Infinite Evolution in the Marvel universe

Loki was surprised by his father's heartfelt words. It felt like Odin and Frigga had been watching him all along.

This subtle validation lightened Loki's heart, bringing him some of the recognition he sought. Although it didn't fully satisfy him, it eased his inner conflict quite a bit.

"Alright, if it's possible, I'll find a way to lend Thor a hand."

Loki looked at his aging father, now gray-haired and visibly worn. In the end, he nodded.

It seemed like Odin's words to him weren't just fatherly advice but something closer to a final request.

By right, if the throne went to Thor, Odin and Frigga could withdraw and rest.

Even if Thor didn't need his help, as long as he had Odin and Frigga's support, Asgard would remain strong.

Yet, Odin's words felt ominous, like a signal of darker things to come.

Still, Loki kept these thoughts to himself. The possibility that someone as powerful as Odin, the Allfather, could perish was too terrifying to entertain.

"Good. With you two working together, I can rest easy," Odin said with a warm smile after hearing Loki's agreement.

Thor had the strength to lead, and Loki had the wisdom. If the two of them could cooperate, then even if Asgard itself fell, as long as they survived, Asgard would live somewhere else.

A legacy needs more than people to endure—it needs a purpose, a shared belief. As long as that belief lives on, so does Asgard.

Meanwhile, Thor was walking down a corridor, looking for Tony and Banner, who were lounging contentedly after a grand feast.

"My father said he's willing to let you borrow the Aether," Thor said as soon as he spotted them.

"Really?" Banner looked shocked.

"I didn't think Odin would be so generous," Tony added, clearly surprised.

"Didn't you both want to study the Aether?" Thor asked, noticing their reactions.

"To be honest, we did. But after some discussion, we agreed it probably wouldn't happen," Banner said. "Loki explained that the Aether is a treasure, probably on par with the Tesseract, embodying a kind of mysterious power."

"Normally, even if it's unused, people wouldn't just lend out something that valuable."

"We were prepared to accept it if your father turned us down," Banner added.

"I was just putting myself in Odin's place," Tony said. "The Aether is probably as valuable to him as my Arc Reactor technology is to me."

"If someone asked me for the core schematics of my Arc Reactor, I wouldn't lend it out either," he continued. "At most, I'd give them an armor suit in thanks, but not the core."

"I didn't expect Odin to be so generous, though."

"Or maybe," Banner interjected, "the Aether just doesn't mean as much to him as your reactor does to you."

"I know my Arc Reactor doesn't compare to the Aether, but if you can't say anything helpful, maybe say nothing at all," Tony retorted, giving Banner a sidelong glance.

"I'm surprised too. My father has never been this generous before," Thor admitted with a grin after seeing their reactions.

"How long did he say we could keep it?" Banner asked, noting Thor's smile.

"I didn't ask," Thor replied, momentarily caught off guard.

"Odin rules all Nine Realms. Lending the Aether to us is just a matter of relocating it to Earth," Tony noted. "He could retrieve it anytime he wanted."

Tony's comment, actually something Harvey had once mentioned to him, triggered an "Aha" moment for Banner and Thor. "Makes sense," they murmured.

"So, the Aether is yours to safeguard," Thor said, taking out the ruby-red gem formed by the Aether and handing it to Tony. "Don't lose it."

"Relax. If I lose it, it won't be the Aether that's lost," Tony replied, smiling. "Mastering this could give Earth a technological edge over other civilizations."

"Are we even capable of studying it?" Banner asked, still a bit apprehensive. The Aether's powers seemed borderline mystical.

Banner didn't want to waste time on something that might ultimately yield no results.

Despite Malekith's low combat abilities, he was a master of the Aether's power.

"For now, let's just keep it safe. Our top priority is still developing the thrusters," Tony replied, unconcerned. "Let's get Earth its first real spacecraft. Once we have time, we can dive into studying the Aether."

"Besides, we're not stuck with just a few decades anymore," he added, his eyes gleaming.

The Aether could unlock a wealth of potential, but Tony's focus was firmly on ushering Earth into a new cosmic era.

Once humanity reached the stars, they'd have a stronger foothold. With the extended lifespans they'd gained through the Void, Tony could afford to take his time with the Aether, as long as it wasn't lost.

"Good point," Banner agreed.

"Thor, could you take us back to Earth?" Tony turned to him. "We thought we'd be here longer, but Malekith's swift defeat surprised us."

"With that resolved, it's time to head back."

"You're leaving already?" Thor said, a bit embarrassed. "Loki and I didn't even get a chance to properly host you."

"Asgard just went through a big battle. You have plenty of problems to handle," Tony reasoned. "We'd only distract you from cleaning up faster."

"When you're free, feel free to drop by Earth and hang out with us."

"Alright, I'll have Heimdall send you back," Thor agreed.