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Loki sat on his throne, like always, and watched. This was the only entertainment he got these days and only this, and the knowledge that he was keeping everyone and his friends save, kept him from going insane from boredom and loneliness.
Time was strange here, stranger even than in the TVA. The passage of time was fluctuating and not even he could determine how much time has passed since he left. He just knew he couldn't age and time was now irrelevant to him. He could look in timelines at any time to watch his friends and family, or just sometimes variants of them. When he felt brave he also looked at the lives of his own variants, other than Sylvie of course. At what felt like the start of his guardianship as the God of Stories, he watched Mobius.
Loki would say that Mobius was his dearest friend that he's made. Sure, at the start he had been a menace and really kind of mean but over the course of their collaboration and then friendship, he realized that what Mobius had said helped him to become a better person. Mobius helped him, joked with him and indulged his antics when others so rarely did before. Mobius knew about all the horrible things he'd done but still never gave up hope on him.
Mobius was someone Loki could rely on and trust, something he could never really bring himself to do before. Because Mobius gave him a chance, he lived and could experience centuries with new friends and a sister that he never thought he'd find.
The feelings he felt for Sylvie were confusing for a while. At some point he thought he loved her before he realized he really loved her, but in a different sense. Their relationship was rocky, built first on trust issues and reluctant acknowledgement that they needed it other to trust, familarity and seeing each other to manipulation, betrayal and hurt to then reluctant family. More on Sylvies side, if he were to tell you, which he was. Sylvie was the last one who encouraged him to choose what he did. For them all.
B-15 at the start was harsh but when that exterior crumpled away, a kind soul lay underneath. She was strong and now a new leader of the TVA to protect the new Multiverse. When she came to the realization that all she knew was fake and the TVA was not as good as she always was made to believe it was, she helped him and Sylvie to fight for what she thought was right. Loki will always be grateful for her.
Then there was Casey. The awkward but smart analyst was one of the first people he met and who never looked at Loki in disgust. He was fast to convince that the TVA was not what it seemed to be and who helped Loki on more than once. If it be a reluctantly given up juice, helping him find Mobius without question or helping him to learn about mechanics, physics and engineering. He had not been a big part of Loki's life, Loki knew this adventure would have been missing something.
And finally, Ouroboros. He met Ouroboros at a time in his life where he felt the end was near. He was hurting and afraid, but O.B. had the solution to at least help him remain by the side of his friends. O.B. was such an energetic, smart and endearing person that you just had to love him. He, Casey and Victor Timely accompanied him through his many centuries of learning and especially O.B. had a patience that helped Loki immensely. Those study sessions with the occasional pie would always remain in his memory and heart.
Watching Mobius was not always possible. Loki had watched him when he first came to his timeline and let the time pass. For a few months Mobius would remain there and expierence what he never could before. Loki smiled with joy when Mobius first rode a Jetski and got scared with him when he watched his first horror movie. After a while though, Mobius returned to the TVA. It was more difficult to see what was happening in the TVA since it lay outside the Multiverse but still, it was possible, even though that required more energy from him, which he couldn't always spare.
He sometimes watched Sylvie on her timeline but not for long, he was sure she wouldn't appreaciate it as much as Mobius would.
Checking in on his friends was now the highlight of his life, as sad as that must sound, and everytime he would see them mourn him, guilt would plague him. He left soon after seeing such vulnerable moments; after all, he was a coward. Those were the moments where he was afraid that the pressure of loneliness would finally overwhelm him. But sometimes when he felt brave, he would send them a little gust of wind or move clouds from the sky to let the sun shine on them whenever they were in a timeline; gestures that were meant to comfort.
Whenever the loneliness became too much, the aquaintances he had made since becoming the God of Stories kept him company. After he had made his Yggdrasil, he needed to keep the branches in check, which could be difficult in an ever expanding Multiverse. Those aquaintances made that job easier.
He tried to avoid letting incursions happen or to let other timelines simply die, but sometimes there was only one timeline he could save while letting some others die of old age or other causes. That was the natural course of life, after all. But destroying those timelines was exhausting, physically and mentally. The perfect opportunity to let the remaining and younger timelines thrive without causing the tree and him too much harm, arose in Alioth.
Not the Alioth from the Void, but an Alioth from a destroyed timeline, who Loki brought to the end of time, to him. He controlled Alioth at first with his seidr, but after a while that became unnecessary. Alioth became peaceful and his natural hunger for time made him a perfect pet of a sort. Now, Alioth would devour every timeline that was sure to die, preventing many incursions and allowing him to live a happy little life of fulfillment. When he had nothing to do, Alioth would often come to him where Loki would make him smaller to that he could pet him and call him a good boy. Alioth's answering happiness filled his lonely heart with warmth.
After Alioth came Ratatoskr, or a squirrel that Loki named Ratatoskr after the one every normal Yggdrasil had. Loki hadn't brought Ratatoskr here, but he came on his own. It was not a normal squirrel because no normal being could survive the harsh environment the end of time brought with it. It can't talk but a sharp intelligence was reflected in its eyes.
Loki and Ratatoskr became friends, kind of, where Loki would talk to him about anything and everything. But that wasn't the only reason Ratatoskr was here. He climed through the branches of Yggdrasil to relieve Loki of some of his duties as the guardian of the Multiverse. He brought information from timelines that would help him remove Yggdrasil of any threat. Not always, though. Sometimes Ratatoskr would bring him news that he thought would interest Loki, and although Loki was aware of every timeline and what roughly happened in them at any time, the help was appreaciated. It meant Loki didn't have to worry too much about the continued existence of Yggdrasil.
This day - or whatever it was at the end of time - brought Alioth to him, wanting scitches and pets. Touching him was of no risk, because what was a time consuming entity to a god who could control time? Just as Alioth 'rolled' on his back to recieve belly pets, Ratatoskr came squeaking to him from the branches above.
Through a telepathic link, Loki recieved the peculiar news. Whole timelines, advanced and who Loki knew were aware of the Multiverse's existence, were in commotion. Reviewing their designated numbers, Loki decided to investigate.
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_Timeline 1856_
This would be history. At least, that's what Tallulah thought. She was a young scientist in a universe they designated the number 1856 to. A decade ago her mom, also a scientist, and some of her colleagues discovered the form of the Multiverse. It had been the year 37352 on the planet Ioh, her home. The discovery had been shared with other universes they had built a friendly relationship with, the universes 1538 and 234.
Five years later, they discovered the source of a power that kept the Multiverse alive and thriving, kept them thriving. Tallulah helped discover it with her mom when she was finishing her education. Not long after, they discovered that it was a being that powered all universes. After they shared their discovery with their universe and the others, the people were estatic. Many celebrated this being and prayed to them, thanking them for their existence that ensured theirs.
Their planet had not relinquished religion like others had, deeming it nonsense now that they were so advanced the existence of higher beings seemed ludicrous to them. But now there was proof that there was such an existence and some planets' only religion became the so called 'Multiversica'. The first statures were built when further research revealed the silouette of this being to them. Sitting, with two horns on their head.
Every planet had a slightly different stature that resembled their percieved image of their deity. Ioh too had many such statures and Tallulah was not ashamed to say she was a multiversica, every scientist in her and her mom's department was.
It took two years for the citizens of the universes and planets to finally get an offical day where they would sing and dance, drink and party and bring offering in name of their deity. Today was the first Yggsenna, as they called it.
Right now, Tallulah was walking torwards the stature and plaza where the celebration in her area would take place. Many knew her and thanked her for her discoveries and complemented her attire. The celebration didn't have any rules for the attire but it was commonly agreed upon to wear green and loafers. The loafers were something many statures had in common, for some reason. There was no proof of their deity wearing loafers but somehow that detail was really important for many multiversica.
The programm would entail a song their best musicans have written and which would be sung at the start. Everyone was welcomed to join in though. The main singer would be a little girl, the daughter of their current leader. A kind woman who was an ardent multiversica and who funded the builders which in turn built the statures.
After the song, they would dance and drink and overall just try to enjoy themselves, which was planned to take many hours. At around 10 in the evening, they would bring their offering. First the offical ones and after that everyone who wanted to give something to their deity would bring them small or big things to show their gratitude.
Tallulah had brought a seed with her, a rare apple seed from the planet Terra. She thought it would be a fitting gift for a god who lived inside a tree full of possibilities.
Once Tallulah stepped onto the plaza she admired the handiwork of the decorators. Garlands and holographic images showed twisting vines and leaves, bringing a wide spectrum of green with them. Tables with food and drink stood around, surrounding a big area inteded for dancing. On the edges of the plaza were a few benches build up for anyone who wanted to make small conversations and rest a little.
At the front of the plaza was a podium where the choir and musicans would take their place. They'll use older instruments to honor the wisdom of their god, who was a very ancient being. After all, the Multiverse has existed for billions, if not trillion, of years. Tradition just felt more fitting than the more recent instruments from the past few centuries. Luckily, there were still people left who'd learned to play them.
There was a crowd gathering fast, standing shoulder to shoulder with exitement rippling through it. Wispers of the upcoming event and shouts from people who called to aquaintances or family and friends that they should join them. It was a little uncomfortable, but once the choir and musicans stepped into sight, applause rang. They bowed before the crowd before finding their place.
The first notes began to play and everyone became silent. The first few verses were sung by the girl alone, voice high and sweet, lilting through the song they had written and who almost everyone knew by heart now. Next year, they would sing a new song, making every year something special.
And as the girl finished her solo part and the music swelled, they all sang together.
A crowd all wishing rest for their god who guarded them but also pleading with him to hold on, to them and everyone else. The song was intended to comfort their deity, to make their hardship easier and encourage them to never loose hope.
Everyone swayed with the melody, the companionship found in their joined voices bringing comfort.
Tallulah closed her eyes and let the melody and emotions wash over her and then through her. As the song finished and she opened her eyes, she thought she saw a flash of green in the sky. She smiled. She had no idea if their deity could hear them, but she believed they could.
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_At the end of Time_
Loki listened as three timelines sang for him. Closing his eyes to better hear the song and to stem the tears from flowing. Never before had he been worshiped like this. He had been a forgotten and hated god, before. That now, he had whole universes praying to him filled him with joy and an unexplainable melancholy, making his chest feel tighter and ready to burst.
He clawed at his chest, trying to control his emotions.
When the song finished and he finally opened his eyes, a gasp escaped him along with a little bit of his magic that flowed through the timelines.
Loki watched everyone applause and dance to the new music that played now for a more jolly atmosphere that made dancing easier. He watched them twirl around each other, no rythm and laughing together. Some took a seat to eat and drink, watching the crowd have their fun. Friends and family came together to celebrate and some making friends out of strangers on the dance floor or on their little benders.
Loki had to let the tears flow now, happiness for them and loneliness, at him not having his friends and family, flowing through his body.
Alioth still at his feet looked curiously up at him, wondering why the scratching and petting had stopped. Ratatoskr, more intelligent, hopped into his lap, chittering encouragingly. He put both his hands wrapped in timelines on their heads, stroking to reassure them he was okay. And as time moved, in which ever direction in which ever speed, the time of offerings came.
The participants of the festivities quieted down as the main offerings were brought forwards. Three from each city in each timeline. It had to be thousand of them. Most of them had an offering of food and drink, then there was one of little trinkets, some simple handcrafted bowls and some golden amulets with emerald green stones. The third one was not physical, rather it was a collection of every prayer that had been prayed in his name.
To collect something intangible was a marvel of technological advancement that was made by the help of magic. You could collect the sigh of the wind or the song of the sea in a bag, if you so wished. Now, it had been used to gather all prayer for Loki.
He felt power surge through him, inconsequential to a being of his power but still rejuvenating. He let out a shuddery sigh, letting the air out to gather himself, again.
As the offerings were brandished, so came forward a few people who themselves had their own personal offerings to give. Toys, food, drinks, fabrics, even some jewels and some plants were the main gifts. Some others were more peculiar. A cat's skull, an apple seed and the snores of a new born baby were some examples. Loki had to laugh at the last one.
When everyone was finished with their part, they retreated. Some were on their way home, having children who were up for too long and needed to be put to bed.
Loki didn't want the gifts to go to waste, though. So he did the only thing he could think of in a hurry. He took the offerings and put them in his pocket dimension for later use or maybe give some trinkets to some people in need in the timelines. He would like to give Mobius and the others something, but later.
He made sure to let them know the gifts were taken by their intended target by projecting some illusions of his silouette bowing before exploding into fireworks. He heard the gasps and exited exclamations all over the cities in the three timelines. After some confused blinks and curious head tilts they recovered from the shock and cheered, elation painted on their faces. Loki recieved some prayers again. How he hadn't noticed them before escaped him. Maybe he had been too distracted with other matters.
Loki smiled and conjured some grapes and nuts to eat from his now much more filled pocket dimension. Happily, he bit down, letting the juices flow down his chin and handed the nuts to Ratatoskr. Alioth didn't eat anything other than time, so he got nothing. That didn't stop him from begging though.
He hadn't eaten in so long that he moaned, his muscles relaxing immediately at the familiar comfort. Now he would have enough food to last a whole planet for years. And some pie was in there too. The perfect gift for Mobius.
He kicked his feet, the happiest he had been in a long time, knowing that there were people out there aside from his friends, who appreaciated him for what he did and will forever do.