Nu
The battle against the RDA was done and dusted. Frankly, it was a memory lost to the winds. While the RDA had impressive fire power, it was nothing compared to the might of Asgard’s Einherjar.
The battle waned for moments at most.
However, the hardest part began now, and Loki verily disliked it as he walked towards Spider who was seated on a sullen, murky rock facing the ocean that surrounded Metkayina’s island.
“It’s over,” Spider said sullenly.
“It is,” Loki answered with a subtle nod.
“You’re leaving,” Spider said.
It wasn’t phrased as a question, but as a statement which Loki noticed immediately. “I am,” he said weakly.
“I figured,” Spider answered as he turned around to face Loki, to meet him with a smile and welling tears. “I won’t see you again… will I?”
“Is that your concern?” Loki asked with a bemused smile as he stepped forward. He was still in his Jotun form and subsequently, was taller as he knelt with one hand on Spider’s shoulder. “You don’t know this… but I made it clear to Jake and Neytiri, that you are my ward. Do you know what that means?”
Spider shook his head weakly.
“It means that you are under my protection. If you require it… it will be given, and is at your disposal,” Loki answered.
His piercing green eyes sparkled against the glistening gaze of the brewing sunset. Something within churned as Spider’s heartbeat fastened as a wave of gratitude washed over him.
“Promise?” Spider asked.
“Yes,” Loki answered with a smile.
“And that means, I will protect you as well,” Thor chimed in as he walked towards Loki and Spider, with Jake Sully, Neytiri, Kiri, Tuk, Neteyam and Lo’ak.
“Thor,” Loki admonished while Spider just laughed.
Thor smiled. “Preparations are done,” he continued as he eyed his brother and Spider. “The others have already gone back… It’s just us.”
“It’s time,” Loki deduced as he eyed Spider with a short, but saddened smile.
“I’m ready,” Spider murmured while beaming with the widest smile he could muster.
“Indeed,” Loki answered as he stepped away from Spider and followed Thor who was walking towards a clearing.
“Thank you, Loki,” Tuk chimed. It was a random outburst, and while Thor looked confused, Loki just smiled.
“Oh?” he asked as he eyed the little avatar. “Whatever for?”
“For bringing Spider back,” she said with a grin as she grabbed Spider affectionately.
“You best keep your brother on your toes,” Loki said with a short smile while Thor sniggered at the remark.
“Hey,” Spider chimed while Jake, Neytiri, Kiri, Lo’ak and Neteyam just laughed.
“We will be having words, dear brother,” Loki murmured softly as Thor gulped. “Heimdall, we are ready.”
“Bye, Loki,” Spider whispered as the world around him was filled with streams of colours that very much represented a rainbow.
Almost immediately, Thor and Loki had vanished.
“Come Spider,” Neytiri murmured as she walked towards him. “Let us go home.”
Home, he mused softly as he eyed the ocean.
It seemed surreal, like it was a dream.
But then, within moments, he knew it wasn’t.
He wasn’t there, but his voice echoed.
“Take care, little Spider,” Loki’s voice murmured against the ocean breeze.
Spider smiled. “Yes,” he said as he faced Neytiri with a smile.
*
[Asgard]
Gungnir.
Forged and made by Uru, it served as a symbol of Asgardian kingship.
Gungnir pulsed vibrantly as Odin placed it on the ground. A shallow, yet effective shockwave flickered into existence as the public was forced into silence. Satisfied with the result at hand, his gaze found his golden staff once more.
The irony did not escape his notice. This was the weapon crafted by dwarves and was the very weapon used to succumb the nine realms as one but it now served a different purpose.
His eternal past had shortfalls. Yet, precautions had been made since Loki’s return. He stepped down the dais ever so cautiously as he eyed his surroundings before coming to a halt halfway down.
On his left-hand side, he could see Surtur’s towering body looming ever so quaintly as he stood by Sindr representing Muspelheim. A few steps away from them, Eitri and Holgroda, dwarfs and representatives of Nidavellir stood side by side. Further away, Aelsa Featherwine and her advisor stood, Senator Milkmane, representatives of Alfheim stood side by side.
Finally, there was Farbauti. She had come alone, yet she commanded an ever-growing presence that sickened those around her with fear.
“I am sure,” he started. His voice was harsh and loud as his vocals bounced from the four corners of the hall so that everyone could hear him, “that there are many here… who have heard whispers and tell tales.”
Walking to the side with Gungnir in hand, he continued, “Today… those stories will come to an end,” he continued with a sigh before coming to a halt to face the people. “Many moons ago, we lost the second prince of Asgard. Fallen, into the abyss of nothingness. We assumed… that he was stolen from us that night. On the presumption… that one cannot survive falling into a void. Let alone, surviving in space in such a manner.”
Grimace and empty hollowness filled his entirety as the obvious truth came to light. I didn’t look hard enough, he mused silently. “Yet… that wasn’t the case. By the Norm’s graces, Loki has returned to us well and whole.”
Almost, immediately, cheers and clapping flickered throughout the hall. He closed his eyes as he called upon his seidr. He could tell that while there were many that applauded for gratitude and yearning, there were the few who clapped light-heartedly, filled with nothing but despair and rage.
His thoughts had distracted him, and he did not see that Farbauti had walked up the dais with a small, parched letter at hand. The silence was forthcoming as he nodded towards the soldiers to let her pass.
“Queen Farbauti,” Odin proclaimed in a quieter voice, so no one else could hear. “Is everything okay?” he enquired formally as his glances lingered ever so daintily as he watched the sovereign Queen’s eyes.
“King Odin,” Farbauti bemused with a short curtsy. “This is for you… I feel this is more than appropriate for what is coming up.”
Ever so dazed, before he could even open the parchment, Farbauti had already started walking away back to her seated position at the bottom of the dais. Returning his attention to the parchment at hand.
He let it roll open.
Immediately, his mouth was slightly ajar as shock and surprise coursed through his body before letting his lips curl upward.
Jotunheim formally declares that Loki is still regarded as a Prince of Jotunheim.
Turning to the people once more and standing a little taller, he bellowed, “Prince Loki of Asgard… and Jotunheim.”
Immediately, a chortling roar of applauses and shouts filled the entire room.
-
The cue was set. It was time for him to push the doors ajar and claim the recognition he deserved. Yet, something held him back.
“Brother,” Thor mustered from his sides.
Turning his head to face his brother, “Yes?”
“You’re thinking about Spider?” Thor deduced.
“Yes,” Loki answered.
“Brother?” Thor mused once more from his side.
“What is it Thor?” Loki seethed.
“Nervous?” he responded with a smile.
“Never,” Loki abhorrently denied. To prove his point, his arm reached the handle as he readied himself to push the doors open.
“The last time we were here,” Thor started. He watched curiously as Loki slowly removed his hands from the door’s handle. Satisfied that he had his brother’s attention he continued, “the last time we were here. It was for my coronation… Do you remember, brother?”
“Aiie,” Loki answered as he turned to face his brother once more.
“Good,” Thor hummed with a short smile. “I never did apologise, did I?” he asked idly.
“Apologise?” Loki queried. His eyebrow raised as confusion streaked upon his features. “What are you talking about Thor?” he added hastily.
“Some do battles, others just do tricks,” Thor said meekly. Yet, his stoic gaze never wavered as he looked upon Loki. “I am sorry, brother,” Thor said, adding ever so silently. Yet, filled with compassion and bravado.
He conked his head to the side as he watched Thor diligently. “Who are you… and what have you done with my brother?” Loki asked curiously as he let the corner of his lip curl in an upward direction.
Thor chortled in response. “He was a little lost, but he is here now,” he continued. “For now, and forever,” he continued while pressing his fist gently against Loki’s chest.
Loki nodded his head as he turned to face the door. Show time, he mused as he stepped forward pushing the doors wide open. Shrouded in his favourite green, he marched against the masses with Thor a few steps behind him.
He could feel the prying eyes being drawn to him. It was like they were prying into his soul. He refused to be seen as weak.
His march was strong as he called upon his seidr to do his bidding. Emitting raw power into his surroundings he walked with an aura that captivated the audience.
He watched quaintly as Tyr was the first to appear within his peripheral vision.
He watched Tyr’s hand going across his body while also leaning forward. Loki’s eyes widened, when he realised that the old lord was showing him respect – respect, that is usually reserved for the King.
Immediately, the other lords and ladies that were at Tyr’s side followed suit.
His lips curled upward as he smiled and nodded as a sign of cordial respect.
As he carried on walking, in the corner of his eye, he could see Sif and the Warriors Three shrouded within the masses perched in the middle of the audience. His piercing glances lingered as he slowed the pace. Rage consumed his mind as painful memories flourished into existence. Yet, amongst his ever-growing stubbornness, he could see the pained sorrow intertwined within their strained eyes.
He shrugged his shoulders as he let a sigh loose. Maybe Sif is right, he mused as he remembered her prying words of how she made a mistake.
Redemption… and forgiveness, Loki mused. The mere thought made him feel disturbed as he pressed on. Smiling and waving, he walked down the centre aisle as he passed the masses of people. He had reached the foot of the dais when he saw the other realm representatives.
Queen Aelsa was the first to acknowledge him as she formally curtsied as a sign of respect.
Loki nodded in return. Wretched conniving woman, he mused as he recalled their one encounter.
Next, he could see Eitri and his wife. Tall, mighty, and brutish. The irony of being called a dwarf did not stop Loki from sniggering. Realising the predicament he was in, he stifled the snigger short and smiled in retrospect.
He watched as Eitri, and his wife returned the smiles by bowing and curtseying, respectively.
Then there was Surtur. He was no friend and that was evidently clear amongst the nine realms. Loki knew the being too well as he watched Surtur bow in a pained expression of great discomfort. Loki idly shifted his view as he watched Cinder, Surtur’s daughter following suit as she curtsied.
This was the price of politics, Loki surmised as he smiled and nodded curtly as every fibre in his body wanted to scorn the wretched being.
Turning to his side, he was surprised to see Farbauti walking towards him.
“Even in the form of an Asgardian, you show signs of the Jotun within you,” her voice chorused as she stepped towards him.
Startled, he winced ever so quaintly as he watched the ever so towering woman staring down at him. “I guess that’s a compliment,” Loki stammered as he called upon his aura. Looking to the side, he could see guards getting ready. He shook his head and watched diligently as they returned to their fixed positions. “Queen Farbauti,” Loki said with a smile as he turned his attention to her. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” he added as he bowed.
“Likewise,” she said with a smirk as she curtsied. “I’ve never been one for… such glamorous events,” she continued as her eyes peered over the hall. She watched in delight as shock and surprise filtered through the crowds.
“Yet, you have appeared today,” Loki said bashfully as he allowed himself to return a smirk. In the back of his mind, he could picture Thor shouting at him.
Bemused, she let a bellowing laugh loose. “For one so young, the cheek is rifling,” she said soft-heartedly. “It’s only befitting… that I should meet the boy that toppled Laufey from Jotunheim’s crown seat.”
The sudden drop in temperature was evident as he ruffled against the bellowing winds as his seidr, and aura deepened. In the corner of his eye, he could see that Thor readied himself in case he was needed.
Yet, something was oddly off for Loki. Would you truly come here… with no one at your side… just to die? He wondered.
No, he mused in realisation as laughter filled the awkward empty space.
“Oh?” Farbauti asked as she curiously watched Loki. “Caught on, haven’t you, boy,” she added with a small smirk. “That was Laufey’s mistake… thinking he knew better.”
In that moment, he deduced that there was no ill intent. Instead, he simply just stared at the woman that birthed him.
“When the dust has settled, come visit Jotunheim,” she said with a small smile. “There is much to learn,” she added as an afterthought.
“Jotunheim?” Loki asked. The words came out before he could process what he was asking.
“It is your birthright to know where you are from… and to learn who you really are,” Farbauti answered as she turned away.
Loki stood still as he watched the Queen of Jotunheim lazily walk away to her seat.
“Brother,” queered Thor.
His piercing gaze never ceased. A choice flickered into existence. The people knew he was, yet, apart from the Einherjar they did not see who he was, and suddenly everything he had learned from Eywa made sense. “Oel ngati kameie,” he whispered.
What is life without Chaos, he mused with a brewing snigger.
It was blinding as dull darkened blue smothered into existence from beneath his skin. He could hear gasps of shocks, surprise and tremors flourishing throughout the hall. Letting his eyelids open, his rubescent eyes flashed against his jade iris as the two intertwined seductively.
Turning to face the dais, he stepped forward.
With every step up the dais, power hummed into existence. His aura flickered through the four corners of the hall as everyone in there was left marvelling at the power that was rumoured to be bestowed upon him.
He no longer looked to the public. Instead, focused on the highest spot where his father and mother were waiting. He saw the smiles and knew that they were grateful that he had returned.
He nodded as memories of his time with Thanos flickered through his mind.
The last time he was surrounded by the masses in such a comparable situation was in the sanctuary with the mind stone staff. A memory, long ago. Yet, not forgotten.
Yes, he muses.
Suddenly, his thoughts are drowned out as loud vocalists take charge.
“Prince Loki,” they chant as he walks up the dais.
Fused with applause, whistles, and recognition, he cannot help the brewing smirk that flickers into existence. He turns and comes to an abrupt stop as he faces the audience.
He can see it, even though he’s not facing them. His father practically scowls that he has broken protocol by not reaching the highest pedestal, his mother hiding her snigger as she finds this outburst comically disturbing and then there’s his brother, looking all sorts of confused as he too abruptly stops at Loki’s side.
“I’m home,” he says with a bemused giggle as everything covered in gold turns silver and green.
“Loki,” Odin screams.
“Oops,” Loki responds as the public’s cheers, applauses and whistling get louder.