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PROLOGUE: THE CLASHING
OF THE MULTIVERSES

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AS EVENING CASTED its dusky gown, the air became fresh and restful, and the time for reflection arrived. The evening was a reward after the daylight efforts were made, and the time where it is supposed to feel good to enjoy the simple pleasures and prepare oneself for the world of dreams. The achievements of the day should form some pride that will warm young Cassandra's soul, a sense of happiness. 

But it didn't. Not for the young learner of the mystic arts.

Deep emotions stirred with no other outlet but through Cassandra's long-lasting sobs. She had failed again to perform a spell and it backfired, creating a hole in the Temple and injuring her friend Wong. Why couldn't she be like the others who progressed well? This had been the twentieth time she failed. It was a simple spell, why couldn't she perform it? What was wrong with her? She sprinted to her room, her eyes bleeding torrents of grief. 

The teenager slammed her door shut, and leant against it, bawling. She stared at her hands and her Sling Ring for a moment before pitching it across the room. She didn't like this feeling, being defeated, being helpless. She was the Guardian, the prophesied companion and defender of the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. She cannot fail. The girl's eyes flickered at the tomes that contain each Guardian's accounts of their adventures, slowly padding over to it.

Was she really the Guardian? What if the prophecy was wrong? What if it wasn't her?

Her fingers reached out to point out the written interpretations of the prophecy by the third and fourth Guardians. Actually, Cassandra was now the sixth individual who was chosen and the pressure burdened her immensely to the point that she imagined what her life would be if she wasn't in Kamar-Taj. But then, this was her choice. She wasn't forced into this. Her parents, Harry and Olivia, and her mystical teacher, the Ancient One, let her choose.

Cassandra couldn't help thinking if she made the wrong decision. She was still young, she should be enjoying what a normal teenager is doing, right? She let out a small breath as she read the inscriptions in the book.

A Guardian is only born when the next Sorcerer Supreme of Earth will be needing an advisor, a companion, a friend in his vast traverses throughout the multiverse. They will be the mirror of the Sorcerer Supreme, their evaluator, the angel to their demons, their rock and salvation. - Anna Beltruze, third Guardian of the Sorcerer Supreme.

I really think a Guardian exists to smack the back of the Sorcerer Supreme's head when they make a decision without weighing in the consequences and especially when they are being idiotic. - Ilsa Mavis, fifth Guardian of the Sorcerer Supreme.

She sighed, closing the book and her notes, stacking them properly. As she was arranging them, she thought who the next Sorcerer Supreme would be. She knows that she exists to accompany, advise, and defend them if necessary. Would they be really idiotic or be more knowledgeable? Firm and steady in their decisions? 

Cassandra clenched her fist and in a moment of frustration, pounded her table twice. That was when her eyes caught a glimpse of black and purple smoke swirling atop of her bed, a book materializing. Magical and mysterious, it lures her. She cocked an eyebrow, curious and a bit scared at how it appeared before her. What and why was it here?

Cautiously, she approached it, watching the black tome for any sign of harm. She couldn't explain it, but her heart pounded in her ears as if warning her of some doom as she drew closer, but what harm can a book do? Books are all about giving knowledge and just like what their librarian said before, no knowledge is forbidden, only certain practices. At this, Cassandra gently pulled it to her, fingertips tracing the engraved words in its cover.

"Darkhold…" she read, and at that moment, she heard hot whispers that raised goosebumps in her skin.

Open it.

They sounded malicious, but comforting at the same time. They were so compelling that she almost opened it, but she shook her head, suddenly remembering the warnings of her mentor about the dark arts. How they corrupt the minds of its readers, turning them into their puppets while rotting their flesh. Terrified, she dropped it, panting in fear. Cassandra snatched her blankets, and wrapped it around the Darkhold in the hopes it would no longer tempt her then grabbed her earmuffs, putting them on. Surely, she wouldn't hear the voices again, right?

Oh, how wrong she was.

Cassandra took it upon herself to surrender the cursed tome to the Ancient One and their librarian. They would certainly know how to dispose of the book. No sorcerer must get a hold of it. With the Darkhold secured in her arms, she made her way across the hallways of the Temple, her footsteps reverberating.

Even when she had her earmuffs on, the voices continued to tempt her, enticing her to open the book and read. As if acting desperate, the Darkhold flew away from her reach, levitating. Alarmed, she attempted to invoke a mandala shield to protect herself, but it only resulted in a dying cascade of amber sparks.

Cassandra clenched her jaw. She can't even properly cast a spell, how can she even defend herself from this? Weaves of lilac magic circled Cassandra for a moment before her body absorbed it, making her eyes glow violet and gasp. The darkness felt heavy, oppressive, almost supernatural. It was darker than vantablack, if that was even possible. The young girl soon found herself swallowed up in the nothingness, not able to see her own two hands in front of her face. A rush of euphoria filled her entire body as the book flipped to a page about enhancing one's magic.

Enhance your magic.

Be the greatest Guardian that this world has seen.

We hear your despair. We are here for you.

One little spell won't hurt.

She tilted her head to the side, her eyes fluttering close. "One little spell won't hurt." repeated her, as the magic and demons of the Darkhold began to take charge of her mind. 

And lo and behold, the Harbinger of Darkness was born.

THE SUN GLARED down upon the thick cobblestone walls, leaving stark, vivid shadows contrasting with the blinding bright reflections. They were the strongest thing for miles around, yet when Cassandra looked carefully she noticed the stones. It was built of stones of varying sizes and shapes, each one unique. From a distance it was uniform grey, from up close it was a mosaic of humble rocks, each of them nobody would think anything of where they lost by the garden. But together, they are the crown of the landscape and protector against multiversal threats.

Barging in through the court doors with her chin held high was the Guardian Illuminati, Cassandra Mason.

"You are late."

Cassandra paused in her tracks once she reached the middle of the court, her eyes gazing into each of her fellow members of the team that protects the multiverse from threats. "Yeah, tell me something I do not know already, Richards." She remarked, the corners of her lips quirking upwards. "You called for a meeting, Xavier?"

Spinning around his wheelchair to face her was the brilliant telepath, Charles Xavier. Actually, when Cassandra's Earth was plagued with the zombie virus, it was he, his wife, Valerie Swan-Xavier, and their universe's Stephen Strange who pulled her out of there as she was the sole survivor, having hidden in Kamar-Taj for a year. She failed to protect her own universe's Stephen Strange, her friend, since he was bitten first by Tony Stark when they all met in the streets of New York. Stephen claimed that she was key in defeating Thanos since their universe's Cassandra died and he was right.

Charles and Valerie, since then, offered her a place in the team, replacing her title of Guardian of the Sorcerer Supreme to Guardian Illuminati after the war was won with Stephen laying down his life to defeat Thanos. The professor tapped the handles of his levitating wheelchair, "A rogue traveller has been disrupting the peace of the multiverse, Cassandra."

"A rogue traveller?"

"Eleanor has seen that she is travelling universe after universe."

Cassandra cocked an eyebrow then brushed the lints off of her pantsuit. "Okay, so what shall we do about this traveller?"

"Bring her here so she may stand trial for her crime." expressed Eleanor Lehnsherr, wife of one of the X-Men's most powerful adversaries, Erik Lehnsherr. Her hands pulsed with thin threads of red and white magic as she prodded forward. The Guardian Illuminati admired how her order magic negated the horrible effects of chaos magic. 

Cassandra blinked multiple times, confused. "Wait, wait, hold on. We have never done this before. We have never jumped into a different universe and taken someone and…" 

"She is a threat. Being able to physically move through the multiverse? She will soon cause an incursion, Cassandra.." argued Baron Mordo.

This time, it was Valerie Swan-Xavier, the advisor of the team, who spoke up. "I don't think she is a threat. Someone must be after her. Why else would she recklessly travel through universes? Maybe she is in need of help." Her brown and grey hair tangled around her shoulders like a waterfall. Valerie was the brains of the team, every plan and idea came from her and they were always successful. Cassandra found out days later after she was rescued from her Earth that it was Valerie who convinced the others to take her for the team.

Nodding, she then focused on the rest of the team. Surrounding her were Earth's most brilliant minds and bravest heroes: Captain Marvel, Captain Britain, Mr. Fantastic, Blackbolt, Eclipse, Baron Mordo, and finally, Professor X. They were all gathered together by the Stephen Stephen of this universe to fight off whatever was threatening the safety of all universes.

Maria Rambeau concurred, "I agree with Valerie."

"That's the reason why she must be here. So we may know her reason for committing such an act." concluded Peggy Carter, Captain Carter.

"Am I going alone?"

"Yes, we believe it will be safer and more discreet if you go alone, Cassandra." vocalized Charles Xavier, crossing his arms. His eyes radiated a fierce, uncompromising intelligence. "We cannot risk other timelines knowing that we exist… that multiple universes exist."

Cassandra nodded, agreeing with what was said. Many universes do not still know that such concept exist, and it was safer that way. She remembered how she was surprised that there was a team that Stephen put together protected realities from clashing and falling apart. She already knew about the multiverse. After all, she studied the mystic arts for years and the concept of the multiverse.

Stepping out of the court, she travelled to her room, dressing herself for the journey. It would be a simple catching and bringing in, right? She hoped it would be. The Guardian Illuminati flicked a blue and silver cloak and coat around her shoulders and patted down her pantsuit. Satisfied with her appearance, she exited her room to head over to the laboratory where she will be transported to where America Chavez should be.

Several of the people working for their team bowed their heads as they passed by her. She was told that she gave a graceful and forbidding appearance whenever she swept through the halls of their building.

"Cassandra…" 

The woman paused, smirking when she recognized the tone of the man she always had a banter with. "Richards…" She spun around her heel to face him.

Reed sauntered over to her, his hands clasped behind his back and smiling innocently. His hazel eyes were round and they swam with joy, shining brightly, like a radiating brown sun warmed with inner gold. "Off to your first adventure now, huh?"

"Yep." She feigned a sigh. "I know, I know. You won't see this gorgeous face for a while. Please don't cry."

He chuckled then shook his head. "The multiverse is so much bigger than you think. Don't lose yourself out there, alright? Don't do what Strange did."

"As if I will." She countered. "Alright, I will keep that in mind."

She gave him a wink and a salute, turning around to leave when he said, "Come back safe, Mason."

She rolled her eyes. Reed Richards was one of the very first people who accompanied her when she came, especially when she was quarantined. He and his wife, Susan, entertained her during her time in the laboratory, bringing her books and music to listen to. Reed was her first friend when she became the Guardian Illuminati.

She faced him as she walked backwards, shrugging, "Of course, who else is going to nag you if not me, Rubber Richards."

And with that, she entered another corridor, heading towards the laboratory where Christine Palmer's team of scientists are waiting for her. "Cassandra," acknowledged the auburn haired woman, perambulating over to her. "We have tracked down the rogue traveller's current location. You will be transported there via this bracelet. Once you have her, just click this button and you two will be teleported to this timeline."

Cassandra eyed the bracelet as she fastened it around her wrist. "So, this…" she pointed to the glowing button. The technology reminded her of Star Trek where they used these transporter machines to teleport their crew. "Then, this. Alright, got it."

"Ten seconds, Dr. Palmer."

Stepping away from her, she watched as the scientist stared at her own bracelet. Cassandra's breath hitched in her throat as she felt a heat rise from her feet. Slowly and surely, her transporter took her apart piece by piece, breaking apart the bonds between individual atoms with high-energy beams, converting her into subatomic particles to be sent to the desired timeline. 

Finally feeling her body disappearing, the woman peered at Christine who offered an encouraging smile. "Good luck."

A few seconds must've passed, but Cassandra finally materialized in a dimension she was unfamiliar with. She squinted her eyes, for there before her was a blanket of blackness. Gradually, she began to perceive something. As her eyes got used to the feeble light, she discerned spots of light. Her surroundings reminded her greatly of the New York Sanctum. In the distance, the blurry image of two figures, a young girl and a very familiar man crouched in a defensive position.

A version of Stephen Strange.

"Hi there, kiddo." Cassandra waved her hand, greeting the young girl who she assumed was the rogue traveller her team was talking about.

"Who are you?"

"Nice of you to ask. I'm Cassandra Mason, the Guardian Illuminati."

"Cassie?" asked Stephen, uncertainty clear in his voice. He was sporting a different beard and haircut. His grey hair temples slightly higher than the one she was familiar with. He was also wearing a black and red robe that made her raise an eyebrow. She wondered where his version of Cassandra Mason was. Was she dead?

"Stephen Strange. Ah, good to see you. Thank you for keeping an eye on this child." She assuredly strolled towards America Chavez, gently tugging her arm. "I will take it from here."

"What are you doing?"

"What do you think? Uh, girl, yes you, you are to – "

Stephen blocked her way. "I'm not letting you take her away. The fate of the multiverse depends on it."

"Step aside, Strange, or you will be forced to step aside."

"Look, I will explain to you more about it later, but right now, we have to look for the Book of Vishanti."

She blinked, knowing the Book of Vishanti was within their reach. "Why do you want to find it?"

All of a sudden, the ground on which they were standing shook violently and soon, meters away from them a portal ripped through the open space. Cassandra felt America tremble and take a step back as if she feared what would happen next. 

She did have a reason to.

Because emerging from the interdimensional gateway was a demon. Its eyes were small and black, with blood dripping from its long sharp teeth. Its body was shaped like a wolf, except its flat face resembled a human, but with skin covered with patches of black hair and a nose that wasn't present.

Her jaw dropped, confused and shocked as to why the demon was here. Its eye zeroed in on America for a moment and there started the nightmare.

"Because of that."

"Holy… shit."

IN ANOTHER TIMELINE, Cassandra Mason had just lost everyone she held dear.

After their defeat on Titan, she and Tony immediately returned to Earth, only for her to find out that all of her loved ones died. Stephen, Wong, Karl, her mother, even Perseus – her teenage son with her husband, Stephen… all of them died after Thanos had successfully collected the Stones and snapped his fingers to fulfill his desire to eradicate half of all life on Earth.

Thanos left her with no one.

The once salmon and lavender sky transformed into a vast expanse of jet-black, the night laid down a blanket of darkness, when the woman tilted her head skyward. She could clearly see millions of bright stars dotted on the black sky at night, the thick gloomy clouds shaded over the luminous moon covering its entirety, the sky was full of glistening stars but no moon, as she glanced at the wide forest in front of her. 

It had just been a month after her loved ones passed away and the pain in her chest wouldn't just stop, not even pause for a moment. Every single day, Cassandra prayed to the gods to let it be just a terrible nightmare that she would soon wake up from. Yet, whenever she hears the silence of the Sanctum, her home, she remembers that this was real. They were indeed gone. She lost them all, her family.

She was standing atop a mountain, her cheeks stained with grief. Right after she discovered her loss, the masters of each Sanctum asked her to step up on the mantle of Sorceress Supreme since she was the only one left eligible for the role. But, right now, she was in no condition to be the mystical protector of Earth, not when she was broken and certainly not when her mind is slowly being consumed by the darkness.

A scream from deep within her forced its way from her mouth, as if her terrified soul had just unleashed a demon. She wailed, she could no longer keep it a secret, that she had to let everyone know her world had been destroyed. She took her rage, her grief to the sky like a crow for all to hear. That crippling weight of loneliness, the pain of depression. 

Why are you full of rage?

Because I am full of grief.

All she felt was uncontrollable rage, a burning inferno spreading through her soul. Her skin heated up and her fingers emitted sparks. Tears welled up stronger and spilled down my face, blurring her vision. Her fists clenched and her teeth locked up once the sound was out.

It still wasn't enough. The Sorceress Supreme needed to release this pain because the world dared to take everything from her.

Burn everything to the ground. Do it. 

And just like that, in a split second, she accepted her fate.

Cassandra threw her hands forward and fire bursted out of her palms. She felt the heat dry her skin, scorching, ordering a few steps backward, but she didn't. She numbly watched, eyes full open, posture square to the flames. The fire before her burned like a temper, the leaping flames had a terrible anger toward the living world. It moved faster than a person can run though the deer stood a strong chance, moving swiftly as they did. The air smelt and tasted like bonfire while the horizon glowed orange beneath the smokey wind-dragged plume. The forest will certainly be gone by dawn and leave a jungle of charred stumps.

Suddenly, the ground she was standing on rumbled and a glowing star-shaped portal tore open not far away from her, causing her to stop the spread of the unforgiving wildfire with a snap of her fingers.

"Go! Go! Go!" yelled a dark haired woman who came in first, pushing a young girl wearing a denim jacket and pants. Cassandra watched as the female shot several white magical blasts at a huge creature that was chasing them. The monster dropped down on its forefeet, its long claws dripping in blood. The monster leaped, lunging through the air, its fangs bared as it sought the sorceress and the young girl. As if acting on instinct, she used her mandalas as platforms to jump in the air, reaching them within seconds.

Just as the monster was about to snatch them up from the ground, Cassandra landed behind the brunette and the young girl she was with, confronting the creature. Twirling her hands, she channeled dark energy from the Dark Dimension and sent a huge shockwave on the path of the demon. She furrowed her eyebrows when she caught sight of the amber runes in its limbs and immediately knew that the monster was summoned by a witch. Who was this witch?

"Who are you?" asked the brunette who was wearing a blue cloak, her hands displaying a mandala made of light, white magic.

"Cassandra Mason, the Sorceress Supreme. Why is this demon after you two?"

"We… we don't know!" replied the girl, frantic. "Watch out!"

The monster overpowered the Sorceress Supreme and she was cast aside, her back hitting a tree. She groaned. Her vision blurred for a moment, but she managed to place her hand flat on the ground, glowing brightly. It then occurred to Cassandra that minutes ago she was planning to burn their Earth to a crisp, and now she was trying to save these two people. What was she even doing? Why was she compelled to help them? Feeling the magic flowing in her veins, she invoked a spell, a set of large, beaming hands appearing before her. The hands of a god. She manipulated it to pull a tree out of the ground and used it to smash against the demon's head repeatedly.

"America! Open a portal!"

"I can't control it!"

"Do it or we're going to die!"

And with that, the Sorceress Supreme felt her right arm burn, like her own flesh was being fried and she realized that it was the creature doing that to her. One of the demon's limbs wrapped itself around the young girl and the female and she heard their screams. 

That was when a huge portal suddenly materialized behind the girl and there was a shrill whistle in the air. There was then a hard drag at Cassandra's back as the interdimensional gateway sucked air in like a crushing vacuum. They also saw someone getting yanked as they travelled throughout the multiverse before landing hard against a concrete, slowly losing consciousness.

"We have to get the book!" She heard Stephen articulate after she blacked out for a few seconds. The Sorceress Supreme felt her heart stop. She knew that tone of voice, too well. Stephen Strange? She hissed a little when she attempted to move up, realizing she was injured, and her entire body was immobile.

"I'm so sorry. But, this is the only way."

Then, she saw an illuminating blue light as she saw a version of Stephen Strange siphon her powers. "No, Strange! What are you doing?" protested the woman Cassandra helped earlier.

"I cannot let them have her power, Cassandra! She can't control it, but I can."

The woman's name was also Cassandra? Was she Cassandra Mason as well? Is she another version of herself?

"But, if you take her power… you'll kill her."

"She's too dangerous! In the calculus of the multiverse, this is the only way!" asserted Stephen.

"Right now, the only dangerous person in here is you. My Stephen would have tried another way!" 

"I am not him."

"You give me no choice…" The Sorceress Supreme weakly watched as a white orb of energy flew out of the palm of the woman's hand, clashing with Stephen's own magic. Her eyes glowed white as tendrils of pure mystical energy rose up from the ground, cutting off Stephen's channeling of the girl's ability. "I will protect her with my life, Strange. I will not – "

Suddenly, a demonic creature roared behind them and stabbed Stephen twice, one in his leg and and his chest. It was then that the Sorceress Supreme was dragged once again by a strong gust of wind into a portal where she tumbled around like she was in a vortex.

"Cassandra… Cassandra!"

"America!"

Then, darkness reigned over her vision.