Loki's mouth went dry as he tried to find the words. That he couldn't even form the thoughts of what he would say. To speak that monster's name made a cold shiver down his back.

Luckily, the Ancient One spoke, her tone serious. "I have heard of him. The 'Mad Titan' who is a conqueror by decimating populations of planets. He is considered an unstoppable foe to most. Thanos is in search of the six Infinity Stones that would give him the power to decimate the entire universe." She nodded to the Stone. "I see your concern. We, however, shall do everything in our power to protect the Time Stone." She looked from it to him. "But we'll burn that bridge when we reach it. What should be discussed now is your training."

Loki's eyebrows shot up. "Training? In the Mystical Arts?" He felt like a fish out of water, as if he had been suddenly thrust into unfamiliar territory and had no idea how to navigate it.

"We will begin tomorrow." The Ancient One announced, "Today, you need to acclimate to the altitude before beginning your training. Wong will see you to your cell."

Loki froze. "Cell?"

Seeing his look of concern, her expression changed to a more sympathetic one. "Not an actual cell, Mr. Laufeyson. A room in which you will stay during the duration of your training."

Loki nodded, then bowed his head. "Thank you, Ancient One. May I make one request? Please just call me Loki."

"Very well, Mr. Loki."

The beginning of his training was in fact, done in small steps .Loki began to work on the small movements. He was taught by The Ancient One to clear his mind as he moved and connect his breaths to his meditative moves. Loki balked at this, but soon saw the value of it, allowing himself to be unfettered by his memories or anxieties.

He arrived in the courtyard in the morning with the other students, awaiting lessons on how to wield Strange's style of magic.

"The magic we use," The Ancient One began, "allow us to move through dimensions through this." She brandished a small brass ring, creating an arc of orange magic around her.

They were each handed one and instructed to make a circle as she did. Around him there were some who easily made them. Loki tried to create one, only succeeding in making orange sparks that quickly dissipated. Loki frowned, trying again and again. Finally, he gave up, his face a mixture of frustration and embarrassment.

"Don't be discouraged if you can't make a circle the first time. It will take some practice, as do all things." The Ancient One remarked to the class as she passed by Loki and saw his furrowed eyebrows. "With time and effort," The Ancient One continued, "you will all master the art of creating the perfect ones."

After even an hour, Loki could still only create orange sparks and little else. Discouraged, he slumped back to his room exhausted. He threw himself onto the bed, throwing his arm limply over his eyes. This was his first session, and he knew that as the Ancient One had said, it would take time and practice to master the skill of the Mystical Arts. But this…already felt that this was futile. He had expected to feel something, to sense some kind of power within himself. But he felt nothing.

Lifting his head, Loki suddenly felt some inspiration. Perhaps a book would help him better learn the magic Ancient One was trying to teach. Filled with determination again, Loki made his way down to the library. He spent the next several hours devouring book after book, learning all he could about the magical arts.

He was beginning to doubt the Ancient One's words and wondered if he had made a mistake in coming here. The next two weeks proved to be as hopeless as the first day. While others had made progress manifesting shields and weapons, Loki could still not conjure anything but sparks.

Finally, at the end of the third week, Loki felt so dejected that he began to gather his few belongings and return to Stark's Tower. He had read as much as he could lay hands on, storing away the knowledge should he be able to wield it, but all for nothing, it seemed. His whole future was unknown now. What would he do without his magic? Who was he now that it was no longer part of him?

Loki trudged to the main room where the Ancient One sat, meditatively drinking her tea. She looked up as she sensed his presence.

"Ancient One…" Loki began, a slight tremble to his voice, "I thank you for the opportunity for allowing me to study your magic. I-" He couldn't go on, didn't want to go. Finally, he forced himself to speak. "I don't believe I have any magic ability, at least, no longer."

The Ancient One looked at him with understanding eyes. "You may not have the ability, but your potential is immense. I see the power you can have - if you only believe in yourself." She set aside her tea cup and stood. "Come with me." She produced a portal which they both stepped through.

Loki felt his feet sink slightly into the ashy soil under his feet. Looking around, he could only see gray peaks as far as they could see. Small craters dotted the area nearby.

"Is this Earth's Moon?" Loki wondered aloud.

"It is. The Ancient One remarked, she pointed a finger, "and behind you, the Earth is starting to rise in the horizon."

Loki turned to see the blue marble just appearing above the Moon's surface. Craning his next to look up, he could spot millions of stars in the black ocean of the sky. It was ethereal and well…breathtaking.

"It's…beautiful." Loki breathed quietly, his green eyes wide with wonder.

There was a pause before the Ancient One spoke again. "You can achieve much if you try, Loki." She opened a portal and stepped through it.

It only took a full five seconds before he realized that he was alone. Panic rippled through him with a shiver. He looked around, gasping, his mind spiraling while trying to think.

'They'll be no barren moon that you'll be able to hide…' The words echoed in his ears.

He whirled around, suddenly afraid that the Other would appear and take him captive again. He held his breath and looked around, but no one was there.

Loki saw something golden shimmering in the gray Lunar dust and picked it up, allowing the grainy, sandy soil to sift through his fingers. It was a sling ring. Quickly putting it on, he tried to create a gateway back to the Kamir Taj, only to produce flickers of magic. Feeling dizzy and trying to stagger his breath, Loki remembered the slow movements of Tai-Chi that the Ancient One had instilled in him.

'Think about where you want to be.' She had said during one of their practices with the sling ring.

He closed his eyes and held his breath, hoping that it would work, as he was fast running out of air. Loki again raised two fingers with his left hand and drew a circle with the other. This time, a portal did appear, which he staggered through, arriving on the other side back at the temple. Coughing and gasping, he looked up to see the Ancient one and Wong waiting for him. The woman's face was smiling slightly.

What she had done had been cruel, but Loki knew she had also wanted him to see his training through. The desperation of abandonment had finally sparked the mystic magic. He had wanted to prove his worth to her and the others, but now he understood that he was worth more than any of the tests they had put him through. And it was a test to see how much he trusted her with his life. And she, in turn, could trust him to put the knowledge in this temple's powers.

Loki looked at his hands and the ring shining from one of them. The frozen spark in him had finally ignited again.

"Shall we begin, Mr. Loki?" the Ancient One stated.