Author's Note: Well, here we are at the last chapter before the holiday special, something that I didn't expect would come this soon. I must say, I am proud to make it here. And to show it, I've decided to include something special in this chapter: the answer to a question that everyone has been asking. Read and find out.
Before we move on, I'd like to share with you my plans for the holiday specials. First of all, the Hanukkah special. I will write that as soon as I am able and upload it on December 18, which is when Hanukkah begins this year. After that, I will upload the Christmas chapter on Christmas Eve. Sounds like I've got the holiday figured out for this story.
The song featured here is a parody of "Togetherness" and its reprise from Galavant. I've been struggling with trying to find the right song. I had some okay suggestions, but this one fit the most.
I'll see you all at Hanukkah. Any and all comments are welcome.
Libby groaned as she woke up on the park sidewalk. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes were Molly, Loki, and Scratch standing over her.
"Boo." Scratch said in a dull tone.
"What?" Libby asked darting her eyes between Scratch and Loki (who was wearing a miniature version of his Asgardian attire).
"Libby, this is my ghost friend, Scratch." Molly said. "He loves tacos, napping, and acting grouchy, but really, he's just a big, squishy marshmallow, aren't you, buddy?"
"I'm not a toy!" Scratch said.
"Really? Because I heard a squeak come out of you last Sunday when Molly hugged you." Loki said.
"I swallowed a rubber duck at the time!"
"Hold on." Libby said standing back up. "Did I hear right before I fainted? Is Lukas…"
"Loki, yes." Loki answered.
Libby gasped. "You're THE Loki? The God of Mischief? The Master of Magic? The Trickster of Asgard?"
Loki gasped out a happy smile. "YES! Finally! Thank you!"
"Back off!" Libby cried out pulling Molly behind her. "You won't hurt us today!"
"Libby, Libby, calm down." Molly said. "Loki's not going to hurt us."
"Molly, it's Loki. He's like the ultimate bad guy."
"Thank you again." Loki said.
"He's not that bad. He's just as much of a softie as Scratch."
"You take that back!" both Loki and Scratch warned at the same time.
"Wait. You knew Lukas was Loki the whole time?" Libby asked in surprise.
Molly chuckled nervously. "I may have created the identity for him. But I had a good reason. You see, Loki died and…"
"Loki died?!" Libby asked loudly. "How did you die?!"
"I'd rather not talk about it." Loki answered.
"Anyway, he and Scratch are kinda crashing in my house…"
"More like your family's crashing in mine." Scratch interrupted.
"And I've been trying to keep Loki's true identity a secret because if the other Asgardians found out about him, they'd take him away."
"Molly, this is Loki." Libby said. "He once tried to collapse a skyscraper to try and crush Thor."
"Not my most creative trick, I admit." Loki said.
"But he's not that bad of a guy if you get to know him." Molly said. "In fact, now, all of you can get to know each other better. Now that the truth is out, my three BFFs can be BFFs together!"
"Whoa!" Scratch interrupted. "I do not need or want to be friends with Libby."
"Same here." Loki said.
"But you practically are friends already." Molly said. "Remember how we all hung out at the Wilder Scouts camping trip? Or the time you helped her out at the softball game? She even invited you to her bat mitzvah."
"That wasn't him. That was Lucy." Libby said before gasping loudly again. She suddenly realized. "Wait a minute! You were Lucy too?"
"You're on a roll, Libby." Loki said. "And for the record, Molly, I only did all that stuff for my own self interest. I am NOT interested in being her friend."
Libby groaned. "Sorry, Molly, but I don't want to be friends with the rude ghost or the biggest jerk in Asgard. I am very particular about who I let into my friend circle."
"Would it help if Loki gives you a gift?" Molly asked. "Go on, Loki, give her the gift."
After a groan, Loki reluctantly pulled out a necklace which he then gave to Libby. It had a small, golden crystal hanging at the bottom. "Here. Molly told me to give you something while you fainted."
"What is this?" Libby asked observing the crystal. "I swear, if this is going to turn me into your mind-controlled slave…"
"It's nothing like that." Loki said. "It's a siren charm. It's going to help with your terrible singing. It'll make you sound at least decent."
"Really?" Libby asked. She looked at the necklace some more before putting it around her neck. After the crystal emitted a short glow, she let out a few musical notes which sounded pretty good. "Well, this is nice… But I'm afraid my opinion hasn't changed, Molly."
"I told you this was going to work." Loki said.
"Not everyone has to like each other all the time, Moll." Scratch said.
"Um, yes, they do." Molly replied. "More friends equals more fun."
"Nope." Scratch denied.
"Not interested." Loki said.
"Molly, if it means that much to you to protect that villain, I can at least keep my mouth shut. After all, if he wanted to hurt you, he would have done so already." Libby said. "But I'm not going to do any more."
"Okay then." Molly said. "We'll just let this friendship flower bloom naturally. With no interference from me whatsoever." Her mischievous smile and her hidden crossed fingers indicated she was up to something.
After returning to his locker the next day, Loki's eyes caught onto something. It was a purple envelope with his name written on the front decorated. He already knew it was from Molly, but he opened it anyway. Inside was a letter which he read.
"Meet me at the softball field after school for a SUPER FUN SURPRISE! Love, your BEST friend, Molly."
"Super fun surprise?" Loki asked followed by a groan. "What's she up to this time?"
As the letter instructed, Loki went to the softball field. The first thing he noticed was Scratch floating around with a similar letter to the one he had with him earlier.
"Hey, Scratch." Loki greeted. "What are you doing here?"
"Molly sent me a letter. She wanted me to come here for a 'super fun surprise'. What are you doing here?"
"Same thing." Loki said holding up his letter. "And if I was a gambling god, I'd say…" He turned to find Libby standing there with a note of her own in her hand.
"What are you doing here?" Scratch and Libby asked simultaneously. "Molly wanted me to meet her for a super fun surprise because I'm her best friend!" The thought finally dawned on them both. "Oh, no. This isn't a super fun surprise. This is a Molly scheme."
"You two just figured that out?" Loki asked. "What a…" He was interrupted when Libby pulled out a water bottle spray and pointed it at him. "What the Helheim is that?"
"Anti-Asgard potion. Found the recipe online." Libby said. "Guaranteed to knock out any Asgardian with one spray. I'm prepared for you this time."
"How do you know it works if you've never met an Asgardian before?" Loki asked.
Libby said nothing. There was an awkward second before giving Loki a spray of water. He looked at her with discontent.
"Just like I thought. Don't believe everything you read on Wikipedia."
Loki dried his face with what he thought was a normal washcloth, but after he was done, he realized it was something else. It was a purple flag decorated with a rainbow, Molly's face, and a ship with the word "friend" on it. It was attached to a tall, wooden stick.
"What's that?" Scratch asked.
Libby's phone vibrated and she answered. Her screen had a recorded video of their common friend.
"Hello, my friends. I'm speaking to you through the magic of pre-recorded video. Why? Because I know all you three need is some quality time together so you can see how amazing you all are. So I've put together a scavenger hunt."
"Nope. I don't have time for this." Scratch said.
"Oh, you've got nothing but time, Scratch." The recorded Molly said surprising everyone. "I knew he was gonna say that."
"She actually expects us to go through with this nonsense?" Loki asked.
"You won't see it as nonsense when it's all done, Loki." Molly said surprising everyone again. "Yep. I knew he'd say that too."
"She's good." Scratch commented.
"Now, the first clue is under first base." Molly said turning her camera to one of the baseball plates where the flag was planted. "Be sure to snap a friendship selfie at each location for our three-way BFF scrapbook. Happy bonding." The video call ended.
Libby peeked under the baseball plate and was instantly blasted by an explosion of confetti. While she was cleaning herself off, Loki turned to see the Lemmings mascot looking at them.
"That's definitely Molly in the Lemming costume, right?" Scratch asked.
"Yes. It looks like she's going to watch over us." Loki said rolling his eyes. "Still can't believe you guys fell for this trap."
"Don't act so high and mighty." Libby said. "You fell for it too."
"I fell for it on purpose." Loki said.
"What? Why?" Scratch asked.
"I already knew there was no way that Molly was just going to give up on making us all friends that easily." Loki said. "I also know that she won't let it go until we get through this. So I figured the best way to handle this was to go along with whatever half-cocked plan Molly cooked up and finish it as soon as possible."
"As much as I hate to say it, Loki's right." Libby said. "Let's at least pretend to try."
"Let me see that clue then." Scratch said. He held up the paper and read from it aloud. "'Strawberries are pink. Chocolate is brown. Ice cream is the best, and so is having friends around'."
"How long did it take her to come up with that one?" Loki asked annoyed.
As soon as the three arrived at the ice cream shop, they were greeted by the counter girl. She gave Libby and Loki three double-scoops of ice cream with little flags in them.
"Your little friend asked me to read you this." The counter girl held up a piece of blue paper and read from it. "'Your next clue is yummy and nice. You'll find it within this creamed ice'."
"Her poetry is rough." Scratch said meeting Loki and Libby at a booth. He proceeded to gulp down his own scoops before taking a selfie with the three of them all together.
"Molly actually expects me to eat this?" Loki asked.
"Hey, you ate nachos, remember?" Scratch asked.
"I also remember the worst bathroom experience in my life." Loki retorted.
"You're actually being a baby about ice cream?" Libby asked. "Don't they have that on Asgard?"
"We mostly have nuts and berries." Loki said.
"No wonder you're so bitter." Libby said right before Scratch took away her ice cream and threw it into his mouth. "Hey! One of those was for me."
"I didn't see your name on it." Scratch said.
"Rule number one of dealing with Scratch: always have a firm grip on your food." Loki said smugly, but his smile was wiped out when Scratch ate his ice cream too.
"Should have taken your own advice." Libby said.
Suddenly, Scratch let out a powerful burp which let out another colorful piece of paper.
"What are we in for this time?" Loki asked taking the letter and reading it. "'Through all our adventures, you've proved yourselves gallant. And I think you're all so full of talent'. Obviously, Molly wants us to go to the school auditorium where the talent show took place."
The three of them went to the stage on the auditorium where Libby proceeded to admire the memory she had. "Of course, Molly included this. She knows how important the talent show was to me. That was the day I found my voice."
"I heard that voice." Scratch said. "Any chance you can lose it again?"
"And while you're at it, thank me for your new voice." Loki said. "If it wasn't for the siren's charm, you'd be the odd one out of all our occasional spontaneous musical numbers, wherever those keep coming from."
"Sure, a thanks to the god of tricks." Libby said. "I'm sure your ego doesn't need that."
"Have you seen my body? I'm stuck as a kid. I need the ego boost." Loki said.
"Right. I've been meaning to ask. Are you really stuck as a kid?"
"Unfortunately. After I died, I was revived in my kid form, and I can't get my adult form back until I help Scratch out with his job after a certain amount of time."
"And how long is that?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask Death yourself. Of course, I had no idea of knowing that right after that, I was also chained up with Molly McGee thanks to Scratch's poorly-chosen curse."
"It seemed like a good idea at the time." Scratch said.
"It still baffles me that Molly's protecting you." Libby said.
"Look, I know I'm full of tricks, but I've got nothing to hide now." Loki said.
"Oh, really? How did you die?" Libby asked.
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"Yeah, you keep saying that every time we ask." Scratch said. "I mean, what is that, your catchphrase?"
"Look, can we get this going please?" Loki asked impatiently as he took the next letter and read it. "'If you work together, your truest friendship can be birthed, like the hard work of this local hero recently unearthed'."
"That must be the statue of Sally Tugbottom at the park." Libby said.
"Ah, a classic Molly-Scratch milestone." Scratch said. "That's where I saved her life from a dangerous ghost."
"I think you're mistaken, Scratch." Loki said. "You were blown through a vortex. I saved the day with my illusion magic."
"You're both mistaken." Libby said. "Thor was the one who ended the storm. And besides, I'm the one who told her Sally Tugbottom was the true hero of Brighton."
"Big deal." Scratch said. "I introduced her to Stan Lee. Maybe you've heard of him."
"You may know some famous ghosts," Libby said, "But I know Molly. Our friendship was forged in the fires of shared trauma. We defeated Howlin' Harriet together."
"With me." Loki reminded. "And I feel like I should remind you about Kenny Star."
"What about him?" Libby asked.
"The real Kenny Star couldn't be reached, so I shapeshifted into him and performed at the bandshell."
"So you tricked a whole town, just like you probably tricked her into being her friend." Libby said.
"Oh, please. What would I gain from being friends with Molly McGee?" Loki asked. "Look, can't we just end this as soon as possible? You know, for Molly? Then, we never have to talk to each other again."
"Well, I live with you," Scratch said, "So I have to talk to you."
"I was talking about the general 'we', as in, you and me never talk with Libby!"
"Fine by me." Libby said. "Let's just finish this for Molly."
Together, the three of them continued on their scavenger hunt going to familiar places all over town while taking fake selfies. All the while, they shared a passive-aggressive proclamation.
Loki:
We'll go for Molly
Libby:
Tolerate for Molly
Scratch:
We'll do what we hate for Molly
Loki:
Until we're at the end of the state for Molly McGee
Loki, Libby, and Scratch:
We'll hunt for Molly
With smiles for Molly
Traveling these long miles for Molly
Enduring these trials for Molly McGee
So for Molly McGee, we'll have to endure
So this nonsense can end for sure
Loki:
Fine
Libby:
Fine
Scratch:
Fine
Loki:
I'll walk for Molly
Libby:
With you for Molly
Scratch:
Until I no longer have to for Molly
Libby:
The things I'm willing to do for Molly
Well, almost all
I'll search for Molly
Scratch:
Round town for Molly
Loki:
While dealing with you clowns for Molly
Libby:
Just how are you two around for Molly
Loki, Libby, and Scratch:
But for Molly McGee, I'll bring you along
Even though I know all this is wrong
At least we can agree on that
Libby:
But still, I cannot trust
Like I said, I'd rather have friends who are honest
Instead, he resists
Loki:
But still, I cannot trust
For like most others, she thinks that I'm but a monster
Scratch:
And let's not forget who the real best friend is
Loki, Libby, and Scratch:
WE'LL PLAY FOR MOLLY
THIS GAME FOR MOLLY
THIS POINTLESS, MEANINGLESS SHAME FOR MOLLY
AND WE WON'T EVEN SAY IT'S LAME FOR MOLLY
SO FOR MOLLY MCGEE, WE'LL GET TO THE END
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PRETEND TO BE FRIENDS
AND WE'LL NEVER SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN
Loki:
JUST MEEEEEEEE
Libby:
JUST MEEEEEEEE
Scratch:
JUST MEEEEEEEE
Loki, Libby, and Scratch:
JUST MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The kids ended their song entering a farmland. They spotted a flag and envelope attached to a hanging scarecrow.
"The final clue!" Libby shouted. She ran to get it, but Scratch was determined to get there first.
Libby and Scratch both grabbed the envelope first, but they struggled to try and take it from each other. Loki sighed heavily at the sight of it. He looked around until he saw the girl he was looking for.
Molly McGee poked her head out of a pile of turnips watching Libby and Scratch without actually hearing them.
"Aw. They're working together to open the clue. I'm so good at forging friendships." Molly said. "Those two are… Wait, two? Where's…"
"Looking for someone?" Loki asked from behind.
"Sweet baby corn! You trying to give me a heart attack?" Molly asked.
"No. But hanging around those two clowns you stuck me with was enough to give me a migraine." Loki said. "Add one of those background kids from school, and I'll have an aneurysm."
"What are you talking about?" Molly asked. "I'm helping you, Scratch, and Libby be better friends."
"If you had actually been paying attention instead of daydreaming us having slumber parties, you'd see your dumb plan was already dead on arrival." Loki said. "Just listen to them."
Molly lent an ear toward Scratch and Libby getting a better hearing advantage.
"Go away, Libby! The very concept of you makes people sad!"
"I've found a best friend for life! But you wouldn't understand that 'cause you're not alive!"
"Cheap!"
"What?" Molly gasped. "They're fighting? But why? We can all be friends with each other."
"Molly, I can tolerate you. Scratch can see you as a friend. Libby is proud to be your friend." Loki said. "But just because we have a good relationship with you, it doesn't mean we have to be friends with each other."
"But it's a really good idea." Molly said. "We can all hang out, go on crazy adventures, avoid the Asgardian guys for fun…"
"As fun as that last one is, it's not going to happen, especially with Libby." Loki said. "Even if I wanted to be friends with her, she clearly doesn't trust me. Whenever she's not insulting me or reminding me of all my past schemes, she keeps badgering me about how I died. It's frustrating."
"Well… maybe it would help a bit of you just tell…" Molly said before getting interrupted by a very upset Loki.
"FOR THE LAST TIME, I'D RATHER NOT TALK ABOUT IT!"
Out of frustration, Loki threw an angry fist down accidentally hitting something. He turned and saw that he had just flipped a switch from off to on. That's when the conveyor belt underneath Molly quickly began to move her. Loki looked as Molly was carried over to the inside of a large industrial machine. Loki suddenly recognized it as a compost machine and panicked in fear.
"Molly! Oh, no! What have I done? Hold on!" Loki yelled out as he climbed on up to the hatch. Unfortunately, it was sealed shut with a numerical keypad. Not only that, but he also heard the sound of an industrial fan along with Molly's screams. "Odin's beard! What's going on in there?"
"THE FAN'S TURNED ON!" Molly screamed from inside. "I'M BARELY HOLDING ON FOR MY LIFE! LET ME OUT!"
"I can't!" Loki cried out with worry, sweat pouring from his forehead. "I don't know the code! I'll go get help!"
Loki jumped from the platform where the hatch was and landed back on solid ground. He ran over to Libby and Scratch who were still fighting over the envelope. Loki stopped them by taking the envelope himself and ripping it into pieces.
"Hey! What was that for?" Scratch asked.
"We'd already be done by now if ectoplasm hands hadn't interfered." Libby said.
"I'll show you ecopla…"
"FORGET ALL THAT! FORGET THE SCAVENGER HUNT! FORGET THE STUPID BEST FRIEND CONTEST!" Loki yelled out. "Listen! Molly's stuck in the compost machine! If we don't save her, she's going to be torn to ribbons!"
"WHAT?!" both Scratch and Libby yelled out. They followed Loki to the compost machine where Molly's screams were still heard.
Scratch floated on into the machine to try and help Molly. He grabbed Molly's hands trying to keep her from getting pulled into the giant fan. Meanwhile, Loki helped Libby up to the keypad where she proceeded to examine. Libby looked up at the water tower and proceeded to type down the number she was thinking of: 02291872. With the hatch unlocked, Libby opened it up allowing Scratch to carry Molly out to safety.
Once they landed, they were met up with Loki, who gave an exhausted sigh of relief. "Thank goodness! You're okay!"
"I have you all to thank for that." Molly said.
"Libby, I gotta know, how did you know what code to enter?" Scratch asked.
"Oh, I took a guess." Libby said. "It was based on the day Brighton was founded. I read on the water tower that it was February 29, 1872."
"The extra day of a leap year?" Loki asked. "You never think about anniversaries on that day."
"This is why you're all my best friends." Molly said. "Especially you, Loki."
"Yeah. I guess you're not as bad as I made you out to be." Libby said. "For what it's worth, Molly has such amazing friends."
"Yeah, she does. Doesn't she?" Loki asked slowly beginning to frown. He sighed and sat on a nearby bale of hay. "All right, you three. Take a seat."
"What for?" Libby asked.
"The reason why Molly almost dies is because I was hiding away my past. I was too ashamed at how I died, I almost lost… a friend. So the only fair thing to do will be to tell you how I died."
"Finally?" Scratch asked sitting on another bale. Molly and Libby sat with him.
"You don't have to tell us, you know." Molly said. "I mean, I did push you."
"And I'm already warming up to you." Libby said. "There's no need to do this."
"Nevertheless, you're right, Libby." Loki said. "I'm not going to hold back any bit of truth anymore. So… here I go."
As Loki explained, he snapped his fingers and a green light glimmered from his hands. The light formed into parts of his story as he described relatively.
"It was shortly before I met Molly and Scratch. We were experiencing a rare astronomical event called the Convergence where all the Nine Realms would align and the barriers between them would be at their weakest. At random places, there were portals that lead anywhere in the Nine Realms. Ever the mischievous opportunist, I decided to use this event to my advantage in my latest scheme to take over Asgard.
"Prior to the Convergence, I had kidnapped a team of scientists and had them set up a lab in Norway, which is where the Convergence was at its most frequent. Their job was to study the portals and use them to create our own portal generator specifically designed to fully replicate the Bifrost, the sacred bridge between Asgard and the other realms. With a fully-operational Bifrost, I could send an army of my allies straight into Odin's throne room and take him by surprise.
"The day of the Convergence came and my generator was ready. I was about to turn it on when suddenly, Thor appeared. As it turned out, he caught wind of my plans and came to stop me. Naturally, I wasn't going to let him win that easily, so I fought him over it. Our battle raged across the lab, and I was so caught up with winning, I didn't notice that it was damaging several key components to the Bifrost generator.
"At the climax of the battle, I knew I wasn't going to conquer Asgard, but I had a way to escape. I set the Bifrost machine to take me anywhere within the Nine Realms at random. I didn't notice the machine was damaged, but Thor did. He tried to warn me against going in, that the portal might be too unstable, but I didn't listen. I just went in refusing to hear out my greatest enemy. As soon as I stepped in, I immediately realized my mistake as I felt a great pain surge throughout my body, and all because of the portal I was in. It felt like my whole body was being torn into pieces. The machine blew up, the portal I was in collapsed too early, and then… there was only darkness for me.
"When I came to, I realized I had lost my corporeal body and I was a spirit. I protested against Death saying I didn't deserve to die like this, so she set me aside until she could find something I can be satisfied with. Of course, it turned out to involve living as a kid helping Scratch out with his job. And you all know the rest."
When Loki finished his tale, his light illustration disappeared into nothingness. Molly, Libby, and Scratch stared at Loki with a combination of disbelief and surprise.
"Wow. That's quite a bit." Libby said.
"A bit? That was a lot." Scratch said.
"Loki, why didn't you tell us this sooner?" Molly asked.
"I was too prideful, all right?" Loki asked. "If I told that story, it would be like verbally admitting that I died because I didn't listen to Thor. But my pride almost made me lose one of my friends, so for today, I'll put that away. I'm just glad that you're…"
Molly interrupted by giving Loki a big hug. Loki hesitated, but he proceeded to hug back. Libby and Scratch joined in too. Loki smiled loving he feeling of acceptance embracing him.
"Well, from this moment on, let's all be friends." Libby said breaking the hug. "For each other."
"For each other." Loki agreed.
Molly, Loki, Libby, and Scratch:
We'll live for each other
We'll stand for each other
We'll go one hand in hand for each other
Molly:
I'm happy you all are willing to band for each other
Molly, Loki, Libby, and Scratch:
We'll go for each other
All day for each other
Going all the way for each other
Scratch:
Let's make sure that Molly is okay for each other
SO FOR EACH OTHER, WE'LL ALWAYS TRY
Loki:
AT LEAST THAT THAT'S NO LIE
Libby:
I GUESS YOU'RE NOT THAT BAD A GUY
Molly:
OH, I'M SO HAPPY, I COULD JUST DIE
Molly, Loki, Libby, and Scratch:
FOR EACH OTHER, WE WILL BE FRIENDS
'TIIIIIIIL THEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEND