"That's enough, Loki!"
Thor's voice cut sharply through the silence, his patience clearly fraying.
"I didn't come here to play games with you," he said coldly.
"I'm here to give you a chance — a chance to reform and be released."
Loki tilted his head, intrigued.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"Protect Asgard," Thor replied firmly, opening the transparent barrier of the cell.
"The Aether is still here, which means the Dark Elves will definitely attack again. Asgard's defenses are down — if we don't act, the entire realm could be destroyed. And I refuse to let Mother face danger again."
He looked directly into Loki's eyes.
"So, fight alongside me. We'll move the battlefield from Asgard to Svartalfheim — the Dark Elves' home. This will be the last time I believe you still have some love left for Asgard in your heart."
Loki arched a brow, thinking for a moment before smirking.
"I see. So you're defying Father's orders again, aren't you? You must be desperate to come crawling to me for help."
"Loki!" Thor barked, stepping closer.
Loki raised both hands, pretending to surrender.
"Alright, alright. I'll join you — but not for you. For Mother."
Thor's eyes hardened.
"You've betrayed me before, Loki. More than once. But this time is different. This time, it's for Asgard. Betray me again... and I will kill you."
Loki chuckled softly.
"Oh, I do love family reunions. So... when do we leave?"
After sneaking past the guards, Thor brought Loki and Kai to regroup with Jane Foster.
The moment she saw Loki, Jane stormed up and slapped him across the face.
"That's for New York!" she shouted, her voice trembling with anger.
Loki blinked, slightly stunned, then turned to Thor with a sly grin.
"I like her," he said, rubbing his cheek. Then his expression soured.
"But him—" he pointed at Kai, "—I hate."
He hadn't forgotten how Kai had kicked him sky-high on Earth, only for the Hulk to smash him into the ground like a rag doll.
Thor chuckled, "Really? I thought you'd have warmed up to him by now."
Before Loki could retort, Sif and a squad of Asgardian guards arrived.
"Sif, hold them off," Thor commanded.
Sif nodded, sword and shield in hand. Though she trusted Thor, Loki was another matter entirely.
Stepping close, she pressed her blade to Loki's neck.
"If you even think about betraying him, I'll kill you myself."
Loki merely smiled.
"Ah, is this your version of a warm welcome, Sif? Charming."
As Thor, Kai, and Loki slipped away, Sif turned to face the oncoming guards.
She tightened her grip on her sword and muttered, "Let's see how long your trust lasts, Thor."
On the run, Loki glanced around at the chaos.
"How exactly are we escaping this fairy palace? Fight our way out?"
"Shut up," Thor snapped.
They reached the Dark Elves' crashed warship, still smoldering in the plaza. Volstagg stood guard, hammer in hand.
"You go ahead," he said. "I'll hold them off as long as I can."
Then, glaring at Loki, he added,
"If you betray him—"
"You'll kill me?" Loki finished, smirking. "Yes, yes, I've heard that one already. Take a number."
Thor, Kai, Jane, and Loki boarded the Dark Elf warship.
Thor fumbled with the alien controls, pressing buttons at random. Nothing happened.
"So... you have no idea how to fly this thing?" Loki asked dryly.
Kai, holding Jane close, buckled her into a seat.
Seeing Thor's uncertain hands on the console, he tightened both their seatbelts.
"Just in case," he murmured.
"Whatever you're doing, brother," Loki said, glancing out the viewport, "do it faster — we're about to have company."
"Shut up, Loki!" Thor barked, slamming another switch.
"Maybe you missed a button," Loki teased.
"I pressed every damn button!" Thor growled.
At last, the ship roared to life.
Thor grinned triumphantly as it lifted off — only to spin wildly and crash through the surrounding pillars.
"Ha!" Loki laughed. "Apparently, you thought the Dark Elves hadn't destroyed enough of Asgard, so you're finishing the job yourself!"
"Shut up, Loki!"
The ship soared into the sky as Asgard's defense turrets opened fire. Thor tried to evade, diving low — but clipped a massive statue, decapitating it.
"Wow!" Loki howled with laughter. "You just cut off your grandfather's head!"
"Shut. Up. Loki!" Thor snapped.
Behind them, Jane slumped weakly in her seat.
"Jane!" Kai called, unbuckling to check on her.
She gave a faint smile. "I'm okay, Kai… just… dizzy."
Whether from Thor's flying or the Aether draining her life, she could barely stay conscious.
Kai gently held her in his arms.
"Thor… she's getting weaker by the minute. We have to reach the Dark World soon — Malekith is the only one who can remove the Aether."
Thor nodded grimly, then looked to Loki.
"Take us through your secret passage."
Loki grinned, gripping the controls with one hand, eyes gleaming with mischief and excitement.
"As you wish, brother. I must say… this betrayal of Father's orders is the most fun I've had in centuries."