"Maybe he's still there?" Fury offered, knowing full well it was weak.

She nodded, "Alright. Follow me." She got up and lead him through the pond and into the spirit sanctuary.

Several of the spirits came forth when she came through the pond all chattering and talking in various languages which sounds like nonsense to Fury.

Ceres spoke with them for a moment before turning back, "He went back through the portal to the city... apparently he made a deal with the dimensional witch..." Ceres said a little confused and worried.

"What's a dimension witch?" Fury demanded, "And what sort of deal?"

"She's a rumor in Japan, But she is known throughout the dimensions... She deals in granting wishes for a price. My guess is he wished for a way to escape. The bigger the wish the bigger the price tag. Since he doesn't have much at the moment, a small wish he could afford..."

"So chances are he doesn't have his magic back" Fury questioned. Loki without magic was apparently going to be hard enough to track down, but with... impossible.

"No, you have to price equal price for what you wish for... Otherwise the balance is offset. Getting his magic back would be too high a price to pay..."

She turned to him and bowed her head low, "It seems I am neither mature nor wise enough to be left to my own devices in this world. I'm putting myself back into your care, Director Fury. I trust you will have better judgement in what to do with me more than I would."

Fury offered her his hand, "How about we work on it together?" he offered, "evidently Shield didn't do everything right the first time after all."

She took his hand and nodded, "Alright."

"Good. Now let's get back" he pulled her to back to her feet. He wasn't exactly enjoying the tropical outfit that his clothes had turned into. It was hardly professional.

"I think floral looked rather nice on you Director." She teased lightly. She'd really changed since they'd last had to engage in conversation. Before she'd never admit to needing his guidance or admitting she needed his help. Regardless of the fact it had been Loki, she'd rather grown. Not much but enough that you could tell the difference.

Ceres lead him by through the portal, "So now what?" She asked, staring down at the stone path. "I'm not going back to the school..."

"Not another word... to anyone" he advised as they returned. "We need to track him down. Do you have any idea where he may have run off to?"

She nodded, "...I'm not sure. He wanted to help unite the world. Since he was going to be stuck here for awhile, he didn't want us to mess up the world anymore than human kind had already done... He took my laptop and my soul diary with him..."

"Your soul diary?" Fury looked at her, "How did he get a hold of that?"

She rubbed the back of her head, "He was interested in Spirits and since the libraries are off limits... I showed him the entries I done on them, throughout my life times... Stuff happened and then Coleson asked to see me... I just forgot to put it back."

"That is not good" Fury frowned, now heading back to the ship.

Ceres followed him back onto the ship without another word on the matter. She felt terrible and frankly just wanted to find a small corner or closet to hid in for now.

Coulson was there to meet them, he didn't look too happy at the lack of a third party, "He's gone, isn't he?"

"Completely" Fury confirmed, "I want the eyes of every Shield operative wide open. Anything that smells even remotely like Loki, we take it. Any place with magic that Ceres has ever visited needs round the clock surveillance." he turned to Ceres, "Is there anywhere, anywhere at all where he could stand a chance to get his magic back?"

"...." She gripped her other hand tightly, "Yes....from me." She said not looking up at them, "It won't be his magic but the process would give him some power..."

"From the bond?" Coulson asked, he hadn't exactly experienced magical powers since he and Polly had gotten together-although as he thought about it that first night had been... spectacular in many ways.

She nodded, blushing slightly, still not looking at either of them. "It varies from person to person. Because you don't have magical powers, you were affected differently from the bond. Perhaps having more energy or quicker reflexes...But with Loki, it would give him maybe not all of it but he would be able to use magic again...

But I don't know if he would want to bond... He...he already had a chance." She said the last part very quietly

"Ceres" Horatio spoke before anyone else had a chance to comment on the subject, "May we speak?"

Ceres looked up, almost surprised he was there, "Yes of course. Excuse me, gentlemen." She really didn't want to talk about the subject anymore than she had to. She walked over to him, "Horatio. What's up?" She asked, trying to sound cheerful.

They walked to another part of the ship and Horatio gave her a look, "You know, when people are lying they are used to hiding it in their faces, however when it comes their voices, it's as though they are trying too hard and it only amplifies what they really think or feel." he found a place to sit, "Do me a favor and do not disguise your voice for my benefit. It only causes more concern"

"Sorry." She sat down beside him, "Force of habit."

"Not with me, it shouldn't be" he insisted still, then sighed, "I must apologize. You and the others risked a lot for me... time and again in fact and I haven't even thanked you for it"