Loki's Exile Through Time
He leaned back in his chair, hands in his pockets, his gaze sweeping over the still figures.
Silver Surfer's starlight pupils stopped midway through their rotation, the deep starlight seemingly frozen in amber.
Thanos's deep-sea eyes froze at the blink of an eye; those eyes, which could never reveal any emotion, now resembled two statues.
The ordinary people in the fast food restaurant were all frozen in place, unable to move.
Only Russell and Stan Lee were allowed to move freely.
"You don't seem surprised at all," Stan Lee said, pointing to the still people around him.
"Because I know who you are." Russell shrugged.
Stan Lee tilted his head slightly.
"But I am not the God of Stories you speak of; the God of Stories in my writing is Loki."
Russell remained noncommittal.
"The position of God of Stories was created for Loki by you. In your stories, Loki experienced growth, sacrifice, and rebirth, ultimately taking over the reins of the Time Variance Authority and becoming the guardian of all stories."
He paused.
"But in my heart, Loki is the God of Stories, and you are another God of Stories."
You created the story of the Marvel Universe, wrote Loki's growth, and depicted his journey to becoming the God of Stories. You are not the God of Stories himself, but you surpass the God of Stories.
Stan Lee looked at him and remained silent for a long time.
Then he shook his head, his gesture carrying a certain helplessness that belonged to the elderly, a helplessness born of a world-weary perspective.
"You, a visitor from a diverse background, seem to have a fairly good understanding of the stories I write."
"I know a lot of things." Russell sat down in the chair, facing Stan Lee.
"That's why I found you. As the Creator, you are capable of intervening in the affairs of the entire Multiverse."
"I didn't want to interfere in the affairs of the Multiverse." As Stan Lee shook his head, he took off his reading glasses again and placed them on the table.
Every universe has its own destiny, and every story has its own course.
I created them, but I chose not to interfere with them, letting them grow, evolve, and find their own path.
He looked at Russell, then changed the subject.
"However, some established Timeline have deviated from the intended path, and appropriate corrections are still possible."
Russell narrowed his eyes slightly.
"For example?"
"Like Loki." Stan Lee finished speaking, picked up his pen, and tapped lightly on his notebook.
Russell's gaze then pierced through space and landed on the observation deck of the S.P.E.A.R. Helicarrier.
Loki and Thor stood together.
Thor wielded Mjolnir, the hammer wreathed in Rune Power.
Ancient Asgard runes danced across the hammer, unleashing energy powerful enough to shatter mountains.
His smile was as bright as a child who had received a new toy.
"See that, Loki? Rune Power, given to me by Russell. As long as I continue to develop it, one day I'll be able to use this hammer to subdue the entire Nine Realms."
Loki stood beside him, his hands behind his back, wearing his signature green robe.
His face didn't reveal much emotion, but there was a hint of something at the corner of his mouth.
"Isn't it just power from Russell?" Loki said sourly, his voice as light as if he were talking about the weather.
"It's nothing special."
He turned around and faced the Earth outside the window.
"Sooner or later, I will also gain immense power, stronger than your Rune Power, even stronger than Russell's, stronger than anything else in this universe."
Loki stroked the scepter in his hand.
"All I lack is an opportunity."
As soon as he finished speaking, the orange Time Portal opened beneath Loki's feet.
The portal appeared without any warning.
One second Loki was standing on the observation deck, and the next second a circular crack radiating an orange glow appeared beneath his feet.
The Time Portal was like a hungry mouth, swallowing Loki whole.
Loki's eyes widened suddenly.
His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
But the portal closed too quickly, so quickly that he didn't even have time to utter a single syllable.
A flash of orange light, and Loki vanished.
Thor froze, standing there with Mjolnir in his hand, staring at the spot where Loki had just been standing.
Now there's nothing left there, only the cold metal floor of the observation deck.
"Loki?" Thor's voice was filled with disbelief.
No one answered.
"My dear brother, Loki!" Thor's voice suddenly rose.
He rushed to where Loki had just been standing, Mjolnir buzzing in his hand.
Rune Power erupted around him, golden energy spreading in all directions, attempting to trace Loki's footsteps.
But nothing was traced.
Thor slammed his fist against the wall of the observation deck.
The metal dented beneath his fist, the Rune Power crackling within the indentation.
"Loki!" he called again.
In a boundless desert of the universe, Loki stands amidst the sand dunes.
The scorching sun beat down on him, and his green robe fluttered slightly in the hot wind.
His face held something akin to confusion, as if he had just woken from a long sleep and hadn't fully adjusted to the light of this world.
Then a group of people dressed in clothes with the TVA logo and carrying Time Stick surrounded Loki.
Their faces didn't reveal much emotion, but their posture made it clear they were there to arrest people.
The Time Variance Authority, you know.
Russell withdrew his gaze and looked at Stan Lee.
"This isn't the Marvel MCU Universe)," he said. "Loki doesn't need to be the God of Stories, does he?"
Stan Lee did not answer immediately.
He lowered his head, wrote a line in his notebook, and the line lingered on the paper for a moment before disappearing.
"You're right," Stan Lee said. "This isn't the MCU Universe; this is a larger, more complex universe with more possibilities."
In this universe, Loki doesn't need to be the God of Stories; he can take another path.
He looked up at Russell.
But he needs to grow.
Russell tilted his head slightly.
"Loki has always been a child who grew up in his brother's shadow," Stan Lee said.
He always felt that he was not seen, not valued, and not loved.
They constantly try to prove themselves in various ways, including good ways, bad ways, foolish ways, and even dangerous ways.
He failed time and time again, but got back up again and again, trying time and time again to find his place.
He paused.
"In the MCU Universe, he finally found his place God of Stories, sacrificing his own seat on the Temporal Loom to protect the entire Multiverse."
He looked at Russell.
"But in this universe, he has other options."
He looked down at his notebook.
"I sent him to the Time Variance Authority, that place outside the Timeline, the place for all Time Criminal, where he'll see something."
Something he couldn't see on the S.P.E.A.R.. Helicarrier, beside Thor, in your shadow.
Russell looked at Stan Lee.
So you're educating him.
"He needed a chance, so I'll give him one," Stan Lee said frankly.
"An opportunity that he might only get in many years in the MCU Universe."
After saying that, he closed his notebook and placed it on the table.
"You're right, I'm not the God of Stories, but I possess the authority of God of Stories."