Hi, everybody! This chapter is pretty short, but it was my favorite one to write out of this whole story. I hope that makes up for the length. And anything else I have to say about this chapter is a spoiler, so other stuff at the end. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Twelve

Why was I feeling that this war was so wrong when I felt that it was so right before it began? The Scepter could speak-to my mind, at least. Maybe it would tell me what was happening if I asked.

I let my eyes close and concentrated on the Scepter, asking it for energy, an explanation, something. It's power thankfully surged through me, and an image of myself in full Asgardian armour appeared before me, the Scepter gripped in his hand, but there was something wrong with his eyes.

"What is happening to me?" I asked.

The Loki in front of me smirked, the Scepter glowing powerfully. "What do you think?"

I looked back through all that happened since I fell through that void. I had denied Thanos's request to make him more powerful, but the moment the Scepter touched me, I started to change my mind. "Am I cursed?" I gasped.

"Oh, yes," the image of myself laughed.

This was meant to happen? I was meant to be trapped with this scepter and its power? Thanos didn't want me. He wanted my abilities. He said so himself, but somehow, I had forgotten. He wanted me to be shoved down until the scepter's powers overtook me entirely. He would have a champion, and I would remain trapped inside of my own mind, unaware that I was trapped at all. "So I was to be locked up here until you might have use of me?" I muttered, as the image of me slowly came closer. Thanos, the Other, the scepter. They were controlling me all this time, and I didn't notice. How could I have not noticed?

The other Loki put the scepter between us, its sharp tip centimeters from my chest. "Until I let you go, you are but words," he growled.

Now that he was closer, I was able to finally see what was wrong with his eyes. They were blue.

"Why?" I pleaded. There was no point to this. Thanos might need the Gems, but he didn't have to put me through this to get them if he had the Chitauri under his thumb.

The version of me with the scepter took a few paces backwards, a dangerous smile on his lips. "You know why."

"Tell me!" I roared, my entire being flaring with anger. The Loki in front of me jumped and turned back around, staring at me as my eyes started to prickle with tears. "Because of me, this beautiful world of green and blue-the world that Thor loved-is being destroyed," I whispered.

The image of myself stared at me for a while. "Well, yes," he stated simply.

The screaming people, Phil bleeding on the floor, Thor falling 30,000 feet in that glass cage. How could I have ever thought any of this was right?

"Can you wipe out that much red?" the Loki in front of me repeated.

"Well, it all makes sense now," I growled, taking slow steps closer to myself. "No matter how much that scepter-"

"Enough!" Loki shouted, making me freeze, my chest tightening. "This is pathetic! You, a king, are grovelling."

"You-you're the one who tossed me into this abyss," I whispered. "Not Thor or Odin or even my letting go."

"Either way." He came closer to me. "Your history is now dripping with more red than Romanoff's, and you think that saving yourself from me is going to change anything?"

"Thor," I muttered, "I'm sorry."

The possessed version of me I was talking to chuckled darkly. "He can't exactly hear you, you know. He's busy protecting this Midgardian city from a force you sent to kill him. Not I." For a moment, I saw my brother fighting against one of the Chitauri's armoured war animals. He threw lightning down onto it with Miljoner over and over again, but its metal shell didn't even crack. "Everyone on this planet will die due to your actions," Loki growled. "Your choices. Not mine. I only did as you asked."

I might be powerless against the scepter itself, but this is my mind. The real scepter was dropped on Stark's terrace last I remembered.

"You wanted me to take Barton and Selvig," the scepter's projection continued. "You opened the portal and allowed the Chitauri to destroy this city, sending them directly after the only people who can effectively protect it-including your own brother. You wanted me to connect to your mind, though you weren't prepared to face the consequences. Everything that is happening here? This is your fault."

I ducked down and swept my legs underneath the version of me that held the scepter, and he groaned when he impacted the ground. He strained to get up, but I jumped on top of him before he could rise. He lifted the scepter, bringing its blade towards me, but I grabbed its staff, blocking him.

"You're not getting out of this," he strained. "Everything you've done here will follow you back to Asgard." I tried to wrench the scepter from his grasp, but his grip was just as strong as mine. "Odin already hated you," he reminded, panting slightly. "But now, so will Thor, Frigga. Everyone."

With a cry of ire, I finally tore the staff from his hands and rushed to my feet. I turned the blade to his chest and brought it down on him as hard as I could. The blade punctured his armour, and he gasped, screaming in pain. I backed away as I watched the Loki before me try to pry the scepter's blade out of his torso, but he quickly lost strength, blood pooling underneath him and dripping from his mouth.

The blue glow from the scepter's Infinity Stone dimmed and faded to darkness, and I snapped my eyes open, finding the parlour in Stark Tower once again. I strained until I pulled myself free of the crater that the Hulk had slammed me into and crawled onto the stairs.

Something was different as I looked at the world around me. Everything looked brighter somehow. Like an unnoticed fog had cleared.

The sound of a bowstring tightening got me to focus, and I turned to find the Avengers standing above me, each with a weapon pointed towards me. Romanoff held the scepter and was glaring at me as intensely as the others. I turned to Stark-who had his helmet off-and muttered in a voice that sounded weak even to my own ears, "If it's all the same to you," I groaned as a sharp pain racked my whole body, "I'll have that drink now."

So, what did you guys think? I had fun writing it. I will say, though that while the dialogue and action in this chapter was my own, the concept was inspired by a fan edit I found on YouTube. The person who made it was DFPUR, and here's the link to the video. watch?v=oZ5H4nVxtUc It's a really good, really sad edit...You should watch it. Anyways.

Loki has officially figured out that he was being controlled. He's glad to be rid of the influence, ashamed that he gave into it at all and afraid of what awaits him back in Asgard. See you all soon for the next chapter!