Chapter 108: Trick 107: A little humor can brighten even the darkest of moments
They landed in a shipyard and Ace said "Hood up, Hermione. Distort your voice and don't speak much." Hermione did as he was told, asking "Why?" Ace distorted his voice, replying "Because the world is much more complicated than you think. It's not a blessing for people to know who you are… Your parents still have your birth records and paperwork, you still exist even if you obliviated them. Understand what I'm saying?"
Hermione was shocked, saying "But that's barbaric!" Ace sighed "This is the world, little one. We're just trying to save it. We don't need the glory…" he curled his lips and joked, "Valhalla is always watching."
Hermione laughed and they apparated towards a huge boat.
Ace and Hermione landed to see the Avengers strewn about, Ace turned his head and saw some robots flying away with some metal. His eyes lit up and he waved his hand, clenching his fist.
The robots exploded and the metal flew towards Ace as he said "Little one, the witch is your opponent." Hermione looked around and Ace pressed his hand out gently while looking at the metal.
An entire wall of the boat turned to dust, revealing two people. Hermione looked at them and took out her wand.
The man got up and started running, disappearing instantly.
Ace turned his head saying "Immobulus." the man reappeared, frozen in a running position right in front of Hermione.
She blinked at him and stepped around him, flicking her wand "Stupefy!" The woman waved her hand, creating a red barrier as she asked "Who are you?" Hermione didn't respond, throwing another spell out "Reducto!"
The shield exploded and the woman was stunned, saying "Magic?!" as she threw out a red blast. Hermione flicked her wand, the red blast deflecting into the ground, exploding.
Ace said "Little one, she will try and kill you. Look alive." Steve shook his head on the ground, blinking as he panted in a dazed state.
Ace sent the metal to his bag and walked over, tapping his finger on Steve's head. Steve blinked rapidly saying "Huh!?" before looking up, saying "Cloak! Where's Banner? And the Maximoff girl?"
Ace pointed behind him and Steve looked over to see Hermione and the Maximoff girl having a magic battle. Steve said "Oh, what the hell!" Ace walked over to Thor and Natasha releasing them from the illusions, saying "A little rattled?"
Natasha looked up as Barton pulled her up, saying "You can say that. Where's the big guy?" Steve said "He's fine." as he watched the battle with his arms crossed.
Thor said "My friend! You're here, finally!" Ace nodded and replied "I brought my apprentice as well. She's new."
Thor looked over and said "I see. I hope I wasn't disturbing."
Tony flew over with Bruce and landed in the middle of the group, saying "Oh, no more evil wizards?" Ace retorted "I thought you were supposed to text me when you found the Scepter?" Tony replied "I did, Gandalf. Where you been?"
Ace replied "Asgard." as he curled his fingers, the man floated over, still frozen. Tony snapped his fingers, saying "That's it. Didn't get the interstellar cell package." Ace looked at him, saying "I heard you were bewitched."
Tony blinked and the rest of the team looked at him, he shook his head and said "Me? No way." Ace looked at him in silence before saying "Ok." before walking to the edge of the boat, watching Hermione fight.
Hermione waved her wand, blasting a Stupefy before shouting, "Legilimens!" the girl froze and Hermione held her head, groaning. Ace frowned and the girl came back to her senses, a bit angry as she blasted a beam at Hermione.
Steve grabbed his shield but Ace held his hand on the shield, watching as he muttered "Come on…" Hermione swished her wand, shouting "Expecto Patronum!" an Otter appeared, circling around Hermione, creating a barrier that blocked the red energy beam.
The Girl continued the beam as Hermione gained her bearings, slashing her wand forward, firing an disarming charm.
The Girl was stunned for a second and Hermione waved quickly "Petrificus Totalus!" The girl froze up instantly and fell to the ground like a statue.
Hermione panted and held her knees as Ace walked over, clapping. Hermione turned to him and said "I did it!" Ace nodded and smiled, "She wasn't very powerful, just barely over a Death Eater, however, her power is growing. You must grow too if you want to beat her again."
Hermione pouted and Ace patted her head, saying "Excellently well done." He grabbed the space next to him and his Vambraces turned into a staff as he knocked on the ground.
The girl and boy were instantly in shackles and floating next to each other.
The group looked at them and Tony said "Okay so the Wizard leveled up. Good to know?" Steve sighed, "Better us than them, Tony." as he walked over, asking "Wanna join?"
Ace nodded and the staff disappeared as he boarded the Quinjet, Hermione following him, looking around curiously.
Ace put the two on the ground and asked "Who are these two anyway?" Tony sat next to him, saying "Just a pair of twins, Maximoff's I think." Steve nodded and grabbed the table, shaking his head.
Thor was silent and Natasha was holding her knees.
Hermione looked around and whispered "Master, what's wrong with them?" Ace looked at them, saying "The witch used her Occlumency powers and showed them their worst fears. I think."
Hermione looked at him and asked "You think?" Ace looked at the girl on the ground, frowning "Her power is very familiar… Let's hope she never learns to use it." Hermione nodded and looked at the girl, asking "Master, why has she done these things? Could it be like Voldemort?"
Ace rubbed her head, smiling "Why does anyone do anything, little one?" Hermione replied "Power? Revenge? Evil? But she hasn't killed anyone. She merely showed them their fears to torment them? It doesn't make sense."
Ace replied softly "Maybe she doesn't want them dead. She only wants pain." Tony looked over and said "Yo! Gandalf and Bilbo, you eat human food?" as he threw over a bag of peanuts.
Ace caught the bag and Hermione retorted angrily "I'm a girl!" Tony raised his hands and said "Alright, easy, Dorothy. My bad." Hermione snorted and turned away as Ace chuckled, shaking the peanuts at her. She took some and ate them in silence.
Tony sat in front of Ace and said "So listen, not joking, but I need to know… Who told you." Ace looked at him and threw some peanuts in his mouth, saying "Heimdall. The dude who can see anything and everything in the Nine Realms."
Tony frowned and bit his nails, Ace leaned over and said "Listen, I'm not gonna say anything, but you know I think you should say something to someone at least. Keep it off your mind, maybe get a second opinion, you know?"
Tony looked at him and Ace pointed his thumb behind him, adding "Look at these guys, they don't look so good. I don't know what you saw, and from what I can see right now, you're not bewitched, hexed, or cursed anymore. Whatever she put in your head, it's gone now."
He turned his face and looked at the other three before whispering "They were in the midst of their 'visions' when I woke them up…" as he turned back, patting Tony's shoulders, "Listen. We all have fears and dark sides, I get it. You just gotta know that you're not alone, Tony."
Tony looked at him and bit his nails before saying "I saw you." Ace raised his brows and Tony went on "And them. All of them. Everyone. Dead. Right at my feet." he snapped his fingers on both hands and slapped his fist as he looked around, letting out a breath, adding "Apparently I could've done more. You know I tried! What you missed was the Murderbot I created."
Ace grabbed Tony's shoulder, saying "Man. Look at me." Tony turned to him and Ace said "You're not a seer. I know seers. This isn't a future prediction, okay? This is your deepest fears manifesting themselves in a way you can understand. Occlumency is Mind Magic and…"
He looked Tony in the eyes, pointing down at the girl, continuing "Her greatest strength. You get what I'm saying? You've done enough, honestly. Carrying a Nuke into a wormhole, who else would do that?"
Ace tapped on the middle of Tony's chest, adding "I was there when you created a new ticker. In my eyes, you can do anything." Ace turned his head to Steve before whispering to Tony, jokingly "Don't tell Steve, but you're my favorite friend."
Tony let out a breath with an amused smile, retorting "Oh? I thought it was Barton. You two seemed to get along well in New York, right? Broom Buddies, I hear?" he raised his voice as he joked around, giving Ace a grateful look.
Ace nodded slightly as Barton replied "Oh man, me and the wizard? We hangout on weekends. I'm naming my kids after him." Tony remarked "Oh? Cloak Barton, really rolls off the tongue actually!"
Barton chuckled and Steve sighed, smiling "I thought I was getting him this weekend." Natasha smiled slightly as Ace said "Please. Fight over me more." Bruce added, "Better than fighting against you."
Thor smiled slightly, snorting in amusement as the group laughed a bit.
Hermione looked at Ace and smiled gently, learning a bit as he turned to her, rubbing her head.
A while later
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