Chapter 97 - 95: The Ancient One

Chapter 97: Chapter 95: The Ancient One

"No."

Ricky plopped onto the bed, his round form nestled beside Garfield, who merely blinked with a hint of annoyance.

However at the side, Alexander, eyes wide with wonder while the gerbil's little heart raced with excitement, though, captivated by the imposing presence now filling the room.

He inched forward to the edge of the bed, tiny paws gripping the blanket as he gazed up in awe.

"Ancient One, is that truly you?" Alexander asked, his voice barely a whisper, laced with a mix of reverence and disbelief.

The Ancient One's gaze fell on the small creature, impassive at first until she truly looked towards the creature and upon realization, a rare flicker of emotion crossed that normally impassive face.

Her eyes widened, and within their ancient depths, the ghostly image of a child's innocent smile seemed to flicker, a memory buried deep, resurfacing with a bittersweet pang.

She took a slow, deliberate step closer, her silhouette haloed by the dim light of the room.

For a moment, it seemed as if time itself paused, letting her memory linger, as though recognizing in Alexander a spark she had thought long extinguished.

"Little Alexander?" The Ancient One's voice softened, disbelief and wonder threading through her words.

She knelt, bending closer as if the small distance might unravel the truth in her vision as her eyes, which had seen centuries drift by, searched the gerbil's curious face, looking beyond the fur and small form to something timeless.

When she met his gaze once more, she felt the unmistakable presence of a soul she once knew, a familiar warmth that had persisted through the ages, against all odds.

Her mind reeled, filled with visions of a life long past, of laughter and innocence now all but forgotten and yet here it was, enduring and whole, in the form of this small creature.

"Y-Yes, it's me." Alexander whispered, his voice wavering, as tiny paws shifted, walking onto her palm as she raised him up.

"But Hades took your soul, I saw him drag you personally and-"

"And now I'm here, Grandmaster." Alexander scratched the back of his neck, his tiny paws tracing a circle through his fur as he bowed.

Despite his gerbil form, the elegance of his old self remained intact as his smile softened as he looked up at her, a blend of reverence and nostalgia gleaming in his eyes.

"I never imagined we would reunite like this-...I thought we might meet again, yes, but only in the silence after my final breaths." The Ancient One admitted, her voice both warm and weary, as if the confession itself had been locked away for ages.

"As did I, Grandmaster. But wasn't it you who always said 'Life can be strange, can it not'? Alexander chuckled, tilting his head while his eyes glimmered with both mischief and melancholy.

"Indeed." The Ancient One let out a small laugh, brushing away some of the whiskers on his face.

"But why didn't you come to me, Alexander?" The Ancient One's voice grew firmer with each word, an old authority slowly shifting back into place.

"Why did you stay hidden, isolate yourself? Why didn't you reach out?" The Ancient One let out one question after another, her calm slipping as a surge of sternness took over.

"I thought it was your way of protecting the timeline, that you left me alone to preserve stability-"

"Oh, heavens no, Alexander. I never intended to abandon you. My choices weren't to keep you distant or erased." The Ancient One's face softened, interrupting the gerbil with her words were tender now, as though each one carried a part of her apology, of unspoken regrets.

"Ugh, Alexander, who is this?" Ricky mumbled, his voice thick with sleep as he squinted through the dim light.

He was still half-cradling Garfield, who was squirming to free himself from Ricky's sleepy grip.

"Ah, my apologies, where are my manners?" Alexander looked between the Ancient One and Ricky, realizing he hadn't offered a single introduction.

*Ahem*

"This, Ricky, is my master's master, the Sorcerer Supreme and protector of this world, the Ancient One." Alexander declared with reverence, glancing back at the Ancient One, who took in the situation with a discerning gaze.

"Uh huh." Ricky's eyes drooped as he nodded, barely awake, before his head bobbed forward, clearly struggling to stay conscious as the Ancient One's brow lifted as she observed his underwhelming reaction.

"Have you not spoken of my existence?" The Ancient One asked Alexander, an eyebrow raised in mild disbelief at the drowsy dismissal.

"By the gods, no, Grandmaster!" Alexander quickly replied, bowing with deep respect.

"I would never reveal the secrets of Kamar-Taj without your permission." Alexander said firmly, a flicker of conviction lighting his small, dark eyes.

Though he now served as Ricky's familiar, his being held deeper roots, promises and loyalties bound to a time before Ricky ever entered his new life.

Alexander was indeed a faithful companion, always ready to lend his wisdom and loyalty, yet he was unmistakably his own being.

Alexander's soul bore the echoes of his former life as Alexander the Great, a legacy steeped in conquest, ambition, and an unwavering commitment to principles he'd long ago shaped for himself.

That unyielding character, the very thing that had forged him as a formidable leader centuries past, was precisely what Ricky found invaluable.

Alexander wasn't simply a magical companion who would follow Ricky's every whim.

He was a soul honed by trial, seasoned by experience, and molded by a personal code that, despite being centuries old, still guided him.

For Ricky, having Alexander by his side was more than just practical; it was essential.

Ricky understood that loyalty wasn't about blind devotion but about standing with someone while still being willing to tell them hard truths.

Alexander wasn't afraid to challenge Ricky's views, to remind him of consequences, and to speak the difficult words that others might shy away from saying.

This wasn't the loyalty of a subordinate, but the bond of two beings who both held their own identities and values, intersecting in purpose but never fully merging.

And while Ricky knew that Alexander held secrets from a past life, he found a strange comfort in it.

He himself harbored secrets that he would likely never share with Alexander, memories and intentions he held close.

In that sense, their relationship was built on a mutual respect for the unspoken boundaries of identity.

Demanding that Alexander lay bare every part of himself would have felt unreasonable, even hypocritical after everything Alexander had done for him.

Instead, Ricky accepted Alexander's loyalty, strengths, and even his mysteries, grateful to have a companion who stood with him through thick and thin, not as an extension of himself, but as a distinct, steadfast ally.

"It troubles me." The Ancient One said softly, petting the top of Alexander's head.

"Not that you kept the secret, but that you felt you had to." The Ancient One's gaze softened as she continued."

Secrets, Alexander, can become their own form of prison." The Ancient One broke into a smile, lecturing Alexander even in this state as his small face furrowed with surprise, her words lingering.

"I had thought to protect your legacy and Kamar-Taj itself, by preserving all that was entrusted to me." Alexander admitted, his tone sincere yet conflicted.

"But perhaps, I did not see the way it bound me." Alexander saw the error through her wisdom while The Ancient One nodded gently.

"Holding onto knowledge is a great duty, yet when it isolates us, even our own wisdom can become a burden." The Ancient One's gaze drifted to Ricky, now lightly snoring against Garfield's fur, who had finally surrendered to his fate.

"And yet, sometimes, new paths reveal themselves in the most unguarded of moments."

"I'm afraid I'm troubled at this moment, little Alexander." The Ancient One confessed, her voice heavy as she took a quiet seat next to the table, her gaze distant.

Her calm was usual, yet there was a note of genuine disturbance that hadn't been there before.

"Why, grandmaster?" Alexander asked, instinctively straightening in her hand.

"Surely you jest that my presence was a surprise." Alexander asked, knowing that the being before him could glimpse into the very reality before them.

But as he looked up, he caught the somber glint in her eye and immediately grew wary.

"No, little Alexander." The Ancient One said quietly, almost to herself, trying to find the proper words before continuing.

"The reason I wanted to meet Ricky Luciano is because his entire presence is an anomaly, a blip on the stone." The Ancient One's words struck Alexander like a chill as he was no stranger to mysteries, but this was beyond the usual veil of secrecy.

"T-That is impossible, he couldn't be unless-" Alexander started, but his voice wavered as a dark realization began to dawn.

"Yes, little Alexander." The Ancient One said, setting him down gently, her touch soft but her gaze severe.

"He is changing the timeline." The Ancient One confirmed his thoughts, leaving the gerbil utterly confused.

Alexander's mind spun, the weight of her words pressing down on him like a tide.

It was known that the Time Stone held the omniscient capacity to witness all that had been and would be, yet there were exceptions, cosmic rules so fundamental they were rarely mentioned, only whispered about in the old texts.

The stone could not see what did not belong to the timeline, what wasn't of this universe's design.

The fact that Ricky was unknowable to it meant that his path, his choices, weren't written into the fabric of their world.

Any Time Stone from any universe possesses the ability to see its own timeline because it is intrinsically linked to the essence of that universe. It weaves the narrative of all that has been and all that will be, functioning as a guardian of fate and time. Yet, with every passing year, the future has begun to blur—a haze settling over what was once clear.

The Ancient One pondered the reason for this distortion, her mind racing through countless possibilities.

The first could be her own demise as she understood the role she played in maintaining the balance of time, and her absence would undoubtedly create ripples, disruptions that could lead to unforeseen chaos.

However, there was another, perhaps more disturbing thought: the timeline itself was altering, actively erasing the vision she had cultivated through decades of vigilance.

The very act of alteration was a force that pushed back against her foresight, a rebellion against the natural order.

It was a phenomenon she had sensed but struggled to fully grasp, how the threads of fate twisted and turned in ways she could not predict.

Ricky, with his unpredictable essence, was part of this growing tempest, a catalyst for change that could unravel the very fabric of their reality.

As the Ancient One contemplated the implications, she felt a weight in her heart.

"What of-"

"Their involvement disappeared three hundred years ago from this time stream, which is why I'm here to find the source. I've waited long enough." The Ancient One interjected, her voice a blend of urgency and determination.

She approached the sleeping Ricky, the weight of her mission heavy in the air.

As she stood over him, her ancient eyes studied the young man whose very presence felt like a rift in reality while he lay sprawled across the bed, his face relaxed in sleep,

*THOOM*

With a sudden jolt, Ricky's spirit was expelled from his body, leaving behind the warm cocoon of drunkenness and sleep.

Ricky's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched his younger self spring to his feet, a confused expression plastered across his boyish face.

The past version of him, unaware of the monumental moments yet to come, began patting his own crotch with an innocence that bordered on ridiculousness.

"W-WHAT?!" Ricky blurted out, mortified as he witnessed the spectacle unfold before him.

His younger self, oblivious to the unfolding chaos, continued tapping at his junk, a sickened look creeping over his face as he glanced down.

"Oh my god~" Past Ricky whimpered, his voice tinged with both shock and bewilderment as his gaze fixated on what was supposed to be a monstrous dragon, now humorously disguised as a mere boyhood appendage.

"Ricky, are you okay!"

"That shouldn't have happened, at least not in this universe." The Ancient One said, her brow furrowing with concern.

With a wave of her hand, she expanded the future timeline, revealing a cascade of branching possibilities that spiraled into uncertainty.

"Not only did you manifest as an irregularity, but you also began spawning them with your children, contributing to the dissolution of the future." The Ancient One spoke, the timeline flickered, a blip appearing as if something vital had been severed.

"Do you understand how your presence is disrupting time?" The Ancient One asked, her voice filled with urgency.

"But is it destroying the fabric or whatever?" Ricky interjected, a casual wave of his hand dismissing the gravity of her words.

The Ancient One fell momentarily speechless, caught off guard by his nonchalance in the face of such monumental consequences.

For a brief moment, the weight of her role as a guardian clashed with Ricky's cavalier attitude, leaving her to ponder how one man could so effortlessly challenge the very fabric of existence.

"Well no, it is simply making it impossible to see the timeline-"

"Then what's the problem?" Ricky pressed, genuinely perplexed by her concerns as the Ancient One closed her eyes, casting a glance toward Alexander, who let out an exasperated sigh.

"Now you know what I deal with."Alexander muttered, shaking his head while rubbing his furry head.

"No, seriously. You're supposed to protect the Earth, but if I'm not ripping time apart, if I'm just making it so you can't see it, how will that affect you?" Ricky challenged the Ancient One's entire meaning, his words pushing through all of her refutes like a sharp knife.

"Because I cannot see-"

"What does seeing the future have to do with protecting the Earth? It seems like it just makes you like any other person," Ricky pointed out, his tone earnest as his questions caused The Ancient One to hesitate, her words halting while she assessed his reasoning.

"See? Told you you're a control freak." Ricky concluded, a hint of triumph in his voice as he crossed his arms, waiting for her response.

"YOUNG RICKY, DO NOT SPEAK-"

"No, it is quite alright, Alexander," The Ancient One interjected, raising her hand to calm him.

"I suppose you are right in a sense; I am the protector of the Earth, but that doesn't mean it relies solely on my ability to see the future." The Ancient One continued, her voice steady and resolute towards her goal.

"But understand my worry. I have lived for millennia, and to suddenly encounter an irregularity that disrupts the time stream is-"

"I understand you're crazy, if that's what you mean." Ricky shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed Alexander's angry expression.

"What? She or he-"

"She." Both Alexander and The Ancient One corrected Ricky who nodded.

"Really?"

"RICKY-"

"Okay, geez." Ricky raised his hands at Alexander's scream, a little taken aback at how emotional he was becoming.

"Listen, to me, her whole reason for coming here is to protect the world. But if I'm not ripping the fabric of time or posing a threat to it, then why does she have a problem with living like everyone else?" Ricky gestured towards The Ancient One, his expression one of frustration as he wrapped his head around her words, ultimately arriving at the same conclusion: so what?

Deep down, Ricky felt a twinge of jealousy at her ability to see the future, coupled with frustration that she seemed upset with him for making her a little more normal.

"Let's just say it how it is. Ricky spread out his hands, his tone laced with defiance.

"You're mad at me because my mere presence stops you from seeing what's ahead of you, so reality can be what you envisioned." Ricky then gestured to himself and despite the brutish nature of his words, there was a raw honesty that made The Ancient One shift uncomfortably.

Ricky's innocent yet pointed attitude had a way of penetrating the barriers others built around their subconscious.

As he spoke, The Ancient One, who had been dismissing his reasoning, began to grapple with the implications of his statements.

For the first time in a long time, she realized that he was not just an anomaly in the timeline; he was a catalyst for change, forcing her to confront the uncomfortable truth she had been avoiding.

'When was the last time I didn't use the stone?' The Ancient One pondered quietly, her gaze falling upon the Eye of Agamotto, a heavy reminder of her burdens.

"You're wrong, young Ricky," Alexander interjected unexpectedly, his voice breaking the tension.

"The burden of The Ancient One is vastly different from what any of us have ever known." Alexander continued, his tone earnest and tremulous, standing up for the woman who had always stood for him.

"It's a weight that transcends our understanding, it's not merely the knowledge of the past but the responsibility for the future." Alexander's paw gripped tightly, a show of determination as he made his stance clear, fully intent on conveying the gravity of their situation to Ricky.

"You cannot understand, young Ricky, because you have yet to give your entire being to a cause greater than yourself, to anything other than yourself and you own ideals." Alexander said, his voice steady yet charged with emotion.

"You're selfish, just like I once was, how I am. I hungered for glory, sought to carve my name into history." Alexander stepped closer, intensity radiating from him as he pointed an accusatory finger at Ricky.

"It's not about control; it's about ensuring there is a future for Earth, for humanity. About watching the things you care about perish with time but knowing that the future is held firm with the promise of its survival." Alexander knew he was biased, but even so, if no one was to stand for his grandmaster, then he would proudly stand for the woman who nurtured not only his master, but him.

"You do not care for anything except yourself, the ones closest to you. Please, don't insult my grandmaster, who has sacrificed everything she has ever cared about for the safety of this planet and people who don't even know of her existence." Alexander's words cut through the air, raw and unapologetic.

The seasoned general just couldn't bear to watch Ricky dismantle the legacy of someone he held in such high regard.

His anger ignited a fire within him, compelling him to defend The Ancient One and the ideals, even if he didn't wholly believe in them, but someone had to stand against the tide of Ricky's reckless bravado.

"Alright, my bad, Alexander," Ricky conceded, crossing his arms in a gesture of reluctant surrender.

Alexander let out a sigh, knowing that was about as much acknowledgment as he would ever get from Ricky against someone he didn't really agree with.

The Ancient One chuckled softly, her amusement filling the air as she pulled Alexander into a warm embrace as he blushed intensely, caught off guard by the sudden display of affection.

"Thank you, little Alexander." The Ancient One said, setting him down with a gentle smile before turning her gaze to Ricky.

"I've decided to give you the benefit of the doubt, purely because of Alexander's existence." The Ancient One gestured to the gerbil, who puffed out his chest in pride.

"Wow, such an honor." Ricky replied, rolling his eyes, which only served to infuriate Alexander further and yet, The Ancient One merely chuckled, clearly entertained by the banter between the two.

"But I suppose you were right about me living like everyone else." The Ancient One admitted, opening a swirling portal behind her.

"But I should warn you, Dracula is not a figure to mess with, and neither are the forces he possesses." The Ancient One's tone was serious, a hint of concern lacing her words.

"I've got a plan. Don't worry," Ricky shook his head dismissively and replied lightly.

The Ancient One sighed, her expression a mixture of exasperation and apprehension.

"So how do I get back into my body-"

*SNAP!*

*GASP!*

The Ancient One snapped her fingers, and Ricky gasped as he felt the sudden rush of energy hit him all at once, the weight of existence crashing down around him.

In an instant, the world around him faded, and he was knocked out, overwhelmed by the tidal wave of sensations flooding back into his body.

"I'll be watching you closely."

"And little Alexander," The Ancient One called back, extending her hand toward him.

"I do not know how you've been ensnared in that body, but if you choose to come-"

"I apologize, Grandmaster, but I must refuse your generous offer for now." Alexander donned his armor, the clinking of metal echoing in the space around them.

"I may be lacking in many areas, but I made a promise to Ricky as his comrade. I intend to see this through and venture into many battles ahead." Alexander struck the hilt of his tiny spear against the table, a determined glint in his eye.

"You haven't changed in the least, Little Alexander." The Ancient One chuckled, a warm smile gracing her features as she walked through the portal.

Alexander, however, cast his gaze downward, grappling with the weight of his choice as he prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.

"Thank you grandmaster, but I am afraid I must disagree with you." Alexander muttered out, watching the portal fade before him.

Alexander had departed The Ancient One as a naive child, a dreamer who saw the world in its purest form; brimming with beauty, hope, and the possibility of protection.

Alexander had held the sun in his heart and the stars in his eyes, convinced that every life was sacred and every soul worth saving.

But then came the reckoning, the crucible of war and sacrifice.

Upon his death, the innocence he once embodied shattered like glass beneath the weight of the atrocities he had witnessed.

The blood staining his hands was not just the crimson of battle but the very essence of countless lives extinguished.

Those haunting screams of the innocent echoed in his ears, a relentless symphony of despair that no amount of valor could silence.

Night after night, they became the dirge of his conscience, a reminder of the price he had paid for glory.

No longer was he the boy with dreams of heroism; Alexander emerged from the shadows of death as something far greater, something feral and unstoppable.

He had left Karma-Tai as Little Alexander, the hopeful child, but he returned to The Ancient One as Alexander the Great.

A king forged in the fires of chaos, a general tempered by the crucible of battle, he now stood tall as a titan among men.

He lived not for the protection of the greater good, but for victory; a victory that echoed with the clang of swords and the roar of triumph, a victory that demanded everything and offered nothing in return.

"Forgive me, Grandmaster." Alexander's voice rang out, clear and unwavering, as he stood tall, not on the side of the shield, but the side that held the sword.

Alexander's resolve shone bright, illuminating the shadows that clung to the corners of his soul.

"But I am Alexander The Great."