What If: Iron Man Became Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom

"Iron Man! It's really Iron Man!"

When Tony descended from the sky in the Mark IV, every child at the party went wild.

Quite a few people at the party were dressed as Iron Man, but the real thing was obvious at a glance.

That entrance from the sky, that cold, sleek metallic texture.

No knockoff could compare.

Even the adults turned to look.

Tony Stark—the owner of Stark Industries and a famous playboy.

Instead of vacationing on his private luxury yacht, in one of his villas, or on some island, he had come to an ordinary neighborhood party?

"Hey, kids. I didn't bring any candy."

Tony opened his faceplate and joked with the children crowding around him.

"But if you want some, you can get it from my assistant."

Even so, not a single child left Tony's side.

Every now and then, one would stretch out a hand, wanting to touch Tony's armor.

"If you like it, go ahead and touch it. Don't worry, you won't damage it."

As he spoke, the armor opened up and Tony stepped out, leaving it standing where it was.

"Really? Thank you so much, Iron Man!"

Watching Tony squeeze out of the crowd of children, Russell said, "Looks like kids prefer Iron Man over Tony Stark."

"I am Iron Man." Tony put on his sunglasses and replied casually.

Damn it, he actually pulled it off.

"Happy Halloween, Pepper, Happy."

"Happy Halloween, Russell."

This time, Russell didn't ignore Happy.

Tonight, Happy was dressed as Tony's bodyguard, rather than actually being Tony's bodyguard.

"What brings you here?" Russell asked directly.

"What happened before dawn was too big. The news couldn't be contained, and some media outlets still reported it."

Tony explained.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. asked me to make another big headline to divert the public's attention."

Russell fell silent. Was he showing off how popular he was?

Was popularity even useful?

At close range, he alone could stand against an entire nation. Did Tony understand that?

"I don't even know what happened before dawn."

As she spoke, Pepper turned to Tony, her gaze filled with concern and affection.

"When I woke up, I found out that you had saved New York."

Tony noticed Pepper's gaze. His eyes flickered, but he didn't return her affectionate look.

Instead, he abruptly asked Russell, "I heard that all the victims infected by Vampires have recovered. Was that magic too?"

"Yes."

"Magic really is amazing."

Tony sighed, then deliberately put on a frivolous air and leaned close to Russell. "Can we talk privately?"

Russell gave him a puzzled look.

"Since magic can solve Vampire infection, can it cure Palladium Poisoning too?"

After the two had walked some distance away and made sure Pepper couldn't hear them, Tony got straight to the point.

"So that's what you wanted to ask. Why were you being so secretive about it?" Russell realized.

It seemed Tony had already recognized the dangers of palladium.

As comrades who had fought side by side, Russell had no intention of hiding it from Tony and watching him suffer.

Russell remembered that S.H.I.E.L.D. had possessions left behind by Tony's father, Howard Stark.

From his father's belongings, Tony could find a New Element to replace palladium and solve the problem.

But if he did that, Russell would need to explain where the information had come from.

Most of the favors Tony owed had also been claimed by S.H.I.E.L.D.

More importantly, Russell wanted to see another possibility unfold.

If Tony learned magic, would he become Doctor Strange, or Doctor Doom?

"Of course you can," Russell said with certainty. "Tomorrow, we'll visit a mage together."

"Aren't you a mage?" Tony asked in surprise. "Don't tell me you can't do it?"

Although Russell's fighting style was somewhat different from the way Tony imagined mages fought.

But with such formidable combat ability, he had to at least be a high-level mage, right?

Russell looked embarrassed. "I'm not good at healing."

Tony looked at Russell suspiciously. He could see Russell's guilty conscience. "You're not actually a mage, are you?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm what you call a Melee Mage.

A Melee Mage, get it?

Mages these days all fight up close.

What's the use of all that flashy nonsense?

Being able to fight is what matters."

Russell defended himself loudly.

"What are you arguing about?"

Perhaps Russell had been too loud, because Pepper came over and asked.

"Nothing. We were discussing mages."

Tony brushed the matter aside, unwilling to let Pepper know about his Palladium Poisoning.

"Oh, right, Tony," Russell reminded him then.

"The mage we're seeing tomorrow is written as Master Ancient One, but read as Sorcerer Supreme.

You'd better watch yourself and rein in that temper of yours."

Otherwise, if you got taught a lesson, don't blame me for not warning you.

Russell said it deliberately, intending to provoke Tony's rebellious streak.

Tony ought to enjoy the same treatment Strange had received.

Sure enough, upon hearing Russell's words, Tony raised an eyebrow.

"Sorcerer Supreme? I hope he lives up to the name."

As the party came to an end, everyone left with their own thoughts.

"Oh my God, Helen, is this true?"

George whispered.

"You're saying that your dreams were all things that really happened in Another Universe.

That Gwen was our daughter in Another Universe?

It's unbelievable."

"I know it's hard to believe." Helen held George tightly.

"But it's the truth, George.

In Another Universe, we're still husband and wife, and Gwen is still our daughter."

George held Helen tightly as well. "I can't imagine what it would be like to lose you."

At that moment, George deeply sympathized with himself from that other world.

"Yeah, me too.

I can't imagine losing you and Gwen either."

Meanwhile, in Little Gwen's room.

Little Gwen stared wide-eyed at Gwen. "So, you're me after I grew up?"

"No, I'm from another Parallel Universe."

Gwen shook her head, then reached out and pinched Little Gwen's cheek.

"I never expected myself to be this cute as a child."

Little Gwen frowned, trying hard to work out the relationship between Parallel Universes and the past and future.

In the end, she reached a conclusion.

"So that means you're me, but you're also not me?"

"Mm."

Gwen fell silent.

George and Helen in this world were Little Gwen's parents, not hers.

At that moment, she envied Little Gwen beyond measure.

And missed her father even more—Director George Stacy of Earth-65.

Three thousand times more.

She missed home. But could she go back?

"Russell, I'm staying at Helen's tonight. I won't be coming back."

Russell fell silent as he looked at the text message on his phone.

Come to think of it, Gwen had moved in several days ago. Had she even spent a single night here?

I just wanted a roommate.

Russell decided that tomorrow, he would put the hiring sign back up.

Taking out his phone, Russell composed two messages before going to sleep.

One was for Gwen.

'Your message has been acknowledged.

Also, don't bottle things up. Maybe I can help.'

The other was for The Ancient One.

'Mage, Tony Stark and I will be visiting you tomorrow. Will you be free?

I've already promised him, so you'd better be free.'