Betsy watched Emma Frost, who was still venting nearby, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly without her realizing it.
It was rare to see Emma Frost in such a powerless rage!
Emma Frost had often teased her back in her own universe. Now that she had such a good opportunity, it would be out of character not to tease her mercilessly in return.
She had to look for a phone or a camera. The thought of having something she could hold over the White Queen, Emma Frost, put her in an even better mood.
The chibi figure on Betsy's head seemed to sense her mood. It waved one tiny hand, and a chibi White Queen appeared on Betsy's palm.
Chibi Betsy looked left and right. When she spotted a twig on the ground, her face lit up with delight.
She flew down, picked up the twig, and returned to Betsy's palm. With two smacks, she beat the chibi White Queen down onto the ground. Chibi Betsy laughed wildly as two devil horns appeared on her head, then she stuck out one little leg and stomped hard on the chibi White Queen's head.
She looked every bit like she was saying, "I'm the queen here."
Betsy couldn't help chuckling at the sight, though she also felt a little helpless. The little thing understood her all too well. If Emma Frost saw this, the two of them might start fighting again.
"Huh? Betsy, where did you pick up that twig?"
Thor had come over at some point and was staring intently at the little twig in chibi Betsy's hand.
"This little one picked it up." Betsy pointed at the chibi version of herself, who was still running wild.
The more Thor looked at the twig, the more familiar it seemed. After all, the five thousand years of memories in this body weren't for nothing.
No matter how he looked at it, the little twig resembled one that had fallen off Groot of the Flora Colossus race.
To confirm his suspicion, he snatched the twig straight out of chibi Betsy's hand.
Chibi Betsy was furious when her weapon was taken and flew up, ready to attack Thor. He flicked her away with one finger, and she settled down.
She lay aggrieved on Betsy's head, tearfully recounting Thor's misdeeds.
Thor couldn't be bothered with the chibi Betsy he had created using the Law of Elements and the Law of Life. He immediately activated the Law of Life, putting it all into healing the little twig in his hand and making it grow.
He also used the Law of Time to speed up the process.
Under the effects of the two laws, the twig quickly sprouted a shoot, then rapidly grew into a tiny Groot no bigger than a finger.
The little Groot opened his eyes and saw Thor. Looking pleasantly surprised but also anxious, he spoke to him:
"I am Groot! I am Groot! I am Groot!"
"You want me to help you save Rocket Raccoon and the others?" Thor frowned. "What happened to you? Don't rush. Take your time. We're all trapped in this hellhole right now and can't get out."
And so the big one and the little one began a conversation across languages.
Betsy watched from the side, utterly baffled. The little thing had only said one sentence the whole time. How was Thor carrying on a conversation with him?
"So you're saying that when the Thanos from your universe encountered you, he had no intention of holding back and severely injured all of you. Then you sacrificed your origin to save them, and after that you came here?"
"I am Groot!!!"
The adorable little tree-man nodded frantically, gesturing nonstop with both hands.
"Thor, who's Thanos?" Betsy finally couldn't hold back the question.
"A purple sweet potato spirit from the universe," Thor said without turning his head, reaching out a finger to touch the adorable little fellow.
A purple sweet potato spirit? Even purple sweet potatoes out in the universe can become spirits?!
Betsy was even more confused, but then she thought about how even figures from myths and legends were real. A purple sweet potato becoming a spirit didn't seem so unbelievable.
After all, wasn't there a twig spirit right in front of her?
"What's this?" Emma Frost must have learned it from Betsy, because she walked without making a sound too. She reached out, pinched little Groot by the head, and brought him up in front of her eyes for a closer look.
"I am Groot!!!!"
Groot glared at Emma Frost with adorable ferocity, flailing all four limbs.
"What's this little thing saying?"
Emma Frost looked at Thor.
"He's saying you're hurting him."
"You can understand him?"
Thor spread his hands. "I'm the thunder god of Asgard. I specifically learned the language of his race. Isn't that perfectly normal?"
"I am Groot!"
"What did he say this time?"
"He said if you don't let him go, he'll set your hair on fire."
Emma Frost froze for a moment, then glared fiercely at Thor. She held Groot up in front of her and deliberately swung him back and forth several times, making him dizzy before she spoke.
"Little thing, you think you can take me on?"
After thoroughly toying with him, she tossed him to Thor, who hurriedly reached out and caught him. This was the Pokémon he had gone to so much trouble to revive; he couldn't let him get hurt in a fall.
Once Thor caught him, Groot darted up onto his shoulder and peeked out with only his little head, looking at Emma Frost in fright.
"I am Groot!"
Clearly, her rough treatment had left him with a bit of a psychological scar.
"Oh? Is he cursing at me?" Emma Frost's gaze turned hostile. It was one thing for Thor and Betsy to bully her-she couldn't beat one of them, and the other was a friend. But who did this little fellow think he was?!
He even cursed Emma Frost to her face!
She had never suffered such treatment in her life!
"All right, all right, he's joking with you, Emma." Thor hurriedly intervened. His little pet couldn't be allowed to get broken as soon as he came out.
"Then tell me clearly first. What exactly did he just say?" Emma Frost had no intention of letting it go. If just anyone could curse her at will, where was the White Queen's dignity?
"He said you're very pretty, but you were a little too rough." Thor lied without blushing or skipping a beat.
If he translated Groot's exact words, Groot would have to die again right after being revived.
Emma Frost stared at Thor for a full thirty seconds before saying, "I won't stoop to a little thing's level!"
Groot looked at Thor in some confusion. "I am Groot?!"
(I didn't say that, did I?)
Thor lowered his head and whispered, "Don't expose me, Groot. You don't want to die again right after being revived, do you?"
"I am Groot!"
Groot hurriedly nodded and then shook his head. He still had to get out and save his companions. He couldn't die again!
"Groot, you'll have to stay with us for a while. Once I defeat the evil bald woman here, I'll help you save your teammates!"
"I am Groot!"