^^^
I don't usually put songs in chapters, but if this fan fiction was a movie, I would definitely want it in the last scene! I highly recommend listening to it before or after you read the chapter. You won't be disappointed!

Before we begin this final chapter, I would like to take a moment to thank those of you that have put up with my sucky writing and have taken the time to comment and give your feedback on my chapters. You encourage me to write and I honestly don't think I could have pulled off 27 chapters in 3 weeks without your help.

Thank you so much!
***
"So maybe you were expecting a happy ending. You probably wanted Dr. Pamela to be lying in a grave by now, and maybe you didn't expect Kat to lose her freedom. The truth is, H.O.P.E. is still out there fighting for control over my teammates and a planet that I now consider to be under my protection. I'm still dealing with real threats every day, but with the help of my fellow Avengers, we're neutralizing those threats and fighting to bring peace to our world.

A long time ago, I would have openly admitted that the people I call friends now, were my greatest enemies, and that I'd kill them in a heartbeat. If you asked, I might have told you exactly how much I hated the Avengers and the people of Midgard. But now I know that the people on this big blue planet are no different than the ones I grew up surrounded by. Midgardians and asgardians are one in the same. Sure, I may claim that the midgardians are far less advanced than people of Asgard, but at the end of the day, they're still people. People who love, people who hate, people who show compassion and kindness when needed, but also know how to stand up for what they believe. In a way, I've grown to admire them for that.

I've made my share of mistakes, just like everyone else on my team, but I'd like to think that we have all learned from them and put our pasts behind us.

We all have flaws. Whether they're physical, mental, or emotional.

But we don't let our flaws define us.

Tony has PTSD.

Clint is almost completely deaf.

Natasha has red on her ledger.

Bruce has breathtaking anger management issues.

Steve still hasn't let go of his past.

Sigyn always seems to walk away from her problems.

Wanda's loss of her brother had hardened her into something that she has to fight to overcome.

Brunnhilde has a drinking problem.

Thor is still constantly blinded by his refusal to accept that sometimes, family doesn't come from those related to you in blood, and that those you claim to love can betray you.

And I, Loki, your father, seem to be the one with the most noticeable flaws. I'm an arrogant, snarky bastard that attempted to subjugate an entire race. Maybe I'm too stubborn for my own good, and there's a good chance that I'm not mentally stable.

Despite all of this, we still make a hell of a team that always has each other's backs. We're there for each other, and I promise I will be there for you as you grow into an incredible young man.

Your mother and I decided that this recording will not be shown to you until you turn 16. We hope that by then, you will be able to understand everything that we've done to protect you and the rest of the people that walk this wonderful Earth.

I love you, Åsmund. Never forget that.

I would do anything for you, which is why I've set this plan in place.

You will train to become more of a hero than any of us ever could be. You will rise with a new era.

We're calling them:

The Young Avengers."

Loki pressed the red button on the side of the camera in front of him to stop recording. He set the camera back into its case and returned it to the shelf it had been collecting dust on in Tony's lab.

The god of mischief left the lab and found Thor waiting for him in the hall.

"Are you ready?"

He nodded.

"Of course. It's time that Asgard sees the light in the darkness."

"And you will become that light."

"I will try."
***
Loki stood in full armor in front of the crowd of asgardians. His helmet glistened in the sunlight streaming down on him through the trees. He gazed out at the half-built palace in front of him, the gold courtesy of Stark Industries. Birds chirped in trees as men, women, and children clustered together on the lush green grass, gazing up at the man on the makeshift stage. Loki couldn't help but smile as he admired the new Asgard. Sure, it was nowhere near the size of the original, but it stood proud against the mountain filled landscape, shrouded from Midgard by magic. It would become a glistening gem when it was restored to its new beauty, and it would give its people new hope, long awaited safety, and a fresh start.

Thor stood next to Loki on the platform, waiting for his brother to speak. The younger of the two brothers smiled and faced the crowd.

"People of Asgard! We have suffered much over this past year. We have lost great warriors, friends, and family members. But today I ask you to take a look around you! Revel in the magnificence of our new kingdom! We will build a new world together. We can have a new beginning, while keeping with us some of the traditions of our ancestors. It is true that the old Asgard is dead, but we have risen from the ashes like a Phoenix, our fire burning bright for all to see. You are the future of Asgard, and it's time that we come together to protect those closest to us from dangers unknown while never forgetting the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives to bring us to where we are today.

Welcome to a new era! We will fight for this kingdom and the people within it!

No matter what evils come our way, I have no doubt that we will triumph over them if we come together as one.

When Asgard bands together, we become unstoppable. This is the one thing that we can always fall back on. One thing that we always are.

What are we, Asgard?!"

The people looked up at Loki with something in their eyes that hadn't been there for a long time.

Hope.

"What are we?!" Loki shouted again, scanning over the crowd with pride.

Asgard answered with one strong, collective voice.

"United!"