[Kamar Taj, Mountain Cabin]
As soon as I pressed the button, I felt weightless beneath my feet. I quickly realised I was falling. But I didn't panic—I was expecting it, from what I'd seen in the Ant-Man movie. I braced myself just in case before i hit the floor.
Thud.
It was a strange feeling. I felt the impact on my shoulder, but it wasn't painful at all. It felt more like a hard shove than a crash.
I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. The first thing that caught my attention was the ceiling—it now seemed as tall as the sky.
I stood up carefully and glanced around. I noticed something strange—my vision had widened greatly. But I also had to look up to see anything properly, as my head now naturally pointed downwards toward the floor.
Suddenly, I heard a deep, thunderous noise. When I turned toward it, I saw the Ancient One and Master Hamir—now the size of tall skyscrapers—looking at me and speaking. Their voices were far too deep for me to understand, and they were also painfully slow, as if echoing underwater.
Soon, they stopped speaking and began walking away. Each of their steps caused a deep rumbling that I could feel beneath my feet.
I didn't know why they were walking away, so I decided to call out to them. But then I realised—they couldn't hear me. I stood there, trying to think of a way to communicate with them, when suddenly, I heard a voice beside me.
"He should be able to hear us now."
I flinched—I wasn't expecting anyone to be next to me. I jumped back in shock and turned toward the voice. There they were the Ancient One and Master Hamir, translucent and floating. Of course—it didn't take me long to realise they were in their astral forms.
I glanced back at their real bodies. They were still standing with their heads bowed—it looked like they were meditating while standing upright.
"I didn't know you could do that," I said, eyes wide in amazement.
The Ancient One looked calm and unbothered as she replied, "The astral form is simply the manifestation of the soul in the Material Plane. It can take any shape or size, depending on the will of the user."
She then turned to Master Hamir and said softly, "Master Hamir, if you would."
Master Hamir nodded and floated over to me, beginning a close inspection of the suit. He checked every corner and seam with a focused gaze, drifting silently around me. After a few minutes, he turned to the Ancient One and said, "Everything seems to be working well."
The Ancient One looked at me and asked, "How are you feeling, Rohan? Anything unusual?"
"I feel fine. Too fine, actually," I replied honestly. "I thought it would be hot and stuffy inside the suit, but so far—I feel great!"
The Ancient One let out a quiet sigh of relief. "That would be the Climate control system."
Master Hamir added, "And if it's working, it means the suit is properly sealed."
"Sealed?" I asked, confused.
Master Hamir nodded. "Yes. The suit closes all openings when you shrink. That means you are completely isolated from the external environment—hence, 'sealed'."
I shrugged, not thinking much of it. "Why's does it have to be sealed? I thought the suit's main job was just to change my size."
Master Hamir's tone turned serious. "It's very important. In fact, it's vital to your survival."
"What do you mean?"
The Ancient One floated beside me, her expression calm but intense. "When you shrink to this size, your body carries far less heat than it normally does," she explained.
At first, it didn't sound like a big deal. But then I paused—just for a second—and realised what she truly meant.
My eyes widened in fear. "You don't mean…?"
She nodded gently, her voice almost clinical. "Yes. Humans have not evolved to live in this size, If the suit weren't sealing you off from the environment, your small body would lose what little heat it has incredibly fast. Even tiny temperature changes would feel extreme. A sunny day could burn you alive, while a breeze that's normally pleasant could freeze you to death in seconds. Every day surfaces—concrete, tables, steel—would feel scalding hot or freezing cold, depending on the time of day."
She motioned toward the room around us. "Take right now, for example. If the sealing wasn't working, The Climate control would not be as well, and you'd already be feeling the cold creeping in. You'd feel it draining your warmth… and before you could even process it, you'd be dead."
Suddenly, the room didn't feel so welcoming anymore.
My heartbeat grew louder, echoing in my ears. The enclosed suit only amplified the sounds. I could hear it thumping—faster and heavier.
My thoughts began racing. A voice in my head kept shouting: Press the blue button. Escape before something happens. Do it now !.
My body didn't move, but my thumb trembled. All I wanted was to slam that blue button and get out of the suit.
But I had to control myself. I clenched my thumb tightly beneath my fist to stop myself from pressing it. I had to remind myself: the Pym Particles were limited. So every use counted. I count on just wasting this opportunity.
After barely surviving my recent adventure, I had to admit—my fear of dying had grown a lot. But something else had grown with it. Anxiety.
I realised that if I wanted to keep going down this path, I had to get comfortable with danger. With risk. There was no other way of it.
It didn't matter if I was inside a movie or not. This suit was not a Toy, This wasn't a game either. There was Danger, REAL DANGER in every step, and I had to start treating it that way.
"Rohan! Are you listening?" the Ancient One suddenly said, raising her voice.
"What? Yeah—Yeah-yeah, I'm listening," I replied quickly. "I was just thinking… I need to treat this suit like a space suit."
She gave a small, approving nod. "Hmm. As I was saying, you don't need to worry too much about the seal. The suit is strong enough to take some serious blows. Even if it's damaged, there are safety measures in place."
"Alright. I'll keep that in mind," I said, trying to sound confident. I gave them a thumbs-up for good measure.
Neither the Ancient One nor Master Hamir looked particularly convinced, though.
"Now, we will conduct some tests to see how well you adapt to the suit," the Ancient One said, glancing upward. "Your first test is to get used to moving around at your new size." She then pointed towards a small floating shelf mounted high on the wall. "Your task is to reach the top of that shelf."
I looked up at the shelf she pointed at. It was a modest floating shelf with a few empty jars, but from my current height, it felt like a distant mountaintop.
Getting there was the real challenge—and that was the point, wasn't it? She was testing both me and the suit. I needed to know what I was capable of in this shrunken state. So, I began with the basics: I ran and jumped a few times, then picked up various objects to gauge my strength.
All the while, the Ancient One and Master Hamir floated nearby, observing me closely and offering occasional guidance. For the next hour, I trained—learning to jump, land, lift, and throw. I discovered that my strength hadn't changed from my normal size; instead, it was compacted into a smaller form, making me more durable and agile than ever before.
With that understanding, I began my climb. I pushed smaller pieces of furniture together to form a makeshift ramp. From there, I leapt upwards, grabbing at imperfections in the wall's surface to climb the rest of the way.
Once I reached the top, I sat down and tried to catch my breath. Inside the helmet, I was panting heavily and drenched in sweat. Just then, the Ancient One and Master Hamir floated beside me.
"Congratulations on completing the test so quickly," the Ancient One said with a calm smile.
"I wouldn't have managed it so fast without your guidance, Master," I replied, still catching my breath.
"You give us too much credit," she said. "We merely guided you—the effort was all yours."
Master Hamir floated over again and resumed inspecting my suit. I didn't mind; it gave me a chance to rest a little longer.
About ten minutes later, I stood up and saw the two of them deep in conversation, though I couldn't hear them clearly—the suit muffled most sounds.
A few moments later, I noticed Master Hamir leave abruptly. Soon, I saw him back in his physical body. I turned to the Ancient One and asked, "Why did he leave? Did something go wrong?"
She seemed completely unfazed. "No, he's just preparing for the next test."
"That's a relief... Actually, it's kind of a good thing he left. Now we can speak more freely," she added, floating a little closer to me.
"Yeah, I've got quite a few questions of my own. First off... what exactly does Master Hamir know about me and the suit?"
"You don't need to worry," she said reassuringly. "Your secret is safe. Only Mordo and I know the full truth. As for Master Hamir—he only knows that the suit is a family heirloom, and that you need it."
"He didn't ask why I need it?"
"I told him to help fix it. That was enough. He trusts me, and that's all that matters to him."
I nodded slowly, thinking. Then I asked, "So… I've been wondering—will the suit react the same way the box did when I go to the 'other side'?"
"The box you brought back, even though damaged, gave us plenty of valuable information," she said. "Using that, I designed the sealing barrier for your suit."
"Wait—you designed the sealing mechanism?" I asked, wide-eyed in surprise.
She smiled at my reaction. "Of course. Here at Kamar-Taj, we deal with all sorts of magical energies on a daily basis. This is nothing new to us. So you can rest easy—the suit will be practically invisible to that world."
She gave me a moment to absorb that before continuing. "Now, back to where we left off. The final test—your wings."
"I've been waiting for this part!" I said, a grin creeping onto my face. "So what do I need to do?"
"In the original design, the helmet had electrodes that read your brain activity to control the wings. But this new version? It's far more advanced. It connects directly to your mind—no need to 'read' anything."
She looked at me seriously. "Just remember: the wings can only be used when you're small. And they run on Pym Particles—so I suggest you get the hang of them quickly."
"Got it. So... how do I activate them?"
"They're already active once you shrink," she explained. "All you need to do is think about using them."
I narrowed my eyes and stared off into the distance, trying to focus. After about a minute, I let out a long sigh. "I don't get it. I am thinking about the wings, but nothing's happening."
She chuckled gently. "That's normal. This is your first time. It takes practice. Try picturing them coming out of your back. Close your eyes if it helps you focus."
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Slowly, I visualised wings unfolding from my back. I tried to clear my mind of everything else—every sound, every thought—until all that remained was the image of the wings.
Then I felt it.
A strange sensation washed over me. A numbness—like when your arm falls asleep after lying on it too long. It wasn't painful, just... weird. Faint and tingly.
The more I focused on the wings, the more intense the feeling grew. It was like the wings were there, but not fully connected yet. I zeroed in on the sensation, trying to pinpoint exactly where it was happening. That's when everything started to change.
And then, it happened.
The wings popped out from my back. But that wasn't the most surprising part. What truly shocked me was how real they felt—as if they'd always been there. I could feel them in my mind, just like my arms and legs. When the wings stretched out, there was a sense of relief, like relaxing tense muscles.
I stepped in front of a glass jar to see my reflection. Four shimmering wings flickered behind me, alive and vibrant. They twitched as I focused on them, responding to every slight thought. I could even feel the air hitting against them.
"Picture them moving like a Wasp," the Ancient One instructed.
I pictured a Wasp in flight—and just like that, the wings vibrated rapidly. I could hear a faint buzzing and feel the wind pressing down.
But I didn't lift off.
The Ancient One didn't look surprised. She floated closer. "As expected ."
"You… were expecting me not to fly?"
"Not on your first try. This mind-link is highly sensitive. It takes days of practice to control it properly."
I tried a few more times. I did manage to hover a little above the ground, but I couldn't maintain control. I couldn't steer, couldn't rise higher.
Frustration built inside me. Each attempt used up precious Pym Particles.
"I don't get it. Maybe something's wrong with the suit."
"No," the Ancient One said firmly, floating in front of me. "You just need more practice, that's all."
"I get that, but… I'm burning through Pym Particles with every try. If only there was a faster way to learn."
She paused, considering something. "Well… there is a way."
I looked at her and saw she had a complicated expression, which was rare for her.
===
I stood at the edge of the shelf, staring down. Oddly, the world below didn't look too different— I guess it was because I was so used to seeing furniture—but my body definitely knew how high it was. From this height, it felt like I was standing atop a cliff.
The Ancient One floated beside me, as calm as ever."Like I said, if you want to learn to fly quickly, you need to do it just like the birds."
I raised an eyebrow. "And you're sure this is going to work?"
She smiled cryptically. "Whether it works or not depends on you. As for your safety... Master Hamir will handle that."
"That's… vaguely comforting."
I thought about looking down again—just to get a sense of the drop—but my survival instincts vetoed that idea. Sure, I knew I probably wasn't going to die… but jumping off a shelf taller than most buildings isn't exactly something your body agrees to easily.
I took a few steps back while the Ancient One explained the plan. Basically, I just had to believe I could fly. It was a Leap of Faith.
"Alright, Rohan. Whenever you're ready," she said gently.
I took a deep breath and started running toward the edge. Just as I was mid-leap, I caught the Ancient One making a slightly concerned face.
"Oh—I forgot to tell Master Hamir you'd be jumping."
I whipped my head around mid-air and yelled, "WHAT?!"
Too late. I was already airborne.
In a full-on panic, I looked around. Master Hamir wasn't even paying attention—he was still poking at the old chest the suit came in."Ohhh shhh—!" I screamed as I plummeted.
As the wind rushed past me, my brain went into overdrive. I quickly replayed all the mental math I'd done before jumping. I had 10 seconds, give or take. Even with the suit's enhanced durability, there was a very real chance I was about to become a squashed bug on the floor.
The Ancient One might save me…. But what if she can't make it? I wasn't about to rely on that gamble.
My only real hope? The Wings.
I focused with everything I had. Come on, wings… come on!
I felt them pop out of my back and start flapping like crazy. I couldn't bring myself to look—So my eyes were tightly shut and my arms crossed over my chest like I was preparing for the impact.
"Think… Wasp! Wasp! Picture a wasp flying! No, wait—I am the wasp! I am the wasp Flying!" I yelled to myself like a lunatic.
The countdown was still going in my head."Seven... Eight...Nine...Ten...Eleven...Twelve....thirteen…"Still no splat."Fourteen…"
I peeked open one eye—and nearly gasped. I was hovering just a few feet above the ground.
"Wha—WOAH."
I was flying. Actually flying. And it felt incredible. I could feel the wings pushing against the air, their movements syncing with my thoughts. The joints moved like they were a part of me—natural, smooth, alive.
I glanced up and saw Master Hamir looking down at me from above, arms outstretched, ready with an eldritch circle.
"…He wasn't there a second ago."
The Ancient One drifted into view, smiling."Apologies for scaring you, Rohan. But this only works if you truly believe you're in danger."
"Okay, but maybe don't do it the next time,e yeah? Please?"
She chuckled. "On the bright side… it worked."
"Yeah," I said, still panting. "It did."
I was annoyed, sure, but part of me couldn't help but feel a little grateful. That scare had taught me something important: Don't wait for someone else to save you. Who knows what would have happened if I had believed the wrong person?
Still, I'd rather not nearly die just to learn life lessons.
But, of course, my mood didn't stay low for long. I was flying. The fear melted into exhilaration. Now it was just about practice—learning to control it. Learning to own it.
"Okay, I'm pressing the button now," I said, hovering back to the ground. I tapped the blue button, and in an instant, I was back to my normal size.
The moment I popped back, I pulled off the helmet and took a massive breath of air like I'd been underwater for hours.
The suit, thankfully, was easy to remove. Master Hamir took it without a word and began inspecting it again, still deeply fascinated with the tech.
The Ancient One approached. "You did well today."
I nodded. "So… what happens to the suit now?"
"Master Hamir will keep it for now. We're short on time, so you'll need daily training until you leave."
"I understand."
"You should also get some rest. You don't look so good."
"That's music to my ears", I said with a dry laugh.
She smiled and opened a portal to the New York Sanctum. Without another word, I stepped through—It was now morning, so everyone was getting up, but I went to my room and fell on my bed.
After a long time, I was feeling great. Then a thought came to me, I was no longer an average Human. I was finally Super.