Loki is standing right in front of the bathroom mirror, not even sure what to think or how to make of the current situation. Since the past two days then there has been nothing more of inconveniences and the very idea that Thanos is finally coming after him is what is taking over his mind. That it would be the start of the end for him and then he would be after the stones and it would be the end of everything. It also doesn't help that Darcy is now pushing him even more to make a stand against Thanos and he knows that it's impossible. Not only it would lead to more trouble than what is worth, but he would also have to deal with Thanos again and he doesn't want to end up in a war against someone that is more powerful than him, that it is almost terrifying.
Not too mention, there is also the fact that Darcy is basically asking him to fight off him in order to save the universe from Thanos's twisted plans and that alone would guarantee in failure. Even then he would not go around and pursue a childish and sentimental desire to go around and save the universe like a hero would and it would simply be against who he is. Loki knows that he is never meant to be a hero or would ever consider going down that path, just thinking about it is already making him want to gag and roll his eyes at the same time. Darcy just doesn't know what she is saying and doesn't understand that what she wants is impossible. Not only because Thanos is more likely to win regardless of what anyone may try to do, but there is no hope for him. No hope that anything would change...
He decides that since he's here then he might as well get ready for bed and to at least prepare for tomorrow. He decided that it would be best to leave this planet before it gets out of control. Loki is going to wake up really early and then head on his way, without Darcy seeing that he's leaving and that alone is what he is going to do. He is not going to stay here when Thanos knows where he is and hearing Darcy on her futile goals of trying to turn him into a hero. That it would continue happening over and over by the time that it will become overbearing and he is not going to stay and be told what to do by someone who doesn't even know who he is and thinks that she can just go in and try to get him to go out and do something that is not only impossible but at the same time he would never do it. He is not going to go out to help the universe, especially with something that would only just bring more trouble.
Loki decides to just try to forget about his troubles and Darcy's ideas of him becoming a hero and just try to get ready for bed. Since if he is going to leave then he is going to need all of the rest he can get. There is no telling what he is going to face or if he will be ready to face whatever he might encounter on any planet that he may end up in or worse Thanos or one of his associates. He simply transform from his Asgardian armor to something that might be more comfortable to sleep in and then opens the door to leave the bathroom and return to the comforts of the couch and just go to sleep.
When he opens the door, he is happy and relief to see that Darcy must have already gone to her bedroom and with the hope that she would already be asleep. Then he can get himself settled and then he can just relax a little bit without even having to deal with Darcy and her ideas. He can't even imagine what it would be like and so far things are not working out for him and that is making him even more frustrated with his current living situation. Loki has always thought that when he arrived on Earth, maybe before he wound up on this planet, that he would find somewhere that he would have a quiet life where he doesn't have to worry about any of his troubles and can simply go into hiding and then live out his days. Not going out and about, doing these heroic deeds and being as Darcy would put it "superheroing."
He is tired of going around and needing to use his magic to hide himself and creating illusions to try to save people and help the situation. While he hopes that his secret would still safe and he won't have to worry about the wrong people finding out and dealing with them. Not too mention, Darcy made it really clear that if he doesn't comply than he would have to find a new place to live and he would be playing right into her blackmail. Then he would be trapped in this repetitive cycle where the only escape would be leaving before it's too late and he is going to do so before it gets to that point.
Sure he can always just talk to Darcy about his concerns in hopes that she would understand and forget about her wishes of him becoming a hero, but where would that lead? If he leaves right now then he won't have to worry about dealing with all of the unnecessary things that is coming or Darcy pushing him to do anything about it. Though the real question is where would he go, no one knows that he's alive except Darcy and once he leaves then he is going to have to be more careful simply because Thanos will be after him and that alone is what makes him more nervous by the minute as he stops to think about the entire situation and the problems that he is going to face once he leaves. He thinks that it would be alright if Darcy still knows and he doesn't see the harm of her knowing.
It is not like he stands a chance or will find a way to escape if Thanos finds him with all six Infinity Stones, the Chituari and the Black Order anyway. He won't be able to escape from them or even try to fight them off without a guaranteed lost in his attempt. Who is he even kidding? There is no way staying on this planet or let alone anywhere with Thanos finally coming after him and they will stop at nothing until they find him. The Avengers would never let a manic cause destruction and if they ever find out that he's alive then he will be used as a bargaining chip and that will be the end of it.
Besides Thanos is too powerful for anyone to dare to try to put up a fight and he can't fight him, he will target Darcy for information and then he will target anyone who he believes that might have the answer and the universe will be doomed. He knows that Thanos would never accept an 'I don't know' or 'he's dead.' Thanos would probably take them as prisoners or worse kill them just because he thinks that they are all lying to him. Loki doesn't know what he would think about this, he knows that it would end terribly if that were to happen and that alone will cause more destruction.
He just have to leave before it gets out of control and then Thanos will have no reason to attack Midgard, not that he cares or anything and he would only care if it means that his secret would be in jeopardy and then Loki will only fight just because he has to protect his secret and he would need to be one step ahead of them every time. For now Loki is just going to have to rest and then he will go and make a plan on the way and he just hopes that it would be a good plan and one that would somehow work and yet allow him the opportunity to escape from everything and leave before something happens and then he will just start a new life away from it all. Loki lays down on the couch and then just simply use his magic to turn off the lights and make the room more comfortable, he has a busy morning ahead of him and he is going to need all of the rest he can get. Even if he is going to think about it all night, though the thoughts that are going around Loki's head is allowing him to fall asleep to only escape the pressure and yet allowing him to see something new...
A few seconds later
Loki finds himself standing on a strange land, one that is similar to the world he ended up when he first met Thanos. Yet there is something mysterious and unfamiliar about it, that Loki knows that it's not the planet that Thanos usually inhabitates and that just makes him feel a sense of relief as he sees that he's not there. But the real question is where is he and how did he get there and why is he even here? He doesn't even need to think hard to know that this has to be a dream or some strange figment of his own imagination that is probably not going to lead to anywhere and it might be simply because of his own nerves of the future and leaving before Thanos has the chance to get him to do anything to get the Infinity Stones, he may not care that much about others, but he definitely does not want to contribute to the end of the universe and then die from the entire ordeal.
He figures that it might be best to start exploring and see what might be in this place, then maybe see what might be the best thing to do. The world is everlasting and that everything seems to be peaceful and yet allowing one to admire it's beauty as he sees the world that he is now in. Trying to figure out the mystery that is right in front of him and Loki is trying to see if he can find any clues or to see if there is something that might give him a hint that might possibly lead to answers. He continues to make his way through the world and so far he is not seeing anything that might lead to anything. It's just a strange world where it's no where close on being where he was when trapped with Thanos. That is until...
Suddenly there is a movement and Loki immediately pulls out his daggers ready to fight off whatever might be out there and to see if there might be a need to fight off whatever creature that might be lurking in the shadows. He takes a good look of his surroundings, wanting to see what he is up against and to fight if off, if whatever is a threat and he's going to fight off it and only hopes that it would somehow get past this without a fight or if he can make an easy escape that he would be able to finally get out of it and then hopefully wake up from the entire ordeal and he would still be at Darcy's home. The tension starts to grow intensely as he feels the movement right around him and to start to see if there is something approaching him or if there is a way to try to know what it is and ready to fight off whatever is right out there. That is hiding right out there and he is ready to face it.
"I know you're out there, who are you?" said Loki rather defensively. "Show yourself!"
"Loki, It is so good to see you again and to speak with you again." said a voice hidden from sight.
"I would say the same thing if I knew who you are." said Loki as he tighten his daggers and trying not to get his hopes up.
"Loki, I am surprised that you don't recognize my voice or have you forgotten?" said the Voice as she heads closer to the light. "I would never forget you, a mother would never forget her own son."
As if it was on cue, the figure reveals herself from the shadows and from the sight, it makes Loki drop his daggers on who's right in front of her. It is Frigga, who looks ever so elegantly as she was the last time he saw her and Loki can't believe that he is actually seeing his mother again, after everything that has happened and what was said in their previous conversation before her death. Loki doesn't even know what to make of this or if he can find the words to say it, his mother is right here and she is alive and well. That is he thinks she is and hopes that she is alright, that this is not a dream...
"Mother... How can you be here?" said Loki as he stares at amazement towards his mother. "It's not possible for someone who died to make any contact to someone who is in the realm of the living, unless... Did you somehow find a way to survive?"
"No, I am still dead." said Frigga, resulting in Loki looking down with regret and disappointment. "But I came back just this once to provide some guidance that will help you in the long run."
"Does it really matter why you're here?" said Loki happily. "I am glad that you're here and that I can see you again."
"I am delighted to see you as well Loki." said Frigga. "To see you on the start of your second chance and the start of a new journey and-"
"Before you can say anything, I just want to apologies for everything." said Loki full of guilt. "I am sorry for what I said, back in my cell and what I said. If I could take that moment then I would and I would have done something to change the words that were said and find a way to save you. But I can't and I only hope that I will earn your forgiveness someday and you still call me your son."
"I have already forgiven you, who would I be if I don't?" said Frigga.
"I only wish that there is a way that I can make it up to you, that I can fix the mistakes of the past and find a way to bring you back." said Loki as he looks down on the ground as he stops to think about everything that has happened.
"You can not change the past no matter how much you may wish that you can." said Frigga. "But I know that there is a way to make it up to me and give you a chance to heal from this entire ordeal and offer you a chance to heal from everything that has happened."
"What? Yes mother, I will do anything to make it right." said Loki. "What is it?"
"Do as your friend suggested and go out help those people, become a hero and do everything in your power to try to stop Thanos." said Frigga catching Loki by surprise. "Try to fix your mistakes and make amends for the past by helping the world in trying to help save it."
"First of all, Darcy is not my friend and second there is no way I would ever do something like that." said Loki. "Not only it is not my concern, but it would also jeopardize everything. No one else aside from Darcy knows that I am alive and Thanos will be ready to come after me even more so now, since he knows that I am on Earth."
"Loki, you and your friend are the only ones that knows about what Thanos is planning to do and thus making you the only ones that can make a stand against him." said Frigga. "If you don't then it would not only be a threat to the entire universe, but he would also be a threat to you and he would continue to hunt the stones down and won't rest until he gets a hold of them and later you."
"I am not the hero type, the only thing I am good at is causing pain and destruction." said Loki. "I killed and hurt others for my own benefit, I have become the monster that children hear about in those stories. Even if I wanted to do so, then there is no hope for anyone and it would only help make everything easier for him. I would only make things worse and would create more destruction and... it would not change anything and would never make things right."
At that moment, Loki turns away from his mother and thinks about everything that has happened in the past two years, developing a sense of guilt and not even sure if he wants to think about it. If he chooses to face Thanos, then it would guarantee that he would have to face him again and that is something that Loki doesn't want to do again anytime soon. There is also the fact that he has done many things that this futile quest would never be enough to make up for the past, he has done many things and hurt his brother, mother, father and his home and one of the places that Thor is fond of. Nothing can ever change the facts or allow him to make up for the past, it will never be enough and he knows that and can't do this. Especially since he's someone who is never meant to be a hero and the only thing that he has ever done in his life is cause pain and destruction, there is no way he can do this and what he did is unforgivable...
"You are not a monster Loki," said Frigga placing a hand on Loki. "you were hurt by the truth and that pain made you do horrible things. One can hardly blame you for being hurt by living a lie for the majority of your life, anyone would feel the same as well. Though they might not make the same choices as you did, but this is your chance to do something that will allow you to make amends."
"Just because I was hurt, it doesn't make anything better. Doing this won't undo what I did, I'm just lost, I don't even know what to do or if I can do anything." said Loki as faces his mother. "I don't know what to do, I need to leave Midgard if I want to escape Thanos, but now part of me wants to stay only because if I leave Earth then I would be on the run from Thanos forever and I would like to live the rest of my life hiding somewhere in peace, not on the run. But from everything I did, I doubt that it would ever be enough and it is far too late for me to do anything."
"Many at times loses their way Loki, when one finally realizes how far they have fallen, it leads them to question who they are and they doubt that they can do anything to make it right." said Frigga. "It is never too late to make things right, you can go out there and be the person that I know you are and can do this."
"Even if I do this, what if I fail?" said Loki. "Thanos will never give anyone mercy if one dares stand against them and that always result in disaster to say the least."
"You are not going to fail, no matter what may happen, I know that you are going to rise above it and continue to fight even if everything seems impossible." said Frigga. "You survive all of the challenges that are right up ahead and never give up even if the odds are against you."
"It still won't be easy and I doubt that interfering won't be enough." said Loki. "I don't think that it would make everything better or would help."
"You can help make things better for everyone, you have to face Thanos again sooner or later." said Frigga. "He will go after you and the only way you will be safe and to make up for the past is to go and make a stand against Thanos. You're everyone's only hope and the only one that can do something that can save this universe."
"I'm still not sure, I am not the hero type." said Loki. "It is completely against my nature to do something like this and I do not even recall anything of a Frost Giant doing anything more than creating some form of disaster."
"Loki, you are not your heritage or at least anything like Laufey, we do not know anything about the others. Regardless you can write your own story and don't have to follow the same path as the other Jontuns." said Frigga. "You have already proven that you have the ability of doing this, if it were not for you all of those people would have died. You are better than what you tried to be and can be so much more. If you are really sorry and want to be able to move past the pain of the past then you know what to do."
Loki stares at Frigga and knows what she is implying and yet don't know what to say that would guarantee that it won't lead to some kind of argument or if there is a way to convince her that he can't do it. He is about to hold her hand. Before he can grab it, Frigga fades away from sight and leaving Loki alone and yet lost in thought as he stops to think about what his mother just said. He doesn't know what to do and how he feels about the idea of him going out and trying to stop Thanos, the odds that stand against him if he tries to do it or if he even dares to do so. He knows that the odds stand against him and he doesn't even know if he will succeed in the fight up ahead.
Though deep down Loki knows that he is going to have to do this because his mother would have wanted him to do everything in his power to do something. He doesn't want to disappoint his mother and not disregard what might be her final request towards him. At the same time he doesn't want to face Thanos as he stops to think about all of the challenges ahead and the mere fact that Thanos would be after him and won't hesitate to make him pay the price right on the spot. But if he goes out and try to stop Thanos, then not only he would be free and never have to worry about the mad titan ever again and it might draw attention away from him as he focuses on getting on all of the stones. He would be free from any guilt that he might have by doing the universe this favor and he would do this for not only because Darcy would at least won't be annoying him about it and he would be doing this for his mother. Loki just hopes that it would be enough and he would somehow succeed...
Back in Darcy's apartment
Loki soon wakes up and finds himself back in Darcy's apartment and gives a disappointed sigh as he faces the fact that his mother is still dead and he is still on Earth, he knew it was too good to be true. He quickly gets off the couch and knows that things are going to be changing as he reflects on his choice and the dream that he just had. Knowing that his mother would have wanted him to do this and he is going to do it. He may not know if he will succeed or if he is going to enjoy a moment of being a hero or if he really wants to go down this path. But he is going to do this, in hopes that it would be enough, that he would somehow succeed in this quest and for his mother, that he would somehow stop Thanos and get all six Infinity Stones and the Guantlet before he does.
But if he is going to do this then he is going to need help or at least someone who knows about this more about the path of a hero. He is going to ask Darcy to help him, since not only because he needs someone knowledgeable on this planet, but simply because she would know more about these things better than him. Though from what he has seen Darcy would be the last person that he would ask simply because she is too excitable for everything that happens, but what other choice does he have? At least Darcy has proven to be trustworthy and yet something about her at least makes him at least feel comfortable enough to talk to her. Maybe it is because she is the only one that knows that he's alive and she would somewhat understand what he is going through.
So he simply heads right towards Darcy's room and ready to tell her of his choice and what he has decided to do. Nothing is going to stop her from knowing it right at this moment and he is going to make sure of it. He quickly arrives right in front of the door and begins knocking it hoping that Darcy would get up and then he can get past this daunting task and get some sleep before he can get to work and he starts to plan the following days with hopes that he would be done as quickly as he can, so that way he will have gotten this over with and can simply just leave the planet without ever needing to come back again.
Unfortunately Loki didn't check the time before he decides to knock on Darcy's door, while Loki is on the other side knocking, Darcy is trying her best to ignore it and go back to sleep. But every time she tries to ignore him, it becomes more and more annoying as she realizes that Loki is probably not going to leave her alone until he speaks with her. She turns to see her clock and sees that it is 2:30 in the morning. Letting out a silent groan, she gets off the bed and starts to make her way to the door to see what's going on and speak with Loki. Tired and annoyed, Darcy knows that she is going to speak with Loki, to see what he wants and then go back to sleep, maybe before she goes back to bed, she should set a ground rule about no waking her up this early in the morning. She opens the door to find Loki, seems to be eager and awake that she would think that it was New Years Eve.
"Hi, can we talk for a minute?" asked Loki rather nervously.
"Can it wait till morning?" asked Darcy tiredly. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"It can't and you will be pleased to hear what I have to tell you." said Loki as he can tell that Darcy wants to go back to go back to bed, but this too important and can't be put aside.
"It better be, what could be so important that it can't wait until morning?" said Darcy unimpressed by Loki waking her up this early to speak with her.
"You will be happy to hear that I have come to the decision that you were right. We are the only ones that can stop Thanos and I have decided to do my part in stopping him, to be what is needed to stop him, even if it means I have to be a hero." said Loki, he is about to continue before. "Wait, are you alright? You look and seem a little baffled after hearing what I just said."
"What? Of course I'm baffled or surprised or whatever you say that means really shocked. You just said that you are going to be a hero and now ready to fight off Thanos." said Darcy as she tries to get past her shock. "How- What made you change your mind? When did this all happened?"
"I would tell you, but I doubt you would ever take me seriously ever again." said Loki. "Aside from that, I am going to need your help if I am going to succeed in doing this, especially when it comes to navigation in this planet and to learn more about it. But we can discuss it more in the morning, I can see that you are tired and would like to continue resting. We can talk more about this in the morning, sleep well."
With that Loki starts to leave the hallway and start to head back to the couch, leaving Darcy wide awake and surprised. He is simply happy to at least have told Darcy about his change of mind and knows that he is going to need some rest before he and Darcy start planning what they should do next. Loki knows that there will be challenges ahead and that this quest will be anything but easy. That if Thanos finds out what they are trying to do then he is going to do everything to make sure that they or at least Loki doesn't make it out of this alive. But they are going to talk about this in the morning and they will come up with a way for him to go around the universe or at least on Earth without drawing attention to himself. Then it will make this quest easier, at least they are going to talk about it and plan things out before they start.
While she watches Loki walk away, Darcy is still standing by the door of her room, completely wide awake and not even sure what to think and not even sure if she can believe what she just heard. Since Loki was just here right now and telling her that he is going to go with the whole becoming a hero thing, willingly without any need of persuasion. That he came to making that decision on his own and she doesn't even know what to think of Loki's new found selfless attitude, but right now she is just surprised by this development and how she didn't even need to come up with ways of persuasion or tricks to get him to do it.
"What just happened?" asked Darcy to herself as she stares at the end of the hallway after Loki returns to the living room and not even sure what to think.
The fifteenth chapter is here and a lot earlier than I thought that it would come out which is awesome by the way. I guess this is a lot shorter than I thought but at least we get more in depth in Loki's character and an expansion of his interaction with Frigga. I wanted to expand the chapter because this is a pivotal moment of Loki's story and I want to make it the best I can possibly make it and it's the best chapter that I can make it be, that it lives up to our own expectations and be the chapter that will allow us to see more of Loki's reasoning and the start of the next phase of his redemption arc.
This chapter gives us a clearer picture on Loki's thoughts about him becoming a hero and allow us to see the bond that he has with Frigga. How the love they have with one another, is the push that Loki needs to at least reluctantly agrees with Darcy and her plans. Hopefully I was able to catch the emotions and yet capture the same spirit as the original chapter did and maybe even expand it.
For any old time readers, I hope that you guys are more than excited for the final chapters of Redemption and as for the fifty third chapter, I am hard at work on it and making sure that it is the best it can be. As I am writing the next chapter and plan out the final chapter and let's just say that we are in the finale, the fifty third chapter is the next part of the beginning of the end and the start of the pathway to the finale. The next chapters before the finale will be the set up before we reach it, I hope that it will live up to your expectations and the ending will be the best and an ending that will be satisfying and yet leave some small loose ends that I could pick up if a sequel is ever made.
As for the next rewrite, I think it might come out two to three weeks earliest, since the next chapter will be an expansion of the original and yet the next stepping stones in the Loki and Darcy dynamic and the start of Loki's superhero career.
As for chapter 53, I don't know when will this chapter come out because I am still hard at work and it's going to be really packed to say the least. Plus I want to make it worth the wait, since it's the last chapter before we reach the finale and I want to make sure that it lives up to all of our expectations. I think I am aiming it for an August release date, the earliest, but the good news is that it's all planned and I am currently writing it. Depending how soon I get it done, I will upload it as soon as I can, but all of the rewrites will come out before the finale for sure. :)
But just because the main story is ending, it doesn't mean that this will be the end of Redemption. 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 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 a prequel and I think I would probably at least have that one up, so that way we will see the start of her journey before meeting Loki and how she started her journey. (It's the only thing I can promise that will come soon whether it's before or straight after the story is done.) Other than that 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 what will be the game plan? What will Darcy have in mind when it comes to the whole superhero game plan? Will Loki like any of her ideas? What is going through Darcy's mind as she sees Loki agreeing to be a hero and how she is going to react to that? How is Loki going to deal with the entire commitment he just made and will he be alright with this decision or will he come to regret it? How are they going to find all of the Infinity Stones and the Gauntlet without Thanos finding out? When are they going to embark on trying to find them and how will they know where they are? Will they get them before Thanos does?
Find out in the next chapter of Redemption, whether it's the original chapter or the upcoming rewrite. See ya in the next update. :)