The portal to the realm of Appetentia shrinks in my sight, eventually fading, as I'm pulled through the darkness, a tingling sensation on my skin. The oppressing dark surrounds me, pushing against me, my senses failing me, unable to hear or see a thing. Seeing no point in keeping them open, I close my eyes, their torn corners healed, and fall into meditation, reaching out with my spirit. A magical energy I have no familiarity with calls out to me, expressing a need to be used, to take me wherever I need to go.
I carefully align with it, my spirit connecting to the energy, a feeling of inherent, mass potential filling me as I do. A flicker beyond my closed eyes causes me to open them, finding the darkness around me mitigated, its shroud pierced through by pinpricks of light, the new starry canvas above and around me providing enough light for me to see. A pulse under my feet has me looking down towards them, seeing myself standing on a smooth, blue path.
Following it with a tilt of my head, I see it stretch out into the distance, taking bends and loops, differently coloured, branched paths reaching off it, themselves connecting to even more paths. The varied roads pass over my head and wrap around each other, forming infinite layers of multi-coloured walkways, the sides of which are lined with a multitude of doors, some wood, others metal, while even more are made of materials I don't recognise, with symbols nailed on them, placed at eye-level.
I take a step towards the edge of my blue path, a ripple of light emerging from where I place my foot, travelling along the length. Putting that curiosity aside for now, I pull a rock from my Ring of Containment and infuse a tracking spell into it, then hold it over the edge and let go. I follow it as it falls, getting smaller in my sight as it goes, its dull colouring hiding it against the starry sky, before it's obscured by a yellow path. Conjuring a small magic circle in my hand, I go to activate the spell, when a short, sharp, clink rings out behind me.
Placing my hand on Jian in preparation of unsheathing it, I spin, a look of surprise appearing on my face as I find my rock resting on the blue path. Pulling Jian, I point it to the rock and poke at it, rolling it slightly, before stopping and activating my spell. A ring of sorcery circles the rock as I do, the tracking spell projecting an impression of a location, confirming the rock before me to be my own. Placing it back in my ring, I run the test through my mind, thinking on the result.
This place, which I'm beginning to suspect to be the Crossroads, the nexus between dimensions, doesn't seem to follow my conventional understanding of physics. From what I know of this realm; space, time, and gravity are not absolute here, with its countless portals leading to any location, regardless of your personal timestream. Should you enter the wrong door, you could end up a billion years into the future, trapped on a barren planet.
As I recall this information, I step away from the edge, making certain to stay in the centre of the path. I suspect that I'll end up back on a path should I fall off, one way or another, but Zhurong must've placed me here, specifically, for a reason. I wouldn't want to slip and get lost, forced to wander this endless realm searching for my way home.
With that in mind, I set off, ignoring the doors around me, where they lead to unknown, their symbols foreign to me.
…
The journey so far has been taken in silence, the only sound being that of my steps bouncing off the pathway beneath me; so when a sudden noise, the creaking of hinges, breaks the still atmosphere, it causes me still and turn, drawing Jian and staring to the origin, my body tense. A stone arch on my left, its set door made of dark wood, has been slightly opened, a deathly aura leaking out of it, the feeling of cold fingers walking up my spine making me shiver.
My eyes narrow as a large, black skeletal hand, its tips long and sharp, its knuckles twisted and prominent, reaches out from the thin opening. The fingers slowly fall on the arch, one at a time, in sync with my hastening heartbeat, clutching it with force, the stone cracking, before harsh breathing starts to sound out. I stare intently, an unusual sense of fear coming over me, before Revelation reveals some information that causes me to deeply frown,
[Revelation
Name – ???
Vital Status – ???
Species – ???
Powers – ???
Weaknesses – ???
History – WAITING. WATCHING. WANTING.]
I spin, starting to run, putting as much distance between and whatever the fuck that is as I can, not the least bit willing to risk fighting something that can obscure itself from Revelation. I enhance myself with my Chi, increasing my speed as I hear the shattering of glass behind me, the path below starting to creak, thin, deep cracks branching out beneath me and spreading forward. As heavy footfalls move to me, the long, sharp cry of a bird, at odds with the environment, rings out somewhere above, causing me to search for it as I move.
Locating a trail of orange fire flying overhead, a crimson-feathered bird at its front, heading I'm my direction, I breath out a sigh of relief. It starts to descend, large wings of fire spreading from it as it shoots down, getting close and passing over me. The great wall of wind chasing it almost sends me off my feet, before an enormous explosion thunders out behind me, a wave of heat washing over my body, the path under me undulating. Jumping, I conjure a platform Mandalas, staying off the ground.
I leap from the Mandala, forming a new one to rush to, then repeat, making sure to follow the path below. When I see its form begin to settle, I make a final jump and land, rolling, then continuing to sprint. The noise of battle moves with me, getting closer as I hurry, as the paths overhead start to stretch, thinning and extending out into the void. Each one begins to shine their own colour, a kaleidoscopic tunnel forming around me, before they recede, the space in front warping.
A twisted tree of limbs, each seeming to be from a different species, pointing every which way and more, appears in my vision, growing closer to me, my path starting to widen as it does. I flinch as the tree abruptly snaps towards me in a flash, reaching me instantly, before I reduce my speed, ignoring the battle further back, my attention focused on the signpost facing me. One of its limbs, human in appearance, extends down from the tree, a left-pointing directional board in its hand. Written upon the board, in Old Mandarin, is a single word, one that embodies urgency,
[Home!]
With no other choice, I pick up speed and turn, running towards where it points, the path switching to snow-white. As I step on it, it starts to morph, taking a gradual right turn, a wooden door at its end, the engravings of Kamar-Taj carved on it surface. My destination in sight, the sorcery of my new world emanating from it, I channel my Chi and sprint as hard as I can, the way home within grabbing distance, when a sudden, fast moving, urgent cry comes from my left.
I go to turn, before an orange, fiery blur impacts the white path ahead of me, smashing through and breaking it; large shards of white crystal shooting out as the road starts to whip. Making a quick decision, the way ahead no more, I shift trajectory, jumping from the shattered path, aiming for a purple one below. I near it, enhancing myself to withstand the fall, when the path abruptly repositions, moving out of my way. Hastily conjuring a whip, I throw it out, trying to wind it around, but the path shifts up, my magic missing.
I start to frown before a flash of understanding runs through me, an idea that the realm must be trying to guide me, showing me that wasn't the right path. Hoping I'm right, I allow myself to descend, waiting for the realm to bring the right path to me, watching the starry sky spin as I fall, a vague sensation of space distorting around me. A rainbow of paths blur past me, each one moving closer to me, before a grey streak appears below me, ending in a set of dark blue, glass-panelled, wooden doors.
Lightening myself with telekinesis and applying a bit of opposing force, I land softly on the path, breathing a sigh of relief, when a shrill whistling emits from up above, growing louder as it races in my direction. The fear in my mind increases as the sound nears me, causing me to bolt, darting towards the doors, the feeling projecting from it slightly different from the white-pathed door. I push the difference aside as I hear the crash of a large object impacting the path behind me.
The fear intensifies as I sense the being grows closer, a deathly breath tickling my neck, the doors coming into reach, when I slam into them, scrambling for their handles, vertical lengths of twisted metal. Throwing the doors open as my hair is grazed by something, I charge out, slamming them closed behind me and stumbling over some concrete stairs, the light of day landing on my skin. The ever present noise of civilisation resounds in my ears as I regain my balance, coming to a stop on a modern, cobbled road, the loud horn of a yellow taxi blaring to my left.
Shock darts through me as I stand, staring blankly at the architecture around me, the near, low, red brick buildings, and distant, towering, metal skyscrapers reflecting in my eyes. I come back to my senses as the cracking of glass sounds from above me, causing me to quickly look up, finding a pair of long, black, skinny arms, reaching out from a void, a pair of full, emerald eyes staring down at me as the being forces its way into this realm. I watch in disgust as its sagging, raven skin and green underbelly slither out of the fracture, a wormlike lower body following it as it starts to fall.
Unsheathing Jian and conjuring a Mandala, I jump away to avoid it, when it whips out an arm, slamming into my raised shield with inhuman strength, sending me crashing back through the double doors, shattering them. I slide and tumble across a polished, patterned, wooden floor, coming to a stop against the bottom step of a grand staircase, two familiar men staring down at me. I groan in pain as I feel my entire body bruise, the strength of my attacker beyond me.
The blue-robed man on my left, slicked back hair with greying sides, red, collared cloak adorning his shoulders, complementing his goatee, looks down at with a raised eyebrow. He opens his mouth to speak, an affected american accent, the words comfortingly english, sounding out, "Who the hell are you?"
The other man, his long-ish, dark-blonde hair pulled into a low ponytail and a bearded face, dressed in a grey jacket over a dark, zip-up hoodie and light blue jeans over black boots, turns to the first man, "One of yours, wizard?" He asks, his voice deep, with an undertone of humour. The Sorcerer Supreme looks me over as I struggle to stand, chanelling my Chi to heal, and goes to answer, when a gurgling roar from beyond the destroyed entrance carries through the building, getting the attention of the men.
Stephen Strange turns to his broken doors, peering through, a serious expression coming across his face as he lays eyes on the being, then asks of the God of Thunder, "You going to help me with that?" An equally serious look appears on the face of Thor as he looks out, seeing the giant monster trying to force its way into the Sanctum, the buildings wards shining on its dark skin.
He raises his umbrella and starts to walk to the entrance, replying as he goes, "Of course." A sigh leaves the Sorcerer Supreme as he spins a portal into existence and rises off the ground, his Cloak of Levitation swaying behind him. Just before he floats through, the cracking of thunder ringing out from the other side, I manage to get to my feet and call out him, my voice hoarse, "Cr-" I cough, spitting out some blood, "Crossroads." He looks back at me and nods, then enters.
Limited in what I can do to help, I wipe my bloody mouth with a sleeve of my robe and take a few weak steps back to sit on the stairs, then close my eyes and focus on healing. The battle outside rages on as I manipulate my Chi, the building shaking a couple times, the sounds of items falling far upstairs reaching me, my various wounds and fatigue recovering. Feeling mostly restored, I stand and climb the right stairs, stepping foot on the first floor, a balcony circling over the entrance hall.
Walking up and round a small railing, into a small section with an opening in the floor, guarded by another railing, I find three branching paths. The one to the right a corridor ending in three windows, through which I can see different environments, while down the one to my left I see nothing but doors. My focus falls on the one in front, a set of dark, wooden stairs that lead to the second floor, up which I see a giant window, lined with the Seal of the Vishanti, overlooking the room.
Climbing up them, I step foot in an area I recognise, a variety of artefacts and relics dotted about the floor, either homed in glass cases or hanging on the bookshelf and drape-lined walls. I refrain from touching or divining any of them, not knowing what they're capable of, and instead walk over the window and peer out. Surprise flashes in my eyes as I find myself looking out over the street in front of the building, the space in the Sanctum seemingly warped somehow.
Stepping away, I give the room a sweep, looking for the stairway to the roof, my eyes clocking a single door tucked away in the corner. Going over to it, it creaks open to reveal a cramped stairway, a few of the steps with little cracks in them. I climb up with heavy feet, the lack of rest starting to get to me, and open up the double doors out into a small, divided roof terrace, decorated in gardenware and potted flowers.
The fracturing of the mirror dimension chimes out as I stand on the roof, the snake-like being smashing through, the caped form of Thor riding it, Mjølnir held high. He swings it down into its body, a bolt of lightning flashing from the sky and impacting the entity, increasing the power of his blow. A portal suddenly opens up next to me, a floating Sorcerer Supreme emerging from it and landing next to me, before he conjures a second, larger portal under the falling being.
I watch as Thor spins Mjølnir with great force and shoots up at speed, saving himself, as the portal swallows the entity and closes, taking it to parts unknown. He rises up before starting to fall, landing next us with a soft impact, the roof rattling slightly, a solemn look on his face as he stands and looks to Strange, "That was a god. Of what pantheon it belongs is unknown to me, but its divinity was clear." He turns his gaze to me, his stature a couple inches taller than mine, and asks with concern in his voice, "What has brought the attention of a god on you, Wizardess?"
As I think on what to tell the Asgardian before me, uncertain of the reason myself, Strange creates another portal and speaks up, his tone impatient, "That can wait." He eyes Thor, "Don't you need to go find your father?" Thor levels a steady gaze at the Sorcerer Supreme, but nods in agreement, walking through the portal and back onto the ground floor. We follow after him and step through, where Strange pulls a blonde hair from his pocket and winds it around his yellow gloves.
The strand alights with sorcery and twists between his hands as he performs the gestures of a spell I don't recognise, a curved Valknut, the symbol of Odin, forming. It begins to rapidly rotate, blurring, when he throws it out, a portal forming, showing cloudy skies and a grass-topped cliff. Stephen turns to face Thor with an exhale, holding a gloved hand out to the portal, an almost undetectable hint of sadness in his voice as he speaks, "He's waiting for you."
Thor squares his shoulder, preparing himself for the meeting, when a thought seems to occur to him, "And my Brother?"
Strange stares blankly for a moment, before he straightens in remembrance, "Right." He circles a hand out, a second portal forming above us, a screaming man in a black suit falling down out of it. I reach out with my telekinesis and catch him before he hits the ground, holding him aloft as he starts to struggle, his lengthy, black hair whipping as he tries to look around at me to my position on the stairs.
"Release me this instant!" He orders, his strength starting to overcome my grasp. Doing as he requests, I gesture, throwing him through the portal and onto Norway, watching with mirth as he lands on his face. The remaining two men stare at me, so I just shrug my shoulders, causing Thor to smile and let out a little laugh. He turns back to Strange with a thankful expression on his face, and holds out a hand,
"Thank you very much for your help. It was interesting fighting alongside a Wizard, we should do this again sometime." He releases him and goes to walk away, eager to see his father, giving us a final look as he passes through. I see Loki say something to his brother, his body language heated, then conjure two silver daggers in his hands and turn to stare at us. As he begins to move, Strange closes the portal with a roll of his eyes, closing off the angry God of Mischief's way back.
Done with his business with the Asgardians, he glances at me, then turns to face me, a contemplative expression on his face, "Now then, mind explaining who you are?"
I stare at him from my seat on the steps, a hint of panic rising in me as my situation becomes clear to me. The Crossroads have sent me into the future, of potentially my own timeline, landing me in the modern era, a time of superheroes and cosmic evils. Going by the meeting I just witnessed, I'm sometime during Thor: Ragnarok, before the destruction of Asgard and...
Six months before Thanos Snaps his fingers.