"What sort of plan? And what sort of deal?" Loki feverishly inquired.

Funny, how such a small sentence had so radically changed the atmosphere. The second before, they were casually talking about his skills for illusions. Now was the time for strategy.

"How to put it…" Morgan thought out-loud "I have a co-worker who is very skilled at finding weirdness."

"A co-worker?"

"And only person on Earth whom I trust with my life."

"Good for you, but that still does not explain your intention."

"He is going to help us finding a helpful weirdness."

Loki suddenly felt a sharp tension in his mind.

"Who is he? What does he know about me?" He asked frantically.

"Calm down." Morgan said, raising her hands in a peaceful manner "I have not told him anything about you. Anything at all. Yet."

The Asgardian did not reply but was still considering her with an interrogating look.

"I understand this must be really surprising, and I also had my share of enigmatic answers." She pursued "I am going to tell you the why and the how of the plan."

"I guess it all starts with a story." Loki sneered.

"As everything does. It all starts with Doctor Strange." Morgan began "Well, not exactly. It all starts with those funny little rings he uses to teleport pretty much everywhere he wants. It works like…"

"I know how it works." Loki sighed.

"Oh, alright. The same way former surgeon Steven Strange heard about the Masters of the Mystic Arts, my co-worker of a friend heard about them. He thought about joining them, for a while. Then, he got tired of it. Apparently, their world was as full of dumb rules as the one he previously left. But he figured out he might as well keep one of these very practical teleportation rings for himself. No world-domination perspective in mind, just to have some peace and quiet when he wants to. Obviously, it was not that easy. So, I might have helped him breaking into a sanctuary in Kathmandu, stealing the aforesaid ring and permanently escaping the mystical radar. On the condition, of course, that he owed me the same type of favour."

Morgan smiled at the sight of Loki's approving look.

"Consequently, this is exactly what we are going to do. Come back to Nepal, steal a dusty item and break the running world record."

"I begin to understand. What is the dusty item in question?"

"A book."

"About?"

Morgan paused. She was carefully choosing her words.

"You should know this about my friend; he has an extraordinary visual memory. It is simply stunning. If he carefully looks at a painting, he will be able to find again, be it ten years later and in a completely different museum. You see, when he was hanging around in the Masters' Library, this book caught his attention. It is a very ancient item, entirely written in some lost language."

"Then, why do you think that it could be useful?"

"Because," Morgan smiled slyly "It was the only book in the Library whose whole cover was white."

Loki's eyes widened. A clue. A potential clue about what Whatever-its-name was. He could not believe it.

"Let me tell you one thing: I have no idea what this book is about, and neither does he. Maybe it will not help us at all. But if there is a slight chance that it is the case, be it as ridiculous as it seems, are you ready to take it?"

"Is it risky?" Loki said.

"It is among the riskiest things I have done and will ever do."

The god of Mischief took a long look at her. She was nervous. But not about the plan in itself. He knew why.

"All this time, you had the possibility to take this book and gather some information about this place."

"Indeed."

"You could have told me before. But you were wary of me. You said that you were not going to risk anything for me."

"Exactly."

No shame in her tone. Acceptance, that was all.

"But now you do?"

"Funny, isn't it?" Morgan asked "I did not trust Loki of Asgard, who could not use his powers at all. And now, I trust Loki Odinson, a Frost Giant who is able to turn into a snake and to create replicas of himself."

Loki stayed silent. Thor's words crept back in his mind.

I wish I could trust you.

The shape-shifter and the snake-catcher. Such an uncanny alliance indeed.

"And honestly, if I did not trust you, why would I tell you all of this?" Morgan pointed out.

She had a point.

"One last thing." He remarked "You said that this book is written in a language no one could read anymore. How will you be able to decipher it?"

"I cannot decipher it. However, I know a so-called god of Mischief who is gifted with All-Speak, among other things…"

"And is trapped in a place called Whatever-its-name."

"And managed to get his conscience out for a moment. By now, his magic doesn't need any base, does it?"

Loki understood. Oh, this Midgardian was definitely crazy.

"This is madness. Both our minds, in your body. This will destroy you in an instant."

"No, it will not."

"I know you are not like all the humans. But this… This is…"

"Do you remember the time where I said that not talking about my powers did not mean that I could not show them to you?" She cut short.

And now her eyes were sparkling gold again.

"This will be the greatest show." Loki smiled.


"This will be a shitshow." He sighed.

"Being pessimistic will not make it better."

They were sitting on the sand of Henley, one of Adelaide main beaches. It was nearly eight in the morning and the fresh wind on their face had a taste of paradise. The sun was rising at the horizon, colouring the calm sea with pink and yellow tones. The two of them was alone on the beach, save for one or two joggers, from time to time. Morgan took another sip from her coffee.

"It is 4am in Mumbai, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is 4am in Mumbai and you know it very well. You just don't want to answer this simple question: why?"

She rummaged a little around her. Each time she had sand to play with, she could not help but coming back to this childhood reflex.

"Morgan, I will help you, you know that. Of course, I hoped for everything but returning to Nepal, anyway, that doesn't matter, but why are you suddenly interested in a book I told you about years ago?"

"Do you remember how I was, right before I left?"

"Of course, I do. And I am glad you seem as strong as ever, now. Which is why I have no reason to spare you: why are we doing this?"

"You never give up, do you?" Morgan smiled.

"If I did, we would not be talking about breaking into a monastery while taking breakfast on Henley beach."

"That is exactly what I told him."

"Him?"

"Loki."

"Who?"

"Loki."

"Okay… My guess is that you met some kind of Norwegian or Swedish backpacker in the bush and you got along well, and he wants to become a monk in Kathmandu… That does not sound like you and makes zero sense. The only Loki I have heard about is that nutty alien guy with reindeer horns that ransacked New York city six years ago, but…"

She slowly savoured her coffee.

"Oh, Morgan..."

"I am perfectly sane."

"You have never been sane at all, and neither was I. But when I said "a sane life is a boring one", I did not imply that you should help a mass-murderer stealing some crappy book in Nepal. Even though I must say, good job. I expected everything but that."

Morgan laughed. She had told Loki that, sooner or later, he would have to be informed at least a little of what was going on. Although the god of Mischief had been reluctant at first, she had quickly spotted a light of interest in his eyes for this bizarre and audacious specimen of a human.


This bizarre and audacious specimen of a human was called Som. The way he pronounced it, people would often hear "son", or "sun", or even "sum". This confusion delighted him.

He was born in Calcutta, Bengal, spoke six languages, had blue eyes, which was quite rare for an Indian, and loved to play piano. He was also known as Tapas Desai, current director of the Avalon Estate Agency, based in Mumbai. When she called him, after seven months of complete silence, Morgan has used one of the many codes they set up, which was "the perspective of a new estate in Galway" and basically meant "drop everything you have and come right away".

The best metaphor for the story of Som and Morgan was a firework. A lot of bright colours and deafening noises. Twenty seconds later, nothing. Then it starts again. Needless to say, despite all their bad moments, and they had many, questioning their friendship was unthinkable. But a deal remained a deal, and if Morgan needed help with insane stuff, Som was more than pleased to give her a hand.

As well as a new knuckle-duster.

"Believe me, this one is unbreakable."

"It looks like it, indeed. Thank you, by the way."

"You are welcome. So, what is our friend, at least your friend, Loki, doing in the middle of Australia? Wasn't he captured by the righteous, honourable, mysterious and generous Avengers?"

Som was laying on the sand, his backpack under his head. Anyone taking a look at them would never have guessed that they were planning to break into a Nepalian sanctuary.

"Technically, he is not on Earth. I cannot even say that he is, in fact. He is currently trapped in Whatever-its-name."

"The white world?"

"That is how you call it. You are the only one to know about it without having ever set foot there."

"And I am not really looking forward to it. Morgan, before you continue, and I know my question will be at best incredibly stupid, but we are talking about a guy who tried to invade Earth…"

"You would like to know if I am in full control of my own mind?"

Som reluctantly nodded.

"Tell me something only Real-Morgan-With-a-Clear-Mind would know."

Alright. She showed him that her name was Morgan. He smiled.

"Okay, sorry about that. A part of me still cannot believe it and is really afraid for you, another just cannot wait to meet this god of Mischief. Can I have the full story now, please?"

He could.

Morgan firstly told him about Elisa Anderson, the herpetologist from Melbourne who had established a contract with the Royal Adelaide Hospital, finding specific venomous snakes across in Southern Australia. She had decided to be based next to the town of Oodnadatta, far from pretty much everything except snakes, spiders and mosquitoes. Then, she had wandered in the Outback on her own, which was exactly what she wished for. Meanwhile, Morgan was visiting the White World. Som never tried to ask further questions about it, first because he did not understand it, second because he did not like it (but one went with the other).

The thing was, she met Loki.

Apparently, he was really different from the one documentaries and testimonies depicted. Their early encounters had been, let's say, lively, but they had come to learn from each other, and finally to establish a mutual respect and trust she would never have imagined.

"This… This is incredibly crazy and crazily incredible. You said he could turn into a snake? And even turn into you?"

"When he does, he discovers the extent of French curse lexicon."

Som burst into laughter.

"Oh, I've missed you!"

"So did I, Som."

They stayed silent for a while. Then, Som stood up and extended his hand towards Morgan, who grabbed it and almost flied above him when he lifted her up.

"Kathmandu tomorrow?"

"Kathmandu tomorrow."

He searched in his backpack and got a very recognizable set of two rings out, put them on and waved his hand.

"It's been a while since I played red light, green light." He scoffed.

Morgan found herself alone on Henley beach. Day off, then. Maybe she could take a swim.


Suggested end song: The Greatest Show, from the movie The Greatest Showman (although the entire soundtrack is amazing!).

From now on (wink wink), the landscape is going to change, with more movement ahead. And more questions. What is Whatever-its-name? What are Morgan's powers? When is Thanos coming? Is Som as crazy as Morgan and Loki? (The answer is yes. Funny, I already used his name in the previous chapter but apparently some (easy one) were focused on Tapas).

Thank you very much nutsoverteas, EspritLutin, DimensionalTravel (nice nickname!) and Roughshodhail for following my story!