POV: Scott
Time is a really funny thing…
Not long ago, my biggest concern was waking up on time for work.
And today? I'm wondering what kind of tortur—training I'm going to get.
Eight months.
I came here expecting basic training, you know? Just enough not to get killed by any random nobody.
Instead?
I got EIGHT DAMN MONTHS OF TORTURE!!!!
Wake up, get beaten by Wong, eat, deal with whatever insanity the Ancient One came up with that day, rest, and to top it off? Get beaten a little more by Wong before going to sleep!!
I don't want this for my life!
I want my damn car! And a nice day at the beach! That's it.
At this point I don't even care if the world literally explodes tomorrow — I just want some rest.
The problem?
When I told that to the Ancient One, she just said…
"Rest? I assure you, you will have your rest. Just not now. Now… how about some tea?"
Tea…
Tea…
THE GODDAMN MOTHER FUCKING TEA!!!!!
I can't. That's it.
I'm getting out of here today.
KNOCK, KNOCK
"What's the point of knocking if you're going to come in anyway?!"
She walks in right after, wearing that same neutral expression as always… and says.
"Because it's amusing. Come. Today will be a little… different from the others."
Arrgghhh…
Just kill me, God… please…
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POV: Ancient One
Scott is problematic.
He is easily irritated and sometimes unnecessarily rude.
Of course, he is far from the worst. Believe me… I have seen and dealt with many who were dozens of times worse.
His circumstances do not help. I understand that after fear, anger is the natural human response when something dangerous or unknown intrudes upon one's life.
But as I have told him before…
We cannot always control what happens around us, regardless of our identity or power.
I know this well.
Scott must understand it too — and learn to control his temper.
The positive aspect is that he is a diligent student.
Not particularly talented — far from it. But he is, in his own way, intelligent.
What intrigues me most is that he is constantly developing.
If he makes a mistake today, you can be certain he will not repeat it tomorrow.
A very useful quality.
Dangerous… but useful.
After all, sometimes a single error is enough to bring catastrophic consequences.
If I could wish for one thing, however…
It would be for him to think more positively.
In these eight months, he has gone from a complete novice to an experienced combatant.
With my guidance regarding his powers — and his natural Creativity in combat— as long as he does not face super-soldiers or exceptionally powerful mutants, he should manage… probably… perhaps.
And yet he still carries that… hesitation.
And I understand.
Because of where he came from and what he knows, he is less inclined — or perhaps outright unwilling — to fight, even when his own life is at stake.
What he does not understand is that,regardless of his wishes, the gears of fate are already turning.
If he — and unfortunately our world — are to have any chance…
He will have to fight.
It will not be easy.
He will fall. He will suffer. He will cry and agonize.
But in the end?
He will survive.
And so will our world.
This, too, is one of the things that leaves me… weary.
To see someone so young… so full of potential…
Forced to endure so much suffering for the sake of a small, fragile chance.
But this is the burden I must carry.
Just as he will have to carry his own… sooner or later.
I only hope he will be ready when that moment comes.