Pepper ran right into Tony as she bolted for his room.

"Geez, Pepper! I'm right here!" Tony said, giving her a strange look at her sudden outburst.

"Did you let anyone else in?" she asked in alarm.

Tony gave her a wild, confused look. "Uh, no," he chuckled, brushing past her. "What would I do, bring back a smhhhhhng-" the word got caught in the back of his throat when he walked into the open where Pepper had once been standing before she went running. He made a string of incoherent noises in the back of his throat before he pulled himself together. "J-Jarvis? Call Nick Fury. Now," he said, his voice somewhat strained.

"How the hell did she get in here?" Pepper exclaimed as tony went to his bedroom to dig something out of his drawer.

"Uh, not important!" Tony exclaimed back as he pulled a small pen light from the confines.

"Well then what is important?" she screeched at him.

"Uh, probably who is she! Yeah, that's a good one!" he snarked, slightly panicked. He nudged Pepper gently to the side as he walked back out into the living room of his trashed pent house. He leaned over the couch and studied the woman lying on top of his coat; she wasn't moving, her eyes were closed, and to him she didn't look like she was dead, certainly.

Why does that look like the same body that Nick put in the ground four hours ago? She has the same weird ass gold, black and green dress too…

"Uh, excuse me!" he said comically, yet he was absolutely serious. "Could you please explain to me how the fuck you got in here without Jarvis noticing, please?" He waited for an answer, which he knew he would never get at the time.

"Excuse me!" he said louder. He honestly thought this was one of Loki's stupid stunts. With midnight black hair like this chick had, Loki was the only person he could think of that would be able to pull something like this off. He grabbed the woman's nose and held it shut, cutting off any air that might've been flowing into her lungs. "If you are not dead, I would like an explana-"

He just about jumped out of his skin when the woman's eyes flew open, and he ended up looking like a cat springing up in the air on point. He ended up scrambling backwards away from her.

"Tony Stark!" she explained with a fluid English accent. "What the hell are you doing?" she sat up on the couch, her brilliant glowing green eyes staring him down. "What, trying to suffocate me, eh? Did Romanoff send you to finish me off?"

Oh my god, British accent; my brain can't handle it. Tony couldn't believe what was sitting in front of him.

"I'm sorry, who are you again?" he asked wildly, so completely lost at what was going on.

She furrowed her brow. "What?"

"Look, I'm probably more confused than you are," he scoffed in confusion. "You look like an agent of ours except photo shopped to absolute perfection. So name? Please?"

She looked around, her jade green eyes darting around to gather in her surroundings. "Orthani? Stark, you know me…" her brow creased as she swung her legs over the edge of the couch

"No. No-nope. No. We put Orthani in the ground 4 hours ago. So tell me who you really are," he shook his head frantically.

"Stark, it's me," she nodded.

"Prove it."

"You remember the first thing I said to you that made you like me? What was it, uh, 'I'd have a dagger to your throat so quick you wouldn't know whether to shit or read the paper-'"

"Sonofabitch," she stared at her with a blank expression.

"Sir, Director Fury didn't answer your call," Jarvis interrupted.

"Nnnnnnnnnope, call him again. Tell him we have a situation, because apparently I'm staring at a girl we buried not too long ago and it's freaking me the hell out," he said as he scuffled to his feet. "And no, I'm not drunk this time."

"Tony, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Orthani has been dead for three weeks," he said as he approached her and lifted her chin up to flash the little pen light in her eyes. "She took a bullet to the brains. Right. Here." He put his finger right in between her eyes. "Loki couldn't even bring her back, and apparently he's the most powerful sorcerer on Asga-wait. I shouldn't say that. You're just an imposter trying to get information!" He clasped his hand over his mouth before going back to flashing the light in her eyes.

Her bright green eyes opened wide as she gasped. "Loki! Is he ok-Will you stop that?" she swatted his hand away. "What are you doing that for?" She flinched away from the bright light being flashed in her eyes.

"No idea. I've seen medical examiners do it on cop shows. I thought it was relevant," he shrugged, still sort of panicked.

She growled and slapped his other hand away. "Where is Loki? Is he ok?" She stood up and looked from Pepper to Tony. "Do not tell me you've killed him, have you?" she said in a somewhat alarmed voice. "What happened to the Tesseract? And the Chitauri? The last thing I remember was the Hulk throwing Loki through a window. The rest is black; so will someone please explain to me what's going on?"

Tony stared at her for a moment with a blank expression. "So it really is you?" he said quietly, looking at her in disbelief.

She nodded and softened her expression. "I don't know what difference you see in me, but I swear to you I am the same woman who had an arrow lodged in her thigh the day you met me."

Tony looked into her eyes and nodded. "Pepper, will you go get her something to drink?" he asked politely.

"Why? What's going on?" Pepper asked, still confused and shocked at what was going on.

"We've got to catch her up to date on what's happened," he said, sitting Orthani down on the couch.

"Wait, so how do you know she is who she says she is?" she asked, giving him a worried look.

"After seeing Loki's reaction to her lying dead on this very couch, and then seeing the look of fear cross her face when I said his name, it's obvious," he told her with confidence. "I don't know how or why she's here; I don't know how she's alive, and I don't know what's caused her…body to become…more flawless than a Victoria's Secret model-"

"Tony." Pepper said his name in a dangerous tone.

"What? She's no longer a stick! Look, she's got meat on her bones. She looks different," Tony defended his statement, holding out his arms like he was showcasing her. "My point is here is that whatever Loki did to her, it worked, but since it's done more than just bringing her back from the dead, I'm pretty sure that means we haven't seen the last of this war just yet."

"Thor, it's about time you showed up," Nick Fury said as the demigod materialized on the flight deck of S.H.I.E.L.D's aircraft base. He had brought with him a friend this time.

"Director, this is Asgard's keeper and seer, Heimdall," Thor turned to Nick. "Once I received the call, he immediately came to me claiming you will be needing him."

Nick raised his brow at the man who seemed to be in a hypnotized state. "What will he do, exactly?" he asked.

"You will see in due time," Heimdall answered, staring straight ahead and not making eye contact.

"Alright then," Nick drug out his words. "You aren't going to believe this," he said as he turned his attention back to Thor.

Thor chuckled. "I have seen many things in my life, Director. I doubt you could bring me something that would surprise me." He gave Fury an apathetic look.

"Loki managed to bring Orthani back from the dead. I doubt that's something you see every day," Nick said with a serious face.

Thor's grin dropped and a shock expression landed on his face. "That is impossible. Our king, my father, Odin, is the only one with granted permission from our gods and guardians to raise a soul, especially that of a mortal," Thor explained hurriedly. "If she did manage to evade the gods eyes, the amount of pain she would be in would have her killed instantly."

Nick nodded and he led the two Asgardians below deck. "Her body has changed physically," he started ranting off. "We've been running tests on her and the results are more than just strange. We did a DNA test to check and see if it was really her, and it was as close to a hundred percent you can get these days. However, she has some added into her genetic code: something we've never seen before. We've also dug up her casket and her body was reduced to ash when we opened it. We know it's her, we just don't know what the hell happened."

"Your god of mischief has done more to her than just raising her from the afterlife," Heimdall said out of the blue.

Both Nick and Thor stopped walking to turn and look at him, their eyes looking at him in confusion.

"Heimdall, what are you saying?" Thor asked firmly.

"She has become one of ours," he answered.

Both Nick and Thor gave him an odd look.

"There are wars to be fought in the future; wars that she must be a part of. The gods have not overlooked her, they are using her to carry out a prophecy or else the universe shall have an uncertain fate. This was no mistake."

Nick gave him a hard look. "And what else do you know that you aren't telling us?"

Heimdall's eyes darted to him. "The information you seek that has been granted upon my knowledge is not for your ears. It shall be revealed to you when your mistress returns with us to Asgard-"

"She cannot return with us!" Thor interrupted. "She is human! Born of Midgard! Our law clearly states-"

"She is no longer of Midgard, Odinson."

The simple statement was enough to get Thor to quiet immediately.

"Take me to the child."

Nick hesitated before giving in. He led them to a chamber they had her locked in. It was almost like the Hulk's, except it was square and wouldn't fall through the floor.

"Why do you have her locked away?" Thor asked as they walked into the room.

Nick sighed. "She's got this…thing…Every once in a while, she just snaps and turns into an absolute nightmare. I swear to you, she can scare the living shit out of you once you turn off the lights," Nick shook his head while remembering the first night she hadn't been caged, which was close to a month ago. The amount of blood in the place was like a slaughterhouse before they broke that spell.

"Thor?" Orthani's tongue flicked in her strange new accent, which caused Thor to furrow his brow as the door to the cage slid shut behind him.

"Your voice has changed," he pointed out.

"I haven't noticed," she answered flatly. "Will someone please tell me what's happening?"

Thor looked her over. She had been given back her old uniform, except this time she filled it out so much better than before. She had gone from being tiny, barely anything on her bones at all from the way she used to work to being thick where she needed to be yet trim where a woman should be. Her thighs were almost purely muscle, Thor could tell; and her arms had accents that proved her strength. She wasn't overly built; it was simply enough for people to get the hint she was not to be messed with.

Her skin had become flawless; there wasn't a single blemish, discoloration, malformation or abnormal markings anywhere and her face was perfectly symmetrical. She had been given high cheekbones, her slightly crooked nose had become straight, and she had a pronounced feminine jawline. Her skin was sun kissed and her hair was midnight black and almost perfectly straight until the last two inches, which swept into large curls just past the ends of her shoulder blades. The top half was pulled back, only leaving her side-swept bangs to hang over her face.

"You are definitely not Midgardian," he said, staring at her aura and not quite believing this was actually Orthani standing in front of him.

"Excuse me?" she arched her brow.

"You have been restructured strangely similar to that of Asgardians," Thor walked around her, studying her intently. "Loki has successfully…turned you into a superhuman without any consequences or adverse effects…" he said in a state of disbelief.

"It was not his intention, nor was he attempting to do so," Heimdall spoke up. "The nature of his spells and sorcery required such an extensive amount of energy, and that created a perfect mixture that fused within her blood to start the process. It allowed her body to be morphed, copied, and then resurrected in a superhuman form after her human body went under these changes."

Orthani stared at him blankly. "Are you saying Loki changed my race?" she emphasized sharply.

"With the help and approval of our overseers, yes," Heimdall didn't hesitate to answer. "But is has also done more than that."

"Oh, of course," she huffed, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"Her soul has not become a parasite, living off of Loki's, has it?" Thor spoke out. "I may not be educated in the arts of sorcery, but it seems like this is an obvious situation. She has either become a parasite, living off another living soul, or she has become her own being by assimilation, correct?" he spoke his thoughts out loud.

"It is the latter."

"Assimilation. She was given a copy of every one of Loki's strengths?"

"No."

"Heimdall." Thor's voice was powerful and stern. "Give me a straight answer."

The room fell silent again before Heimdall spoke. "Her issue with these people before they had her locked in this cell indicates to me that she is her own being. While she does have an aura of potential for the art of sorcery, that is pure coincidence. She has been raised to the stature of Loki's equal. She has been granted powers of her own, for she has been watched by our overseers and she has proven herself worthy of the duties that now lie on her shoulders-"

"What?"

"She will be of Darkness. That is what took over her the first night she was here: practically invisible to the eye amongst even the slightest shadow should you so will it to be; her footsteps in stealth will be inaudible for even the ears of the non-humans; her talents with small blades make her a silent assassin, the Harbinger of Death. When in this state of Darkness, she is unstoppable, merciless, can kill without being seen or heard in the vilest ways possible. She is a daughter of Darkness. Goddess. Of Darkness."

The room fell silent again.

"Are you sure, Heimdall?" Thor said quietly.

"Her eyes glow as mine do. These are signs of such godlike powers that have been blessed upon those not born of them," Heimdall affirmed, staring directly into Orthani's eyes and gazing at everything that had been put upon her.

"Are you telling me that Loki," Orthani paused as Thor's attention turned to her, "put forth so much energy, effort, and sorcery to attempt to revive me that it gave my soul the opportunity to repair itself as a god…ess…" She furrowed her brow, utterly confused.

"Correct."

"What? You're not serious, are you?" Orthani said in denial. "Me. A goddess? I'm sorry, have you met me? I am by no means material to consider being worthy of any title amongst your people! All I do is stab people with a dagger; I am by no means a-a..a Harbinger of Death or a…Goddess of Darkness or whatever you just called me," she stuttered as she started to pace along the floor.

"Of course you are. With the help of a few spells and the watchful eyes of our fathers and forefathers, you have been appointed powers and responsibilities that follow-"

"I do not want this power!" Orthani interrupted, raising her voice to silence Heimdall. "I do not want this…form! I never wanted these responsibilities! I have not done anything to deserve them!"

"You made a promise to a god," Heimdall said coolly. "And your life was martyred in order to keep that promise."

Orthani opened her mouth to speak but then immediately shut it again.

"Regardless of how corrupt that god was, you kept your promise to him. This is what deemed you worthy of such powers to be granted to you. I believe in any religion, it goes to say that those who give their loyalty to a god, then they shall be lifted up into greatness? Correct?"

Her eyes were darting around the room in panic. "I-I can't…I don't want this! I never wanted this," her eyes were starting to water. "Why? Why is it so prudent for me to answer this calling?"

"I cannot look into the future, so I cannot tell you. The only reason I know you were to arrive was due to revelation by our forefathers; one unspoken, but made the day Loki landed on Earth. I could not tell you their plans, nor should they have to answer to us."

"So I have to blindly walk into this without any knowledge of what to expect or…anything?"

Heimdall nodded. "You will have our guidance, and you will have the heart and companionship of Loki, should you so wish as long as you manage to save him."

"Save. Him. What the hell is going on; why would I have to save him?" she exclaimed suddenly.

Thor paused before speaking. "Our father, king of Asgard, has sentenced him to exile by execution," Thor said solemnly. "I told him to wait for my return before executing him, and that it would only be fair for his brother to be present. The moment I return, Loki will be taken from his cell."

Orthani's eyes widened in horror. "Was he not able to fight for his life?"

"He chose to remain silent and let Odin decide his judgment on his own. He is asking for death."

She snapped her gaping mouth shut.

"I believe you are capable of convincing him otherwise," Heimdall interrupted the conversation.

"No one is capable of changing his mind once he has made a decision. If he wishes to die, then he will seek death," she snapped. "I cannot stop him. If Thor could not talk him out of it, then I surely cannot."

Thor furrowed his brow and took a step towards her. "Had you seen how he was when your corpse was lying before his eyes, you would not be saying that!" he said firmly. "The Hulk was brought to tears. Not Bruce Banner; Hulk. He will listen to you."

"He won't. He has chosen his fate. I cannot change that."

"You must at least try."

"And have him die knowing he left me to fend on my own against you animals? Are you wishing he would die in torture-"

"He is in pain from your death, whether or not he truly shows!" Thor suddenly snapped. "I would rather him die in triumph than die a failure!"

She and Thor had a stare-off with each other. "You must do this. For him," Thor softly pleaded. "Loki is too prideful to withdraw his actions. I personally believe he does not deserve to die over this."

She shook her head slowly. "I cannot save him."

"Then try to. Do not give up on him without some sort of attempt," Thor again pleaded barely above a whisper. "Go with us. Let him see your face. Let him see what he has given you."

"He has made me into the thing he hates. Your people have driven him over the edge. He will not revel in the success of bringing me back. He will hate himself for turning me into the very thing that drove him mad," she spoke quietly.

"If that is so, then what can we do?" Thor shuffled. "We cannot make him accept it by force. That does not mean we cannot try and bring to him reason."

"Thor, I-"

"He is my brother, Orthani. I cannot give in so easily without trying to save him…"

God, why must it always lead back to him? She thought to herself.

"Your heart is tied to his, is it not?" Heimdall interrupted her thoughts.

"How dare you make such an accusation," she snapped at him even though she knew it was true. She didn't want it to be. Not after all this. It was causing her too much heartache and stress.

"Is. It. Not." Heimdall asked her again.

She didn't answer.

"You believe his punishment of death should be receded to a lower offense, do you not?"

"Of course."

"You care for the state of his life?"

"Of course I do."

"Then why are you so adamant at standing by and watching the life leave his eyes?"

She closed her eyes and pressed her lips together.

Dammit, Loki. Why must you go and make things difficult for everyone.

"How will we do this, then?" she sighed, giving in to the pressure.

"You are Harbinger," Heimdall answered her. "You are death in silent form, a master of darkness. Your name should be feared, not looked upon lightly."

"She is not to commit treason the moment she enters Asgard, Heimdall!" Thor said dangerously.

"That which is done in elegance, grace, and finesse is not to be considered treason," Heimdall spoke. "It is about sending the proper message in order to secure her proper place in the House of Odin."

To Be Continued in the Sequel "Nightmare"

A/N: Final chapter is here! I hope you guys have enjoyed the first installment of this story, and hopefully you'll enjoy what I have planned!

See, I couldn't kill off the main character. x) I just had to give her a reason to run off to Asgard. I didn't expect such an uproar over that but HOPEFULLY YOU ALL ARE HAPPY NOW. =)

Azalia Fox Knightling: Haha, nope, not lady Loki. That would be strange. O.o

enzyyme: I'm sorreh x.x Yes! Nice to see you got through it all x)

Mrs Holmes-watson: Thank you! I'm glad you like it. x)

Imaginemeruler: Welcome aboard! Hope you've liked it so far. x)

Jayc Black: Aw, thank you. =) Just a little taste of what is to come, really, since this sequel will be completely my own and not following awkward guidelines of a movie.

SilverTongueLoki: I picked green because I needed to make that physical change obvious. She's had blue eyes the entire story, and I couldn't give her the same color as Heimdall's, so I just went with green. But I might use that whole 'she looks similar to Loki' thing, now that you've pointed it out. O.o

And nooo don't kill me D:

The End That Wasn't: I don't know what the name will be. Dx I'm having mixed feelings with what I've come up with so far, but it'll be something kinda dark. I know that much.

LuluCalliope: Yes there will be! And thank you!

kellemarine: I can't answer a few of them due to the story line I've picked cause it'll give it all away, and since this is a totally new plotline that isn't covered by the movies or the comics. BUT I can tell you, you were right about the Orthani thing. x) And you'll find out about Odin's decision real quick in the first chapter of the sequel.

Captain Cynthia: =D I don't mean to torture you with this, sorry x)