Hi everyone! I am really sorry to post this chapter so late! With all my exams and my laptop breaking down every now and then I hadn't much time to focus on it, but here it is. And, once again, a big thanks to the amazing krystal lazuli for beta-reading this chapter!
Please review and tell me what you think about it!
Disclaimer : I do neither own the Harry Potter nor the Marvel Universe as well as the personna of the Gakuen Alice. I do own the plot and my characters tho.
Chapter 13: Of Mind Games and Revelations:
Holding her breath, Hotaru pressed the red button. A general wave of disappointment overwhelmed the whole room as nothing happened.
"I guess that we should just pack up, then." sighed Hermione.
"I don't understand… I mean, Hotaru and I really did think this through." Jane mumbled, barely containing the disappointment in her voice.
"No, wait!" Luna held her hand as the two scientists moved to collect their equipment. "I just saw something."
"But, there's nothing to see, Luna." Ron shook his head.
"Maybe we should wait a little longer?" Jane proposed shyly. "What did you see, Luna?"
"Look, it's right there!" the dirty blonde-haired witch smiled as she pointed her finger at the newly appeared green orb sparkling in the Andromeda Galaxy.
"But this can't be it." Hermione protested, "I mean, there's clearly no planet indexed there."
"Just one month prior, Jane and I had no idea of the existence of your world. Yet, it was right under our noses! It's not because you cannot see something that it doesn't exist, Granger! Especially when a guy as cunning as Loki is involved in the picture, don't you think?" Hotaru objected.
"Look," Harry pointed, "it's expanding."
And, indeed, a green sparkling trail started filling gradually the Chamber, becoming more intense as it indicated the places Loki had recently visited, including the small replica of Earth.
"Bloody hell! That's just amazing!" Ron breathed out in awe as he reached for it. "There's even the regions he's been in; New-York, Germany and this place in either India or Nepal, I can't tell."
"Oh, this must be Kamar-Taj." Harry précised with a grimace.
Moving across the Chamber to study Loki's magical trail thoroughly, Jane went suddenly still as an obvious detail struck her right away.
"Oh, God! Hotaru, have you…?" Jane started in shock.
"Yes. See, between the spot Luna pointed out earlier and the Earth, Loki's trail follows a rectilinear motion." Hotaru explained to their comrades as her cunning violet eyes scrutinized the evergreen streak.
"And, if we observe it carefully, the trail is denser at regularly distanced locations!" Jane exclaimed as a pit of excitement started to flow all over her body.
"Are you assuming that those are portals?" Hermione wondered.
"Indeed. In fact, I count twelve of them." replied Hotaru.
"So, this would mean that Loki is able to teleport himself to such great distances only because he's dividing them in a multiple addition of shorter ones!" Harry thought aloud.
"Exactly. That's very clever of him. But, then again, it was to be expected." Jane responded.
"So, have you any idea to where Loki is precisely?" Ron wondered.
"It must be in this place in the Andromeda Galaxy. It's the first one that appeared to us." Luna proposed.
"I agree with you, Luna." Hermione nodded.
"That's what's most likely to be true." Hotaru confirmed. "This would explain why the lines departing from this place to reach down to Earth, and most precisely the grounds of Kamar-Taj, are the brighter ones."
"Do you mind if we scan this room? We must show this to Thor." Jane asked politely.
"No, we don't. In fact, I also think that you should. There's no way Kingsley will ever get us the permission to come back down here again." Hermione advised.
"How long is it going to take?" Ron asked.
"Just two to three minutes and we'll be done." Jane replied.
"My Lady. I came here to ask for your help." Thanos declared almost reverently as he kneeled down to kiss the hand of the elegant hooded figure standing eerily in front of him.
"Speak, Titan."
"For all these years that I have known You, My Love, I have been your most devoted worshiper. As Your faithful servant, today, I am humbly requesting You to grant me this single favor, the only one I shall ever ask of You."
The hooded figure walked gracefully down the few steps separating her from Thanos. As she moved, her fluid movements communicated incommensurable power. Her crystalline eyes roved over Thanos as she appraised the scent of death stemming from him.
"You killed an entire Realm." Death stated.
Thanos was chilled by the egregious accusation he perceived in her diaphanous voice.
"Only for you, My Lady."
"Do not lie to me, Thanos. I can tell the difference between an offering and the simple result of your complete loss of control!"
"I beg Your pardon, My Love."
"Rise up, Thanos. I am ready to forget this affront. Tell what it is that you want from me."
"I want a Gauntlet. But, firstly, I need him out of the way."
"You must realize that I do hold his life dear to me, Thanos."
Consumed with jealousy, his hands curled into tight fists. It was through pursed lips that Thanos proposed, "I am too well aware of the affection you feel for him, My Lady. This is the reason why I will do absolutely anything in my power to earn the favor I am asking of You."
"This is an interesting proposition. After all, his death is the key to our daughter's freedom and I would be interested to see the extent of power you are ready to deploy in your willingness to please me."
"I would do anything for You." Thanos promised.
"Then, I have a proposition for you. The death of the Elders in exchange of his. They have been testing my limits for too long."
In the Throne Room, all eyes were turned on the stellar projections and all ears were attentively focusing on each theory, each affirmation and scientific explanation advanced by Jane and Hotaru as the two women stood confidently in front of this intimidatingly mighty assembly as they defended their hypothesis. When their scientific argument finally came to an end, the two Midgardians shared a satisfied look, appreciating the results of their fruitful collaboration.
"Allfather, I say we must capture Loki. His crimes against the good people of Midgard cannot remain unpunished. We must put an end to his madness!" Thor affirmed.
"He has been running on the loose for too long! This is a golden opportunity that we cannot afford to let slip out of our hands, my King." Lady Sif agreed, her voice barely containing her distaste for their exiled Prince.
"Furthermore, we must not forget that Loki is already in the possession of the Power Stone. And, by the Nine Realms, we all know no good can come out of this!" Hogun added.
"Heimdall, is this young lady on Midgard?" Odin asked as he finally decided to take part to the conversation.
"She is, my King." Heimdall admitted resentfully. "Although, I must warn you that I do not support the decision you are about to take."
"Be reassured that I will carry on my plans regardless of your approval, Heimdall." Odin replied curtly. "We cannot risk another Gem falling into Loki's hands!"
"My son and the lady accompanying him will be tried fairly." Frigga felt the need to reassure both herself and Hotaru. Meeting Odin's furious glare, the Asgardians' Queen locked her eyes on her husband's, daring him to even try to do otherwise.
"So will be done." Odin conceded, exasperated by his wife's clear desire to protect their youngest son despite his rebellious action. "Now prepare yourselves for there is no much time left." Odin ordered under Heimdall's disapproving gaze.
Mikan sighed in relief when she was finally left alone in her room. She hadn't realized how much she had missed the comforting walls of Kamar-Taj before coming back there for one single day. However, even though she was reassured by the idea of coming down there each month, Mikan found the slowness with which the translations were advancing very depressing. She was fully aware it would take her at least one or two years to fulfill Loki's request and the idea of spending the few years she was left to live in a basement, far away from her friends, seemed very discouraging, no matter how agreeable Loki's company could be if she allowed herself the madness to embrace his persistent but subtle advances.
'Don't be stupid, Mikan. To him, you would only be a simple, yet very useful, fling… I will never let this happen, I am worthier than that!'
She still had few hours left before Loki's return and she had no idea how to spend them. It was at this instant that she heard a soft knock on her door. It opened slightly and Christine shyly put her head round it, waiting for permission to step inside.
"Please, come in." Mikan invited her softly.
"Are you feeling any better?"
Mikan shrugged her shoulders. "I've been better but I've been worse too. I am fine, I guess."
"I see…" Christine sympathized as she took a seat on the edge of her bed. "That's quite a situation you put yourself into, Mikan."
"I know," the latter chuckled softly, "I am good at getting myself into trouble, a walking magnet of bad luck I'd even say!"
"So, now that we're finally all by ourselves, what's going on between you and Loki?" Christine asked with a wry smile, which only widened when Mikan choked in in surprise and her cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
"You don't beat about the brush, do you?"
"And you are trying to avoid answering to my question." Christine pointed out.
The young woman closed her eyes to restrain any of her tears from being shed. Taking in a deep breath, she dismissed her unnecessarily hurt feelings. Unexpectedly, what Mikan would have usually perceived as her friend's genuine concern for her wellbeing, she now saw as the woman's insulting lack of confidence in her own ability to keep her hormones in check.
"Well, I hope you won't be too disappointed to learn that there's absolutely and utterly nothing going on between Loki and I."
"You're a terrible liar, Mikan."
"And you, my friend, are the second person to tell me this in two days!" Mikan huffed in frustration, as she desperately tried to act as if Christine's perseverance hadn't felt like she was rubbing salt into her wounds.
"Guessing who the first person stated that is an easy task. Well, if the god of Lies himself said it to you, it must be true then, don't you think?" Christine asked with a cheeky smile, unaware of the effects her words had on Mikan.
"Fine. You won! Yes, there's something but I am never going to let it happen! In fact, neither Loki nor I are stupid enough to give in to it. Trust me, I haven't forgotten what he did two months ago. Now tell me Christine, is this what you and Stephen wanted to hear?" Mikan finally exploded.
At first, only confused by the anger and accusation in her friend's voice, Christine opened her mouth to apologize but was cut short when several items in the room flew from their location and crashed noisily into the walls, breaking into pieces. The noise startled Christine and she barely had time to duck as Mikan's wardrobe flew over her head. In the midst of this chaos the surgeon was unable to understand what could have triggered Mikan's angry reaction. Never had her gentle and optimistic younger friend ever raised her voice against her let alone had she ever shown any hint of violence towards her beloved friends.
At Christine's dismay, Mikan bit her lower lip, ashamed of her own behavior. She was shocked by how quick she had been to lose her temper. Mikan lowered her eyes to the floor, unable to stand the fear in Christine's eyes, only to realize in what state she had put the room in as she observed all the broken pieces of furniture and other sundry objects.
"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to do this." she apologized faintly as she started to move her right hand in a circular motion.
"No! Don't leave!" Christine begged, "Please, Mikan, we can talk this out."
Mikan shook her head, finally allowing her tears to flow. "No, we can't. I just need to be alone."
And the Alice teleported herself away.
Appearing in an empty meadow, all Mikan's confusion and sadness disappeared instantly. Overwhelmed by the abrupt shift of her emotions, she hadn't time to dodge the silver chains that tied themselves tightly around her. Trying to free herself out of her bonds to only see them tightened their hold of her, Mikan cursed when she failed to use any of her Alices. Finally struck by the realization that none of them were working anymore, Mikan began to panic. 'No! No! No! No! Nooo! You can't let me down! Not now!'
"Shit!" Mikan cried as she was covered by the brilliant beam of energy that was the Bifrost. "For Gosh sake, what's with Asgardians and kidnapping!" she cried out in frustration.
In no time, Mikan found herself surrounded by Frigga, Asgardian soldiers, Thor, Heimdall and Odin. When she met Frigga's gaze, Mikan finally discerned the reason of her sudden mood swings. 'Like mother, like son, they say…'
'Indeed, who do you think Loki learned his manners from, young Lady?'
Mikan's lips parted in surprise when the Queen Mother's voice echoed in her head.
'What did you do to me?' she wondered, 'How did you manage to suppress my Alices?'
'I wouldn't say suppress, Little One. The chains binding you are absorbing all the magical energy emanating from your body.'
Mikan's mind paused at Frigga's use of the nickname her son had picked for her and frowned at her explanation.
"Our paths meet again, Lady. However, this time I will not let you slip through my fingers." Thor claimed as he reached down for their new captive capturing her full attention. "Sif, hand me the bottle." Thor ordered as he pinched Mikan's nose and forced her mouth open. He growled when the latter bit him hard and tried to stubbornly crawl away from his grasp.
It took the combined might of Thor and Warriors Three to completely immobilize Mikan whose ribs were now threatening to break at any instant for the chains tying her were continuing to tighten around her body. Now that the young woman was powerless and gasping for air, Thor finally managed to force her mouth open.
"Lady Granger said two drops would suffice." he informed Sif.
Sif smiled grimly as she forced the bottle's entire contents down Mikan's throat. "Then the entire bottle ought to be more than even. Can't be too cautious with all the trouble she has caused."
Mikan coughed, then winced in pain as Frigga used her Magic to force her to swallow the liquid. Only then did she feel the chains loosen lightly as Frigga released their grasp slightly.
"What's… What did you give me?" Mikan managed to ask.
"A truthful serum." Thor answered. "Now tell me where my brother is."
Mikan closed her eyes as she desperately tried to fight off the effect of the Veritaserum. Sadly, all her efforts were wasted in vain since her lips started moving against her will.
"I… I am not sure. But he said he would pick me up today, he'll be in Kamar-Taj in few hours." she admitted resentfully. Mikan growled as an intense pain ran through her right wrist.
She felt like crying, she hated this feeling, despised the sensation of losing all control over her will and her body. Her pride was all that was left of her. Therefore, Mikan forbade herself to make any more show of weakness. She barely managed to bounce back into a seated position.
"Is she under Loki's influence?" Odin asked Frigga who shook her head to the negative.
"No. She seems to be quite resistant to Mental Manipulation. The amount of Magic I had to use to control her for only few minutes would have allowed me to subdue an entire room of our people." Frigga detailed as she physically spoke for the first time. She was clearly impressed by Mikan's capacities.
Kneeling down to reach Mikan's chin, Odin held it in between his thumb and his forefinger so their eyes would lock. He took his time to patiently and attentively observe her features, study her stature. She looked so fragile between his fingers although he knew better than to be fooled by appearances. 'Loki chose her for a reason. Now, what could that be?'
The young woman gulped when she met Odin's stoic blue eye. His aura was calm, yet imposing. Slightly threatening even. Mikan mustered her courage to not lower her gaze. She stood no chance against him, with or without chains, and she knew it.
"The Power Stone. Where is it? What does Loki intend to do with it?" Odin questioned.
"This is where you're getting it wrong. Loki wasn't the one who wanted to retrieve the Stone, I did." Mikan clarified in a vain attempt to avoid answering him. "I am not your son's subordinate. I do not work for him but with him."
"Answer my questions." He ordered sternly.
"It's in my possession. Don't bother trying to find it. You won't. As a matter of fact, even I can't withdraw it from the seals protecting it." Mikan admitted with frustration at her inability to master her own body. "Rest reassured, we never had any intention of using it in the first place. I just wanted to prevent it from falling under Thanos' hands."
"Heimdall told us you were the first to try to contact Loki, what did you want from him?" Odin asked, truly curious to discern what were the little mortal's intention. As he released her chin from his grasp, Mikan's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"My first visit over Loki's cell wasn't planned. I just wanted to destroy the Infinity Gauntlet in S.H.I.E.L.D's possession and the Necklace of Black Pearls. But then, I just happened to notice that Loki had more than one aura and I hadn't the heart to leave him like that when I knew I could help. So, at first, I just went to free him of the bonds that were partially tying his soul and his mind. But, after Thor mentioned the nature of Allice's death, I just put two and two together and I realized it was Thanos who had been exercising this oppressive influence over Loki." Mikan blurted out, "This is the reason why I paid Loki a second visit. I wanted to make sure whether Thanos was indeed the one who sent him to Earth and if he is looking after the Infinity Stones." Mikan added reluctantly, relieved by the fading pain in her wrist.
At the unexpectedly perplexed looks on his parents' face, Thor realized that, contrary to his primary assumptions, Heimdall had shared these crucial pieces of information with him only. Surprised by Heimdall's odd behavior, Thor finally decided not to question his choices and to put more trust in his observant friend's decisions.
"Is there anything else that you forgot to mention, Heimdall?" Odin inquired coolly.
"I am afraid Lady Sakura has left nothing more for me to add, My King." Heimdall stated as he held steadily Odin's severe gaze.
"You destroyed the Infinity Gauntlet?" Frigga asked, suddenly looking at Mikan with fresh eyes.
"I did." Mikan nodded.
A deafening silence invaded the Observatory as the weight of Mikan's affirmation started to sink in the minds of Odin and Frigga. Thor's friends, for their part, had a harder time believing Loki's dubious accomplice.
"Well, this explains Thanos's disproportionate reaction." Odin thought aloud.
"I beg your pardon?" Mikan snapped. "You qualify it as a 'disproportionate reaction'? So that's all what it is? Just a 'disproportionate reaction'. He exterminated an entire Realm for crying out loud! And, for all I know, you did nothing to stop his madness! You're as much to blame as he is for their death!" she accused him angrily.
"You are one to talk, Little Minx! What did your little escapade with Loki do to change or to stop any of this from happening?" Fandral pointed out.
"As far as I am concerned, until now, I have been more useful than any of the people in this room!" Mikan exploded, "I've destroyed the Infinity Gauntlet and sealed the Power Stone away from anyone's reach! What can you say for yourselves?!"
"Watch your tone, mortal!" Sif threatened her.
"Or what?" Mikan defied her, "The five of you will all jump on me again? Come on, what are you waiting f..."
"Enough!" Odin roared.
Silence fell upon the room as Gungnir hit sternly the ground.
"We are willing to look down upon this offense if you try to cooperate with us, young lady." Frigga offered, not truly giving Mikan another choice but to seize the opportunity she was granting her.
Mikan sighed, too angry to speak, sullen and furious as she stared stubbornly at her abductors, daring them to push her limits any further.
"Were your previous words implying that my son does not wield the entire responsibility over his actions against your people?" Odin queried with a narrowed eye.
Frigga's heart skipped a beat at her husband use of the word son. A word he hadn't used since Loki had jumped off the Bifrost. Frigga bit her lip and started to pick at her hands nervously. If what Mikan had said was true this would mean that her son's punishment could be reduced. And by her husband's beard they made her drink an entire vial of Veritaserum!
"Your Highnesses, she's obviously been manipulated by Loki into believing this!" Fandral cried out, outraged to see this minx raising false hopes into his Queen's heart.
"Do not interrupt me, Fandral! My question was addressed to our prisoner!"
"My apologies, Allfather." mumbled Fandral, lowering his eyes to the ground.
Sif's hands curled into tight fists. How could the Royal family be so blinded by their love for Loki? 'By the Norns! Are they still going to give this Jotun runt another chance after the all countless time he has deceived us all? Such madness cannot be allowed to happen again!'
"Yes. Loki was under the influence of both the Soul and Mind Stones. But only partially. He could have ended the attack sooner if he had wanted to." Mikan nodded, this time answering willingly.
In consequence to Frigga's sorrow, the chains tying Mikan loosened enough to finally allow her to regain some control over her powers. She swiftly used them to help her metabolism rid of the Veritaserum that was infesting it while using her Alices to have them believe that nothing had changed. Her eyes met and held Heimdall's eyes for a matter of few seconds. He nodded discreetly his apologies to her and returned his attention to the rest of the crowd, acting as if there was nothing amiss.
"Have you ever been under my brother's mind control?" Thor asked, to reassure and calm his loyal companions down.
"Just once." admitted Mikan, sighing at the unpleasant memory. She ignored the triumphant glares Sif and the Warriors Three exchanged, fully aware that gaining their blessing was pointless since the final say on her fate would lay upon the royals' decision.
"What did my son try to make you do?" inquired Frigga, hopeful at the idea of gaining another reason as to why they should reduce their female prisoner's final sentence, and yet saddened and nervous to learn how Loki misused his magical skills on this female mortal.
"Nothing too serious, he tried to make me eat a Golden Apple."
A surprised murmur echoed in the room.
"Why would Loki have to use his powers to make you eat a Golden Apple?" wondered Sif, bewildered by the idea of someone refusing the offer of immortality.
"Loki said that he was doing me a favor because he knew that I would have refused otherwise." Mikan explained, "Thankfully, he underestimated me and I escaped his hold before committing the irreparable."
"So, you refused Loki's offer?" Hogun frowned, unsure on whether he should respect Mikan for it or see it as a proof of her idiocy.
"Of course. I do not see the point of being immortal."
"Now I understand," smirked Sif haughtily, "You're just stupid."
Mikan tilted her head and smiled mysteriously, just as if she was the only one who could understand the humor of the situation. "Think of me as it pleases you, Lady Sif. I do not care for your opinion of me."
"I understand that you gave Loki as much troubles as you gave us when he kidnapped you, Little One." Odin stated, entertained and slightly impressed by their captive's stubbornness.
"Back then I was too weakened to fully absorb the reality of my situation, but yes. In a certain way, yes. I like to think I did." Mikan replied smugly as she looked down at her right wrist.
"Does this bracelet bond your soul to my son's?" Frigga breathed, taken off guard by the sole idea of Loki putting enough trust in someone to take such a bold risk. Let alone for a Midgardian at that.
"Loki's and Stephen's." Mikan replied succinctly.
"Why?" Thor wondered, confused. For as long as he could remember, Loki had never taken the risk to contract a blood pact. 'Why now? What is so special in this Lady Sakura to let both Loki and Heimdall act so out of character?'
"I know Loki cannot be trusted. By making this pact, I ensured myself his loyalty."
"So, you're not as stupid as I thought you to be." Sif smirked, looking down at Mikan.
"Too bad my first impression of you hasn't changed." Mikan smiled too sweetly at her.
Sif pursed her lips and dismissed Mikan's retort with a roll of her eyes.
"I am sorry, I am usually more agreeable when I am not chained down and being force fed!" the young woman pointed out sarcastically.
Hogun's sneer turned into a loud groan of pain when Mikan kicked him on the shin, using both tied legs.
"What are your intentions towards me?" Mikan finally asked.
"It all depends on your willingness to cooperate." Frigga answered. "Help us capture Loki and you'll be set free."
"I am afraid this is most unlikely to happen. I won't speak let alone play a role in his recapture. Be warned: getting to me will not bring you any closer to him."
"You leave us no other choice, young lady." Frigga sighed.
"Thor show our new gest the way to the Dungeons." Odin ordered.
"I still have one question for you though." Mikan addressed Frigga. "How did you know how to suppress my powers?"
"Lady Hotaru showed me."
Mikan's breath caught in her throat, her eyes grew wet and she lowered her gaze to the floor. She clenched her fists so hard her fingernails dug into her palms until her hands started to bleed. It hurt. Mad at her own self and yet thankful to the discretion her Illusion Alice was allowing her to hide behind, Mikan rashly wiped her tears. This was so stupid and irrational of her to feel betrayed by her childhood friend's choice to help capturing her. They hadn't met for more than twelve years and until very recently Hotaru still believed her to be six feet under. 'I no longer have the rights to feel this way…'
"I see." sighed Mikan.
Sif reached harshly for her clone to get her back on her feet. Mikan withdrew her arm from Sif's strong grasp and punched her in the face, watching as Sif fell to the floor unconscious.
"Like I already said: I have no intention to cooperate with you." Mikan repeated.
She took advantage of her inner turmoil, her frustration in front of this situation to deflect her slender control over her countless Alices. Powers even the chains Frigga had conjured weren't able to contain any longer. Mikan's eyes flashed dangerously as a violent blast of her energy shook down the entire room, throwing all the persons in it several meters away. Taking advantage of the effect of surprise, Mikan finally freed herself of the chains binding her body.
As her clone vanished from the Observatory to roam through the streets of Asgard closely followed by the deceived crowd, Mikan was left alone there, in Heimdall's safe company.
"How much time do we have before they realize they've been played?" Mikan inquired as a strong shield started to surround them.
"Five to six minutes. Maybe longer if I try to cover for your trace." Heimdall answered as he reached the young woman's height. "Mikan, I will not send you back to Midgard. I cannot risk losing the faith Odin has placed on me. I will not be of any help for you locked in the Dungeons."
"I understand. But what should I do then? I just made it impossible for me to ever gain their trust again, there is no way I am handing them the Stone, I will not leak any more information on Loki's whereabouts, and I refuse to spend the few more years I am left to live locked in Asgard's Dungeons!"
"Do not worry. I will not allow this to happen, Mikan." Heimdall reassured her as he placed a comforting hand over the desperate woman's shoulder. "As I told you, I can cover your tracks and you can conceal your presence. Lay low for a while, let them capture your clone and wait for Thor to use the Bifrost again. I will give you a sign when I consider it to be the right time for you."
"And what about Loki and Stephen?"
"Do not worry about it. The Ancient One is taking care of the situation."
"Thank you for helping me and having such faith in me, Heimdall. It means so much to me..." Mikan whispered, covering his hand with hers as her eyes dangerously started watering. The Guardian of the Bifrost nodded with a shadow of a smile brightening his face.
When Heimdall placed a hand behind her neck, Mikan's eyes turned gold as he handed her his sight. The vision of two enormous doors of stone, on which featured a large image of the mythical tree Yggdrasil, appeared to her.
"Is this…?"
"The Hidden Stronghold, an ancient and forgotten fortress lost within the mountains. It will be a safe place for you to hide. Follow this path and do not forget to gather food and water supplies on your way. Once there, be patient and wait for my signal. Now go."
Christine couldn't help but feel responsible for the messy situation they were in. Two more hours had passed since Mikan's disappearance and there was still no signs of her nor of their friends. With Mikan's ability to conceal her spiritual presence, she had left no trail for them to retrace her to her current location. Still, this hadn't dissuaded the Ancient One, Stephen and Mordo from going out searching for her, even though they were left to play mind games as they desperately tried to guess where their friend could have vanished.
'I still can't believe that I acted so insensitively towards her. What the hell was I thinking?! She is obviously still very affected by what she witnessed yesterday. And she is going through so much lately…'
As she was nervously pacing back and forth, Christine heard the sound of shattering glass beneath her. Her heart missed a beat when she realized she had stepped on a photo frame. 'Oh, no! Please, don't be it!' she pried as she bent down to gather the broken frame. Christine carefully cleared it of the glass shards recovering it and was struck by remorse when she recognized Mikan's most treasured item, her sole attempt to reenact a reminiscence of this family she never quite had the chance to have. The photograph captured a happy family, Mikan smiling in its center was enveloped in her late parents loving, protective embrace. Christine bit her lower lip as she felt her heart sank.
Sighing, Christine wiped the tears she hadn't realized had flown down her cheeks and did the only thing she could think of to make herself useful that didn't require the use of superpowers. She started to clean up the incredible mess that was left of Mikan's room. It took much effort and three whole hours but she was satisfied by the result. Exhausted by the task, Christine ended up crashing on Mikan's comfortable bed. She fell into a deep torpor for she could not keep her eyes open any longer.
It was the sounds of four distinct voices that woke Christine up. Still half-asleep and groggy, she quickly checked the time on her phone. The screen indicated 00:00, she had been asleep for more than five hours. Struck by surprise, Christine hurried out of the bed and burst into the Ancient One's chambers. Four heads turned in her direction. The Ancient One silently invited her to take a seat between herself and Loki. Christine met his icy gaze and the hairs on the back of her neck rose up. She refrained from shivering. Taking in a sharp breath the woman diligently obliged the Ancient One's instruction, regardless of her fear of the Asgardian.
"You still haven't found Mikan?" Christine asked timidly.
The awkward silence that invaded the room spoke for itself.
"Mikan is not on Earth anymore." Stephen sighed, unaware of the silent exchange in which Loki and the Ancient One were engaged. "All the clues we have lead us back to the same conclusion: we believe her to have been captured by Asgard."
All colors drained from her face, Christine suddenly felt sick as a strong sense of guilt and shame invaded her body. However, unwilling to be the source of any more concern and fully aware that such behavior wouldn't help resolve their problems, Christine promptly recomposed herself.
"Is there anything we can do to help her?" she finally asked.
"No." Loki responded sharply, with a semblance of annoyance in his voice.
Loki took in the somehow welcoming intense pain running through his right wrist. It helped quiet down that uneasy feeling of guilt and concern he experienced toward Mikan's precarious situation for which he could only be held directly liable for he had followed blindly the Ancient One's requests without questioning them. He then returned his attention back to the Sorcerer Supreme. 'I would like to believe this wasn't what you were planning to when you sent Strange to tell me to bring her back here!' he stated, still unsure on whether he had the right to express his anger on the unexpected turn the events had taken.
'It is.' confirmed the Ancient One. 'I am surprised to hear accusation in your voice. I thought you would have assumed my intentions out by yourself already.'
'Don't take that tone with me, old woman.' Loki retorted, annoyed by the Ancient One's mild condescension. 'How was I supposed to know you would be capable of such folly!'
'I always only had Mikan's best interest in mind. Don't act so surprised about it, you already knew I was capable of challenging her safety if it meant serving her the chances of living a better future.' the Ancient One pointed out. 'I do not remember you minding it back when I handed her to you and this situation is in all ways similar to it. What changed since then?'
'What has changed? I hadn't already taken an oath on my life not to betray her trust back then! She was neither guarding the Orb nor in the possession of one of my journals and she meant nothing to me but a mere escape plan! Yet you knew I would never do anything to harm her and there lays all the difference.' Loki countered vehemently.
The Ancient One arched a surprised eyebrow, caught short by Loki's indirect confession of his growing affection for Mikan.
'Just as I know Thor will never allow any wrong to be done to her.'
At the mention of his brother's name, Loki's eyes narrowed into sharp crescents. He was now seething. The woman was truly starting to test his patience.
'What good do you expect out of it anyway? Tell me this instant what it is that Mikan could possibly gain by being held captive there when she stands no chance against them!'
'No, she does: Heimdall will help her. He knows better than to allow such an enormous mistake as letting Mikan be jailed. And, yes it will do her good. This will help her to finally figure out what happened to her in her unconscious years and how much in danger she still is.' retorted the Ancient One.
Loki frowned as a terrible flash of anger crossed his now darkened eyes. No longer concerned by the presence of Stephen, Mordo and Christine surrounding them, he expressed his indignation aloud:
"By the Norns! What is this nonsense supposed to mean? Hasn't it even crossed your mind that I should be warned of any danger that Mikan could be exposed to?"
Christine jolted, startled Loki's abrupt outburst. This was the loudest she had heard him speak yet. She placed a hand on her pounding heart, certain that the god of Lies and Mischief could hear its furious beats against her chest. Stephen reached for her free hand in a reassuring gesture, just as dismayed as she was by Loki's irrational fit of anger. However, he knew better that to judge the situation too hastily, therefore he discreetly made sign to Mordo to lower his drawn weapon.
"Master, what is he talking about?" Mordo wondered, caught off guard by Loki's unexpected behavior, shocked to witness him raise his voice at the Ancient One.
"What danger is Mikan exposed to?" Stephen asked as a gut-wrenching foreboding overwhelmed him.
The Ancient rose to her feet and walked to the door before swinging it open. "Mordo, would you mind walking our guest back to her home." the Sorcerer Supreme ordered.
"Are you truly going to leave me out of this?" Mordo asked, insulted by her request.
"The less known, the better." the Ancient One stated in a poised voice, completely unimpressed by Loki's anger and Mordo's offense. "Mordo, don't let your pride take over Mikan's safety."
"We'll leave now." Christine nodded, and grabbing Mordo's hand, she dragged him out of the room.
The Ancient One sighed as she closed her chamber doors behind them. Then, drawing a portal to the Mirror Dimension, she sealed it with enough spells to ensure the secrecy of their discussion. Somehow, the great lengths she was taking only made the two men's worries grew wider. They exchanged a look before following her into the Mirror Dimension.
"What danger is Mikan facing? Is it really that bad?" Loki reiterated calmly, cooled down by the Ancient One's grave look.
"Allice is still alive and he is closer to Mikan that any of you could ever think of."
A.N: Thank you for reading this chapter! Constructive criticism is always welcome, please leave a review!