
He got tortured again in the next three days but at least he still had his memory, for now. Three days later, Mordo appeared again with a tray filled with a jar of water and a plate of Lo Mein Noodle. Stephen laughed uncontrollably. It was his last meal before his sentence.
Mordo still looked at him with pity before setting the tray in front of him. It had become a routine that it was almost endearing in psychotic way.
He ate slowly this time. He knew his fate was inevitable but why hastened the process. Mordo could wait. That bastard got the majority of his magic so he should wait.
Eventually, he still finished his meal.
Mordo took his face in his hands and stared at him. "So I guess from your expression, your answer is still no then. Perhaps it's for the best. You can start anew."
Stephen pressed his index and ring fingers in both hands using his thumbs and closed his eyes to accept his fate.
The process of taking his magic was still super painful but he kinda knew what he got into. As soon as Mordo finished taking his magic, Stephen felt like he had no energy left in his body. He also felt something big and indescribable was missing from him.
He suddenly felt very light headed as some sort of energy flew out of his head. He didn't want to open his eyes. He didn't want to see the process of him losing himself. After a while, the flow of energy stopped. It felt good when it stopped. He opened his eyes and didn't recognize the stranger in front of him. In fact, he didn't know who he was, why he was here, and where was here.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"A friend," the stranger smiled. "You're very sick but we're going to make you feel better. I'll come back again after a few days and we can talk." The stranger stood up and moved toward the door.
"Please don't leave me. I don't want to be alone"
"Everything will be fine. Bye for now."
This was absurd. If he didn't remember the stranger, how could he remember him earlier in the dream? If he forgot the whole process of taking his memory, why could he remember the process in the first place? Shouldn't he just not know? Well, he didn't know. He knew now in this damn dream that he couldn't wake up from. He still felt like he missed something important.
The torture continued and they got more creative. It was a pity that their pastime was to torture him. The problem was he didn't know why he was being tortured in the first place. Was he a bad person? Was this afterlife of sort? Nobody told him anything. How was it to make him better by the torture?
A week later, the stranger came again with a tray with a jar of water, three slices of pizza, and a bowl of ice cream. He loved ice cream. He didn't know how he remembered that but the sight of it made his mouth water. He looked up with his left eye because his right eye was swollen. His ribs might be cracked as well because it was hard to breathe. It might be at the third rib on the right and the fourth one on the left. He didn't know why he knew these facts.
The stranger put down his tray and knelt in front of him. "They're too far this time. I already told them no permanent damage. No broken bones." The stranger's hands glowed red.
He scooted back and pressed his back against the wall but there was no escape.
"Don't worry. I won't hurt you. I'm just trying to heal you."
"Why are your hands glowing?"
"It's magic. I'm going to heal you using magic."
"Magic is real?!."
The stranger searched his face as if looking for something. He just stayed quiet in case he would anger the stranger. The stranger nodded as if satisfied that he didn't find what he was looking for. That was odd because people usually were satisfied when they found what they looked for. But again, usually people's hands didn't glow. He didn't know for sure about that because so far he only met people who beat him up daily. Perhaps everybody outside had glowing hands.
"Yes, very much so. Now stay still so I can heal you properly."
He did as he was told. The light reached his right eye and it felt good. He could open his eye now. The stranger then healed his cracked ribs. He could breathe properly.
"I'm sorry that I come back much later than I promised. That's why I brought you ice cream."
"Can I eat the ice cream first?"
"Sure."
He took the bowl of ice cream and looked hesitantly at the stranger. There were tears in the stranger's eyes which was odd. The ice cream was good. The stranger nodded so he started to spoon the ice cream.
He finished the ice cream first before eating his pizza.
He offered the stranger but he just shook his head. "No, you go ahead. I think it's your due."
He didn't understand what it meant but he hadn't had pizza for a while. He didn't remember the last time he had proper food. In fact, he didn't remember the last time he was outside this room and the room where they beat him up and electrocuted him.
There was no need to think about it now. Just eat.
After he finished his meal, he looked up at the stranger. He looked pleased.
"By the way, my name is Mordo. You're here because you have been a very bad boy. Those people who accompany you daily try to teach you to be good."
"They beat me up. How could that be good?"
"You were very bad so you needed to be taught a lesson."
"What did I do? I don't think beating people up can make people good. Violence begets violence." He covered his mouth as he said the last sentence. It didn't sound like something someone like him could say.
"As stubborn as usual. It doesn't matter what you did previously. You just need to follow me."
"What exactly do you do?"
"I teach lessons to other people like you."
"Do you mean you beat them up until they're good?"
"Not exactly. But yes, we teach lessons to bad people."
"That doesn't sound like fun. Besides, who are we to judge others and beat them up? Shouldn't we just lead by example by being good?"
He was surprised as Mordo slapped him. "Enough insolence coming from you. I thought taking your memory will change you but you're still stubborn. Perhaps this would remind you how bad you were." Mordo's hands started to glow yellow.
Suddenly he felt like his whole body was on fire. He pleaded. He screamed. He cried. Mordo just ignored him. As soon as Mordo stopped moving his hands, his pain was gone instantly.
He tried to move as far away from Mordo but the chains wouldn't allow him.
He laughed bitterly. As if he could back away from magic.
Mordo shook his head. "I'll come back again in a few days to see whether you changed your mind."
Stephen wanted to scream. He wanted this movie about his life to end. He didn't remember the previous part when he had magic and his memory but he remembered everything that happened after Mordo took his memory. But no such luck.
The process repeated every few days. Physical torture by those goons then Mordo would come to bring some of his favorite food, healed some of his heavy injuries, and threw hissy fits when he still didn't want to teach other people's lessons. His tortures varied. Sometime it was extreme heat, sometime it was extreme cold or extreme itch or extreme pain. Well everything extremely uncomfortable because Mordo didn't do things halfway.
After perhaps around the twentieth time, Mordo finally said. "Perhaps next time I'll just use my magic to make you comply. It's much easier and less painful for both of us. Do you think it's fun for me to torture you like this and saw you scream? I want to stop but you're too stubborn."
He was worried. What would happen if he became a magical robot for Mordo? He didn't even know who he was anymore but he definitely know he didn't want to hurt people on purpose. To do it under other's influence would be extra terrible.
Luckily before Mordo got the chance to do it, Wong and the rest of the Masters rescued him a few days later.
Stephen woke up with a start. The alarm was blaring. The Cloak apparently had been shaking him to wake him up.
"Doctor Strange, I've been trying to wake you up but I can't. There is an emergency. Someone called Mordo had come to Mr Stark's workshop and attacked him. He said he would also release Mr Stark if you go to meet him at his workshop. It was the workshop where you had your panic attack."
Of course it would be. Just his luck. Or was it Tony's luck?
"I know Mr Stark might suggest you to run as it's a trap but knowing your personality, I think you will go to the workshop anyway. It's best to be careful, Doctor."
"Thanks, Friday. I'll be careful. What could possibly go wrong? Mordo has all the magic, including mine. I don't even remember my past, except the parts in my dream. I'm sure the odd is in my favor but again Peter said math is not my strong suit." He didn't tell Friday that he might just agree to go with Mordo willingly because his guilt of playing God had increased a hundredfold since he woke up.
Notes:
-Wow, this was super hard to write. The content itself was tough because I usually write humor, fluff, and friendship. Not to mention I try to finish it before Endgame so there is my self imposed deadline. Plus I've been much busier lately. Mordo and Stephen were supposed to talk longer with more topics but I couldn't bear writing more of this. I hope you like this.
-Something fluff in the end note. The possibilty was taken from here quora dot com/Does-14-000-605-have-any-significance-in-Infinity-War-How-was-it-calculated
There were some funny theories why 1400605 was chosen.