Prologue
Thor's hammer struck hard against the sceptre grasped in her brother's hands. Loki thrust back sending Thor stumbling back down the Bifrost. The weight of the battle lay heavy in Thor's arms as she clenched her teeth and raised her hammer to block another one of Loki's relentless strikes. The battle on Midgard was still fresh in her mind.
She remembered the blasting heat that seared the earth. The mighty Asgardian warriors turned to ragdolls as they crashed into cars and skidded in the dirt. Finally, Thor saw no end. She grasped Jane and begged that she run and find safety with the others in the abandoned diner they called home. Thor remembered the thudding of her heart was all she could hear as she approached the harsh metal body of the Destroyer and stood her ground. She felt her dirty haggard nails pressing into her palms as she yelled up at the empty face of the metal monster.
She'd pleaded for her friend's safety and demanded that Loki find solace in the ending of her mortal life rather than the mindless destruction of this sleepy little town. The little dirty town that now held so many memories. The cafe where she'd laughed with Darcy over pop tarts. The rooftop where she'd shared the wonder of the nine realms with Jane and the empty desert where it all began. Now she stood in the street covered in blood, dirt and dust explaining to her brother that she'd die to protect these people and this town.
Thor released a relieved breath when the Destroyer turned away. It was mere seconds later when the cold hard hand of the Destroyer connected with her body cutting through her skin.
Thor felt all this fear and anger fresh inside her. It fuelled her attacks and charged her body. "Your newfound morals have weakened you, sister!" Loki spat as he sent another charge of power shining from the All-Fathers spear and towards Thor. Thor rolled aside before the bolt could make contact. Loki charged forward, laughing as he swept Thor's legs out from underneath her "You can't even stand on your own two feet."
"Why did you bring them here brother?" Thor cried. She took the lower advantage and swept Loki's own legs out from underneath him. Loki's head connected with the rainbow beneath with a metallic clang. "This is our home."
Loki spat the newly pooled blood from his mouth and stood sneering "Your home - but it was never mine." Loki sent his spear in an arc down towards Thor's armoured chest. It glanced off her armour as Thor battered it away with her hammer. Before Loki could dive again Thor charged forward catching her brother by surprise as she tackled him.
"This is your home Loki!" Thor cried; she couldn't help but notice the desperation lingering in her words "Please see this. Do you remember nothing of our childhood?" Thor searched her brother's green eyes for a flash of remembrance. Loki shoved Thor aside and levelled the spear with her throat.
Loki growled, "You speak of childhoods, of homes but all I remember is a lie." He removed the spear and prepared to send it down in a lethal arc, but Thor evaded him once more "Why won't you fight me, Sister? Have you tired of me so quickly?" Thor seemed to snap, and Loki smiled. Rage and desperation burnt away the ache in her back and the throbbing pain in her arms. With a cry, Thor lunged forward and pressed Loki further and further towards the edge of the bridge. With each swing of her hammer, she felt the crackle of lightning building within her.
"I tire of your riddles. I tire of your deception. Don't you see Loki? We have done nothing but love you." Finally, Thor had Loki balanced on the edge of the Bifrost.
Loki's face twisted with disgust "Even now you are too blind to see what's right in front of you. I was never loved by our father as you were. I am never to be loved and adored like you are by our people." Now it was Loki's turn to sound desperate "This is the only way I can prove myself. When I rid the nine realms of the frost giants all will see just how powerful I am. This will show everyone how far I will go to protect them."
"Protect them, brother? Or protect your pride?"
Loki struck out in anger. As Gungnir, the All Father's spear sliced across Thor's cheek the world exploded in golden light. Loki's form had multiplied. Dozens of Loki's raised their spears and laughed as they dived at Thor. Holding her hammer aloft Thor called for the lightning she'd felt growing in her core and unleashed the blinding hot energy. It spilled out of her and carried waves of power all over the Bifrost. Obliterating the illusions and sending the true Loki flying back.
Thor staggered to her feet and towered over the Loki lying on the floor. Weary she lay Mjolnir on her brother's chest. Loki's cool fingers grasped the edges of the hammer and tried to heave it from his chest. Turning Thor cast her eyes on the whirring explosion of light that was the Bifrost. Slowly, while they fought it was decimating the Frost Giants and obliterating their world. No matter how cruel or destructive the Jotun's had been. No one deserved complete destruction.
With ease, Thor lifted the hammer off her brothers heaving chest. She lifted Moljnir high before swiftly bringing it down on the rainbow bridge. She struck the bridge again and again watching as the spidery cracks in the fabric of the bridge began to give way "Sister!" Loki called "What are you doing? If you destroy the Bifrost you'll never see them again! You'll never see her again!"
Thor's destruction faulted for the slightest second. In this second, she remembered the promise she'd made to Jane. She would return. She'd promise she'd return. But not at the cost of an entire realm. "Forgive me, Jane," Thor said as she brought the hammer down with all her strength. Behind her, Thor registered Loki's anguish as he charged forward to strike. It was too late. The bridge exploded in a kaleidoscope of colour and the siblings were sent flying in the air.
Thor felt pieces of the Bifrost ripping into her skin as she tumbled through the air and spiralled back towards the earth. She grasped wildly desperate for something to latch onto. She felt the polished leather of Loki's jacket under her hand grasped tight. Loki desperate for his life grasped Thor's outstretched arm as they scraped past what remained of the bridge. With her free arm, Thor latched onto the crumbling fabric of the bridge. The brittle glass sliced on her fingers, but she held fast.
No one was there to save them. Thor knew it was only her left arm, which was desperately latched to the crumbling bridge, that was the only thing keeping them alive. Soon the bridge would crumble, and they would fall.
Loki was hanging beneath Thor. He was perfectly still and gripping Thor's arm. Thor felt the bridge give a little more, breaking away under the weight of two gods. "Thor," Loki gasped "Let me go."
Thor stiffened and grasped Loki's coat even tighter "No brother." Thor coughed "I haven't finished fighting you yet." She laughed "This is not over." Thor knew what she had to do. With every bit of strength, training and determination she could muster Thor threw Loki up and towards the bridge. What remained of the bridge under Thor's desperate fingers finally gave way.
Time slowed. Loki flew through the air before landing safely on the bridge. His hands still clutched frantically onto Thor's outstretched arm. But gravity was against them and Thor's fingers slipped away. She fell.
Thor heard someone cry out. But who it was she wasn't certain. Her arms and legs twisted widely in the air as they sought footing but there was nothing to hold. The air fled from her lungs as she fell down, down into what remained of the Bifrost. She was swallowed up into the void. Tears raced down her face. She'd done this for Loki. For the safety of her family.