The look on T'Challa's face was something I was going to savor for a very long time. The stunned expressions on the other Wakandans as we made our quick getaway were just the cherry on top.
I really wanted to say something like, now you see the immensity of heaven and earth, or maybe, fool, you are but a frog in a well.
Unfortunately, my more rational side won out over the urge to pretend I was some gloating cultivator.
As I heaved the case of vibranium onto the temple grounds, the portal snapped shut behind me. The relief that washed through me after that particular mess was palpable.
Well, the shitshow was probably not over yet, but my role in it was done. Wakanda, the most "advanced" country on Earth, could deal with the rest on its own.
"You've been busy, it seems."
I looked up to see the Ancient One standing there, looking thoroughly amused.
"Yeah, it's been a rough day." I dropped onto my ass without ceremony, taking the chance to finally unwind. "They're not keeping you in wizard jail anymore?"
"The Masters of Kamar-Taj thought it prudent that you have a skilled 'liaison,' so the duty fell to me."
"Heh, you make it sound like a punishment..." I paused, then narrowed my eyes. "Wait. Is dealing with me your version of community service?"
"Yes."
The Ancient One didn't even bother to deny it.
My hand fell to my chest in mock pain. "My God... I'm hurt. How can the just Masters of Kamar-Taj slander me so? Have I not been an honored ally?"
"One tends to get worried when someone has frequent encounters with dark gods and demons," the Ancient One said dryly.
"...It wasn't that often."
"Remind me how long it took you to go from encountering Dormammu to a demon?"
"Uh..." I paused. Oh God, it really had been nearly back-to-back. "No comment."
"Do be careful. I am rather fond of young Anna, so I would rather your antics not blow up on her."
"No worries for me?"
"None."
I fell back dramatically, clutching my chest like I had been struck a mortal blow.
That earned a snort from the Ancient One. "While I would applaud your acting skills, are there not a few people you need to introduce to me?"
Right. Almost forgot.
The unconscious Winter Soldier was still bound up and currently doing a convincing dead fish impression. Illyana, meanwhile, was chatting away animatedly with Anna, who was happily pointing out various parts of Kamar-Taj to her.
Thinking about the two of them did give me a weird realization, though. "You don't know who they are? I know you can't exactly keep eyes on me, but these two are pretty important people. I figured with the whole Time Stone thing..."
She shook her head. "I am glad you have such confidence in my abilities, but I'm not omniscient. I could not see past my own death, nor could I foresee and inspect the entire universe. It is already taxing enough to use it on Earth." Her gaze shifted toward Illyana. "And while very few things are outright immune to the Time Stone as you are, there are certain places and beings that make predicting them… difficult, to say the least."
That did make a strange sort of sense. She would've been outright unbeatable if there were not some kind of limits on its use.
I pointed toward Illyana. "That's Illyana Rasputin. She's a mutant who got abducted by a demon and taken to Limbo."
The Ancient One scowled at the mention of the abduction, then gave me a small nod.
"She's kind of a demon... but not really. I'm not going to get into it unless she tells you herself. I was hoping you guys might be able to help her out, though. The demon who abducted her is using her as some kind of beacon or something."
"Belasco is not unknown to us, and I will have the Masters look into whether we can alter the barrier around Earth." She sighed softly. "It is our failures that allowed such a tragedy to occur. Kamar-Taj's doors will always be open to her."
"I'll let her know that's an option."
Although convincing her brother and the other mutants to trust some random wizard school was probably going to be a hard sell, that was a problem for future me. I nodded toward the unconscious Winter Soldier.
"The Winter Soldier. Hydra's top soldier and assassin. Also known as Bucky Barnes."
"Ah... by Bucky Barnes, you couldn't mean..."
"Right." I blinked. "You were alive when the Howling Commandos were active."
She sighed. "Mr. Rogers will not be happy about that, I presume."
The Ancient One strode over and placed a hand on Bucky's forehead.
"Hydra got its hooks into him a few decades ago. They used some mix of electric shock and hypnosis to completely screw up his mind. I was hoping you could help with that, too."
I wasn't too worried about Bucky in the long run, seeing as Wakanda managed to fix him later, but leaving him there right now didn't seem particularly smart. I'd thought about asking for help with that as part of my demands, though handing over the Winter Soldier to Wakanda felt like the sort of decision that could spiral into its own mess.
Hopefully, magic could speed up the process this time.
The Ancient One's hand glowed faintly, and she clicked her tongue. "His spirit and mind have been badly mangled... but not beyond repair, fortunately."
"Then...?"
"Yes. No worries. It is Kamar-Taj's duty to help the lost and broken. The Masters will not consider helping a wronged man to be active interference against Hydra."
I let out a small breath. I had doubted they would refuse, but the Winter Soldier was high-profile enough that part of me had still worried it might be considered too much.
"I will take him to our specialists, if you do not mind," the Ancient One said. "You look as though you are in dire need of rest. Your last room is still available, so feel free."
"Thank you." I nodded sincerely. I was exhausted, even with the ring working overtime. There was only so much it could do against pure mental fatigue.
"No more eldritch encounters for a few days, if you would," the Ancient One said before turning away, carrying Bucky with a spell.
"Aye, aye, Doc." I waved after her before heading over to Anna and Illyana.
"This place is so cool," Illyana gushed to Anna. "It's so different from Limbo. The magic and everything just fits. I didn't know harmony could feel this good. All the castles in Limbo had this icky feeling."
I smiled at the sight of the two of them getting along so well. Illyana had really taken to Anna over the course of this whole Wakanda fiasco.
"Sorry to interrupt such a thrilling, arcane architecture conversation." I draped an arm over Anna's shoulder, earning only a snort from her. "But do you guys want to hit the hay? I don't know about you two, but I've had enough excitement for one day."
I could feel my mind slowing down.
Haaa... at least everything had worked out. My group was safe, the villains had been thwarted, and Wakanda was, more or less, informed.
Achieved all the objectives.
"Oh! I haven't slept in a real bed in ages," Illyana said excitedly. Then the blonde paused. "But, uhhh, Jack, shouldn't we call my brother or something?"
I froze as I remembered our rather insane exit from the X-Mansion.
Oh.
I had completely forgotten we had gone radio silent on them through all of this.
Uh oh.
I pulled out my phone and quickly dialed Wolverine's number.
It picked up.
"Uh..."
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Logan's voice was so loud that all three of us flinched.
Well, there went my whole going-to-sleep plan.
—
T'Challa could not help but grimace as he took in the sight of the council chamber. He had moved as quickly as he could to root out the remaining Skrull infiltration, yet he had still not been fast enough.
The chamber's blend of modern and ancestral architecture, refined over centuries by the tribes and displayed proudly in its walls and structure, was broken and ruined. Rubble littered the floor despite the guards working without pause to clear the debris.
It was a horrid sight, one Wakanda had not seen in thousands of years. For so long, they had been safe, hidden away behind their strength and secrecy.
What fools they had been.
And yet, disastrous as this was, it could have been far worse. T'Challa felt a chill run through him at the thought of what the shapeshifters could have done to Wakanda if they had been given more time to infiltrate the government.
What would have happened if that strange man had not somehow handed him knowledge seemingly from thin air?
He tried not to dwell on it.
"T'Challa."
His father's voice cut through the silence. Tired though he was, he still carried the weight of a king from his seat at the head of the room.
"You have done your duty well. This meeting was held at your behest despite the rather... difficult circumstances. So speak, my son."
The other council leaders were present as well.
Well, all the living ones were.
That alone was proof enough of the danger they faced.
"Wakanda's time of hiding is over. Our enemies know of us now, and they have seen our wealth." T'Challa drew in a deep breath, then forced steel into his voice. "I have been given knowledge of those who strike at us, and so I ask permission to go to war."
***
Comments and Thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Likes are like a drug to me and boost my creative juices.
I have advanced chapters on Pa tre on/daisyberry if you wanna read ahead.