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ALTERNATE UNIVERSE | FALL
FROM GRACE

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STEPHEN STRANGE WASN'T wrong to love Cassandra Mason. Just in the wrong universe.

In this universe, Cassandra Mason refused to become the guardian of the Sorcerer Supreme, choosing to live to become an event planner only. She still encountered Dormammu and dabbled in the dark arts, but left that all behind to be with the most famous neurosurgeon in New York City.

Yes, in this timeline, Cassandra Mason traded her duty for love, for a normal life with Dr. Stephen Strange, and as a result, she had to pay the price for her decision.

A woman stood in front of a mirror, her hair tumbling in waves of pure earth over her shoulder. Her eyes reflecting slightly different shades of blue and green, both so brilliantly light. Wearing a black long dress that accentuated her curves, she raised her hand and admired the diamond ring her lover of ten years gave her. They're engaged for almost a year now and have planned their wedding to happen in the coming winter.

The two met at her graduation party, and soon after they hit it off and drank a lot of alcohol, they found themselves crashing into his apartment, ripping each other's clothes apart. Stephen woke just as she was about to depart the next morning and persuaded her to stay. It wasn't too long that they began dating and here they were, living together and about to get married. Staying that morning was the best decision she ever made.

Throughout their years together, the pair supported one other, notably in their various vocations. Cassandra became a sought-after event planner and hands-on businesswoman as Stephen rose to prominence in the area of medicine.

Applying red lipstick as a final touch, the fair event planner twirled around to see her reflection in the mirror. Her hands moved to her stomach, a pleasant thought about the future breezing in her mind. That's when she heard the melodious tone of her fiancé.

"Cassie, sweetheart? Are you ready? Come on, we're going to be late!"

"Right here! Give me a second!" Grabbing her heels, she waltzed inside her living room and revealed herself to Stephen, showing off her dress for the evening. "How do I -- oh, shit!" She uttered, patting her ears. "Where are my earrings?"

The woman sprinted back to her room and searched for her jewelry in her vanity mirror. "Dammit! Where are my pearl earrings? I can't go to your acceptance party if..."

"They're here in the drawer, love."

"Oh." Cassandra puckered her lips as she made her way to her fiancé who was holding her pearl earrings. Biting her bottom lip, she took them and gently attached them to her ear, lifting her gaze to her beloved soon-to-be husband. "Evening there, handsome."

"This?" Stephen chuckled. "I just pulled it out of the dryer. Whereas you, stunning as always." He kissed her cheek, lovingly.

"I'm only going for dessert. You promised me lava cake."

"I suspect we can do a little better than that." He hummed. "How about we dance all night?"

She rolled her eyes. "If you can get away from your admirers..."

"Hey, I promise you. You'll have me for the rest of this evening. I won't stray from your side."

"Better keep that promise to me or no wedding will happen this November."

"Yes, ma'am."

Cassandra smiled then groaned slightly when she tried to wear her heels. Stephen's eyes darted down and he tilted his head, slightly bending down on his knees. "May I?"

She nodded and almost hissed at his gentle, warm touch on her feet. Ten years and Stephen still drove her crazy. Just as he rose, she grabbed his shoulders and leant forward, kissing his lips. The woman sighed, fiddling her fingers before bending down to reach her drawer. "I was supposed to tell you this after your awards night, but I'm too excited to keep this to myself."

With a certain twinkle in her eye, she handed him a photo that she knew he would be familiar with. "Is that an..." Stephen slowly trailed off.

"An ultrasound? Yes." affirmed the woman, excitedly. Her hands moved down to her stomach. "I'm six weeks pregnant. We're going to be parents!"

Her fiancé froze as if unsure of what to say or react to the news.

"Sweetheart? Are you okay? Aren't you happy with the news?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm... I'm happy about this."

"If you are, then, what's with the face?"

He swallowed as if he wasn't sure whether to tell her about his thoughts. "It's just that I-I'm not sure if I can be a good father to our child, Cassie. You know my past -- "

She cupped his face in her hands, looking straight into his eyes. "Hey, hey, you're going to be an amazing father to our child." The event planner took his hands and placed them on her stomach. "I have no doubt in that. Trust yourself, okay? I'm with you on this one."

"Have I ever told you how much you amaze me?"

She grinned. "Everytime."

The lovely couple walked over to their vehicle, singing and grooving to the songs that was playing on their car stereo. It was one of the many things they loved to do. Stephen once told her that he always felt like he could be himself whenever she was around. She always made sure his feet was still on the ground and always reminds him that material possessions do not matter for when they leave this earth, it will all be wasted and void. Even their reputations and livelihoods will fade into oblivion with enough time. That the only thing on earth that will continue on indefinitely is the effect they will leave on other people, and the lives we change while they are here -- for better or worse.

The night was dark, and the silvery moon glistened against the dark blue night sky, creating a starry sky. Around the moon are a smattering of stars with languid eyes. The gauze-like clouds hang in the sky, obscuring the royal pavilion's dreamy fairyland. A lovely sight of heaven and earth is formed when the distant sky connects with the earth.

"You know, I like Greek Mythology." voiced out Cassandra as she gazed at the one of the constellations in the sky. "Oh, wait! That's it! We should totally name our baby after a person in Greek mythology!"

Stephen heartily laughed as he drove their car. "Alright, do you have anything particular in mind?"

"Wait, let me search in Google." She hummed, pulling put her phone and scrolling down. "Oh, my god. There's so many to choose from! Selene, Megara, Iris, Calliope..."

"Calliope. I like that." interjected Stephen, agreeing. "Callie, Cassie. It's perfect, like you."

She beamed. "And if our child's a boy? Luke? Xander? Perseus?"

"Ah, Perseus... that one. I like that one."

"So, Calliope Rose Strange? and Perseus Vincent Strange?"

"Vincent?"

"Well, your middle name is Vincent, right?"

He momentarily stared at the ceiling as if considering it. "Okay, fine. As you wish."

"Of course." She flashed her grin, letting her hand graze the top of his thigh. "Oh, by the way, mom and dad wants us to have dinner this Saturday in their house. Are you free at that time? We'll tell them our good news."

Olivia and Harry Mason were still sorcerers and teachers in Kamar-Taj in this universe, having chosen to devote their entire lives to the Mystic Arts. They tried to urge Cassandra to stay and fulfill her role when she first told them about her decision to depart, but she was resolute about trading the Mystic Arts for a normal life.

"I'll see to it that..." Stephen drove carefully, maintaining his speed. "I will be free at that time."

"Great." She nodded. "So, have you already prepared your speech for this evening?"

"Yep."

"Can I hear it?"

"Nope."

Her mouth fell agape in shock. "Let me hear it!"

He refused, stabilizing their vehicle behind a truck.

"Just let me hear it! Come on, I know you prepared something." argued the brunette, pouting. She crossed her arms. "You wouldn't just wing it. Come on, sweetheart, it's just me."

He shook his head. "Okay. Uh..." and then clearing his throat, he began with, "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, fellow doctors..."

However, this made Cassandra groan and yawn. "Oh, no, no. Stop. I'm already asleep. Come on, cut the preamble. Just get straight to the heart of it.

"But all I said was, 'Good evening.'"

Cassandra tapped her chin, her mind filled with thoughts about how her fiancé should accept his award. Of course, she already knew he was going to be formal about it, but she wanted Stephen to improvise and have fun with it. "You know what I think? I think you should just rush the podium like a contestant on The Price is Right. Screaming and high-fiving, and cheering, and something crazy." She giggled.

"Price is what?"

"We need to celebrate this."

Stephen turned to her. "We are."

"This is your way of celebrating?" She then rolled her eyes. "God, you're about to get married to, at least, according to Vanity Fair, one of NYC's icon." bragged the woman. "And this is your way of celebrating? Honey, you performed a radical hemispherectomy. Successfully."

He shrugged. "Well, that was the plan."

"Yeah, well, I would call that quite remarkable."

"Well, I would say the same about you." Stephen chuckled as he stepped on the accelerator, speeding up their car. That's when he tried to change lanes and two blinding lights suddenly flashed ahead of them and with a jolt, Cassandra realized that those lights were from a car.

"Stephen!"

At that, her fiancé swerved their car back into their lane and steadied their speed as she heard the other vehicle honk at them. Instinctively, she put her hands on her stomach, worried about her unborn baby. Hed head ached with the tension and she held onto the fleeting illusion of security. Stephen put his hand above hers as well, calming her down.

"Hey, we're okay. You're okay. You're both okay."

Then, they weren't.

Cassandra had no room to react as she felt a huge blow on their rear end. Their car spun out of control and it seemed like an immense weight was thrown on her. Suddenly, images flashed across her mind -- images of Stephen, her parents and friends and clips of her life passed like a powerpoint presentation that was sped up. Her arms covered the entirety of her stomach as they tumbled down the hill. The last thing she felt was her head was smashing against her door window, knocking her out, and leaving her bleeding profusely and the immense weight was lifted off her as she seemed to float away into complete and utter darkness.

Stephen Strange didn't lose his hands in this universe, he lost his heart, hope, and light. Strange, bereft of solutions, looked for them all across the world and in the mystic arts. It was then that he discovered that Cassandra herself formerly practiced magic and hid that portion of her life since she left it all behind for him. Stephen Strange the stood tall when the threat arrived and the Ancient One was lost. The scientist was elevated to the position of Sorcerer Supreme, yet despite everything he'd accomplished, Stephen Strange couldn't let go of the past.

"Sorry, but this is now my favorite T-shirt." vocalized Cassandra, twirling around to show his university shirt. The one she was about to grab when she was rushing to get out of his apartment.

Stephen chuckled and pulled her towards him, their bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces. "Then, I'm gonna have to take it back."

"Hmm, I'd like to see you try."

And just like that, Stephen Strange decided to return to the fateful night of the car accident, hoping to change the outcome. "Evening there, handsome." beamed Cassandra, looking flawless and ethereal just as always. She crossed her eyebrows, noticing that something was amiss. "Uh, sweetheart, is there something wrong?"

Stephen swallowed, then held her hands. "I, uh, I think I might have just had a mild cardiac event."

She playfully gasp, "A heart attack, Doctor?" and then laughed. "Well, buckle up, Strange. You promised me lava cake."

He kissed her hands, holding them tightly. "Say the word, Cassie, and I will give you the world."

And with that, they were back again in the hill where the accident happened and she died. "Alright, that's it! We have a winner!" The event planner threw her fist in the air. "Calliope Rose Strange or Perseus Vincent Strange."

"I love those names..." mused Stephen as he focused solely on the road. "I can't wait for us to start our family. We'll be the best parents to them."

"I love you." breathed out the woman. A small tingle of magic buzzed in her fingertips and a feeling of déjà vu filled her chest. Something was wrong. She felt like she had been here before, but she didn't know why and how. She shook her head. "Oh, oh, let me hear your speech!"

He smiled. "I haven't prepared my speech."

"Come on, I know you prepared an acceptance speech for tonight."

He shook his head. "I haven't. I'm gonna wing it. I'm gonna run up to the podium like a game show contestant." He imitated a contestant's entrance in a game show by raising his hand and cheering. "Cheers and screams, high-fives."

Cassandra blinked twice and knocked her fiancé's head. "Who are you and what have you done to my Stephen Strange? Seriously? Are you teasing me?"

"Okay, okay."

"No, you said it. You have to do it now"

He sighed, inclining his head towards her. "Only if you and our child will be by my side."

"What are you talking about?" She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "We'll always be by your side."

"Promise?"

"Promise." The woman raised her hand. "Wait a sec. Have you ever even seen a game show?

"There's a first time for everything."

She chuckled just as she noticed her fiancé shifted up the turn signal lever. Cassandra was really curious about what her fiancé was up to. He was acting strange and unusual as if he was preparing for something.

"What?"

"Oh, I don't know. You're being delightful." She tapped her chin. "I must owe someone a muffin basket for this personality shift."

"Well, give yourself one because it's you who make me happy..."

The brunette grinned. "Well, this is shaping up to be a night to remember."

And once again, just like before, Cassandra was killed once more when a car drove into their back and sending them falling down the slope.

"Evening there, handsome."

Stephen, this time, opened the car door. "Your chariot awaits."

Cassandra crossed her eyebrows when she noticed that they didn't enter the road they were supposed to go into. Then, a warm feeling settled in the pit of her stomach and she recognized it to be a warning, but what was it warning her? "Oh, sweetheart, we missed our turn." Maybe that was the warning? "Isn't the bridge that way?"

"Taking a different route. It's okay." assured he. "We'll be fine."

Two bright lights appeared on Cassandra's side and even when Stephen veered their car to avoid the crash, the truck still collided with their vehicle. "Stephen!"

And Cassandra still died.

This time, Stephen opted to stay at home with her, making Cassandra put her hands on her hips in frustration. "Sweetheart, you're getting an award. This whole party is for you."

He persisted, "Let's stay in. We'll order pizza and many lava cakes."

"Oh, no, no. I am not getting grease on this dress, okay? You successfully performed a surgery that was deemed almost impossible by other surgeons, and you're not taking that award?" argued the stubborn woman, determined to not let her fiancé miss his award. "I'll drive this time."

"Alright, we'll go, we'll dance. I promise you, we will have a good time."

They were able to reach the party with Stephen's awards night since Cassandra drove and she took a shortcut. However, destiny still arrived and the woman suffered a fatal cardiac arrest, ending her and her baby's life. "No!"

For the fourth time, Stephen reversed time and drove their car straight to a pizza house, not letting Cassandra win their argument. Even though the woman badly wanted for them to attend the awards night, she let Stephen persuade since he looked desperate. "Oh, pizza. You're a genius. But, I just want to know, are you okay? Why don't you want to get your award?"

"I just... I just don't want to."

"This is so unlike you, Stephen. I swear." voiced out Cassandra, munching on her pizza. "God, this baby of ours love pizza. But, I bet they'll love the lava cake more. Better get ready to wake up in the middle of the night because it looks like I'll crave for lots of dessert, honey."

"I'll give you everything you want, Cassie. Everything, I promise."

Unfortunately, the Sorcerer Supreme won't be able to fulfill this promise for a black masked man -- a robber entered their restaurant and unhesitatingly, shot his fianceé in the chest, killing her instantly.

Cassandra was in her bedroom, anxious and wondering where her fiancé was. It was so unlike him to leave her suddenly with no call or text. The woman dialed his numner for the thirtieth time and tossed it to her couch when she heard the computer-generated voice again, telling him that his number couldn't be reached. "What the hell, Stephen? You're so dead when you come back here, I swear." grumbled the brunette, sniffing.

That was when she smelt a strong burning smell and there was a faint booming sound like a drum being beaten. The noise soon started to get louder and louder and louder until all that could be heard was the deafening noise. It took her a moment to realize it was the fire alarm. "Shit!" She cursed, removing her heels. Snatching her phone from the couch, she sprinted outside of the condominium and into the fire exit.

She continued to run down the stairs when incandescent flames suddenly erupted from one of the fire exit doors, causing her to trip over her feet and hit her head on the concrete wall. Cassandra watched helplessly as the scorching blazes of the vicious element crept through the spaces, devouring the walls of the fire exit. Where were the other people? She thought, coughing. Am I the only one here?

Why did she feel like something was conspiring for this to happen to her?

"Does he still not realize it's futile to save her?"

The faint deep voice captured Cassandra's attention and she turned her head around to search for its source. "Who's that?"

That's when she noticed a huge humanoid figure looming over her, a crystal wall separating the two of them. "Wait, you can see me?" he asked, tilting his head.

"Clearly." breathed out the woman as she leant her head against the wall. "I can hear you too. I actually don't know who you are before, but somehow I do right now? You're the Watcher. A race of omniscient beings that observe the Multiverse."

She then blinked. Where did she get that information suddenly? How did she just know that?

"So, it's true. You do possess some slight cosmic awareness."

It was then that fire entered her fire exit through various openings, looking like a fire-breathing dragon, puffing away vicariously. The flames burned deep red and amber, almost livid purple and Cassandra knew it was only a matter of time before it reached her. But, she couldn't move to get away. Her body refused to move because of the pain and she was left to witness the fire drawing closer.

"Please, help me, Watcher."

"I'm sorry, but you know there's nothing I can do."

In a bar not far away from Cassandra's burning buiding, a television newscaster reported the fire accident. "We're hearing reports of numerous casualties, including the death of famous event planner, Cassandra Mason. Mason, fianceé of highly acclaimed neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange, was found..."

Time was resversed again and at this, the woman scrambled to fix her earrings when she caught sight of her Stephen, desolate. It was like heaven and earth crashed on him. "Sweetheart? Are you okay?" approached Cassandra, cupping his devastated face in her hands. "Is there something wrong?"

With a shaky breath, he replied, "Why does this keep on happening? Aren't we allowed to be happy?"

The event planner blinked. "You know, maybe we should stay home, yeah?" She wrapped her arm around his waist. "I'll just call the committee and say you aren't going to make it. I'll just have that award delivered here."

He didn't respond, worrying Cassandra even further.

"Hey, are you okay?" asked the woman once again when they reached their home. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Stephen shut his eyes as he leant his forehead against hers. "I only want you. You're the only thing that matters. You and our child."

"Okay, we have to watch some movie. I think you're running a fever."

The couple then watched a romantic-comedy movie together and when brilliant former sorceress requested for some Chinese noodles and chocolate lava cake, he obliged. Just as Stephen left their condominium, the brunette decided to sit down by her vanity mirror and remove all her jewelry when her eyes suddenly glowed gold and her magic flared up, bursting out of her fingertips and shattering her mirror. Then, swirls and tendrils of coruscant purple magic crept up to the sides of her face and all of a sudden, she was woken up -- woken up in a way that her mind became aware that Stephen was in possession of the Time stone and the current Sorcerer Supreme of Earth.

Gasping, images of her dying in several, different ways to push her fiancé to learn the mystic arts. Her magic also revealed that her fiancé was desperately using the infinity stone to save her from death's tight grip.

A tear escaped her eye and the sorceress almost fell off her chair from the whole revelation.

Now, Cassandra was -- is still a powerful sorceress, despite her skills being dormant for years. It just knew to appear when needed and right now, was a very good time to come in.

"Your destiny is to die, former guardian." A voice spoke behind her and she knew who it was, The Watcher. "You must die in order for this world to have Strange as its mystical protector. Without your death, he will not seek the mystic arts and this world will be left defenseless against Dormammu."

She gripped the edge of her vanity mirror and gently placed a hand over her stomach in anguish. Stephen didn't only lose her, he lost both of them. "Surely, there's a way we can change this."

"I'm sorry, but your fate has been sealed a long time ago. Your death is an absolute point in time. You, all of people, know what that means."

"Reversing it will mean the death of this universe."

"Are you willing to let Strange destroy it all for you?"

She shook her head, confused and torn with the choices. She wanted to say yes, but she couldn't. Cassandra badly wanted to live, but at the same time, trillions of lives will be lost and their universe will be erased from existence. Tears spilt over and flowed down her face like a river escaping a dam. Why can't she be selfish and say yes, her and her baby's lives matter more? In rage, the woman slammed her hands on her table, screaming. She couldn't believe and accept that this was her destiny. Complete hopelessness converted into tears continued to rain down her face at lightning speed as The Watcher enunciated, "You are still his guardian, Cassandra. You know what that means."

Almost half of her life, Cassandra was taught that she has to always put the Sorcerer Supreme's life above her own. The universe first before herself. That was the reason why she left her duty as the guardian because she can't risk her life while being with Stephen.

And with that, she made her decision. "I know what I must do."

She knew no matter what she'll do, her fate will end here. It was unfair, but there was nothing they could do. Her death was fixed and all she could do was help Stephen move on. Now, that her fiancé was the Sorcerer Supreme, she can still fulfill her duty in protecting him and this universe from destruction.

"Cassie?"

Wiping away her tears, she rose to her feet and walked over to the man she loved. "Stephen..." she breathed out, a melancholic smile painting her lips. "I'm going to die tonight, am I?"

"How did you..."

"Didn't you think I will know? I am a former sorceress myself, Stephen. I know when something is wrong with the multiverse."

He stepped forward to her, but she took a step back. "Then, help me save you. You-you said it yourself, you're a sorceress. Mordo and Wong spoke highly of your feats. We can change tonight's outcome! You will -- "

She clenched her fist as her lips trembled. She wanted to save herself, truly. But, she knew nothing could be done. Not even the greatest sorcerers of the past could undo an Absolute Point in time. What makes him think he will be able to do it? "Don't you see? My fate has been sealed. There's nothing we can do about it."

"No, I can't just accept this!"

"You're trying to create a temporal paradox and it will destroy this universe, Stephen! Trillions of lives will be lost because you can't just accept that I'm gone!" argued the woman, her magic flaring to meet his own. "I cannot let you do this. Please, let me go."

Stephen shook his head in disbelief. "How can you just accept that you're going to die?"

"Because in order for you to be the Sorcerer Supreme, I have to die." asserted Cassandra. "This world will not have you as its protector if I don't die tonight."

"That can be changed! You don't have to die. We can protect this universe together." He took her hands, his eyes brimming with grief. "I heard it from them, that you were supposed to be my guardian. My protector. Let me protect you right now, please."

Hot torrents of salt bled from her eyes and she felt like her heart was being stabbed again and again. Why did it have to her? Why did she have to die? "Me being your guardian is the reason why I am choosing to depart this life."

"No, no, no..."

"You're risking the universe. You cannot reverse an Absolute Point, Stephen. It is impossible."

"No, no -- "

"If this is my destiny, Stephen, then so be it!"

"No!" screamed he, slamming his fist on their wooden table. "You're asking too much of me, Cassie!"

"Please!"

"I love you! What I'm doing is for us!"

"This isn't love, Stephen! This is arrogance!" argued Cassandra. "You're not a god! This is you thinking you can control anything, even death, which no one can control! You cannot dictate who lives and who dies."

"I will find a way to fix this and-and we're going to get through this together."

"No, you have to let me go! Please!" sobbed Cassandra as she felt a stabbing pain in her chest. There it was, her inevitable death. Clutching her chest, she crumpled to the ground, "If you love me, let me go."

And when the clock struck ten, the light of Stephen's life died.

Across the multiverse and the void, Cassandra's soul awakened from slumber. Upon opening her eyes, the visage of her mystical mentor greeted her. "Cassandra..."

The sorceress could see purple and blue wisps of light swirling around her body, and she knew they were supporting her for the time being. She placed her arms around her teacher, her lips trembling. "Ancient One."

"What you did took a lot of courage, Cassandra."

She embraced her teacher tighter. "I don't understand. Is this my punishment for leaving my duty? For choosing Stephen? He didn't only lose me. He lost me and our child."

She shook her head, cupping her face. "No, no. This isn't punishment, my dear. It was just meant to happen. Your death is the reason why he sought out the mystic arts and why Earth will have him as its Sorcerer Supreme because all he wants is to honor your memory."

Cassandra clenched her fist, looking away. "He's alone out there, doing only gods know what."

"Come, we have to warn his other half about the danger."

"His other half?"

A bright blue portal opened up to their side, sputtering some sparks and revealing a disintegrating cosmos. Her gaze was drawn to a familiar slim figure in blue robes and a Cloak of Levitation in the distance. "Hello, Stephen."

"No..." His voice echoed from where she was. "Wait a minute. You're... dead?"

"Yes!"

"So, this must be..."

"... a psychic impression sent through a splinter in reality?"

Cassandra chuckled. The Ancient One, always trying to find amusement in everything.

"Uh, yes."

"Just think of me as an echo."

Stephen hummed. "Well, I was gonna say that this must be the end of the world."

The Ancient One chortled, circling him. "That, too. You always were a perceptive one. But, I fear we don't have much time."

"Then, who's causing this?"

"Well, you are."

"How?"

"When Dr. Strange, you, used The Eye and vanished into the past, I couldn't follow. I drew upon the power of the Dark Dimension to split the timeline, to split you. Allowing for two of your possible timelines to occur in one universe."

Cassandra sighed. She should've known that some part of Stephen was relentless. She knew he will not stop until he got what he wanted.

"Two timelines?" declared Stephen, arching his eyebrow. "I doubt that's the simplest or smartest thing to do."

It was then that Cassandra decided to reveal herself from the void. "Exceedingly dangerous, actually."

"Cassie..." Stephen almost choked, his body stiffening. "You're here."

She smiled. "When I said I will always be at your side, I meant it." The sorceress then received knowledge about the superior version of her fiancé's newly accumulated powers. He was absorbing powers from various dangerous inter-dimensional beings. "Stephen, sweetheart, I need you to be strong right now because your other half is causing all this destruction."

"Wait, ho-hold on, I have an evil twin?"

"More like misguided." shrugged the Ancient One.

"Listen, love, if that other Stephen succeeds in reversing an Absolute Point in our universe..."

Stephen tried to reach out to her. "You mean saving you."

The sorceress grabbed his hand and put it on her cheek, letting him know she was there with him. "You cannot save me, Stephen. The resulting temporal paradox will destroy this universe. You have to convince him to let me go, just like what you did now."

The Ancient One and Cassandra's astral bodies flickered. "Our time is running out. I fear the only sorcerer strong enough to stop Dr. Strange is..." She flashed before him, desperate. "you, Dr. Strange."

"I am with you, always, my love. I'm here. We are here." uttered Cassandra as her soul faded away and returned to the void where she now belonged.

Then, they disappeared.

The next time Cassandra fluttered her eyes open, she first saw a monstrous figure looming over her. "Cassie? Cassie."

"What? What is going on?"

"It's me, Cassie." A deep voice rumbled. "It's me."

A terrifying creature hovered above her. It balanced itself by standing on its hind legs, with its long, bony limbs on the ground. The forelimbs, which were long and slender, protruded from the rest of the body, which was supported by sturdy back legs. The beast's back was covered in tentacles, and its teeth were huge. It was the culmination of all the demons Cassandra had faced as a master of the mystic arts.

"Oh, my Gods." gasped the woman, crawling away in fear. "What's happening? Stephen, what the fuck is happening?"

"I brought you back. I saved you."

"What have you done to yourself?" In retaliation, she conjured two golden mandalas to defend herself. "Who are you?"

"It's me, sweetheart. It's Stephen."

She shook her head furiously, refusing to believe her Stephen was this monstrous creature. "No, no, no. You're not Stephen. This... this isn't real! This is... no, this is a nightmare!"

"No, I can fix this!"

"No, no! Leave me alone!" She stood up from her ground and prepared to attack just as she recalled everything that had happened before. A mixture of white, gold, and purple colors flashed as her aura, covering the entirety of her body.

"Cassie, listen to me..."

"Look at what you've done to yourself, Stephen! You don't know what you have done!"

Then, exactly at that time, the paradox Strange created began tearing reality apart and their surroundings collapsed.

"No!" shouted the Strange Supreme, mortified. "This wasn't supposed to happen!" Desperate, he used his new powers to stop the destruction of their reality, keeping it together.

"Shit!" Cassandra yelled as she used her own magic as well to help preserve their universe, but she was disintegrating as well. "Look at this! Look at where your arrogance brought you! I told you to let me go!"

"No!" cried Stephen, regretful. That was when they saw the Watcher observing them from a distance. "You... You can stop this. Please, fix this."

"The same way you fixed Cassandra?" retaliated the comsic being.

"What? I was wrong. I..."

"You were warned! Constantly!"

"I know." mentioned Stephen, looking down. "But the world! The world shouldn't pay for my arrogance. I read about you. Sensed your presence. You're a god. You can undo this."

"I'm not a god." The Watcher proclaimed. "And neither are you."

"Then, punish me. Not the world, not Cassie."

Cassandra struggled to keep it all together and her knees gave way from the powerful surge of a universe collapsing. "Honestly, if I could fix this, if I could punish you instead, I would. But I can't interfere." vocalized The Watcher. "You, more than anyone else, should understand that meddling with time and events only leads to more destruction."

"No! No! I didn't mean for this to happen!"

"Stephen!"

"Cassandra!"

And the rupturing reality finally overwhelmed them. Cassandra collapsed to the ground, panting. Her eyes grew heavy from the strenuous effects of excessive utilization of both her light and dark magic. She noted how they had only preserved a pocket of their universe and nothing more. Stephen's choice of saving her life condemned their universe. The brunette panted, "All this power and still you cannot save me."

Stephen held her in his arms, his bottom lip quivering. "I'm sorry, Cassie. I'm sorry."

Breathing out her last, Cassandra seized hold of his hand. "Stephen." She said his name one last time. "You should have let me go."

Then, she was gone.

Indeed, one life, one choice, one moment can destroy the entire universe. If in another universe Cassandra Mason became his saving grace... in here, she was the reason for his fall from grace.