Believer [Peter Parker]

52 - Time Stone

On the roof of the Santum Sanctorum, 2012's Ancient One  was protecting it. Hannah and Bruce attempted to enter through the roof before noticing her.

"I'd be careful going that way," the Ancient One said. "We just had the floors waxed."

"Ma'am, we're looking for Doctor Strange," Bruce said.

"You're about... five years too early," the Ancient One. "Stephen Strange is currently performing surgery about twenty blocks that way. What do you want from him?"

"A surgery? In this mess?" Hannah asked.

"Good point," Bruce said, "but we're actually looking for that," pointing towards the Eye of Agamotto where the Time Stone was kept.

"Ah. I'm afraid not," the Ancient One said.

"Sorry, but I wasn't asking," Bruce said.

"You don't wanna do this," Ancient One said.

"Ah, you're right, I don't," Bruce said. Bruce tried to take the Eye of Agamotto. "But we need that stone, and I don't have time to beat it-

The Ancient One pushes Bruce' astral form out of his body. Bruce who's is now in astral form looks at The Ancient One horrified.

Hannah's jaw dropped in shock. She stared the human version of Bruce Banner.

"Let's start over, shall we?" the Ancient One asked.

Hannah and Bruce began to beg the Ancient One to give them the Time Zone.

"Please," Hannah begged. "We really need it."

"Yeah, please," Bruce agreed.

"I'm sorry, I can't help you, Bruce and Hannah," the Ancient One said. "If I give up the Time Stone to help your Reality, I'm dooming my own."

"With all due respect, I'm not sure the science really supports that," Bruce said.

The Ancient One created a projection with a long ray that simulated the flow of time.

"The Infinity Stones create what you experience as the flow of time," the Ancient One explained. "Remove one stone and that flow splits," she removed one stone and black stream appeared, indicating a point of divergence. "Now, this may benefit your reality, but my new one...not so much. In this new branched Reality, without our chief weapon against the forces of darkness, our world will be overrun. Millions will suffer. So, tell me, Doctor, Hannah, can your science prevent all that?"

"No, but we can erase it," Hannah said. "Because once we are done with the stones, we can return each one to its own timeline at the moment it was taken. So, chronologically, in that reality, it never left."

"But you are leaving out the most important part. In order to return the stones, you have to survive," the Ancient One said.

"We will. We will.  I promise," Bruce promised.

"I can't risk this Reality on a promise," the Ancient One said. "It is the duty of the Sorcerer Supreme to protect the Time Stone."

"Then, why the hell did Strange give it away?" Bruce asked.

"What did you say?" Ancient One asked, surprised.

Hannah has a feeling that telling that to the Ancient One was a terrible idea.

"Strange, he gave it away. He gave it to Thanos," Bruce said.

"Willingly?"

"Yes," Bruce said.

"...Why?"

"I have no idea. Maybe he made a mistake," Bruce suggested.

"I know why," Hannah said. "I was there when he gave it up."

"Why did he?"

"He has no other choice," Hannah said. "If he didn't give it up, then Tony Stark would've died. He would've been killed. He said he saw fourteen million and six hundred and five possibilities and we only win one. And I'm assuming when he saw that Tony Stark was close to death he had no other choice but to give it up because we need Tony Stark. I highly doubt you made a mistake, but we need to get the Time Stone before he gives it up."

"Is that what happened?" Ancient One asked.

"Yeah, it is," Hannah said.

She returned to Banner control of his Hulk body and opened the Eye of Agamotto, revealing the Time Stone.

"Strange is meant to be the best of us," Ancient One said. "And if he gave it up for... I fear you might be right."

She hands the Time Stone to Hannah.

"Thank you," Hannah said.

"I'm counting on the both of you," the Ancient One said.