"So... your magic is shrinking?"

"Um... no. That's my suit."

"OK, so your magic is to communicate with ants?"

"Um... also no."

The four of them were standing in the hallway, Stephen and Wanda sipping their tea and doing their best to just fade into the background whilst Loki was trying to figure out what magic Scott actually had.

"So what magic can you do?" Loki asked, confused, whilst Strange's cloak was trying to get his attention.

Scott made a card appear out of nowhere, then made it vanish and appear in his other hand. "I can do all sorts of things like that," he explained, while Stephen in the background was debating whether it was a good idea to recruit Scott after all.

Loki wasn't easily impressed, however. "So... you can conjure stuff out of nowhere?"

"Er... sort of."

Strange decided to interrupt. "As amazing and informative this conversation is, you two, can we please discuss what we're all here to discuss?"

Scott made a zipping motion across his mouth, then completely undermined it by pointing at Loki and saying, "He started it anyway." Then he turned to Loki as though confused. "I feel really mean by saying this, but who are you? I swear I've seen you before but I don't know where... you aren't an Avenger are you?"

Loki shook his head. "I'm Loki. I definitely haven't met you before: I would've remembered a shrinking man with an army of ants."

Scott nodded, though he was still pulling the same facial expression. "Where have I heard your name before then?"

"The main thing everyone knows me as is Thor's brother," Loki sighed, as though he couldn't think of anything worse.

"That must be it then," Scott said, though he still looked unsure.

Strange cleared his throat subtly. When he had their collective 100% attention, (or 75%, if we're counting the cloak as part of the group) he started talking. "OK, so now we're all properly acquainted-" (Scott was still wearing that expression) "-I'll explain to both of you what we're up against. Would you like to sit down?"

Scott looked around at the floor, as though expecting to see chairs materialise out of nowhere. "On what, exactly?"

Suddenly they weren't in the hallway anymore: Stephen had magicked them to another room where four conveniently placed armchairs were all facing each other. Neither Wanda nor Loki were surprised – they were both one with the magic after all – but Scott's eyes nearly fell out his sockets.

"What the hell..." he mumbled, as they took their seats.

Wanda patted him on the shoulder reassuringly. "You'll get used to it, Lang. If teleporting through rooms is crazy to you then... it's about to get Grade A: bananas. You're gonna want to sit down."

Once they'd all settled – Scott as though he was bracing for the worse – Stephen put his tea on the table and prepared to talk them through his and Loki's carefully completed plan. "OK. Remember how I said about the different dimensions in the email? One created when the Avengers went back in time for the Stones. I assume something went wrong when they went to get or return one of the Stones, somehow creating an alternate timeline. How they were created is the least of our problems though."

Scott looked like he was about to say something, but wasn't sure exactly what.

"3 months or so ago, I got the feeling something was wrong in another dimensional timeline, thinking I was just being hysterical or something, but after a couple of months I wasn't so sure, so I did some research. Day before yesterday, I found a spell to see whether there was, in fact, any danger," he continued, noticing the way Loki seemed to be drifting off as he spoke. "Loki and I have pieced together what's been going on, but there is no way we can face it alone. That's why we've called in you two."

"So... what is happening in the other dimensions?" asked Wanda, placing her mug on the table and leaning forwards so her elbows were on her knees. "And why do you need us specifically?"

"Very good questions, Wanda," remarked Strange, mostly as an excuse to buy time to think up the answers to those questions in a way that made sense. He mimicked her pose. "I'm going to fill you in on a bit of my backstory. Back in my early days of sorcery, I was friends with this wizard called Mordo. We were both taught by the Ancient One, one of the most powerful wizards of our kind. As in, my type of wizard, if you get my meaning, not as in any magical being."

"No, because the most powerful magical being ever is in this room now and it's not you, Strange," Scott joked, winking at Loki and Wanda. Both of them gave him a raised eyebrow in return.

"If your magic stretches to making cards appear out of nowhere you are seriously overrating yourself by saying you're the most powerful magical being ever," Loki pointed out.

"Yeah... it's not really magic, but..."

Wanda cleared her throat at least 3 decibels too loudly to interrupt. She tilted her head to Stephen and they both reluctantly shut up.

"Thank you. As I was saying, me and Mordo found out the Ancient One was drawing power from the Dark Dimension, which is associated with the evil, rogue wizards, those like who we were against at the time. Whilst I knew she was doing so to protect the multiverse, Mordo felt we'd been betrayed, and made it his mission, or so we believe, to decrease the population of wizards."

Scott whistled. "Ambitious."

"Dangerous," corrected Strange. "Loki has had visions recently, visions that suggest Mordo has found a way to travel through dimensions so he can execute his plan, teaming up with other wizards with the same views, and themselves in other dimensions, of which I'm still not sure how that's possible, as it would entail so much dimension travelling the multiverse could be tipped into chaos."

"My brain is exploding," announced Wanda, gripping her hair for effect.

"Mine too," agreed Scott, joining Wanda and Stephen in the leaning forwards position they'd adopted. "So... you need me to create a Quantum Tunnel for travelling through dimensions and that's why I'm here? Because really, you should ask Hulk, because I didn't make that machine."

"Hulk?" asked Loki. "That doesn't compute. Hulk made a machine to travel through dimensions? I thought Strange was going to do a spell."

"No, Hulk made a time-travel machine," Scott explained. "Tony finished it though. It's how we got the Stones from the past."

"Hulk's changed since you last saw him," Stephen told Loki. "Ever since he came crashing through the Sanctum roof in a rainbow beam of light."

"Oh... so that's what happened after I died then? I wondered where Heimdall sent Hulk," Loki mused, while Scott looked at him blankly.

"You've died?"

"4 times in totally different ways. First time falling into an abyss, which is how I met Thanos the first time. Second time, I was impaled. Third time, the planet exploded but I escaped, but everyone thought I was dead," Loki reeled off as Scott and Wanda's eyebrows made a gradual ascent into their hair. "And the last time was when I got strangled by Thanos."

"I've died a couple of times too," Strange admitted. "The first time I technically only died once since I was on a time loop and no time was passing, so it all happened at the same time, and the second time was during the Blip."

"I died in the Blip too," Wanda said, just because she was missing out.

Scott blinked several times before the fact he was sitting in a room with 3 people who had died a collective total of 7 times computed with his brain. Eventually, he just said, "OK, carry on, Stephen."

"Another thing we suspect is that someone, most likely Mordo, has stolen an Infinity Stone, when Captain America returned them," Strange continued. "There is a chance it is the Tesseract, but we think the most likely Stone is the time stone, because Mordo has seen what I can do with it already; rewriting the laws of nature, rewinding time itself, creating time loops... the possibilities are endless."

"No, Strange, we don't suspect it, we know it," Loki said, leaning back in his chair, ruining the effect the other three made by leaning forwards in the same position as each other. "You might not trust your warnings, but I've learned by now that when Asgardians get visions, they are always, always true. This guy Mordo doesn't understand the true power of the time stone, nor that operating throughout the multiverse will create a huge catastrophe, so we have to prevent it from happening or we're all going to die. Simple as."

"And that brings us to the plan," Strange announced. He paused, in case Wanda or Scott had questions. They didn't, so he asked one. "Simple version or complicated version first?"

Loki gave a laugh. "He'll give you the complicated version anyway, whichever you choose," he told them.

Wanda gave a small smile, then turned to Strange and asked, "In that case, can we have the complicated version first? But before... can we all compare magical abilities? Just because-" she turned towards Scott and Loki "-we don't really know each other very well. You know, I think it'd make us work better as a team."

"Yeah, sure," Stephen said, abandoning his position and leaning back in his chair. "So, I can harness energy to make a lot of things happen, normally in the form of orange sparkles, as I've demonstrated a lot. I can send us into the mirror dimension, where I can do all sorts of things. I can create portals through space, from one point to another, but only with my sling ring. However... the magic isn't strictly mine... I'm only harnessing it. But I've never found myself in a position where that's a problem."

"Wow..." breathed Scott in awe. He was the most impressed, though Loki was feigning wild applause.

"OK, my turn," Wanda decided. She crossed her legs on her chair and faced them all. "So, my powers don't work in the same way as Stephen. A few years ago, a scientist figured out how to do human enhancement, and my brother and I were the test subjects. The mind stone worked its magic on me, and I developed magical abilities that enable me to move things with my mind, read minds and, to some extent, control them." She demonstrated by making the cups on the table stack themselves, surrounded by a red, pulsing light. "And I also know a bit of runic magic that I learned only a couple of months ago after the..." She hesitated, the look on her face showing she was still deeply affected by whatever it was. "The... bad thing happened. I don't like talking about the rest of my powers."

There was a slightly awkward pause after her little speech, in which everyone turned to look at Loki. He blinked several times, as though wondering what they were looking at him for. Then a flash of realisation came across his face.

"Oh, is it my turn? OK then. So..." he dragged the word out for several seconds before deciding what to say. "Where to start? As you all know, I am Thor's brother, so I am a god. What you may not know is that, unlike many of my kind, I can do magic and, alongside my many titles, I am the God of Magic. Therefore, I can do a lot of stuff. For example..." There was a flash of green as he suddenly turned into Scott, making the real Scott jump out of his seat in surprise. "Illusions and shapeshifting are my speciality." He changed back into himself in a flash, and Scott got back up again, Wanda stifling a giggle. "Telekinesis is another speciality, though it's more subtle than Wanda's telekinesis. You know, with all the red light and stuff. Whilst I've been in hiding, I learned loads more stuff too, stealth charms and stuff like that. I can conjure all sorts. Like my daggers, for example." He demonstrated by conjuring one out of nowhere and sheathing it again. "I guess the only thing I can't do is control minds or shrink and talk to ants, but in this team, that's not much of a problem. So, Scott, what magical abilities will you be impressing us with today?"

All of them turned to Scott, Stephen still debating whether it was such a good plan to involve Scott in all this. Magicians and wizards weren't particularly in plentiful supply. More than that, he wasn't really sure if it were fair on Scott, as he'd never had to fight magical beings before.

"OK... um..." Scott mumbled. He made a card appear out of nowhere. "Ta-da!"

They weren't amused.

Loki turned to Stephen. "Why is this guy on the team? No offence, Scott."

"I thought he'd be good for distracting the bad guys. Any fighting... escape plans... stuff like that," Strange told them, whilst both Loki and Wanda gave him the same single-raised-eyebrow look. "Magicians aren't exactly in plentiful supply, you know."

"Yeah, I can do card tricks but I don't actually have any real powers," Scott clarified, flopping defeatedly against the back of his chair. "I'll help in any way I possibly can, but I can't promise I'll be much use."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Scott," Wanda said kindly. "Stephen wouldn't have called you here if he thought you wouldn't be any help. You must have a major part of his plan for you to be chosen out of every other person on the surface of the planet."

Strange glanced at Loki to see his reaction. He could tell he was trying not to say anything; there'd been no discussion of Scott's importance in their plan, nor was there a section where he'd be particularly useful. He was more of a... plan B, to be frank. A plan B that involved escaping in a completely unplanned way. But he wasn't going to tell Scott that.

"Yes Wanda, that's right! Scott plays a... very important part in our plan. A VIP, if you will," Stephen waffled hesitantly, while Loki gave him a disappointed shake of the head for his obviously terrible acting skills. He cleared his throat as though that would make him seem more casual. "So, the plan. The plan. The... plan."

"You said that already," Loki pointed out, putting his feet on the coffee table between them all.

"Shut up Loki," said Dr Strange. "This is no joke. Wanda and Scott need to know our plan."

"Uh huh," Loki nodded, putting his head back and watching the ceiling. "Whatever you say, boss."

He spared Loki a quick scowl before turning to Wanda and Scott. "OK. So, the plan." (He tried to ignore the way Loki smirked when he said that.) "First, I'm going to cast an interdimensional travelling spell to help us to get to the alternative timeline that the Avengers helped to create, because that's the one Mordo is working from. We're going to locate him and the time stone and find a way to steal it from him, using whatever means necessary, and freeze time, across all dimensions, whilst bearing in mind the rule of time where we freeze everyone but ourselves and our enemies, and don't damage anything in the process, or things will get really messed up. We'll attempt stealth at first – lurking in an alley nearby to eavesdrop, or else Scott shrinking to fly back on his ant to report back – but if we're spotted, attempt negotiations – make a bargain, like we'll let you come back in peace with a fair trial, or at least make some sort of deal – if things turn violent, we fight, but we will get the time stone, as long as we remember the interdimensional regulation where we can't affect anyone else's life in that dimension, so we can't call on backup if we need it. If he doesn't have the time stone, we'll force the location out of him. If he doesn't surrender then we fight him, imprison him, hopefully not kill him, force him to tell us how many dimensions there are, whilst sticking to the timeline decree where we mustn't let him contact anyone in another dimension for fear they could use their time stones to stop the time-freezing charm, travel to each one and eliminate them as many times as we need to. I don't believe that there will be too many – the Avengers only created one, after all – but no one knows what else could have happened. The sooner we act, hopefully the less we'll have to do. As long as we bear in mind that operating throughout several dimensional timelines could tip the multiverse into chaos, so we must make sure we freeze time throughout the entire multiverse, but only on Earth itself, because we don't want to completely rewrite the laws of nature. We take on the army, lock them all away, bring Mordo back here and decide what to do with him."

There was a small pause.

Wanda crossed her legs and flopped against the headrest. "Right... maybe you should give us the simple version so we understand better."

"Believe it or not, he made that sound pretty simple," Loki admitted. "Particularly in comparison to the waffle he concocted last night."

"That was simple?" asked Scott, disbelievingly.

"No, we asked for the complicated version first didn't we? So can we have the simple version now?" asked Wanda, turning to Stephen.

"Um... that was the simple version," Stephen admitted.

Loki, Wanda and Scott blinked in perfect unison.

Scott, being smart, turned to Loki. "Loki, can you give us your simple version?"

"Yes, please, do," Wanda said.

"Oh, sure," Loki nodded. "So, the plan." He winked at Strange, who scowled as both Scott and Wanda supressed a smirk. "Basically, we're gonna go to these other timelines, steal the time stone so time is frozen for everyone else, defeat Mordo and his army of wizards and bang 'em all in some super-max prison. We take Mordo back here, unfreeze the time and decide what punishment to inflict on him."

"Now, that is the sort of plan I can get on board with," Scott grinned. "It's like, step 1, get there. Step 2, burglary. Step 3, kick ass. Step 4, back in time for cheese sandwiches and crisps."

Loki held up his hand for a high-five. Scott obliged willingly.

Stephen desperately tried to get their attention again by clicking his fingers excessively. "It won't be that simple, guys. We'll have to bear in mind all the dimensional travel rules and things or-"

"The multiverse will erupt into chaos?" guessed Loki. "And everyone will die? Who would've guessed?"

"We get it Stephen," Wanda assured him, though Strange couldn't be sure whether she was lying or not. "But my question is... why do you need us specifically?"

"Wanda, you're one of the most powerful magic beings I've ever had the privilege of meeting," Strange told her. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Loki and Scott exchange a glance and resisted the urge to send them falling through space in a portal for a while. "Everyone saw you in action on the battlefield when we fought Thanos, and you stood your own against him – in fact, you nearly killed him! I think it makes complete sense for you to be included in my team."

"I could've killed Thanos if I wanted to," Loki said. "If I'd had a little more preparation time, and I hadn't been trying to save half of the entire fricking population of Asgard at the same time. And that was when Thanos had two Infinity Stones."

"Well, I don't know if I could've killed him, but I certainly raised the solution of how we could bring everyone back from the dead, including those two," Scott countered. "And that was when Thanos was dead... but still."

"Oh really?" asked Loki, his suspicious stare perfected down to a T, complete with crossed arms.

"Yes, really," Scott answered, trying to mimic his stare and failing at the eyebrow part. He kept wiggling them while the others just looked on without their expressions changing. Eventually he gave up. "How do you do that?"

"Years of practise. Hundreds of them."

"Oh. I bet you're great at Asgardian poker," Scott said.

"You have no idea," Loki smirked, winking at him.

Stephen, making a mental note never to play cards with Loki, cleared his throat quietly before saying, "And I chose Scott because, besides we three, he's had the most experience with weird phenomenons and is the least likely of the Avengers to start throwing up when we travel to new dimensions."

Scott nodded. "That much is true," he said, frankly.

"Also, whilst you yourself aren't magic, your suit and your ability to communicate with ants is quite close. With it not being real magic, they'll see you as less of a threat, so hopefully we won't have to save you too many times."

Scott's face fell a little. "Thanks. So I wasn't chosen for my card tricks then?"

Strange was sure they could detect a lie when he said, "They might still come in useful." Quite honestly, he couldn't think of any situation where they would come in useful, but he didn't want to put Scott's hope down. Though, by the look on his face, that's exactly what he'd done.

Loki was right; he really should work on his acting skills.