Heimdall stood in the forest as the sun arose awaiting the arrival of Loki's past self who approached with two einherjar on either side of him. As they reached Heimdall, Loki came to a stop, the einherjar following suit, silently looking to Heimdall. Heimdall nodded his head to the einherjar and they turned their backs, returning the way in which they'd come.
"Where's your other?" Heimdall asked.
"Other? I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. Has something gone wrong with your sight that you're seeing double?" Loki said, though his mischievous expression gave away the lie.
"Right behind you." Heimdall felt the end of Loki's scepter tap him on the shoulder as he heard Loki's voice from behind him. Heimdall quickly turned to see Loki standing to his rear with a satisfied smile on his face, having successfully fooled the seer.
"This way." Heimdall said, slight irritation in his voice. He stepped forward almost toe to toe with Loki and stared at him before Loki stepped aside, gesturing with his arm for Heimdall to proceed. Both Lokis looked to each other with identical grins before following Asgard's gatekeeper further into the forest.
Passing into a clearing in the forest, both Lokis' eyes fell upon the place they had avoided since that day long ago, Bylgia's Pond. The grins that had been plastered to their faces faded as they were reminded of what had occurred there, those grim memories leading them to remember what had occurred the day before. Both Lokis recalled after arriving back at the palace that day with the man who now led the way how Frigga had fussed over Sigyn after her ordeal and assuaged her fears that she would be in trouble with her own mother over her soaked clothing and muddied shoes before escorting her home. She had returned a short time later in dry and clean clothing having been given permission to spend the night, most likely due to Frigga's intercession. Doing so was likely the only reason she had slept that night after such a trauma, both Lokis recalling how she had clung tightly to him, though he was sure he had done the same with her after nearly losing her, as the two had nestled into his bed at the end of the day. He had been sure to tell her a more happy, uplifting story of adventure devoid of any mention of death or anything frightening that night before both drifted off to slumber.
The three men traversed farther into the forest, to an area with rocky outcroppings overgrown with foliage and a small cave opening in the side of a hill. Ducking under the low entrance to the cave, Heimdall entered, followed by both Lokis. Heimdall reached the back of the cave and stood before the rough stone wall. Both Lokis watched as Heimdall extended his hand, placing it onto the wall, concentrating as he did so. A rainbow effect appeared upon the wall, expanding outwards from Heimdall's hand which he then removed from it, stepping back.
"If I don't return, tell Sigyn-" Loki's past self began to say to the gatekeeper.
"I will tell her what you wish her to know." Heimdall said.
"So you see into minds now as well?"
"No. She had the same look on her face you do now the day I sent her to Midgard. She had asked me then to tell you the same. However, I was unable to deliver her message, your mother having already placed her spell on you." Both Lokis' images changed as they disguised themselves as average angelic men, the scepter in Loki's hand disguised as a staff. "Good luck. I will watch for your return." Heimdall told them. Both Lokis stepped through the portal, vanishing in the swirling rainbow effect.
The two men exited the portal to find themselves in another forest. In the distance,daylight reflected off the crystalline buildings, creating a prism effect around the city. Both Lokis stood frozen in place as their eyes met those of the middle aged angelic woman standing a few feet in front of where they now stood facing them, her white hair elaborately braided. Both noticed the similarity in her deep blue eyes to another they knew.
"Your mother told me of your coming. She also told me that Vegeir is dead, that you've returned Sigyn to Asgard and she has been injured. How is she?"
"She is still healing, but she is well. She's safe." Loki's past self responded, obviously shocked at who stood before him and what she was telling him.
"I will take you to the palace. I must return before my absence is noticed." the woman said. "Hold onto me." Both Lokis stepped forward to Lailah, Sigyn's mother, each taking hold of one of her arms as she held a transport cylinder in her hand.
The three soon reappeared in Lailah's quarters in the palace. Loki's past self began to fire off questions as soon as they stepped out of the cylinder's light.
"Sigyn said that you abandoned them. How did you end up here? You're the true heir to the throne. Why didn't Loriel kill you?"
"I made a deal. I renounced any claim to the throne. I never had much interest in ruling which led me to seek the knowledge I now have that was valuable to her and has kept me alive. I thought I could do more to someday end Loriel from inside rather than wandering aimlessly around Midgard, but her control over the people is strong. There are few that are immune to her influence. She has eyes and ears everywhere. This is the first time I've used this since my arrival here." Lailah said indicating the cylinder. "I brought it with me when we were exiled to Midgard. If it were to be discovered in my possession, it wouldn't matter what I know."
"I was told you weren't allowed to take anything with you. How were you able to smuggle it off Asgard?" Loki's past self said. Lailah gave a sly smile.
"Do you really wish to know?" Both Lokis' blushing and awkward expressions making clear that they had reasoned out how it had been done. Lailah surmised there was no need for further explanation. "I must shortly make my way to the lab or my tardiness will be reported and I will be questioned."
"Where is Loriel now?" Loki asked.
"She will soon be taking her morning meal in the courtyard."
Loki, disguised as an angel, descended the white marble staircase with the gold fretwork railing and approached the guard stationed before the doors of Heven's vault. Before the guard had a chance to question him, Loki extended the scepter disguised as a golden staff, touching it to the chest of the guard. Loki grinned as he observed the effect in the eyes of the guard. The guard stepped aside, opening the doors to the vault, Loki entering as the guard closed them behind him.
Loriel sat at a table in the courtyard as two male angelic servants sat trays of food before her. Reaching out, she grabbed a red berry off of one tray, placing it in her mouth. The two servants returned to the door beneath the balcony as two others exited it, one carrying a pitcher and the other a covered tray. Approaching the table, the servant with the pitcher stood off to the side of her and slightly behind as he filled her glass. The other servant placed the covered tray before her.
"What's this?" Loriel asked, puzzled. Loriel's eyes suddenly widened as the servant that had borne the tray removed the cover to reveal the orb from Heven's vault, pulsing with light. Picking it up he held it before her as a black smoky mist began to escape from her body, drawn into the orb's now quickly strobing light.
Loriel's limp and lifeless body slid down in the chair as Loki's past self dropped his angelic guise, his future self already having done so. Loki's past self removed the crown from her head. Pulling the stone from its facets, he placed it on the table, his future self aiming the scepter at it, sending a powerful pulse of blue light from it into the stone, the stone shattering.
"It seems everything is easier the second time around. Perhaps I should consider giving Midgard another go." Loki joked to his past self.
"You've done it." A female voice said from above on the balcony. Both Lokis looked up to see an angelic woman in a low cut blue gown, her snow white hair flowing long and free over her shoulders. The woman descended the stairs and approached them.
"Mariel..." Loki said. Mariel looked to him in confusion.
"Do I know you?" she asked.
"No." Loki told her as she looked from him to his double. He could smell the familiar scent of her perfume. He handed her the crown. "Give this to your new queen."
Sigyn had just awakened, rising from the cushion on which she had fitfully slept, still feeling somewhat stiff and sore. The others with her, Fandral, Volstagg, Hogun and Sif had arisen long before her. Her stomach grumbling, it had been some time since she had last eaten, she was just making her way over to the small trunk containing food that Heimdall had left them when all within the chamber heard the sound of the doors slowly opening. Turning to face it, Sigyn's face lit up as she saw Loki standing with Heimdall.
"Loki!" Sigyn happily cried out.
Another figure stood behind the two she did not instantly recognize as the two men partially blocked her view and her eyes were adjusting to the light streaming in from outside the chamber. Loki stepped aside, the woman behind him in the long flowing blue gown, a tiara holding a large crystal on her head stepped forward.
"Mother?" Sigyn said in disbelief, recognizing the woman though she had aged somewhat since she had last seen her nearly two centuries before. Lailah held her arms out. Sigyn, as quickly as she could still recovering from her injuries, ran to the woman, falling into her arms. Lailah held her tearful daughter close for a few moments, then moved her away from her, holding her arms, examining her with a smile.
"Finally I see you once again as you truly are." Lailah said.
"You are queen now?" Sigyn asked.
"Yes, Loriel is contained, her minions have fled. The people are free." Lailah told her. Sigyn embraced her mother once again. "I never wished to rule. I will hold the throne until you're ready for it, then I will pass it to you." Sigyn pulled back from her mother once again looking to Loki before moving to him and throwing her arms around him.
"You're safe now." he told her.
Loki, holding the scepter in his hand, stood in the middle of Odin's study. Odin sat behind the ornately carved table looking down at a long silky brocaded blue shawl he held in his hand, feeling the smooth fabric between his fingers. Odin did not seem to notice Loki's presence as he sat deep in thought.
"Father..." Loki said. Odin, startled, looked up quickly and then stood, placing the shawl on the table. Loki approached, holding the scepter out across the table, touching it to Odin's chest. "I will soon be returning to my own time. After I am gone you will be released from your service to me. Before I go there is something we must discuss."
"Of what do you wish to speak?" Odin asked.
"The day will come when you will join mother in Valhalla. Even the great Odin will not live forever. Hela...your first born..."
Loki stood in his old chambers in the palace on his own balcony overlooking Asgard. He took in the sight, breathing in the air, doing his best to seer it into his mind, to hold onto the memory of his last moments there before he would return to his own time where Asgard was no more. His past self entered his chambers, seeing his future self standing on the balcony, his back to him, and walked across the room to join him.
"You will be returning home now?" Loki's past self asked.
"Mother was right. It's best if I leave before I start any more fires."
"I owe you a great debt." Loki's past self said.
"Protect her, keep her safe. Whatever you do, don't allow Sif to take her anywhere. I suppose though there would be no need for that now. But better safe than sorry."
"Is there anything more I should know before you go?" Loki's past self asked.
"Everything will be revealed in its own time." Loki told him. Loki picked up the scepter from where it leaned against the railing of the balcony, taking one last look out over Asgard before producing the modified cylinder in his hand. As he did so, the sky seemed to darken, the palace and a large part of Asgard surrounding it falling into shadow which was accompanied by a strange sound like an electrical hum. Both Lokis looked up, their mouths falling open in shock at the sight of the massive ship that hovered in the air above.
"Shit..." said both Lokis in unison.