The moment the lights flicker back on 7000 hearts skip a beat. The crowd erupts like a single being. He's here. Arms wide open, embracing his followers. Directing them. Hushing them. Spurring them on. They chant his name like a war cry. Finally Loki has won. Earth surrenders willingly.
He's come a long way.
Earth used to fear and loathe him. The man who invaded the planet, leading an extraterrestrial force that slaughtered thousands, merciless and cruel.
And then, twelve days after the battle of New York, he appeared from thin air, giving a speech that went viral - collected, calm, humble - and still charismatic. Earth learned about an unspeakable threat, about suffering horribly at the hands of a mad king, about mind control and being forced to watch disaster unfold, helplessly trapped by the power of another's will. Earth's fury and terror subsided at the pain in his eyes, and when he ended his speech by asking for forgiveness, head bowed and shoulders falling, Earth was ready to forgive.