Chapter 21: Kidnapping:
"My Lady. I came here to ask for your help." Thanos declared almost reverently as he kneeled down to kiss the hand of the elegant hooded figure standing eerily in front of him.
"Speak, Titan."
"For all these years that I have known You, My Love, I have been your most devoted worshiper. As Your faithful servant, today, I am humbly requesting You to grant me this single favor, the only one I shall ever ask of You."
The hooded figure walked gracefully down the few steps separating her from Thanos. As she moved, her fluid movements communicated incommensurable power. Her crystalline eyes roved over Thanos as she appraised the scent of death stemming from him.
"You killed an entire Realm." Death stated.
Thanos was chilled by the egregious accusation he perceived in her diaphanous voice.
"Only for you, My Lady."
"Do not lie to me, Thanos. I can tell the difference between an offering and the simple result of your complete loss of control!"
"I beg Your pardon, My Love."
"Rise up, Thanos. I am ready to forget this affront. Tell what it is that you want from me."
"I want a Gauntlet. But, firstly, I need him out of the way."
"You must realize that I do hold his life dear to me, Thanos."
Consumed with jealousy, his hands curled into tight fists. It was through pursed lips that Thanos proposed, "I am too well aware of the affection you feel for him, My Lady. This is the reason why I will do absolutely anything in my power to earn the favor I am asking of You."
"This is an interesting proposition. After all, his death is the key to our daughter's freedom and I would be interested to see the extent of power you are ready to deploy in your willingness to please me."
"I would do anything for You." Thanos promised.
"Then, I have a proposition for you. The death of the Elders in exchange of his. They have been testing my limits for too long."
In the Throne Room, all eyes were turned on the stellar projections and all ears were attentively focusing on each theory, each affirmation and scientific explanation advanced by Jane and Hotaru as the two women stood confidently in front of this intimidatingly mighty assembly while they defended their hypothesis. When their scientific argument finally came to an end, the two Midgardians shared a satisfied look, appreciating the results of their fruitful collaboration.
"Allfather, I say we must capture Loki. His crimes against the good people of Midgard cannot remain unpunished. We must put an end to his madness!" Thor affirmed.
"He has been running on the loose for too long! This is a golden opportunity that we cannot afford to let slip out of our hands, my King." Lady Sif agreed, her voice barely containing her distaste for their exiled Prince.
"Furthermore, we must not forget that Loki is already in the possession of the Power Stone. And, by the Nine Realms, we all know no good can come out of this!" Hogun added.
"Heimdall, is this young lady on Midgard?" Odin asked as he finally decided to take part to the conversation.
"She is, my King." Heimdall admitted resentfully. "Although, I must warn you that I do not support the decision you are about to take."
"Be reassured that I will carry on my plans regardless of your approval, Heimdall." Odin replied curtly. "We cannot risk another Gem falling into Loki's hands."
"My son and the lady accompanying him will be tried fairly." Frigga felt the need to reassure both herself and Hotaru. Meeting Odin's furious glare, the Asgardians' Queen locked her eyes on her husband's, daring him to even try to do otherwise.
"So will be done." Odin conceded, exasperated by his wife's clear desire to protect their youngest son despite his rebellious action. "Now prepare yourselves for there is no much time left." Odin ordered under Heimdall's disapproving gaze.
Mikan sighed in relief when she was finally left alone in her room. She hadn't realized how much she had missed the comforting walls of Kamar-Tajy. However, even though she was reassured by the idea of coming down there each month, Mikan found the slowness with which the translations were advancing very depressing. She was fully aware it would take her at least one or two years to fulfill Loki's request and the idea of spending the few years she was left to live in a basement, far away from her friends, seemed very discouraging, no matter how agreeable Loki's company could be if she allowed herself the madness to embrace his persistent but subtle advances.
'Don't be stupid, Mikan. To him, you would only be a simple, yet very useful, fling…'
She still had few hours left before Loki's return and she had no idea how to spend them. It was at this instant that she heard a soft knock on her door. It opened slightly and Christine shyly put her head round it, waiting for permission to step inside.
"Please, come in." Mikan invited her softly.
"Are you feeling any better?"
Mikan shrugged her shoulders. "I've been better but I've been worse too. I am fine, I guess."
"I see…" Christine sympathized as she took a seat on the edge of her bed. "That's quite a situation you put yourself into, Mikan."
"I know," the latter chuckled softly, "I am good at getting myself into trouble, a walking magnet of bad luck I'd even say!"
"So, now that we're finally all by ourselves, what's going on between you and Loki?" Christine asked with a wry smile, which only widened when Mikan choked in in surprise and her cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
"You don't beat about the brush, do you?"
"And you are trying to avoid answering to my question." Christine pointed out.
The young woman closed her eyes to restrain any of her tears from being shed. Taking in a deep breath, she dismissed her unnecessarily hurt feelings. Unexpectedly, what Mikan would have usually perceived as her friend's genuine concern for her wellbeing, she now saw as the woman's insulting lack of confidence in her own ability to keep her hormones in check.
"Well, I hope you won't be too disappointed to learn that there's absolutely and utterly nothing going on between Loki and I."
"You're a terrible liar, Mikan."
"Fine. You won! Yes, there's something but I am never going to let it happen! In fact, neither Loki nor I are stupid enough to give in to it. Trust me, I haven't forgotten what he did two months ago. Now tell me Christine, is this what you and Stephen wanted to hear?" Mikan finally exploded.
At first, only confused by the anger and accusation in her friend's voice, Christine opened her mouth to apologize but was cut short when several items in the room flew from their location and crashed noisily into the walls, breaking into pieces. The noise startled Christine and she barely had time to duck as Mikan's wardrobe flew over her head. In the midst of this chaos the surgeon was unable to understand what could have triggered Mikan's angry reaction. Never had her gentle and optimistic younger friend ever raised her voice against her let alone had she ever shown any hint of violence towards her beloved friends.
At Christine's dismay, Mikan bit her lower lip, ashamed of her own behavior. She was shocked by how quickly she had been to lose her temper. Mikan lowered her eyes to the floor, unable to stand the fear in Christine's eyes, only to realize in what state she had put the room in as she observed all the broken pieces of furniture and other sundry objects.
"I am so sorry! I didn't mean to do this." she apologized faintly as she started to move her right hand in a circular motion.
"No! Don't leave!" Christine begged, "Please, Mikan, we can talk this out."
Mikan shook her head, finally allowing her tears to flow. "No, we can't. I just need to be alone."
And the Alice teleported herself away.
Appearing in an empty meadow, all Mikan's anger, confusion and sadness disappeared instantly. Overwhelmed by the abrupt shift of her emotions, she hadn't time to dodge the silver chains that tied themselves tightly around her. Trying to free herself out of her bonds to only see them tightened their hold of her, Mikan cursed when she failed to use any of her Alices. Finally struck by the realization that none of them were working anymore, Mikan began to panic. 'No! No! No! No! Nooo! You can't let me down! Not now!'
"Shit!" Mikan cried as she was covered by the brilliant beam of energy that was the Bifrost. "For Gosh sake, what's with Asgardians and kidnapping!" she cried out in frustration.
In no time, Mikan found herself surrounded by Frigga, Asgardian soldiers, Thor, Heimdall and Odin. When she met Frigga's gaze, Mikan finally discerned the reason of her sudden mood swings. 'Like mother, like son, they say…'
'Indeed, who do you think Loki learned his manners from, young Lady?'
Mikan's lips parted in surprise when the Queen Mother's voice echoed in her head.
'What did you do to me?' she wondered, 'How did you manage to suppress my Alices?'
'I wouldn't say suppress, Little One. The chains binding you are absorbing all the magical energy emanating from your body.'
Mikan's mind paused at Frigga's use of the nickname her son had picked for her and frowned at her explanation.
"Our paths meet again, Lady. However, this time I will not let you slip through my fingers." Thor claimed as he reached down for their new captive capturing her full attention. "Sif, hand me the bottle." Thor ordered as he pinched Mikan's nose and forced her mouth open. He growled when the latter bit him hard and tried to stubbornly crawl away from his grasp.
It took the combined might of Thor and Warriors Three to completely immobilize Mikan whose ribs were now threatening to break at any instant for the chains tying her were continuing to tighten around her body. Now that the young woman was powerless and gasping for air, Thor finally managed to force her mouth open.
"Lady Granger said two drops would suffice." he informed Sif.
Sif smiled grimly as she forced the bottle's entire contents down Mikan's throat. "Then the entire bottle ought to be more than even. Can't be too cautious with all the trouble she has caused."
Mikan coughed, then winced in pain when Frigga used her Magic to force her to swallow the liquid. Only then did she feel the chains loosen lightly as Frigga released their grasp slightly.
"What's… What did you give me?" Mikan managed to ask.
"A truthful serum." Thor answered. "Now tell me where my brother is."
Mikan closed her eyes as she desperately tried to fight off the effect of the Veritaserum. Sadly, all her efforts were wasted in vain since her lips started moving against her will.
"I… I am not sure. But he said he would pick me up today, he'll be in Kamar-Taj in few hours." she admitted resentfully. Mikan growled as an intense pain ran through her right wrist.
She felt like crying, she hated this feeling, despised the sensation of losing all control over her will and her body. Her pride was all that was left of her. Therefore, Mikan forbade herself to make any more show of weakness. She barely managed to bounce back into a seated position.
"Is she under Loki's influence?" Odin asked Frigga who shook her head to the negative.
"No. She seems to be quite resistant to Mental Manipulation. The amount of Magic I had to use to control her for only few minutes would have allowed me to subdue an entire room of our people." Frigga detailed as she physically spoke for the first time. She was clearly impressed by Mikan's capacities.
Kneeling down to reach Mikan's chin, Odin held it in between his thumb and his forefinger so their eyes would lock. He took his time to patiently and attentively observe her features, study her stature. She looked so fragile between his fingers although he knew better than to be fooled by appearances. 'Loki chose her for a reason. Now, what could that be?'
The young woman gulped when she met Odin's stoic blue eye. His aura was calm, yet imposing. Slightly threatening even. Mikan mustered her courage to not lower her gaze. She stood no chance against him, with or without chains, and she knew it.
"The Power Stone. Where is it? What does Loki intend to do with it?" Odin questioned.
"This is where you're getting it wrong. Loki wasn't the one who wanted to retrieve the Stone, I was." Mikan clarified in a vain attempt to avoid answering him. "I am not your son's subordinate. I do not work for him but with him."
"Answer my questions." He ordered sternly.
"It's in my possession. Don't bother trying to find it. You won't. As a matter of fact, even I can't withdraw it from the seals protecting it." Mikan admitted with frustration at her inability to master her own body. "Rest reassured, we never had any intention of using it in the first place. I just wanted to prevent it from falling under Thanos' hands."
"Heimdall told us you were the first to try to contact Loki, what did you want from him?" Odin asked, truly curious to discern what were the little mortal's intention. As he released her chin from his grasp, Mikan's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"My first visit over Loki's cell wasn't planned. I just wanted to destroy the Infinity Gauntlet in S.H.I.E.L.D's possession and the Necklace of Black Pearls. But then, I just happened to notice that Loki had more than one aura and I hadn't the heart to leave him like that when I knew I could help. So, at first, I just went to free him of the bonds that were partially tying his soul and his mind. But, after Thor mentioned the nature of Allice's death, I just put two and two together and I realized it was Thanos who had been exercising this oppressive influence over Loki." Mikan blurted out, "This is the reason why I paid Loki a second visit. I wanted to make sure whether Thanos was indeed the one who sent him to Earth and if he is looking after the Infinity Stones." Mikan added reluctantly, relieved by the fading pain in her wrist.
At the unexpectedly perplexed looks on his parents' face, Thor realized that, contrary to his primary assumptions, Heimdall had shared these crucial pieces of information with him only. Surprised by Heimdall's odd behavior, Thor finally decided not to question his choices and to put more trust in his observant friend's decisions.
"Is there anything else that you forgot to mention, Heimdall?" Odin inquired coolly.
"I am afraid Lady Sakura has left nothing more for me to add, My King." Heimdall stated as he held steadily Odin's severe gaze.
"You destroyed the Infinity Gauntlet?" Frigga asked, suddenly looking at Mikan with fresh eyes. 'She knows about Allice too. Could she be…?'
"I did." Mikan nodded.
A deafening silence invaded the Observatory as the weight of Mikan's affirmation started to sink in the minds of Odin and Frigga. Thor's friends, for their part, had a harder time believing Loki's dubious accomplice.
"Well, this explains Thanos's disproportionate reaction." Odin thought aloud.
"I beg your pardon?" Mikan snapped. "You qualify it as a 'disproportionate reaction'? So that's all what it was? He exterminated an entire Realm for crying out loud! And, for all I know, you did nothing to stop his madness! You're as much to blame as he is for their death!" she accused him angrily.
"You are one to talk, Little Minx! What did your little escapade with Loki do to change or to stop any of this from happening?" Fandral pointed out.
"As far as I am concerned, until now, I have been more useful than any of the people in this room!" Mikan exploded, "I've destroyed the Infinity Gauntlet and sealed the Power Stone away from anyone's reach! What can you say for yourselves?!"
"Watch your tone, mortal!" Sif threatened her.
"Or what?" Mikan defied her, "The five of you will all jump on me again? Come on, what are you waiting f–"
"Enough!" Odin roared.
Silence fell upon the room as Gungnir hit sternly the ground.
"We are willing to look down upon this offense if you try to cooperate with us, young lady." Frigga offered, not truly giving Mikan another choice but to seize the opportunity she was given.
Mikan sighed, too angry to speak, sullen and furious as she stared stubbornly at her abductors, daring them to push her limits any further.
"Were your previous words implying that my son does not wield the entire responsibility over his actions against your people?" Odin queried with a narrowed eye.
Frigga's heart skipped a beat at her husband use of the word son. A word he hadn't used since Loki had jumped off the Bifrost. Frigga bit her lip and started to pick at her hands nervously. If what Mikan had said was true this would mean that her son's punishment could be reduced. And by her husband's beard they made her drink an entire vial of Veritaserum!
"Your Highnesses, she's obviously been manipulated by Loki into believing this!" Fandral cried out, outraged to see this minx raising false hopes into his Queen's heart.
"Do not interrupt me, Fandral! My question was addressed to our prisoner."
"My apologies, Allfather." mumbled Fandral, lowering his eyes to the ground.
Sif's hands curled into tight fists. How could the Royal family be so blinded by their love for Loki? 'By the Norns! Are they still going to give this Jotun runt another chance after the all countless time he has deceived us all? Such madness cannot be allowed to happen again!'
"Yes. Loki was under the influence of both the Soul and Mind Stones. But only partially. He could have ended the attack sooner if he had wanted to." Mikan nodded, this time answering willingly.
In consequence to Frigga's sorrow, the chains tying Mikan loosened enough to finally allow her to regain some control over her powers. She swiftly used them to help her metabolism rid of the Veritaserum that was infesting it while using her Alices to have them believe that nothing had changed. Her eyes met and held Heimdall's eyes for a matter of few seconds. He nodded discreetly his apologies to her and returned his attention to the rest of the crowd, acting as if there was nothing amiss.
"Have you ever been under my brother's mind control?" Thor asked, to reassure and calm his loyal companions down.
"Just once." admitted Mikan, sighing at the unpleasant memory. She ignored the triumphant glares Sif and the Warriors Three exchanged.
"What did my son try to make you do?" inquired Frigga, hopeful at the idea of gaining another reason as to why they should reduce their female prisoner's final sentence, and yet saddened and nervous to learn how Loki misused his magical skills on this female mortal.
"Nothing too serious, he tried to make me eat a Golden Apple."
A surprised murmur echoed in the room.
"Why would Loki have to use his powers to make you eat a Golden Apple?" wondered Sif, bewildered by the idea of someone refusing the offer of immortality.
"Loki said that he was doing me a favor because he knew that I would have refused otherwise." Mikan explained, "Thankfully, he underestimated me and I escaped his hold before committing the irreparable."
"Now I understand," smirked Sif haughtily, "You're just stupid."
Mikan tilted her head and smiled mysteriously at her, just as if she was the only one who could understand the humor of the situation. "Think of me as it pleases you, Lady Sif. I do not care for your opinion of me."
"I understand that you gave Loki as much troubles as you gave us when he kidnapped you, Little One." Odin stated, entertained and slightly impressed by their captive's stubbornness.
"Back then I was too weakened to fully absorb the reality of my situation, but yes. In a certain way, yes. I like to think I did." Mikan replied smugly as she looked down at her right wrist.
"Does this bracelet bond your soul to my son's?" Frigga breathed, taken off guard by the sole idea of Loki putting enough trust in someone to take such a bold risk. Let alone for a Midgardian at that.
"Loki's and Stephen's." Mikan replied succinctly.
"Why?" Thor wondered, confused. For as long as he could remember, Loki had never taken the risk to contract a blood pact. 'Why now? What is so special in this Lady Sakura to let both Loki and Heimdall act so out of character?'
"I know Loki cannot be trusted. By making this pact, I ensured myself his loyalty."
Hogun's sneer turned into a loud groan of pain when Mikan kicked him on the shin, using both tied legs.
"What are your intentions towards me?" Mikan finally asked.
"It all depends on your willingness to cooperate." Frigga answered. "Help us capture Loki and you'll be set free."
"No."
"You leave us no other choice, young lady." Frigga sighed.
"Thor show our new gest the way to the Dungeons." Odin ordered.
"I still have one question for you though." Mikan addressed Frigga. "How did you know how to suppress my powers?"
"Lady Hotaru showed me."
Mikan's breath caught in her throat, her eyes grew wet and she lowered her gaze to the floor. She clenched her fists so hard her fingernails dug into her palms until her hands started to bleed. It hurt. Mad at her own self and yet thankful to the discretion her Illusion Alice was allowing her to hide behind, Mikan rashly wiped her tears. This was so stupid and irrational of her to feel betrayed by her childhood friend's choice to help capturing her. They hadn't met for more than twelve years and until very recently Hotaru still believed her to be six feet under. 'I no longer have the rights to feel this way…'
"I see." sighed Mikan.
Sif reached harshly for her clone to get her back on her feet. Mikan withdrew her arm from Sif's strong grasp and punched her in the face, watching smugly as Sif fell to the floor.
"Like I already said: I have no intention to cooperate with you." Mikan repeated.
She took advantage of her inner turmoil, her frustration in front of this situation to deflect her slender control over her countless Alices. Powers even the chains Frigga had conjured weren't able to contain any longer. Mikan's eyes flashed dangerously as a violent blast of her energy shook down the entire room, throwing all the persons in it several meters away. Taking advantage of the effect of surprise, Mikan finally freed herself of the chains binding her body.
As her clone vanished from the Observatory to roam through the streets of Asgard closely followed by the deceived crowd, Mikan was left alone there, in Heimdall's safe company.
"How much time do we have before they realize they've been played?" Mikan inquired as a strong shield started to surround them.
"Five to six minutes. Maybe longer if I try to cover your trail." Heimdall answered as he reached the young woman's height. "Mikan, I will not send you back to Midgard. I cannot risk losing the faith Odin has placed on me. I will not be of any help for you locked in the Dungeons."
"I understand. But what should I do then? I just made it impossible for me to ever gain their trust again, there is no way I am handing them the Stone, I will not leak any more information on Loki's whereabouts, and I refuse to spend the few more years I am left to live locked in Asgard's Dungeons!"
"Do not worry. I will not allow this to happen, Mikan." Heimdall reassured her as he placed a comforting hand over the desperate woman's shoulder. "As I told you, I can cover your tracks and you can conceal your presence. Lay low for a while, let them capture your clone and wait for Thor to use the Bifrost again. I will give you a sign when I consider it to be the right time for you."
"And what about Loki and Stephen?"
"Do not worry about it. The Ancient One is taking care of the situation."
"Thank you for helping me and having such faith in me, Heimdall. It means so much to me..." Mikan whispered, covering his hand with hers as her eyes dangerously started watering. The Guardian of the Bifrost nodded with a shadow of a smile brightening his face.
When Heimdall placed a hand behind her neck, Mikan's eyes turned gold as he handed her his sight. The vision of two enormous doors of stone, on which featured a large image of the mythical tree Yggdrasil, appeared to her.
"Is this…?"
"The Hidden Stronghold, an ancient and forgotten fortress lost within the mountains. It will be a safe place for you to hide. Follow this path and do not forget to gather food and water supplies on your way. Once there, be patient and wait for my signal. Now go."
A.N: Thank you for reading this chapter! Constructive criticism is always welcome, please leave a review!