Both Lokis rushed from the balcony to the door of the chambers and into the corridor as they felt the palace quake at the first blast from the Sanctuary II.
"I had assumed this was far further in the future!" Loki's past self said.
"I'm afraid I may have inadvertently accelerated matters." Loki said, recalling his conversation with The Other, realizing his boast of wielding three of the six stones had been a mistake.
"Why, thank you! Thank you so much!" Loki's past self exclaimed sarcastically. "How did it play out in your time?" Loki's past self asked.
"You don't want to know." Loki answered.
"Obviously you survived. I would very much like to do the same! It would be helpful to know how you dealt with the situation."
"The scenario was very different. Let's leave it at that." Loki responded. The palace quaked again, though it was evident that Heimdall had now managed to raise the shielding around it. How long it would hold out against the firepower of the Sanctuary II was anyone's guess, but both Lokis surmised that it would not be an inordinate amount of time.
"So what's the plan then? " Loki's past self asked.
"I'm working on it." Loki told him.
"Work faster!" Loki's past self said as the palace shook from another energy blast.
'You're as capable as I! We have the same brain!" Loki said, irritated.
"Yes, but you've been in this situation before, or at least a similar one! You said everything is easier the second time around! I need to get Sigyn somewhere safe!" Loki's past self said.
"Where is she?" Loki asked.
"Mother's chambers..."
Loki's past self and his double, once again disguising himself as an einherjar, rushed down the corridor past other einherjar and a few panicked palace servants. Reaching Frigga's chambers, Loki's past self dismissed the einherjar who remained dutifully standing sentinel even amidst the attack and quickly entered. Sigyn, standing in the middle of the room, staring out towards the balcony, turned to him with fear in her eyes, the doll, Nahni in one arm, the sword Loki recognized as having once belonged to his mother, though she infrequently carried it, held in her other hand. The contrast would have been humorous were it not for the gravity of the situation.
"What's going on?!" Sigyn asked.
"We're under attack." Loki's past self told her.
"You don't say? Obviously!" Sigyn answered.
"It seems the past we had agreed to put behind us isn't finished with me yet. I'll take you to the vault. You'll be safe there."
"No! I'm tired of hiding! No more partings! Whatever happens, I'm staying with you!" Sigyn exclaimed. It was clear to Loki from her demeanor that she was determined to stand her ground on the subject.
"Do you know how to use that?" Loki's past self asked, indicating the sword in her hand. Sigyn looked down at it.
"Yes...somewhat..." Sigyn said. She had gone through the same training from a very young age as all Asgardian children, girls included, but that had been centuries ago, Loki well knew.
"Bring it, but I doubt Nahni will be much help. We will come back for her when this is over." Reluctantly, Sigyn placed Nahni in the chaise nearby.
The palace quaked again, followed shortly after by a second assault. Sigyn rushed to Loki, falling into his arms as the floor shook, Loki fighting to remain on his own feet, the sword still held in her right hand. As the shaking subsided, Loki wrapped his arms around her as Loki's future self stood by impatiently, now somewhat understanding Sif's reaction whenever he and his Sigyn had displayed affection in her presence.
"We must go! Now!" Loki said to his past self. Loki's past self looked at him in annoyance, raising his index finger in a gesture for him to wait. Moving Sigyn back from him, he looked into her eyes, coming to a decision, though by far not a difficult one for him to make.
"I know it's only been days. I don't know what's to happen. All I told you is true...since the first day mother brought you to me...Sigyn, will you have me? Will you be my wife?" Loki asked Sigyn who met his gaze with surprise at his sudden and unexpected query especially in the midst of such a crisis.
"I...you don't think it's too soon-." Sigyn began to answer when another blast shook the walls, seeming to lead Sigyn to a definitive answer. "Yes...yes! I will!" Sigyn answered. Grinning despite the situation, he passionately kissed her.
"Congratulations! Can we go now?" Loki's future self asked. Sigyn looked towards him, puzzled at the unusual manner of speaking to a prince of Asgard of the einherjar. '
"Excuse me for just a moment..." Loki's past self said to Sigyn, stepping over and taking hold of the arm of Loki in his einherjar disguise and steering him out into the corridor. Sigyn looked on in confusion.
"Is this really the time?" Loki asked his past self in a whisper.
"Seeing as I may soon find myself dead at Thanos' feet, I can't think of a better one! Unless you've come up with a plan, it will likely be the shortest engagement in Asgardian history!" Loki's past self hissed. "Besides, I already know she's to be my wife. You did say some events are inevitable." Loki's past self said. Loki looked at his past self in silence for a moment. Sigyn's father, his mother...was another event also inevitable? He looked at his past self, then through the doorway to Sigyn who remained standing in the same spot, the sword in her hand. Thinking of what his past self had just said about finding himself dead at Thanos feet, just as he had on the Statesman, though of course he didn't remember that part having only witnessed it through the memories Thor had shared, he turned his attention back to his double, a plan finally taking shape in his mind.
Loki's past self, carrying the scepter and Sigyn entered the throne room to see Odin, Heimdall, Sif, Thor and the Warriors Three gathered near the throne. The room shook as another energy blast hit its target, nearly knocking all present off their feet.
"It appears an old friend of yours comes calling." Odin said as his eye fell upon Loki as he neared them.
"Lower the shield. It will soon fall regardless." Loki told Heimdall. "I know what he wants. It's in the best interest of Asgard for me to give it to him."
"You mean the Tesseract." Thor said.
"Yes, along with the scepter...and this." Loki held out his hand, producing the containment unit housing the aether.
"You can't hand over three of the most powerful relics in the universe. There is good reason they have been kept separated." Odin said.
"He will have them regardless. We can only hope this way he'll refrain from murdering half the people of Asgard."
"Loki's right. Judging by the size of his ship, how many fighters it may hold and its weaponry, we are at a disadvantage." Hogun said, assessing the situation.
"To put it mildly. Did you see the size of that thing?" Fandral said in awe.
"Perhaps it needs to be that big to carry food for that many." Volstagg stated.
"Do you think of nothing else?" Fandral questioned.
"Of course I do. There's also drink." Volstagg answered.
"We are to roll over so easily?" Sif asked angrily.
"It's not surrender. Call it a compromise." Loki said.
"It sounds like surrender to me whatever you choose to call it!" she said hotly.
Another blast struck the shield surrounding the palace, the tremors resulting from it making it clear that the shield had collapsed.
"They will be here soon. I brought this upon us, I will go to meet him." Loki's past self said before looking to Thor. "Bring me the Tesseract from the vault." Thor looked to Odin who nodded. Thor turned, heading in the direction of the exit that led to the vaults.
"I'll go with you." said Sigyn to Loki.
"No, stay here with-" Loki began before Sigyn cut him off.
"Did you not hear me before? No more partings. Whatever is to be your fate, I will share it...or at the very least, if I can't share it, I will be at your side for it." Sigyn said. Loki looked from her to Odin.
"I've asked Sigyn to be my wife, if by some small chance I survive. She's agreed. I ask for your blessing." Loki's past self said. The others in the room looked on in amazement at the news, Sif's mouth dropping open.
"You have it." Odin answered, though by the expression on his face it was clear he did not expect to again see Loki alive, his approval being the last gift he could give to his son as he faced his death.
The sound of running footsteps echoed through the throne room as a large group of Chitauri soldiers flowed into into it aiming their large guns at the Asgardians, Moving Sigyn away from him with his arm, Loki took a step towards them.
"Take me to Thanos-" Loki said before being cut off by a blast from the weapon of a Chitauri soldier to the side of the soldiers gathered there. Thrown back by the blast, the scepter flying from his hand, the container housing the aether dropping from his other, Loki's body hit the floor a few feet away, lying motionless.
"Loki!" Sigyn cried, starting towards him, Sif rushing to her and holding her back as the Chitauri that had shot him, advanced quickly towards his body, looking down at it and once again sending a blast from his weapon into it before walking over and retrieving the scepter.
"No!" Sigyn screamed, struggling against Sif, finally breaking free and running to Loki's side, falling to her knees beside him. Taking hold of his limp hand, she lifted it from the floor, holding it to her cheek as she looked tearfully down on his body, his skin already a pale deathly gray.
Thor appeared in the same doorway that led to Odin's study, the Tesseract held in both hands. A number of Chitauri rushed to him, surrounding him as he looked in shock and horror at his brother lying lifeless on the throne room floor, Sigyn at his side.
"He was going to give him what he wanted!" Sigyn screamed at the Chitauri, unconcerned now about any consequences to her of doing so. The Chitauri herded Thor towards Loki's body and Sigyn. Thor moved the Tesseract to his left hand, beginning to stretch out his right to summon Mjolnir.
"Don't!" Sigyn called to him. Thor lowered his hand. She stood, walking over to the aether and retrieving it before returning to look down on Loki.
"Take me to this Thanos." she said to the Chitauri.
In the plaza outside the palace, Ebony Maw walked in the open area between two large groups of Asgardians assembled on either side, some looking fearful, others angry and determined, children clinging to their parents. Swords lay about the plaza along with the bodies of einherjar warriors. Numerous Chitauri soldiers stood aiming their weapons at those gathered on either side.
"People of Asgard! Rejoice! The great Thanos has come to bring you salvation!" Maw announced to the crowd.
Without warning, a young boy pulled away from his mother, advancing on a Chitauri and kicking him in the leg and pummeling him with his small fists. The Chitauri reached out, grabbing the boy by the throat. A shadow fell over the Chitauri and the boy, a large purple hand reaching out and taking hold of the Chitauri's arm, forcing him to release the child. Thanos, a smile on his face, knelt down beside the boy who glared at Thanos.
"You're very brave, even for an Asgardian. You like to fight..." Thanos said to the boy before turning his head to see a large group of Chitauri exiting the palace, walking before them, Sigyn, the Aether in one hand, the Tesseract in the other, Thor carrying Loki's lifeless body. Thanos rose from the boy's side, putting a hand on his shoulder and moving him back towards his parents.
Thor and Sigyn reached the bottom of the steps and walked a few more paces as Thanos met them. Thor laid Loki's body out at Thanos feet. Chitauri soldiers circled around them. The Chitauri carrying the scepter reached down to Loki's throat, feeling for a pulse and looking for any sign of life, looked to Thanos and nodded, confirming his fate, before circling back to stand behind Thanos.
"What a shame. I was hoping to kill him myself." Thanos said, looking down at Loki. Raising his head he looked to Thor, then Sigyn and what she possessed. "Thor, son of Odin...and who might you be?" Thanos said to Sigyn as he examined her tear streaked face as she looked him directly in the face defiantly.
"Sigyn. Loki and I were to be married." Sigyn said.
"Strange he never mentioned you. You have my sympathy. I know how it feels to lose someone you love, to see your dreams die in front of you." Thanos reached out his long arm, caressing Sigyn's hair, she drawing back from his touch, "You're better off. A woman of your beauty and bravery can do far better than a traitor and a thief. Sooner or later he would have stabbed you in your pretty back." Thanos told her. Sigyn stiffened at his words.
"You came for these. Take them. Loki's dead. You have everything you wanted. Now leave us." Sigyn said. She held the Tesseract and the Aether out towards Thanos. As he reached out to take them, Loki's voice came from behind Thanos.
""Speaking of stabbing people in the back..." he said as the scepter tore through Thanos' chest, the crystal housing holding the Mind Stone replaced with a black hole grenade. Thanos looked down at it in shock as Thor, recognizing the grenade as some sort of weapon, though he wasn't sure of it's effects, put his arms around Sigyn, shielding her as they both fell to the ground, the Tesseract and the Aether falling from her hands and clattering on the stone plaza. The Chitauri that had impaled Thanos had dispelled his illusion, returning to his true form, Loki's future self, as he dived out of range of the grenade's effect. Loki's past self, his skin returned to its normal tone as he ended his death feint, rolled quickly away.
Thanos grasped at the grenade but too late as it detonated, sucking him into the gravity well it created, his large, imposing body seeming to fold in on itself as it was crushed into atoms. Ebony Maw, in a panic, activated a device in his hand, a beam of light falling over him, returning him to the ship hovering above. The Chitauri soldiers stood directionless, not sure what to do. Loki's past self, retrieving the Tesseract and the Aether, handed them to Sigyn as she and Thor rose from the ground.
"Get them away from here! Quickly!" He commanded a bewildered Sigyn as she attempted to process his resurrection as well as the fact that there were now two of him. She turned, rushing up the steps back to the palace. Thor held out his hand, Mjolnir swiftly appearing from the direction of the palace, flying past Sigyn and into his hand as she turned her head to watch. "Go!" Loki's past self called to her.
The Asgardians who had been gathered on both sides of the plaza rushed the Chitauri in front of them, picking up their discarded swords and those of fallen einherjar from the ground, joining Thor and Loki in the fray. Those with children pulled them along with them or carried them away from the fight. Sif, Fandral, Vostagg and Hogan rushed from the palace and down the steps to join the fight. Without anyone to command them, fighting in a disjointed and disorganized manner, many of the Chitauri fell, along with Asgardians hit by blasts from their energy weapons.
Thor and both Lokis, the past Loki with a sword he had retrieved from the ground and his future self with his daggers, battled together, cutting their way through the Chitauri, sending them fleeing or falling, some of whom were retrieved by the ship in the same light that had lifted Maw from the ground. Others fell as Thor sent Mjolnir flying, taking out multiple soldiers before returning to him. The Sanctuary II rose, making its way out of the atmosphere back into the void of space.
As the last Chitauri fell, pierced by Loki's past self wielding a sword, he turned to see Sigyn standing at the top of the steps where she had returned from stowing the Aether and Tesseract safely in the palace watching the end of the battle, Frigga's sword in hand. A lone Chitauri, disarmed, ran up the steps towards her.
"Sigyn!" both Loki's called out simultaneously. Sigyn thrust Frigga's sword out towards the Chitauri as he rushed up on her, piercing his heart. Sigyn withdrew the sword and kicked the Chitauri from under her gown's skirt, the soldier's body falling and rolling down the steps. Both Lokis' shoulders relaxed as they exhaled in relief, Loki's past self sprinting to the steps and up them to her side.
"You were dead..." Sigyn managed to say, looking at Loki's past self with confusion and wonder. Tossing his sword down and taking Frigga's from her hand and doing the same with it, Loki embraced her tightly to him. She looked out over the plaza at Loki's double, confusion evident on her face as well as the faces of Sif and the Warriors Three as they stared at Loki's future self as they stood among the bodies of the slain.
"Surprise!" Loki's future self said jokingly, a bit uncomfortably as all eyes fell on him.
"As if one wasn't enough!" Volstagg grumbled.