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[Pandora]
There were no words that could describe the breath-taking view that was at his disposal. Every word that festered into his mind, seemed like a sublime adjective that could do no justice.
He could just about remember the time he visited Pandora as a child. It was on a vacation, fostered by his mother and father where he would learn and practice his seidr.
Back then, Pandora was like his own private garden. It was like Asgard, but more. Continents and oceans on the surface, and hidden caverns and treasures beneath the quaking seas.
Yup, he mused silently. A part of him was rather happy that he was back here.
So… Loki, the prodigal son has returned.
“Eywa,” Loki answered. He didn’t see her, but he didn’t need too. He knew, that Eywa was a biological sentient, a force that could not be seen but could be heard.
You disappoint me child, she mused in a motherly tone.
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” he answered. The marble texture of the sand intertwining between his toes was ticklish, but subtle. He was sure that if the warm ocean wasn’t quaking at his feet that he would have fallen over and giggled.
You said you would visit… I did not realise that would entail me waiting for over a thousand years, she continued in a childish manner.
“Rather childish… no?” he asked.
A mother is allowed to miss her child, is she not? questioned Eywa.
“I am no child,” he chorused. I’m a monster.
You know that I can hear your thoughts, do you not? she questioned.
“Obviously,” he commented grimly. “Father… no. Odin feels that this would help me see sense of the world. To accept myself… or something along the lines.”
The Jotun side, she mused.
“I take it… that you already knew?” he asked. His voice was a little coarser than he would have liked.
Yes… the moment you connected with me… with Pandora, I knew. Does that upset you? she mused gently.
He opened his mouth to respond but found himself quickly closing it. A moment had transpired before he sighed. “Of course, you did,” he answered in a hushed whisper tone.
And I still accepted you, she chimed. Once a child of Pandora… always a child of Pandora.
“A monster,” he iterated with a hardened gaze. His hand formed into a fist filled with sand. Raising his hand, and opening his fist, he watched as the sand discarded against the brushing winds thrashing from the oceanic breeze.
You are not, mused Eywa. And no… your family does not think such thoughts.
“Bah,” he grumbled. “That is a lie Eywa. They sent me here because there was no hope for me.”
Oh child, Eywa mused. She was not real, yet she could command nature itself. Within moments, a slinth which was commonly known as txumre’ in Na’vi, appeared at his side.
He did not move. Instead, he quaintly watched as the six-legged creature creeping towards him. He watched the slinth slowly opening his mouth as saliva dripped down the edges of its gaping maw.
“Charming,” he mumbled.
And then immediately, the ferocious looking beast purred like a cat as it fell to his side while rubbing its hardened plated armour against him.
“Is this necessary?” he asked as he reluctantly stroked the squirming slinth.
You look like you need a hug, Eywa mused.
“This is not hugging,” he responded rather abrasively as his cheeks flourished a shade of pink. “Anyway,” he muttered as he turned his gaze towards the brazing sun. “I know that fath- that Odin had spoken to you before I was sent here. For you to agree so readily… there must be a reason.”
Can it not be a coincidence? That I merely wanted to see my child? Eywa mused.
“Nothing is without purpose,” he mulled grimly. After all… that’s why you chose me, Odin. A stolen relic from the clutches of Jotunheim.
I won’t say I understand your father… but he is your father. One way or another, he raised you as his own, he bestowed upon you the title Prince… Prince of Asgard, a leading realm amongst the nine under the might of Odin. Bestowed with riches, wealth… access to things that the normal person couldn’t even begin to comprehend. He might have lost himself, but he is your father, Eywa mused.
“Is he my father?” he murmured silently.
[Flashback Begins]
A single night had passed since he had returned to Asgard with Odin. He expected chains, muzzles, and prison. He was pleasantly surprised that he none of those came to transpire.
He shook his head as he pressed the woven arch doors open.
Promptness was of a necessity when it came to being part of the royal family, and as such, Loki was never late when required. Yet, he was once more surprised when there was an assembly waiting for him.
“Hmm,” Loki mused as he walked forward. He could feel the prying eyes fixated on his every step. Yet, as he walked, he found that he did not care. “Who are they to judge me?” he ushered in such a quiet tone that no one could hear. Letting his seidr flow, his posture was straightened, and his chest was broad. His frown turned into something of a menace as he sauntered forward as the green and black cloak hovered and flickered against his aura.
“My son,” Odin ushered from his throne seat while Frigga had a hand clasped on Odin’s arm. “I trust you slept well.”
Rolling his eyes, he ignored the yearning need for affection. A part of him wanted to cry, but he refused. Such ill emotions had no place. At least, that’s how he believed it to be. “You have called, and I have answered…sire.”
“Such venomous hate creeps through you,” Odin answered with a slight nod. “You are free… are you not happy?”
“Freedom is but a quaint and somewhat loosely orchestrated term for… controlled,” he answered with a snarl. Immediately, he heard Thor’s gasp of breath. Turning to face him, he found him standing stoically while subtly shaking. Turning to face Odin once more, “let us not dillydally… you are not without purpose… so let us not waste any more daylight… speak your mind.”
Odin sighed and nodded. “The tesseract will send you to Pandora -”
“So, I am to be banished,” Loki retorted with a laugh. “Wonderful,” he added venomously.
“You are not banished,” Odin continued as he ignored Loki’s subtle jab. “You are angry… you are angry with us… you are angry with the world. When you were a wee thing, you enjoyed Pandora… it will do you well to take this opportunity… as a respite of sorts.”
“My anger is righteous,” Loki answered grimly.
“But it’s not healthy,” Frigga answered soothingly.
He opened his mouth to respond, but quickly found himself closing it. Knowing that his mother had spoken, it had affected him differently. Keeping his gaze firmly fixed on Odin, he continued, “and what of my crimes on Earth?”
“There is no crime,” Odin answered in a softer tone. “You saved them.”
“I brought war to them,” Loki iterated in an irate tone.
“One that you ended,” Odin responded.
“Through forced pretences,” he retorted in a ghastly manner. “We both know why I wanted the war on Earth.”
“The destruction of Asgard,” Odin murmured.
“Exactly,” Loki answered with a mechanical laughter.
“If we are being sincere… then we both should acknowledge that you are the God of Chaos… one way or another, not easily deterred. You lost because you wanted to,” Odin replied, as the tesseract in his arm activated. “it’s time.”
The portal swarmed into existence. He could feel a gentle breeze flickering against his long hair as he turned to face the arched portal.
He snarled in retort as he took a step forward.
“Loki,” Thor shouted.
“Yes?” Loki answered as his hand touched the portal.
“I will miss you brother,” Thor mulled silently.
“I’m not your brother, I’m not your anything,” murmured Loki as he walked through the portal.
[Flashback Ends]
Loki, Ewya murmured.
“Hmm,” Loki answered with a sigh as he stood up. Patting the dusty sand away, he gently kicked the seabed as his hair blew against the gust of wind. “Tell me… oh great Ewya… what have you tasked me with?” he asked with a mocking bow as he sent a wink towards the slinth.
Such a spirituous soul, aren’t you? Ewya mused. There’s a boy –
“Of course, there is,” Loki answered with a bemused chuckle. “Na’vi?”
Human, Ewya answered.
“Ugh,” Loki answered while rolling his eyes. “So boring… so tasteless.”
Born on Pandora, Ewya continued.
“Oh?” Loki mused. “That’s different.”
Quite… now cease with the interruptions, Ewya commanded as she ignored Loki’s subtle wince. He has no family… yet, he was born on Pandora, and knows of the Na’vi way.
Loki nodded slowly as more questions formed in the back of his mind.
I know… how? He was taught by my champion… but it seems, even those with destinies are bound to succumb to faults, Ewya churned.
Loki couldn’t help but shudder at Ewya. Something in her tone, and direction seemed to make him feel like she was talking to him.
Yet he wasn’t raised by my champion… you see, my champion was originally human… human turned Na’vi… extraordinary, I know… I was happy. Yet, such recent developments have left such a bitter taste in brewing wake, Ewya continued sadly. Jake Sully is his name. I think, at one point he attempted to raise Spider as his own… but along the way, he forgot his human side. Add his wife, Neytiri… she’s confused. She sees the human as the enemy.”
His eyes widened as he looked to the ground. “Raised by enemies? Yet not one of them?” he asked in a weakened tone.
So, you notice the parallel, Ewya hummed daintily. He is the spawn… of the man who attempted the first war… much like you, son of Laufey... much like you indeed.
His seidr was raw and tenacious as waves of green ebbed and flowed into his surroundings. His breathing was harsh, but under control as he focused on the vast ocean. “How old is the boy?” he asked in a possessive tone.
Sixteen, Ewya answered. I feel for him… he has no queue, so he cannot hear my pain… but you can… you did the impossible all those years ago and you were just a mere boy. I want you to save him… to nurture him… to guide him… so that he is accepted by Na’vi, so that he can connect to Pandora.
“Even the Na’vi would find me to be different. I look human… Hell, I don’t even use a mask to breathe… I’ll be seen as a virus, or an infection of the unknown,” murmured Loki as he rolled his shoulders while calling upon his seidr. “I presume… no killing?”
It would be preferred, mused Eywa silently.
“Naturally,” Loki answered as he knelt onto the ground. With his eyes closed, he placed his right hand into the water. “Tulkun,” he roared as his eyes opened. A wave of green shrouded his iris as he smiled.
In the distance, he could see a large sea-dwelling tulkun approaching him at high speeds while raising its head in and out of the water.
Impressive, Eywa mused.
“Naturally,” Loki sniggered as he began walking into the ocean. “oel ngati kameie,” he whispered as he came to touch the tulkan’s flipper.
He couldn’t help but smile as the tulkan lowered its flipper beneath the swarming ocean as it patiently waited for Loki to get on. Once he was on, the tulkan raised its flipper.
“What is the boy’s name?” Loki asked dryly as he used seidr to dry himself.
Spider… his name is Spider, Eywa mused. Be prepared though… the humans… and the Na’vi – the Metkayina Clan are about to start a war on the reefs in the Eastern Seas.
“Don’t worry,” Loki answered as he climbed upon the tulkan’s body. “My charming personality is exquisite.”
And suddenly, you have me worried, Eywa mused as she watched Loki resting against the tulkan’s horn.