Down A Dark Path

Darkened Path

[This first chapter is a bit of a tester to see if you all would like me to add more. The idea wouldn't leave me alone so I had no choice but to share hahaha]

Time can affect the brain in so many ways. People change so often that they don't even notice it's happening. Villians can become heroes though it takes a long time and extreme circumstances. The opposite is also true, heroes can become villains via time and circumstances.

Stephen hadn't noticed it at first but when he did notice how he had changed he was so far gone that he no longer cared. After living through countless death's at the hand of Dormamu he also lived out many million different possibilities. Experiencing constant battle for so long with no rest changed him. Through seeing so many possibilities he also saw many sides to the people he fought alongside. Foolishly his heart latched onto Tony Stark, at first he found him irritating...then respected him...found that Tony understood his issues...then he began to care.

However this man was going to die.

Thing's played out as they were meant too and Stephen latches himself onto Tony's chosen family. He made sure Peter stayed safe when he went out patrolling and even gave him tips on hand to hand combat. He visited with Pepper and spoke with her about the various possibilities he saw as well as shared tea together. He would take time to not only tell Morgan stories about her father but would use his ability to show her the stories as he told them. He offered to teach Rhodes the mystic arts so that he would be able to walk on his own should he choose to. He would often meet with Happy, with Morgan in tow sometimes, at a burger place. He even began to talk to the young man, Harley, who he met at Tony's funeral.

He felt guilty at his failure, he pinned over the man for a long time.

Stephen was surprised the cloak still remained with him considering how much he had changed. Wong, when asked about it, said that because the cloak experienced that time with him then it had most likely changed a little as well. Stephen was glad for this, he needed all the help he could get for his plan to work.

During the time he and the others were inside the soul stone, which is actually it's own plane of existence connected to all existing soul stones within the multiverse, Thanos had destroyed their dimensions versions of the stones. However, Stephen Strange was not going to stop until he succeeded so he searched the libraries in all of the sanctums for a solution.

So here Stephen is, breaking so many rules just so he could change Tony's fate. He would have to change many others to ensure Tony lives but that's alright.

The world needs Tony Stark, no if and or but's about it.

He began to scour the libraries of each sanctum to find a way. He did this in secret so that the other sorcerers wouldn't figure out what he planned. As he noted certain spells within each book his plan grew and appeared closer to succeeding. He took note of Wong, watching him with a look he had not yet seen on the man's face before. Yet Wong did not comment on his actions, not even when Stephen KNEW the man noticed what he took.

Stephen sat in his room with the cloak wrapping around him like a hug. He had the things he needed and even the extras that he planned to take with him. Now, as he began to concentrate, he could do what needed to be done.

He maneuvered his shaking hands in a formation that imitated water flowing in an eternity symbol shape before jerking his hands forwards. The mystic circle glowed bright green and, unlike the green of the time stone, was brighter and spinning quickly. The color in his eyes bled away into a glowling silvery white as he tilted his hands to the left.

Images flashed in front of his eyes, events that had taken place turning backwards. He had to go back a long ways in order to do what needs to be done. Wong opened the door to Stephen's room but didn't show a reaction to the magic displayed. Stephen glanced towards him to see the man looking resigned.

"I had a feeling you would do this." Wong said softly as he began to back out of the room.

"I won't stop you but you must be careful Stephen."

With that word of warning he shut the door again before walking down the hall. Stephen could feel the cloak gently pat his shoulder before he reminded hinself that he needed to finish what he started.

Further back the images sped on until he found the right place in time to begin his plans. He slapped his hands together, as though in prayer, as a flash of green and white overtook his vision.

Stephen Strange fell through the kaleidoscope of past events this universe had experienced. At certain points in his fall he would release of of eight glowing balls of energy, colored orange. The cloak left him just before his soul landed in his younger body, which had been sleeping in bed.

With a jolt the young body of Doctor Strange shot up from his bed. He looked down at his hands, no scars and no shaking. With a glance to his clock he knew he had succeeded.

March 10, 2006

Two years before Tony became Iron Man.

Stephen smiled as his eyes held an aerie glow to them. He whispered aloud, although no one was there to hear him.

"Now then...shall we begin?"