The royal assembly hurried into the hospital with their prince as he groaned with labor pains. The servants set him down gently on the bed in the Labor and Delivery Room, and then they returned to the waiting room as the Atlantean doctors promptly took over the procedure, leaving them with only Atlantean Loki, Ozoa, and Poseidon.

"Ozoa, the servants were told to return to the waiting room." Poseidon instructed. "Why are you still here?"

"Because I ordered her to." Loki quickly gasped out. "I… ugh, I want her here… to see the baby… to provide support until…" His eyes shifted around the room. "Until Eris arrives; where is she? I don't… see her…"

"She's likely still reveling in the chaos on the surface world." His dad assumed. "But she will be here when her child is born… I will make sure of it personally!"

Loki panted for a couple seconds. "Thank you, Father." Hours passed as he transitioned to the next stage of labor, and he spoke again. "I'm… I'm a bit surprised at you staying by me this whole time. Do you usually do this for your children?"

"Not usually, every now and then. This is the first time I have seen a man give birth myself, so I'll admit I'm more than curious how it will go. And the fact that this will be a child of Discord has gotten my curiosity piqued even further, so I'm not leaving this room unless I have to fetch the mother-to-be!"

Soon enough, the detectives entered the hospital with Casey in a diving suit like Mobius's, joining the Atlantean servants and the due Loki's water-breathing brothers and sisters in the waiting room, though Healer, out of curiosity, sent a small blobby piece of himself to occasionally peek at the scene. Loki telepathically translated the Atlantean speak to Casey, since he didn't understand it anymore outside his transformed state. Eris followed them and met with her lover in the LDR, also quite curious to see an Atlantean seahorse man give birth. As they heard the pregnant prince groan, grunt, and growl in labor, Sylvie shuddered. After a lot of breathing and pushing, the baby finally came out of his father's pouch, with full Atlantean features and shining red eyes.

"Congratulations, it's a boy!" The crab-like doctor announced, and although his father already knew, proud tears formed in his eyes.

"My boy. I-I have a boy."

"He looks just like you." Poseidon remarked as Loki proudly held his newborn. He flashed back to hundreds of years ago, on the ocean where he found baby Loki, the image of his own adopted son as a baby overlapping and merging with his newest grandson's. He fought back tears himself as he reminisced the scene, followed by a succession of the fond memories he and Loki shared. "Yes, he is indeed a precious child!"

When the labor procedures were completed, the others, including Loki's siblings, were let into the room to see the newborn baby.

"Do you think he's noticed the baby doesn't look like Eris?" Sylvie asked her fiancé telekinetically.

"It won't matter either way: he'll find out soon enough."

Eris spoke to Poseidon. "So, shall I announce the winner of the Contest of Chaos?"

"Ah yes, I believe that was me, but…" The king gazed at his grandson once more, sentiment temporarily overpowering his competitive spirit. "But after I've seen the birth of such a glorious child, I have decided to leave you two lovebirds alone to create more… chaos together!"

Loki Aegaeus beamed at the good news. "That's wonderful, thank you!"

"Whoa whoa whoaaa there, I wasn't finished!" Eris interrupted them. "King Poseidon is not the winner of the contest." She pointed to Detective Loki. "He is."

"What!?"

"Eris, you've got the wrong Loki." The Atlantean prince explained. "I'm the Loki who competed against my father!"

"Actually, we both did." Detective Loki corrected his variant. "The contest was technically 'between Poseidon and Loki,' the latter of which I am. Would you like to see my entry?"

"I have a feeling we're going to regardless." Atlantean Loki mumbled.

"Why do we need to?" Poseidon asked.

"Let's see it, duplicate." Eris dared him.

Detective Loki opened a portal back to the village, and they found the inhabitants had stopped their complaining about the horses while they danced with strange, erratic movements in groups along the river, though no music could be heard playing by anyone who wasn't dancing.

"Look at how happy they are: they've completely forgotten about the problems their horses caused them! It turns out, they just needed a reason to party!"

"Ooh, check this out!" Eris pointed to the few people unaffected by the dancing spell, who frantically tried to snap the "victims" out of it by shaking them and some even slapping them. However, the dancers ignored them, and many of the non-dancers got kicked or smacked themselves by their manic dance moves!

The more religious prayed that those under the seemingly music-less dancing mania would be cured, while some attempted exorcism, believing the masses to be possessed by demonic forces. Others played music for them to try and remedy the situation, but all that came from it was more erratic dancing! "Now that's what I call chaos!"

"I've won over the most people, as per conditions, therefore I win." Detective Loki smugly stated.

"Congratulations." Poseidon and his son sarcastically said simultaneously.

"And I'd like to convey my terms, gentlemen. You, Loki Aegaeus, are going to tell your father the truth about who that baby's mother really is!"

"What, you're saying he lied to me!?" Poseidon indignantly replied.

"Hey, whose side are you on?!" Loki Aegaeus griped.

"I'm helping you: both of you." Detective Loki whispered to him. "Go on, you'll have to let him know eventually."

"Ughhh. Alright Father, the child is actually… mine and Ozoa's. She followed me to the orgy and decided to join us, but Eris is the one I want to be with, so I told you she was the mother."

"Are you serious?" Poseidon raised his eyebrows. "All that fuss over a child born of discord and chaos, and you were only impregnated by your favorite servant? …Ah, so that's why you wanted Ozoa to stay in the room for the whole birthing process: because she was responsible for the whole thing! That's nothing to be ashamed of, my boy, Ozoa's almost like one of the family herself. Well, I suppose now she truly is!"

"But I can still be with Eris, yes? And you promise you won't chase her around?"

"Of course. You can be with however many ladies you like, as long as you don't keep important secrets about them anymore, deal?"

Atlantean Loki grinned at his dad. "Deal!"

Detective Loki smiled. "Like my own mother once said, there should never be secrets between a family. Back to the contest, King Poseidon, there's something you can do for us as well."

"I've already allowed my son to be with Eris."

"That's wonderful, but there's something else in addition."

"More money?"

"Not exactly."

"Actually, it's for me." Casey spoke up. "Could you permanently turn me into an Atlantean and let me live in Atlantis? There's still a lot here I wanna see, and there's so many different fish I've never seen before, this place is a fish-lover's dream come true!"

"You want to become an Atlantean permanently?" Poseidon repeated. "Know that if you do, you won't be able to breathe on dry land like my son and I can, and you can't let anyone from the surface see you or know about our underwater kingdom."

"Oh, yeah, that sounds fair."

Detective Loki stepped over to his friend. "But even if you can't visit the surface of this world, we will still visit you from time to time. Oh, and I'll make sure to bring old three-eyes Stephen."

"Stephen? Would he fit in here? What if the two-eyed fish reject him?"

"Worry not, Casey, there's plenty of fish in the sea: something tells me that little fellow is going to be right at home here. And I know they're going to love you both."

Casey smiled. "Hey, thanks, Loki." The two shook hands, and Loki patted Casey's head, who pulled him and the others in for a hug, as they all said their goodbyes.

Ozoa faced Casey next. "Casey, I'm sorry how things turned out, but I could still take you to the friendly mermaids if you'd like, so I can make it up to you."

"Yeah, I'd like that, but I think I understand. You're a nice person, I can tell: you just made a bad choice, but now you're trying to make it right." He grinned, and she smiled in return.

Suddenly, Atlantean Loki's baby glowed a bright yellow as he cuddled with his parents, cooing with happiness. "Cute." Ozoa beamed. "I guess the king would have found out he's my son one way or another, wouldn't he? Have you thought of a name for him, my prince?"

"Loukas, my little bringer of light."

"Loki, I have changed my mind: babies are beautiful." Healer telepathically spoke to his host.

"Ohhh, having second thoughts now, are we?"

"Not about… that. I just… uhhh… I just want to tell you… I know your baby is going to be beautiful too."

"Well yes, of course, just look at how gorgeous the parents are!"

"And I want to make you a promise: I will never let anything happen to your child! I promiseee I will protect him or her as if my very own!"

Loki squinted, wondering how a baby would react to the sight of Healer's face. Maybe his child could grow accustomed to his appearance; after all, young Røskva wasn't afraid of him. "That's very kind of you."

"I… I appreciate you trying to help me before, but it is painful to talk about, even to youuu."

"I know. If you ever do want to talk about it, though, I literally can't leave you."

"That is trueee. I guess there's no reason not to: I trust you more than anyone. I am… fearful. Fearful that if I ever did reproduce, it would turn out like… him. …Or I would."

"Who? Your father?"

"Yes!"

"So your condition is psychological?"

"No, I just would rather not have it cured, as you offered."

"So your father, did he… did he mock you for it?"

"…No, worse."

"Worse?" Loki thought back, piecing together his previous conversations with his Symbiote. His eyes widened. "He caused it?"

"Nnnngh. Painful…"

"I'm sorry."

"Nnnot your fault. You are sweet, you take my mind off him. Thank you, Loki… for listening… for caring. That is all I wish to say for today."

Loki smiled. "Any time."

Eris got up and stretched in her dolphin form. "Well, I'd better get going for now: the seeds of discord aren't going to sow themselves! Come join me when you get your strength back, Loki!" She then swam back to the surface as her lover facepalmed.

"I know she's all about chaos, but can she not stay and enjoy one moment of peace and joy?"

Poseidon chuckled. "Oh my son, you still have much to learn."

"I'll say he has." Everyone in the room gazed in surprise at hearing Hades's voice, not realizing he had snuck in with them.

"Uncle Hades, you came too?" Atlantean Loki paused. "Wait… if you're here, who's managing the underworld?"

"Ah, that… funny story, your damsel in distress Kore decided to pay me another visit. Ironically, since you preferred her sister over her, she realized that she preferred my company, and now…" Hades playfully raised his eyebrows. "She's decided to keep me company for a good while. So, how're things with you and your dad?"

"Splendid: I'll tell you after I get some rest." Atlantean Loki's eyes began to droop, and he turned to his two variants. "Good luck with yours." They both nodded, yet Sylvie's smile seemed more forced. "Ozoa, you'll care for my son as you've cared for me, correct?"

"Yes, my prince."

"Healer, why don't we return home and grab a bite?" Detective Loki suggested.

"Yesss, my prince."

After saying farewell to the Atlantean royal family, Detective Loki brought Casey his three-eyed fish, seeing him off before he met with Ozoa, who introduced him to the friendly group of mermaids.

Back at the Null-Time Zone, Loki noticed his fiancée in a contemplative mood. "Anything you'd like to talk about, Syl?" She opened her mouth slightly, but then quickly looked down at her belly and gritted her teeth. "Something… baby-related?"

"I… I never really knew any mothers. I don't even remember my own. I just…" Sylvie sighed. "I don't think I'm ready to be one."

"I… I don't think anyone ever really feels ready." Loki replied. "Honestly, I'm a bit frightened to be a father as well. But I'll be right by your side through it all, so… I suppose we'll have to lend each other courage and learn as we go?"

"…Is it really that painful?"

"I… I don't know."

"They have painkillers from the 20th century onward they didn't have in Atlantean Loki's time." Mobius explained.

"And even before then, they have excellent medicines on Asgard to ease pain!" Loki added. "You'll be fine. Hm, perhaps you could talk with my mother?"

"From the past?" Loki nodded. "Hmmm… I suppose it wouldn't hurt."

"That's the spirit. And in addition, we now know a Loki who's been through the whole birthing process ahead of you: he could give helpful advice as well! I just hope Eris stays faithful to him through it."

"Speaking of which, if Fiamma asks, we probably shouldn't tell her about Atlantean Loki." Mobius advised. "He knows who he wants, so there's no point, right?"

"Right. It'll be our little secret."

Next chapter is very special for Loki, in honor of his actor, Tom Hiddleston's birthday today!