"Do you think his plan is going to work?" Loki asked Jennica, looking up at the sky from the balcony they returned to. Oveaus had left to commence his ideas.

"You tell me," Jennica replied. Her eyes had not left the sky and neither had Loki's. They waited for a sign of Oveaus' theatrical arrival. "Your guess is as good as mine."

Loki shook his head. "I didn't expect him to be so odd. Or, to be real, for that matter." He could see the clouds beginning to swirl. Something was happening and finally.

Jennica hummed. "He certainly can't be the oddest thing you've seen so far." When she didn't earn another comment to retort, her lips twisted into a smile.

Something that resembled the Bifrost came crashing down from the sky in the distance. Instantly, they both knew that Oveaus had been successful in creating his trick. Soon, the guards would be announcing an arrival and the rest of their plan could be put to action.

"I never thought that deceiving my parents would be a part of our plan," Jennica said as she thought about what would need to take place once Oveaus met with them. "I hope it works."

"Think of it as protection for them." Loki broke his eyes away from the sky to look at Jennica as he spoke. "It isn't to best them but only to guard their hearts."

"I suppose." Jennica tried to think. "My father seems to be a wise one so I'm not sure how easily he is tricked or not. My mother has her wits as well but she also trusts what my father commands."

Loki nodded. "I trust that the Norns will give grace. This is the only way I see forward."

They both rested in the agreement of that.

An announcement of someone approaching the castle could be heard and it snapped their attention to the task at hand. Oveaus had come. Instantly, both Loki and Jennica raced from their lounge to the throne room where Kvasir and Sol would already be waiting. They did their best to appear that they had no idea who could possibly be coming. Loki covered his countenance better than Jennica did but there was no sign of the king and queen having suspicions.

They waited. Both Kvasir and Sol sat atop neighboring thrones while Loki and Jennica stood together on the left side of the room. He brushed her hand for reassurance while she took it a step further, entwining her fingers with his. This moment of physical comfort was a gift.

A guard barged in. "My Lord and Lady," he bowed. "An arrival of an Asgardian ambassador wishes for permission to speak with thee. Shall I let them enter?"

Kvasir lifted his hand. "Let them in."

The creak of the large wooden doors echoed in the room as the guards worked to open them. Several more came in, leading Oveaus into the throne room. It was a surprise to those who knew him to see how his appearance had changed. He no longer wore the elvish robes but was now adorned in fine Asgardian clothes. There would have been no way for him to get such things. Loki knew that there was only one other way for his appearance to have changed so quickly: The magic of illusions.

Oveaus bowed before the king and queen, lifting his voice and speaking eloquently, his loud tone matching that of a true Asgardian. "I am blessed to be in your presence, oh King and Queen of Alfheim. I ask that you welcome me during this time."

Kvasir nodded, giving permission for him to be at ease and cease his bowing. "What matter is it that you have come for?"

Oveaus stood. "I come on behalf of the Allfather, Odin of Asgard. He has seen your turmoil and your destruction from the uprising darkness. Terror is approaching and the matters of the Nine Realms are beyond his help."

Kvasir straightened. "Does the… Allfather understand that he has recently come in between our abilities to protect our people? He has only hindered us thus far."

"He asks that you do not forget his kindness during your civil war. I have come to represent the peace that our King Odin seeks to bring. He is aware of the search for the Infinity Fractals and Stones and has sent me to offer myself as an aid in your quest."

These words seemed to strike Kvasir and Sol. Their anticipation grew obvious. Kvasir spoke. "What aid could you bring us? Is Odin seeking to collect the Fractals himself?"

A smirk pulled at Oveaus' lips. "On the contrary, he offers a Fractal to you." It was at this moment that he revealed the small, blue fractal in his hands. "We have only come into possession of this one. Small but mighty, its abilities allow us to travel anywhere in the universe no matter how far. With your knowledge and this fractal's power, we could complete the journey to collect all Fractals and Stones before they fall into the wrong hands."

A shaky breath escaped from Kvasir. He could hardly believe his eyes. "I assume you know how to control its power."

"That is the sole reason why I was chosen to be sent. Please, I beg of you to take my assistance. I will work with whomever you choose and we will collect them all for the safety of all the Realms. Asgard no longer wishes to be in opposition to you."

These words seemed too good to be true. Despite their doubts, it was an answer to their prayers. Loki wasn't sure if they would fall for the trickery. He, of course, would have seen right through it, but the softening of both the gazes of Sol and Kvasir revealed otherwise. They believed him and were relieved in his presence. There was finally a way forward.

"We accept," Kvasir said, standing from his throne. Sol joined him. "You will join Prince Loki in his search for the fractals. This quest is highly classified and no others will join you. Not even our best men."

Oveaus bowed his head. "I was made well aware that this was a matter of life and death."

The realization suddenly struck Jennica that her name had not been mentioned when speaking of the journey ahead. Had he meant to leave her out? She spoke up, unnerved by the thoughts.

"Father, did you mean to send me as well?"

Her voice surprised him and his brows furrowed, although he tried to hide his disdain. It was improper for her to speak up at such a time but he was understanding of her lack of knowledge when it came to the etiquette of royalty. "You are to stay behind, Alfva."

His words shocked her. "Father, please, I must go with them."

"Your giftings are essential in keeping the protection of our people. I cannot allow you to go again."

Oveaus' eyes met hers, telling her to obey. It was more than just using her powers to protect the elves. It was also about making sure she could be kept safe. It was best not to defy. They already had what they needed to be successful. She nodded and took a step back out of Kvasir's sight. She would have to stay, as frustrated as that made her.

"I will not waste time." Kvasir spoke louder than he had before. "Both of you, go immediately. I will have our men provide you with what you need and you will be off. I fear that if we wait any longer, we will lose this war."

The creaking of the doors opening again were heard. Loki joined Oveaus by his side.

"We will be successful." Loki assured, following the guards out of the throne room. The departure was sudden, the agreement of Kvasir happening so easily that he was almost appalled.

They barely left the room when Loki heard a voice call his name, and Jennica threw herself into his arms before he had a moment to realize. She was trembling and her emotion touched his heart. The reality of what they were embarking upon was settling in for all of them.

"I won't die," was all he could think of to say. "I promise."

It was then that his eyes caught sight of the growing darkness from the outskirts through the open castle doors. He never noticed it so big before. It was still impossible for him to understand what would create dark magic so big and looming in a realm of light magic.

It is best to leave now…

...

The room that Ellie stood in was highly classified and she watched as two S.W.O.R.D. officers delivered the item they had long been waiting for. It was sealed in a metal case, set on a table for the officers to unlock. Rambeau stood near with Talos who was disguised as Nick Fury. Ellie had a hard time pretending that her own father was someone else, especially because he was only disguised to save face in front of these officers. It was evidence of just how highly classified this discovery was and the thought of that pressure twisted her stomach into a knot. She watched as the officers lifted the lid and handed the key to Rambeau. Soon, the three of them were alone.

"Isn't there anyone here to explain what this is?" Ellie asked, breaking a silence that fell over them. The sight took words from their mouths.

Resting within the box, though small, was what looked to be a bright yellow crystal. It wasn't bright only in color but it illuminated the inside of the box with a pulsing glow. It created a hum that buzzed their ears the closer any of them got and they stood back in caution.

"I advised no one else to join us," Rambeau replied. "Whatever that thing is, it shouldn't be touched. One of our officers died upon immediate contact with this thing. It stays in the box."

Ellie raised her eyebrows in surprise. "So why bring us here to observe it?"

Before Rambeau could explain, she pressed her lips together and seemed to struggle pulling her eyes away from the crystal in the box. It was only a moment before she spoke. "Your kind knew of the Tesseract. Once I heard what this thing was doing to our officers, I had to know if you guys had any information."

"Did it only kill the one officer?"

"It also caused some of the others to see crazy things. They've had to debrief and take a temporary leave."

This news was stumping. An item this powerful would never have originated from earth. It had to be a sign of otherworldly activity. But how would they study it if it killed what it touched?

"The behavior of this crystal largely resembles that of an Infinity Stone," Talos spoke, still in the form of Nick Fury. "But it's too small to be one and it would never just end up on earth in some desert."

Rambeau crossed her arms. "So we know it's not an Infinity Stone. Anything else?"

"I couldn't tell you what this is." Talos gestured to the box to convey his lack of understanding. "All I can tell you is to lock this away where nobody will ever touch it. If we can't study it, we can't use it to help us."

"We'll for sure lock it away. But we're gonna have to do more with it than just keeping it hidden."

Ellie's mind wandered from the conversation taking place. She was supposed to be playing a part and her presence was vital to their discovery, but the crystal took her gaze and locked it in. The voices beside her soon drifted off from notice and it was almost as if they weren't there at all.

The glow of the box was all she could see. Now with the voices nothing more than white noise, she could hear her own thoughts louder than ever. She wanted answers. She wanted to know why the Hopes had been killed, she had to know who was behind this. The crystal's energy was enticing. It mindlessly pulled her in, feeding off of those wondering thoughts.

Taking slow steps towards the box, Ellie's mind raced with wonder. She didn't even notice the steps she was taking. She began to lose herself in the questions and she reached into the box, grabbing hold of the glowing crystal inside. It was warm to her palm but not painful to touch.

Only then did she hear the shout of sheer horror from her father, and instantly she could feel her mind squeezing. The power from the crystal flooded into her brain and seared a pain into it that she had never felt before. Her questions became fear and she knew, this was the power that killed. It destroyed minds who were too weak. She had to fight it.

Her fist would not unclench from the crystal. She willed with all her might but she was stuck. As she fought, the questions from before came back but they were urged on by the energy surging through her mind. In response, she saw the Hopes. She saw them under the control of something she didn't understand, but she saw them in similar uniforms as the agents she worked with. She also saw the S.W.O.R.D. symbol decorating them and her heart clenched.

Next, her mind was forced to see a facility holding captive youth against their will. It wasn't a sight to be understood, but in the midst of her confusion, two yellow eyes peered through the darkness in her mind and she wanted to scream. As the eyes brightened, she managed to unclench her fist and the crystal clattered to the ground in front of her. She collapsed on her knees while both Talos and Rambeau were by her side in an instant.

They showered her with questions that she wasn't ready to answer. Her eyes still didn't leave the glowing crystal that was now laying on the ground, but her body trembled as she thought about what she saw. Nothing made sense, but what she did understand was that there was an unfathomable danger to whoever was behind the mystery.

As she regained her bearings and tried to listen to the worried questions being asked, all she could manage to say was, "This is bigger than we realized…"