Chapter 5C

0 1 0
                                    


The headless peacocks chirped and fleed as Alioth's storm clouds drew near. Mobius and the Lokis stood as a group, staring out into the distance at the fearsome foe.

"Okay, so what's the next move?" Mobius called out.

"The TVA needs to be brought down." Sylvie stated. "We don't know who created it or where they are, but that thing out there does. When it hit me earlier, I linked to it. It was brief but I caught a glimpse of something, and I think if I can get close enough to it, I can enchant it and it's going to take me to whoever's behind all of this."

Sylvie pulled out the Tempad and handed it to Loki. He eyed it deliberately before accepting it.

He then looked up. "I'm staying."

Sylvie sighed. "Loki I don't even know if this is going to work."

"You go, I go." Loki stated firmly.

Loki handed Mobius the Tempad.

"It's happening, guys!" Kid Loki said as the signal device in his hands began to beep. "The branch will be right out there."

"I'll give your regards to Renslayer." Mobius said.

"Oh please do." Sylvie said with a satisfied eye roll.

"You boys want a ticket out of here?" Mobius invited as he opened up the Tempad.

"What? No." Kid Loki stated. "We're staying here."

"This is our home." Classic Loki said.

"Are you sure?" Loki asked. "What about Alioth?"

"We've made it this far." Classic Loki said. "We know what we're doing."

"Loki, you're going to need this on your journey." Kid Loki said, summoning Laevatein. "Go on."

Loki accepted the golden sword before conjuring a scabbard on his back, sheathing it into it.

"Good luck." Classic Loki said. "I hope you find what you'e looking for."

Loki nodded back to him with a smile as the other Lokis turned away. Mobius opened the Time Door.

"Looks like you got away in the end." He said as he approached it.

"I always do." Loki jested. "What will you do at the TVA?"

"Burn it to the ground." Mobius said. "Thanks for the spark. Well, see you later Loki."

Mobius held out his hand. Loki looked at it then shook his head and went in for a hug.

"Thank you, my friend." He said to him during the embrace.

"You're my favorite." Mobius whispered to Sylvie, who smirked in response.

Mobius entered through the Time Door. Loki and Sylvie prepared for their assault.

"When a branch appears, Alioth will focus on it." Sylvie said. "That's when I'll enchant it."

At the hillside, as the three other Loki departed, Classic Loki turned his head back and gazed.

Sylvie and Loki approached together as Alioth emerged with a ferocious roar.

"What if we don't have time to wait for a branch?" Loki asked.

"We'll have to cause a distraction." Sylvie said.

Loki placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked back at him, shaking her head as he nodded his.

Loki broke into a dead sprint to his left, running several meters before planting himself firmly, drawing his sword and thrusting it into the air.

A line of flame engulfed the blade as he shouted. "Come and get me!"

At the other end of the field, Sylvie began enchanting Alioth while Loki jumped through the air flailing the flaming sword around like a mad man in an attempt to snag its attention, but it was in vain. Alioth's head reared towards Sylvie.

"No, no! This way! Come and get me!" Loki shouted, fighting even harder for Alioth's gaze.

Alioth reared its enormous jaws. Red light began to flood around Sylvie as Alioth's mouth opened to swallow her whole. But just before reaching her it suddenly changed directions as a light in the distance emerged.

Classic Loki had appeared. Mystical energy engulfed his hands as an enormous construct appeared behind him. An enormous replica of Asgard, down to the last detail. Alioth turned his focus to it. Sylvie and Loki regrouped with one another.

"How is he doing that?" Sylvie asked.

"I think we're stronger than we realized." Loki said.

The construct had finished. Classic Loki's voice echoed across the Void. "Go!"

Sylvie took hold of Loki's hand. He looked over at her with uncertainty. "What are you doing?"

"We're going to enchant it." Sylvie said.

"I don't know how."

"You do." Sylvie said. "Cause we're the same."

Loki looked over to her in agreement and the two of them embarked.

The constructs began to fade as Alioth bit into them, realizing the illusions were nothing. Classic Loki worked hard to keep ressurecting them. Loki and Sylvie reached for Alioth. Sylvie managed to initiate her connection. Loki continued to struggle. Sylvie clenched his hand tighter. He looked at her and then back to Alioth. With a few more moments of effort he was able to forge his own connection.

The Asgardian towers diminished. Classic Loki fell to the ground in exhaustion. Alioth emerged from it. Classic Loki cast aside his respite and stood to face the incoming danger. Extending his arms forward he shouted at the beast. "Glorious purpose!"

Alioth roared as he rushed towards Classic Loki. The god died laughing as the beast swallowed him, leaving behind nothing but his helm.

Sylvie and Loki continued to struggle in the mental battle against Alioth. The great beast turned to them, eager to devour its next meal. Loki closed his eyes as he continued to try his hardest to keep on enchanting. Sylvie did the same. Alioth lunged forward. Just before he pounced, a wave of green energy surged out of the two Lokis. The purple and red colors flashing among the clouds had turned to green as Alioth had pacified.

Sylvie opened her eyes and looked forward in wonderment at their herculean feat. She turned to Loki. "Open your eyes."

Loki opened his eyes to a flood of greenlit mist surrounding them. The mist parted, giving way to the palace on the rocks, the same one Sylvie had seen in her vision.

With hands entwined, the two demigods stepped forward, to the final leg of their journey.

LokiWhere stories live. Discover now