The chance to return home has now presented to Jemma. It's a long shot, but it's better than nothing. She only has to convince Loki first to take her to Asgard and then transport her to Earth. It's now or never.
"I thought you're meeting someone here?" Jemma asked first remembering what he told her as to why he traveled there in the first place.
"It was supposed to be a negotiation with Taneleer Tivan, The Collector. I was planning on trading Odin for the Aether; but now, I have changed my mind. So, I am leaving now since he is not yet here." Loki explained.
Jemma had no idea what he was talking about. All she understood was that Loki was planning of trading his father for something to some collector, and she thought that was kind of disturbing but she didn't pry on it anymore because he said he has changed his mind. Jemma just needs to know how leave this place, so she asked him, "And how are you going to go back to Asgard?"
"You have not explored this cave, have you? Because if you did, you would have known that there is a secret portal that connects this world to Asgard." He answered.
"Can I come with you?" She asked and in turn, Loki gave her a questioning look. "I was just wondering, if I could go to Asgard, maybe I could go home using the same way you, Thor and Lady Sif used to go to Earth." Jemma explained herself.
"Say, how did you manage to get here in this world?" Loki curiously asked.
"I was standing in front of a giant rock, then it swallowed me and brought me here." She didn't get into details but that pretty much sums it up.
"A rock?" Loki had this disbelieving look on his face.
"Yes. Well it was believed to be alien. Pretty much explains why it transported me here." She added a little info but hopes he wouldn't pry.
"And you expect me to help you?" He asked though he probably already knew what her answer would be.
"Well... Even if you won't, you said there's a secret portal in this cave, I'll just have to look for it and when I arrive on Asgard, I'll just find my way from there." She told him.
Well, Loki didn't expect that kind of answer. He thought she would just say yes and plead for him to help her. He was impressed that this frail human is not so fragile at all. She's quite intelligent, he thought. "Very well. If you insist on going to Asgard, might as well get you back to where you came from." He told her, then realized it sounded like he wants to help her. "I cannot risk you telling anyone one of my secret passages in Asgard." He added so it would sound like he's only doing himself a favor rather than actually helping her.
"Oh thank you."Jemma sighed in relief and happy to be one step closer to home. She still kept her guard though, because she still doesn't fully trust Loki yet.
"After you." Loki motioned towards the deep, dark portion of the cave. Jemma swallowed dryly. She never ventured deeper in the cave because she fears of what might be lurking inside that dark abyss, and staying near the exit will give her an advantage of escaping if something came from within that cave. She picked up her spear, and the longest firewood she had from her bonfire, so she can use it as a torch, then mustered all her courage to walk deeper into the cave. When she passed by Loki, he looked at what she's holding and raised his eyebrow. "It's dark in there." She referred to the torch, "For precaution. " she referred to the spear, then continued walking forward. Loki followed suit.
Jemma thought it was an endless tunnel because all she can see from afar is just darkness, until they hit a dead end. They've only walked for about ten minutes when they reached the dead end. Jemma eyed the cave's surroundings in search for the portal but she saw nothing.
Loki noticed what she was doing so, he said, "The passage is over there." He pointed at the left corner of the cave where there was a small opening.
"What? But it's smaller than my head. I think only my arm can fit in it." Jemma looked at the opening in disbelief.
"You think I am bluffing? Why don't you try it?" Loki suddenly pushed her into the opening.
Jemma didn't see that coming. Loki pushed her fast enough that she thought she was going to hit the wall hard, but to her surprise, she landed on the ground. She let go of the torch and spear when she crashed to the ground. She endured the pain only for a second then she got back up. She turned around and saw Loki was no longer there, but what surprised her more was that she was not inside the cave anymore. She looked up and saw a starry sky, and it seems like she's in a trench at the foot of a mountain. The path was narrow, like a only two people can fit walking side by side, but at least she can see the end of it.
"So, how is your travel from one realm to another?" Jemma's perusal was interrupted when Loki emerged behind her.
"Painful. Just like the first time." She petulantly said.
"You seemed a little doubtful, I just thought you needed a little push." Loki gave her a little mischievous smile.
"You just like to push people around." She bantered. Loki huffed in amusement, then walked towards the exit. "Follow me if you want to go back to Midgard. It is almost dawn, and we have to sneak back into the royal gates before sunrise so no one can see us."
Loki led Jemma to where he had hidden a vehicle. It's a strange looking craft, Jemma thought. Loki told her to hop on, so she did. And to her amazement, the vehicle hovered. "You might want to grab onto something, this thing is fast." He told her.
She did as what she was told, she didn't want to get propelled when the vehicle starts speeding off, so she sat down and held the edge of the craft tight. As Loki was maneuvering the vehicle, Jemma admired the scenery before her. Forget Tahiti, Asgard is a magical place, she thought. Jemma was more astonished when they arrived at the royal grounds of Asgard. It's like a fairytale come to life exprience, although instead of a charming prince, it was a wicked dark prince had found her - she frowned at the thought.
Soon when Loki parked the vehicle, Loki used his magic to disguise them as guards to enter the premise. As they reached the hallway nearing Odin's chamber, Loki changed them back to their original form since no guards were positioned in that area.
Out of curiosity, Jemma asked, "Can you change anyone's appearance to anyone or anything?"
"But of course!" He proudly answered, "Like this." He transformed Jemma into the Hulk and he changed into Thor. "Now, you look like a hideous monster. Haha..." he added.
Irritated, Jemma as the Hulk, puched Loki as Thor, in the face. He was caught off guard, that's why he wasn't able to evade the punch. Jemma may look like Hulk but still didn't have his strength, so, Loki wasn't sent tumbling away; it did hurt and he just stopped walking when Jemma's fist hit his face. He dispelled his magic instantly and said, "I forgot not to anger the green monster." He cringed at the memory of his fight with Hulk.
When they entered Odin's room, now occupied by Loki, Jemma wondered as to why they entered his room. Loki told her earlier, as they walked around the palace, that they will be using a machine called the Bifrost to send her home, and told her that it is located at Heimdall's observatory- she recalled. But why bring her here? Clearly this is not the observatory, so she asked him. "What are we doing here exactly?"
"To get this." Loki answered as he picked up a golden spear.
"A spear? Are we going to fight someone?"
"Sorry to disappoint you, but no. Well, hopefully, we don't. This is no ordinary spear, for this is Gungnir. It can open and close the Bifrost." He explained. "And while I visit Odin and Thor to bid my last farewell, why don't you clean yourself up. You look like you haven't bathed in centuries and your clothes are torn. You can use some clothes in here and the bathroom is over there." He added and pointed a huge cabinet and then the bathroom.
Jemma took little notice on his comment about her hygiene, she focused more on what he said about his father and Thor. "You're bidding farewell? Why?"
"I will never be fit for Asgard because I am not Asgardian. I am in fact a Jotun. So, I will leave Asgard and go back to my roots and live a diffent life." He simply replied then added, "A different life isn't always the worst one, right?"
"Yeah." Jemma smiled in agreement to what he said. After that, Loki left the room, so Jemma took an Asgardian dress and went to the bathroom to wash up.
Loki conjured himself a body double to go to the farthest dungeon in the palace as he himself went to Thor's room. After entering, he stood on Thor's bedside and watched his brother sleep. He remembered the times when they were very young, he used to be afraid of lightning and thunder, and sometimes Thor would let him sleep beside him. Loki closed his eyes to concentrate to his magic when his body double reached the dungeon.
Odin was awaken by footsteps and stood to see who was there. "It is rare of you to visit in the dead of night."
"Actually it is already dawn. Well, you would not know, since not a spec of light from the outside penetrates these walls." Loki told him off then continues, "I came to bid farewell."
"Farewell?"
"Yes. I will leave Asgard now and never to come back, so you do not have to worry."
"Are you running away from your crimes, from everything? I thought you were having the time of your life. Is ruling Asgard not what you had always wanted?"
"I am not running away. I am simply moving forward. And not really, no." Loki paused then continued, "I know I am burdened with glorious purpose, but that purpose is yet to be known to me... Someone has made me realize what a true king is. And I have yet to be worthy to be truly called king."
Odin was silent, clearly not expecting those words from Loki himself. While he is silent, Loki unlocked his cell and said, "Farewell, Father." Then he vanished into thin air.
Thor shifted from his bed and felt a presence in his room. When he opened his eyes, he couldn't believe what, or who he saw. A familiar tall figure, a person he knew well. "Loki, is that really you?" He asked, emotions welling up on him. He thought his brother died, but now in front of him. Thor grew confused.
"Yes, brother. How have you been?"
Thor tried to get up of his bed but somehow can't. "I saw you..." he wanted to say, died in front of my eyes, but he didn't, "How are you? I cannot get up, is this your doing?" He wanted to ask more questions but his mind was just whirling.
"I cannot stay long, I am here to say farewell. I have caused you a lot of turmoil Thor, and for that I am leaving. Farewell my brother." Loki said before disappearing.
"Brother, wait!" Thor tried to reach for him but what happened was, he woke up. It was a dream? He questioned himself. He looked around his room and saw no signs of Loki or anyone in his room.
Loki went back to get Jemma in his room. As he entered, he saw Jemma combing her hair in front of the mirror. Jemma noticed him come in, so she turned around to face him. "Are we ready to go?" She asked. She didn't get a response from him, and noticed he was looking at her from head to toe. "You're staring." She pointed out.
"Hmm..? Oh... You actually look decent in Asgardian royal court garments." He said as he walked closer to her. Jemma was wearing a long sleeved, cream white, floor length dress with golden embroidered patterns. "I honestly did not think something would fit your small frame, considering the owner of that dress was bigger than you." He added while he was eyeing her.
"Whose dress is this?" She asked quivering in his intense gaze.
"It was mother's. Small dress, probably when she was younger. Apparently father has not burned all her belongings when they mourned." He answered.
"It's your mother's? I'm sorry, I'll go change..." Jemma felt guilty wearing Frigga's dress because everytime Loki mentions her, he looked hurt.
"No, you don't have to. Nothing else would fit you anyway, and besides, it suits you." He said smiling with eyes full of sincerity. Jemma blushed slightly. "We should go, we have little time left." He added.
Once again, they snuck in the hallways to get to the rainbow bridge. Heimdall was inside the observatory, so Loki had to use his magic to trick him. He conjured a Thor illusion to approach Heimdall as he and Jemma remained outside, invisible to anyone.
"Heimdall, the All Father needs to talk to you right now." The Thor illusion said to Heimdall.
"What is it about?" Heimdal asked.
"It is about the infinity stones."
Heimdal didn't ask more questions after hearing that, and both of them headed out of the observatory. That was when Loki and Jemma entered. Jemma was in complete awe looking at Heimdall's observatory. The intricate golden designs in the room, the constellations and other worlds that can be seen from there were truly magnificent and she couldn't believe she is witnessing it all. But then her perusal was interrupted when Loki called for her.
Heimdall and the Thor illusion suddenly stopped while on their way to Odin because Heimdall just saw another Thor in front of him.
"What sorcery is this?" Heimdall asked perplexed. Then, the illusion vanished.
"Heimdall, I think it is Loki's doing. Where were you heading?" Thor said. When he woke up after that dream, his mind was telling him that it might be more than just a dream. He went out of his room and when Loki said he is leaving, the first thing came to his mind was the Bifrost.
"Thor, you said, I mean the illusion said the All Father needed to talk to me, so we were headed there." Heimdall replied and added, "Loki? But, is he not dead..?"
Thor immediately ran towards the Bifrost and Heimdall followed, "I am not sure. I saw him in my dream."
"Stand over there." Loki pointed Jemma to stand where the transportation will occur.
"What about you?" Jemma asked.
"Midgard is not my destination. I will be going to another realm, so you will be travelling first since I will be opening and closing the Bifrost." He answered and then asked, "Where exactly on Midgard do you need to be transported to?" Loki felt his illusion faded, "Thor is on his way, we must hurry."
Just about when Jemma was going to answer Loki's question, someone was at the door.
"Loki!" Thor shouted.
Loki turned his head to where that voice came from and opened the Bifrost using Gungnir. "Oops! We don't have time." He told Jemma. Before Jemma was transported, she was able to grab and pull Loki towards her.
A sudden bright light descended to the earth and four people witnessed the phenomenon. Curious, they went to check what happened.
Meanwhile, Jemma's head was spinning due to the wormhole-like travel she just experienced and her back also hurt. She opened her eyes and slowly got her bearings to function, then it became clear to her that she had actually fallen to her back and Loki was on top of her. Why do her interstellar travels always involve falling to the ground?! She inwardly cursed.
Loki stared at her and asked, "Why did you do that?" Not noticing their current position.
"We've been made and so I can't just leave you there." She reasoned and feeling a little out of breath because Loki's weight is squeezing her lungs but still wasn't able to point out to him their position.
"Why do you care if they catch me or not?" He pressed on asking, their faces just inches apart.
"I.. I can't breathe properly. You're a bit heavy." She finally pointed out. When he realized, he stood up and helped her stand as well. When Jemma caught her breath, she told him, "I have absolutely no idea as to why I did that... I just thought I need to..."
A foolish thing to do, Loki thought; but he had to admit to himself, if she didn't pull him in, he would suffer Asgardian justice. "We should leave, Thor could arrive here any moment. And there are people coming this way." He pointed to Jemma the flashlights waving from a distance. Then it just donned to her that she is now on her own world. Both of them ran through some trees and bushes, away from the people. They saw those people were actually teenagers just exploring. Loki spotted a car from where they stood. He grabbed Jemma's hand and directed her to the vehicle he saw.
"Are you telling me to steal a car?" Jemma was appalled by Loki's suggestion.
"We do not know where we are. Thor might be after us and he can fly with Mjolnir. Do you plan on just walking? And look, it is not even locked." He reasoned.
"You have a point. But for the record, we are not stealing this, just borrowing. I'll return it once I get back home." She finally gave in. The car was unlocked because the window was open and the music was playing loudly; there were bags inside and the keys were there too. It looked like the teenagers were having their own little party. They were actually in a beach and it was night time. Jemma checked the time in the car and saw it's already ten. She lowered the volume of the music player and started the engine, then drove the car as fast as she can to avoid being caught.
Just as when the teenagers got back from their exploration, they saw one of their cars got stolen. "Hey! My car!" One of them yelled in panic.
While Jemma was driving, she noticed something subtle happened to the car. She's not sure what, so she asked Loki, "Did you do something to the car?"
"Yes, I changed the appearance of the vehicle so no one can follow." He replied. "By the way, can you perhaps now tell where we are? When I opened the Bifrost, I randomly picked a location and sent us I know not where." He added.
"Hmm.." Jemma searched the car for a GPS system and she did find one, "We... are currently in San Diego. A bit far from my destination." She said as she turned the GPS on. Then she realized Loki was not supposed to be here. "What about you? You said you were going to somewhere else, before I dragged you here."
"I have to find the secret portal that connects this realm to Asgard. I only know where to find the portal in Asgard but unfortunately I do not know where it leads to here on your realm, for I have not used that passage before." He said to her.
"Um... I think I have an idea where it is." Jemma told him.
"You know of it? How?" Loki turned to her in full attention.
Jemma hesitated for a bit but decided to tell him the truth anyway, "I guess now's the time to tell you, that I am a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent." She paused for a moment to observe his reaction, and she saw him surprised with his mouth slightly open. She then turned her eyes back on the road and heard Loki said, "S.H.I.E.L.D? You mean like Barton and Romanoff? No wonder you weren't so afraid earlier but you're not as good as them in a fight."
"Well, we work for the same agency but we're different. Both of them are specialist, trained for combat, while I am a scientist." She explained.
"I see. So you're more like Dr. Selvig."
"In a way, yes; but my field is Biochemistry. And I was studying a Kree monolith then it sucked me in and transported me to the world where you found me."
"So you mean to say, if we can go to S.H.I.E.L.D, I can use the same way of travel you used and when I'm back there, I will use the secret portal to go back to Asgard?"
"I don't think we could take that option."
"What do you mean?"
"First, if we'll go to S.H.I.E.L.D. you would be treated as a threat, and me vouching for you is not good enough since you killed Coulson the last time you were here." Jemma couldn't even imagine what her team would do if they would see Loki.
"Was he really that important to S.H.I.E.L.D and your so called Avengers?"
"Oh, you have no idea.." She held back the information about Coulson being brought back to life, since not even the Avengers knew, so she moved to her next point, "Second, S.H.I.E.L.D's base is quite far from here. And third, I may have an idea as to where the secret portal is located and it's not far from here." Loki did not say a thing, he just looked at her signaling to continue, "A year ago, an Asgardian named Lorelei came here using one of your secret portals. We dealt with her, and Lady Sif took her back to Asgard. Anyway, her first sighting was in Death Valley, California. So, I'm guessing the portal is somewhere out there."
"Is that so? Alright then, the Valley of Death is my destination."
"Then it's decided, I'll drive you there, since we don't have any other options to get you there."
"How far is it from here?"
"The drive will take... oh, less than six hours." Simmons told him the information she got from the GPS.
The both of them were already tired from all the happenings of the day. They just hoped nothing would cause them more stress on their journey.