Stephen looked at the items in his own private sanctum between space of the cosmos. He had sent the call to his friends and allies but after conversing with them he couldn't fathom putting them in danger. "Why put those in danger for something that is clearly my own problem to deal with" he muttered as he paced through the fogged floor. His hands clasped in one another behind his back, the strain lines of frustration clearly pressed lines upon his forehead. He had spent the past months in meditation, regaining his strengths and trying to help those on earth as he had done when he actually held the title of Sorcerer Supreme. But now he actually not thought of how to get the title back, but why had the Eye let Loki put its grasp upon it. Also the the second question came to mind, is why had Stephen left the eye behind when he never let it more then a arms length away since he held the title of Sorcerer Supreme.

"This does not make sense to me, I wouldn't leave it behind.. specially on personal business beyond the realm of Earth" he hissed almost frustrated at his fruitless actions. The Amulet was still in the sanctum amongst the items that were in Wong's possessions. But the Orb was here, he had not even thought about touching or tapping into its mystical powers. Shifting back he turned and paced towards the bookshelf, his eyes crossing the volumes as if hoping to see something he had over looked. Some mystical tomb that would explain this situation, but alas he had looked over the tombs hundreds if not thousands of times since his return. Turning again he saw his stone table, upon it was several vials, beakers, mystical items, and the case that hovered above the stone flat that held the Orb of Agamatto. "The questions are apparent but the answers are not here." he said softly and walked over to the stone work bench and for the first time since he had been back he hovered his hand over the case and he since something different about the aura. The case opened and the orb seemed to levitate up and stop as if assessing Stephen.

"Loki what have you done..." Stephen muttered, the orb would hold a glow of light white if not more resembling a pearl with green swirls. But now it was dark and hints of red swirls within the encased glass. Stephen was concerned greatly at this turn of events, his hands slowly lifted towards the orb and pressed his mind towards the Orb cautiously. But his mind was blown back by a magic he hadn't felt in many of years. His hands shot towards his head as he started to banish the energy from him. His breathing came hard and he growled as once the mind was clear slammed the orb back into the case and secured it close. So this was the way the Loki has corrupted the items of Agamatto. "No.. this will not go unnoticed... this must be answered to" the fact the powers that Loki held as god escaped him, the infuriated anger boiled to its peak as he shifted his clothing to the blue tunic with the white trident crest upon it. As he could not claim the red cloak, he had summoned a green cloak that was known as the 'Shroud of Khan' which in the name referred to its original owner. Ganges Khan wore the cloak in his time and it was one of many reasons he got so far in his conquering. It had protection runes etched into the fabric and empowered by old Tibetan powers, which was originally stolen from a monastery. The original name of the cloak was long lost, but it was one of the items that Stephen studied quite extensively. Granted it was not as powerful as the cloak of levitation, but it had its uses.

Black pants and black knee high boots, a gold belt wrapped around his tunic. With his powers sharpened, magical items stored, he walked over to the book case and pressed his fingers against the seal of the volume. "Friend I am to where I go, bring me to your twin so I may be with my friend again" the words were spoken and with a flash of light the room seemed to spin slowly then fastly. When the room came to a stop he was in the basement of the Sanctum, in Wong's hidden study. Stephen's eyes looked over the bookcase, he looked down at the bed and desk and for the first time he missed his old friend. The room was in the cellar and knew Wong used it when he did not wish to be disturbed, and the silence of the cellar seemed to let him go undisturbed. "Thank you.. once again." he whispered and then headed out the door into the cellar. He knew Loki would know he was here, the defenses in the Sanctum wouldn't let such entry go unnoticed. As he headed up to the first floor, Stephen stopped and with his mind he pushed a mental wave that would come out with one word, but come across to those within in as a loud roar of anger.

"LOKI!!"

"Sorry Doctor. I'm not here right now. Please leave a message and I'll be sure to ignore you some more later." Up in the library, there was a massive pile of books on the floor. Those still on the shelves were few, but he plucked one off anyway and opened it. Placing his hand between the pages, black ink and text began traveling up his arm, past his neck and up in to the old noggin. "What's the saying? Evil only triumphs when good men do nothing, right? I guess you waited a helluva long time to do nothing, and meanwhile I flourish. I've even redecorated. That man servant of yours had a limited color palette. You on the other hand had so much potential sitting in your library, and you squandered it." Well, better Strange squander it than Von Doom use it.

Flipping through another tome disinterestedly, he tossed it to the side. He had no use for medical magic. He was looking for something a tad more destructive. Ah, there it was. His arm lengthened to grab the tome at the top, spiraling it down as he opened the front cover and tore a page out and began folding it until he'd created a little origami swallow. He continued the act for awhile, letting the magical little swallows perch around the room. "No back up, Doctor? My pride has taken a blow. Surely you can't hope to best me in competition. Not when you put so much emphasis on your trinkets. Formidable when you've got them, but without, you possess naught but gutter cheap tricks and gutter magic." That however, was the difference between man and a God. He required no toys to conjure spells - but it didn't hurt to have all of Stephens.

He was almost done ripping pages out of the book, not really giving it much thought. After all, it was just an old Oxford dictionary. As he moved, so to did the flock that fluttered after him. Silent little paper wings creating air displacement that put out the candles on his way down. "How about we reconvene in the study? My brides are making tea."

Loki has clearly insulted him in answering him, but he didn't expect much less from the god of lies and mischief. "Evil only takes power through deception and when its enemies have no power to stop it" he said simply and Loki even called him out on not bringing others to fight this battle. He had back up plans in place if this confrontation went south, measures and precautions where one of Stephen's strengths. As he walked through the Sanctum, he noticed the change in appearance and even some of his protective spells were still in place while others were not. "I was not chosen to be a sorcerer cause of the trinkets I held, but the ability to control and use magic by my will" he rebuttled when he pressed again at his ego.

Stephen made no sudden movements of hostility, even in the face of danger he had to keep a cool mind. As he entered the Library he was shocked at the destruction of the volumes and knowledge that was taken from the books. Part of him wanted to lunge a full assault on Loki, but the sorcerer inside him wouldn't allow such foolish actions. "Through deception you have come to gain what.. a mere thumb nail of knowledge to what you all ready possess." his words came out calm as his eyes studied the surroundings, the volumes that once spoke to him through their magical power now seemed silent and cold. Loki had done the unspeakable and pressed a serious blow to the knowledge that earth held on the magics of the universe. "You blind the Eye of Agamatto , rip the title of Sorcerer Supreme from my grasp when I was not here to defend it, and for what? Books of knowledge that doesn't compare to the knowledge that you all ready possess. This does not make since.. Has Thor truly hit you over the head one to many times or is this a personal grudge against me?"

"Let's be honest Doctor, you never even saw this coming. But someone had to do it. Because while you were out banging co-eds at a medical conference, I was busy being courteous enough to play your role and do your friends some good. Of course, I got to point them in whatever directions I wished, but I imagine you take a similar joy. After all, you've got that whole "I'm the Sorcerer Supreme, but the hoary hosts listen to me because I'm better than you" attitude. Drivel, to be sure. Nay doctor, this isn't a grudge. This is me doing what was right for a change. And if I got to learn how to fold some origami and find out how to operate on a patient's pancreas, then who really cares? You've hardly been slighted. In fact, your job is made easier. You can go back to practicing medicine. And I can go back to making you look bad." All in all, he was rather bemused by Strange's befuddled reaction. He was always two steps ahead, but now he'd taken four steps back and the Asgardian mused over how much he must have been fuming.

His brides of course, did not share the same sentiment. They never seemed amused, actually. Thirteen, the deadly bakers dozen and the flesh eating bad dream of Bor, an age gone by even for Strange. "I took your title because like you said - YOU. WEREN'T. HERE. I was. I saw an opportunity to do things you couldn't or wouldn't, and I did them. So before you carry on with some slander campaign, I'll show you the courtesy of allowing you to kiss the ring of your replacement."

Stephen took in Loki's words and saw them for what they were, lies. Shifting his weight upon his feet, he let his hands clasped behind his back. "First of all, you did not take this for the greater good for earth, secondly you were not chosen to be Sorcerer Supreme but forced a ancient magic, Blood Magic that is evil and considered extremely Taboo in the magical community to blind the eye and take the title by force. he said firmly, his anger most likely apparent. "Take away your immortality.. Take away your endless power as a God..and your nothing but a spoiled little brat who dabbles in magics he could never control. Loki you were born with a gift and you abuse it for your own personal gain. So save your breath in slandering your lies about doing this for the greater good.. or doing this cause you better then me." Stephen said sharply, his eyes never leaving Loki.

"Give me the eye and let me remove the curse you placed upon it.. let the eye choose who the rightful Sorcerer Supreme is and I will accept what ever fate that is laid out. Cause I guarantee that taking a artifact meant for good can not be controlled for ever by evil."

It was cute, the way he made demands as though he were in a position of power. He wagged his finger as though Strange were a petulant child demanding a lollipop. "Please, point me in the direction of the harm I've caused since taking up a mantle you were supposed to be protecting. Killed anyone lately? Damned anyone to the pit? Opened the world to any ancient evils, incited the wrath of angry Juggernauts or space gods..." Neglectfully left the Darkholme in a library where all it took was some spilled blood to get in to? A book still residing in his mountain home of Asgard. A fortress of magic in itself.

Nay, he didn't expect Strange to trust him. Most thought him as deceitful. And in most situations, they weren't wrong. But what harm had he been doing here? He'd been accused, but so far there was no evidence other than slaying one unfortunate virgin. He had however saved another. Albeit, the armored boy had been for his own purposes. When Blade had come to call, he'd let the vampire live. In fact, he'd provided aid and named the demon to point the fanged menace towards. "There's a problem with your proposition. You're here to make demands when nothing is owed to you. You have no power over me, little Doctor, and your pride blinds you in that regard. I am a lying, cheating bastard that lied and cheated to help your friends. You're on a razors edge Stephen. Don't tempt me to push you off." The Doctor's unfortunate moral code only saw black and white, but never gray. He picked up the pot of tea, pouring it in to some of Strange's china before stirring in milk and sugar. "Tea?"

Strange looked at Loki, seemingly his buttons were being pressed and not really acknowledging that he stole the title and not earned as it was meant to be. Sighing he took a moment to let his mind focus on the situation and not let his emotions drive his actions. "My point being Loki, you have never given me or any other hero on Earth a reason to trust you. Thor has been made aware of your actions and in his own words he is disappointed and will do everything to stop you" There was a moment of pause as if Steven was reflecting on what was revealed and what wasn't. "Avengers, the Fantastic Four, X-Men, S.H.I.E.L.D have been notified as well, and won't take you seriously.. they know you are not me and I doubt your presence here will be taken seriously as a genuine effort to change your ways. You always have a alternative motive, you always plot, plan, scheme to some action that benefits you and only you. Do you not understand my own and others concern in this situation?

Taking a step back he felt it was better to leave then to discuss this matter further but the tea was being offered, in his own China. Stolen everything by deception, and Strange knew there were darker times on the horizon. With Satana returning, Mephisto's ever lasting presence, Latveria Attack, the MRA and talks of SHRA, the return of the Sentinels... chaos had its hand hold on Earth. "I ponder your intentions but you would seemly just point out that my human mind couldn't fathom your intentions. I am not fool to take you on myself, this is clear to me now and I clearly have nothing you could possibly want. Hel wouldn't care, and I doubt Asgard would do anything in the affairs of mortals.. least Odin may offer some help but nothing that could change the outcome of Earth's fate. he was clearly thinking out loud, and took the cup from Loki's grasp and wavered his fingers over the brew to insure it was not poison and that it truly was what it was meant to be.

"So what are you intentions then Loki? Indulge me if you will and bring reason behind what is clearly a chaotic situation to me.. "

"What I understand Stephen, is that for a mortal you're considered very old, and very wise. I understand that you hold a narrow, black and white view of a world you want to hold in a rigid structure. But the second a monkey wrench is thrown in to everything you've ever worked for, you drown in insignificance. Now, the ingenious part of the plan is that really, if I were trying to usurp your position, wouldn't the best way to do it be to assume your identity, gather my allies, and claim you were not who you say? After all, I've got your toys, I've got your home, and I've got thirteen... things, who can pass for a Wong, whatever it is you have him do." He really wasn't quite sure about the manservants relationship to the doctor. Was he some kind of estranged lover who stuck around to help out a man who'd promised him marriage? They were living in progressive times after all, and who was he to judge?

The paper birds began fluttering around Strange, some landing on his cloak, some taking to nesting in his hair, chirping away merrily as Loki held one in his palm, petting the origami masterpiece. "You do actually have one thing I want. You rely so heavily on trinkets and books and when you have all of those in conjunction, you believe yourself to be above your station. You're right. A mortal mind can't fathom why I do what it is that I do. You'll go to every other source on earth, every other source on a hundred different planets, different dimensions, different arcane texts, when all you have to do is look inward. Your hubris causes you to continuously over complicate the matter. It's a little bit embarrassing, to be honest." He sighed, sitting back in a comfortable chaise lounge, rubbing his eyelids.

"All you have to do is ask for it. On bended knee. Not as Doctor Strange, Sorceror Supreme of the dimension. As Stephen Strange, a humble man asking for a favor. You demand so much because you believe you have so much to impart. I've got to be honest, I'm on a journey of self discovery. It's really quite daunting. I'd suggest a vacation, but you're going to have your hands full for quite awhile after this."

Steven listened to Loki's words and the very idea of bending to one knee to beg back what was stolen was out of the question. "Amusing but not my type of game. I have never begged to the likes of you, and most likely I will never do so in my life time." he said sharply before taking a step back and letting his eyes look about the room. His mind searched for answers in the books yet claimed by Loki's mind, like a eagle he had stopped upon one just for a mere second before his eyes fell back on to the god of mischief.

"So you leave me no choice, I challenge you to a duel of submission or death. The sanctum is too small for a duel of our powers and I believe it beneficial for humanity if this duel will be taken in the fabrics of the universe where we can do no harm to time or any living being. I will supply the means of transportation to this location. Decline the offer then you agree to the terms of my winning. You will surrender the title of Sorcerer Supreme to me, undo the damages you have done to the arcanum knowledge of the Sanctum and vow to never interfere in the matters of mortal men again" Steven said firmly, pulling at the strength that has made him such a leader before. Loki knew this duel would be a one sided match, but for Steven to offer it out of misplaced pride might make the god look beyond the logic of the situation. "Do you agree Loki Laufeyson? Or should you give me back my title now and step away from earth.."

Strange wanted to challenge him? He was a foolish little piss ant. Here, he'd given him an easy way out, and Strange had proceeded to spit in his face. "You're arrogance is astounding, little wizard. If I decline, you win nothing. you have however insulted me. I extend the hand of peace, and you slap it away and go to war. If it's war you want... I ACCEPT!" Lightning crashed down around the Asgardian. He knew Strange would take the opportunity to garner every advantage he could. But Loki knew best of all that in a duel, the way to win was to find clever ways to skirt around the rules. And to be frank, he was a master of the art.

Strange watched the man gloat his powers and as he did so, Strange moved his hands inadvertently in circles. Smoke trailed along his hands as his eyes started to glow a eerie yellowish glow. His words came out in almost a ancient form of Mongolian. When the words stopped the smoke rushed forward in all directions leaving a Jar, about a knee high in height and foot and half wide. The jar appearance looked ordinary on the outside but the magic it radiated seemed to put everything else in the room and within the sanctum as a mere shadow. "I am not sure that Asgardians heard of such things as there is only two known in the exsistance of time. This is a dueling jar, formed by powerful magic of a race long perished to the sands of time. It was meant to be a form of judgement, that two parties would enter and battle out their disagreements in perfect balance and equality. Tho most of them were destroyed, some escaped and are hidden within the universe. I happen to find this one in Mongolia." Strange said, not knowing why he was explaining things to his foe.

Placing a hand upon the jar, he spoke two words and the lid of the jar revealed symbols upon its top. "Justice shall be fought, Terms spoken and agreed upon the loss or win of contest. Loki Laufeyson , current Sorcerer Supreme of Earth will battle Former Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Stephen Strange. Battle of Death or Submission, Upon the loss Loki Laufeyson renounces his claim and forfits the title of Sorcerer Supreme and will restore the knowledge of the Sanctum and correct all damages he has brought upon its grounds.As well never interfere in the matters of mortals again" he spoke an then paused. There had to be terms on both sides and this was not discussed, but Strange knew what he was fighting for and would give everything for it. "In the matter of Doctor Stephen Strange loosing the outcome of the battle. Accepts only Death" and with the last words spoke there was a bright flash of light and the jar started to spin and a voice spoke out of a language long lost to the sands of time.

Looking at Loki Strange spoke first "I agree to these terms" and then the Jar flashed once and the colors of the room started to fade as it awaited Loki's Answer.

"And upon the imminent victory of I, Loki, son of Laufey, son of Odin, and rightful Sorcerer Supreme through superior magical prowess, do claim the everlasting soul of Stephen Strange, retained as reliquary and trophy until the end of times. On these terms, I accept, you groveling little mongrel."
In a few moments, the thirteen brides that had taken refuge in the Sanctum, the bloody mouthed Disir surrounded him in formation, removing the eye of Aggamotto, one clutching the precious orb, as they stepped away from their master. "Girls, do me a favor and mind the Sanctum. Company is coming over, and I don't want anyone to interrupt this. If they enter this room, kill it. Scorched earth, dears."