Disappointing the Ancient One

General (POV)

Kara paced anxiously, trying to suppress the nagging fear that Sarah hadn't made it. "She's fine," she muttered to herself. "Probably just... really far away. Hopefully not dead. Definitely not dead."

Suddenly, a shadow behind her shifted, and Sarah emerged, a sly grin on her face as she tried to catch Kara off guard.

But Kara's senses were already tuned in. She spun around with startling speed, scooping Sarah into a crushing hug. "You made it, sis!" Kara exclaimed, her voice full of relief. "I knew you weren't a goner against Kaecilius. That would've been so embarrassing."

Sarah, on the other hand, looked a little less thrilled. "Sis, I—can't—breathe!" she wheezed. "And, uh, I'm squishy, remember? You're crushing me!"

Kara blinked and loosened her grip, letting Sarah stumble back. "Oh, right. Sorry. But you don't even need to breathe, do you?"

Sarah fixed her with an exasperated glare, brushing herself off. "Unlike you, I absolutely do need to breathe, eat, and sleep. Not enough magical energy to be all-powerful, remember?"

Kara tilted her head, clearly puzzled. "Huh, that's still so weird. How does that even work? I mean, you look so human, but you're technically not—just an energy construct. Could it be something like... or maybe a stabilized..." The young woman started muttering unintelligible nonsense to Sarah.

Sarah groaned, snapping her fingers inches from Kara's face. "Yo! Earth to Kara. Are you still with us?"

Kara blinked, shaking off her train of thought. "Oh, yeah. Totally here. So… what happened?"

"Yeah, so, good news and bad news," Sarah said, her tone casual but with a hint of mischief.

Kara crossed her arms. "Let's start with the bad news. Get it over with."

"Two of them got away," Sarah replied, pulling a mock pout. "So sad, right?"

Kara smirked, quick on the comeback. "Wow, the story of your life, huh? Didn't you let two slip away last time too? Maybe you're just bad at math."

Sarah held up a finger, teasing. "Hey, I arrived late, okay? But the real kicker? When I showed up, I sensed a fifth person lurking around nearby. They were retreating though, so maybe—"

Kara groaned, throwing her hands up. "Stop with the B-tier news. What's the actual good news? Don't leave me hanging."

Sarah's grin widened as she plunged her hand into her own shadow, her fingers disappearing into the void. A second later, she pulled out the stolen page from the Book of Cagliostro and shoved it triumphantly into Kara's hands.

"Boom. Super-duper good news—I swiped this back from Kaecilius," Sarah declared, radiating smug satisfaction.

Kara's eyes lit up as she examined the page, a smile spreading across her face. "No way. How'd you pull that off?"

"Oh, it was easy, actually," Sarah said with a sly grin. "I mean, out here in this reality, Kaecilius could've been a real headache—especially if he'd busted out that Kamar-Taj mirror dimension spell or whatever they call it. So I took a page out of their book—pun intended—and dragged him and Cassidy into my pocket dimension instead. From there? Total cakewalk."

Kara's brows shot up. "Wait, you can enter your own pocket dimension? Since when?"

Sarah shrugged nonchalantly. "Naturally, you wouldn't know with your billion abilities to juggle. Me? I work with the little I've got. After spending so much time stuck in the Shadow Dimension, I started figuring out its quirks. Turns out, the thing has different levels, and where you end up seems to work on intent. You, though? You'll have to figure out your own reality hacks."

Kara tilted her head, intrigued. "Huh. Interesting. I've already got reality marbles, so I don't need that, but still, it's impressive. So, what else happened?"

Sarah smirked, her tone turning mockingly exasperated. "Not much. Kaecilius and Cassidy basically let me drag them in. Seriously, does Kamar-Taj teach anything practical? A bit of white magic, and they could've wiggled free. But then again they were so deep in dark magic...so that thought might have never occurred to them." She let out a dramatic sigh. "Once they were inside, though? Well, let's just say I could use my magic freely, and now they're… permanent residents of the place."

Kara winced, though her lips quirked up in a grin. "Yikes. Nasty work, sis. But hey, thanks for the page. That's one less mystical headache we'll have to deal with later."

Sarah's grin widened as she pointed at the page in Kara's hand. "You're welcome, but FYI, that thing's indestructible. Believe me, I tried to burn it with hellfire. Didn't even singe it."

Kara chuckled, tucking the page safely into her clothes. "Well, I guess that's a win. Nice work, shadow queen."

"Shadow queen? Eh, I'll take it." Sarah gave a mock bow, the smug look on her face making Kara roll her eyes.

...

"Supreme One!"

"Mentor!"

The Ancient One stepped out of the temple into the small square, where a crowd of sorcerers rushed toward her, their faces etched with worry.

"Don't worry," she said, her voice calm yet commanding. "Shuma-Gorath has been dealt with."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the crowd. The battle with Shuma-Gorath had been harrowing, the entity revealing new and devastating powers that had caught even the most experienced of them off guard. Thankfully, the Ancient One and her apprentice, Kara, had stood against the cosmic threat.

Still, their relief was tinged with unease.

"Supreme Sorcerer, where is your apprentice?" Hamir asked, his tone betraying his worry.

"Yes, is she unharmed?" another sorcerer added, echoing the concern rippling through the group.

"Do you need us to assist her?" a third chimed in, their admiration and fear for Kara evident.

The Ancient One couldn't suppress a faint smile at their concern. Kara, though young, had clearly earned the respect—and perhaps a little awe—of her fellow sorcerers. But the Ancient One's thoughts lingered on her apprentice's tendency to wield her immense power with reckless focus. Kara's devouring magic was unlike anything Earth's enemies had ever encountered. Any invader would think twice before challenging her, a truth Shuma-Gorath had learned the hard way. Yet, that same overwhelming strength left little room for nuance.

"Kara is safe," the Ancient One reassured, her tone as steady as her magic. "She's at the library, but... something has happened to the Librarian."

The sorcerers exchanged alarmed glances.

"The Librarian?" Hamir's voice was tinged with dread, his long friendship with the Librarian evident in his reaction.

Wong, who had worked alongside the Librarian for years, looked equally stricken. "What happened? Is he hurt?"

Without answering, the Ancient One gestured for them to follow. The concern for Kara had quickly shifted to a sense of urgency for the Librarian. The group moved as one, the gravity of the situation thickening the air around them.

Their footsteps echoed through the stone corridors as they hurried toward the library, their minds racing. Each sorcerer feared the worst but hoped for the best.

Bang!

The heavy library doors swung open with force as Hamir rushed inside, his eyes scanning the room. His gaze locked onto the scene—books scattered across the floor, the Librarian lying motionless in a pool of blood, and Kara standing nearby, calm but weary.

"Librarian!" Hamir dropped to his knees beside his old friend, his voice trembling with urgency. "Wake up! Who did this to you?"

Wong followed close behind, his expression darkening as he took in the sight. Memories of their countless hours spent alongside the Librarian flooded his mind.

"Kara," Wong demanded, his voice sharp with a mix of grief and rage. "What happened here? Who's responsible for this?"

Kara held up her hands in a calming gesture. "Relax, you two. He's not dead; he's just sleeping. Once he wakes up, you can interrogate him to your heart's content."

Hamir hesitated, his shaking hand reaching toward the Librarian's face. He held his breath as he placed his fingers under the man's nose. Warmth. Faint, but unmistakable. A shuddering sigh of relief escaped him.

"He's alive," Hamir murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank the great Vishanti above!"

Wong's tension visibly eased as he clasped Hamir's shoulder. "Thank the Vishanti, indeed."

"You might want to thank Kara instead," came the calm, steady voice of the Ancient One as she entered the room. Her serene presence quieted the sorcerers, though her eyes betrayed the weight of the night's events.

Hamir blinked in surprise. "Kara? You—?"

The Ancient One nodded. "Kara treated his wounds before you arrived. Had she not acted so quickly, the Librarian might not have survived."

Both Wong and Hamir turned to Kara, their expressions shifting from relief to heartfelt gratitude.

"Thank you, Kara," Hamir said sincerely, bowing his head.

Wong followed suit, his tone warm. "You've saved someone dear to us all. We owe you."

Kara waved them off, an awkward grin on her face. "No need for all this. Really. Just doing what anyone else would've done."

"Anyone?" the Ancient One said with a knowing smile. "Few possess the skill—and compassion—you demonstrated tonight, Kara."

Hamir straightened, determination returning to his features. "Then we'll ensure the Librarian gets the rest he needs. Come, Wong."

With gentle care, the two sorcerers and a few others lifted the Librarian and carried him toward the infirmary, murmuring assurances about his recovery.

As the sorcerers began to file out, one of the senior members paused to glance back at Kara. "Apprentice Kara, you should rest too. Tonight has taken a toll on us all."

Kara nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Will do. You all should get some rest too. Long night and all."

The Ancient One turned to the remaining sorcerers. "That's enough for tonight. If there's anything further, we'll address it in the morning. For now, rest."

The group dispersed, their earlier tension giving way to quiet resolve.

Left alone with the Ancient One, Kara glanced her way and asked, "Was it really that big of a deal? I mean, healing him wasn't that hard."

The Ancient One's gaze softened. "True strength, Kara, is not just in your power but in your choices. You chose to save him without hesitation. That, my dear apprentice, is worth celebrating."

Kara gave a small chuckle. "Well, when you put it that way..."

"It seems everyone really likes you, Kara," the Ancient One remarked, standing beside her as they watched the sorcerers depart. "Quite the impression you've made. Have you come to a decision?"

Kara's eyes lingered on the retreating figures, her expression clouded. "No," she admitted, her voice laced with uncertainty. "I haven't. According to the future—or at least a future—Doctor Strange is supposed to become a reliable Sorcerer Supreme. But that was a future where I didn't exist. Now? Who knows what else is shifting."

The Ancient One offered a serene smile, her tone almost playful. "Ah, the butterfly effect. Or in your case, the 'entire hurricane' effect." She stepped toward the door, her yellow robes flowing as if carried by their own breeze. "Well, no rush, Kara. Sleep on it. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Mentor," Kara replied, watching her leave.

As the library settled into silence, Kara sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Take responsibility for changing fate? Sure, easy for someone not tangled in this cosmic web to say. But honestly, I'm not a huge fan of fate anyway. Too... rigid. Let's just see what happens next."

She gave a small shrug to the empty library, her reflection in the window almost smirking back at her. "No pressure, Kara. You're only re-writing the universe."

...

A shimmering portal appeared in Kara's room, and as soon as it closed, Sarah stepped out of the shadows like she owned the place.

"Okay, regardless of whatever grand plans you're cooking up, I am not staying in this hellhole called Kamar-Taj," Sarah declared, hands on her hips. "Not a single piece of eye candy in sight—unless you count that blonde girl. What's her name again?"

Kara raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "I didn't come here for the eye candy, Sarah. Besides, don't you already have Karen?"

Sarah waved her hand dismissively. "We're not together-together. And what, am I supposed to go blind just because I have a girlfriend?"

Kara smirked, her voice dripping with mock innocence. "Funny. You didn't seem 'not-together-together' when I walked in on you two. Remember that?"

Sarah's face turned crimson, and she immediately shifted gears. "So, uh, what do you think the Ancient One's going to do? Her fate was to die at Kaecilius's hands, right? And let's be real, her death was kind of... pivotal. It pushed Doctor Strange to grow up, to confront his own flaws."

Kara shrugged, leaning against the wall with a casual air. "Are you worried she's going to use the Time Stone to undo what you did? Not likely. She doesn't strike me as someone eager to die. And honestly, there are other ways to get Strange where he needs to be. Plus with me around, he might not even need to surpass his original self."

Sarah narrowed her eyes, her tone accusatory. "So, you decide to stay? What happened to that idiotic plan of yours to replace Stark? Don't think you're dumping that nonsense on me!"

Kara grinned slyly. "Relax. That's not what I meant. But speaking of nonsense, shouldn't you be off to see your girlfriend?" She dragged out the word, her teasing unmistakable.

Before Sarah could fire back, Kara conjured a portal to their Brooklyn brownstone with a casual flick of her wrist.

"Thanks, sis," Sarah said, already stepping through with a smirk. "I'm looking forward to some warm company that doesn't involve testosterone. Enjoy hanging out with all these dudes. Buh-bye!"

The portal closed, and Kara let out a long, exaggerated sigh of relief. "Good riddance. I almost forgot how annoying she could be. Finally, some peace to focus on my actual plans."

She smirked, the shadows of the room her only company.

....

The stolen page from the Book of Cagliostro lay neatly on the table, its cryptic text bathed in the warm glow of the Ancient One's tea room. The air was heavy with the kind of silence that demanded reverence—or at least a little restraint.

With the grace of a seasoned mystic, the Ancient One poured tea into delicate cups, her movements measured and deliberate. She broke the silence with a question, her sharp gaze locked onto Kara.

"So," she asked, her tone light yet probing, "you're returning the page?"

Kara met the Ancient One's eyes with a wry smile. "What was I gonna do with it? Wallpaper my room?" She leaned back slightly, crossing her arms. "I'm sure you knew what Kaecilius was up to, Mentor. But since I have a front-row seat to future events, I figured I'd nib a few problems in the bud, so to speak."

The Ancient One raised an eyebrow, silently inviting Kara to continue.

Kara glanced at the page before looking back at her. "Things are shifting because I'm here. Having future knowledge is like holding a very old dynamite—you don't want to drop it. A great man once said, 'With great power comes great responsibility.'"

The Ancient One smirked knowingly. "Only Uncle Ben hasn't said that yet, and may never say it now."

"Exactly!" Kara gestured emphatically. "That's the point. My presence here changes things. But some events? They need to stay intact—like the Chitauri invasion."

The Ancient One tilted her head, intrigued. "And why is that?"

"For starters," Kara said, "I always wondered why Kamar-Taj didn't step in before. But now that I'm in your shoes—well, almost—I get it. You were playing the long game. Humanity needed to face the invasion, to realize what was out there. That shock was what forced Earth's champions to rise, to step up their defenses. If we'd stopped it prematurely, it could've left the planet vulnerable later."

The Ancient One's lips curved into a small smile, her gaze thoughtful. "You have the makings of a great successor. So, when are you leaving?"

Kara blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, how did you know—"

"You've had that 'world-on-your-shoulders' look for weeks now," the Ancient One said with a knowing smirk. "And you've been staring into space so much, I thought you were trying to astral project by accident."

Kara sighed, letting her guard drop. "Fine. Lately, I've been having these weird dreams. There's this beautiful woman with long black hair, and she's... calling me. It's like she's summoning me or something. Sometimes her face is a skull under a black hood."

The Ancient One paused mid-sip, her expression turning thoughtful. "Fascinating. That sounds like Lady Death."

Kara leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "Lady Death? Seriously? That's her name?"

The Ancient One set her cup down gently. "She's not just some being, Kara. Lady Death is an abstract entity—a cosmic constant. She represents the end, but not in the way mortals fear. She's not malevolent, but she's not exactly warm and fuzzy either. For her to appear in your dreams suggests something... unique about you."

Kara frowned, her fingers tapping against the table. "Unique how? And why me?"

The Ancient One studied her, the weight of her next words palpable. "Perhaps the universe sees something in you that even you have yet to discover. Or..." She smiled faintly, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Perhaps she just finds you interesting."

Kara groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Great. I've caught the attention of Death. That's just what I needed on my to-do list."

The Ancient One's gaze lingered on Kara, her expression contemplative. "Perhaps she sees potential in you. Or," she mused, "you might hold a connection to her realm that even you aren't aware of. Or perhaps the reason you are immortal eludes her grasp. Entities like Lady Death rarely meddle directly unless there's a purpose. The way she appears to you—both as a woman and a skull—might signify a duality: life and death, intertwined. It's rare for her to summon anyone, especially through dreams."

Kara frowned, tracing the rim of her teacup with her finger. "I... I'm not sure when it started. Maybe three or four days ago? Before that, I'd just wake up feeling like... like I'd been in someone's arms all night." She shivered slightly. "Creepy, huh?"

The Ancient One nodded, her expression thoughtful and her voice steady. "Lady Death doesn't demand; she invites. And her invitations are often tests. If she's reaching out, it's not without reason. But be cautious, Kara. She's not the kind of entity that makes casual alliances—or any alliances, really."

Kara leaned forward, her unease apparent. "So what do I do?"

"First," the Ancient One began, her tone deliberate, "understand that she doesn't operate in mortal time or terms. Her reaching out could mean she's offering you insight—or warning you of something yet to come. Second, tread carefully. Dreams are pathways, but they can also be traps. If you decide to follow her call, do so with clarity. Ask yourself what you truly seek from her. And be ready—her answers are rarely simple."

The Ancient One's gaze softened, her voice lowering. "And most importantly, remember: even if she appears to you, you still have a choice. Nothing is written in stone—not yet."

Kara let out a sharp breath, leaning back in her chair. "Crap."

The Ancient One's lips quirked upward in a small, knowing smile. "Thank you for this," she said, gesturing toward the page.

"Yeah, no problem," Kara replied, shaking off the lingering thoughts of Lady Death. She tapped the stolen page of the Book of Cagliostro. "This thing's dangerous. Better to get rid of it."

The Ancient One nodded, though her focus remained on Kara.

"So, you're not angry? I might have altered your fate. Your death could have served as a catalyst for Doctor Strange's growth, forcing him to confront his own limitations."

The Ancient One replied cryptically, "Well, things have a way of working themselves out, don't they?"

Kara nodded, confused by her mentor's words. She lifted her teacup, taking a calming sip before continuing. "Anyway, I'll stick around for a while. Help rebuild the mess from the battle, and maybe figure out this whole Lady Death thing. After that, I'm probably gonna turn down the whole 'Sorcerer Supreme' gig, but I'll be around whenever needed to help out—at least until Strange is ready to take the reins."

The Ancient One observed Kara with a rare, genuine smile. "Shared workload it is, then," she murmured to herself. Her time as mentor and guardian of the Earth, unfortunately, wasn't quite over yet—and for now, that was okay.

Kara set her cup down with a clink, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Well, at least there's tea. Keeps the existential crises manageable."

The Ancient One chuckled softly, her serene demeanor returning. "Tea does have a way of grounding us."

And for a moment, amidst the weight of cosmic forces and uncertain futures, the two shared a rare instance of quiet understanding.