"Good evening, after a day of another alien invasion on Earth, I am happy to report that the invasion is now over and clean up crews are starting to come in to clean up the left over debris from the attack." said the reporter in front of a wreckage. "There hasn't been any more sightings of the unknown beings."
Once the reporter said that, both Loki and Darcy just gives a sigh of relief as they hear that confirmation and the idea that they no longer have to deal with the Dark Elves and they can move forward from all of this. Loki is just happy that his mother has been avenged and now he can try to move on, no matter how hard it might be, since he has lost everything in past two years and the past couple of days is the moment where his fate is sealed and he can't go back. He can't go back home, he has lost his mother and all chances to ever try to make amends to his father or rather Odin, since he doesn't deserve to still call him, his father after everything that happened. That now both Thor and Odin now think he's dead and there is no way he can ever reveal himself without having to pay the consequences later and right now he has to focus on trying to get past everything and figure out his next move. At least he doesn't have to worry about the Dark Elves anymore and he can move past all of this.
"Now this is so awesome!" said Darcy rather excitedly catching Loki by surprise. "I can't believe that I helped stop a Dark Elf invasion! Isn't that so cool?!"
"Come on, it's just a typical invasion." said Loki annoyed. "It's not like you actually stopped it."
"But it's still great to see what I did on the news." said Darcy returning the annoyed tone, before turning back to the tv in excitement. "Now shh! I want to hear the next part."
"That's right folks, the one and only Avenger from Asgard, Thor saved London from what could have been a major catastrophe." said the reporter. "He returned to Earth to save us all from the imminent threat according to bystanders and Video footage."
"Typical, he was only here for a day and already the Midgardians are worshipping him." Said Loki. "I wouldn't be surprised if they are ready to declare a holiday dedicated to him."
"As we get further development of this story, we are getting reports and following another recent story." said the reporter. "Apparently Thor isn't the only hero in London today, we have gotten recent reports of a mysterious hero."
"What?!" said Darcy who is surprised by the news and eagerly waits for more details.
"That's right folks, a mysterious stranger went out of his way to save some lives that could have been lost today." the reporter continues. "We also received some video footage of this stranger fighting off some of the aliens from earlier."
The next thing both Loki and Darcy knew is that they are watching the footage of Loki fighting off the Dark Elves and as Loki continues to see the video, the footage makes his presence look blurry and the illusion helped make him look completely unrecognizable and at the same time. But still the unwanted attention is not making Loki feel any good, he just hopes that for some miracle no one would piece together the puzzle and realize that it was him. The last thing he wants is to deal with Thor, Jane or any of the Avengers. He can't believe that he even bothered to save those people and even with all of the precautions he took, he was still caught. What was he thinking?
Darcy is focussing on the tv screen and tries to see who might be the mysterious hero, before it came to her that from what she have seen on the tv and the sight of what happened. Remembering all of the time that she spent doing her part in helping to stop the Dark Elves, aside from them, she didn't really see anyone else fighting off the Dark Elves and quickly put the pieces together. She turns to see Loki as she realize the truth and figures that aside from them, he's the only one who knew about the Dark Elf invasion and could have been able to put up a fight or at least have enough reason to fight off the Dark Elves. The only one that knows enough to put up a fight and yet has a reason to be upset about the Dark Elves to be ready to fight them off, but at the same time she thinks that it would be so awesome if Loki did that and really hope that he did do it.
"That was you isn't it?" asked Darcy surprised and unsure about her roommate. "Did you really help those people?"
"It appears so and I am starting to hate these phone devices." said Loki with a sigh as he stared at the tv annoyed at the development.
"Thanks to this hero, he not only defeated some of the creatures but he also saved an entire residential area from the attacks." continued the reporter. "I'm here now with the Evans family who claims to have met the hero and is willing to tell the story of how he saved them from these alien beings."
The cameras heads over to focus on the family that Loki saved a few hours ago, he is relieved to see that the family is alright and his efforts were not all for nothing and that at least they all made it out alive. But he still wishes that his actions didn't land on the Midgardians' minds and really hopes that no one else figures it out that it was him and Thor will tell everyone of his 'death' in the coming days, so anyone else would give up on that theory. Even then he was under an illusion and there is also the fact that his reputation would be the cover that he needs to keep anyone from finding out the truth. The last thing he needs is for his attempts of unintentionally saving that family to bring him any trouble, as much as he enjoys receiving the positive attention and taking it away from his brother for a brief second, he still has to make sure that no one else knows he's on Midgard.
"So tell me about this guy, how did this mystery stranger found you guys?" asked the reporter as he reach out his microphone towards the family. "Did any of you see what he might have looked like?"
"Due to the smoke, we didn't get a good look of him, my husband with one of our babies and our cat were the first to make it out. My son or I didn't have a chance to glance at him before he started distracting the Dark Elves for the rest of us to escape." said Mrs. Evans. "By the time we left and found the others, he was gone. I have no idea on how-"
"He's really nice, I told him where everyone is! I saw him!" said Casey excitedly. "He has a nice black and green suit, with long black hair! He saved me from the monsters and said that he would love to save my family."
"Really? You would 'love to save her family?" asked Darcy in disbelief and in an almost mocking tone.
"I never said that specifically, I believe that girl is exagerrgtinng." said Loki hastily.
As the girl continues to talk, he grows more worried from the girl's rambling and hopes that Thor wasn't watching this or putting the pieces together. Since from the sound of it, she is doing a good job praising him and at times he feels it is a little too good of a job. They continue to watch the girl rambling his her praise, Darcy can't help but let out of a giggle as she sees the scene plays out. She finds it cute that the girl is praising Loki nonstop and find it funny how he doesn't know what to make all of it. Along with being a little impressed by what Loki did and starting to see him in a new light, one that she doesn't know if anyone other than Thor or his mom has ever seen. Before she can say anything...
"That's enough Casey, we don't want to embarrass your newfound friend." said her mom patiently and playfully as Loki gives a sigh of relief.
"Besides, we're almost out of time, is there anything else you would want to say before we go?" asked the reporter.
"Yes I do." said Casey before anyone has a chance to say anything. "Hi out there! Thank You!"
"I do as well. If you're watching, I would like to thank you for your bravery and for saving my life. More importantly my family, I wish you the best and hope that we can meet again someday." said Mr. Evans. "I will always be grateful for what you did for us."
Without even saying another word, Loki quickly and quietly turns off the tv and takes a quick second to reflect on the entire situation. He's annoyed by the revelation of what he did and at the same time, feels a sense of gratitude from the recognition and how the family was grateful of what he did for them. Though he is more worried that this could have and might still lead to his exposure of his survival and being on Earth. It doesn't help that Darcy is now staring at him in disbelief about what just happened and he is starting to become nervous on how she is going to react to it and what she is going to say.
"Loki, what you did was amazing!" said Darcy excitedly to much of Loki's surprise before turning annoyed.
"No it was not." said Loki. "That was a foolish mistake I just made, I could have done more harm than good by endangering myself in that building. Not too mention, it nearly exposed my presence on this planet and it could have led to more complications for me later on."
"But Loki, you're a hero." said Darcy pointing out the facts and is surprised that Loki would be so dismissive towards what happened. "You saw those people on tv they're happy that you did what you did and-"
"I am not a hero, I was just someone who wanted to do nothing more than give the Dark Elves a hard time while I was on my walk." said Loki. "I only even came across them because I was nothing more than curious in what was going on when I heard that child's cries for help, I wasn't planning to save her, let alone everyone in that area." I only did it... to protect my identity being revealed and later continue living my life on the run without ever having to deal anything of this sort again."
"Yeah, but you still went out of your way to save them whether it's intentional or not." said Darcy. "I mean you saved those many lives and that alone makes you a hero right? I mean going out there and doing everything to-"
"Darcy, I am not a hero and I don't believe in the foolish philosophy that my brother does." said Loki. "I am just someone who wanted nothing more to look after myself and I am not going to make a habit of going around saving humans."
"That won't change the fact that you are a hero and what you did, saving these people's lives was wonderful." said Darcy. "You shouldn't be ashamed of it, whether it was intentional or not, you still saved all of those people. Once people start to find out that it was you, then they are so going to forgive you or at least start to see you differently."
"Darcy this is a one time thing, there is no way I am going to do that again or even consider making this a reoccurrence." said Loki. "It would be best if you forget about all of this and the idea of me becoming a hero. If I want to deal with unwanted popularity and an angry Thor then that would be the best course of action and it would be best if we ignore all of this and move on before it goes too far."
With that Loki simply leaves the living room and heads right into the kitchen, to try to see if there is something edible in the refrigerator and to try to forget about everything that happened and hope that it won't lead to anymore trouble for him. While Darcy stayed and turned on the tv to see if there are more reports about Loki's heroism or find other stations that are now reporting on it. From the look of things, she starts to see that Loki is on the starting point of change and one that she sees that he has the potential of being a good guy and that this could be the turning point for Loki. That maybe he can change and he already started to change, maybe all Loki needs is a push in the right direction.
All she needs to do is give Loki that push and try to help him, to show him that he can be something more and to help him become a good guy. Darcy knows that he might want to do good things rather than evil things that might end up being destructive such as taking over a planet if he sees how much more rewarding than going down that dark path. Darcy knows that he is starting to change and maybe she can help, to get him to see that he can be a hero or it's the last thing she do.
Meanwhile back in Asgard
Thor just arrived back, leaving the comforts of Earth, Jane and the friends he made there to face his father and to deliver the news of his victory and Loki's death and to bring the Aether to Asgard for safe keeping. He is saddened by the recent events and how he has lost half of his family in less than a week, how he has failed to save his mother and let Loki out of the dungeon to face his death. If he haven't asked Loki for his help then maybe he would still be alive in his cell and be safe from the wrath of the Dark Elves. It is his fault that it led to Loki's death and he will forever have to live with that as he continues to go down the halls that are full of memories of the time that they spent growing up and every moment of being together.
He eventually made it to the throne room, not even sure how he is going to break the news to his father or if he would be ready for the next part. Thor figures that it might be best if he starts with the good news and then transition towards the bad news. He doesn't even know if it was more for his father or for himself. But he is going to have to to do it and is about to face his father with not only the truth but to also make the request that he has been wanting to make. He heads his way towards Odin, ready to say the words that he needs to say and at the same time he also is ready to follow his own desires with the hope that his father would be willing to let him go.
"Um... Hello Father." said Thor trying hard to hide his own anxiety with a straight face.
"Thor, I thought that you would be off celebrating with your friends either on Midgard or find time for both." said Odin catching Thor by surprise and quickly offered an explanation. "I had Heimdell watch the battle and report the results of your glorious victory."
"I also have more news to share and it might not be as glorious." said Thor as he looks down on the ground somberly and sighs. "Loki is dead and I would like to return to the Dark World and retrieve his body."
"I know, a guard came to me yesterday and told me everything." said Odin catching Thor by surprise. "He also took the liberty of burring Loki's body for us and gave him the respect of burying him and giving him a private funeral for us."
Thor starts to feel immediate anger at himself from this development and is upset that he failed his brother again. He didn't even have a chance to pay his final respects and lay him to rest, he couldn't keep a promise to Loki even after he died saving him. Thor can't even keep the promise now, if Loki is now buried and Thor couldn't even be there for that. Then he failed his brother yet again, a random guard took care of it without even thinking of anything else. Why didn't he do it himself after the sandstorm? Now Thor feels that he has abandoned Loki yet again and doesn't even know how he will ever move past the immerse guilt that he is now feeling or if he will ever be ready to move past this moment and will face the guilt that he is now feeling for the rest of his life.
"Now I know that I would never be a good king, if I can barely keep a promise to a dead Loki, how am I going to keep my word an entire realm?" said Thor hiding his true emotion "Let alone protect it and many others as well." t
"I believe that you would make a great king and Loki would agree if had never gone down the path of a tyrant. He saved both of your lives and that alone is more than enough for you to honor his sacrifice." said Odin who has the feeling that this is about Thor being king. "You once said there would never be a wiser king than me, you were wrong, the alignment has brought all the realms together. Every one of them saw you offer your life to save them. What can Asgard offer its new king in return?"
"My life Father, I can not be king of Asgard. I will protect Asgard with my last and every breath, but I can not do from that chair. Loki for all of his grave imbalance understood rule as I know I never will." said Thor. "The brutality, the sacrifice, it changes you. I would rather be good man than a great king, I may have saved all of the nine realms, but I am not ready to sit upon a throne and rule. I wish to spend time with my friends on Earth, be with Jane and at times to return here to see you and my friends in Asgard before even considering to take the throne."
"One son who wanted the throne, another who will not take it? Is this my legacy?" asked Odin surprised to see how crazy the family has become since the first coronation.
"Loki died with honor, I shall try to live the same, isn't that legacy enough?" said Thor. "If there's anything I have learned from all this is how precious time is and want to spend every moment treasuring the ones who I care about and to spend as much time with them. I don't want to lose another moment and lose the chance to spend time with anyone else I may care about."
"I see your point, I believe that it might be best for you to return to Earth for the time being and stay with these mortals until you are ready to take on the responsibilities. Asgard can't have a sentimental king who is not emotionally ready to take on the throne, you may return once you are ready to take on the throne as strong and emotionless as you are expected to be." said Odin. "One that has gotten over your grief and be ready to move on from the grief that is consuming you and be ready to take on the duties of a king."
"Thank you, father." said Thor as he hands out his hammer to Odin.
"You keep it, I have a feeling you might need it." said Odin.
Thor just gives a nod and leaves the throne room, he is glad that his father has given him the opportunity to return to Earth and at least understood what he might be going through. He stood up for what he believed in and allowed him to return to Earth, now he no longer has to worry about the burdens of the throne for the time being. But before he can return to the planet, he makes a detour to Loki's room, wanting nothing more to have one last moment to honor his brother. Ever since Loki fell to the void and the entire fiasco Loki caused on Earth, they never touched it or took anything out, Thor hopes that the same thing happens this time around as he looks at the room and remember all of the times they had together. Wishing that there was more that he could have done to save Loki and how he should have tried to reach out to his brother more.
He knows that he is going to honor the memory of his brother and is not going to forget what Loki did and for who he was before everything happened. Thor is going to make sure that he lives up to what his brother did for him and not let his sacrifice be in vain. It looks like he is going to have to move forward from all of this and try to get through this, as he leaves Loki's room for one final time and make his way towards the Bifrost. Every step he takes feels harder by the minute and he just wishes that time will start to fly faster and he would be back on Earth. All Thor could do and say is brief goodbyes to Sif and the Warriors Three, well the two that are in Asgard at the moment. When he finally arrive at the Bifrost, he just gives a brief greeting to Hiemdell as he requests to return to Earth and to try to move past the loss that he has and to move past the guilt that he is now feeling towards failing Loki. With only the hope that he will be able to find some form of healing during his time over in earth and ready to start his new life.
Once Thor is gone, Hiemdell wishes that he could tell Thor what he saw and this news is something he knows that would cheer him up and one that would end his misery. He is uncertain if it would be a good moment or if Thor would believe him or might even want to hear him say it, but one thing Hiemdell knows for sure is that he is going to keep an eye on Loki and see what happens, ready to alert Odin if Loki steps out of line. If Loki is going to use his second chance of life well and where would any of this leads...
Here's the fifth chapter remake, only twenty two chapters left for the rewrites. Once we reach the halfway point of the remakes the 51st chapter will come out but it really depends how soon I get everything done. Since there has been a lot going on and I have been trying to get everything wrapped up and to get everything done as the next rewrite is on the horizon and that is probably coming in two weeks earliest.
I wanted to fix the grammar and expand on the scenes and the thoughts that Loki, Thor and Darcy are thinking and expand on the emotions that both Loki and Thor are feeling and the story as a whole. I think that it does a better job on displaying these feelings and this part of the story, well I hope that it did as we go into the detail of the emotion and the news report, along with diving in further Darcy and Loki's conversation and Thor's sense of lost towards his brother's 'death.'
I'm also thinking of possibly doing one-shot chapters for Redemption that takes place during the time skip and it can be anything like slice of life fics, Loki teaming up with the Avengers or just Thor and Loki as Mysto of course. teaming up (it can be a midquel story with multiple chapters), maybe even a Loki and Hiemdel team up (I still want to do it and would be happy to do it in a one shot) or maybe even Loki and Darcy's adventures of searching for the Infinity Stones. But it has to take place during the time skip and not be something that would add more to the main story that it would be necessary to read them. They are mostly would be stand alone stories that still in the Redemption canon and yet still be part of the story (think of it like a spin of series of a movie that the story takes place between the previous movie and the sequel like How to Train your Dragon (the first and second) or Tangled (for the movie and Ever After short) for example.) I'm open to any idea that you guys might have, just put a review or pm me with your ideas and I'll be happy to use your ideas to write them into one shots. (Maybe even a Guardians of the Galaxy prequel/midquel before Gamora got caught by Thanos or even one before she even met Loki or went through the events of the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie?)
Though I would be mostly doing Loki ones but I am open to the idea, but I was also thinking of having them to be more interconenctive than one may think, that it would be telling an overall story which would serve as a prequel, but at the same time they would be stand alone stories and within them, they will have a story arc that will lead into the rest of Redemption after the Age of Ultron arc. But the Gamora one is definitely going to be stand alone and I am open to doing more Redemption, but before I make any decisions I want to finish this story first before I get started on one shots or any sequels. Especially since the next two chapters and the rewrites are my top priority at the moment. :)
If you guys want to share a favorite moment or have any questions, you guys are so welcome to leave a review or pm me. I'd be happy to answer any questions and be happy to hear from you when it comes to anything you all may have to say. :)
Lastly, I want to say is that I am dedicating the Redemption fanfic to a good friend that has been there for me for the last couple of years. One that I will always appreciate that our friendship happend for the rest of my life. I am dedicating this story to Brigitta Pekelharing, a friend that helped me out of the darkness that I often take for granted. But I want to thank her for everything and helping me during the darkest time of my life, her friendship has made me grow into a better person and writer. I am always going to be grateful for the friendship that we shared and the impact that it made on me. In a way if it weren't for our friendship then there might not even be a Redemption because she got me into Marvel movies and helped me at the beginning of writting the fanfic. Thanks Brigitta for everything :)
So how is Darcy going to get Loki to become a hero? Will Loki be open for it or will he deny it? Is this going to be the start of change or will there be something holding Loki back? Who was the one that was watching Loki in the earlier chapters? Will they bring any trouble to Loki and to some extent Darcy? What will the lasting consequences be for the past and whatever whomever is following Loki? How will Thor start to get over from everything that has happened and will he start to heal or find out the truth? What will Hiemdell do with knowing about Loki? Find out in the next chapter, see ya in the next update. :)