The next day, Rachael was sitting in the kitchen with some of the other warriors, including Mordo and Wong, and eating lunch. They all looked up as Stephen entered the kitchen. He cleared his throat.

"I need some volunteers," he started. Everyone immediately started calling for him to pick them, "to go to another dimension."

Everyone who had been begging for Stephen to choose them went oddly silent. They started scuttling away and muttering bad excuses like, "I've left the oven on,"; "I need a shower,"; "I don't do other dimensions before ten in the morning,"; and Rachael's personal favorite, "Other dimensions, more like no."

"What's so bad about going to other dimensions?" Rachael asked.

"Well, seeing as you're the only one left, you're about to find out," Stephen said. "Come on, Sorceress Supreme."

Rachael shrugged and got up to follow Stephen. They went up to the attic together. Rachael turned to Stephen to ask him some questions.

"Why do we have to go to another dimension?" she asked.

"To protect our world from the threats of it," Stephen said.

"How do you even know if there is a threat in another dimension?" Rachael tilted her head.

"You know that time you walked in on me and I was meditating?" Stephen asked. Rachael nodded. "That's what I was doing. I do it once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once in the evening to make sure that nothing will happen to our world. I spotted something this morning. It's just a rebel from another dimension whose gotten too big for his britches and thinks he can take over our's. It shouldn't be too hard to handle."

"Right," Rachael said. "Rebel from another dimension who wants to take over Earth. Easy."

"Stand back now," Stephen said. "And just look calm. We don't want to make anyone panic."

Rachael took a step back and let Stephen open the portal to another dimension. They walked through it together calmly. Stephen looked around and saw the person (could he even call it that?) waiting for him about one hundred yards from the portal he had entered through.

"Alright, he's seen us," Stephen whispered to Rachael. "Be careful, Rachael."

"I know," Rachael rolled her eyes. "You're a really overprotective boyfriend, you know that?"

"It's lucky for you I have that instinct. Now, watch out," Stephen said. Rachael watched as the rebel made a long rope of purple sparks.

"He looks like he wants to kill me," she whispered.

"He's not going to kill you, he'll just use magic to give you unimaginable pain," Stephen said.

"And that's supposed to reassure me?" Rachael asked. She kept her eyes on their opponent as he took a step towards them.

"Alright, he's made the first move," Stephen said. "Watch me. I'm just going to walk forward and introduce myself as a warning to try and make him go back."

Stephen took a few steps toward the rebel. "Greetings. I am Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme of Ear-" Stephen didn't get to finish his sentence as their opponent lashed out with his rope of magic. Stephen jumped back, swearing in panic. "Okay...that did not go well. Rachael, I brought you here just to watch, but you're going to have to help me out and possibly fight him with me."

"Fight a demon from another dimension?!" Rachael exclaimed.

"It's our only option," Stephen said.

"But I've never done it before!" Rachael protested.

"You're ready, darling," Stephen said.

Rachael took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay, Stephen."

"Let's go," Stephen said. "Just remember: keep calm and do exactly as I say. Start walking forward and make a ball of sparks. Keep eye contact with him. I'll be right by your side."

The two of them started walking forward. Rachael did as Stephen had said and started to make a ball of sparks with her hands. Stephen did the same thing. Their challenger started to take steps backwards, but Rachael could see him making another rope of magic.

"He just keeps moving backwards," Rachael muttered. "We'll never catch him."

"We don't need to catch him," Stephen said. "We just need to make him surrender and then we'll imprison him in another dimension."

"What's going to stop him trying to kill us again?" Rachael asked.

"He needs to know he can't win. We've got to look formidable," Stephen explained. "You're out of time with your steps and you're lagging. Come up to my side and keep in time with me. Left, right, left, right."

Rachael started chanting the steps with Stephen. They moved forwards slowly and steadily. The rebel kept moving backwards. Stephen glanced out of the corner of his eye at Rachael and saw that she was extremely focused.

"That's it, Rachael," he said. "Keep pushing him back...and, stop."

Stephen and Rachael stopped moving. They kept their eyes locked on the rebel. He had stopped moving, too. All three of them looked back at one another.

"Stephen, he stopped," Rachael whispered.

"I can see that, Rachael," Stephen said, slightly irritated. "He really is stubborn. It looks like he wants to-"

Stephen was once again interrupted as the rebel threw his rope of sparks at them. It was aimed at Rachael this time instead of Stephen. He threw his own spell at the rope before nudging Rachael out of the way.

"Watch it, Rachael!" he said.

"I think I'm ready to go home," Rachael muttered.

"I'm not giving up, and neither are you," Stephen panted. "Come on. One more time. I'm going to cast the illusion of invisibility over you. Go around the back of him and wait for him. When he gets close enough, cast a binding spell."

"Got it," Rachael nodded. Stephen cast the spell and Rachael disappeared.

"Rachael, be careful!" Stephen warned.

Rachael sprinted around the back of their opponent and waited calmly. Stephen was the one with the hard job now. He made another ball of sparks and started to walk forward quicker than he had before. Their opponent kept moving back, but he looked tired.

Good, he's worn himself out, he thought.

"Just a little farther, Stephen," Rachael murmured. "That's it...got him!"

Rachael cast the binding spell. Stephen took the illusion off of her and breathed a sigh of relief. He was beaming with pride at Rachael.

"Excellent!" he said. "Now, just to imprison him in another dimension," Stephen took a deep breath. "By the shackles of Sheol!"

There was a very bright light. When it cleared, the rebel was gone. Rachael jumped on Stephen's back, making him grunt in surprise.

"We did it!" she said.

"Get off of me," Stephen chuckled in amusement, standing straight. Rachael slid effortlessly off of his back and landed gracefully on his feet.

"Come on. That made me hungry and tired," Rachael said.

"I'm proud of you," Stephen said as they stepped back through the portal to their own dimension. He gave Rachael a gentle kiss. "You did very well. I love you."

"I love you too," Rachael said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go get a snack and then go to sleep."

"Did you enjoy that, though?" Stephen asked.

"It was alright," Rachael shrugged.

"Great, then you can help me the next time," Stephen said.

"Oh, no..." Rachael groaned. Stephen burst out laughing at her dread.

"Go to our room," he said. "I'll bring you something to eat and drink and then you can have a rest. You've earned it."

Rachael did as Stephen said. She wasn't going to argue. When Rachael got back to the bedroom, she washed her face and changed her clothes. After doing that, she laid down in the bed that would usually also be occupied by Stephen. Just as her eyes were starting to close, the door opened. Rachael's head snapped up, but she relaxed when she saw that it was just Stephen with the food and water he had promised.

"Calm down, Rach," Stephen said. "It's only me. Get some rest. When you wake up, come downstairs to see if there's anything for you to do."

"Stephen, stay," Rachael said as he was turning to leave.

Stephen sighed. "Rachael, you know I can't-"

"Just while I fall asleep," Rachael said. "Please?"

"Fine," once again, Stephen sighed but this time it was in defeat.

Rachael smiled and moved over to make room for Stephen. Stephen kicked off his boots and got under the covers with Rachael. She rested her head on his chest and Stephen wrapped his arms around her.

"You're always so warm," Rachael said. "It's nice."

"I'm glad," Stephen said. "Now, go to sleep. I can't stay very long."

Rachael shut her eyes and rolled over so she was facing away from Stephen. He kept both arms wrapped around her abdomen and pressed his forehead into her neck. Rachael gently squeezed his hand and kissed it.

"I love you," she whispered.

"And I love you," Stephen kissed the back of her neck. "I'm so proud of you, Rachael. You've done so well with adjusting to all of this."

"Thank you," Rachael murmured sleepily.

Rachael had never felt so content or comfortable in her life. She was in a soft, warm bed with her boyfriend spooning her. It was so relaxing. As Rachael fell asleep, she knew that when she woke up, she would be more well-rested than she had been in a long, long time.

Once Stephen knew Rachael was asleep, he contemplated leaving. But he was very cozy. A few more minutes couldn't hurt, right? His eyes began to droop closed, but Stephen shook himself awake. He could stay here for a few more minutes, but he couldn't fall asleep. Right?

Well, I suppose a quick catnap won't kill me, he thought.

Stephen finally gave in to temptation and shut his eyes. He and Rachael deserved this. He had just defeated a demon from another dimension, Rachael had just become the Sorceress Supreme and battled her first demon, and they had both been through some of the hardest trials they had ever endured in the past year and a half. They definitely deserved some time to just do a normal couple thing and take a nap together.

------------------------

So, a Doctor Strange promo played on the TV in the other room and I sprinted into the other room so I could watch it and then my dad yelled at me.

Good times.

But that's the most exercise I've done in a few months so...

I'm freaking out because I have ANOTHER AP Human Geo test on Thursday. I JUST HAD ONE ON FRIDAY AND THEN ONE THE WEEK BEFORE THAT. WHAT THE HECK?!

Ugh. Gotta get to Doctor Strange. Just one more month, then I'll see it. Wait...then what am I gonna have to look forward to? When does Spider-Man come out?

WHAT?!

Oh, wait Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is coming out on May fifth... MARVEL'S GOT MOVIES PLANNED TO 2020 WELL I'M SAFE WITH THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

Today's Doctor Strange meme is:

I'm so sorry.