Chapter 66
Chapter : The Mirror of Fate
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Alex’s POV
The atmosphere in the hidden lab felt heavier today. I stood over the table where Howard and Maria Stark lay, their breaths steady under the influence of sleeping draughts. My eyes flicked over to the Winter Soldier, still unconscious in his magical restraints, and then to the HYDRA agents I had captured.
The media was in a frenzy, broadcasting the death of the Starks in a tragic car accident. I knew better. They weren’t dead, not yet. But the chaos I had set into motion was spiraling out of control. HYDRA would be desperate to locate their missing agents and asset, the Winter Soldier, and even now, they were scrambling in the shadows, unsure of what had happened.
On the other side, MACUSA aurors were investigating the strange occurrences around the Starks’ accident. Their laws were stringent—any interaction between the wizarding world and No-Maj (non-magical people) was to be scrutinized and reported. If they found out about me, things could get complicated fast. I had to be careful. Too many eyes were already on this case.
I sighed and sat down, focusing on a parchment where I had been recording my progress in mind magic. I had to prepare to dive into the minds of the HYDRA agents and Brock Rumlow, and especially into the brainwashed maze that was the Winter Soldier’s mind. His memories, his conditioning—everything would be buried deep within layers of magical and technological control.
But before I could dwell on that, something shifted. The magic around me trembled, a sensation I had never quite felt before. My wand twitched in my hand, and my instincts screamed danger. I stood, whipping around to scan the area. The familiar walls of my lab began to ripple, bending and warping like liquid glass.
Suddenly, the air split apart, and a glowing portal formed in front of me. The lab disappeared, and I found myself standing in a distorted, mirrored world. My breath hitched. I had read about this—seen glimpses of it in the fragments of Marvel knowledge stored in my memories.
The Mirror Dimension.
The shimmering reflections around me twisted in impossible ways, bending reality into infinite reflections. My mind raced, struggling to comprehend how this was happening. Then, I saw her. Standing before me, her presence as calm as it was unsettling.
The Ancient One.
She was dressed in her iconic yellow robes, her head bald, her expression unreadable. Time seemed to slow as we locked eyes.
“Alexander McKinnon,” she said, her voice smooth, knowing. “Or should I call you something else?”
I tensed, my wand still gripped tightly in my hand. “You know who I am.”
“Of course,” she replied, her hands folded calmly in front of her. “I know far more than you might expect. After all, you’ve altered the timeline in ways that ripple far beyond your own awareness.”
I stayed silent for a moment, letting her words sink in. The weight of my actions pressed down on me. “I didn’t do it lightly. But Stark… I couldn’t let him die.”
The Ancient One’s gaze was piercing, as though she could see straight through me. “And yet, you did what few mortals dare to do. You changed the course of fate.”
I hesitated before speaking again, my voice firmer this time. “What happens now? I know the timeline is fragile, but I had to intervene.”
She nodded, her expression contemplative. “The future you prevented is now one of many potential paths. The timeline you are from, the one that birthed the events you remember, is no longer certain. But you are correct to worry. HYDRA’s actions, the Winter Soldier, the Starks… they all have consequences.”
“Then why are you here?” I asked, taking a step forward. “To fix it? Or to stop me?”
A flicker of amusement crossed her face. “Neither. The future you altered cannot be undone. But what you’ve set into motion must be guided carefully.”
I raised an eyebrow, feeling a hint of unease. “Guided? What do you want from me?”
She stepped closer, her gaze never leaving mine. “For now, the Starks must remain hidden from their son until the formation of the Avengers. That timeline is still necessary, but you’ve delayed one of its key events. You’ve created branches, paths that did not exist before. I came here to ensure that these paths do not lead to destruction.”
I nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. "And Tony… What happens to him?"
"Tony will still become the man he is meant to be," she said softly. "But not yet. His journey will come in time."
I let out a breath, some of the tension leaving my body. "I didn't mean to break the timeline... but I couldn't just stand by."
The Ancient One regarded me with a steady gaze. "No one blames you for your actions. But be mindful of the balance. Every choice has its consequences."
I took a step back, still digesting her words. "And the mystic arts?" I asked. "You know... everything about me. Does that mean—"
She held up a hand, cutting me off. "Your mental age exceeds your physical years, Alex McKinnon. I know your secrets, the memories you carry from another world, another life. When you are ready, come to Kamar-Taj. The path of the mystic arts is open to you, should you choose it."
My mind reeled. To learn the mystic arts from the Sorcerer Supreme herself... it was an opportunity I had never anticipated.
"Until then," she continued, "know that the actions you've taken have expanded the branches of time. More futures are in play now. Be careful which path you tread."
Before I could respond, the world around me shimmered again. The mirrored surfaces warped, and with a blinding flash, I was back in my hidden lab. The familiar surroundings felt almost alien after the surreal encounter.
I exhaled slowly, trying to steady my racing heart. The Ancient One had left as quickly as she had appeared, but her words lingered. The timeline was fragile, and I was standing at the crossroads of countless potential futures.
But first, there was work to be done.
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I turned my attention back to the HYDRA agents and Brock Rumlow lying on the cold floor, still bound by magical restraints. I needed information. I could see it in their minds, the secrets buried deep in their thoughts. And then there was the Winter Soldier—his mind a maze of brainwashing and trauma.
I would need all my skill in Legilimency to unravel this.
Focusing, I began to probe their minds, slipping through the layers of thought and memory. With Rumlow, it was easier—he was merely an agent of HYDRA, hardened but not impenetrable. His memories of HYDRA's operations, the names of agents, locations of bases—they all began to spill out under my probing.
But the Winter Soldier—that was another story. His mind was a fortress, layers upon layers of conditioning and trauma built up by HYDRA’s ruthless programming. I could feel it as I reached into his thoughts, the echoes of pain and violence, the trigger words that held him under their control. This was going to take time. Time I wasn’t sure I had.
But I had to try. If I could free him from HYDRA's control, maybe—just maybe—I could change his fate too.
I took a deep breath, focusing on the task at hand. The future was uncertain, but I wasn’t going to let it spiral out of control. Not if I could help it.
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End of Chapter