You know Dooku and that Chitauri dude? They just got Loki'd. BIG TIME. I was amazed at how much feedback I got within three hours of posting. It made me so happy that I began writing the next chapter right away!
Ptroxsora: Haha yeah, gotta love Grievous and his cowardice. XD Have you read Chapter 11 yet? Your review said it was on Chapter 10, so I figured you hadn't gotten to the next one.
FutureOscarWinner94: Thanks! Don't worry—those questions will be answered in time.
Pergjithshme: Don't kill me! *throws hands up* Yes, Loki is the important one. Loki will always be the important one. You'll see his fate soon and I hope I'll make you happy! :D
laureas: Your reaction was pretty much what I was hoping for and your review made me laugh. Mischief and trickery are Loki's specialties and, as always, he has surprised all of us! Just remember that, as Frigga said once, there is always a purpose to everything Odin does. Keep that in mind. ;)
Naruto Son of Artemis: That's a cool idea, but I'm already pretty certain as to where I'm going to go with the story. I'm not entirely sure how everyone would respond to another character introduction. I love Boba Fett, but I can't see how to incorporate him into the story either. Thanks for the review, though, and the suggestions!
Tiger of the Storm: I'm glad I got some good reactions out of Loki's trick. His epicnicity showed itself in that chapter, I'd say. I know I usually update every other day, but I just had to get that chapter up, even if it was the day after the previous update. :D
Irish-Brigid: I was thinking the same thing as I wrote it. Loki's unpredictability makes him that much more awesome.
AaylaKit: Loki has revealed where his loyalties lie. I loved the moment where he was like, "No. You are the foolish one." It made the fangirl in me squeal. And Sif, as you probably know, has never liked Loki much. I'm afraid to see the slash fics for myself, so I'll just take your word for it and prevent myself from being scarred. You should feel awesome, because you've read and reviewed since the beginning of Pwning and Gaming, which feels so long ago now! I never want to post a chapter until I've gotten your feedback because you and your sister are epic. I think you've done Nornheim already.
Kore-Proserpina: Don't worry, I covered both of those things in this chapter: Odin and the Avengers. I had a plan in store for Odin and you'll see it soon. Just let it be known that the All-Father isn't as cruel and "stone cold" as he seemed in the last chapter… ;)
Raychaelle Dionzeros: I LOVE REX! I didn't even think about that, but sure! I'll add him. Thanks for reminding me.
"I knew he would double-cross us," Barton said angrily. "You can't trust him as far as you can throw him."
"That's debatable, considering the other guy could probably throw him pretty far," Banner said in a half-hearted attempt to lighten the mood.
"Thor, what are you thinking?" Natasha asked, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "You haven't spoken since they released Loki.
"What is there to say?" Thor asked miserably. "You were right the whole time. I never should have fought for him. I never should have believed in his redemption!" He turned his face away from the rest of the Avengers so they would not see the tear that had formed in his eye. "I thought he had changed. I was gravely mistaken, and I apologize for letting him cloud my judgment."
Tony turned from Natasha to Barton and back again. "Please don't rub it in," he requested. "You can see what this whole ordeal has done to Thor." When Barton opened his mouth, Tony glanced sharply at him. "Just leave it alone."
There was a long pause. Everyone was utterly exhausted, yet too tense to rest. Loki's betrayal had sucked out any hope they had left. They all wondered what was happening outside the ship. Was the universe already falling to pieces? Was Loki standing side-by-side with the Other, watching realms submit to Chitauri rule? Was Dooku being betrayed right this second?
"Well, this is boring," Tony said. "Who's up for Truth or Dare? Anyone?"
"Truth or what?" Steve sounded confused.
"It's kind of hard to do any dares when you are almost immobile," Banner pointed out.
Steve was slightly frustrated that he didn't get Stark's reference. "Care to explain?"
"Never mind, Cap," Tony said. "Doc's right. There's no way I can dare any of you to do anything embarrassing when we're stuck in energy shields. Maybe we could go around the circle and make random confessions to pass the time until our torture sessions and possible deaths."
"I'm kind of not in the mood for light-hearted conversation," Natasha said unhappily. "While I know you mean well, those distractions you speak of won't change anything, nor will they solve any of our problems."
"We might as well face it," Banner said. "You are all doomed to die and I am doomed to live."
Everyone faced him, suddenly remembering that the Hulk could not die. "Think you could get us out of here, big guy?" Tony asked.
Banner shook his head. "I'm sure not even the other guy could penetrate these shields. If I transformed now, it would probably be a very painful experience, considering this thing is just big enough to hold my human form."
"Let's make sure you keep your blood pressure down, then," Tony said quickly. None of them wanted to see the Hulk fry.
"Right," Steve said. "We need to form a plan. Anything to get our minds off the situation. The first thing we need to do is memorize the exits and scan the room for any means of escape. If they slip up, we need to be on our toes."
Everyone nodded except Thor, who was still staring fixedly at the ground.
The door slid open, startling the captives. They all looked over to see Dooku stride in, agitated. The Other was not with him this time. "Whose idea was this?" he demanded, his voice tight with anger.
"It certainly wasn't mine. Obviously we didn't think up the whole 'captive' thing before we went to battle. We kind of expected to win," Tony said.
"Not that! Don't play stupid with me!" Dooku started pacing, careful not to touch the shields. "Do you honestly have no idea what happened?" The Avengers, minus Thor, looked at him sarcastically. Dooku facepalmed. "Just because you're encased in ray shields doesn't mean you can't plot amongst yourselves. I should have kept you in separate rooms. Why did I think for one second that I would get pleasure in watching you share each other's misery? As soon as this mess is cleaned up, you're all getting separated."
"Slow down, man," Tony said. "Do you want to tell us what the 'mess' is?" He grinned slightly. "Did your little friend betray you yet?"
"What?" Dooku turned to face him. "What do you mean? What do you know?"
Tony shrugged. "Loki, while a double-crossing traitor, pretty much nailed the Other's plan. They take the Tesseract, and—"
"They don't have the Tesseract!" Dooku said, raising his voice. "I thought you knew that!"
"Do not waste your time with them," the Other said from the doorway. "We need to track down Loki. When I get my hands on him—"
"What?" Thor's head shot up. "What happened?"
"Your brother took the Tesseract to who-knows-where and you're all going to pay dearly for it," Dooku answered.
"He transported?" Steve asked, not quite comprehending.
"You don't know, do you?" Dooku was surprised. "This was all Loki's doing, wasn't it?"
"He is the god of mischief and tricks and lies and all that," Tony pointed out. "We weren't in on this plot. Check the security cameras. We kind of had a whole conversation about Loki's betrayal."
Dooku, baffled, turned and walked out.
Thor's eyes were alight with hope. "My brother has not betrayed us!" he exclaimed loudly. "The Tesseract is safe, I'm sure of it." He suspected where Loki had taken it, though he was afraid to say it aloud for fear of tipping Dooku and the Other off. "Loki is smart. I know that he has placed it in good hands."
The Avengers nodded. They knew exactly what he meant.
"I hope he's okay," Thor said distantly.
Loki stood silently, unsure of how much time had passed. The guards were as silent as he was and the cell was incredibly boring after the thrill of the battle. He had done what he had to, but he couldn't help but wish that he had some company. He wasn't asking for Asgard to call him a hero, but he had at least wanted to be quasi-accepted again. He had never been particularly popular before he had fallen from the Bifrost due to his tendency to lie and play tricks on others, but he had at least been respected as a prince of Asgard. His mother—no, Thor's mother—had loved him dearly, and now…
"Loki?" the Queen's voice whispered, as if on cue.
Loki turned to face her, surprised. He had not expected a visitor, let alone his adoptive mother. What are you doing here? The question was in his eyes, though he could not voice it due to the restraint over his mouth.
She tried to keep the soft, motherly look from her face, but it was difficult. "You have done well," she said, her voice strong with approval. Loki shrugged, his expression telling her that it was not important. "When did you become so noble?" she wondered aloud. "The trick you played on Midgard's enemies was very characteristic of you, but the way you handled the All-Father and Lady Sif…" She trailed off, unsure of what to say next.
It is irrelevant, Loki thought. Thor is still in the enemy's hands. Your focus should be on him.
Frigga turned to the guards. "Leave us," she ordered.
The guards were becoming accustomed to Loki's family ordering them out of the room, so they did not object when the Queen sent them out.
"Now we can talk properly." Without turning around, she said, "I know you're standing there. Come in, Sif."
Sif walked in, her usual confident air replaced by uncertainty. "Loki," she greeted, placing her fist over her heart. Loki's eyebrows rose. "I spoke with Heimdall, and it was as you said." She paused, steeling herself for what she was going to say next. "I need your help." Loki nodded for her to continue. "I'm going after Thor."
So you intend to save Midgard by yourself? Loki shook his head. You are setting yourself up for failure. How could she even get there, anyway, without the Tesseract? Unless…
Sif seemed to see the wheels turn in Loki's mind. "Yes, Loki," she said. "I'm using the Tesseract to transport to Midgard. I know I'm strong enough to fight, but I need your cunning to get us where we need to go. I may live to regret this, but…I'm taking you with me."
Somehow I doubt that the All-Father has approved of this, Loki thought, glancing at Frigga. The Queen opened his cell and took several steps toward him. He did not rush toward her, nor did he back away. He just stayed where he was. What are you doing?
She continued toward him until her face was inches from his. "Regardless of what Odin says, you are my son, Loki." She placed her hands on his arms. He did not flinch. "After everything you did to redeem yourself, I know that you will do the right thing." In one swift motion, she detached the muzzle from his mouth. "I trust that you will bring Thor home safely."
"I will do more than that," he promised her. "I am going to save Midgard."
"How will you do that?" Sif asked, confused.
"Just trust me. We're going to make a little stop before we go to Midgard to save Thor."
Sif nodded, knowing that Loki's plans usually worked. The last one certainly had. "The first trick will be getting the Tesseract."
"Not a problem," Frigga said, pulling it from her robe. It was still in the device that was used as a transportation medium. She placed it into Loki's hand. "I had a feeling that this would be needed soon. I never imagined that you would be the one to use it, but I know that you will do great things with it."
Loki nodded gratefully and motioned for Sif to grab the other side. He looked into the Queen's eyes, taking a moment to consider her his mother once again in case this was the last time he would see her face. He then closed his eyes and focused on where he wanted to go. In a flash of light, they disappeared.
Frigga stared at the spot that her adopted son had been only moments ago. A tear came to her eye, but she wiped it away. She would not cry. If this was the last time she would ever see Loki, then so be it. If he died on this mission, she knew it would be for the good of the realms. He would not want her to cry. "Farewell," she whispered. "Bring Thor home safely."
"He will," Odin's voice said from behind her. She felt his hand on her shoulder. "Loki has a new sense of determination that I have never seen in him before."
She turned her head to look into his eyes. "You knew."
He nodded. "Of course I did. Everything I say and do has a purpose. You must know that by now."
She turned around completely and embraced him. "I only hope that he does not fail."
"As do I," Odin murmured. "As do I."
"Where are we, exactly?" Sif asked, letting go of the Tesseract.
"I'm not sure," Loki admitted.
"What? I thought you had a plan!"
"I do. Said plan doesn't exactly involve a location that I am entirely familiar with." He looked around. This realm was not at all what he had expected. There were strange ships whooshing by in all directions. The entire place had the look of an advanced city, though it was not nearly as majestic as Asgard. "Let's try this again." He eyed a specific building and focused on transporting there. Sif grabbed onto the Tesseract just in time to disappear with Loki.
This time, they appeared in the center of a room. Loki knew that they had hit the right spot, because he had that familiar feeling that he was being watched not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. The beings that sat around him seemed to see right through him in a way that was unsettling.
Sif seemed to share this feeling of discomfort. "Um, Loki? Would you care to explain what's going on here?"
Loki did not reply. His gaze was fixed on Nick Fury's look-alike. "Where is the army you promised?" he asked. "The enemy stormed Midgard and won. The Avengers—and your Jedi warriors—have been captured."
"Wait—how are you here, then?" Kit asked.
"I escaped," Loki explained. He quickly recapped what had happened from the meeting to now. "The Chitauri are after the Tesseract." He held it up. "I am certain that, if they get it, they will overthrow Dooku and take over the entire universe. That includes your world."
"You need to keep it safe, then," Mace said.
"That was my intention, yes," Loki said. "But I cannot stand by in a prison cell while the innocents of Midgard are subjugated by sinister forces. You promised an army, so I stand here before you to ask that you fulfill your promise now."
The Jedi Council contemplated this a moment. "We did promise them an army," Kit pointed out.
Mace nodded. "We will gather some clones together now," he said decisively. "This meeting is now adjourned. There is much work to be done." He stood up and motioned for Kit and Plo to join him. "Follow us, Loki," he said.
Sif stared at Loki uncertainly, but he simply nodded for her to trust him. "I hope you know what you're doing," she muttered.
It took a while for the three Jedi to assemble the clones, but not as long as Loki had expected. They were soon boarded in transports, prepared for the journey to Midgard. Plo, Mace, and Kit got into ships of their own.
"We will meet you there," Kit promised. "Stall for as long as you can."
"Will do," Loki said, placing a fist on his heart and bowing. He turned to Sif. "Are you ready?"
She nodded and grabbed ahold of the Tesseract. Loki focused on where they would go next. He knew this was dangerous but, as long as he and Sif had the Tesseract, they could transport away at any time. The enemies would not get the cube as long as they were alive. He sincerely hoped that Sif, with as much common sense as she had, would be able to stay alive and keep the Tesseract safe. They looked into each other's eyes, finally sharing a mutual understanding, and held that gaze until the flash of light took them away.
Disclaimer: I do now own the awesomeness that is the Avengers and Star Wars.
AN: More Loki epicnicity! That chapter was so enjoyable to write and I got majorly emotional as I did the bit between Loki and his mother. Am I the only one who felt a twist in the heart as she told him that he's still her son? Anybody? Send me your thoughts and I will love you forever!
