Toying with Loki's primal lust was nothing short of fun, but the games couldn't last forever. Only when they were both fully satisfied (and very possibly sore) did the staff reveal itself to them. Maybe it was simply timing, or perhaps what they did was necessary, but she only picked ot up from the ground after they were done.
Loki, looking positively spent, watched her as her clothes materialized onto her body again. She held the staff in her hand. There was a faint glow of gold to it, its slender shape fitting in her grip as if it was meant to be there. At the center was its leather-clad grip, a clean black, as if it was freshly forged. At both of its ends, polished, white-gold metal adorned it, swirling to the tip, both designs similar - resembling a snake and a wolf entwining.
It was really quite beautiful.
From their hidden sanctuary, they dropped another seed that would take them to Asgard. It didn't need anything special to bring it to life, but at least from there, it would likely take Victor some time before he could locate them through whatever magic he used.
Asgard, however, was definitely not like she had left it last. As numerous people had told her, the entire world of the Aesir, including the palace, was in ruin. It shredded her heart to see it reduced to ash and rubble; but then again, that's why she was here now.
They traversed through the remains of Odin's palace, though it was hardly recognizable at this point. The only thing that really gave it away to be what it was was the throne. The stairs were still intact, despite the chasms and broken, golden stone that barely held them together. Dahlia took caution as she climbed the stairs. The chair that Odin once sat in was still as extravagant as ever, albeit one of its extensions were broken on one side.
Looking out through the giant mouth in the wall beyond, she saw the rest of the realm in a single, landscape view. Surtur had definitely done a number on Asgard, as was anticipated in the prophecy of Ragnarok, but perhaps the Fates failed to share a new world that would rise from its ashes.
Dahlia closed her eyes, allowing herself to fall into the gap in the floor and into the darkness of the palace. Loki reluctantly stayed behind, unsure of whether or not these next, couple of steps would work.
Within Odin's vault was the Eternal Flame, still burning, as was its nature. As the quarterstaff became alight within the flame, it was Loki that beared witness to Asgard's revival.
Dust and lava rock soon morphed into white and gold marble, and the palace's former glory was returned in the wake of white and black flame. It was a beautiful evolution - one that could even make gods' eyes well with tears.
It took a few minutes, but as the realm beyond also healed, Dahlia stood behind Loki, holding the staff as it glowed faintly.
"What comes next?" Loki asked.
"I could answer that for you, but maybe I should leave you in the dark."
A voice echoed from behind them, and Dahlia was suddenly thrust back from the window. From the shadows, a familiar man levitated into view, his long hair now tied back.
"After all, Valkyrie, you only showed me the same courtesy."
Loki charged at him only to be flung back into the stairs. Dahlia gasped in terror, reaching out for him. Victor most certainly didn't fail to notice her reaction.
"Well, well... This I most certainly wasn't expecting. I must admit, you two certainly had me fooled with your little charade."
"Don't... touch him..." Dahlia demanded, pushing her hands against the ground to lift herself up. However, in doing so, she failed to keep the staff in her possession.
"How sentimental." Victor held out his hand, effortlessly causing both of them to hover in the air. She felt her throat tighten, the inability to breathe, and the pain that began to follow the suffocation. "How sweet it is to hear a pining heart's beat. But let's be honest..."
Dahlia's helpless body gravitated towards Victor, still trapped in an invisible strangehold. "You're setting yourself up for failure, putting your trust in a monster incapable of earning it."
Suddenly, a white rope shot out from behind Victor, squeezing him tightly, pinning his arms to his body and breaking his spell.
"Trust is a tricky needle to thread," Dahlia's voice rose from behind him. "But when you can spin gold with it, you'll find a way to make it work."
The other Dahlia fell to the ground, and the staff in the baron's hands disappeared in a flash of green. As Loki stood to his feet, he hurried over to his brother's side to aid him to stand. Meanwhile, the real Dahlia was keeping Victor disabled long enough for one more body to finish the job. She shoved him into the ground, and once he was flat on his back, Thor's hammer came flying into the room, placed on Victor's chest so he couldn't escape.
"Good riddance," Loki huffed, though he seemed content with the flow of his scheme. Indeed, he had always been the wild card, even now. Knowing that Victor would surely find them as soon as they left Vanaheim, he already had a contingency plan set up with his brother for one more charade.
Behind them, an orange spark grew into a massive portal, and Stephen Strange flew in from the other side. Looking upon his vampiric variant, he frowned in disappointment. Once he would send him to his magical stronghold, a prison where he kept other threats, he looked back to the trio.
"Dahlia," he looked at the Valkyrie, then gave a questionable pause. "You are Dahlia, right?"
She smiled, nodding. Indeed, Loki's magic had dissipated from the three of them now. It hadn't lasted for long - just enough for her and Thor to swap out in the vault.
"The quarterstaff is exceptionally powerful," Doctor Strange went on with warning. "Do use it with respect."
Dahlia nodded. "Thank you for your help."
As Stephen disappeared, Thor looked through the window towards the rest of the realm. "Surtur will have long returned to Muspelheim," he said. "Which means Asgard won't have to worry about him anymore." He looked at Dahlia. "What will you do with all of this land and no one to govern?"
Dahlia, who had not forgotten her visions, chose her next words carefully. "You don't want it?"
Thor shook his head. "I've assumed the role of my father for long enough," he confessed. "I'm happy on Midgard." After all, that was where the Asgardians lived now. Clutching the quarterstaff in her hands, she smiled thoughtfully.
"I have a few things in mind."
After all, she supposed, one didn't have to be Asgardian to be a Valkyrie. Perhaps Asgard could be the home of a whole new colony of them.
After Thor made his departure, it was just the Valkyrie and the God of Mischief left standing in the vacant throne room.
"What will you do now?" he asked her.
In her mind, she recalled the realms that might need some liberation, but there was only nine that she could think of. If she recalled, however, she had a companion that knew a lot more of ehat wqs out there than she did.
"Loki... would you like to move in with me?"