As soon as The Ancient One heard of the prison break he took wing, calling his associate to him. "Remember," his associate warned, "take it easy! I'm not as used to being half out of my body as you are!" "Don't worry," The Ancient One assured him, "you'll get used to it. It's an ability you need to learn."
They quickly reached the scene of the manhunt. The Ancient One told his companion to land on a high vantage point and watch for his signal.....when he gave the sign to come quickly. His companion nodded his agreement and took up position. It took him a while to find his quarry, but eventually he spotted some people waiting by a four wheel drive vehicle on the far side of a rain swollen creek. Another man was approaching the opposite side. He seemed to be wearing some kind of armor. The Ancient One signaled his companion, who quickly found him.
"Deal with those on the far side of the creek," he ordered, "the others are mine!"
"My pleasure!" his companion roared. The escapee had reached the creek and was hollering to his friends, who were answering joyfully. One of them began to prepare to throw him a rope when The Ax Man landed among them.
Suddenly dark creatures seemed to ooze out of everywhere, and fell upon The Ax Man. The Ancient One, who had landed on the opposite shore, soon found himself also amongst a hoard of demons. He fought viciously. The escapee and his cohorts, seeing that whoever it was that was attacking them was well occupied, continued in their efforts, one of them waded out into the creek and threw his associate a rope, which he caught. They quickly began to haul their friend across the creek.
Suddenly, a great war hound descended into the midst of the demons surrounding The Ancient One, its jaws clamping fiercely on one after another, making them flee into The Darkness wailing loudly. When the last of them began a hasty withdrawal the war hound leaped the creek and joined the melee on the far side.
The Ancient One, free of hindrance, flew out over the creek, hovering over the man being drawn across.
"Uh uh!" he muttered, "Sorry! But you're not going to feed any more Dark Ones. Time for Judgement Day!"
He reached down and seized the man's shoulders, pushing him under water. The man struggled violently, but to no avail. The Ancient One held him down and he could not break the grip. Slowly, surely, he stopped struggling and went limp. The rope that had been drawing him to freedom slipped from his fingers, and he began to float down the creek. The Ancient One grabbed the rope and with a jerk pulled the man holding it into the water, and was on him before he could flee.
"Mercy, man! Mercy!" the man begged. "I was just trying to save a friend."
"So he could steal and murder again?" The Ancient One growled.
"Please!" the man begged, "I ain't never done nothing! Mercy! Please!"
The Ancient One sensed his words were true. He let him up. By now his companions were more than subdued.
"Go!" The Ancient One snapped, "Get out of here! I give you your lives this time! But if you ever interfere with the dispensing of justice again, I'll be back! Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!" the man stammered, "Yes sir! I understand!"
The Ancient One took wing and his companion laughed as he joined him. The Great War hound bounded along beneath them, easily matching their speed.
"When did you teach HER to leave her body?" The Ancient One asked.
"I NEVER!" his companion answered, "I wouldn't know how!"
The Ancient One grinned. "Well, she sure learned how!" he muttered. "Much to The Dark One's misery! She's good to have in a fight!"
"Will she be able to follow us home all right?" his companion asked.
"Looks like she's doing just fine to me," The Ancient One answered. "HOME, my friend! Get some rest!"
"Aren't you going to call your friends," his companion answered, "have them cover your trail?"
"Nothing to cover," The Ancient One assured. "They'll attribute the marks on his armor to his passage through the brush, or, over the fence. They won't recognize any of MY handiwork! If they do, they'll ignore it!"
His companion nodded. "To The Halls Of Asgard!" he cried. "We need a break!"
"How I would love one," The Ancient One answered, "but not now, my friend. Too much doing. 'Til we hunt again!"
His companion nodded. The Ancient One continued home. Justice was done. He'd get a good night's sleep for a change. You just HAD to win one once and a while, you just HAD to!