Episode 19: Mind Stone Swipe!

"You!" Loki glared at MJ. "How did you get that scepter? I was watching, and you never moved during the entire match."

"No, but Noirstel did," MJ said. "He used Invisible Web to sneak over to the throne and then he wrapped the scepter in the same webs to carry it back to me."

Loki chuckled. "I find it hard to believe that a tiny spider like Noirstel would have the strength to carry a scepter the size of a forearm."

"Noirstel isn't a normal spider, though. Like Spidi, he has the strength of a human. So carrying the scepter on his back was no problem for him."

"Then why didn't Odinspear hear him? He may be under my control, but he's not deaf."

"Don't you know your Marémon? Noirstel feet have soft padding that allows them to move around without being heard, even by god-like Marémon such as Odinspear."

Sighing, Loki folded his arms. "While I pride myself on my talent for deceiving others, I must congratulate you for stealing the scepter from right under my nose, MJ. But tell me: why did you feel compelled to take it?"

"When you showed that illusion of our friends, you waved the scepter in their direction," MJ explained. "So I figured the scepter was somehow responsible for the illusion and deduced it was powered by the Mind Stone, which was affecting our perception of reality. But I had to be sure, and had Noirstel grab the scepter for me."

"How clever you are, for a mortal," Loki complimented. "Though I could have used the scepter as a medium for my own magic without the Mind Stone."

"You mean, the Mind Stone isn't in the scepter?"

"Why don't you give to me, and I'll show you?"

MJ hesitated.

"Don't do it, MJ," Thor urged.

"I should have mentioned earlier that we Asgardians have magic that comes in different forms," Loki continued. "While my sister Hela can manipulate metal like the zipper on Thor's vest, I can affect others' perceptions of reality through mental manipulation."

"But if you could do that, why did you need the Mind Stone to brainwash your father and put him in a coma, let alone the Warriors Three or Odinspear?" MJ asked Loki.

"They were too strong-willed to fall under my deceptions, so I needed something stronger to amplify my power," Loki claimed.

"Like the Mind Stone, which can be used by anyone who has it?" MJ guessed.

"Correct." Loki nodded.

"All right, then let's put that to the test." MJ pointed the scepter at Odinspear. "Hey, Odinspear! You're free!"

Suddenly, the scepter glowed briefly while the bright blue hue of Odinspear's eye dimmed to a more natural blue color. The one-eyed wolf blinked, but upon seeing Loki and Hela's backs he growled and then disappeared after slamming the staff end of his spear Gungnir into the floor.

"No!" Hela cried, looking at the throne. "Odinspear used Matter Transport on himself to escape! Loki, we need to get the scepter back now!"

"Right." Loki pointed at MJ. "It's time to reveal yourself, Lokeen!"

From behind a nearby pillar emerged Lokeen, who was barely standing on its fox-like feet.

"It looks like the paralyzing effect of Spidermin's Stingers has almost worn off," Thor observed. "Though I doubt it'll get very far."

"Plus, if you intend to hurt MJ I won't forgive you!" Peter added.

"Aw, how cute that you're showing such concern for your girlfriend," Hela remarked.

"I'm not his girlfriend!" MJ objected, and held the scepter above her head. "And if Lokeen gets anywhere near me, I'll break the scepter."

This made Hela and Loki flinch.

"You wouldn't dare to do that," Loki insisted. "Because if you break the scepter, you may break the Mind Stone."

"Oh, so the Mind Stone is in the scepter," MJ realized. "Thanks for clarifying, Loki, though freeing Odinspear was all the proof I needed."

"Worthless little brother," Hela grumbled. "If it weren't for me, you would still be living in Thor's shadow."

"Shut up, Hela!" Loki snapped. "Lokeen, Telekinesis!"

Weakly, Lokeen raised its claws in MJ's direction. To her surprise, the scepter moved in her hands like it was trying to get away. But MJ fought against this invisible force and slammed the scepter on the ground. The blue orb inside the curved blade-like part of the scepter shattered, revealing a glowing yellow stone inside.

"The Mind Stone," MJ realized, and knelt down to pick it up.

However, the yellow stone floated away from her and moved toward Lokeen. Peter saw this and shouted, "Spidermin, Web Shot that stone!"

Obediently, Spidermin shot a string of web from his mouth that attached to the stone. Then Spidermin pulled the stone back towards himself with the string in a whiplash movement, allowing Peter to catch it.

"How?" Loki exclaimed. "Nothing has ever resisted Lokeen's Telekinesis before!"

"That's because the paralysis effect of Spidermin's webs makes the affected Marémon's attacks weaker than usual," Peter explained. "Now, with this Mind Stone, I want everyone who was brainwashed to be free!"

For a moment, the yellow stone in Peter's hand glowed but nothing else happened.

"If you think you've won, then you're mistaken," Loki said, sounding calmer than before. "Even if you freed those I've brainwashed, they can't get into the Asgard Realm until we're finished with our match."

"Wrong!" Cried a bellowing voice. "That rule does not apply to Odinspear, who can transport himself or anyone in here whenever he wants to."

MJ and Peter looked behind them and saw a tall man standing in front of the swirling rainbow vortex they came in. He had medium white hair, wore a gold-colored eyepatch and an orange robe. Beside the man stood Odinspear, baring his teeth while holding Gungnir in his mouth.

"Father Odin!" Thor exclaimed.

"Yes, it is I," the one-eyed man nodded.

Hela clenched her fist. "How did you get out of your coma so quickly? The Mind Stone was only activated a moment ago."

"After Odinspear transported himself to the New Agard Town Prison where I, your mother, and your other prisoners were being held, he tried to wake me up," Odin explained. "So when the Mind Stone's affect on me lifted, I got up and followed Odinspear immediately. Because even while asleep, I knew everything that was going on."

"That doesn't surprise me, since you do have the magical gift of absolute wisdom," Loki remarked. "Yet it failed to stop me from using the Mind Stone on you."

"No, I let it happen," replied Odin.

"What?" Peter, MJ, Loki, Thor, and Hela exclaimed.

To be continued…