(Author's Note: I'm so sorry! It usually doesn't take me this long to update, but to be completely honest, I had a lot of trouble writing this chapter. It's about to get real and I didn't really know how to write it. So I'm really sorry if this chapter is crappy and I hope I did okay. I tried my best. Please review and tell me what you think! I have a bit of a plot twist coming up in the next chapter too, so get excited!)
Chapter 21
"Emmeline? What the Hell is going on? Where are we?" asked Tony, getting up off the floor. His Iron Man mask retracted, showing his face. The others got up too, and looked around the observatory.
"Welcome to Asgard," said Heimdall. Emmeline went and greeted her friends and hugged them.
"Sorry guys; I needed you up here," she said.
"What is it?" asked Tony with a smile. If none of the others would, Emmeline knew Tony would help her.
"How ready are you guys to engage in an alien battle that holds the future of the universe in its hands right now?" she asked with a wince. Tony's Iron Man mask covered his face once again.
"Doc: get angry. 4th of July: helmet on. Catsuit: I don't have a death wish so I'm not going to tell you what to do. Let's kick some alien ass." Emmeline smiled.
"Alright, follow us," she said. She led her friends to Loki and he nodded to the Avengers.
"What's up, Reindeer Games? You have pretty nice digs," said Tony.
"Thank you, Man of Iron," Loki replied. "I will try not to kill you while you are here."
"Thanks, that means a lot."
"Alright, let's go boys," said Natasha. Emmeline, with her friends following her, had almost made it out the observatory before Loki grabbed her arm.
"Wait," he said. "Can I speak with you for a moment? Alone?" Emmeline looked at her friends. Banner nodded. Loki took her to the other side of the room.
"What is it?" she asked. Loki looked at her with a worried look on his face.
"Emmeline…I want to send you to Midgard."
"What?"
"I don't want you fighting this battle. You will get hurt; I only want to protect you."
"Loki, this is my fight as well as yours. You can't just tell me not to participate in the salvation of the world."
"Yes I can. I will not let you. You—"
"—No! Loki, I'm not going back to Earth, especially not after I brought my friends here! Why are you being this way?!" Emmeline yelled, getting angry.
"I—"
"—Why the sudden concern? I've fought before, and you've never said anything! Why would you do this now, this is when it matters! I don't understand why you—"
"—BECAUSE I CAN'T LOSE YOU AGAIN!" Loki screamed, tears streaming down the sides of his face. "…I can't. You've almost slipped from my fingers twice, and I will not let it happen a third time. I…I love you, Emmeline. You are my wife, and if something were to happen to you, I would go mad. Not even the salvation of the Nine Realms would be worth your sacrifice." Loki looked down, hiding his tears from the Avengers on the other side of the room, and looked back up at Emmeline.
"Loki," she said, wiping his tears and taking his hands in hers. "We're going to do this together. We're going to save the world together. I love you." She wrapped her arms around him and held him close, Loki's face in her hair.
"I promise."
Loki, Emmeline, and the Avengers marched into the Asgardian village with Thor and his team. They could see from far away the frightened people, the bright lights of the three gems, and Thanos; standing with an evil grin in front of the people he intended to kill. Many Chitauri soldiers stood behind and around him, and the sky grew dark. Loki noticed Emmeline leaving his side to go talk to Thor, and he followed her.
"What's the plan?" she asked his brother.
"We are first going to talk to him," answered Thor. Loki scoffed. As if that would work. "An attack would be foolish; but we are not going to wait for him to attack our people." Emmeline nodded.
The army advanced closer to Thanos, and when they had reached the crowd of frightened people, Odin and Thor approached him. Thanos smiled malevolently.
"Hello Allfather," he said in a deep voice that could strike fear into the strongest of men.
"Thanos," Odin replied, nodding.
"Surely you do not believe you can stop me with words before I take your planet," said Thanos. He looked coldly into Odin's eye. "Asgard will be mine, and not one grain of sand will be salvageable." Odin's returning stare did not falter.
"So be it, Thanos," he said. "But you must know that I and my army will return your attack…and we will not fail." Thanos snickered.
"You are a fool," he said.
Loki turned around and walked a few steps away from Emmeline. She followed him.
"What is it?" she asked him, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"He has part of the Gauntlet," Loki replied. "It is not complete, but still very powerful. Too powerful." Loki turned to Emmeline. "This war cannot be won by brawn and battle alone. The best opponent for magic is magic. I am going to the library to study; and when I come back I will be of better use and we may have a chance of winning this war. Come with me; I do not want you hurt in battle in my absence."
"But I can't leave them," Emmeline said. "At least tell Thor." Loki hesitated, then sighed.
"Alright." Emmeline took Loki's hand in hers and they approached Thor as he retreated back to the crowd.
"The battle is starting now," Thor said. "Get in position."
"I need to go to the library," Loki said. "No time for questions; but it is urgent." Thor hesitated for a moment. "I know you cannot trust me, but at least trust Emmeline. She wouldn't let me betray you now; and I would abide by her wishes." Thor eventually nodded.
"Hurry brother," he said. "We will need you." Loki nodded to him and took off with Emmeline by his side. Once they reached the observatory, she let out a breath.
"Loki, my power…surges or something…when I'm near him. Thanos. It feels like it builds up and I need to force it out of me or I'll explode. Isn't that weird?" Loki paused. That certainly was strange. Of course he knew it wasn't Thanos that caused her power surge; it was the Gauntlet. But why?
"Perhaps I can find some answers in the library," Loki replied. He hurried through the deserted palace halls—as the Chitauri soldiers had all gone out to aid Thanos in his destruction—thinking of the book he would need and searching in his mind where to find it. He squeezed Emmeline's hand. She struggled to keep up with him.
"You're tense," she said. "Are you afraid?" Loki looked down and slowed his pace.
"…What would you say if I was?" he asked.
"I would say I love you. And that it's okay." Loki smiled at her endearingly as they approached the library. She smiled back and he opened the large golden door, revealing the majesty of the Asgardian Royal Library; every book imaginable mounting the curved wall, rising so high that no man could reach the books on the top shelf without magic.
"Oh my God," Emmeline said in disbelief. "This is…wow." Loki shut the door behind her.
"We have no time to waste," he said.
"How will you ever find the book you want? You could search through thousands and not find the right one," Emmeline said.
"I know where it is darling," Loki replied. "The section of magic and sorcery…" Loki looked at the books above him as he made his way to the east side of the library. Emmeline followed. Loki fixed his eyes on the three books he wanted and tried to remember the spell to get them down. His mother had taught it to him when he was learning magic, and he replayed the memory in his head. His mother's voice filled his mind and he whispered the words to himself.
Suddenly the three books floated down to Loki, and Emmeline gasped. He looked at her, making sure nothing bad had happened. She must have seen the worried look on his face.
"Sorry," she said. "That was awesome." Loki smiled and set the books on a table. Emmeline studied the covers. "What does it say?"
"They're Asgardian runes; very ancient. This one says Spells of Protection, this one The Magic of War, and this last one says Hardol's Healing Spells," Loki replied. Emmeline nodded. Loki looked at her, seeing through her calm expression.
"Are you afraid?" he asked her, echoing her previous question. Emmeline looked up at him.
"Yeah, and I'm not afraid to admit it. I'm terrified." She giggled, trying to lighten her own mood. Loki took his attention away from the books and turned to Emmeline. He pulled her body to his and held her there, his face in her hair.
"I will do everything in my power to protect you and keep you safe," he said. "I love you." He felt Emmeline's unsteady breath on his neck.
"It's not me I'm worried about," she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you, Loki." She looked up at him and Loki kissed her passionately.
"You'll be alright. I'll be alright." He held up his wrist, revealing the Twist of Fate that had appeared the day before. "Remember?" He took Emmeline's wrist and pressed it to his, interlocking his fingers with hers. She nodded.
"Yeah," she said, trying to smile. Loki kissed her.
"Why don't you watch the battle from the window while I read these books," he said. "We don't want to miss anything important." Emmeline nodded and took off for the window on the other side of the room. "I won't be long."
Silent tears streamed down Emmeline's face as she looked upon the battle below the library window. The war had started; and quickly. She saw Thor swinging Mjolnir at oncoming soldiers, Banner had transformed himself into the Hulk, and Tony was flying around blasting soldiers. Steve and Natasha ran toward Thanos, but he pushed them back with just a simple flick of his wrist. The Infinity Gauntlet was glowing with power from the three soul gems Thanos had obtained.
Asgardian citizens were screaming and running, children getting left behind, fathers shot down. Emmeline knew she shouldn't be in the library watching. She wanted to help them. Loki was busy practicing his war magic and Emmeline silently begged him to hurry.
Thanos stalked the land of Asgard, moving past the terrified citizens and warriors. Emmeline suddenly saw Odin enter the scene, mounted on a large black horse with eight legs. He sliced through several soldiers on his path to where Thanos stood; Emmeline knowing it would only be a matter of time before the two clashed together in battle. Her eyes back on Thanos, Emmeline saw the energy of the Tesseract envelope the Infinity Gauntlet in a blue glow, making a few citizens stop in their tracks. Emmeline studied one particular citizen. His eyes turned blue and he dropped to his knees, sitting there like a lame dog. The Tesseract effected many minds on the battlefield; even Natasha slowed down and looked confused for a moment. But she snapped back into reality and shook her head, trying to keep her focus.
Even from the library window Emmeline could hear the screaming, the clanging of swords, and the cries of battle. She heard Thor's mighty yell as Mjolnir took down another soldier, and the high-pitched pew of Tony's iron suit blasters. She saw the yellow Reality gem on the Infinity Gauntlet glow and the sky suddenly grew darker; grey clouds rolling in, dropping fast and sharp raindrops on the battlefield. At the same time, the purple Space gem glowed, and Thanos appeared everywhere. He was in all places at once, and Asgardians were being mowed down. Emmeline winced as more tears flooded her vision. The air became warped as everything twisted; Emmeline couldn't tell if it was her eyes or the Gauntlet. She heard a deep, haughty malevolent laugh; knowing it was Thanos. She heard it in her mind; shaking her thoughts with its volume and the threat of death.
Suddenly Emmeline's view of the war blacked out, and she saw a blurry vision of Loki and Thanos. Loki stood before Thanos with Heimdall's golden sword, and Thanos smiled devilishly at the god. Loki drew back the sword, but before he could force it at Thanos, the Chitauri king reached into Loki's chest with the Infinity Gauntlet and pulled out his still-beating heart. Loki looked down at his chest, at a bloody hole where Thanos had just pulled his heart from. Tissue and blood fell out of it, and Thanos held Loki's bleeding heart in front of his face. He smiled and crushed it in his hand. Loki fell to the ground lifeless, and disappeared.
Emmeline gasped as reality came back to her. She breathed heavily and noticed she was on the ground. She looked to her right where Loki stood in front of the books on magic, and he flashed her a look of concern.
"Darling, are you alright?" he asked. Emmeline swallowed.
"Thanos is using the Tesseract to mess with my head," she said. "I think he's doing it to everyone… Loki, you have to hurry! We need to get out there!"
"I'm doing everything I can," Loki replied. "If this wasn't important, Thor would not have let me go."
"I know," said Emmeline, redirecting her attention back to the window.
Thanos had conjured gigantic slimy Chitauri beasts with the Gauntlet, that were now running through the village, devouring everything in sight. Odin had his eight-legged horse running at full speed, and he held a long golden staff pointed at Thanos. The Allfather's horse reared back and struck Thanos in the chest with its four front hooves as it reached him. Odin swung his staff at Thanos and dismounted his horse. Thanos countered the attack with the Infinity Gauntlet, the two kings engaging in the thick of the war. Emmeline looked to Loki.
"Odin is fighting Thanos," she said. "We need to be out there. What if he gets hurt?" Loki said nothing as he stared at the books, all three of them open. "Loki, he could die out there, people are dying and we're just sitting here! We need to go!" Loki shut his eyes tightly and let out a loud yell of frustration. The light in the library flickered, and a strong wave of magic forced every book off of the shelf, flying in the air and then dropping to the floor. Emmeline flinched as Loki shot her a blood shot glare.
"Do you not think I am trying?!" he roared. "I have so little time to study this while half of my allies die out there, and I am utterly useless unless I have some way to help them! So just SHUT UP AND BE PATIENT!" Emmeline froze, shocked at his sudden rage, and said nothing.
A strong gust of wind is what brought Emmeline's attention back to the window. The wind had suddenly become strong and whipped across Emmeline's face and hair, making the pages of Loki's books ripple violently. Emmeline's hair stuck to her face and she struggled to see the battlefield. The wind was roaring down on the war grounds as well, making it more difficult for people to run and fight.
The ground began crumbling beneath them, and Emmeline could feel it too. A large crack formed in the dirt on the ground, and it split wider and wider, some Asgardians falling in. Natasha backed up from a soldier she was fighting, and her left foot tripped over the edge. She fell backwards and tumbled into the abyss Thanos had created. Emmeline gasped, but Steve caught Natasha's hand just in time. But he couldn't pull her up. He held her there, and Emmeline could tell he was yelling for her to hold on. She could see the strain on Steve's face as he tried to pull Natasha up while the ground was shaking around him, the wind gusting and so much blood it was blinding.
But to Emmeline's relief, Tony flew by and helped Steve pull Natasha from the dark canyon. Emmeline looked to Odin and Thanos still wrestling, noticing the Gauntlet glow brighter and brighter, this time with all three colors of blue, yellow, and purple. The light of the colors of the gems enveloped the entire Gauntlet and shot up to the sky. Emmeline suddenly felt an enormous power surge inside of her. She fell to the floor and closed her eyes tightly, trying to hold in her fire and ice. She could feel her power rush inside of her, somehow reacting to the energy of the Infinity Gauntlet as she writhed on the floor. It was hot; like her blood had been brought to a boil and was racing through her veins. She let out a scream and Loki gasped when he saw her.
"Emmeline, you're glowing!" he said.
Emmeline opened her eyes and realized he was right; her entire body was covered in a red glow, growing bigger and bigger as her power increased.
"What's happening?" Loki asked, rushing to her side. He reached out to her, but drew back quickly as her ruby glow burned him. Emmeline cringed and yelled as loud as she could, the energy overtaking her. She looked up at Loki and back at her glowing hands.
"I don't know."
Dun dun DUUNNN! Ooh, what do you think is happening to Emmeline? I hope I didn't totally fail on this chapter, but I will try to really bring it next time, so be prepared for that. Also, I think I mentioned this in the last chapter, but the Twist of Fate is my profile pic if you want to see it. I drew the symbol, but edited it into the picture. Thanks! :)