Chapter 1

Part 1

Anyone will tell you that your responsibilities and duties must come before anything else, but there must always be something else. Having fought his fellow sorcerers and died in battle holding back Dormammu, that was his duty as a librarian of Kamar-Taj, fending off the invasion of New York by alien forces that was his also his responsibility as a sorcerer, joining the battle against Thano’s army was his duty as a human. His tribulations with the Scarlet Witch a few months ago were his duty as the sorcerer supreme. Now that the immediate dangers had passed something else was causing Wong to rush at an aberrant pace through the busy streets of New York. The destination was not far, his sling would get him wherever he needed, but the exact location was the problem, so he was marching to vent his frustration. He could have been done in minutes, but he forgot the time difference between Kamar-taj and New York. He also forgot his wallet where the stub with the address was. He knows time is of the essence because should he fail to pick up the coveted item today, it will be snatched up by someone who would get it solely for its value as a collectable. So here he is: Wong, sorcerer supreme of earth fuming and rolling down on one of the busiest streets of New York with a preorder voucher for the album of the reassembled Spice Girls cassette. Oh yes! a cassette, not a cd or a vinyl, but a cassette one of five hundred promotional packs. Well Wong fought and won it from Blonsky and he is damn well gonna get it, just as soon as he remembers which of the hundred music stores does this voucher belongs to. Imagine listening to their new songs on the Walkman he used to listen to others before, new songs inspired by half the population coming back. He turned a corner and there it was a banner right in front of the store with haphazardly decorated colorful balloons that matched the voucher in his hands not three hundred feet away. Soho music gallery it is, he rushed past the neighborhood fortune tellers and the big eye reminded him of Stephen’s new eye. It was creepy, eerie and why was a portal opening right in front of him in the middle of the street? Before he could ponder upon the question or stall his stride he was back in Kamar-Taj. Specifically in its main courtyard looking at a minotaur who had just sealed the portal behind him.

Wait no…ahh damn it Rintrah!- exclaimed Wong as he tried to jump back into an already vanished portal.

Before Rintrah the minotaur would muster an answer, another called out from behind of the newly restored columns.    

Master, you need to see this- called out weasel, who was visibly concerned.

Wong knew that his earlier endeavor was forlorn and approached his student. Weasel was still shaken from his experience with Scarlet Witch and his failure to resist her weighed heavily on him. The tortures Wanda inflicted on him also had made their mark, pain and guilt were enough to almost break his sanity all together. It was a miracle they managed to claw him back from the abyss, but Wong was still worried about sending him out of the temple and tried to help him by giving him menial tasks like aiding Strange in rebuilding the fortress.

Wong looked at where Weasel was pointing, it was an opening in the base of the column, something that was only made tangible after they restored this part of the temple. He hurried down and after following a long winding staircase he entered into a narrow corridor that led to a large cavern within the mountain. The cavern was turned into a large round room with shattered mirrors at the walls, a small round platform in the middle was barely visible in the darkness, a giant one-eyed statue in the middle was visible. Wong stepped inside and at once slipped and fell into the pond. The floor he had perceived before was just still water. As he outstretched his arm to grab onto something, something grabbed him and hoisted him up and onto the platform. As Wong let go he saw his savior flutter back to the back of his friend who was studying the statue.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

I hope the plunge did not ruin your new cassette- said Stephen Strange in his usual flippant manner.

I didn’t get it, they yanked me right out of SoHo- said Wong as he weaved signs that dried his clothes.

Yes, sorry I asked them to find you- said Stephen as he knelt and rifled in the lumber near the statue.

What is this place? - Wong looked around and saw no familiar markings or any other entrances to the cavern.

Ruin of some kind, problem is the ruins are fresh- said Stephen as the broke a piece of stick from the lumber.

How can you tell? - queried Wong.

Because I can see it- Said Stephen as he turned and looked at Wong with all three eyes.

Again, Wong was staring at that thing, the corruption from using the Darkhold, the battle with Scarlet Witch cost them all, fall of Kamar-Taj, loss of dozens of his friends and students and corruption of the most formidable sorcerer Wong has ever known, save for the Ancient One. The true price of using that accursed book was still not known to them, but the anguished cries at night from Stephens room were a good indicator of what was to come.

And what do you see? - Asked Wong staring into the third eye.

Wanda- Stephen said curtly as Weasel and Rintrah joined them at the platform.

Wong still felt uneasy with that name and preferred to attribute all the atrocities to the Scarlet Witch.  

She must have jumped into this room through one of those mirrors while she was searching for America Chavez and ran riot here- mused Rintrah.

But why would she tear this place apart, nobody is here- pondered Weasel.

Anymore- added Strange as he waved his hands and torches all around the room lit up revealing that the lumber across the room were wooden mannequins. Tall humanoid wooden beings with joints made from glass and faces with spirals.  Taking in the full inventory of the room Wong realizes where he is standing, he closes his eyes for a moment before realizing the folly and turns to Strange.

Strange you and Weasel need to leave this room right now- whispers Wong.

Stephen gives him a quizzical look, but the terror on his friend's face is a strong argument.  

Rintrah please help me collect one of these figures and take it up, that one with pieces Strange broke off. -says Wong.

Why don’t we just sling it- Starts Stephen.

No, no more magic in this room- Wong’s voice is cold and commanding.

A while later as they all come together in the courtyard Wong turns to the pillar and obfuscates the entrance using his armband.

What was that Wong? - asks Stephen curiously.

To answer that I need your help, use the time stone to restore what you broke- Wong points at the amulet on Strange’s chest.

Stephen obliges and unlocks the seal which unveils the shimmering green jewel inside it. He channels its powers into his hands and while looking at the broken piece of the wooden arm tries to reverse time over it, but to no avail.

I broke it off no more than 20 minutes ago, what’s going on?- says perturbed Strange.  

One more thing left to find out, let’s take it into the library- says Wong and he opens the portal to the library.

Now what- says Strange, but before he can turn around, Rintrah drops to the library floor with Wong standing behind him with a glowing baton.

Quickly put them next to each other- commands Wong.

As snoring Rintrah and the wooden mannequin lay next to one another the spiral on the mannequins' face starts to emit low glow. Wong finds the nearest chair and sinks into it.

You know what it is Master? - Asks Weasel while staring at the laying bodies on the floor.

Question is left unanswered by Wong as he too stares at the mannequin.

Wong?- Stephen addresses his friend.

Yes, Strange this is the dream catcher a sentry, and the room below is the sleepers well- says Wong.

And we are all in trouble.

        Some time later

Massachusetts can be a cold place, but a morning sun and a good cup of coffee can always warm up Ned’s day as he is walking from campus to the local video game store. He finished his project and delivered it early in the morning, so he is free. It will be another couple of hours before MJ will be free to hang out, so the best thing is to go and browse new video game releases that should have shipped to his favorite store. Change was fast but a welcome one, New York was a living creature with everyone living in its shadow, here life was of pace you set for yourself, and diligent Ned has set himself to a comfortable pace this first semester. And now the morning would be made complete with his first sip of coffee.

Mr leeds!- A voice called over from Ned’s shoulder.

Ned turned around and saw a Minotaur standing in front of a portal, while in the portal he saw Dr. Strange and couple of other people.

Hu?- was the only thing that came out of his mouth in response to what he saw, followed by a scream as he scolded himself with a coffee which missed his lips and kissed his chin and neck instead.

We got our traveler, now we need a driver- Said Wong as they looked from the portal to the Kamar-Taj training grounds where a group of novices are training.

End of part 1