President Loki and Vice President Verity helped the police return everything Eros took from the infatuated shopkeepers, slipping in the emerald crown that President Loki himself swiped, and they were commended and celebrated for stopping Eros and returning the women to their homes, who were happy to be reunited with their families.
"I can't believe I let that creep take our daughter!" Mr. Greenburg exclaimed as Tiffany hugged him. "I'm so sorry… can you both forgive me?"
"It wasn't just you, dear." His wife assured him. "That man tricked us all!"
"I'm just glad I'm finally home!" Tiffany said. "Thank you, Mr. President!"
President Loki smiled fondly. "My pleasure to see you safe, Miss Greenburg. Good luck with your post-university endeavors; perhaps we'll cross paths again someday. Until then, you'll likely see me in the media."
"I hope so; I wish you could stay here with us longer." She returned his smile. "In the next election, you've definitely got our vote!"
Loki nodded, and he waved goodbye. He and Verity returned to the White House, going about their regular duties.
"So, you didn't tell her you were friends with her 4 times great grandmother?" Verity asked Loki.
"No, her ancestor was technically a different Erin anyway, from another universe. If, say, I was interested in being this Tiffany's friend, I'd rather start anew, if you catch my meaning." Soon, the Time Detectives knocked on the door. "Ah, right on cue. Come in. I suppose you're here to get paid?"
"You suppose correctly." Detective Loki confirmed.
"So, are you going to stay in that form… as a lady?" President Loki wondered as he paid her. "Because I have to say, you look quite ravishing!"
She turned to her fiancée. "I might. What do you think, Syl?"
Sylvie put a hand to her chin and smirked deviously. "Yeah, why not? Then maybe we can do a complete switcheroo, and in another 9 months, if we're lucky, you can give birth to the next kid."
Detective Loki opened her mouth slightly, and she shapeshifted back into a man. "On the other hand, I suppose there are advantages and disadvantages to both forms, and honestly, I look handsome either way."
"Can't argue with that." Sylvie admitted.
"Nor can I. Oh here, I got you something else." President Loki conjured up a large golden horned helmet. "For bravely having your team fall into the criminal Eros's trap, allowing me to be the hero of this case, I believe you have earned your horns!"
Detective Loki smiled again and donned the horns, covering most of his head and all of his hair. "They're magnificent, thank you!"
"No, thank you. Still, speaking of Eros, do you think the judge let him off too easily, giving him the chance for parole when his powers are so dangerous? Anyone, save Thanos and Verity here, could fall victim to his abilities at any time without even realizing it, and you saw for yourselves how difficult reversing the effects can be!"
"He won't be able to use his powers again." Thanos clarified. "The conditions of that chance of parole are only met if he proves he has changed his ways after serving the minimum sentence given, and he will need to prove that change strictly by having his powers taken away. You can rest assured that his crimes will not be repeated."
"And you can also rest assured knowing your throne is secure." Detective Loki added. He turned to the vice president. "But Verity, as I said before, you have quite the extraordinary ability, being able to see the truth in any form. You and your president Loki made an excellent team, but have you ever considered becoming a detective? I'm sure there would be many cases you would excel at solving, and you would get to travel throughout many time periods and worlds instead of being cooped up in an office. We'd be delighted if you'd like to join us, though the choice is entirely yours."
"Now wait just a minute!" President Loki interjected. "Miss Verity Willis is still signed on as my second-in-command here, and she's going to stay here as long as I need her!"
Detective Loki made a teasing grin. "Ohhh, you need her, do you? Ehehehe, it seems someone has made a friend after all!"
"That's not what I meant! I need her abilities in our line of work, and I plan to take advantage of that, that's all."
"Heh, liar." Verity mumbled. "The detective is right, though; it's my choice to make, and for now, I think those cases with super-powered aliens and faraway worlds are a little too sci-fi for me. Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to stick to my job as vice president for now, but if you really need my powers on a case, here's the number for the VP phone."
"So, about that offer I made you..." Fiamma told President Loki.
"Yes, you were looking to court me, were you? A union of fire and ice, as you would call it. Similarly, I've had mixed feelings about such a relationship, and while the 'confession' Verity relayed from me was merely a ruse to distract you, after that passionate kiss... well, perhaps I might be a bit less conflicted."
Fiamma nodded and then turned to the bespectacled young redhead, who still looked guilty about lying to her earlier. The Muspel princess gave a sly smile. "I've given the matter some more thought too, and from what I can see, you seem to be in good company already. If you're not too crushed, I'd like to continue my Loki hunt for the time being."
President Loki raised his eyebrows and shrugged. "Your loss. Well then, have fun solving those mysteries, detectives, and best of luck with your future child... Frigga, right?"
Detective Loki scrunched his nose. "I don't recall either of us telling you what we were going to name our baby."
"Please, I'm still you; it shouldn't come as a surprise for me to guess that much!"
Thanos then faced him. "For what it's worth, after being reminded of the havoc my brother can create by messing with your heads, I would like to offer my sympathies for the havoc my variant caused when he messed with your minds and tormented you, Lokis."
Detective Loki nodded. "Thank you."
"Yes, that's very decent of you." President Loki remarked. "Are you sure you're Thanos and not some good identical twin brother?"
Thanos ignored the quip. "Now that I have stopped Eros and freed you, it's about time you returned me to the Ravagers: there's someone there I would like you detectives to meet."
"And I should return to Peter and Drax and the rest of my team." Mantis said.
Verity spoke to her Loki next. "I guess our next mission here will be to figure out how to end the conflict over Mackinac Island... a better plan than just offering both states fudge!"
"Ohhh, that is IT!" Healer suddenly exclaimed. "It is genius: brain-flavored fudge!"
"What!?"
"Well that's... certainly original." President Loki stated.
"He dreams of opening a restaurant catered to a very specific taste." Detective Loki explained. "Well, best of luck to the both of you as well, and happy belated Loki Day!"
President Loki chuckled. "Likewise."
The three Lokis shook hands and parted ways. They returned Thanos to his timeline first to avoid giving Mantis's team the shock from seeing another Thanos, where Detective Loki greeted Prince T'Challa the first.
"Hello again, detectives. So, you and Thanos helped save another world together?"
"We did indeed. Oh, by the way, we met your great great grandson from the future... give or take a great." Loki mentioned. "He helped us find the criminal."
"Really? He didn't happen to say who his great great grandmother was, did he?" Loki shook his head while T'Challa laughed. "I was joking, that's... a little personal."
Thanos soon returned with a purple young man, similar to Thanos but slim and without the furrowed chin. "Mr. Ouroboros, meet my son... my biological son, Thane. I was inspired by you and your adoptive father on our last case to reconcile with my own son."
"Oh, pleasure to meet you, Thane." Loki and his team shook the younger Titan's hand.
"Greetings, detectives." Thane motioned his eyes toward Thanos. "I hope he didn't give you too much trouble."
"Thanos? No, he was a great help in stopping your uncle and helping us!"
"That doesn't sound right... the Uncle Eros I know is a hero! I've always looked up to him and Pip, even before I knew we were family!"
"Pip?"
"Pip the Troll: the two of them are the best of friends, inseparable teammates on their many adventures."
"Curious... perhaps that had something to do with his descent into perversion."
"Sounds like you and your old man still don't get on too well." Sylvie noticed.
"Yeah, try growing up as a medicine man on a remote planet, not knowing who you are or who your own father is, only to find out later he's a genocidal madman! He wiped out half the population and tortured the rest, looking for me when he learned of my existence, and then he tried to kill me, hunting me down for years and hurting everyone I grew to care for!"
"Knowing you were his son?"
"That's why he wanted me dead!"
Thanos peered downward. "I was ruthless in accomplishing my goals, bringing about balance in the universe. I simply believed I had brought too many children into the world, but now I know the error of my ways. I know it will take time to forgive me, if you ever forgive me at all. I am sorry, Thane; you are not like I was."
"No, I'm not. You were a remorseless killer, while I saved lives, known as a healer on my world."
"Heyyy, that is my title!" The Symbiote Healer protested. "Get your ownnn!"
"What was that creepy voice?"
"Don't mind that." Loki dismissed. Then he added in his mind, "I wanted to say your bark is worse than your bite, but unfortunately, that couldn't be further from the truth."
"Lokiii... do not be angryyy." Healer responded in his mind. "I said I was sorry."
"I know, you acted on impulse and remedied your mistake, it's just... never mind, it's nothing."
Healer paused. "You don't need to fear me either... we are one, Lokiii: anything that harms you harms me, and I live to heal usss. I will protect you... always."
Loki turned away from the others, a single tear dripping as he smiled and nodded to his Symbiote.
After bidding Thanos's family farewell, they returned to 2025 and found the Guardians of the Galaxy with Drax waiting their return.
"Did you bring the funny horse man?"
"Mobius said he wouldn't promise that!" Mantis reminded him.
"Horse man?" Loki repeated. "You mean Beta Ray Bill?"
"The one who speaks like a man but still says neigh!" Drax specified.
Loki grinned. "I can top that!" With a green flash of magic, he transformed his own head into a horse's, entertaining the Guardians for a while. With both of their allies back home, Loki, Sylvie, and Fiamma returned to their own base of operations.
"Hello Mobius, are you feeling better?" Loki greeted.
"I sure am, got some rest, and now I'm back to a hundred percent!"
"Excellent, now aren't you glad I left you in such capable hands? Thank you, Røskva."
"No problem, Alpha Loki, it's the least I could d-d-d-" Røskva stuttered. "A-choo! A-A-A-CHOO!"
"Yeah, one thing I forgot to tell you about the common cold." Mobius told Loki. "It's contagious. Bless you, by the way."
"Bless you. Then it appears it is our turn to care for you! I'll make you some soup!" Loki offered.
"Loki, god of mischief, taking care of me... a-achoo! And making me soup to get better..." Røskva took in with awe. "Best day ever!"
"I have a better idea." Sylvie proposed. "We could make Røskva some soup together, and then Mobius could look after her while we go for that moonlit stroll through Paris."
"Oooh. Sorry Røskva, I just got a better offer."
"Yeah, she took good care of me, and seeing how it's my cold she caught, I can do the same for her while you two scamps enjoy your midnight in Paris." Mobius volunteered.
"Thanks, everyone." Røskva replied. "A-ha-hah-choo!"
"Prosit. Lokes, I see you got a new set of horns!"
"Yes, a very generous present from President Loki." Detective Loki removed it from his head as he showed it to his adoptive dad. "He may be obnoxious, but he isn't so bad underneath."
Mobius, Sylvie, Fiamma, and Røskva stared at him, their mouths hanging open.
"What? Do I have helmet hair?"
They exchanged glances, not sure how to break the news to their Loki and none of them wanting to be the one to do so. Finally, Røskva spoke up. "Ummm, Loki? Why is your hair pink?"
"What?" Loki rushed to a mirror to find his hair a bright shade of pink, and he closed his eyes in shame. "So that's the reason for the grand horned helmet... I should have known he wouldn't give me anything out of his own generosity! He must have cast a color-changing spell on the inside of this thing!"
"Hey, there's an inscription inside of it." Mobius noticed, and he read the fine cursive writing. "Let's see here... 'To Pinkie Pie, who taught me that friendship is magic.' Awww, ain't that sweet?" Mobius teased as he held back laughter.
Loki seethed for a few seconds, and then he grabbed his daggers. "Well then, who's for joining me in a good old-fashioned presidential assassination?"
Sylvie then blocked his path, gently lowering his daggers with her finger. "Romantic stroll first, revenge later."
Loki's glower melted into a loving smile, and he took her by the arm as the duo revisited 2150 Paris.
The next day, in that time's Washington DC, Verity examined the unfamiliar scenery.
"So, this is a magical forest?" Verity asked President Loki. "And that little glowing speck with wings, that's a fairy?"
"Yes, or at least in this universe, they are."
"And that boy in the green elf jammies... you're teaching me to take control of his body while taking orders from this enchanted talking tree?"
"That is correct. It's called a video game; Erin introduced this one to me around 122 years ago, said she played it back when she was a child!"
"Sheesh, this game is old!"
"Oh, it's ancient!" President Loki joked. "I was only in my... 1030's when it came out, so young and naive!" Verity giggled. "And the outfit he wears is called a tunic, which just so happens to be in my favorite color!"
"Okay, seriously now, what's the point of doing any of this? This world obviously isn't real, and these people aren't either."
"I know. You're not supposed to believe it's actually real, you're supposed to pretend: it is a game, after all."
"I know, and I've never been any good at playing games, especially where I have to pretend, even as a kid!" Verity explained.
"Then it's about time someone showed you. Go on, move your character, talk to the locals, immerse yourself in this new fictional world, and whatever you decide to do, have fun doing it!"
Verity did as Loki suggested, slowly but steadily figuring out the controls as she moved the main character around the forest, pressing him against every wall, house, and fence along the way, even into the water, though she was relieved to see him swimming without her having to do anything.
After about half an hour, their secretary knocked at the door. "President, Vice President, I know you're busy, but you have a meeting with the Cabinet scheduled for 3:00 this afternoon... should I reschedule it for later?" When she came in the room, she saw Loki and Verity hard at work, tackling a mountain of paperwork.
Loki glanced at the clock and shook his head. "No, we can fit it into our schedule somehow. Is that all?"
"Yes sir."
"Great, we'll be there." Verity promised, and the secretary exited the room. "Loki, she saw us doing actual work, didn't she?"
"She did; I told you my illusions can fool anyone! Well, almost anyone. We'll do some real paperwork after the meeting." He focused back on their game. "For now, you need to make it past that boulder, open the treasure chest, and claim that sword!"
"And how is that boulder infinitely rolling in circles without even-"
"Shhh. Turn off that brain for once, throw logic out the window, and play the game."
Verity took a deep breath. "Alright then, here I go."
