Two Blades, One Dagger

Madness Is a Virtue

This was a disaster.

Loki paced back and forth across the tile floor of the floating apartment, occasionally taking the time to scowl at Strange and the witch, Wanda, who sat on opposite ends of the yellow sofa discussing  strategy for how to save the universe and what not? They had given Loki a brief explanation of who they were and how the task of stopping Kang came to rest upon their shoulders. Loki already knew Strange. From Loki's understanding of Strange's story, he had gotten a spiritual message from gods know where that the universe was in a state of unrest, which caused him to jump into action. Wanda was a witch who could bend reality, which explained how she was able to create the scene on Asgard so immaculately. She had reconstructed Asgard from Loki's memory, along with Sylvie. The reason that Sylvie had seemed so real was that, technically, she was, but only in the reality Wanda had created for Loki. Wanda had gotten roped into helped Strange unscramble the multiversal disaster when he heard about what she had done to the town of Westview, New Jersey. The Midgardians were none too pleased that she had taken an entire town hostage. Many people wanted her dead, and she understood why, so she figured saving the universe would be the least she could do to make up for the pain she had caused. 

The two were in tense conversation for what seemed like at least an hour to Loki. For the most part, he tuned them out. He was too irritated by his own predicament to listen to their squabbling. He felt entirely powerless! He had no escape, no backup plan, and he couldn't manipulate Strange or Wanda. His main priority was to return to the end of the timeline, but now he was stuck helping the two second rate sorcerers on their quest to save the universe. Loki did not care about the universe. After all, what had it ever done for him? All of his life, that universe had set him up to lose over and over again! All he cared about- all that he could think about- was getting back to Sylvie. The notion was always there in the back of his mind, no matter how hard he tried to block it out. Wanda was right; for once in his life, his mind had a weakness: Sylvie. 

Loki noticed a distinct silence and turned to face the two magicians. They both looked at him, and Strange cleared his throat. "Loki, we have a plan." 

"Well it's about time," Loki mused. "Now if you could ever so politely portal me back to the TVA, or anywhere away from here, for that matter, I would greatly appreciate it."

"You're not getting out of this," Strange said sternly. "You made this mess, and you're going to help fix it."

Loki chuckled. "Ah, Strange. You know you're going to regret that, don't you?"

"I do," Strange replied. "Now, in order to prevent the different branches of the multiverse from waging war against each other, we need to eliminate Kang from every single branch. However, because the multiverse is expanding rapidly, that would be an impossible feat. After a lengthy discussion," Strange glanced at Wanda, "we have discovered that the multiverse is like a tree. It's a very simplified metaphor, but from each branch extends multiple, smaller branches. If you saw off the large branch, all of the branches growing from it will fall as well. Similarly, if Kang is eliminated from one of the main branches, all of the variations of him will also be eliminated from the extending branches. Does that make sense?"

"Yes," Loki sighed, rolling his eyes, "believe it or not, we have trees on Asgard."

"Good. At this point in time, there are three branches that contain significant, evil Kang variants. If we kill him in those branches, then there will only be one Kang left, whom we will meet and dispatch of at the end of the timeline."

Loki thought it over. It did not make sense to him, which was something he didn't like. "And how, Strange, did you come across this infinite trove of knowledge? How can you be certain that there are only three branches where dominant Kangs exist?"

Strange tapped the locket the hung around his neck. The metal untangled itself, revealing the time stone. "Because I have this."

"And what about the Kang at the end of the timeline?" Loki continued. Clearly, there was a flaw in Strange's plan that he had failed to notice. "Why can't we just kill him before he gets there?"

Wanda and Strange exchanged a sideways glance, as if they both knew some huge secret that Loki didn't. "Because he's already there," Wanda replied. 

Loki's heart sank. He stood, motionless, as the weight of her words washed over him. Kang was already there- at the end of the timeline, where Sylvie was at. 

"He'll be watching our every move, Loki, so he'll know we're coming," Strange said, but Loki didn't pay attention. All he could think about was Sylvie. It was probably too late- she was most likely already dead. She was the one person who made Loki feel whole. Despite the dire circumstances, Loki felt a hint of hope. Perhaps, by some miracle, she was still alive. That's what Loki's did, anyway: survive. He would get back to her; he had to. It was the only thing that mattered. 

"Where do we start?" Loki asked. 

**********

Of all the places Loki thought Kang might end up before a conquest for universal domination, he had not suspected him to land on Sakaar. Loki, Wanda, and Strange stood among the endless piles of rubble, watching as different portals hurtled a range of objects and beings into the universal junkyard. Strange looked around in disgust, and Wanda stood with her mouth half open. "Where do we start?" she uttered under her breath. In the distance, the city stood, along with a glimmering holographic image of the Grand Master. Loki shuddered as the memories of this place came flooding back to him. 

"There," Loki replied, pointing towards the grand city. Instead of hiking through the rubble, Strange portalled the trio into the Grand Master's palace. They were in a vast hall, adorned with an absurd amount of flickering multicolored neon lights. In front of them was a throne, which was covered in glimmering jewels, gold and silver chains, animal furs, and even more lights. It would've been comparable to a throne Loki would've deemed worthy for himself, just without the lights. On either side of the throne stood two guards. To the left, there was a giant creature- probably around twelve feet tall, who had a head like a bear, a long, lizard-like body, and four pairs of tentacles for arms. To the right, stood an all-too-familiar Midgardian man: He Who Remains. 

"That's him!" Loki hissed, gesturing towards the guard on the right. Wanda and Strange braced themselves and began to approach the man. Without warning, the trio was knocked face first to the ground. Everything in Loki's body burned as he felt electricity coursing through him. He tried to get up, but a weighted net held him down. He managed to turn his head to see that Wanda and Strange were in the same scenario, and he heard high heeled boots clacking against the cold, hard floor as somebody made their way to stand in front of Loki. Loki managed to lift his gaze slightly. The Grand Master's face smiled menacingly down at him.

"Hello, Loki."