"It's time to make a choice."
Inside a dilapidated, crumbling house in the wake of the New York disaster, a man sat.
He bore a striking resemblance to Tony Stark, yet he looked aged, weathered by a deep, lingering exhaustion. He was the first to break the silence.
"Tony, we know absolutely nothing about that entity," the man across from him said. He looked exactly like Steve Rogers, his face clouded with hesitation.
"But we don't have a choice. Our Pym Particles are limited; they're only enough for this one round trip. Fine, I have other ways to snag the Tesseract and restock the particles, but what about the other things we're looking for? What if we jump through time again and just end up right back here?"
Tony understood Steve's reluctance, but their options were thinning.
Besides, based on what they'd managed to overhear, these people from The Blue didn't seem like they were impossible to talk to.
"They're a civilization with Star-Destroyers! Who knows how terrifying this 'Herta' person actually is!" Scott Lang's expression was stiff, his anxiety bleeding through.
Banner, now physically merged with the Hulk, offered his own take: "Maybe we should try to reach out to the alien. It might only cost us a small price."
"Or it could cost us everything," Scott countered, throwing his hands up.
"Strange once said that the Sorcerer Supreme's mission is to guard the Time Stone and ward off threats that could destroy the Earth," Tony said suddenly.
The others weren't slow; except for Scott, who was still catching up to the gravity of the situation, they all caught his drift.
"The Sorcerer Supreme hasn't made a move, which means... they aren't a threat to the planet?" Scott asked, trying to follow the logic.
"Just because they aren't a threat to the planet's existence doesn't mean they aren't a threat to the people on it," Banner clarified before turning back to Tony.
"Are you saying we should go find Strange first?"
"Or whoever it is. Point is, we need to find the Sorcerer Supreme," Tony nodded.
"Then let's move."
The words had barely left Steve's mouth when a shower of sparks ignited in front of them. The fwoosh of magical energy carved a rapid arc through the air, forming a glowing semi-circle that met the floor.
Beyond the portal lay an ancient, sprawling parlor. A woman dressed in sorcerous robes stood inside, offering them a calm smile.
Tony had seen this trick before. He traded a glance with the others and prepared to step through.
Steve, despite knowing little about these gateways, wasn't about to let his teammates stand in front of him in the face of the unknown. He quickly moved past Tony, taking the lead.
Once they confirmed there was no immediate danger, the whole group stood within the parlor.
"You're the Sorcerer Supreme of this era," Tony stated, his eyes fixed on the pendant hanging from the Ancient One's neck.
"Indeed. Stephen Strange won't take over for another five years or so." The Ancient One's smile remained steady as she gestured for them to sit.
A teapot began to move of its own accord, filling itself with tea leaves and boiling water before pouring a steaming brew into their cups.
"You know why we're here?" Scott asked, cutting straight to the point since no one else would.
"I do. I've been watching you since yesterday," she nodded. "You've come for the Stones."
"Will you help us?" Banner asked.
"Under normal circumstances, no... the Infinity Stones create the flow of time as you know it. Lending them to you might benefit your world, but it does nothing for ours."
"More importantly, there is no guarantee you will win." Her expression grew complicated, ending in a soft sigh.
"However, I've overheard something from your conversation. For that reason—and specifically regarding the Time Stone—I will help you."
"Thank you," Steve said solemnly. He knew a decision like this wasn't made lightly; the Ancient One's concerns were perfectly valid.
"Don't worry, there won't be any more fighting. Our enemy is already dead," Banner said, trying to offer some comfort. "We only need the Stones to put everything back the way it was."
Thanos had been killed right before their eyes, after all.
Yet, the Ancient One's expression remained troubled.
Her aura of profound mystery had already left an impression on the Avengers; seeing her look like that in response to Banner's reassurance sent an alarm bell ringing in their heads.
Was the battle not over? Even if it felt impossible, still...
"You have the Time Stone. What about the others?" she asked, steering the conversation away.
"The Space Stone and Mind Stone are currently on that alien's ship. We don't know her," Banner said, the thought clearly giving him a headache. "But we have to get them."
"She is... unique."
The Ancient One's tone turned grave. "Even within the Multiverse, she is an anomaly. If you wish to save your world, do not attempt to make an enemy of her."
"Is she more dangerous than Thanos?" To Banner, Thanos was the ultimate nightmare—not just for the Hulk, but for himself as well.
The Ancient One didn't answer directly, but her silence spoke volumes.
"Then we just have to make sure we don't become enemies," Steve said. "The only problem now is finding her."
Tony had already tried using tech to track the ship, but he'd come up empty. Their cloaking technology was light-years beyond anything his sensors could pick up.
At this, the Ancient One gave a small smile. "Finding her isn't difficult. I can send you there."
This caught the Avengers off guard. Given her previous attitude, they had assumed she was deeply wary of this Herta.
"I am indeed cautious of that cosmic titan, but to some extent, we actually get along quite well," the Ancient One explained.
That made sense. The grim look earlier was likely a warning to ensure they didn't go in with their guards down. The Avengers nodded in understanding, feeling a wave of gratitude.
"This is all the help I can give. If your conversation goes well and you manage to return here, I will lend you the Stone."
"Thank you," Steve said again. She really was doing them a massive favor.
"I wish you success." The Ancient One didn't linger on goodbyes.
Instead, she reached into her robes and pulled out a smartphone. The sight of a mystical sorceress using such a mundane device made everyone pause.
Noticing their looks, she chuckled. "Sorcerers aren't relics of the past. We use the internet. We even order takeout."
...Fair enough.
After shooting a message to Herta and receiving an immediate reply, the Ancient One looked back at the group. "The rest is up to you."
As she spoke, a portal—like the one they had just used—flared to life once more.
This time, however, the other side revealed a sleek, silver-grey corridor dripping with high-tech aesthetics, ending at a closed door.
Clearly, Madam Herta was waiting inside.
The Avengers shared a final look, braced themselves mentally, and stepped through the golden ring.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.