73. Okie-Dokie, Loki

NEBULAPOLIS, RAGNANIVAL, ASGARD

It took Loki a while to compose himself. He found he couldn't tell the story from the throne. No, he discovered himself standing down, turned slightly away from Pinkie Pie, looking at the wall. Even here, under these circumstances, it was difficult to put into words. To relive.

"When the Nine Realms were young," he began, "there was a great war between Asgard and Jötunheim. Jötunheim being the realm of the Jötunns…the Frost Giants. The trolls. As a spoil of war, King Odin ripped me from the Jötunns as a child, raising me as his own…never telling me that I had Jötunn blood within me. He raised me to hate the Jötunns, to revile them as demons and monsters. So we did with the Dark Elves as well. I lived what I believed a happy youth. As happy as one can have, I suppose, growing up in the shadow of Thor. But I had friends. Though he insisted upon besting me in every aspect of life, Thor acted as a friend to me. Lady Sif, the Riders Three, Gwendolyn, Griselda, Velvet… And I came to grow into my duty as a maker of mischief.

"That was when you met me. During these days of youth, when I was still learning, growing. When I lived in a blissful ignorance. That was when you came to me, and I first learned of you and your strange powers. You, Pinkie Pie, you were always the one to find my japes amusing, to laugh at the schemes I pulled on the others. We had a great adventure, you and your friends, me and whom I believed to be mine. Then you left, and did not return for thousands upon thousands of years.

"It was always clear to me where Odin's loyalty lay. He claimed to be my father, and yet, even before I knew the truth, before I knew I was no kin of his, he praised Thor's every action, groomed him for the throne, forged for him a powerful weapon beyond compare. To those of us living alongside Thor within this palace, to Gwendolyn and Griselda and myself, it seemed unfair, but a fact of life. Thor came first. And then, I realize, Gwendolyn and Griselda. I suppose Velvet and Ingway understood. They were cast out of Thor's sight. Bastard children he sired by the princess of another Asgardian kingdom. I had always thought myself lucky when I saw how he cast Velvet and Ingway so easily aside. I thought that as a true son of Odin and Frigga, I would never suffer their fate. It may have been wrong of me, but I thought myself…better than that, and I was grateful."

Loki paused for a moment before continuing. "But the truth came out. As it must always, eventually. That I was a Jötunn. One of the creatures I had been told all my life was inferior to we Asgardians, who controlled forces of nature and humanity. Simply a bargaining chip in Odin's game. Not a son to him. Not a prince, not an heir, not even a child to truly call his own! I was one of the enemy sheltered beneath his roof! Garbage to be thrown out when no longer desired! And he chose never to tell me. To let me find out on my own, though I suppose he wished me never to find out at all.

"He declared Thor his only true heir to the throne. Griselda, by that time, was dead, and of course he would not allow Gwendolyn, a woman, to take his throne. But did any of them know what it truly takes to rule? You've met Thor. Do you believe HIM capable of leading a nation? Of creating a structure? Were Odin to have made his selection based on which of his children had the most knowledge, it should have been me. But he would sooner die than place a Jötunn on the throne, even a Jötunn in blood only.

"What followed was a series of…mistakes, I will admit. I tried to take what I felt was truly mine time and time again…through deceit, through lies. By manipulating the others, by forging dangerous alliances, by attacking Midgard, Asgard, and Jötunheim alike. It was the only way, I thought, I could get through to Odin, to make him see…but he never did. Thor begged time and time again for him to give me a chance at redemption, but I could always see in his eyes that was never what he wanted. As for Thor…he never truly stood by me. He only wanted me to conform to Odin's standards. To become the subservient Jötunn garbage he wanted me to be so that we could live as a…happy family.

"Of course, we never could. The only one who ever even began to understand me was Frigga, Odin's wife…my mother, I suppose. Not by blood…but she treated me as a mother should treat a son. With respect, even when she had no choice but to be my jailer and lock me in the palace dungeons. Every word she said to me was sincere. But when the Dark Elves attacked in full force, she was killed. You will have heard, I know, that I am supposed to be dead. When they took my mother from me…I decided to ally myself with the supposedly righteous. To stand by Thor against Malekith. To appear to have given my life…that was to give Thor the advantage, to let him defeat Malekith for what I thought was once and for all. In the meantime…Odin died as well. And much like Frigga, it will take the passing of much time for him to regenerate.

"I hadn't yet let on to anyone that my sacrifice was a façade. The passing of Odin provided me with an opportunity. What if I could take his form, take his name…rule with his hand? Asgard would accept me then. And so I have been working in secret. Ruling as Odin, directing Asgard to my vision.

"And yet you wonder: what does H.A.M.M.E.R. have to do with any of this? For you must have deduced it was my idea as well, mine and Victor von Doom's. As though Norman Osborn could have set it up. Consider it our way of showing the world the correct way. Providing them with protectors. Giving the unheard a voice. All I ever wanted…a voice. Thor wouldn't understand, nor the legions who followed Odin's command. The only one who would ever understand is dead and gone. That is why I am here today.

"When I heard you and your friends had come to Midgard, what you know as 616th Earth, I knew I needed to speak to you, Pinkie Pie. To tell you of what had happened since last we met. I pieced together that this was the first time you had encountered any of us due to a fluctuation in time. When H.A.M.M.E.R. took you into custody, I ordered them not to put you in detainment, but to bring you to me. I had hoped you would be the same person – or, as it is, the same pony – now that you were then. That perhaps I could confide in you. Perhaps it was a silly wish, a folly. But all the same, I needed to speak with you, to tell you what had become of me." Loki sighed. "I suppose that was wishing too much."

He looked back to Pinkie Pie, who'd been listening to his every word with rapt attention, her eyes wide. As soon as he made eye contact with her, she burst into tears.

"I didn't knowwwwww!" she wailed. "All this time, and Thor never said anything, and you've always been hated and you just wanted to be respected this whole time but nobody loves you!"

Loki nodded. "Unfortunately, that is the fate I must bear."

"B-but why…" Pinkie wiped her eyes clean. "Why go after the Avengers? Why arrest them?"

"It's the only way to make them see," Loki told her. "They labor under the delusion that Odin, and, for that matter, Nick Fury represent the greater good. They would sooner attack me than listen. Even if Thor offered me another alliance, it would be in hopes that I would fight in memory of his father. I may not be proud of the mistakes I have made, but I have made a point of not having regrets."

"They just really don't understand at all, do they?" Pinkie asked, sniffling.

Loki shook his head. "That is why I want to ask a small favor of you. Though perhaps I have asked enough that you carry my secret."

"I won't tell ANYONE that Odin's you!" Pinkie asserted. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye! But what's the other favor? I can probably do that one too! I like making my friends happy!"

"You believe we are friends? You have only known me a short while."

"Yeah, but you seem really nice…and really sad, too! What was the other thing?"

Loki stared her down. "Protect me," he said. "With all that has transpired, a backlash is inevitable. And I fear the worst. I am in a certain danger, and I fear I will not survive without your help. Victor and the others will do what they can…but a powerful enemy will stop at nothing to see me dead."

"Who would want YOU dead?"

"Another mistake I made," Loki explained. "Thanos. The Mad Titan. Leader of a race called the Chitauri. During my quest for justice, I crossed his path, and we struck a deal. I would lead his army to Midgard, and he would let me take control of that realm as my spoil. But I failed him…in no small part thanks to Thor and the Avengers. It is only a matter of time before he seeks me out to make good on his promise that if I did not succeed, there would be nowhere I could hide."

"Well, don't worry!" Pinkie vowed. "Pinkie Pie is on the case! And I'm sure when my friends hear about what happened, they'll help you too!" She gasped. "My friends! They must be worried about me!"

"I will do everything in my power to inform them that you are safe," Loki said. "However, you know as well as I that none of my associates can cross the borders of the Wakandan embassy. I will issue the order nonetheless. Fear not…I am sure you will be reunited with them again soon. In the meantime, you are my guest. So long as you do not reveal my identity to any other Asgardians, save Amora, you are free to roam the city as you wish."

"REALLY?" Pinkie gasped yet again, her eyes sparkling.

"Go wherever your heart desires," Loki told her.

"Okie-dokie, Loki!" Pinkie said, turning to make for the door. She stopped before she reached it. She didn't want to leave. "Um, Loki?"

"What is it, my dear friend?"

"Do you need any help from me now? Like, right now? Because I was wondering if I could…help you. Now."

"Your concern touches me," Loki said. "Truly, it does." He strode toward her, placing a hand on the side of her face; he could feel her tremble as her smile grew larger. "I have business I must attend to alone. But I will call upon your company again soon, this I swear."

"I can't WAIT!" Pinkie shrieked.

"Now go," Loki ordered, smiling warmly. "Have some fun."

Pinkie turned away, blushing madly, and charged from the throne room. Loki resumed his guise as Odin.

He knew that soon, he would have to return to 616th Midgard to explain the next phase – the final phase – of the plan.

NEW YORK CITY, 616TH EARTH

The Wakandan embassy was comfortable. T'Challa had seen to it to find sleeping arrangements for all guests, as well as food and space in which to simply talk.

Tony, Steve, and Thor made their way down a hallway to find Banner exiting one of the lounge rooms, exuding an aura of distress. "What's with you?" Tony asked.

Banner gestured back to the door. "I want to help her," he said, "but I don't know what to say. This just isn't my THING. This isn't what I DO."

Steve peered through the doorway to see Fluttershy sitting in a chair at a conference table. Her elbows rested on the table's surface and her head in her hands. She shuddered visibly, obviously crying.

"I don't – " Banner went on, but Steve interrupted: "I'll talk to her." He entered the room, treading gently. The others watched from afar.

Steve took the seat opposite Fluttershy. "Hi," he said softly.

"Oh…" Fluttershy looked up, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Hello. I'm sorry. Bruce and I were talking about everything that happened, and I…I don't know what came over me…I shouldn't have…"

"Don't apologize," Steve told her. "You have every reason to cry if you want. I know what's going on. You miss her. You're hoping she's okay."

Fluttershy nodded, unable to stop her eyes from watering again.

"I know how that feels," Steve said. "When Bucky – " He shook his head. "But this isn't about me. Fluttershy, I promise I will do everything in my power to rescue Pinkie Pie from them. I never leave a man behind…or a woman, for that matter. I'll bring her back. WE'LL bring her back. Safe and sound."

"But…" Fluttershy's voice was almost imperceptible. "What if it's already too late?"

"We have to believe it isn't," Steve told her. "And if it is…well, the pain will take a while to go away, but eventually, it does. The important thing is that you keep her in your memory. She's a good person. What would she want you to do?"

Fluttershy sniffled. "She'd want me to smile…" She forced the slightest of grins. "It's not easy. But I can do it."

"This just makes it all the more important to figure out our plan against Osborn." Steve rose. "I don't know what we can do yet, or how. But we'll figure something out. For her. In the meantime, if there's anything you need, please let us know."

"Thank you," Fluttershy replied. "I shouldn't keep you."

"Don't be afraid to interrupt me, either," Steve told her. "Are you going to be all right?"

Fluttershy nodded, her smile widening.

"Just let me know," Steve reiterated before leaving.

As he re-entered the hall, Banner said, "You don't have a CLUE what we're going to do about Osborn, do you?"

"Not yet," Steve admitted, "but I'll think of something. And if I don't, someone else will."

"I know," Tony said with a sincere nod. "Oh, and by the way, Steve…"

"What?"

"Don't read the morning paper. You don't want to know."

The Cabal table gathered.

"It is time we make our next move," Loki stated. "One that will draw the Avengers out of hiding, to be sure…but so much more than that."

"What do you mean?" Osborn asked, an eyebrow raising.

"Throughout the reformation," Loki said, "we have made advances toward rights for Atlanteans. Rights for mutants. Righted what has been wrong. And yet…there is still a great wrong that we have not touched. Something we now have it in our power to fix."

"And what would this be?" Blackheart asked this question almost teasingly.

"Asgard," Loki stated. "And the delusions under which its people labor."

"Are you suggesting we take Asgard forcibly?" Osborn asked, an edge creeping into his voice.

"There is no reason why we couldn't," Loki said. "After all, we are the defenders of the world. If we told the world that Asgard was a threat to its security…which they no doubt already believe to an extent, thanks in part to my own actions…no one would bat an eye if we led a full siege upon the capital."

Osborn slammed both hands on the table, standing. "Is THIS what this has all been about? Was this all a ploy for you to take what you wanted? For you to line us up like sheep for the slaughter to march forward as your army so you could take the throne of Asgard?"

"Oh, give me more credit than that," Loki replied. "The rest of you would have gotten your shares as well. Once I was installed upon the Asgardian throne, imagine the spoils the rest of you would have. And this doesn't change the goals we have already accomplished." He stole a glance toward Doom, and the two communicated briefly with their eyes, a shared agreement.

Namor stood then. "You lied to us," he accused. "You deliberately kept this information from us so we would…so we would…" He looked around the table. At the others. Their reactions. Osborn, of course, angry. Doom, of course, always in cahoots with Loki. But then there was Crouch. "You knew," he guessed. Then Blackheart. "And you." For the two of them were merely sitting calmly, Blackheart even with a smirk. Finally, to Frost. "You…?"

"I knew from the start," Frost said.

Loki was taken aback. "You couldn't have penetrated my mind – "

"But I could read Doom's thoughts," Frost explained, "and he told me everything. It was a matter of whether or not you would ever put it out in the open. That was what would jeopardize what I was working for. There is a large difference between a dream and reality."

"But given the chance," Loki asked her, "would you?"

"Invade Asgard?" Frost asked. "I would rather not. It has the potential to undo all of my progress. Then again, you raise a valid point."

"And what point is that?"

"If you can claim the throne of Asgard and bring it to reform, the rest of us can take hold of what we want EASILY. I might liken it to dominoes. If it goes wrong, I would lose my respect as a champion of mutantkind. But if it goes right…I may be able to put the humans in their place at long last. With all due respect to Victor and Norman."

"Namor," Loki cajoled. "Norman. You are the only two here who fail to see the good that can come of this."

"What good WILL come of this?" Osborn asked coldly.

"First Asgard falls…then Hell," Blackheart stated.

"The humans will be put in their place," Crouch reiterated.

"And you?" Osborn asked Doom. "Your motivation?"

"A secret," Doom replied. "Though I suppose Ms. Frost knows."

"Frost," Osborn ordered. "Tell me what he's planning."

"Not until you give me a reason it would benefit me," Frost countered. "The way I see it, it works in my favor to keep Doom's motivations a secret. And it works both ways, Osborn. I can see what's going on in your head, too. I have since the start. You aren't completely averse to the idea of a revolution. You talk all the time about how satisfied you are to finally control the nation, but that's not enough for you. You want more. If you had a shot at Asgard, which you know you don't because Loki and Doom would have you beat, you would take it for yourself, or at least dream about it. And down inside you, deep down, there's a part of you that wants to be invincible. That wants to have the power and freedom to do what you want, when you want to do it. That wants to embrace chaos. At your core, Norman Osborn, there's a part of you that misses – "

"THAT'S ENOUGH," Osborn snapped, silencing Frost. "I'll have you know, Loki, that I don't take this lightly."

"What choice do you have?" Doom asked.

"We signed on as a team," Loki reminded him. "If you want to break away now…I suppose that's all right. But without us backing your position as Director…say, if one of us actively worked to undermine it…well. Things could get ugly indeed."

After a long silence, Osborn sat back down.

"And you know quite well you identify with my struggle, Namor," Loki continued. "You want recognition as much as I do."

"Perhaps," Namor said. "But I am not sure I want power as much as HE does." He looked toward Doom. Doom made no reply.

"Don't think of it as a grab for power," Loki told him. "Think of it as an opportunity. Whatever you want will only come to you if you have the courage to take it by force."

"Are these words for my benefit," Namor asked, "or yours?"

"Does it matter?" Loki asked. "And remember: your involvement with this Cabal puts you on the same ground as Osborn. If you're not with us…"

Namor also sat down.

"Good," Loki said. "Now, we can discuss particulars. Please. This is for the benefit of H.A.M.M.E.R. as a whole, and you know it."

After the meeting dispersed, Loki and Osborn remained behind.

"Is this truly not what you want?" Loki asked.

"We've done nothing on the scale of an invasion," Osborn pointed out. "It's an enormous gamble."

"You've pulled off riskier ventures. What is that you say when something of yours fails? We sweep up, and try agai – "

"I don't appreciate you using my words against me."

"What, do you want me to apologize? I never do. Sorry…I couldn't resist."

Osborn glared at him.

"Why are you against this?" Loki asked. "After all, there is a piece for you. I intend to reward my associates handsomely. You will still have H.A.M.M.E.R. under your control at the end of the day. You will have a domain all your own. But at the same time, there is a stake of Asgard in it for you."

Osborn mulled it over.

"You still aren't fond of the idea, are you?" Loki asked. "I'm not quite sure I understand. After all, Ms. Frost wasn't lying…was she?"

"She also said there is a line between dreams and reality. Just because I want it doesn't mean I think it is a viable route."

"Oh, but I think it is. I can see it now…you, sailing over Asgard, raining explosives on the heads of all who oppose our little group…flying, free to do whatever you want…to be invincible again. Norman Osborn, I do declare you've gotten used to playing it safe."

Osborn wanted to argue against that. He didn't know how to put his thoughts into words, or at least words that would hold water against Loki.

"Tell me, Osborn," Loki urged. "Why not?"

There was still no way to say it.

"You don't have an answer."

"Perhaps I have played it safe," Osborn stated. "Perhaps I've merely bided my time in a way I feel is strategic. I suppose, the way you put it, there is no reason…why not. But only for one day. The day of our…siege. You realize we can't call it that to the public, of course."

"Of course. It will be a measure of justice. But most importantly, a chance for the world to see what our forces can REALLY do. We've given them a reason to love us. It's high time we gave them a reason to fear us as well."

"For one day," Osborn reiterated.

"One day."

Osborn smiled. "This may not be so bad after all. At the end of the day…a stake in Asgard does catch my fancy. As for the people of this world…who knows what that irrational Odin may do to them if not kept in check?"

"There's the spirit."

Doom found Namor sulking, alone, in a conference room. The one, in fact, Osborn had used to brief his hit squad of the Dark Avengers and Sinister Six.

"What troubles you?" Doom asked.

"Is this truly right?" Namor replied. A question for a question. "Invading Asgard?"

"What you will gain from this venture is the power to make the right that you see fit. When Loki gains the throne in Asgard, you will not only have a say in its rule, but you will be able to take the seas – "

"I have abandoned that notion," Namor told Doom. "It did, once, almost seem like the answer: for you to rule the lands, and I the seas…but no more. The seas do not need my hand. My duty is to Atlantis, and as such, my loyalty is still to you. But I no longer want to speak with you of ruling land and sea." He paused. "Nor do I want your affections. It is obvious to whom your heart belongs. Do not try to give it to me."

"A pity," Doom stated. "However, you will stand beside us during the Siege."

"I shall consider – "

"It was not a question, Namor."

A sigh. "I know."

With nothing further to say, Doom turned and stalked from the room.

Tony looked at the newspaper again. He'd told Steve not to, but he couldn't stop. He couldn't stop looking at the headline: AVENGERS WANTED CRIMINALS, THREAT TO JUSTICE. Or the sub-headline (Costumed Scoundrels Cowardly Take Refuge in Foreign Embassy) or the byline (J. Jonah Jameson, big surprise). For a moment, Tony considered that of all the evils he'd ever faced, from Obadiah Stane to Ivan Vanko to Red Skull to Loki himself, perhaps Jameson was the worst of the lot.

He ripped the paper to shreds, haphazardly scattering scraps. Pieces of text that described how the Avengers had obstructed justice, assaulted certain officers of the law, and perhaps even been driven to this madness by their "six friends of unknown origin, who may be the real evil in our midst" floated to the floor.

"I would prefer it if you recycled those instead of littering the floors where you have been welcomed as a guest," T'Challa said.

Tony sighed before getting down on his hands and knees to sweep up the scraps. "Sorry, okay? It's just all this. We're being treated like the goddamn bad guys while the actual goddamn bad guys rule the country. And the worst part is, they actually haven't done anything outside of chase down us and run out Fury. They look like the epitome of justice to everyone else. That almost makes me wonder if we did the wrong thing." He stood, the scraps of paper collected in his hands. "I'm NOT wrong, T'Challa."

T'Challa nodded. "They have acted as aggressors. And it is only a matter of time before their true colors show."

"So what do we do now? If it were just up to me, I'd fly up there right now and – "

"You know very well why you can't."

"Then WHAT? We sit around here and hope for something to just fall out of the sky to show us the way?"

"I may have something that can help you take your mind off it for a moment…and perhaps allow you to think of new solutions to the situation."

Tony sighed. "Okay, humor me."

"Follow me."

Tony followed T'Challa to the basement, where he was shown a large laboratory area filled with gleaming computer screens and various hardware organized on the walls. "Even here, I always find it worth my while to experiment with new technology," T'Challa explained. "You may use it for whatever you please."

Tony had to experience what is best described as a mental double take. "You're letting me have the run of this place?"

"Yes. I know you will create something useful, and perhaps organize your thoughts in the process. Though there has been a request for your first project."

"Hit me."

T'Challa motioned to the far wall, where Tony saw the battered Spectrum propped up. "It is no longer functional outside of providing external protection," T'Challa explained.

"Two steps ahead of you," Tony said, looking around the lab. "Well, compared to what I'm used to, it's a few steps backward…but I can work with it."

"I am glad. I wish you luck."

"Thanks. For this."

"It is no problem. I will leave you to your work."

T'Challa exited, and Tony crossed to Spectrum, examining the various damages. "The hell happened to this…?"

The main room was packed; all had come to hear Osborn's announcement. In the front row, Natasha, Coulson, Johnson, and Morse. Tucked away in the back corner, Eva Ice, a smile already upon her face. Lined up against the back wall, in full dress so everyone would recognize them, were Zemo, Amora, Venom, the Red Hulk, Daken, Bullseye, Mysterio, Shocker, Electro, Sandman, Rhino, and Vulture.

"Today, I bring you an announcement of great importance," Osborn stated. "We have defended this nation from many threats. From that of the Dark Elves, from the barbarian Attuma, from a HYDRA extremist. But one threat lingers. I am sure you remember the damage that has come every time an Asgardian has approached this world. You don't need to look further than the Chitauri invasion to see that Asgard poses a threat. If we do not take action against it, we may very well end up with yet another incident like that on our hands. Or worse…with what will happen if Odin decides mortals are too inferior to be allowed to survive.

"That is why I am proposing a measure that may seem extreme…but I believe it is for the best. As you probably well knew, former director Nick Fury had prepared several weapons to fend off interdimensional attacks. Production nearly halted when Steven Rogers, otherwise known as the fugitive Captain America, convinced him that such a thing was unethical. Yet the threat still stands, and this organization has taken no further action since. We must make a decisive move. We shall lead the movement into Asgard and force the populace to accept our terms of peace."

"You mean invade Asgard," Natasha interrupted.

"I suppose you could define it as invasion," Osborn said, "but I like to think of it as a peacekeeping method."

Suddenly growing suspicious, Natasha said, "You don't want to risk war with Wakanda, but you'll START a war with Asgard? What's really going on?"

"As an Asgardian," Amora broke in, "I believe I have the right to speak. Director Osborn has discussed this decision with me, and I encouraged him to take this path."

As Amora approached the front of the room, Zemo stole a glance at Ice. Altogether, he wasn't surprised. He had known that Loki, Doom, or both would be taking something larger out of the H.A.M.M.E.R. operation, and true colors were beginning to be revealed.

"King Odin is an unreasonable man," she stated. "He has long spoken of war against Midgard. He is a ruthless conqueror. You saw what he drove Malekith to become when he devastated Svartalfheim! Not that I, by any means, excuse Malekith for his actions. But he stands as an example of what Asgard can leave in its wake. If we strike now, however…the people are weak. Bloated on the security they believe Odin can give them. Taking Asgard would be much easier than taking Wakanda."

"We don't intend to TAKE Asgard," Osborn hissed to Amora. "Merely coerce them into a negotiation."

Zemo and Ice kept eye contact. Ice winked. Zemo nodded. Almost a perfect charade, forged by the Lie-smith himself.

"But if we do not make some sort of attempt now," Amora concluded, "we will be seeing Odin's troops on our doorstep. I have heard such whispers. I am considered no less than a complete deviant among my people for my wish to defend Midgard. Please heed my warning now…unless you would rather pay the price later."

"Amora and I have discussed the matter, and we have the technology to make a break into Asgard," Osborn stated. "I hope you will all stand by this decision."

"NEVER," Natasha asserted. "This is an injustice! There's something else going on here, and – "

"Presumptuous, aren't we?" Zemo interrupted. "For what reason do you believe there is a more sinister agenda?"

"Whenever Asgard is involved…" Natasha trailed off.

"All the more reason to stop it in its tracks, I should think," Zemo argued.

Natasha stared him directly in the eye, slightly unnerved by the act of staring directly at an almost featureless mass of purple instead of a face. "Attacking Asgard just sounds a bit too familiar for my tastes."

"This is, of course, an unrelated sentiment," Zemo told her, "but your words bring to mind the fact that the dead generally remain dead."

This only heightened her suspicion. However, she knew she couldn't make the accusation outright.

"During the process, I wish for all H.A.M.M.E.R. agents to be accounted for," Osborn went on. "If you are not to be in combat, you are to be under surveillance elsewhere. This mission is to be kept in strict confidence from the public, and I do not wish to see that compromised. Is that clear?"

Before Natasha could say anything else, she felt Coulson tug at her sleeve. She sat back down.

"He has us cornered," Coulson whispered. "There'll be no warning…you know who."

"They'll find out," Natasha whispered back.

Striding forward through the crowd, Zemo announced, "I would be honored to lead my team of New Avengers into the peacekeeping mission in Asgard. And they would all be honored to stand with me."

"We would?" the Red Hulk whispered, slightly nervous.

"Of course," Bullseye replied with a grin.

Shocker then stepped forward. "My men are in too," he stated. "We threw our lot in with H.A.M.M.E.R., and that's where it stays."

"Yeah!" Sandman echoed. "Besides, I'm lookin' forward to scorin' some Asgardian loot – "

Mysterio elbowed him in the stomach. Of course, it didn't hurt, but Sandman got the point and shut up.

"Forgive anythin' my associates might say," Shocker continued. "We want one thing, and ONLY one thing: to see that Odin brought down off his high horse."

Zemo was impressed at how easily Shocker was able to sew himself into the charade. He wondered what it was Shocker thought he would get out of it. Certainly, the Six had their motives…even if said motives amounted to earning a bribe or dodging a threat from the higher chain of command.

"Our strongest defenders will stand against the Asgardian threat," Osborn reiterated. "Will you?"

A cry from one agent: "DOWN WITH ODIN!"

Another: "We need to stop this before war comes to OUR world!"

And Ice: "Make them KNEEL!"

It was all Zemo could do to keep from laughing. That was almost a dead giveaway. Were Loki's shapeshifting efforts any less convincing, it would have raised eyebrows. But as it were, even Natasha didn't seem to latch on to that all too familiar outcry.

Natasha was far too concerned with the frenzy building in the agents around her. She looked around to see if any one of them had managed to resist being caught up in Osborn's tirade of propaganda. Only Coulson, Johnson, and Morse seemed to be expressing any doubt.

"Transportation will be prepared tomorrow to Asgard," Osborn said. "Prepare to execute the peacekeeping operation the day after that. Until that time, no one leaves."

One had to travel quite a long way out of the city limits to find such thing as a rolling green field uncrowded by suburbs or skyscrapers. However, such a site was located the morning after Osborn had incited the agents to rally, and so it was that at the crack of dawn, seven beings walked out upon the fields.

"You're sure that no one will escape?" Loki grilled Osborn.

"The Dark Avengers and the Six are monitoring every entry and exit," Osborn confirmed. "Try as she might, there is no way that the Black Widow will be informing her comrades of our plan."

Among the Cabal, Loki had yet again dropped his guise as Eva Ice. He carried with him only his spear. Upon his orders, Doom, Namor, Blackheart, Frost, Crouch, and Osborn each carried a spearlike object as well: black metal with a crystal set into the top.

"And how do these work, again?" Crouch asked.

"The crystals are facilitators, much like your Dark Matter," Loki said. "Not as reliable, but attuned to act as a substitute for the Bifrost and conduct dark energy in a manner that will create a suitable portal."

"I thought you could just teleport wherever you wanted to," Frost countered. "Hadn't you mastered the Dark Arts to that level?"

"I have indeed," Loki informed her, "but to take as large of a party as we intend, I will need to generate a field that will encompass them all. Unless you want us all to go in holding hands with each other. No, the crystals will act as the field as well. Asgardian technology has long relied on crystals, and we have learned to manipulate them to do our will. Though some of their darker purposes have been forgotten since the bloodier eras of history. Now. As we discussed."

Doom, Namor, Blackheart, Frost, Crouch and Osborn each took a position on the field, forming a large circle. Loki stood dead center of this circle, spear at the ready. He raised it aloft.

"NOW!" he commanded.

The six black staffs were plunged into the soft earth. As soon as this was done, their crystals began to glow softly. The tip of Loki's spear glowed, and suddenly, the crystals' light blazed. Shafts of light burst from each, connecting to the spear. Then a ray of blackness erupted from the spear's point, zipping up into the sky. At a certain height, it halted, and the end of the ray erupted into a floating mass of darkness that spread itself out thinly across the sky until it reached the perimeter that lined up with the circle suggested by the crystals planted below. When it was over, those below noticed a faint darkening of the sky, as though looking at the marked area through the lens of sunglasses, but nothing quite so obvious as the initial process had been. The crystals on the ground, however, still glowed quite brightly.

"It needs time," Loki explained. "When we return to it tomorrow, it will be suitable. In the meantime…I am sure you all have preparations to make."

The seven departed from the field. Osborn in particular had a fair amount of preparation on his mind. He had a lot of technology to acquire…as well as a mask.

"Amora."

Amora's stride down the hallway of the helicarrier was interrupted by Natasha's call. The Enchantress turned to see Natasha, Coulson, Morse, and Johnson lined up behind her.

"Come to hurl yet another wild accusation at me?" Amora sighed.

"Actually, we want to join you on the peacekeeping effort," Johnson stated. "If you could let Osborn know we will be among the landing party."

Amora appeared taken aback. "I…shall deliver the message."

"Thank you," Natasha said with a somber nod.

Amora immediately turned on her heel and continued walking. Of course she would inform Osborn of this. It was good for them that the four agents under the most suspicion were going to place themselves directly in the Cabal's supervision, but all the same, it meant they were going where they could become instruments of sabotage, and she was well aware they knew that.

That evening, Tony was immersed in work. Spectrum had been rewired, patched up, and polished. He had turned to his own armor, making tweaks where needed. He was beginning to wish there were more than two suits at his disposal at the moment. Eventually, he knew, he was going to run out of things to do to either of them, and what would he attach his thoughts to then?

"TONY!"

It was when Rarity yelled his name that he realized she'd been standing at the door, saying his name over and over, for at least thirty seconds. He faced her; "What?"

"Well, excuse me if I interrupted," Rarity said with a huff, "but we have visitors. Pepper and Jane have been given clearance to enter the embassy building, and they INSIST we all gather to hear some important announcement they have for us."

Tony sighed. "Fine." He got up and followed Rarity out of the lab.

The two trailed into the back of a large conference room. Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Steve, Thor, Banner, Clint, T'Challa, Yellowjacket, Jan, Carol, Wilson, and Vision were already gathered there; they stole a look back to make sure Rarity and Tony had arrived, then returned their attention to the front of the room. There, Pepper Potts and Jane Foster stood. Pepper maintained a solid pose and a stoic demeanor; Jane, on the other hand, couldn't stop herself from appearing more worried.

"What's this all about?" Tony asked once Rarity had closed the door behind him.

"I guess we have you to thank for this," Pepper began. "Or else we never would have noticed it. Selvig's team set up equipment to take readings of…how did you put it?"

"It's pretty technical," Jane continued, "but I guess you could say the world's…aura. Its signature that makes it part of this dimension. What makes it different from Asgard."

"When we started scanning," Pepper said, "Jane found something."

"There's a large amount of energy gathering just outside the city limits," Jane explained. "It's almost exactly like the readings we gathered when Thor first landed here. It reminded me even more of the data we were able to collect when the Nine Realms converged. I can't be sure, but I think there's a portal forming between two realms. Like the Bifrost…but with a bigger radius. Much bigger."

She let this information settle in. Then Twilight asked, "Do you know what the other realm is?"

"Not for certain," Jane stated. "But since the energy signature is so familiar, I almost want to say it's Asgard. I don't have enough data yet to tell if the signature matches because it's the same realm as before, or if that's just the signature that's given off every time there's a connection."

"You don't think…" Applejack began.

"This is related to Osborn?" Steve concluded for her.

"They might be headed toward Asgard to invade it!" Thor guessed.

"Why would they want to invade Asgard?" Rainbow Dash asked. "That would make no sense! They're just all about making us look bad and taking over as the new heroes in town!"

"I thought something smelled rotten when I first heard that Osborn was taking over S.H.I.E.L.D.," Tony reiterated. "What if this was his plan all along? It would certainly explain why Amora was suddenly working for him right after we rescued her."

"Whether or not it's his plan," Twilight stated, "I think we need to check it out."

"We're wanted criminals out there, remember?" Banner told her. "If we end up going out there for nothing…"

"No matter what it is, it won't be nothing!" Twilight asserted. "Unless this just happens to be a natural occurrence, which I have a feeling it's not, this was done completely in secret. Jane, how big was the rift, again?"

"Enough to take a hundred people across in one go," Jane stated.

"Like an army," Twilight clarified. "Either one that's being sent from here to there, or one coming from there to here."

"And if this was just a fake set up by Osborn to lure us into the open?" Yellowjacket suggested.

"It wouldn't be," Twilight theorized. "The only way we know about it is because of Pepper and Jane. Osborn would have to have known that they would be scanning, and that they were connected the way they are. If he really wanted to draw us out, he would have made it easier for us to find on our own!"

"Osborn's tricky," Tony told her. "He knows a lot."

"I, for one, agree with Twilight," Thor stated. "Even if it is a mere fluke, this could potentially mean my home is in danger. We must cross this portal immediately!"

"You couldn't," Jane told him. "Not right now. It's still building. It won't turn into a complete bridge between realms until…given its rate of expansion…7:14 a.m. tomorrow."

"Then we go at that time," Thor corrected.

"Jumping the gun is too dangerous," Yellowjacket argued.

"What do YOU want to do, then?" Twilight snapped. "Wait until a big disaster shows up? See what we COULD have stopped before it got out of hand?"

"No matter what happens," Yellowjacket said, "there will be trouble. Either we end up in a fight against some army headed from one dimension to another, we walk right into Osborn's hands, or we follow a natural phenomenon only to have everyone see us defying our warrant for arrest, which also puts us in Osborn's hands!"

"But I think Twilight is on to something," Steve stated. "If we don't act, there's a good chance that somebody could get hurt by whatever the outcome of this is supposed to be."

"And you forget," Thor said. "I still wonder if Loki is not, in fact, alive and working with H.A.M.M.E.R. If he is, then this portal…"

"…Would be his chance at invasion!" Rarity gasped.

There was yet more silence from the group.

"I don't know how likely that is," Yellowjacket said, "but if it's even possible at all…I don't want to take the chance. All right. We'll go."

"But we HAVE to be prepared for the worst," Banner insisted.

"Are we all agreed, we're going into this portal as soon as it opens?" Steve asked.

He was answered with murmurs and nods of agreement.

"It's going to be a battle," Twilight realized. "We really will have to be ready for anything."

"If it isn't a battle," Rainbow Dash asserted, "I'm gonna make it one."

"What's that mean?" Clint asked.

"Listen," she said. "Osborn still has Pinkie Pie. If we're going to be out in the open anyway…if that portal turns out to be nothing, I'm still going right to the source to break her out. Anypony else with me?"

All were agreed to this plan as well.

"Pepper," Tony beseeched, "I need you to do me a favor. You need to get back to the mansion. J.A.R.V.I.S. will let you in. Have him initiate a Code White. Everyone involved will need to be here, outside the embassy, at six tomorrow. Whatever we're walking into, we can't walk into alone."

Pepper nodded. "I'll get it done. Good luck out there."

"Twilight," Thor asked, "is something wrong?"

"I just can't shake this feeling," Twilight admitted.

"What feeling?"

"That something really terrible is waiting for us. Something worse than what we've already had to face together."

Chapter 73:

· Yes. I am still name-dropping from Odin Sphere. Velvet, Gwendolyn, Ingway, and Griselda are all children of Odin in some way or another. But trust me, you'll learn more about all of them later.

· What I love is that here, Loki is pretty much telling the truth for the most part…just in the way he wants it told. It's occurred to me and several others that he could use his Woobie qualities as a weapon to get people on his side.

· Ironically, in the original Dark Reign, the Siege on Asgard was Osborn's idea.

· That was my way of breaking up Doom/Namor permanently. Next chapter, you'll see the REAL way the ship chips fall.

· As I said, I have this joke that J. Jonah Jameson is possibly the greatest evil in the Marvel universe. I had to get Tony in on that.

· I'm sure there's a fictional canon out there that already hands me a better way to make a portal that big that needs that much time to develop, but I can't think of it right now, so I kind of made something up with the crystals. Crystals are a HUGE part of the world's technology in Odin Sphere, and Loki of course built his last portal off the Tesseract and his spear, so I figure it's valid.