"The Chronicler," Loki answered with respect echoing in his voice. "was, is, a man of unparalleled wisdom and mystic power, blessed with the gift of foresight. It is rumored The Chronicler's age knows no end and has wandered the all the nine realms since their initial creation. There has not been another born who is his equal."

As Loki spoke Sif unconsciously bowed her head in silent respect to The Chronicler's legacy. Tony couldn't but notice Loki's apparent admiration for this living legend and kept his silence to prevent any potential offense.

Loki continued the tale. "The Chronicler has witnessed the beginning of time and has seen its end. During his extensive travels across all the worlds he has acquired vast knowledge, and served as advisor to many Asgardian Kings when war threatened to extinguish innocent life."

Jane and Pepper were completely enthralled by Loki's words and were sitting eagerly on the couch with their eyes wide with curiosity waiting for him finish the story. Tony himself was uncharacteristically quiet, a sure sign that he was as equally intrigued by the story as well although he'd never admit it.

Finishing the story of The Chronicler's legacy, Loki's voice took on an air of confliction. "Once peace reigned throughout the realms, Asgard standing victorious of Jotunheim, Odin offered The Chronicler haven deep within the mountains outside of the city. Through his reclusive nature The Chronicler began an extensive collection of all his gathered knowledge; the true history of the realms that could only be known by those who witnessed the actual events as the unfolded before their eyes." Loki looked over at Sif who was waiting for him to finish the explanation. "No one has seen or spoken with The Chronicler in centuries."

Satisfied that the Asgardian fairy tale was over, Tony asked the obvious question. "And now he suddenly breaks his silence just to talk to you?"

Loki didn't know how to answer such an intriguing question He just looked over at Sif as she chimed in confidently. "Why The Chronicler has called upon Loki has yet to be known. If a summons comes from The Chronicler, many of Asgard believe it to be an ominous sign of events to come." She walked over to Loki and spoke to him a tone that he hadn't heard in years, she spoke to him like a friend. "You must come back to Asgard. Please, Loki."

"I..." He looked down at Jane. "I cannot leave at this time."

Sif looked at Jane as well and did her best to hide her distain for the mortal woman. "She will be safe. She is amongst friends, is she not?"

Pepper put her hand on Jane's shoulder. "She is."

Jane agreed and put her hand on Loki's arm. "Go. Asgard needs you." She smiled reassuringly. "I'll be okay."

Accepting Jane's word, Loki reluctantly nodded in approval to Sif. "Then let us leave." Sif let a small grin cross her otherwise stern face. Walking together over to the landing platform outside the tower, Loki and Sif stood side by side as she looked up to the eternally blue sky. "Heimdall, open the Bi-Frost."

The massive beam of energy returned to the tower and an in instant both occupants of the landing pad were gone. Only smoke and residual trembling of the Tower marked their departure.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., scan the landing pad and analyze the residual energy particles." Tony was staring intently at the sky as if he could still see Loki and Sif as they were taken back to Asgard.

'Yes, sir. Scanning now.' The A.I. obliged the odd request.

The elevator doors unexpectedly opened and out walked Bruce. He looked around the room curiously and guarded. "Tony, did I just see an Asgardian tractor beam on my way back to the tower?"

"Yup. You just missed Loki and the 'warrior princess' herself."

"Zelda?"

"Xenia." Tony corrected.

"That was going to be my next guess." Bruce playfully added.

Arriving at the Bi-Frost gate in an energetic rush, Loki and Sif were greeted only by Heimdall. The amber eyed guardian subtly nodded to Loki before greeting Sif. "Welcome back Lady Sif. The Chronicler thanks you for your service."

"It was my honor to serve The Chronicler."

Heimdall turned his attention toward Loki. "Loki; Son of Odin, Brother of Thor, you have been summoned to the highest peak of Divination. Atop a long, winding path of stone you shall discover the mouth of The Chronicler's cave. Leave now with haste, I cannot guarantee your anonymity for more than a day."

"Thank you, Heimdall." Loki's voice was quiet as he bowed respectfully and turned his attention toward Lady Sif, who stood impatiently next to the gate's guardian. Despite their differences Loki showed her respect as well. "Sif." He bowed to her as well as he exited the gate to the back to the city.

Alone Loki walked along the 'Trembling Path' known as the Rainbow Bridge. To reach the Mountains of Divination would require a long solo trek to the outskirts of the city. As the only means to protect himself and avoid detection Loki used his gift of sorcery to disguise himself as an inconspicuous denizen of Asgard. With a sudden flash of bright green light Loki's appearance changed to that of a younger man with short blonde hair, brown eyes and blue garments.

Walking into the city that was once his home, no one gave Loki a second look. He stopped for a moment to admire the great mountains in the distance. Somewhere at the towering peak The Chronicler was waiting. Using a small gate that was known only to few, Loki exited the city through its protective wall that bordered the city and sheltered the citizens within.

He was at last alone.

Bruce was sitting on the large cough opposite Jane and Pepper as he finished processing the story that Tony had finished telling. "So, Loki went back to Asgard; the same Asgard that he had been exhiled from, and is looking for an ancient supposed prophet that is supposedly hiding out somewhere in the mountains?"

Pepper nodded. "Pretty much." If she didn't believe Tony's story, no one would. Her word was as good as gold in the Tower.

Accepting the wild tale, Bruce asked for more information. "And... how long will he be gone?"

"Um, we don't know." Pepper answered shyly.

"Wait," Jane didn't like the tone of Bruce's voice. "is there something we should know about?"

Bruce cleared his throat nervously. "Well, I went to the hospital to see if arrangements could be made when its time for the baby to arrive..."

"And?" Jane really didn't like where he was going.

"And it turns out the hospital was once under S.H.I.E.L.D. protection but since S.H.I.E.L.D. has pretty much vanished, there has been a sudden interest in the hospital's activities by the government."

Jane sighed heavily and put her hand on her bump. "So if the woman seen in Thor's company shows up at the hospital ready to give birth..."

Bruce shut his eyes as dread filled his thoughts. "The government may try to take the baby."

"Oh, God..." Jane was trying hold back her tears as Pepper quickly hugged her shoulders.

"We won't let them take the baby." Pepper reassured her. "Right Bruce?"

"Right. Which is why we need Loki." Bruce opened his eyes and stared at the floor.

Tony, who had been pouring himself a glass of scotch at the bar overheard this conversation and spoke up at the odd claim. "Wait, what? What can Loki do? Magically teleport the baby from A to B?"

"No, Tony..." Bruce was trying to get that odd image out of his mind. "Loki's magic and quite possibly, his ability to quickly regenerate and heal can make the delivery much easier for both Jane and the baby. If not a little safer." Bruce wrung his hands together nervously. "I know what to do, I just haven't had the experience in actually doing so."

'Sir,' J.A.R.V.I.S. interrupted. 'I've finished scanning the trace energy signature from the Bi-Frost and have begun a global scan to track any additional potentially related activity.'

"Good, keep us posted."

'Yes, Sir.'

"Now." Tony sat on the couch next to Pepper and looked at Bruce. "You didn't just go to the hospital to reserve Jane a private room, did you?"

Bruce smirked a little at Tony's keen observational skills. "No, I also gathered some extra supplies to stock the medical bay. With S.H.I.E.L.D. out of action we're still on our own."

"Maybe the Asgardian's are right." Jane said with melancholy in her voice and tears in her eyes.

Everyone in the room was silenced at Jane's tone. They looked at her with heavy hearts and Pepper lovingly patted her arm. "What do you mean, Jane?"

Jane wiped away her tears. "The reappearance of The Chronicler is an ominous sign."

...to be continued...

Author's Note: Well? Any good? I want to keep the story as realistically in the current Marvel Universe as possible, without changing too much or having an unoriginal, anticlimactic story. Just a warning, the ending may be a little odd in order to keep the Marvel Universe in balance! :)