Part 31 - The test

Ichibe stood on Vormir. He thought it was a funny name. Vor mir. That meant in front of me, in German. And the line of the Red Skull was also meant to hint at the name of the planet.

Ichibe was interested in whether the Stonekeeper would know him. Apparently, it was his curse to know all who come here.

He started to walk up the mountain where he felt the presence. He walked with slow and steady steps. He wasn't in a hurry. He had time.

It was 1992 at the moment and he still had many years until something of significance would happen. So, he had time to prepare and train. He knew that the Iron Man movie came out in 2008.

And also have some fun in the meantime.

Ichibe got close to the place he knew of. But he knew about it instinctively, since it was his planet.

The darkness formed a silhouette and in front of him stood the Red Skull.

"Welcome Ich..", he stopped just as he was about to say his name.

"Interesting, even though you guard this place, and act as the Stonekeeper or the guide, you are not worthy to say my name.

A shame for you. Maybe it will still take some time for you to change … Johann Schmidt."

The Red Skull was surprised, as everyone was when he said their name.

Ichibe saw that he wanted to say something but couldn't because of the curse. So he removed it, just so they could have a talk.

"Your name carries a curse. How should I call you then?", Johann asked.

"You should know this. You can call me Monk. As I am the Monk who calls the true name."

"Then welcome Monk. You must be here for the Soul Stone. It is my curse to know all who Journey here."

"Ah, is that so? Well then bring me there."

"You should know it exacts a terrible price."

"I'm prepared."

"We all think that at first. We are all wrong."

Ichibe was going along and acting to find out what would happen. What he didn't know, was that he said the same thing a purple Titan would say over 20 years later.

There was something Ichibe was curious about. he knew now that the Red Skull knew his name but was not worthy to say it.

But there was something that he felt here that felt familiar. So he followed along.

They came to the platform that most know about from the movies. It was new to Ichibe though.

"What you seek lies in front of you. As does what you fear.", the Stonekeeper said.

Ichibe was curious. He stood at the edge and looked down. There was the energy he felt the strongest. Something was down there. It felt like … like …

He wasn't sure. What was it? Where did he know this from?

"What is this?"

"The price. The Soul Stone holds a special place among the Infinity Stones. You may say, it has a certain wisdom."

Ichibe knew this to be correct. In fact, it was sentient entirely. And they were now one. So this was strange to him. Why did he not know from where he knew this feeling?

It was on the back of his tongue.

"And what does it need?", Ichibe asked this because he was even more confused than before. Why is this Stonekeeper even here anymore?

Then everything clicked in his head and he understood everything. It came to him at the moment the Red Skull said the next words.

"To ensure that whoever possesses it understands its power, the stone demands a sacrifice."

"Of what?", Ichibe knew the answer, but he still asked.

"In order to take the stone, you must lose that which you love. A soul for a soul."

Everything came to him. the calling and the feeling he felt. The reason why he had to come here. It was all for this.

It was the Soul Stone that called him. The Soul Stone had set this up, to ensure that he knew the price. The price he had to pay was simple.

A soul for a soul.

Ichibe looked at the Stonekeeper and smiled. This confused the Stonekeeper. But before he could comprehend anything Ichibe jumped off the edge and fell into the gorge.

When he reached the ground he 'died'. Well at least somewhat. It was not the same as dying but more like he was transported into the Soul World.

There he stood in front of the Soul Stone.

"You set this up. It was a test.", Ichibe said.

"Yes."

Ichibe said nothing and waited for his reasoning. There was more to this than he thought. But he wasn't sure what it was.

"Come to my warm embrace. No pain. No burdens. For I rule within. 'Tis the price I demand for my secrets!... Secrets I knew would one day deliver you to me!

I now claim this vessel which was you as my own. Now it shall be you who are the slave! Now it shall be I who controls our fate, I who determines what this body does.

Today begins the reign of the Soul Gem!"

As the stone said this, he was getting absorbed, or at least he was trying to get absorbed. Little did the gem know, that this was impossible.

"That is a pathetic display from your side, old friend. You know as well as I, that it's not possible to absorb me or my power.

And this bad try to act all evil and test me has gotten us nowhere. So please stop, before I die of cringe.", Ichibe had his classic smile on his face again.

The process and light shows stopped and everything returned to normal.

"So you knew. I should have guessed. You were always like this. While you were not selfless per se, you never acted to maximize your benefit.

Your emotions are under your control, and you are not evil or particularly good either.

Perfectly balanced in the emotional sense. And that is practically impossible with your amount of power."

"You had to test me. To make sure I was indeed what you saw."

"Yes, normally those of your power scale or of a similar power scale, tend to go crazy or arrogant beyond compare. It is very hard to keep sanity with that power and a human brain.

But you are different and I can finally be sure of it.

I am glad I met you. We are now finally one and I can finally be sure that you will fulfil the job perfectly."

"Oh…", Ichibe knew what this meant.

"You're going then."

"Yes, I'm going to rest now and leave everything to you.

Goodbye … Ichibe Hyosube."

"Goodbye … Reio."