Malrick lowered his hand and spoke with calm authority, "Alright, Frog Thor, you can go back for now. Let's stay in contact if another chance arises."
Before Malrick Transmigration, the last Marvel movie he had watched was Captain Marvel 2, and at that time What If…? had reached its second season. Frog Thor had not caused trouble in that season, so Malrick assumed he could be trusted.
"Okay, okay, we're leaving now," Frog Thor said quickly, nodding.
The frog-sized Thor, who earlier had sought Malrick out, now dragged Doctor Strange with him as he ran. He had not expected Malrick to lecture him so sternly. Not even the Sorcerer Supreme of his home universe had ever scolded him so relentlessly.
Frog Thor suddenly understood what it felt like to be torn apart verbally, just as Stark had once done in the heroic tales he had witnessed.
Still, Frog Thor wanted to escape.
Doctor Strange, however, stood rooted where he was, like a fallen beam, immovable before Malrick.
"Your Excellency, I apologize, but I still have one question I wish to ask," Strange said with burning intensity in his eyes.
Malrick inclined his head slightly. "Alright, but I'm curious. Didn't the TVA ever arrest you? They've detained quite a few Stranges who tried to bring back their loved ones."
"Perhaps they arrested those other Stranges because of me," Strange answered with a bitter grin.
Malrick understood. Because of the precedent set by Strange Supreme's actions — when he tried to bring back Christine and destroyed his universe — the TVA had gone on a rampage arresting every Doctor Strange who strayed into forbidden territory.
"So you were the first," Malrick said, impressed. "That's remarkable."
"No, if it were possible, I would rather they had caught me before I began," Strange replied, his voice thick with sorrow.
He had destroyed his own world, watched his girlfriend come back only for her to perish again. In his universe, Christine's death had set him on the path of mastering magic and negotiating with Dormammu, ultimately saving Earth. But his attempt to reverse time to bring her back negated everything that had come before. Without her death, there would have been no study of magic, no path to try to resurrect her. His actions were an impossible paradox.
Christine's death became an absolute point in time that could not be changed.
So Strange had spent centuries collecting powerful beings to fuel a contraption he built called the Forge, hoping to reshape reality and bring back his world and Christine. The plan ended with total collapse.
"Yet you still want to restore her," Malrick said gently.
Strange hesitated, and Frog Thor looked at him in disbelief. "He should have given up. His universe was destroyed."
Strange met Malrick's gaze with unease, an expression mixed with pleading and hope.
"Frog Thor said you are an abstract being, a true god of the universe."
"So no matter the cost, I beg you to help me save my world," Strange said, desperation in his voice.
When the world collapsed and Christine dissolved into nothing in his arms, he had begged Frog Thor for help, just as he was pleading now. But Frog Thor simply did not have that power and would not interfere.
At that moment Strange believed he was destined to perish alone in endless darkness.
Then the Infinite Ultron threat appeared, and Strange saw another glimmer of hope.
One idea was to use the Forge to gather powerful beings across the multiverse, fuel it with their strength, and force a new reality into existence. The other hope, naturally, was Malrick.
"Any price?" Malrick asked, eyebrow raised.
"I can pay anything, even death itself," Strange declared firmly. "I only wish to reshape my universe. It should not have fallen because of my arrogance."
Malrick's focus shifted. "Then why didn't you seek out Eternity?"
"Eternity? I remember that was some kind of... cosmic entity?" Strange asked uncertainly.
"You became Sorcerer Supreme. You should have learned about legends of the universe," Malrick replied. "According to legend, anyone who reaches Eternity at the Universe Altar can make a wish, even to bring back the dead."
Strange stared as if struck by an absurd realization.
"Of course it's true. In the main universe, Gorr the God Butcher reached Eternity and wished for his daughter to return," Malrick explained.
Strange froze. There was truly a way to resurrect someone — without destroying reality. Compared to his method of consuming countless beings and destabilizing existence, seeking Eternity was almost effortless.
Strange breathed deeply as regret washed over him like a heavy tide. For a moment, the world seemed to spin into darkness.
"Ah, ah! Christine!" Strange screamed.
Suddenly his body began to contort, his flesh bulging as tentacles spouted from his back and multiple eyes formed on his face. Sanity slipped, and something monstrous emerged from within him.
"Strange!" Frog Thor cried in horror. He pointed at the transforming Strange and then toward Malrick in panic. "Malrick, Malrick, I can't interfere, you…"
"I know, you don't need to keep repeating it," Malrick said as he placed a steady hand on Strange's head.
Their minds touched, the flow of soul and thought merging. In an instant, Malrick restored Strange's clarity.
Strange gasped back to himself, breaking free from the surge of darkness. His eyes were filled with exhaustion and relief.
"I... thank you," Strange whispered, kneeling and breathing hard.
Then he looked up with hollow eyes.
"You are a being as powerful as Eternity. You can do what he does, right? Please, I beg you."
Malrick offered a slight smile. "You said you'd pay any price."
Strange's eyes lit with fierce determination. "Yes, I am willing to do anything!"
"Then lead the way," Malrick said.
---