In Another Life • A Loki/Fixing Marvel FanFic

Chapter 6 : Ancient One

I'd been holed up in this library for hours, poring over everything I could find about the Mind Stone and flipping through the healing books the Ancient One had provided. My head was swimming with information, but the solution to Loki's predicament still seemed frustratingly out of reach.

"How's the reading coming along?" The Ancient One's voice broke the silence as she reappeared, her presence calm and steady.

"It's... okay," I replied, sighing. "But honestly, I'm not sure how to stop the mind control other than hitting him over the head." I laughed, though it was more out of frustration than amusement. "The Mind Stone is controlling him through his emotions, amplifying all his negative thoughts and rage. Even if I manage to break the control, I have no idea how he'll react afterward. It's all so confusing in my head."

"You're familiar with memory manipulation, correct?" she asked, and I nodded. "Then once you break him free from the control, bring his real, positive memories to the forefront."

I could do that. But the problem was, he probably hated Meredith.

"Ancient One?" I hesitated, then continued when she hummed in acknowledgment. "Do you know who I am? Like... the real story of who I am?"

She smiled gently, as if she'd been expecting this question. "Yes. You are from another dimension. As for how you got here, you've switched consciousness with another being from this dimension—Meredith."

She knows. "And you know this because...?"

"I am the Sorceress Supreme, the Ancient One. I have dealt with dimensions before," she explained, her voice carrying a quiet pride. "I also knew you were coming, though I didn't have a face to match the name."

"Oh, okay..." I paused, trying to process everything. "So, Meredith—not me—treated Loki horribly, which means he probably hates me. And I can't exactly tell him I'm not Meredith, so how can I help him if he likely wants to kill me?"

"Why can't you tell him?" she asked, her tone neutral, but I could sense a deeper meaning behind her words.

"Well, because he won't believe me. Plus, I'm trying to keep the whole future, different dimension thing on the down low. I really don't want to mess up the timeline. I can't save people if I don't know what's going to happen."

"I see. Such a lonely life for such a noble cause," she observed, her voice tinged with sadness. I gave her a small, sad smile in return. "And how about the healing books?"

"Oh, I skimmed through them, but I haven't really started reading them yet," I admitted, glancing at my watch. It was getting close to dinner time. "Um..."

"Yes, you can come back," she said with a knowing smile, and with a wave of her hand, the books vanished, returning to their shelves.

"Thank you so much, Ancient One. I'm glad I met you. You're... more accepting than Strange. If I had knocked on his door, he probably would've pushed me back out, not let me in," I joked, laughing softly.

"Yes, well, he doesn't know everything like I do. He will be skeptical," she replied, smiling warmly. "I will await your return."

"Thank you again." With a flick of her wrist, we were teleported to the front door. "You know what would be so cool?" I asked, a playful glint in my eye as I mimicked the swirling motion of a sling ring. She raised an eyebrow but couldn't hide the small chuckle that escaped.

"Just this once," she said, pulling out her sling ring and opening a portal that connected directly to my room.

"How...? Never mind. Of course you know where I sleep. Not creepy at all," I teased, earning another chuckle from her. "Thanks." I stepped through the portal, back into the comfort of my room.
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