Chapter Nine: Wand of My Heart

"So you've managed to get the book of the stones," Lady Arista said slowly as she pressed a slim hand on Loki's shoulder. To the invisible eye they would just see Loki reading on his bed, while in reality Lady Arista was looking over his shoulder as they looked for information over their stones. "How on earth did you manage that? I thought the all father disliked you."

"He does," Loki grumbled. "Thankfully, the all mother has always had a soft spot for me."

Lady Arista's lips curled up with pleasure. "Well, at least you have the all mother wrapped around your little finger."

Loki stiffened slightly. "I wouldn't say that," he looked at the row of stones that were depicted in the worn out pages. "There are several stones," Loki said. "And unfortunately Thor and his little friends already got a few of them. Which stone were you looking forward to getting?"

"That one," Lady Arista pointed to the purple stone in the center of the page. "It's usually orange at first, but it turns purple when it reaches full power. It's called the soul stone. It can trap souls in another world. I don't know about you, but I would find that very useful."

"Very." Loki smirked back as he looked at the description that was on the page. The soul stone sounded very powerful, much more powerful that then tesseract. "Do you know where is that particular infinity stone? Last time you were here you said that you were going to do some research."

"And I have," Lady Arista had a smile playing on the curve of her lips. "The stone is located in a very interesting place in fact, I think you have visited it yourself once or twice. The moral world-earth."

"Earth," Loki said the name with disgust. Of course the stone would be there. It was painfully ironic. "Of course. I shall help you get it Lady Arista I can assure you that my magic will be more than enough to get the task done at hand and this time without the pesky Avengers following behind us."

Lady Arista smirked. "Then why don't we get out of this sad little cell jail?"

"Thor!" Frigga cried out as Thor appeared in the throne room with a concern look on his face. His father has sent out one of his guards for him and told him that it was most urgent because it had to deal with his brother. In the throne room he saw his father looking beyond rage, his mother looking concerned and worried, and there was Heimdall with his usual calm face. Obviously something had happened. "Mother," Thor said steadying his mother. "What happened- "

"Loki," Odin interrupted. "Loki is gone. He has escaped. Someone broke into his cell or he got someone to break him out. Either way he is gone."

"What damage has been done?" Thor demanded. "Surely, the guards- "

"The guards didn't see anything," Frigga said gently. "Loki didn't break out of his cell. He was broken out using very advance magic. More than I have taught him. Someone must have helped him."

"But who?" Thor demanded. "Who would betray the king and Asgard?"

Odin snorted. "Many people I imagine and your broth-I mean Loki can be as sly as a snake. Not to worry Thor we already have our best warriors on the lookout. They will search every inch of Asgard."

"Loki will no longer be in Asgard. He knows better." Thor insisted as he looked at Heimdall. "Heimdall, can you not see my brother's whereabouts?"

"I cannot," Heimdall as well sounded frustrated by the answers. "It seems that Loki has been clocked some heavy magic."

"You better inform your friends on earth," Frigga said quickly. "What were they called-oh yes, the Avengers. They deserve to know especially since," there was a hurt look in Freya's eyes as she said. "He might be in search for another infinity stone."

"I can't believe that you came all this way just to scold me," Tony scoffed as he stared back at Fury. He made sure that the door was close so that Holly wouldn't overhear from the next room even though she was heavily sleeping. Holly had been release from the hospital that morning and Pepper had gone to finish off some business calls, while the rest of the Avengers went sightseeing.

As if turns out, Tony was already regretting not going with them, because exactly ten minutes after they had left, Fury had stomped into the room in all of his eyepatch glory.

"I'm not here to scold you," Fury snapped. "I'm here to knock some sense into you. Literally if that's what it takes. You cannot, and I repeat cannot adopt that little girl."

"Why not?" Tony demanded. "I'm more than capable of taking care of her. I'm a billionaire remember. I'll give Holly everything her crappy surrogate parents didn't give her."

Fury narrowed his eyes at Tony. "Holly is seven years old. She needs someone who is mentally and physically there for her. Not just money wise, all though you might have made Pepper your CEO you still travel heavily around the world. Not to mention that you act like a hypered five-year-old half of the time."

"I take offense to that comment- "Tony piped up.

"Don't care," Fury snapped back. "Are you sure that your sudden change in wanting to become an adoptive father doesn't have something to with Albus Dumbledore, Head of Hogwarts?"

"How did- "

"I have eyes everywhere, Mr. Stark." Fury curled his lips. "I know the little meeting that you two had. How I know is none of your concern. We have meet a few times and I've told him more than once and that I didn't want his kind roaming around here."

"You don't like him?"

"I don't dislike him," Fury said after a while. "The point is, that we're talking about a child Mr. Stark. Not a puppy that you can give to the neighbor when you get bored. Not to mention that I rather not have the magical and real world interact together."

"Yes, because everyone here is so normal." Fury glared. "Look, Fury I want to do this. Not for you. Not for Santa Claus beard, but for Holly. The kid deserves more than what her adoptive parents gave her."

Fury looked impressed by his little speech, because the next thing that came out of his mouth was, "You and the girl are on trial for one month."

"Well, here we are midget," Tony said as he stopped the car in front of Stark-Avengers tower. The streets of New York like always were busy, but Tony hardly seem to notice. He couldn't believe that he was actually nervous that a seven-year-old wouldn't approve. "Nice, huh?"

"It's beautiful," Holly's eyes sparkled. "How many people live here? Am I really going to live here?"

"You sure are," Pepper squeezed her shoulder. Tony decided it would be best not to tell Holly about the whole one-month plan with Fury. It was better that she didn't find out. "Steve, Bruce, Clint, and Natasha live here. Though Nat and Clint are often on missions, oh and of course Thor when he's in town."

"Thor?" Holly asked confused. "Is that the guy with the hammer?"

"Yes and the flying cape that looks more like a derange curtain." Tony snorted as he pulled back the door. "Believe me, Holly the inside looks way cooler. We're back Jarvis."

"Welcome back, sir." The AI responded.

Holly flinched as she looked around. "W-What's that?"

Tony laughed. "That's just Jarvis, the AI. Holly. He's like a computerize butler. I couldn't do anything without him."

"You flatter me, sir." Jarvis sounded pleased. "Welcome, Miss Potter to Avengers Tower."

-End of Chapter Nine-