Case 13: Kōrima the Undying

"Are those what I think they are?" Mobius asked his partner.

"You tell me." Detective Loki replied. "I've yet to see a Jörmungandr egg before, but unless one of the fully grown Jörmungandrs stole them from another... humongous creature and decided to adopt, the evidence all leads to that conclusion."

"Are we going to-"

"No, Healer, we're not going to make them into an omelette."

"Mmmm. How about a-"

"Nor an quiche."

"Uhhhmmm..."

"Nor a breakfast burrito, a frittata, an egg salad sandwich, nor deviled, scrambled, poached, or boiled eggs, nor any other foods. They are all going to hatch."

"Ahhh, and then we eat them!"

"Yes, and then we eat them." Loki replied.

"Youuu are being sarcastic."

"Correct. We are not going to eat my childhood pet's babies... it would be like... familial cannibalism!"

"Well, that turned dark fast." Mobius remarked. "Man, it seems like just yesterday you brought the daddy Jörmy back from Denmark, but you could just blame that on the weird way that time works at the Null-Time Zone."

"Fair point. On that subject, Sylvie and I will need to find a place on the timeline to raise our child when the time comes, since he or she won't age at the Null-Time Zone.. would a baby ever age there?"

"Ahhh, that... is a very good question... that I don't have the answer to. We get hungry there, we get sleepy, our injuries heal, but I've never seen anyone age there, and I've worked there for eons! Granted, none of the workers were children, but if you want my... educated guess, I'd say no."

Loki nodded. "We could raise Frigga on New Asgard... I know we're always welcome there."

"That'd be better than Jotunheim, at least... way too cold for me, even for a quick visit!" Mobius opened a Time Door back to their base of operations. "For now, let's go back to the old workplace!"

As Loki and Mobius returned Jörmungandr to the Null-Time Zone, a troubling thought crossed Loki's mind. "Hold on... Mobius, what are you going to do if we move to New Asgard?"

"What? I'll go to Earth 199999 with you."

"But... I just realized that if you return to the timeline... well, being human, you'll only be able to live for a handful of decades before old age overtakes you!" Loki gasped. "Your granddaughter Frigga won't even be a century old before... Mobius, you must remain here!"

Mobius sighed. "Loki, I've lived a long, full life... and yeah, I could live as long as you if I stayed here, but that's the thing: I spent so long trapped here when I worked for the TVA..."

"Exactly! The long life you've lived was a lie, not knowing who you really were or where you came from, unable to return to your original family or ride your jet ski... I wouldn't call that a full life!"

"But now I can live one, with the Gil from 2025 and with my new family! See, that's why I want to go with you: another 20 to 50 years on my home world, living a real life, being free... that sounds like a way better deal than being stuck here, alone for eternity."

Loki stood and tried to think up a counterargument, some sort of compromise to keep his father alive longer, when Sylvie suddenly kicked open their front door, stomping inside dramatically.

"I take it today's Valkyrie training didn't go so well?" Her fiancé easily figured.

"Ugh, Jane Foster wouldn't let me even do training today, just because I'm somewhat close to delivering!"

"Is this your third trimester already!?"

"Not yet, still under a month to go!"

"Well, don't unleash the fruits of your warrior training on me for saying so, but I agree with them: the safety of our child should come before anything else, especially after that situation with President Loki last case!"

"That was just a bluff! If he hadn't told me so beforehand, I'd have slit his throat long before he ever made a move!"

"But next time it won't be! Sylvie, just one ill-placed hit from an enemy and we could lose her! I know you're a fierce fighter... you can more than hold your own in battle, but your condition just... doesn't allow for that now!"

"That's why I can't slack off on my training! If I sit around and rest all the time, I'll be an easy target on missions, and that will put the baby in danger!"

"Yes, about that..."

Sylvie glared at her fiancé. "Don't tell me you don't want me to come with you on missions anymore!"

"Only until you've given birth and made a full recovery."

"Mobius is more defenseless than I am now, and yet you always let him come!"

"...I suppose that's true, but I don't feel the same way about Mobius as I do you." They were both silent for a moment while Loki searched for the right words to convince her. "Look at it this way: you're merely getting more of the care and royal pampering you missed out on. You've fought for your life your entire life, Syl; you've earned a few months of rest more than anyone! We may not be in Asgard anymore, Sylvie, but you will always be my queen."

This time, Sylvie was at a loss for how to respond, so she sighed and sat on the couch. "So, do you want to watch something on the telly?"

"Sure. Your choice, my darling."

"Why don't we watch your birthday present from Mobius, that Frozen dvd?"

"Excellent choice, I'll just pop that in and grab us some snacks." Loki walked into the kitchen, humming the movie's trademark song. "That was such a thoughtful gift, allowing us to watch the movie as many times as we want!"

"Yeah, I'm starting to wonder about that now..." Mobius doubted. "Are you gonna actually watch the entire movie this time, or are you just gonna watch the Elsa song on repeat, like you did last time until you had it memorized?"

"We're going to watch the entirety this time!" Loki then whispered to Sylvie as he brought some ice cream. "But that doesn't mean we can't repeat some of the best parts, such as a certain musical number, along the way!"

"Well, I hope so... you haven't been able to get that song out of your head since, and as a result, neither have I! It's honestly getting to be pretty annoying."

"Oh, would you let it go, Mobius? In fact..." As his Jotun-Asgardian son prepared to belt out another rendition of said song, Mobius quickly placed a hand over his mouth in desperation!

"Hey Loki, do we have any cloudberries?" Sylvie asked him.

"...No, I don't believe we do. Do you have a craving for them?"

"Yeah, I guess because we're about to watch a Nordic-based film." She placed a hand on her belly. "Cloudberries in whipped cream, that's what I'm hungry for! Could you bring some here?"

Loki warmly smiled at her and patted her tummy. "Now there's a craving I can get behind! I'll be back after a quick stop in Norway... Dad, do you need anything from Earth while I'm out?"

"How about some donuts from one of the bakeries?" Mobius requested.

"Sounds good."

"And some shark meat!" Fiamma added.

"Shark... then perhaps I should head to Iceland instead?" Loki took a Time Door back to Earth, yet as he gathered the sweet and savory delicacies, he heard his TemPad ring, though there was no phone number displayed on the screen, only the universe, year, and country.

"Chotto, toki no tantei desu ka?" A female voice questioned him.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Oh, I beg your pardon... I know English also. Are you part of the Time Detectives?"

"Oh, yes, I am! I'm called Mr. Ouroboros. Is there a case you need solved?"

"There is: the sacred bronze mirror, Yata no Kagami, was stolen from the Ise Grand Shrine by a mysterious shinobi, and we need to know the identity of this robber."

"Shinobi, as in, ninja!?" Loki asked, excitedly. "Let me talk it over with my team."

"Very well. If you choose to accept this mission, we will meet you at the shrine. Thank you, Ouroboros san." The client hung up, and Loki returned to his friends with their food.

"Mobius, we just got a call to solve a case in feudal Japan: they need us to recover an ancient artifact that was stolen by ninjas!"

"Ninjas? That's a new one. Lurking in shadows, throwing little knives, vanishing into smoke and using mystical powers... you should fit right in with them, Loki!"

"Syl, do you mind if Mobius and I go solve this case, and then we can watch the movie together?"

Sylvie began to get up from her seat. "Great, let's all go together!"

Loki rushed to her. "No, you need your rest, remember?"

"Oh come on, I want to fight some ninjas!"

Now Loki sighed. "Sylvie, you know that ninjas are masters of stealthy assassinations... aren't they, Mobius?"

"Oh no, don't stick me in the middle of this!"

"I know what ninjas do, Loki!" Sylvie assured him. "Don't forget I'm a Loki, same as you, and no mortal can sneak up on a Loki!"

Loki raised his eyebrows, a notable exception popping into his mind. "Well..."

Sylvie sighed. "Fine, I won't fight, but let me at least see them in action! I don't want to sit here by myself!"

"Well, Frigga will be here with you..." Loki looked Sylvie in the eyes, her pleading stare proving too much for him. "Fine, but you'll need to stay hidden... better yet, I can teach you to hide your presence from the sight of others!"

"Like you did from Heimdall when you snuck your ice bros into Asgard?" Mobius clarified.

"Exactly! Are we agreed?"

Sylvie nodded.

"Count me in!" Fiamma volunteered.

"Let's bring your Jörmungandr too!" Mobius suggested. "Something tells me he'd fit right in in feudal Japan, like a big old dragon, and he could protect us from just about anything they could throw at us!"

"Yes, excellent idea! All right, Time Detectives, let's find that ninja!"