Trick 140: The curious case of the Tricky Alien

Ace had used this time to study as usual, there was a bit of Artifact refining in the middle but other than that Ace increased his knowledge and strength.

He was making use of a spell to split himself into clones and read more as well as the Time Turner, he was going back and forth from Kamar-Taj to his house frequently, the library expanded, his staff upgraded, and his strength increased.

He had familiarized himself with his new Death Powers and confirmed that they came from the Hallows, although he wasn't too sure what a Death God Candidate was or what it could do.

He assumed it was like being a Sorcerer Supreme but of Hell or something?

Ace wasn't too sure…

Mistress Death was immortal so why would she need a successor? It didn't really make sense.

However, Ace figured he would find out sooner or later, it couldn't possibly be a bad thing, right?

Hermione was doing very well at Kamar-Taj, quickly rising into one of its top masters!

She barely even came to Ace for magical questions, only coming to visit every now and then or to ask for advice on something.

Other than that, everything was peaceful.

Until one day…

Ace was studying at home and all his clones melted back into his body. He frowned and picked up his cloak, grabbed his staff and shouted "Sharon! I'm leaving!" Sharon was in another room and frowned saying "For the Spaceship in New York?"

Ace nodded and replied "Yep." Sharon nodded and replied "Alright! Love you!" Ace smiled to himself and said "Love you too, be back in a bit." as he stood up, passing through a portal that opened up in front of him with a wave of his hand.

Ace walked onto the streets of New York, looking around seeing Strange, Wong, Banner, and Tony!

He also saw a giant alien lizard man Hulk thing and a little skinny alien.

Ace had his cloak on, concealing himself as he said "Aliens?" Tony looked at him saying "Welcome to the party. Did you meet the new wizards?" Ace replied "Oh look! You're talking to me as though nothing happened!"

Tony frowned, retorting "That was like 4 years ago, learn to forgive, eh?" Ace snorted "4 years, no calls. Some friend." Banner said "Can we do this some other time, please!?"

Strange said "A-Cloak." Ace looked at him and nodded, turning to the Aliens, asking "So, who are you again?" the skinny alien said "We are the Children of Thanos, here to-" Ace waved his hand saying "Okay, I've heard enough. Leave the Earth or we will force you to leave."

The skinny alien looked at Strang, asking "Stonekeeper, does this animal speak for you?" Strange tilted his head and replied "You probably shouldn't have called him that." Ace waved his staff and confirmed "Definitely not." as all the rubble around them flew into the air, warping into ice snakes before shooting at the skinny alien as the hulk one smashed through them, charging at the group.

Tony tapped on his chest and armor formed on him before he blasted the Hulk alien away with a blue laser.

Banner said "Nanotech!?" Tony turned and replied "Yeah, you like it??" As Ace waved, a barrier blocking a metal hammer thing.

Ace said "Look alive, man." Tony turned back and replied "So you DO care, I'm touched." as he flew at the hulk alien, grabbing him and flying into a park.

Strange looked at Banner and said "Are you gonna do anything?" Banner shook his head and said "I guess not…" Strange nodded, "Good. Bye." as he sent Banner through portal before throwing out a spell, helping Ace.

The skinny alien waved his hands and the ice snakes turned into spikes, shooting towards them.

Strange made a portal and Wong opened the other end, shooting them back as Ace stood there watching with a frown, muttering "Thanos… Thanos… where have I heard that name before… Why is it so familiar?"

Strange looked at him and said "Ace??" Ace turned to him, asking "Can you handle this guy? He's, like, super weak. I'm going to evacuate this area." Strange nodded and said "Go." Ace flew off and started evacuating the civilians, bringing them out of the area, a few blocks away, sending them through portals and floating them off.

As he was clearing the people, he thought to himself, trying to remember Thanos…

After a few minutes, it clicked!

Thanos was the dude on that plaque in the other Universe!

But that was strange, apparently Stephen died to save the world from Thanos over there? He sighed and didn't really take it seriously.

After facing off with Hela, he wasn't too worried about this Thanos character.

That was a Goddess of Death!

He could barely hold his own against her, but he still survived the encounter! So really, what was a Thanos. If he was truly so powerful, he would have stronger minions, right? Hela had that giant wolf, meanwhile this skinny alien guy really wasn't much…

A little telekinesis was pretty much nothing because Ace could use all sorts of magic and manipulate reality around him, turning whatever the dude threw at him to dust.

Clearly, Ace didn't realize that even if Strange was just as knowledgeable as him, he wasn't as strong, nor had the powers he had because Ace didn't actually even know about the powers he had.

The true depths of his powers had never been used, not even once…

Ace turned his head to see Tony on the ground as the Hulk alien thing, thrusted a sword at him. He flew over and reached out, but Wong arrived, making a portal as the beast went through.

He arrived over Wong as the beast jumped at the portal, only to get his arm sliced off.

Ace was stunned and said "You can do that????" Wong looked at him and asked "You didn't know?" Ace replied "I really wouldn't have thought of it… I mean think about it for a sec. Does it seem like the portal is that strong? I'd always thought it would just break or stay open if someone grabbed it while it closed."

He turned to Banner and added, "Right???" Banner nodded and looked at Wong, scratching the back of his head, "I thought so too…" Wong rolled his eyes and said "Whatever! The Alien has Strange!"

Ace was dumbfounded, shouting in disbelief "Strange LOST?! How?! That's honestly ridiculous. Where is he now?" Wong pointed up and Ace looked at the spaceship that flew out of Earth, disappearing instantly.

Ace froze and said "What the fuck!" Wong sighed and Ace landed on the ground, turning to him as he said "Wong, what happened? That guy was so weak! How did you lose!?"

Wong frowned, "He was too tricky, we-" Ace shouted "TOO TRICKY?! ARE YOU JOKING?!" Wong shook his head and Ace held his own, saying "Too tricky... A telepath was too much for the Sorcerer Supreme, oh my god… Is this Alien, God!? Not even the Time Stone works on him?!"

Wong replied hesitantly "Strange was wrapped up before he could use it…" Ace stared at Wong in a daze, muttering "Wrapped up… Wrapped up…" before erupting "WRAPPED UP?! IN WHAT!? THE UNBREAKABLE CHAINS OF GAEA?!"

He turned around and rubbed his face, "Oh my god, Wong, you're going to kill me… I'm going to die from brain death… One job! One! Beat the telepath! Use magic! Idiot! Sorcerer Supreme my ass, oh my god!"

Wong swallowed and Ace turned around, letting out a breath, saying "Phew… It's okay. I'm not mad. Just disappointed." before adding "Tony, can you- Tony?" as he looked around in confusion.

Banner said "Tony went to the spaceship…" Ace was stunned and kicked the alien hand shouting "Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! He has no idea where that ship is going! It could be right into an alien swarm! Damn it! Didn't this guy learn his lesson from the Chitauri?!"

Before calming down again, looking at Banner and Wong, saying "Explain the situation. Why did aliens show up this time and kidnap Strange. For another birthday party?"