6 Trick 5: Refusing Ancient Super Magic

Ace walked to the side, rubbing his pendant, looking at the destruction with a numb scalp.

How many times had he almost died today? Probably like 10, right?

He got a call back from an unknown number and he shuffled to the side, saying "Yo!" Dylan said quickly, "What is it! I don't have much time." Ace said quickly, "Well, I met a real wizard today."

Dylan froze and said angrily "Just for this!?" Ace said seriously, "No, no! Like real! Like she appeared while stepping out of a portal! She had strange robes and a bald head! She literally appeared and disappeared in front of my very eyes! Dude! Not like our magic! Like insane magic."

Dylan frowned and said quietly, "Did you tell the Eye about this?" Ace replied "Not yet… But I'm telling you! It was crazy! The inside of the portal seemed to be like an ancient courtyard! I even saw people in robes walking around! She also said that she knew the Eye!"

Dylan felt his scalp go numb as he asked quickly "Like as in 'Oh! I know the Eye!' or 'Oh.. The Eye, yes I know of it.'?" Ace thought for a moment before replying, "More like, 'No, I am not from the 'Eye'...' like Eye in quotation marks with a bit of a nonchalant attitude, coupled with an inward eye roll and a little bit of, like, how do I describe it…"

Dylan asked "Disgust?" Ace replied with a frown, "No… Like, Indifference? Anyway, it seemed like she knew the Eye but just didn't care for it. Like the art at a modern art exhibition, you don't really care but the girl you went with likes to pretend to be fancy and knowledgeable when in reality she doesn't care either."

Dylan sucked in a cold breath, saying "Then we may have a problem…" Ace frowned and stayed silent for a few moments before suggesting "Maybe… We can do it on our own?"

Dylan was shocked, "Like not tell the Eye?!" Ace looked around and nodded, "Yeah!" Dylan was a bit worried, replying "But… This involves everyone, we shouldn't keep it from them… Plus, can we even handle it? Your magic is good and mine is decent, but compared to the other members… I think we should get them involved."

Ace scratched his neck and said "Okay, fine. You let them know. I'm not home right now and I have to take care of this crazy woman." Dylan replied "Alright, I'll let you know." before hanging up.

Ace walked back and looked at the Monsters fighting in the distance saying "So… you ever come onto the Hulk?" Betty looked at him and he coughed, "I'm just asking…"

A while later

Ace was standing with Betty as Bruce got into a car with a cloak. Ace was stunned and said "You're really a guy!?" Bruce nodded helplessly and said "Yes. This is the 5th time you've asked…"

Ace was blown away, saying "You're like a mini Godzilla human! GodzillaMan!" Bruce rolled his eyes and Betty asked "Where are we going now?" Bruce looked at her and muttered, "We?"

Betty was stunned and said "Well, yeah…" Ace pushed her into the car, saying "No way. I'm not taking care of this mental patient! You can keep her, thanks!" before walking away with quick steps.

Bruce looked at Betty in the back seat and finally sighed before driving off. Betty smiled happily and got into the front seat, saying "Road trip~!" Bruce's flat face suddenly had a hint of a smile as they disappeared into the horizon.

Happily ever after…

(Looking away Monkey.gif)

A few days later

Ace was looking at information on Stark Industries, surprised that Pepper during his show was actually Pepper Potts, what a coincidence!

As he was reading, the rotary phone rang.

He got up and went to the phone, answering "Yello~" the voice sounded, "You met the Ancient One?" Ace was confused, "Ancient One? Is that like a Movie character?" the voice ignored him, saying "She used a Golden portal with sparks, wore a robe, bald?"

Ace said in shock "Hey! You know her? She's called the Ancient One? What a strange name…" the voice replied "Her name has been lost to time. She goes by Ancient One now. What happened, explain exactly the situation."

Ace explained, "Well, there I was, watching a monster step on a man and turn him into pasta sauce when this baldy appeared out of nowhere with a golden portal to an ancient courtyard thing! She said that it was strange Hulk was here before Ironman, whatever that means. Anyway, she didn't want an autograph and I-"

The voice choked and coughed violently, Ace paused and asked "Um… Hello? You're ruining your mysterious temperament, you know?" The voice controlled itself, saying coldly "Continue."

Ace cleared his throat, "As I was saying! She didn't want an autograph, saying instead that she wasn't from the Eye, so she clearly knows the Eye. At any rate, after that she invited me to learn magic at Kamartaj and left after I refused."

The voice shouted loudly, "YOU REFUSED?!"

Ace was stunned and asked "Was I not supposed to? I have magic already, am I supposed to go and learn a new magic?" The voice said angrily "How can your Magic compare to Kamartaj magic!?"

Ace frowned and retorted "Hey! My magic is pretty good, okay?" the voice explained "You misunderstand. Our magic itself is very shallow. If Magic is a Tree, we are a single microscopic follicle on a single leaf. Whereas Kamartaj is akin to a sturdy branch, perhaps even all the branches."

Ace was even more confused, "What about the tree?" the voice was startled and retorted "WHAT about the tree?" Ace asked, "Who's the whole tree?" The voice was speechless for a few moments before saying angrily "Anyway! The Eye and Kamartaj are incomparable! The firefly and moon…"

Ace rolled his eyes and said fiercely, "Enough chinese Idioms! Anyway! I have an address-" the voice exclaimed "YOU HAVE AN ADDRESS!?" Ace blinked and replied "Oh.. Um, yeah."

The voice fell silent before saying "Unless the Ancient One allows it, you shall not share it." Ace replied while nodding "Wasn't planning to." The voice replied, "Good. The Eye feels that you should go to Kamartaj."

Ace was stunned and said "What? Why?!" The voice replied, "Because this is your opportunity! The Fool represents infinite opportunities, there's a reason you are the Fool!" Ace replied "Are you saying I'm super special and amazing?"

The voice ignored him and continued "You must learn the Mystic Arts at Kamartaj. Forget about your marks for the moment." Ace was startled and said in shock "What do you mean?! I can't just forget! That's not fair!"

The voice retorted "This is more important." Ace shouted angrily "It's not more important! I have a mark, how can I just leave it?! This doesn't conform to the rules!" the voice retorted fiercely "This is a special situation! The rules are inconsequential to the Magic that can be inherited from Kamartaj! You're not seeing the bigger picture!"

Ace roared "Fuck the bigger picture! I want my mark!" before slamming the rotary phone back on the wall. He sat at the table and started researching angrily, Bruce hopped over and rolled onto his back, purring.

Ace said angrily "So what?! What can they do? Nothing! I will get my mark. These are the rules that have been in place for eons. They're not going to change for whatever so-called 'Kamartaj Magic', fuck off!"

In a very far away place

Ancient One was watching Ace on a screen as a black man next to her asked "Master, what is this organization?" Ancient One smiled gently, saying "A little group of Magic Robin Hoods. They have a very rich history with its roots in Ancient Egypt. It is said they stole from Pharaohs to feed the poor."

The man was shocked and asked "Are they a threat to Kamartaj?!" Ancient One rolled her eyes and smiled, "Impossible, with the declination of Avatars and Runic magic, their numbers have dwindled to a mere small group. Although their roots are very tough and sprawled across the world, they are simply clinging to their idealistic ways."

She pointed at the illusory screen and smiled, "This young man is the so-called 'Fool Card' in the Tarot." The man scrunched his nose in disdain, "Tarot? That mockery of prophecy?"

Ancient One curled her lips, replying "Mockery? Not quite, Mordo. Although the Tarot Prophecies are sometimes unreliable, in the hands of a true prophet they will never be wrong. This young man represents the Fool Card, but…"

Her expression became subtle as she continued "Although, the Fool Card represents a blank slate, infinite opportunities, endless potential, among other things, Mr. Brand is too hard on rules themselves. Pursuing a Mark even at the potential of disaster."

Mordo was confused and said "I don't think I quite understand, Master." Ancient One explained patiently, "A Mark is a target for the Eye. This one's mark is Stark Industries, but the metaphysical luck of Mr. Stark is extremely strong, while Mr. Brand is also a lucky fellow, there will be a clash."

She paused and sipped on a teacup, smiling "Whether the Eye is destroyed or thrives after this incident lies in the end of this mark retrieval. Will they be destroyed by Mr. Brand himself, or dragged by him to even greater heights? There is always a dark to the light Mordo, whether we choose to let our Darkness overcome us is the biggest struggle of our lives. The most important point of the Fool is…"

"Most Fools are consumed by Darkness."