CHAPTER 87

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Go to Dormammu's dark dimension, or keep trying on my own with the formula. Decisions that made everything more complicated. However this time, the choice was simple, I would not go, I didn't care what the Ancient One wanted, if I were to die in that realm, Emily, and Natasha would be left alone.

My life was no longer mine alone, it belonged to those who loved me, to those who depended on me, to my daughters, and I could not make such life decisions without considering the possible repercussions that they would bring.

So no, I would not help the Ancient One, she made her decision in her time, the decision to obtain immortality through the power of Dormammu, just as I now make my decision, to protect my family.

"I know you're there," I announced, glancing sideways behind my back.

"Have you made your decision yet?" the Ancient One asked, appearing in my room.

"Yes," I nodded, "And though provocative, I can't help you," I sighed, "You say Dormammu won't kill me, but the truth is that you're not a hundred percent sure and as long as there's even the slightest chance that I'll die, I won't take such risks,"

The Ancient One looked down at the floor with a faint smile adorning her face, "Among the thousands of futures I saw, in only a few of them you said yes to this mission,"

I looked at her with mild surprise, "So you were betting on this being one of those futures in which I decided to help you,"

The Ancient One looked at me and with a smile nodded slowly, "Yes, but I didn't have high hopes for it, as an old friend told me, I was playing with fire."

"I'm really sorry I can't help you, but if I were to die, it would affect not only myself but my daughters," I said with a weak smile.

"I understand," The Ancient One smiled, approaching me, "Take this," she said, handing me a piece of paper, "There you will find what you are missing,"

I looked at the paper, and quickly noticed that it had some coordinates on it, "Is this what I need?" I asked her. "Is this the last piece?"

"Yes, in that location, lays the last piece of your puzzle," The Ancient One smiled.

"But I didn't help you," I said staring at the paper.

"No, you didn't," the Ancient One laughed, "But my help never depended on your help, I just... tried to manipulate you, I hope you don't blame this old sorceress for trying,"

I chuckled, "Thanks,"

"Well, I am off to teach Emily how to access the mirror dimension, a class you skipped," The Ancient One winked, teleporting out of sight.

"I will never understand that woman," I sighed, turning to look at the paper she had given me, reading the coordinates and adding them to my map, "Germany, Augsburg…"

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[The Ancient One POV]

Well, that was a bet that didn't play out in my favor, oh well, you can't win them all.

"He said no," Odin sighed in relief, "For a moment there I thought I would've had to interfere."

I looked at Odin and smiled, "The All-Father worrying about a human, how times change," I smirked under my breath, the Odin of old would've killed Alex for stepping into Asgard unannounced.

"Don't lecture me about changing, little girl, you of all people know the me of the past, and the me of now are basically two different persons," Odin rolled his eye.

"I meant no offense, Odin," I smiled, conjuring some tea, "I was just making an observation,"

"You're an expert on that," Odin chuckled.

"Well, I might be a little girl to you, but by human standards I am old, and you tend to pick a thing or two," I smiled at him, offering a cup of tea, "Is my secret tea stash,"

"You and your team," Odin sighed, "I suppose I might as well give it a try,"

"I like tea," Tea was.. a way to cleanse the soul, to restart your energies, in more ways than one.

"Well, I like alcohol, if any type," Odin replied, snapping his fingers, transforming the cup of tea into a mug of beer.

"Such a waste of good tea," I shook my head sadly.

"Talk for yourself," Odin guffawed.

"So, about the future," I started, "How's your daughter doing?" I asked.

Odin glared at me for a moment before he sighed, "Trapped," he answered, "for now," he added.

"I can see your power decreasing more and more," I stated, "At this pace, I don't think you will last more than a decade or two holding her back,"

"I know," Odin sighed, "She won't be happy with the changes I made, or about her promised prince falling for another, or in the process of…"

"I can't picture Hela worrying about such things," It was just… so hard to get that picture in my head, and considering I had seen beyond Dormammu's veil, well, it's hard to picture something I can't imagine.

"A warrior worthy of standing by her in conquest," Odin recited with a sigh, "I told her about the prophecy myself… when I was blind to my own mistakes…"

"And you aren't blind to them now?" I asked getting a glare from Odin.

"I do what I do for the good of Asgard," Odin replied with a hiss, avoiding my gaze for a brief moment.

"Perhaps you could learn a thing or two from Alex," I smiled, putting my hand on his shoulder.

"His kids are not immortal gods," Odin scoffed.

"First of all, you are not immortal, you are as we speak slowly dying," I rolled my eyes, "Second of all, sons or daughters, no matter their age, they all yearn for the same, their parents unconditional love,"

"Or the blood of their enemies," Odin sighed.

"And whose fault is that?" I shot back.

"If I wanted therapy, I would've gone to an asgardian therapist!" Odin barked, opening a portal of Asgard, "Goodbye!" And with that he left.

"So old, yet so ignorant to the mysteries of the heart," I shook my head in slight disappointment, "I wonder if you will do better Alex… after all, if you don't learn quickly, your destiny will eat you alive,"