Chapter Text
Hours earlier, the citizens of New Asgard turned to look as they noticed what appeared to be Loki, strutting towards their palace alone, with a big grin on his face!
”Everything is going exactly according to plan.” He hummed to himself, looking down at himself. He knocked on the door, finding the last remaining Valkyrie sneaking in some training with a dummy shaped like her adviser. “Your Majesty?”
She stopped her Dragonfang blade mid strike. “Is the fight here?”
”Why yes, just about.” He replied, pushing the king’s blade backward with telekinesis and plunging it into her abdomen, catching her by surprise.
”Wha- y-you-“ Valkyrie sputtered, her blood dripping to the floor.
”Asgard isn’t yours to rule: just look at the mockery you’ve made us into, turning our home into a tourist trap!?” The variant flipped his own blades, pointing them at her as she staggered, grabbing her other blades in a dazed attempt to retaliate. “Honestly, I have so many reasons to kill you, it’s positively criminal of me to have waited this long to do it!”
”You backstabbing son of a-“
She hurled her blades at him, but he quickly teleported behind Valkyrie and stabbed her in the back, this time through the heart, and before she even collapsed, the usurper made absolutely sure to finish the job, ignoring the screaming and fleeing of the ordinary citizens and tourists, before sitting upon the throne.
”Checkmate.” The new king turned to the cameraman, who was broadcasting live. “Ah, perfect timing! People of New Asgard, fear not: your rightful king has taken his place back among you, and there are going to be quite a few changes around here for the better… for example…” He blasted a group of tourists, disintegrating them instantly! “…no more gawking mortals pressing their noses in on us! And I am still the brother of the last rightful king, who abandoned his duty, so don’t even think to challenge me!”
At that, the rest of the tourists fled to the ships and aircrafts in a full panic while the citizens nervously watched from a safe distance. Despite their confusion, the Einherjar surrounded their new king in a protective circle, on the lookout for any potential threats.
”Well, as much as I’d love to stay and be adored, I have a multiversal war to take care of. Farewell!” He teleported away, leaving the frightened refugees to their bewildered thoughts.
As the Kangs reappeared in their hideout, the illegitimate king of New Asgard awaited their arrival, now transformed into another Kang. As he reported to Rama Tut, Rebecca gazed around in wonder at the otherworldly purple atmosphere, like she was walking into a very vivid dreamland.
"I've taken the king, Rama Tut. Now is your chance to make your next move."
"Ah, but our next move is not to move: for now, we wait. His 'so-called allies' should make our next move for us, if all goes according to plan."
"It will." The leader in the headdress assured him. "I have planned it out meticulously. When they see proof of him 'returning to his old ways,' his army will turn on him, and without his army, he'll be no threat to us."
"And when L1130 is alone, that's when we terminate him?" The killer reviewed.
"Correct."
Rebecca then asked Mr. Gryphon, "Where are we?"
"A temporary sanctuary."
"But where- you used some kind of portal device to get us here, didn't you? Is this- is this another planet? It doesn't look like Earth to me."
"It's certainly not the Earth, but I wouldn't call it a planet either. It would be very hard for me to explain what this area truly is, especially to someone who has never traveled through time."
Rebecca gulped. "You mean we're in the future? Or... no, this can't be the past, can it?"
"It is neither the past or the future, nor is it the present, though from our vantage point, all three are steadily visible... readily accessible... because this place itself is outside of time.”
"Outside... of time? How can that be?"
"It takes time to grasp the concept, Miss Tourminet, but you will understand... in time."
"Right, time. So, you never told me why Loki was after me. I'm still just a teacher: what makes me a threat to him?"
Mister Gryphon exhaled. "Rebecca, there's something I need to tell you about yourself, or, a variant of yourself, from my time. In my universe, the two of us... we're married, and the you I knew had been fighting him off for years."
"What?"
"Not just you." The leader in the headdress added. "Each of us was married to our own Rebecca Tourminet in our own times. I am Immortus, and I founded this group of variants: this Council of Kangs."
"That is how we know you." The cybernetic Kang revealed. "I am called Centurion, and I come from the 31st century, as do most of my variants, although my universe obviously possessed the most advanced, superior technology: technology that should prove an extremely effective defense against Loki's mind control."
"Call me Chronos; as my title suggests, I am the leading authority of us when it comes to controlling time. My Rebecca was a fierce leader and fighter, but she was killed in the fight against Loki, and we want to prevent you from suffering the same fate."
"And I am Rama Tut; I actually spent a great deal of time in the past in ancient Egypt, as you can guess from my attire, until Loki and his team booted me from my time, annihilating everything in his wake. My late Rebecca was actually from my future."
"And... did they all... all of me, die fighting this Loki?"
"Loki and his minions, yes. That is the reason we came: our desire is to keep you from meeting the same fate." Immortus explained as he and his variants formed a circle around her. "Safe with us who care deeply for you."
"Uhm..." Rebecca's eyes shifted from one Kang to another, finally noting the one that stayed behind Rama Tut, the one she hadn't been introduced to. "And you?"
"Me? I came from a place like this, beyond time and space. I am the variant in the shadows, the one who takes care of business and terminates threats to the multiverse. That is my only purpose, Ms. Tourminet."
"That one is with me, my trained recruit." Rama Tut told her. "And yet, we all work together as one."
Mister Gryphon nodded and motioned to the nearby manmade benches among the rocky landscape. "Sit, relax. We'll take it from here."
As Rebecca found a place to sit, Chronos broke off to speak with Mr. Gryphon. "What happened to you back in 2027 AD? You appeared to be disturbed by something... something I did not perceive."
"It was the female variant: L1190. When she drew near, I got that headache: the kind I get when temporal paradoxes are near, only more intense than I've ever felt."
"But she and L1130 are but two different Lokis on one Earth: we are more than twice that number. Why would her paradoxical energy be noticeable?"
Mr. Gryphon's face darkened. "Why indeed?" He returned to Rebecca, motioning to the green line. “This is the time stream, of the timeline you come from. From here, we can survey all that goes on there, watching for signs of danger. Here, take a look.”
Rebecca peered at the timeline, squinting until she found her hometown in Ohio. “I see it!”
”Good. Now this one is the biggest current threat to your universe.” He pointed to the scene of Loki and his friends watching footage of Valkyrie’s death, their expressions full of horror, anger, and betrayal, and Loki’s displaying confusion in addition. “Or, from the look of things, it was.”
”Loki’s puppets have seen the would-be king’s true colors.” Rama Tut explained. “They won’t fall for his lies now.”
”And they may even take him out for us.” Centurion figured.
”Yes, the Avengers may save their universe after all.” Immortus agreed.
“But if not, there’s always the next phase of the plan…” Chronos said.
“And what’s that?” Rebecca wondered.
”Nothing for you to worry about, Miss Tourminet. Just watch the screen…”
"That violent footage came from a mixture of New Asgard's surveillance cameras and our own, proving that the war criminal Loki has usurped his people's throne! Now we bring you footage of the 'manifesto' he gave us afterward."
As the Loki on the screen gave his speech, Thor grabbed Loki by the neck, his eyes glowing blue as electricity crackled around him. "So, this whole thing was a distraction! Sif was right about you: you never change!"
"I told you!" Rhodey exclaimed. “Let’s blast him six feet under!”
"Thor, let him go!" Mobius spoke up. "It wasn't him!"
When Thor ignored him, Sylvie and Loki both pried Thor's grip loose with their combined telekinesis until the latter released himself.
"It's true, Loki's innocent of this!" Sylvie grabbed Loki's hand and extended her other hand to Thor. "Here, I can show you! Loki, let me in, okay?" Loki looked startled as her hands glowed green and she grabbed Thor's wrist, but Loki's fizzled out. "Loki, come on!"
Sylvie tried again until Thor just knocked his own wrist away. "He's still got you fooled! No matter how much we may want to believe otherwise, Loki cannot be trusted!"
"Oh please, he's basically king of all time, why would he need to take over your Asgard?" Sylvie questioned.
"Because he's deluded himself into thinking it belongs to him, when I was next in line... and he couldn't stand that I chose someone else." Thor scowled and turned to his brother. "Satisfaction is not in your nature; isn't that right?"
"No, I told you I've changed, Brother, and I meant it... for good!" Loki assured. "And I'm not tricking anyone, especially not Mobius or Sylvie: they're the ones who helped me to better myself, who truly believed in me..."
"No, I was the one who truly believed in you, you were just too bitter and self-absorbed to see it!" Thor argued, the breaking apparent in his voice. "Me and mother and father, but you just won't stop until you've sent us all to our deaths!"
Loki glared at Thor, his hands glowing green. "Thor, I'm warning you-" He sighed and extinguished them. "We don't don't have the time for-"
"Time? You have all the time in the world, Brother! Yet still, you never take the time to think about how your acts of petty vengeance affect those around you; that hasn't changed! You kill my friend Valkyrie, kill more innocent people, and you pull Asgard and Midgard into another war!"
"I haven't killed any of them! I've been framed!"
Thor growled and turned away, frantically pacing. "It was true, wasn't it, what the Gryphon Kang said? That you sent Kurse after our mother when she visited you and comforted you in your confinement!?" He spun around to face his brother. "That's what you were apologizing for earlier!"
Loki hung his head, tears forming in his eyes.
"And if you hadn't left our father weakened and stranded, he wouldn't have died either!"
"What!?" Loki gasped, barely more frustrated than confused, while Mobius shifted uncomfortably. "Would you stop- just listen to me: whatever I did- have done after 2012- I haven't done it! I am not that Loki! I understand your mourning- you don't think I mourn them too- everyone, even you- my entire timeline!" Loki huffed. "And I'm sorry you've been wronged, but can we just focus on the real enemy!? Can you just give me one genuine chance- please!"
But Thor shook his head. "You just blew your chance. I wish I could believe what you say is genuine, but I've fallen for your lies too many times, Brother."
"Thor, Loki didn't kill either of your parents, and he won't kill you or your friends." Mobius corrected. "I saw his life play out from the TVA files, and Odin died from a combination of old age and grief over his wife. If anything, being sent to Earth gave him a break from the stress on Asgard and prolonged his life." He sighed. "And Loki didn't lead Kurse to her, he led her to the barrier room, probably to try and cause mischief by letting the other prisoners escape the palace. Malekith was the one who found your mother, and it was the Reality Stone that led him to her, not anyone's directions, and Kurse followed his master like a hunting dog. 2013 Loki didn't even have a clue what was really going on at the time or who was attacking."
"...You saw it unfold that way?"
"I did, studied his entire life for my work."
"He's telling the truth." Daredevil attested. "They both are: I can hear it in their voices and their pulses. I can tell if someone's lying if their pulse changes, and his hasn't."
"But Loki is a professional Asgardian liar, not one of your world." Thor insisted. "If not naturally, he could easily hide any pulse changes with concealment magic."
Murdock just shrugged. "People are people."
”My Spidey-senses never picked up anything suspicious from him either.” Spiderman admitted.
”And quit picking on him, alright?” Steven Grant chided. “Poor bloke looks a right sorry state without the earful you’re givin’ ‘im, innit?”
Thor just shook his head again, trying to remain firm.
"So basically, it just comes down to what you believe happened, and I've no chance of convincing you otherwise." Loki summarized. "How typical."
"They did catch him on camera." Sam Wilson reminded, the rest of the group debating amongst themselves.
”Yeah, you can’t think Loki is innocent.” Rhodes reiterated.
”But it could’ve caught an impostor.” Bucky countered before giving Rhodey a snarky look. “Like maybe a Skrull, but what are the chances of that?”
Rhodes and the others became silent, a few nods breaking out.
"And Thor said Loki was worthy to lift his hammer." Bruce Banner reminded them.
"Yes, we saw it with our own eyes." Sif stated. "Unless that was a trick as well..."
"Maybe a trick by the Kang variants..." Mobius theorized. "There's also a whole multiverse of Lokis out there, most of them a lot more willing to take over Asgard than our Loki here! Hey OB, sorry to bother you guys while you're still working on the files, but do you know if any other Lokis visited New Asgard after we did?"
"There's no other reading of his temporal aura on the machine."
"Hmm... what about another Kang variant?"
"N-no one... other than... the five you- you c-confronted." Timely answered.
Mobius groaned. "Well, I still know it wasn't him. I mean, he was with us the whole time! When could he have?"
"He can freeze time." Thor frankly stated. "Need I say more?"
"I assure you, Brother, we will find out who's behind this." Loki promised. "I don't know how, but I know those Kangs are behind this... somehow."
"I wouldn't put it past them." B-15 agreed.
”Me neither.” Scott Lang seconded. “The Kang I met couldn’t be trusted, and neither can these ones!”
Hope nodded. “From what I’ve seen, they’re the real experts at manipulating people.”
Loki closed his eyes and tried to focus his powers. "I could go to the past in New Asgard and catch the killer in the act, if only that strange curtain wasn't blocking my time slipping!"
"How very convenient." Thor remarked.
"No, it's rather inconvenient actually."
"Mobius, you and I could look into this in New Asgard while the others prepare for the next Kang sighting." B-15 proposed.
"Shouldn't I go with you?" Loki asked. "They saw someone who looked like me, so they'd be likely to point out any discrepancies between the two of us, would they not?"
"No, that would cause another panic."
"And if they're intimidated by me, all the easier it would be for me to persuade them to talk, yes?"
"No, Loki, you come with me, where we can keep an eye on you." Thor ordered.
"Information wise, Sylvie can just enchant 'em." Mobius pointed out. "Honestly, if you go now, you'll probably be doing what those Kangs want you to do."
"New Asgard doesn't have those dungeons yet, does it?" Thor wondered.
"No, just Norwegian prisons." Sif replied. “But they have measures of dealing with magic users.”
"But you can't imprison him until proven guilty." Mobius told them.
"And they couldn't lock up their king anyway, could they?" Sylvie inquired.
”Yes, we’ve tried imprisonment before, and he just escaped.” Sif agreed. “An execution is more like it, and long overdue if you ask me!”
”Then it’s a good thing nobody asked you.” Mobius replied. “At least give us a chance to prove his innocence before slapping a sentence on him, Asgardian way or not!”
Thor sighed. "I have no choice. Someone needs to protect and lead the Asgardians. Loki, you're coming with me to New Asgard; we'll decide your sentence there."