4:17 PM, 11th April 1999
Stark Industries Headquarters
(Ben's First-Person POV)
I stood in front of the massive Arc Reactor housed within Stark Industries Headquarters in Los Angeles, completely invisible and wrapped in a soundproofing charm. Around me, employees moved through the facility, engrossed in their daily routines. Engineers discussed projects. Technicians monitored systems. Executives hurried between meetings. Not a single person paid me any attention.
Not that they could.
My gaze remained fixed on the reactor. It really was an impressive piece of engineering.
Howard Stark had been a true genius. The man had effectively cracked cold fusion sometime in the late 1940s. Granted, he had enjoyed a significant advantage in the form of the Tesseract. Studying an Infinity Stone at close range tended to accelerate scientific progress. Even so, the achievement remained staggering.
Using the comparatively primitive materials and manufacturing techniques available half a century ago, Howard Stark had created a cold fusion reactor capable of near-perfect energy conversion while generating remarkably little waste heat.
That deserved applause.
Unfortunately, after his death, this revolutionary technology had been pushed aside in favor of making increasingly sophisticated weapons. A tragedy, really.
The Arc Reactor should have transformed civilization. Instead, it had become another corporate asset locked away behind patents and military contracts.
Well, if Stark Industries wasn't making proper use of it, I would simply have to take it off their hands.
Now, contrary to what certain people might believe, I wasn't a thief.
I hated stealing.
That was precisely why I hadn't simply broken into Maya Hansen's apartment and walked off with a vial of Extremis. Instead, I had approached her directly, invested in her research, and acquired the sample through legitimate means.
I had always intended to obtain the Arc Reactor technology eventually. How could I not?
My original plan had been straightforward enough. I would approach Tony Stark, negotiate for the rights to use the technology, and compensate him appropriately. A few kilograms of Vibranium probably would have done the trick.
Unfortunately, recent events had significantly diminished my enthusiasm for fair and equitable trade.
Specifically, a Stark Industries missile had exploded in my face the moment I arrived in this universe.
I wasn't upset because my life had been endangered. I was perfectly capable of taking care of myself.
No, what truly infuriated me was that if I had arrived even a few seconds later, Wanda and Pietro would have died.
I had managed to save the twins. Their parents, however, had not been so fortunate. Neither had the countless other civilians across Sokovia whose lives had been shattered by weapons manufactured and sold by Stark Industries.
As a result, I wasn't feeling particularly charitable towards Tony Stark at the moment.
In fact, I had paid him a visit the previous evening.
The experience had not improved my opinion.
The future Iron Man had spent the night drunk at a lavish party, attempting to seduce an attractive woman while displaying all the maturity and self-awareness of an overgrown teenager.
The sight had disgusted me.
I had decided then and there that I wouldn't be contacting Tony Stark until reality delivered him the much-needed wake-up call that was heading his way.
Once he grew up and stopped behaving like a boozy man-child, then, perhaps, I would compensate him for appropriating Howard Stark's work.
Until then, I wasn't inclined to lose sleep over it.
My attention shifted away from the reactor as I considered the next step. What I needed now were the schematics and blueprints. Unfortunately, there didn't appear to be any researchers from the relevant division nearby.
Not a problem.
I made my way to the security section and casually brushed against the mind of one of the guards with a light Legilimency probe.
The information I needed surfaced instantly.
Locations. Departments. Access routes. Within moments I knew exactly where to go.
The facility was enormous, but navigating it proved trivial once I possessed the internal layout. After several minutes of walking, I arrived at the Research and Development Division.
The contrast between this area and the rest of the facility was immediately apparent.
Researchers in white lab coats occupied nearly every workstation. Some sat in front of computer terminals reviewing technical data. Others clustered around tables comparing notes and discussing design specifications. Beyond them, enclosed laboratories housed teams working on weapons systems, ammunition development, and various military projects.
I scanned the room and surprisingly, spotted a familiar face.
A grin spread across my face immediately.
I recognized the guy from the films. The unfortunate researcher who would one day endure Obadiah Stane's infamous lecture about Tony Stark building an Arc Reactor in a cave. With a box of scraps.
Poor guy.
I approached and glanced at the identification badge clipped to his lab coat.
William Ginter Riva
Stark Industries – Research & Development
Making sure nobody was paying attention, I wandlessly cast the Imperius Curse on him.
Riva's expression immediately softened. His eyes lost focus. A blissful smile spread across his face.
Without hesitation, he stood up and walked out of the department. I followed invisibly.
Several minutes later he entered a section labeled Toroidal Fusion Research Laboratory.
Compared to the bustling Weapons divisions, this area felt almost abandoned. Only a handful of researchers occupied the room, and much of the equipment appeared underutilized.
One of the scientists noticed Riva's arrival and approached him. A quick glance at his identification badge revealed the name Nathan Ginsberg.
"Hey, Will, what's up?"
Before the man could receive an answer, I silently cast a second Imperius Curse.
Ginsberg froze. Then turned around and calmly walked back to his workstation. He sat down at his terminal, inserted a flash drive, and began downloading files.
Schematics. Technical specifications. Blueprints. Research data. Everything related to the Arc Reactor project.
A few minutes later, he removed the flash drive and handed it to Riva.
Riva left the laboratory without attracting the slightest suspicion. The moment he entered an empty corridor, he extended the drive towards empty air.
I took it.
Mission accomplished.
The instant the drive left his hand, I released the Imperius Curse. Riva blinked and shook his head. Looking mildly confused, he walked back toward the Weapons division with absolutely no memory of what had just happened.
I watched him disappear around a corner before turning my attention to the flash drive in my hand.
Not bad.
I started toward the exit. Then paused.
A thought occurred to me. I could visit the archives. Or perhaps the warehouses. Somewhere within Stark Industries sat the famous Stark Expo model containing Howard Stark's hidden research. The same model that would eventually reveal the atomic structure of the new element Tony would later create.
Badassium.
Or whatever ridiculous name he ended up giving it.
The temptation lingered for a moment. Then I shook my head.
No.
Taking the Arc Reactor technology was one thing. Hundreds of Stark Industries scientists had worked on it. Countless researchers had studied the designs. The technology existed as a corporate asset.
Howard Stark's personal legacy was different.
That model represented a father's final gift to his son. A message left behind across decades. A piece of Howard that Tony would one day need.
And I wasn't going to steal that.
Whatever my opinion of Tony Stark might be, I wasn't willing to stoop that low. With that decision made, I slipped the flash drive into my pocket and headed for the exit.
---
12th April 1999
Kamar-Taj
I stood on the second-floor balcony of one of Kamar-Taj's many buildings, my hands resting lightly on the stone railing as I looked down into the courtyard below.
The sun had only recently risen above the surrounding mountains, bathing the monastery in soft golden light. Down in the courtyard, dozens of robed students moved through their morning exercises in near-perfect unison. Their movements were slow, deliberate, and graceful, each posture flowing seamlessly into the next.
With Magesight active, the scene became even more fascinating.
Streams of energy flowed through the students' bodies with every movement. As they shifted from one stance to another, the energy followed precise pathways, strengthening muscles, reinforcing bones, and gradually increasing their sensitivity to the mystical forces surrounding them.
"You have been busy." The familiar voice came from behind me.
I smiled slightly without turning around. "Waste not, want not."
The Ancient One stepped onto the balcony and joined me at the railing. I continued watching the students below.
"There are so many useful things in this world," I said. "I'd be kicking myself forever if I didn't collect them while I had the chance."
Turning towards her, I added, "And thanks again for letting me use Kamar-Taj's banking facilities. It would have been incredibly awkward trying to pay Aldrich Killian a hundred million dollars in solid gold."
The Ancient One's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Thank you for making such a generous donation to our cause," she replied with amusement in her voice. "Even as sorcerers, it isn't every day we see someone casually producing tens of millions of dollars' worth of gold."
I shrugged. The Ancient One moved to stand beside me, and together we watched the students below for a few moments.
"It's nice here," I said eventually. "Calm. Peaceful."
"On most days," she replied. "On other days, it is...less so." A moment later, she asked, "How long will you be staying?"
"Not much longer, I'm afraid," I answered, leaning against the railing. "I've already done everything I reasonably can within this timeframe. There isn't much point in sticking around anymore."
The Ancient One nodded as though she had expected that answer. "In that case, I would like to ask you for a favor."
I turned towards her. "Of course."
She looked at me and said, "Take Wanda and Pietro with you when you leave."
For a moment I simply stared at her. Then my gaze drifted back towards the courtyard below.
"I'm surprised," I admitted. "Knowing what Wanda is capable of, I assumed you'd want to keep her here as a student."
"The thought had crossed my mind. But then I remembered something," she said, before looking at me. "I dislike the idea of child soldiers."
The Ancient One's gaze returned to the practicing students below.
"Taking up the fight against the forces of darkness must always be a choice, never an obligation," she said quietly. "That is why neither I nor the Sorcerer Supremes who came before me ever attempted to strengthen our ranks by recruiting disciples from around the world."
The morning breeze stirred her robes slightly.
"Instead, Kamar-Taj was established as a sanctuary, a refuge for wounded souls," she continued. "If it became apparent that one of them possessed the ability to defend this world, then they were offered the opportunity."
The Ancient One folded her hands behind her back. "I'm afraid that if Wanda and Pietro remain here, they will eventually feel obligated to join our cause."
"So," she said, turning toward me once more, "take them with you. Give them the childhood they deserve. And if one day they decide to return to this world...make sure they're prepared."
I looked at the Ancient One for a long moment.
Then I nodded. "Thank you."
---
12th April 1999
Disneyland, California
(3rd Person POV)
Wanda screamed with delight while Pietro's laughter echoed across the train as the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad hurtled around another sharp bend.
The runaway mine train rattled and shook as it raced through artificial canyons, narrow tunnels, and towering red rock formations. Wind whipped through their hair while the California sun blazed overhead.
Wanda threw her hands into the air as the train plunged down another slope.
This ride wasn't quite as magical as Space Mountain had been. Nothing could really compare to soaring through darkness surrounded by stars and distant galaxies. Still, there was something wonderfully exciting about racing through a wild western desert aboard an out-of-control mine train.
Behind them, Ben sat comfortably in his seat.
Unlike the twins, he didn't appear particularly thrilled by the ride. Given that he could transform into a dragon and fly across the skies at impossible speeds whenever he wanted, that was hardly surprising.
Nevertheless, a smile remained on his face as he watched Wanda and Pietro enjoy themselves.
The past ten days had been remarkably quiet for the Maximoff twins.
Life at Kamar-Taj had quickly settled into a comfortable routine. Every morning Wanda and Pietro would wake, wash, and make their way to the dining hall. Most of the monastery's residents rose before sunrise, so breakfast for the twins was usually a peaceful affair attended only by Ben, a handful of sorcerers, and a few late initiates.
Afterwards, Wanda and Pietro would join some of the newer students in the courtyard and practice basic Tai Chi exercises. Neither of them understood the deeper principles behind the movements, but they enjoyed participating nonetheless.
The remainder of the day was largely their own.
Sometimes they explored the countless corridors and courtyards that made up the sprawling monastery. Other times they sat quietly and watched apprentice sorcerers practice spells, sling rings, and mystical techniques.
It wasn't an exciting life. But it was peaceful. And compared to what they had left behind in Sokovia, peaceful was more than enough.
During the final weeks before the bombing, they had spent most of their time trapped inside their tiny apartment, venturing outside only when absolutely necessary. At Kamar-Taj they could roam freely through vast halls and open courtyards without fear of bombs, gunfire, or war. That alone felt miraculous.
Then, earlier that morning, Ben had casually informed them that he was taking them somewhere called Disneyland.
The name wasn't entirely unfamiliar to them. Other children at school had talked about it occasionally. They called it the happiest place on Earth.
At the time, Wanda had assumed they were exaggerating. Now she knew they hadn't been.
A glowing blue portal had deposited them outside Disneyland shortly after nine o'clock that morning. From there, the day had become a whirlwind of excitement.
They had explored the Indiana Jones Adventure, climbed through Tarzan's Treehouse, blasted through the darkness of Space Mountain, survived Splash Mountain's enormous drop, and finally boarded Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Every ride had somehow managed to be more incredible than the last.
By lunchtime they had finally agreed to take a break. The three of them had stopped at Redd Rockett's Pizza Port, where Wanda and Pietro discovered that American portion sizes were every bit as ridiculous as Ben had claimed.
They had eaten giant slices of pizza, enormous bowls of chicken fusilli pasta, garlic breadsticks dripping with butter, and Mickey-shaped ice cream bars for dessert. Around them, the restaurant had been filled with laughing families and excited children.
After lunch the adventures had continued.
They rode the Rocket Rods, laughed their way through Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, and later found themselves caught up in the excitement of the Mulan Parade.
Wanda had stared in awe as a massive fire-breathing Mushu dragon rolled past accompanied by acrobats performing seemingly impossible stunts.
From there they sailed through Pirates of the Caribbean, wandered the eerie halls of the Haunted Mansion, and somehow found time for several smaller attractions in between.
The day seemed determined never to end.
Eventually, however, even Disneyland could not stop time.
By half past six the three of them had retreated to the Stage Door Café for dinner.
Now they sat together near the Rivers of America, watching boats drift lazily across the water while the evening sun painted the park in shades of gold and orange.
Pietro took a large bite out of his corn dog before abruptly pointing it towards the sky.
"This is the best day of my life!"
Several nearby guests turned to look. Pietro didn't seem to care.
Wanda laughed. She was busy alternating between her own corn dog and a carton of fries.
Ben smiled across the table. "Really?"
Both twins nodded enthusiastically. The sincerity of their reaction caused his smile to soften.
"Well, I'm glad you two had fun." He leaned back in his chair. "I was starting to worry you'd both turn into young monks if you stayed cooped up in that monastery much longer."
Wanda giggled. "They're not all like that. Some of the masters are strict," she admitted. "But most of the people there are actually very nice."
"Except when it comes to teaching magic," Pietro grumbled. "They all say the same thing. You're too young," he imitated. "They wouldn't even let me try a sling ring."
"That's because they're right," Ben said, much to Pietro's chagrin. "Magic isn't a toy. It's a force of nature. Something that should be approached with caution and wisdom."
Pietro narrowed his eyes. "Didn't you start learning magic when you were seven?"
Ben gave him a completely flat look. "Yes. But I was a special case. You don't happen to know many universe-hopping wizards, do you?"
Wanda hesitated briefly before asking, "Do you think Pietro and I could learn magic someday?"
Pietro immediately stopped eating and looked at Ben expectantly.
Ben considered the question, then smiled. "I think so," he said to the twins' delight. "In fact, I'd wager both of you would be pretty good at it. So good, in fact, that I might even invite you to join my school."
"Your school?" Pietro repeated.
Ben nodded. "It's something I've been thinking about for a while. Once I finish Hogwarts, I plan to travel to another world and build a magical school there. That, and a home for myself and my loved ones."
Ben's gaze drifted toward the river for a moment. Then he faced the twins with a more serious expression.
"Truth is, I actually brought you here to tell you something." Ben took a slow breath. "I'm leaving this world soon."
The words hit both children like a physical blow.
Wanda's eyes widened. "When?"
"Tomorrow."
Silence.
For several seconds neither twin seemed capable of responding.
Ben smiled sadly. "I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I've never been great at goodbyes either. Trust me, nothing scares me more than the tears of people I care about."
Wanda looked down at the table. Her eyes suddenly felt suspiciously warm. Beside her, Pietro placed his food down and stared stubbornly across the river.
Ben watched them quietly. Then he spoke again.
"Unless, of course, you come with me."
Pietro's head snapped around so quickly it was almost comical.
Wanda looked up. "What?"
Ben smiled. "Come with me. To my world."
Their eyes widened further.
"You can stay with my parents," Ben continued. "They'll take care of you, and I'll visit regularly." His smile softened. "Once I finish Hogwarts, you can come with me to our new home."
For several seconds neither Wanda nor Pietro seemed capable of processing what they had just heard.
Then realization dawned, followed immediately by excitement.
Ben grinned. "What do you say?"
That was all it took.
The twins launched themselves at him simultaneously. Ben barely had time to react before finding himself caught in a fierce double hug. Laughing, he wrapped his arms around both of them.
No further answer was necessary.
Later that night, as darkness settled over Disneyland, the three of them stood together beside the Rivers of America and watched Mickey Mouse battle a towering forty-five-foot fire-breathing dragon, while fireworks exploded above the castle and reflections danced across the water.