When Natasha opened her eyes, she found herself lying in a shallow, tranquil lake. The cool water lapped gently against her skin, and the sky above shimmered with an otherworldly hue. For a moment, it felt like a dream.
But the orange glow in her hand reminded her it was real. The Soul Gem rested in her palm, its eerie light pulsating steadily.
She tightened her grip on the gem, tears welling in her eyes. She thought she had forgotten how to cry, but the weight of Thor's sacrifice brought the emotions crashing down.
Suddenly, the gem trembled violently, as if resisting her hold.
Startled, Natasha clutched it tighter, but the Soul Gem's power overwhelmed her, slipping free from her grasp and darting into the distance.
"No!" she cried, chasing after it.
The Soul Gem flew erratically through the air, as if seeking an escape, until it collided with an invisible barrier. A brilliant flash illuminated the surroundings, and the gem quivered, unable to move further.
A familiar voice broke the silence.
"Since you've come this far, you're not going anywhere."
Natasha's eyes widened in disbelief. "Thor?"
Out of the shimmering light, Thor stepped forward, holding the struggling Soul Gem firmly in his grasp.
Before Natasha could process what she was seeing, she ran toward him, her composure forgotten. Throwing her arms around him, she held him tightly, relief and joy flooding her senses.
Thor chuckled softly, one arm holding her close while the other gripped the Soul Gem.
"I knew you'd have questions," he said, his tone serious yet calm. "But for now, let me deal with this unruly little thing."
Turning his attention to the gem, Thor's voice grew commanding. "I know you have your own rules, your own twisted logic. But since the test is complete, you belong to me now. Serve me for ten years, and I'll set you free. In return, I'll offer you what you crave—souls. Tens of millions, if that's what it takes."
The Soul Gem vibrated in protest, but Thor tightened his grip. The Power Stone in his other hand began to glow ominously, its energy coursing through him.
"Or," Thor said coldly, "I destroy you here and now."
The gem's vibrations slowed, then ceased entirely. In that moment, Thor felt an unshakable connection form—a bond that made the Soul Gem bend to his will, more loyal than any other stone.
Natasha stepped back, her emotions shifting from joy to confusion. "Thor… what just happened? You jumped off the cliff. I thought—"
A familiar voice interrupted her.
"I can explain," said Loki, appearing from the shadows with a self-satisfied grin.
"My transformation magic is flawless," Loki said, his tone dripping with pride. "The 'Thor' that jumped was merely an illusion. The Soul Gem fell for it, thinking it had claimed a sacrifice."
Natasha turned to Loki, bewildered. "An illusion fooled the Soul Gem?"
Thor shook his head, amused. "Not quite. Loki provided the illusion, yes, but the real trick was the sacrificial soul."
"Explain," Natasha demanded.
Thor hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Years ago, I acquired a unique ability through the use of another gem—one that allowed me to create a temporary soul identical to mine. For one minute, that soul was indistinguishable from me in every way. Not even the Soul Gem could tell the difference."
Natasha's eyes widened as understanding dawned.
"The Soul Gem devoured the sacrificial soul, thinking it had won. But when the soul disappeared after a minute, the gem realized it had been tricked. That's when it tried to escape."
"And that's when you caught it," Natasha finished.
Thor nodded.
Natasha's expression grew serious. "But what if the trick hadn't worked? Would you have sacrificed me, or someone else, to get the gem?"
Thor's eyes softened. "No. A victory that requires sacrifice is no victory at all. I'm not Thanos. If the trick had failed, I would have destroyed the Soul Gem, along with this entire planet."
He raised Stormbreaker, its blade glinting in the dim light. "The purpose of these gems is to stop Thanos, nothing more. I won't let them cost me—or anyone else—our humanity."
Natasha stared at him for a moment before a small smile broke through. "You really are an idiot," she said, though her tone was warm.
Thor grinned. "Maybe. But I'm your idiot."
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the galaxy, Carol Danvers flew through the void, her mind heavy with the weight of her past.
The Kree's ultimatum rang in her ears: unconditional surrender from the Skrulls within one day, or the annihilation of their entire race.
Talos, the Skrull leader, had finally sent a distress signal, his pride giving way to desperation.
Carol clenched her fists as she sped toward their homeworld.
Not on my watch, she thought grimly.