The rumbling of the engine of a motorcycle reverberated through the forest surrounding the stronghold in the mountains of Sokovia, its rider, clad in white combat gear and a mask over his face slowing to a stop, peering off into the mass of trees on one side of the road then the other. A dark colored vehicle similar to a Humvee, obviously designed for military purposes, pulled up behind him, a similarly uniformed figure driving, another in the passenger seat. The man on the motorcycle made a hand signal to the driver of the vehicle, preparing to continue down the road when an arrow suddenly pierced his throat , the sound of it cutting through the air reaching him just a split second before, giving him no time to react. He and the motorcycle fell sideways onto the road.

The occupants of the vehicle had little more opportunity to put up a defense as the next arrow found its mark, the driver's body limply slumping as he was pinned through the heart to the driver's seat. The passenger began to bail out of the vehicle as a large, round, metal object painted in concentric circles of red and white came whizzing through the air, making contact with his head, sending him sprawling onto the shoulder of the road.

Barton and Rogers, Rogers now clad in an updated version of his old uniform that Coulson had been sure to boast he had a hand in designing upon presenting it to him, moved from their hiding places behind two trees just within the border of the forest, cautiously approaching the vehicles and the downed men. Rogers headed in the direction of the motorcycle.

"Hey, why do you get the bike?" Barton asked.

"I'm the oldest." Rogers replied with a smile, lifting the motorcycle from the road and climbing on, restarting its engine. Barton, shaking his head, made his way around the vehicle, approaching the driver's side, opening the door and removing his arrow from the deceased driver, tossing his body out onto the road.

*****************************

"You don't have to do this, you know." Romanoff said to Banner who appeared reticent and nervous as both lay prone behind the trunk of a downed tree, Romanoff peering through a pair of binoculars. Through them she could see more clearly the four soldiers in white that stood atop the guard tower in the distance.

"I'm safer when I'm the other guy. When we get in there there'd better not be some little guy in a mushroom hat telling us the princess is in another castle." Banner joked.

"They're all yours." Romanoff told Banner. Banner rose from behind the log taking a deep breath and exhaling.

"Wish me luck."

"I don't think you're the one that's going to need it." Romanoff said as Banner stepped over the log, transitioning into the hulking green beast. With a monstrous roar he took off at a run towards the guard tower, the combatants manning it turning swiftly in the direction of the sound. .

*****************************

"What are we looking at Jarvis?" Stark asked as he soared over the landscape.

"There are eight bunkers positioned throughout the surrounding forest along with five watchtowers. The structure itself is shielded by a type of energy I am unable to identify." the calm voice of Stark's AI assistant informed him.

"Looks like we've got the right place. Find me a weak spot in that shield." Stark ordered Jarvis before addressing the other members of the team, "We want to keep the action away from the city. When things start rockin', we want to draw them north, keep their backs to it." Stark then noticed the hordes of armed figures in white pouring from out of the stronghold's gate towards the forest as if in a mad frenzy. "Mr. Mischief did say he was sending an army, right?"

*****************************

The wounded Loki clutched the stones Verda had placed in his hand, willing their combined energy to flow through him. Even so, he could sense his mind drifting, his consciousness fading. His body, that had felt increasingly heavy as if gravity had been dialed up, so heavy he could no longer even hold his eyelids open, now began to feel lighter, as if he were floating in a pool or in the void of space.

"It's useless...go…" Loki told Verda, fighting to get the words out, his voice barely audible. An icy chill, like that he had experienced when he had put his hands onto the Casket of Ancient Winters in Odin's vault, was spreading over his body. Verda did not respond as she continued to hold her palm against his forehead, deep in concentration, though Loki could now no longer sense her touch, his fading mind losing its awareness.

Loki's senses suddenly returned in a rush as he felt as if he had plummeted through the floor, what appeared to be patterns of stars streaking past in his vision behind his closed eyelids. It recalled to his mind what he had experienced after he had dropped into the void of space from the Rainbow Bridge. He had heard it said in the past that when one dies, their life flashes before their eyes, or at least the highlight reel. Was that what he was now experiencing he wondered?

The stars faded, all again going black as the falling sensation ceased. Realizing that his strength had returned, his body once more imbued and flowing with life, he opened his eyes to see the stars were now above him, billions of them, as if he were lying under the night sky. Glancing to his left and right, he saw a rocky landscape, seemingly devoid of any life. Slowly setting up, his head spinning a bit, he closed his eyes once again, taking a few deep, slow breaths before opening them, cautiously rising to his feet, slightly stumbling.

As his mind cleared, Loki realized, much to his horror, that he recognized the lifeless rock upon which he now found himself, though unsure whether it was real or an illusion. It seemed to him to be real enough,, the stony ground solid beneath his feet. Sensing that he wasn't alone, a presence behind him, he turned, fearful that who stood there was a being he had no desire to ever again lay eyes upon as each time Loki had previously encountered his grotesque, partially masked and obscured visage, had heard his raspy voice, it had sent a cold shudder down Loki's spine. He was surprised and relieved to see another whose appearance was far more pleasant.

"Are you a servant of Thanos?" Loki asked the woman with the long white hair that extended almost to her feet, her skin the lightest shade of ivory, the color of her eyelashes matching that of her hair.

"No, I am Skula."

"The Norn, you are one of the three sisters?"

"Yes, it is I."

"Why have you brought me to this place?"

"You brought yourself here." Skula stated, Loki once again looking over the dreary landscape.

"I suppose I did." Loki said, recalling all that had passed, the choices he had made over his lifetime that had led him to that place originally and up to the current moment. "You have come to herald my fate? Am I dead?" Loki asked.

"Not in this universe. There are many. Yet in each it holds true that you are a man of contradictions, capable of the greatest depths of love and hate, loyalty and betrayal in equal measure. I knew upon your birth that you would be unique, that you would follow a singular path. We do not dictate fate, we merely weave it from the choices you and others make. The time has now come for you to make another."

*****************************

Thor prepared to hurl Stormbreaker at the masked soldier in white that sprinted towards him, spraying bullets in his direction, but before he could release the axe, the deadly accurate aim of Barton's arrow felled him. Thor, continuing to hold his weapon defensively as he looked to his right, watched Barton exit his commandeered vehicle and enter the small clearing in the forest.

"Barton, my old friend!" Thor called in greeting as Barton went to retrieve his arrow, Barton turning and raising his bow, another arrow already notched. Thor was puzzled for a moment at Barton's reaction before recalling that in this timeline, the two had never met.

"Do I know you?" Barton asked as he studied the God of Thunder before lowering his bow. "You're a friendly? Asgardian?"

"Yes…" Thor answered, not exactly sure how to explain his presence to the archer, as he was known to be dead, as Barton approached him.

"Thought Loki was sending an army. After what Stark said is coming, I think we're gonna need more than Paul Bunyon." Barton said, eyeing the axe in Thor's grip. Thor couldn't help but recognize the irony of Barton's statement. In the universe from which he originated it had been Barton whose mind had fallen under Loki's control that had assisted Loki in bringing another very different army to Earth.

"They await word of Verda's rescue which is why I have-"

"Thor?!" both Barton and Thor heard Verda's voice speak in a tone of shock as both men turned in the direction from which it had originated. Verda stood in the forest a few yards away. "But you're….where's Loki?"

**********************************

Loki once again raised his eyelids, blinking a few times as everything appeared a dark blur for a few moments before his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the dungeon. Verda removed her hand from his forehead before he raised himself to a sitting position and looked down at his abdomen, raising his bloody shirt and placing his hand in the location of the wound of which there was now no evidence. He then looked up from his abdomen to Verda. She smiled wordlessly before he placed a hand on either side of her head, kissing her in enthusiastic gratitude.

As he ended the kiss, he realized how pale she appeared to be, her eyes sunken, the area under both dark as if she hadn't slept for a week.

"See...I told you…" Verda said weakly, her voice fading out as her eyes closed, her body slumping forward, Loki catching her and laying her gently on the floor.

"Verda? Verda!" Loki said, attempting to rouse her without success. Checking the side of her neck for a pulse, he discerned one, though it was troublingly weak. He reached out for the leather bag, placing the stones in his hand back into it and magically stowed it away before he stood, hoisting her limp body in his arms.

**********************************

The ground of the forest trembled to the rear of Thor and Barton as the Bifrost descended upon it, Sif running out of it towards the men.

"Thor!" she called out. "I am to warn-." Sif stopped as she reached the two men upon noticing Verda's form. "You must go...you must not be anywhere where you can hear her voice." Sif quietly told Thor and Barton. Barton tapped Thor on the arm before gesturing for him to follow, Thor hesitating. "Go. I will deal with her." Sif said to Thor, he finally turning to follow Barton as Sif stepped confidently towards Lorelei, sword in hand.

"Sif…" Lorelei, now convinced the jig was up, transformed back into her own form, producing her own sword. "You must give my regards to Haldor."

"She's on the field." Barton said as he and Thor made their way to the vehicle parked by the side of the road, communicating with the others.

"She's not the only one!" Rogers said as he skidded the motorcycle to a stop, a throng of white clad soldiers maniacally running towards him. He looked to his right and left, a sea of white entering the forest. Turning the motorcycle around he raced away from the advancing hoard.

Romanoff listened to the conversation as she witnessed Hulk demolishing a bunker, tossing occupants against trees and grabbing others by their legs, smashing them repeatedly against the ground. Emitting a deafening roar, Hulk bounded off, Romanoff running behind.

"Hey! Wait up!" she called out as she attempted in vain to catch up to him.

*********************************

Loki emerged from the empty bunker in the forest which served as a secret entrance and exit of the tunnel that connected with the underground portion of the stronghold, Verda held in his arms.

Loki contemplated what Skula had told him of fate. What fate would be woven based on the choice he was about to make? Skula had offered him the choice to die and to join with his other in this timeline or to be returned to the one from whence he had come. It had always been in his nature to seek escape...to escape his father's reprimands, the expectations of him and of others, to escape the consequences of his mistakes and misdeeds, to escape the taunts he had endured as a boy, to escape Thor's shadow, the comparisons to his brother, to escape the dark thoughts that had always plagued him regarding himself, even long before he knew the truth of his origin. His presence in this timeline had been to escape what he had known was soon to come to pass in his own. His means of escape had taken many forms, not always, perhaps even not the majority of the time, a physical one as it had been that day in the forest. Yet he had declined both offers. He knew well as he looked from Verda towards the sky he could now be enjoying his last moments of freedom.

*********************************

"Heimdall, bring us home."

Loki, standing near Heimdall in Himinbjorg, looked over at Asgard's gatekeeper as he heard the sound of his own voice. Heimdall turned his head, his eyes meeting his king's. Loki nodded.

Loki watched as his double, Verda in his arms, appearing limp and lifeless, emerged from the rainbow of blinding light. Loki, upon seeing Verda's state, rushed forward.

"I had been wounded by Lorelei. She dispelled the curse. I attempted to dissuade her, I warned her it could cost her her life, but she would not be moved." Loki told himself as he transferred Verda from his arms to that of his doppelganger.

Loki gestured for one of the einherjar that had accompanied him to Himinbjorg that now stood to the rear of the chamber to approach.

"Take him to the dungeon." Loki told the armored guard.

"Wait…" Loki's other said as he held out his hand. The einherjar who had been reaching for a pair of shackles changed tact, drawing his sword. Within Loki's outstretched palm, the leather pouch containing the Norn Stones appeared. Heimdall stepped forward as Loki held Verda, taking the pouch from him. Loki nodded to the einherjar who placed his sword back into its sheath and shackled Loki's other, leading him towards the entrance. The warriors waiting there began to make a path at the same time as those farther back also began to make one.

"My son…"

Both Lokis stood in silence as Odin entered Himinbjorg, Frigga following behind him. The einherjar, his hand closed around Loki's bicep, bowed his head before leading Loki towards the exit and the path the warriors had opened between them.

"Father...mother..." Loki's other restrained by the shackles said as he passed Odin and Frigga, escorted by the einherjar. Frigga continued to watch Loki's other as he was led away with a sorrowful expression. Odin approached Loki as he gazed forlornly down at Verda's body in his arms.

"He was wounded...she saved him…she had said she would give her life..." Loki said.

"She drained her own life force in lifting the curse. She must rest as I have done." Odin said, motioning for the other einherjar present to approach. "I will watch over her." Loki transferred Verda into the arms of the einherjar. "Go, my son."

"I cannot. My duty is here. I must safeguard the throne."

"The throne is safe enough. Your place is by the side of your warriors defending it and Asgard."

"If I do not return?" Loki asked Odin, recalling Verda had asked the same question of him.

"She has proven herself more than worthy."

"She does not wish it." Loki told him.

"No one who is truly worthy does." Odin told him. Odin turned from Loki, the einherjar bearing Verda's body following behind him. Frigga approached Loki.

"I will remain here and await your return."

Loki looked at his mother, at her tired, careworn face.

"No, you must rest as well."

"I cannot and will not until she who took your brother's life is no more."

Loki embraced Frigga before stepping away from her, gesturing for the warriors assembled on the Rainbow Bridge to follow him. As they did so, he stepped up to the Bifrost with a determined expression, preparing and steadying himself, producing a dagger in each hand, tossing them and catching them as Heimdall activated the Bifrost.

"Nor shall we mourn but rejoice for those who have died the glorious death..."