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Poke Pt 21 - Best Laid Plans

Fireworks exploded and from the dining area for a breath of air you slipped with Loki right behind you still locked in his cone of silence where the world seemed to be screaming all around him. There really wasn’t anything that could be said or a way to work around this. A sudden grip on his tie that in a skilled twist of your hand lured him lower and in the shadow of a pillar down the Prince gladly melted to savor the surprising chance to be alone with the woman he adored. Instantly his hand came to rest on your cheek as the other was used to bring you flush against his chest to the press of the bouquet in your hand on his back in a means to draw him in more. Up against the pillar completely hidden he held you there, a welcome change of subject for you to not spoil things by talking things to death.

Just one kiss wouldn’t be enough and almost hungrily to the burst of the floodgates one wasn’t for either of you and by the time he had to break for air a fuzzy glimpse of his now red eyes had you giggling helplessly. Into your neck his head burrowed to his own chuckles as his arms snaked around your back to peppered trails of stolen kisses he left down the side of your neck and jaw. And to get him to look up at you a question in Swedish slipped from between your lips, “Am I kissing you too much?”

Instantly his brows popped up and his lips parted to whisper, “What?”

And you teasingly murmured in a lean in to kiss him again, “I’m beginning to think you turn blue from lack of oxygen.” Against your lips his chuckle melted and as if to claw at the zipper down your back his fingers flexed and curled at rest in the lingering struggle to hold his outer image for the world that like always when he kissed you that magic always burned to fail. As if every shred of him wanted you to always see his real self, deep down subconsciously a test of sorts for that same shared fear that one of you might change your minds and run for it.

Lowly and in a breathy hum beside your ear he finally replied in his next break for air, “Starve me of air for the rest of my life, I shall never complain, My Darling Starlight.”

A few minutes and explosions of fireworks later and a fizzle sounded ending the kiss and around you he folded with a glare to the blonde who hurled a chair at the Sorcerers who had arrived to crash the party. Wong in his deflection of the object asked the now visible Prince, “Who is this woman?”

“Friend of Fury, was meant to help with Thanos but decided to not show up. Venom blocked her powers.” Loki answered with his arms tightening around your back urging the men in front of you both.

“Who are you and what do you want?!” Carol barked with another chair in hand.

And with a roll of his eyes and a huff Dr Strange stated with a show of the box in his hands, “We brought a gift for the happy couple, why are you here?”

“I’m here to get them to tell me where Misique is to hand over her Infinity Stones before they are used for evil.”

“I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone,” he muttered furrowing her brows in confusion as he waved a hand casting the chair from her grip. “She’s a good person. We came months ago when she first got the stones to see her intention with the stones and she has only used them to help people. Other than the Space Stone she sort of zaps around and landed inside our Sanctorum, but that was accidental I imagine on her first shot with it.”

“She can’t be trusted.” Carol said, “Now you tell me where she is.”

“This is like a tape recorder on loop, no one here is going to hand her over, they didn’t when she killed hundreds of thousands of extortionists, traffickers, rapists, abusers and murderers and they most certainly won’t after she’s saved the world from two alien invasions. And destroyed several Hydra bases practically on her own. Now Prince Loki says you were contacted to help against Thanos and you didn’t show so I would say that paints you as the untrustworthy one.”

“The universe is bigger than just this planet you know!”

“Oh yes I know that, and you seem to be under the impression that anyone should care about your demands when you have helped no one and have only given the impression you are here to harm this young girl and her boyfriend the Prince. And his brother has declared war on any who dare to insult her or wish her harm so I would think very carefully on your next move.” In a glance back he said, “I’ll show you inside if you’re ready, seems like we got here right at the finale.”

You nodded and Loki loosened up to walk with you on his left as they moved to walk past her on the left side of the hall to keep himself between you and she asked, “And who are you two then in all this?”

“I am Wong,” the Sorcerer answered plainly to Dr Strange’s introduction of himself, “I am Dr Strange. Master of the Mystical Arts and protector of the New York Sanctorum, one of the three which retains protection of this world from the Dark Realm.”

“So you’re a Magician?”

She said that and he looked at you saying, “She’s oh so friendly.”

“Hey if I hadn’t shoved you that bouquet would have gone to your sisters.” She replied with a smirk and Loki flicked a dagger into his palm that had her eyes flinch wider in his charging step.

“You did this! Because of you now everything must be completed within the year or the pair of us die!”

“Thor didn’t say anything about dying.” You muttered and the Sorcerers looked you over as Loki turned to face you letting out a panicked squeak as his voice failed him. “I caught the bouquet, which on Asgard is a binding contract with fate meaning we’ll die in a year unless we get married by then. Fun times.”

“You sentenced them to death?” Wong demanded. “She is barely into her adulthood and they just met as Mates and you condemn them to an arranged marriage?!”

She looked between you all and said, “How was I supposed to know that?”

Loki said in his arm easing around your back, “You know nothing, and if you lay a hand on Pluto again or threaten her in any way your last moments will be in horrific agony beyond compare.”

“I’d like to see you try,” She challenged.

To which you replied, “You better pray he finds you before I do if you try anything else.” Somewhere between the look you gave her and the cool stroll past her had the power locked Captain frozen in place with fear on who she had been threatening and had shoved.

One more day of celebrations came before Tony’s promised start to his time off for the rest of the pregnancy and a bit after. While the rest of you enjoyed the two days of exploring India to Fury’s own tour for the newly named Captain Marvel who would be helping at her own insistence to stick around and find her own answers while Tony was out of commission.

“Slippers, I need slippers,” you muttered in a stroll through the dance shop eyeing the various cubbies of ballet slippers in various shapes and colors.

With the cubby for your shoe size found a pouch of the slippers was lifted and in your careful detail of the crafting of it a worker there approached in a soft kind tone, “Is this your first pair of slippers, dear?”

In meeting her gaze you shook your head and answered, “No, I was wondering, do you have a big supply of slippers in the back, or is this it?”

“We have more sizes in the back if you cannot find your own.”

“Oh that’s not it, I’m wanting to buy a big supply and I didn’t want to put you out.” You said and she chuckled.

“Buy what you need. We have a supply of mostly everything on the sales floor in the back.” An armful of that style and color along with a few flashier colors to rehearse at home had her fetch a basket to hold it all as you moved onto the leotards for a nicer one that might be more acceptable for school wear and new tights with pull over sweaters were added. Happily she rang up the items for you to the curious stares of the other workers who had customers to help only after a few things, and she asked you, “Are you just stocking up?”

“Yes, I’m taking a ballet class in college in the fall, I like to be prepared.”

“Well I hope it goes well, did you take ballet in school?”

“Not since I was 14 when I left Russia.”

“Oh you’re from Russia, you must miss it.”

“I missed the dancing, my one bit of freedom.” You said widening her smile as she finished ringing up the last of the order that you carried to your car where you let out a shriek at the blonde Captain who landed at your side who looked you over at your irritated huff. “What is wrong with you? Honestly.”

“Why do you trust Misique?”

“Because she saved me from Hydra. We’re 18 you know? I don’t give a damn why Fury trusts you, but where the fuck were you when he called? When we needed you? You show up demanding things like you’re owed some big song and dance in your honor. Now get the fuck away from me, you self serving prick.” Into the trunk you added your bags as she stepped back to the close of it and your climb back inside to start the car and drive home.

“You know I’m just gonna follow you, right?”

“Hope you like getting shot.” You replied and she scoffed.

By the time you had pulled into your driveway she landed and in her try to walk into your garage a blast of yellow light from the protective barrier hit her in the chest knocking her unconscious. Right in the view of Dum Dum Dugan who opened his window to call out, “Intruder?”

“Friend of Fury who is trying to find Misique.”

He nodded and said, “I’ll call Fury.”

“Thank you,” you said and he made a show of his lifting his phone to find Fury’s number in it and call him.

“Not a problem, Miss Pluto.”

From your trunk you pulled out the bags and carried them inside your home closing the garage and locking the door to the house. Once alone you pressed yourself to the door a moment then let out a breath before you went to fetch your sewing kit to assemble one of the green pairs of slipper ribbons to the proper place, the first step of wearing into the new pair to break in. Downstairs again you walked after fetching the communicator that Ronan had given you that you gave the button a squeeze to and recorded a message to be sent off to him.

“Ronan, just curious, have you ever heard of a Captain Marvel, also goes by Carol Danvers or Vers according to her file. She showed up on Earth a few days ago and has been asking about me. I was just wondering what I might be able to figure out about her. Anyways take your time, hope everything is going well on your end of the universe, talk to you later, bye.” Shaking your head you released the button and at the end of the stairs rose up en point to walk on your toes to the kitchen to bring out the ingredients you added to the pot on the stove.

While you waited for that to cook from the dining room to the sitting rooms you strolled, spun and to the flare of your baggy sweater tried various styles of moves to both bide time and to simply make use of the space you had. Mention of a mission in Washington had Loki away with the team and Eddie off on a story had you stirring your stew alone mentally measuring how much would be left over depending on how much you would eat and have left after. The sound of your doorbell had you head from the stove to the door where you saw Agent Coulsen who flashed you a grin saying, “So you have a body in your driveway. Fury said he got a call about Miss Danvers bothering you. I didn’t think, I’d be retrieving a body.”

“She tried to cross the barrier on my garage. The system attacks on its own I told her not to follow me.”

He nodded and asked, “So it’s more of a stun blast?”

“Ya, it triggers paralysis for 24 hours, next time she tries to break in it’ll stop her heart.”

“Wow, that’s-,”

“Venom insisted on the highest grade I could make without being lethal, there’s a monitor making sure she’s still breathing.” His eyes dropped to your feet after a glance at his own and you said, “I’m breaking in new slippers for the ballet class I’m going to sign up for ballet in the fall for my physical education credits.”

“Ah, I did Jazz/Tap myself, wasn’t quite flexible or tall enough for ballet. I bet you’ll be wonderful and we will handle Miss Danvers and warn her about the heart stopping side effect. It will just wear off, right?”

“Ya, but if she has any sort of flame power you might want to leave her in a fireproof room with a note, sometimes when it wears off it can trigger the self defense response from before the zap.”

“Fair point. Or we might just leave her in the middle of the dessert somewhere. Fury said she can fly, so she’ll find her way back eventually.”

“Oh right, she can fly.” You said sarcastically making him smirk back at you in his step away from the door. “Drive safe, Agent Coulsen.” He nodded and again you locked yourself inside this supposed safe zone and tried to not think up millions of ways her knowing where you lived could go wrong and leave you homeless or your neighbors injured and possibly with damage on their own homes depending on what she was up to.

“That smells marvelous,” Loki’s voice from your yard turned your head from the dining area on your back porch to him freshly having transported himself here in a cloud of green mist.

“Loki, you said you weren’t going to be back until tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, well, Bucky heard through your neighbor that you had a visitor.”

“Ya, my security barrier shot her though with a paralytic field that should hold her until tomorrow.” He smirked proudly as he climbed the steps and came to sit down beside you, “I did warn her,” you murmured to the creation of a double who went to fetch him a helping to stop you from leaving your seat.

“And I am certain she will not try to trouble you again after that, if she is intelligent.”

“At least Rhodey and Sam have a sense of humor, my system says she’s part Kree, even Ronan hinted at being easy going, once you get past the war part.”

He nodded and glanced at the communicator on the table, “Any message from him?”

“Not yet, I left him a kind of awkward one asking if he knew anything about her.”

“Do you feel scared? Or is it more of an irritation?”

“I can’t trust her is my gut feeling. I wanna cut her head off.”

“For my own preference I would start with the limbs and work my way up to her head, but fair point you don’t wish to torture her.”

“So how was the mission? Still hush, hush?”

He let out a breath and grinned to the double that brought him his serving of the food and a drink then back to you saying, “Rather boring. Infiltrate a bunker and dismantle the weapon one of the Hydra escapees had planted there.”

“That depends entirely upon which weapon and which escapee,” you said making him smirk around his mouthful of food. “Well you seem to not be injured, that’s good at least.”

“I am perfectly intact. Enough so that I was wondering if you wished to accompany me to Asgard tomorrow? Father has ordered to meet the Mates of his sons.”

Awkwardly a grin eased across your lips, “You’re serious? Odin wants to meet me?”

“My whole planet desires to meet you.”

“Do I have to wear a dress for that?” You asked widening his smile. “And do I have to curtsy or anything?”

…

“Hello Shieldmaiden Pluto,” Heimdall stated with a nod your way then stated after your greeting wave and hello to tell Jane, “Hello Doctor Foster. Welcome both of you to Asgard.”

“Thank you.”

His eyes focused on you in his saying, “We are terribly in need of your presence.”

“Mine?”

“Queen Frigga is awaiting a true Shieldmaiden.” He gestured his hand to the side for a silent urging of the path onwards.

Out of the golden dome you stepped and looked down at the Rainbow Bridge that pulsed in brilliant flashes of light to every step taken across it to reach the golden kingdom ahead. Tenderly across the underside of your palm Loki’s fingers glided to claim hold of your hand in a calming motion. Already sensing something was wrong by the look in the guardian’s eyes, and yet the masses lining the streets cheered and displayed banners of their Princes, including those coating the open carriages pulled by eight legged horses for the long ride to the Palace.

Thor was first to guide Jane into their open carriage behind the one adorned with Loki’s Sigil while you paused at the open door that a Raven had landed on top of with an ominous cry. “Muninn?” you whispered then took the gentle shift of Loki’s hand to climb inside so he could follow you to find you seated asking a second freshly landed Raven, “Huginn?” Together they leapt into the air and atop your lap Loki’s hand came to rest with your hands to instantly fold around it.

“That cannot be good. They never abandon Father.” He murmured in frightened awe.

All the same he pointed out locations along the way until up to the Palace gates to lines of guards and citizens with a hidden fear in their eyes hidden within their cheers of joy for the Princes’ return. Every face had a hidden plea for the guided walk from the carpet laid underneath the floral awning above the open doors. “There aren’t any trap doors or mounted crossbows that will go off on this path, is there?” You whispered to Loki.

And he whispered back, “No, are you sensing something?”

“Something, certainly something.” You said then drew his gaze to the hall with a gaping hole in the floor, “There’s a breadcrumb.”

The hole had Thor ask a guard, “Did Father order construction within this hallway?”

“No, Prince Thor.” No more answer than that and onward you moved into the next hall where the faint crunch of dust clearly from what seemed to be plaster on the ground had your eyes rise from the path ahead to the mural painted inside the dome of the ceiling of a conquering race. Loki’s eyes trailed yours and with his free hand he covered the bend of your arm himself now having concrete proof something was terribly wrong on his home planet in the destruction of the proper mural.

“I have no idea who that is,” he murmured then continued, “Keep moving.” Across the hall his eyes scoured for any trace of what might be coming until at the next set of doors to the Throne Room the Warriors Three who smiled but weren’t as openly friendly to Prince Thor as he had expected.

“Hogun, Fandral, Volstagg,” Thor said and asked after, “What has happened here?”

Volstagg answered, “Our Allfather and Allmother are awaiting you.”

“Volstagg,” he murmured as Loki’s thumb gave your arm a gentle brush to stir his own confidence to his next step into the Throne Room where the stranger in the portrait stood on Odin’s right while Frigga straightened up with a glint of confidence in her gaze. The King barely able to sit upright weary from some great strain on his life force watched as you took the long walk to the bottom of the staircase up to the throne.

“Well, well, well, this is the one who dares to use my legacy to his advantage. You feed off of the might of my efforts, well let us see what this pretend Loki can do, shall we. Now kneel before your King.”

“I beg your pardon?” Loki retorted coolly.

“I am Hela, Goddess of Death, Odindottir, your elder, this was once my throne to inherit and until you have you shall pay respect to the Allfather, or perhaps he just might banish you as he did me.”

“See there is a Hel, they just left off the A,” you said to Loki who couldn’t help but smirk mid nod to his parents. A move shared by Thor as she looked at you when you said, “None of the legends match anything, Thor’s a blonde, he’s related to Loki, who apparently isn’t married or have any children, and according to them Odin isn’t even half Frost Giant.”

“Someone who is asking the proper questions. Finally. How is it our people are so in the dark and refuse to see reason?” She mused to herself on her stroll down the steps to approach her half siblings, first she spoke to Thor saying, “You must be another sired bastard like myself. You do not look like Father.”

Loki said, “Surely we could assist you with your grievances were we to know what they are.”

And she looked at Loki saying, “You sound like him.” She glanced at Queen Frigga whose face retracted from the kind grin your way at your head nod to her and the obviously weary Odin’s direction in Hela’s distraction. “Is he yours?”

“He is my son,” she answered and Hela looked to Loki head on.

“The prodigal full blood Odinson.”

“I am Loki Laufeyson.”

Hela chuckled and answered, “Then bear your marks. You will not avoid my blade for perjury before your King. I am his executioner after all, we conquered the Nine Realms together, it was only when my desire outweighed his and I scoured for traces of more Infinity Stones to increase our power that I was banished and all we had built was erased. Golden chalices, and garden parties, won somehow by well placed words and not the blood and tears we drew to earn it.” She stepped closer with a large black double edged ax that was flung into her hand magically she raised to Loki’s neck.

To which you couldn’t help but say, “Nice ax.”

Hela’s eyes shifted to you and Thor nodded in agreement, “It is a fine ax.”

And following an eye roll she looked back to Loki who revealed his Jotun form that across her face mirrored her own markings reveal parting his lips as with her free hand she gestured to a specific marker on her forehead stating, “Odinson. You lied to me.”

“I am a King Laufey’s son, I was adopted.”

Her eyes narrowed and she turned to Thor, “Show your marks!”

Thor said, “I am no Jotun.”

And she turned to Odin firing a blast of energy from her palm beside his head, “Show your marks!” His eye painfully linked to Loki’s in an exhausted whine of an exhale making you think he had his ribs badly injured and had trouble taking a breath while the hand being held by the now trembling Prince beside you unintentionally tightened its grip to the stir of tears in his bright red eyes. “Show your son who you really are, Odin Borson, third born of the Frost Giantess Bestla. Show him your marks!”

“I was only, trying to protect you,” he managed to croak out in the ripple of markings and his deep red eye parting the Princes’ lips to the fall of a tear down Loki’s cheek.

“Protection of another name, lies, all lies. To protect himself from others seeing our true power, our true nature, our true face.” She turned to Loki again and came closer, “Prince Loki, Odinson, Son of Frigga, I have heard much of you. It would appear you have knack for Sorcery, to have learned at the arm of Queen Frigga, now that will make a fine King. Among the makings of a fine King is his Queen,” this time she raised her ax to your neck that had Loki wreath himself in green mist with a concentration on his palm in his shoulder nudge to ease you back and him between you. Out to Thor she extended the ax in a sweep of her arm knocking his try to swing Mjolner at her to futile length at his side for her to say to both brothers. “You are mistaken if you imagine I would allow any mere mortal to sit upon the edge of that throne, it is my right to challenge my future sister to a test of merit.”

Against Loki’s arm your free hand patted to his snarl of an exhale and his mist waned as you said, “Tradition, right?” His eyes met yours and you said, “I can do this.”

Hela chuckled to herself and said, “This mortal has confidence, from where do you hail?”

“Stolkholm, Sweden, my father’s side, my mother was Danish, but I was born and we lived in Sweden until they died.”

Her eyes snapped from Thor in his next shift of his arm to hide Jane fully behind him saying, “You are not Frigga’s son, I have no need nor care to test your mortal,” back to you she looked demanding, “Name.”

“Pluto Lagertha Pear.”

“Lagertha,” she chuckled and stepped closer to you, “Your parents had mighty hopes for you then,” down over you her eyes swept and landed on your necklace her free hand rose to inspect turning her head to Frigga who gave her a nod making the Princess smirk at you. “An heirloom, I would imagine?”

“The Goddess Frigg aided my ancestor in her troubles conceiving. She had many children after she was returned.”

“Then you shall want to repay that honor by fighting to your last breath, to honor your Viking blood, the blood of our first worshipers on Midgard.” Into your chest the flat top between the blades of the ax was pressed for a nudge that had you release Loki’s hand, “Come, your challenge awaits tiny Viking.” You nodded and she smirked saying, “You are all welcome to come and watch this mortal duel to her doom. Stay where you are Father, no need to weaken yourself more.”

Following her guidance out into a courtyard she stepped for the crowds there to bow their heads to her and steal glances your way as you eyed the army of 80 black armored soldiers with beetle pincer like horns on their helmets aimed together reminding you of something closer to samurai armor. Past a series of chairs you were led into the opening on the other side of the covered breezeway as she gestured her family and Jane to the chairs there they cautiously stepped in front of then lowered down to fill them. On the end in the most officially decorated seat Frigga sat with Loki beside her, then Thor with Jane on his right.

Back to you she turned and said, “To be a Queen in this realm one must be trusted to protect its people when the King is away. I shall be kind and supply you with weapons.” Her hand gestured to the table between Lady Sif and Heimdall, both who remained stoic but in their gaze meeting your glances gave hints of pride for what they hoped to be the outcome of this test. “We even supplied some axes, since you are so intrigued by them.”

Thor lowly murmured, “Loki,”

To which his brother said, “Shh,”

“Did you just shush me?” Thor whispered back.

Only getting another, “Shh,” as his response.

“You plan on watching her die then.”

“Nothing of the sort.” Loki replied, “Now, shh.”

From your sides your hands rose to make easy braids on either side of your head to bring together with the rest of your loose unruly curls in a ponytail using the elastic bands on your wrist, the first for a ponytail and the second to hopefully keep all your hair in place. “Aim high,” Heindall murmured from behind his closed lips in a try to help you in some way.

From small daggers to a giant ax longer than Heimdall you eyed the selection of weapons to the button of the third button on your baggy open flannel and took hold of the pair of all metal weapons similar to hatchets. A choice that had Hela look you over trying to discern your skill by means of your light blue jeans laid over the tops of your boots and the loose outer shirt and arms revealed by the rolled up sleeves. Just a fluke, she assumed, you chose something small you might be able to swing with ease against the heavier dual or long sword supply, making her state in a firm tone, “You will not pass this test until all 80 of my Einherjar Warriors are slain. Should one remain able to stand or move you fail and shall be put to death.”

Against the handles your fingers adjusted ever so slightly as your feet planted readying to this skirmish with a quote being recited in your mind to focus the nerves surging like wildfire through your body aching to burst out with your magic you so dearly wanted to hold back. “New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” To yourself you whispered that and her brow ticked upwards having heard the puzzling phrase in the flinch worthy first snap of the armored skeleton army who at once lowered their blade lined scepters then made their first charge.

A presumed freeze from fear widened Hela’s smirk until fluidly in a weave aside the spear of the closest skeleton you closed the distance in a puzzling turn until your hands around the hatchet folded around the handle of the staff. With firm hold of both you kicked hard into its chest sending it into a kabob of sorts from it and the five skeletons behind it. Down into the cobbled courtyard you jammed the spear in an imagined useless move to avoid and disarm five more, steadily building a cunning maze of sorts from the staffs. Up against the staffs smirks in the crowd spread to skilled jumps and evasive swings around to make use of the hatchets.

Never in the same place Hela watched the plan unfold as the skeletons were funneled into smaller groups easier to kick their spears held between the buried stolen ones to have them dropped to disarm the then easy to hack apart foes. Surprisingly fast the plant of your feet in a jump off the staff you had hold of to the fall of the final split body of the skeleton had Hela on the verge of snarling at the approach of the next collection of skeletons to take up the formations of their fallen brothers in arms.

“If you think I would allow you my half brother’s hand on brute strength and speed alone you are sorely mistaken.” With a swipe of her hand the scepters, bones and armor vanished in her approach, “I was not born of Frigga’s womb, but I will not see a Queen on the throne mute to the tongue of magic.” In her hand a key appeared as Frigga, Thor and Loki were encased in slithering chains, “The task is simple, best me, and free your future family or they will be slowly crushed by my chains in your failure.”

Thickly around her body a cloud of green mist grew and you could feel Loki’s eyes boring into the side of your head murmuring his countdown of when to flee or attack by what he could guess her power might be channeled at you. He had to hope that you could survive this as you had survived against the unthinkable army that had Thor gasp countless times to the hidden skills his future sister in law.

And yet the mist in a funneled blast exploded straight at you causing his hands to clench around the ends of the arms of the chair then release at the glittery yellow sea of a glare back at that explosion matching the clouds around your palms. Before it could touch you at once to the fall of the hatchets you released in an explosive leap back your body flew concealed by the green cloud from her view in a means to hurl yourself back into and out the other side of the hedges lining that corner of the courtyard. In your place a cloud of glimmering yellow held the shape of your body while your real self now scraped and sliced up from the sharp leaves and branches lacking a few buttons on all fours you scrambled out of the way.

And not a moment too soon as in the echo of the fallen hatchets onto the cobbled courtyard ground the green blast melted around the withering figure of your double that had Jane gasp audibly and Hela laugh aloud as the blast burned the leaves from the stab happy branches. Her assumed victory was short lived as all eyes turned to the cross armed grinning double of you behind her that had Loki grinning madly as it said, “Aren’t you just adorably predictable.”

Death in a glare was cast your double’s way covering the dart across an opening in the hedges to reach the first of the pillars on the end of the breezeway that upon reaching it you pressed your back to it quietly releasing a deep breath. Those angled to watch you saw a hushed act of pressing the toes of your boots into the back of the other to ease out of them with socks dropped next after you removed them. Against the stone your hands planted as Hela blasted that double only to turn finding another in an angle without view of you while a trio of bees silently removed the key from the loop tied to her angled belt lying across her hips they flew into the hedges behind her with it out of her view.

Unable to help it Frigga smiled as Thor looked to his brother for answers while Heimdall in the corner of his vision watched the clear path of the glittering yellow head of curls rising up the side of the pillar in every plant of your feet higher and higher. Up to the rafters you climbed and then far out of sight strolled across every beam to where the chairs were located then you used your hands and feet to climb down.

Low out of sight behind Frigga’s chair you crept accepting the key from your bees to the growth of the yellow and green competitive blasts. The tap on Loki’s arm had him nudge his arm into his mother’s before you timed your pop up to lean over the back of the chair and unlock the chains that withered in that act. Her wide smile spread at the finger raised to your lips encouraging a quiet slip away she nodded to then crept around the chair to head inside while you unlocked Loki at his groan to the tightening of the chains that withered instantly. Thor was freed next and sprung over the seat with Jane in his arms to follow the skilled dart inside to delve deeper inside the Palace. One foot at a time from the three bees you accepted your socks to tug on and be followed by each boot to Loki’s amused chuckles with a hand to keep you upright in each hop forward to keep moving.

“That was stupendous, how did you manage the doubles?” Loki asked when you straightened up again and Thor and Jane eyed your glittering mildly bloody self as the trio of bees landed on your hair ties in case you needed them again.

“Technically they’re bees and holographic shadows of sorts in the mist. Something solid would go right through them.”

Instantly his hand found your cheek and his lips your temple before his proud smile, “Utter perfection.”

Jane however asked, “I’m sorry, are you related to Misique? Because there were two, you and Misique on the space footage.”

“Venom’s able to make a double of me.”

Thor smiled widely and took hold of your shoulders, “You are a fine warrior, fiercest of caliber I have yet to find on Midgard.” He looked to Frigga, “Mother, she slew a Titan with her bare hands.” His smile however dimmed as again you were underneath the hidden dome and he looked up, “Is this true, Mother?”

“Yes,” she answered in a regret laced tone, “Hela, she was eager to gain your father’s approval and right hand as a child of his first mistress who died shortly after the birth.”

Thor asked, “Am I not your son?”

“Jörd,” she replied, “Carried and birthed you, she died in battle while Odin fought for peace when you were barely on your knees.”

Thor asked, “Why did Father allow us to believe that I was his son then? That he was not Jotun?”

Frigga answered, “In the truce with Jotunheim there was a cost, he had to sever ties with his kin on that realm.”

Loki asked, “That is why he called them monsters? Why he allowed this whole planet to do the same? Knowing we would find out, what we would assume?”

Frigga shook her head, “I could not unravel what had been done with all of my might or wits. There was no escape.” With tears in her eyes she stated, “I tried, so many times, to repair the damage, for your sake at least.”

Loki’s hand planted on her shoulder in the shake of his head followed by a deliberate hug he claimed from her. “Do not cry, Mother. I will not have you suffer for his lies.” And when he drew back he said in a glance your way, “This is my Mate, Pluto Pear. I wished for you to meet properly.”

She smiled and raised a hand to brush your bangs from your face behind your ear, “I am honored to have met another of your bloodline. You do your ancestors justice and have more than earned your name.” After a moment she said, “You were truly kind in naming a planet in my honor, even if I never bore a son of that name.”

While she turned to greet Jane properly in Thor’s turn to present her the approach of a timid Healer had Loki’s focus turn to the numerous small cuts that caused the trails and spots of blood on your shirt and jeans. A bold pair of servants quietly announced a prep of a tea that you were led to a sitting room out of sight or earshot that Odin had been wheeled into and took notice of the minor injuries being cleaned up after you eased off the baggy shirt. Carefully that Healer wiped away the blood and dabbed creams over each scrape and cut then took hold of your arm at Loki’s follow of a trail of blood down your arm to clean the deeper cut then bandage it for you.

“Thank you,” you said to her earning a grateful head nod in her retreat as another servant claimed your shirt they would replace or repair if possible as Loki charmed up a double of it fully intact that you pulled on enabling you to sit down on the chair offered to you between Loki and Frigga. To Odin you said with a grin, “It’s an honor to meet you. Are your ribs injured? You seem to be having trouble breathing.”

Wryly he chuckled replying, “My body is at the end of its Winter. I thank you for the concern. And no matter what may come to light, as my daughter surely will reveal each of my falsehoods to our people, I wish you to know I have pride to bear the honor of meeting you as I was proud to meet your ancestor. And to share that we have discovered just where your parents are located in Helheim. When you are ready they can be sent for.”

A bit muddled your thoughts dropped to focus solely on the bees still holding the fight that grew more amusing by the moment as one managed to singe the back of one of her hands ending her explosive frenzy of whip like slashes of green blasts. Hela drew a dagger from thin air into her palm, “If you are so eager to be Queen, allow me to shorten the wait!” Towards the empty chairs she flung the dagger she intended to stop short of killing her adopted mother only to stare open mouthed at the drop of the illusion of your double in a sneeze from you at a perfume that came off one of the servers. Fully to the chairs she turned finding them empty for a quick scan of her eyes over the courtyard for any sight of her family or yourself when she felt the key on her hip was gone as well. “Where is my family?!” she cried out and Heimdall cleared his throat.

“Shieldmaiden Pear freed them roughly half an hour past. They are inside the Palace, Princess Hela.”

To a narrowing of her eyes she stormed inside collecting her dagger to go and search for her parents, half siblings and future sisters in law while the crowds smiled at her being bested in both challenges. Hall by hall she searched until she found the table and with a glare took her offered seat beside Odin eyeing your again dark haired and eyed self thanks to the sneeze. “Do you know a Sigyn, Princess Hela?” You asked breaking the silence and she looked from you to Loki and back again.

“No.” You huffed and she asked, “What is the significance of this Sigyn?”

“Well in the legends she’s engaged to someone who Loki kills then impersonates to marry her. She decides to honor her vows and is a symbol of devotion. Then um, well they have a son together, Nari or Narfi depending on the variation. But he also has three different children with a Giantess named Angerboda, Hel, the goddess of death; Jörmungand, the serpent that surrounds the world; and Fenrir (Fenrisúlfr), the wolf. Loki is also credited with giving birth to Sleipnir who he had with a mythical flaming horse demon he turned into a mare to seduce away from destroying Asgard.”

Her eyes narrowed and Loki stated, “We have yet to understand where the tales became warped.”

“Hi,” your voice turned her head to the snarling giant wolf who approached you.

“That is Fenris, my steed, I have ridden her to battle for centuries. She is not my relative and my mother’s name was not Angerboda.” She looked you over asking, “Why is this figure significant to you? Why are any of the myths significant?”

“They were my bedtime stories, reminders of home. The name had to come from somewhere, it makes no sense, I get your history on planet being distorted but unless you sent an ignoramus of a missionary to Earth to share the stories of the Ruling Family protecting the planet, it had to come from somewhere. Aren’t you curious? I mean he tells me he’s Loki the first time I am imagining him cuddling up to his furry babies and daughter who rules over Hel then I find out when we’re becoming friends there’s no giant fur babies to make friends with as our bond deepens. You always have to include the kids in those things just can��t leave them unattended and ignored.”

Loki chuckled saying, “It is a rather sweet sentiment that she would accept my presumed children no matter what form they had taken.”

Thor stated as he noticed you finished your tea, “You and Jane should see the labs.” He glanced to Hela, “They are quite intelligent amongst their people, would you object, sister?”

Hela said, “We will join you shortly. I wish to have a word with Mother and our future King.” With her eyes still locked on Loki whose eyes followed your path from his side to stand and leave the room with Thor and Jane to Fenris’ curious path after your un-frightened self. “Now brother, tell me about your beloved. I see you are on Fate’s deadline.” She gestured to the glowing band around his wrist and ring finger lifting her own cup of tea.

The basic beginning of your life into the illness draining the vigor of your mother’s life already had her on edge and by the time he got to when you had been taken and what little he knew they had done to you her upper lip was borderline close to twitching into a snarl. What came next even in your tries to better your life angered her more and had an aura of green around her hands as if she was ready to wage war on Midgard at any moment. Recent achievements and progression of some form of safety and acceptance as a part time Avenger when they needed backup calmed her a little only to bleed into pride hearing of the success you had in battle and the prowess you possessed.

“A Blood Eagle with her bare hands on a Titan no less. And here I had hopes of beheading the mortal who dared to mingle with our bloodline. I must admit she is annoyingly agreeable.” Hela stated making Loki chuckle.

“When her trust is won she is equally the kindest and most ferocious creature I have met, not including Mother.” He looked Hela over asking, “What is your goal?”

“I want my freedom. And it would appear Midgard mistreats my future Sister in-law. She cannot be an ordinary mortal. Her namesake was also something other than mortal, truly she has earned it. Do you know why she worries so in discovering who this Sigyn might be?”

Odin answered in short pants for breath, “Her mother’s, name, was Sigyn.”

Hela asked, “This illness of her mother’s, how serious was it?”

“Well, I believe it has something to do with a buildup of copper in the body, it destroys the liver and kidneys while the musculature gradually shuts down. And then on top of that the second condition triggers involuntary tremors and jerks of the limbs. She had to be confined and strapped down to her bed for the last portion of her life. That was how Pluto learned of her powers, she manifested these extinct flowers her mother adored and butterflies her father had prized. She wanted to make her parents smile, and that power is why Hydra came after her.”

“Heimdall,” Hela said and the golden clad guard arrived in the room to hear her say, “Bring Pluto’s parents to Asgard from Helheim.”

And gladly he bowed his head responding, “Yes, Princess Hela.” Smiling on his way to hopefully aid in recovery of a morsel of healing from that unending pain.

Loki stated, “She has had so few choices in her life, I wish to grant her as much freedom as possible, even as Fate continues to trouble the plans she is yet in the midst of making for her life.”

“I have never met a mortal who could wound me, where does her power lie?”

“She listens.”

“To what?” Hela asked.

And Frigga answered, “To everything. Yggdrasil speaks to her, and she listens.” Then she added, “You could make quite the pair.”

Hela stated after a glance at Odin, “Agreed. Let us go see what my future sister is up to. Shall we?” She stood as did the others while a servant came to wheel Odin along on their path to find your trio in the labs.

There when you had reached a safe distance from the table Jane took hold of your arm, “So you’ve got some magic up your sleeve right? Or some of your weapons? You have a plan?”

“She seems nice,” Jane’s mouth dropped in a disbelieving furrow of her brows your way to Thor’s chortle at her face. “Ok, you have to put it into context, my adopted family is a race of Symbiotes who eat people. This is not the first time I’ve been drug before a conqueror who demands a show of what I can do. It’s not. This is one of the nicer times, actually. Just some family squabbles, they’ll work through it. Only found out Odin’s half Jotun, Frigga didn’t birth Thor, she did birth Loki who is Odin’s heir and apparently they have a sister Hela who isn’t named Hel and isn’t a child of Loki but his half sister. There are soap operas more complex than this.”

Thor said, “And there doesn’t seem too much damage. Father however is in terrible condition.”

Jane said, “I can’t believe either of you, she’s holding this whole place hostage and you are just fine with this?”

Thor pointed at you, “Pluto can best her in battle. Our people have hope a future can be made here, in truth.” He grinned and said, “And I swear, when I return to Earth we shall not betray your identity to the others.”

“Thank you, I think people are close to not wanting to kill me, except for Fury’s friend. Her I don’t know what she wants, I’d pick Hela over that narcissist any day.” You caught Jane’s eye saying, “You take a villain, any villain, they have a code, morals, then you have people like that Captain Marvel who assumes they are right and just when they’re nothing more than another dictator in a fancy suit. A villain knows what they want and will tell you, the other has no clue and is all over the place.”

“Sounds like Stark.” Thor said.

“Stark has a path, or a rough guess at a path. He’s on the cusp of one of the dumbest smart people I know, but he’s predictable in the least.” And then into the Sciences Wing you entered and said, “Ooh, what is that?” Instantly luring the attention of the Scientists who had been hiding in here who crept out to timidly share and answer each question you and Jane had.

By the time you reached a machine in progress still supported by various posts and a miniature lift as it sparked frightening the duo working on it to step away. Hela however in Fenris’ creep closer to steal another sniff at this curious stranger crept closer herself looking between you and the machine asking by your ear, “What do you hear?”

“Hmm?” you asked in a glance at her then back to the part, gesturing to the part on the right side, “Isn’t that supposed to be the other way around?”

“Do you know what this is?” she asked in shock on how a mortal could grasp what this machinery was.

“No but clearly those pins on the sides are jamming into the base of that part. Which is making that slanted part up top swivel and hit that crystal thing causing the sparks because all of those, I’m guessing exhaust conversion channels, are blocked off by that one section of metal that if it was upside down would line up with that missing slot there.” She looked you over with an amused smirk to the confused stares of the Scientists who gawked at you. “I might not know the notes but if you hum a few bars I can wing it. And that thing is not humming.”

“Do as she says,” Hela ordered and the Scientists got to that as she guided you on to the next bit of machinery. “Do you truly not understand the purpose of these tools and machines? I have heard you created your own Rainbow Portals, quite a feat.”

“Well I saw it in a dream. I hear things, see designs, I can see the parts moving and working and try and learn what it does on that front. However I rarely know what the parts are called or where the original comes from or its purpose. Just like a puzzle, you fit the pieces together properly and it creates something. So compared to your Scientists I may not be too terribly smart, but I could find my way around things eventually.”

“Well you learned your way around me, those doubles were masterful.”

“Technically if you want to see impressive doubles you should ask Loki to show you his. He gave me the idea, I just used my bees to create a holographic field so to speak to rebound images. You never actually hit them.”

“Bees?” She asked amusedly, and you nodded lifting your palms to create a yellow glittering ball between them as her eyes trailed the glittery sea of yellow in your eyes and every curl from root to the end. You lifted your hands and inside her eyes scoured over the bee that formed in the mist while the trio of bees in your hair floated to encircle their new mechanical friend. In the fade of the mist the four sent out light beams from their back to create a copy of yourself next to Hela that her hand passed through. “You have a hive mind, in one body. Impressive.”

Jane asked, “Hive mind?”

Hela’s hand gently made a resting spot for one of the bees and she told Jane, “This is a part of her mind, her essence. She can replicate these and each can handle tasks while she focuses on other things.”

Jane said, “They’re robots.”

“No, if you were to test their makeup they’re very core would match her genetic markers, she can divide cells from her body to create these, and each of them speaks to her, and her them. Your brain must be masterfully vast to make use of these. So many neurons to channel between each individual bee to form a hive. A power like that could cripple a person should they not be able to control it. A great many Sorcerer in the universe have been marked down to have been driven mad at a loss for how to counter the effects.”

Loki asked, “You’ve heard of this before?”

Hela answered, “Oh yes.” And she asked you, “You are quite brilliant, have the other mortals grown to appreciate your bees?”

“Bees, not really, unless the world is under attack and they are being used as a barrier against harm. They do appreciate my jellyfish that have been cleaning up the oceans and reefs. Although most industries are mad that I’ve been re-growing the forests and reversing the damage to the atmosphere. Not even mentioning the generators I used to power the residential areas of New York after a guy blew up the power plant and had the entire state dark for nearly three days.”

“Three days?” she asked in disbelief.

“Governments love legal red tape it would have taken longer if we hadn’t done it ourselves then all of the hospitals would have stayed dark and people’s lives would have been in risk. Somehow the system that is meant to protect people would rather try and work off of profits for their own pockets to keep from spending a dime to save the people they are strangling with taxes and debts that line their pockets in the first place. They would rather let people die to spare the effort to help them. Then you have the two new Sorcerers who want to be part of the Avengers who wouldn’t help to keep order in the streets so I had to use the Reality Stone to trap the rioters or people wishing to instigate fights in a dream world so they couldn’t bother the decent people while we installed the generators.”

“You have the Reality Stone?” Hela asked impressed and you nodded widening her smirk, “You took the stones from Thanos. Far more impressive than they give you credit.”

“Well I am just 18, and female, reason enough to lock me away. Good bit of medical documents in the dawn of the study of the human anatomy believed evil to be housed within the uterus.” You said making her roll her eyes.

Muttering to herself, “Typical.”

“Also the birth of the vibrator, doctors used to go around forcibly masturbating women claiming orgasms were a cure for delirium and madness within the frail female mind.”

Thor growled, “Barbarians.”

“Ignorance is key, if you don’t understand what is happening then how can you argue against the treatment they demand is the proper way to go. A huge reason why most narcissists and a good bit of serial rapists and killers go into medicine.” You turned your head and you said, “I sound a bit cynical on occasion when discussing the underbelly of my new country since leaving Hydra’s control.”

“Nothing wrong with a healthy level of cynicism when concerning hypocrites.” She said then added, “Or you could always just burn them alive.”

“Tried that, then the politicians declared me an enemy of the state.”

“No better place to be than enemy of the state to make some serious changes.” She nodded her head, “Come look at this.” A few steps she led you away only to turn as you did to the sound of a loud crack, the beginnings of an explosion that in an instant had your eyes and hair light up to the spring of your armor out. Around Jane you darted releasing an explosive barrier of mist that engulfed the machine between the Scientists working on it. And when the explosion dissipated the barrier held for a few moments and she stated, “You chose not to use your armor against my Einherjar. Now that is bold.” Her eyes swept over you, “And metal,”

“Vibranium, it’s from a comet that crashed to Earth so it might have a different name here. Is your suit made of leather too? Because if you really want to impress me I’d like to see some of your explosion proof cows.”

Loki started laughing at her puzzled expression and explained, “Humans cannot damage our armor, it makes for amusing conversations.” His eyes connected with yours saying, “We will show you our impervious cattle after a proper tour. Come see our energy converter, we use it to animate objects.”

Thor said, “One time Loki shoved a supply of wardrobes inside of the chamber and it took weeks for Father to hunt them all down.”

You giggled and Jane said, “Sounds like it could be useful in live action Beauty and the Beast remakes.”

Thor said, “Trouble is from things made of natural materials tend to turn wicked and blood thirsty.”

“Maybe you just haven’t found the right food source and blood is the closest to what they are craving.” You replied and he shook his head to Frigga’s chuckle. “Worst thing you can do is stop asking questions and assume you know it all.” You asked her in the retraction of your mask and the dim of your eyes and hair, “Is your helmet supposed to represent a beetle? Because it’s really cool. Beetles are actually a huge part of the insect ecosystem.”

“Female Bilgesnipe actually. Quite formidable beasts.”

“I have never seen one but I am guessing it would be.”

“We shall continue your tour, and Heimdall should be along shortly with your parents.” The heart breaking look on your face you tried to hide behind a stoic mask only read more painfully in your tear laced eyes making her say, “It is no trouble Father has located them weeks ago.”

“My mother, she couldn’t walk, or breathe on her own, when she died.”

“She can breathe and walk now. The transfer to Helheim would have had her ailments reversed.” You nodded and she turned her head pretending she didn’t see the stray tear that all but leapt from the corner of your eye mid blink Loki in a lean in to kiss your temple subtly brushed away.

You tried to remain calm and focus gladly on the tour. And yet when the six foot four burly father, source of your unruly raven curls and purple eyes, stood in an empty sitting room beside a petite near copy of your figure with white unruly curls and bright amber eyes both with hands intertwined drew a collective breath at the sight of you. Just how you remembered them. Just how they had been taken from you. A million things raced through your mind and yet all the words got caught in your throat to the free fall of tears that blurred your vision.

Hard and sudden to your knees at the buckle of your legs that had Loki struggle with his instinct to race over to pick you up as you collapsed and in a fold forward with your face in your hands spread in a lack for what else to do. Yet he didn’t have to when your mother dropped to scoop you into her chest. Desperately clinging to her your head buried in her neck to gasp a breath for air and sob out to your father, now on her side who scooped you both onto his lap, “I’m so sorry, I made them come.” Reluctantly Loki’s hand found the handle to the door that in the weight increasing in his chest became the heaviest thing he’d ever had to move. “If I hadn’t-,” you squeaked out to the hushed murmurs of your parents in your native tongue for the guards, Heimdall and the Ruling Family to hear and feel the weight. But none heavier than the blow of your squeak of, “I wasn’t meant to be this,” that broke off at the seal of the door that Loki closed his eyes and leaned back against unable to move from that spot.

Pt 22

All –

@sherala007, @mariannetora, @jesgisborne, @knitastically, @catthefearless, @theincaprincess, ggbbhehe4455, @lilith15000, @alishlieb,

Not nsfw(smut) - @otakumultimuse-hiddlewhore

X Loki - @pastelhexmaniac

#Wedding #Invited to Asgard #Who is that?#Hela #Heimdall #Frigga #Odin #Thor #Loki x oc #Secrets & Lies #Loki Odinson #Shieldmaiden Required #Test of a Future Queen #Meet the In-Laws

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