Hi again. Yes, I am still procrastinating. Duh. This scene was originally to take place after the crash on the ice in the middle of chapter 18 before I decided to have Loki unconscious for fourteen hours in order to be able to write his conversation with the stones in the dreamscape. Don't you just love how much goes to waste when you write a story? ... NOT. But, at least, this might give you an idea why it takes me so long to update every time because the perfectionist in me regularly forces me to write out up to three different scenarios before I can decide on the one I am most satisfied with.
"For what it's worth, I truly am sorry, too, Stark," said Loki softly. "I did not mean to ridicule the losses you suffered." He wiped his nose with the back of his hand and his gaze lingered on the viscosity and the dark color of his blood. "And I am sorry I destroyed your hometown and put you through tremendous psychological hardship but, just in case Thor has not told you, I actually died trying to make up for my past misdeeds. I was dead, Stark. And just so you know, dying is a more than unpleasant experience, and so is being tortured."
Tony's Adam's apple bobbed as he processed that information. Loki was still swaying slightly, his breathing still heavy, and it took everything Thor had inside of him to not kneel down again, steady him and humiliate him even more. Loki touched the scars on his torso and grimaced. "And it really is not my fault that I just can't seem to stay dead." He lowered his gaze, eyes half-closed. "I guess I still have a part to play in this story."
"I guess we all do," Tony agreed.
Loki smiled wanly. "I don't know what you know about my powers but part of my magic comes from the Reality Stone—which is how I shapeshift, for example—and my telekinetic abilities were greatly enhanced by the Mind Stone's influence over me. I used them both just now and I …" His voice trailed off and he faced Thor. "I understand it now, why I'm not regaining my strength. I thought I would feel better after sleeping but I …" He paused for breath. "I did, shortly, but it seems that every time I use my powers, I just … It's the stones, Thor. I can't use my magic anymore. Illusions are … They aren't so … demanding but using the power of the stones …"
Thor put his hand on Loki's shoulder. "Take your time, brother."
"How much time … do you … think … we have," gasped Loki. "I told you, the stones were … revolting. They … talked to me." He had everyone's attention now. Iron Man, Nebula, Valkyrie and Pepper had all squatted down around them, forming a circle with Rocket being the only one standing. "They are corrupted … they are corrupting … everyone who … uses them …"
"Why?" Tony asked.
"Because Thanos … lied to them." Loki's eyes closed and he swayed again. Thor steadied him as well as he could without looping an arm around his shoulders. "He told them that he had the good of the universe in mind."
"That's always been his goal," Nebula insisted. "For as long as I can remember."
"It's always been a lie, then. A lie he told himself … What he truly wanted was to inflict pain … because he believed … still believes … that only pain will bring forth true … strength. This was not about resources, saving lives, or ensuring flourishing. This was about causing pain and suffering so that the half that remains will get stronger when they have suffered through this. They will be hardened, maybe even deadened … and he will be the one who created them."
"How can you know this?" Nebula asked.
"Because he's been inside my head." Loki smiled weakly. "But you can't expect to expose someone's thoughts without exposing a few of your own …" A tear spilled out of his eye and crystallized halfway down to his chin. "But that's not how the stones work … You cannot lie to them. They will test you and if you betray them, you are likely to pay the price … And he betrayed them all. All of them at once, with a single snap of his fingers." Loki breathed out heavily. Thor could feel his body give out under his fingers. "You need to rest, brother."
"I need to finish this." Loki forced his eyes open. "They're screaming … Those stones, they are still alive and they refuse to be … used … anymore. Hela might have taken my … appearance but she … she didn't take it all … My magic …"
"What's he talking about?" Tony interjected.
"I'll explain later," Thor snapped, his voice sounding more hostile than he had intended.
"Last night, they were still asleep but now they are furious. They won't let me use it anymore … They're punishing me … They will punish everyone who … Nobody can … Do you understand what that means?" Loki closed his eyes again.
"Thanos can't use them anymore either," Tony concluded. "They are worthless to him now, which means he's defenseless."
"But that's good news, isn't it?" Pepper asked.
"Not if their magic goes extinct," Loki said softly.
"The stones are the fabric of the universe," Thor explained. "If their magic goes extinct, they will expunge every aspect of our universe. Time, space, reality, mind, soul, power."
"We need to save them," Loki added. "Before it's too late."
"And you think we're going to be able to do that with the seventh stone?" Tony asked.
"It's the only stone that hasn't been corrupted in the Snap and the only stone that is …" Loki breathed a faint chuckle.
"What is so funny?" Tony hissed.
"Hela," Loki gasped. "She isn't funny per se, but she … she definitely didn't lie to the stones. Being the Goddess of Death wielding it in the name of Death, she had every right to wield this stone. It has not been compromised like the others. Which is why we need it back."