Yes, it's time for the Chitauri invasion! The fact that Ari was easily taken over shows how drained she was from helping Loki. I will be showing part of her internal struggle with Thanos's control. This will affect her and lead to the intense events of Chapter 9. This is where major events will be highly altered. Some may not happen at all.

I know I posted this one fast, but I just had to get it out. Since Ariana wasn't in most of it, and really, he's trying to help, so Loki is obviously fighting, it may feel a bit rushed, but when a battle is raging, nothing is slow and many details go unnoticed, so yes, everything is happening all at once, but it makes perfect sense if you really think about it.

Differences mentioned in this chapter: The battle and dialogue are different since it is Ari in charge rather than Loki.

Ariana stood atop Stark Tower. Everything was in place, the tesseract doing its job, and the Chitauri would soon arrive. Thanos's plan would begin here.

Stop this! the real Ariana begged. Those people are innocent! She didn't know if Thanos heard her or not, but she felt like he had and the silence taunted her. I don't want this!

Thor dropped Loki off so he could talk to her and attempt to bring her back. Loki looked up at her as she turned. She looked so commanding and took his breath away. But he also knew the pain she was suffering under such control.

"Ariana!" he called out. "You can stop this! Just put the scepter down and allow me to help!"

"Not this time, foolish god!" she said, firing a blast at him.

Loki! Ariana called out to him.

"I will not give up on you, love!" Loki said. "I know you are there! Fight with me like you did to free me!"

"I intend to fight you," she said. "This plan will succeed. It was a mistake to have you lead. Who could expect the God of Mischief to be good at anything but causing pain and misfortune?"

Her words stung, but he knew they did not belong to her. He kept that uppermost in his mind. She did not believe those words. She saw the real Loki. Now it was his turn to get the real Ariana to come back.

But before he had a chance to get close enough to her, she blasted him back. He fell over the edge but grabbed the ledge. Inside, she screamed out her denial, but outside, she smirked. She walked up to him and looked down at him.

"Ariana," he said, not liking being so high in the air, "don't do this."

"Why not?" she asked. "Why shouldn't I just let everything out."

"Because you can't access it, can you, Thanos?"

She clicked her tongue. "So what? I can defeat you with her other skills."

"No, you had time to work on me. But you were impatient and have not broken her will down. Because she helped me get rid of you, her mind was tired. But her will is stronger than anyone I know. She doesn't need me to get you out. That's how strong she is."

Ariana stared at him. Inside, she wept at his words. She fought harder, but not before the scepter was brought down hard on Loki's hand to make him let go.

"Perhaps watching herself kill you will destroy what will she has left."

Loki paused for a moment, a tear falling. "I love you, Ariana. None of this is your fault."

He let go. She looked over and watched him take one of the Chitauri chariots. A tear had fallen from her own eye unnoticed. There was relief in him getting the chariot. She stood up just in time for Thor to appear.

"Little Storm, this is enough," he said. "End this. We all know this is not what you want. Shut down the tesseract, now!"

"It's too late, Thor!"

He tried to hold her, but she pulled out her knife and stabbed him. She may not have liked him, but she never wanted him dead. And he was hurt by her hand. No!

Tony appeared and walked down the balcony walkway, his armor being removed as he did so. Ariana followed him, smiling.

"So, what?" she asked. "Some quality father-daughter time? To talk me out of this?"

"No, I'm going to threaten you."

"Really, dad? Threaten your little girl?"

"Well, you have brought an extraterrestrial army to Earth."

They stood toe to toe. "So, how do you plan on punishing me?"

"Well, the Avengers, that's what we call ourselves, will stop this and put you in a cell until we can get you some help. If they have to, they will fight you."

"Only after they fight you, dad." She tapped the scepter to his chest, but nothing happened, so she tried again. "Why isn't this working?"

"If you were my little girl, you'd know the answer to that."

She used her telekinesis to throw Tony out of the window in anger. But his suit came to his rescue and he flew back. He blasted her, but she used the scepter to block. He knocked it from her hand and then knocked her out. He hated to do it, but it was the only way to keep her safe. He went to help the others.

He got information about a nuke coming. Taking it through the portal, he passed out and fell from the sky. Hulk caught him while the others gathered around him. He awoke and they all went to see Ariana, who was just waking up herself. She saw seven people standing in front of her, waiting to see which Ariana they were dealing with, ready to attack.

She sat up slowly, curling up and crying. Everyone relaxed, except for Tony, Loki, and Steve. Sparks began to appear around her. Loki and Steve went to her side. Steve could hardly stand the sparking, but Loki pulled her into his arms. The sparking stopped as he comforted her.

"It's over now, darling," he said. "Take deep breaths before you make yourself sick."

She looked up after a moment. She removed herself from him and went to Steve. Though the extra static caused him to tingle, he didn't let her go. Loki got up and walked out. Thor followed.

"Brother, I need space," said Loki.

"She will return when she has healed," said Thor. "She still needs you."

"She has the super soldier now."

"She may be with him at this time, but she turns to you even when she doesn't know it."

"It hurts seeing her with him."

"It should. She's the best thing to ever happen to you."

"But I lost her two years ago."

"Speaking of that. She said I hurt you. I never knew what she meant."

"I told you I only wanted to be your equal back then. That's all I ever wanted. Mother treated us the same, but father…"

"I see. So, when I would get praised for winning the battles, it hurt that you didn't get praised."

"It was my plans we followed. But he never saw that. So yes, it hurt."

"I never told him who came up with the plans. I always assumed he knew and would praise you on it in private."

"No."

"Then, I apologize that I never spoke up."

"Thank you."

"Now that is settled, about your woman, give her time and she will come back. She is healing from the pain of losing you. She needs to get used to you being around. I'll speak with Stark, see about you joining."

"He hates me. I hurt her by leaving at father's command, then the Destroyer, and now this. He won't let me join. And who says I want to?"

"Then, I'll talk to Fury. Saving Ariana is bound to be in your favor. And it will keep you in her life. She does work with SHIELD and will most likely join the Avengers to make up for this."

"But it wasn't her fault."

"And from what I just heard, none of the other things were your fault."

"I did try to take over Asgard and used the Destroyer on you."

"She was right. You were angry and hurting. We all do things we aren't proud of when we get like that. I'll talk to father and explain when I take the tesseract to Asgard."

"Am I not supposed to go with you?"

"Yes, but Ariana needs you right now. Oh, I will also tell him you love her."

"No. He will then expect both of us to go, and I will not have her being a pawn in father's game. She will have enough to heal from just from this."

"I will stall, but he should know. I will explain that you will be working with the Avengers, under tight supervision and to make up for your crimes."

"Better than Asgard's dungeons."

"You don't know that's where father would send you."

"Of course, he would. I committed crimes against Asgard. It's the only option for him."

"Well, not anymore." He put his hand on Loki's shoulder. "I may not have been the best brother before, but I can be there for you now."

"Thank you, brother."

"Now, I'll talk to Fury before leaving. I expect you to be on your best behavior." Loki looked at Thor like he was an idiot. "For Ariana."

Loki nodded. For her, he'd do anything.

Ariana and Loki were in the cell. She didn't move, except to rock back and forth. Her head felt like it was about to split open. When she had nearly killed Loki, Thanos was able to access her abilities. Her will had slipped. She had hurt Thor. Thrown her father from the top of Stark Tower. Called an army from across space. People had died because of her.

Loki couldn't take the distance between them and sat next to her, saying, "It's going to be alright. They're just talking."

"I don't care if I spend the rest of my life here, Loki," she replied.

"It wasn't your fault."

"It was. When you fell… he won. It took hurting Thor and throwing dad for me to finally get him out. Right before dad knocked me out, I did it, but…"

"That shows how strong you are. You took longer than you expected to come back, but you came back stronger."

"The people are asking me to be removed from SHIELD, Loki. They want me locked up."

"All the good you have done will be accounted for. No one will allow you to be put in prison."

"No, you'll get the pardon. I brought the army here, not you. You helped."

Steve walked in and opened the door, replying, "You both are pardoned with conditions. One of us has to be with you at all times until it is seen that you are trustworthy." He went to Ariana. "Loki will stay with Nat or Thor, and Ariana with me or Tony. They wanted to send him to Asgard, but Thor spoke in favor of him staying here."

"What other conditions?" Ariana asked.

"Well, you can no longer work for SHIELD. Instead, you both join the Avengers, working to protect Earth."

"We agree," said Loki, earning a look from Ariana. "What?"

"What if I don't?"

"You are not staying in this cell. We both were controlled. We can't be blamed for that. Besides, you were already working for them. Now, you have a hero title to add to your list of accomplishments."

Ariana smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. That told him that she appreciated the help, but it didn't make her feel better. Steve made her look at him.

"It's only for a year," he said. "Two for Loki because of New Mexico."

She smiled at him and he hugged her. Loki got up and went for a walk around the helicarrier. He knew he was followed by Natasha, but he didn't care. She was giving him space. Meanwhile, Ariana leaned into Steve.

"I do agree to join," she said.

"I knew that already, sweetheart," he said.

"I'm scared. Normally, the public likes me because I'm a Stark. Now…"

"You're going to be fine. Anyway, let's get back home. I want to spend some time with my girl."

She gave a real smile then. "I love you, Steve."

"I love you too."