Thor and Sif were opposite each other, walking around, both prepared for the other to make the first move. Fandral, Volstagg and Hogun were at the side of the field they were sparring in, whilst Loki was sitting beneath a tree that shaded him from the sun, his knees propping up a thick, old, worn-out magic book that he was reading.

"Do not be so confident, Thor. I may be a woman but I am a warrior no less..."

Loki drowned out Sif's words as his eyes skimmed over the all too familiar, scribbled in black ink words that deceased mages had written. Of course, Loki knew all of the spells that the book in his lap held, but he had nothing better to do as he was dragged out to the field by Thor - his simple-minded, arrogant, senseless brother.

Sif made the first move as she charged at Thor, her spear by her side as she swung it around aiming to hit her opponent with it, but having it hit out of the way by Mjölnir - The hammer that was specifically made for Thor. Thor quickly spun Mjölnir in his hand and swung it at Sif, though she was quick to move and took her flexibility to her full advantage as she leaned back on her hands before springing up and kicking Thor square in the chest, making him fall backward across the field toward the tree Loki was sitting under.

Thor stopped skidding across the floor beside Loki, right at the front of the tree. He looked up at his brother as he rolled over getting up onto his knees, grinning, receiving only a bored look in response. As if the kick wasn't enough, Sif sent several daggers at Thor, secretly aiming at Loki, too. Some of the daggers skimmed Thor's head, quickly sinking themselves into the tree behind him, whereas the daggers aimed at Loki were caught between the long, slender, pale fingers on his right hand.

"It seems that even after a century she has not yet forgiven you over the hair incident, brother." Thor huffed.

"Apparently not." Loki replied, glancing at Thor before holding his hand out, offering the daggers to him as Sif charged at Thor.

"You should know by now that I am far above weapons as puny as daggers, Loki." Thor laughed and charged right back at Sif, calling Mjölnir to his hand. Loki watched them spar for a moment, before sending the daggers in Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun's direction as he heard them laughing at what Thor had just said to him. A satisfied smirk made its way to his face as he heard them yell and dive to the floor, into the dirt that littered the field under all of the grass.

As The Warriors Three were scrambling back to their feet, Loki returned to his book, re-reading words that he had already read over a thousand times before. They were engraved into his memory - so much so that he didn't even have to speak the magical words in order to activate the spells. Nowadays, he merely had to do a hand gesture and the spells would work, according to how he manipulated them. Any other mage in Asgard, or across all of the nine realms, would recite the words written and the spell would work according to the description beside it. Not for Loki. He had practiced and practiced his magic until the point of perfection. He had found ways around the spells so that he could work with them in whichever way he pleased. The cloning spell - for example - the description was that you could only ever make one clone at a time, yet Loki had surpassed this and had managed to make several. He had surpassed all of the spells, not that many knew of this. The ones that did know were opponents such as elves and dwarves of which had attacked him, later announced as deceased as Loki had killed them with one swift hand gesture.

Loki was powerful, yet all of Asgard underestimated his power, calling it feminine and un-manly compared to Thor and his brutal strength, along with his mighty hammer.

As Fandral removed the daggers in the tree and sat beside Loki, he didn't receive a glance, nor anything to acknowledge that he even knew Fandral was there. Taking this as a chance, Fandral peeked over Loki's shoulder to see what book he was reading, not the slightest bit surprised as he saw that it was a book of spells. Fandral assumed that Loki already knew most of these spells, as from what the God had seen of him in battle, he was quite gifted in the department of sorcery. He also knew that he had not seen the full potential of Loki's power and to be honest he did not want to see it, nor be on the receiving end of his abilities. He knew that Loki was dangerous if you messed with him. He knew that you didn't want to anger Loki, because if you did, you would be in line for his next mischievous prank or emotional outburst. Not that those happened very often - but if you had grew up with Thor, having Loki tag along with you to most places, you happen to get to know him a little bit.

"Get him, Sif!" Volstagg roared, earning Fandral to jump at his sudden outburst, then chuckle at how lost in thought he was.

"Fandral!" Hogun shouted over to Fandral, earning the mans attention. "Thor and Sif have nearly finished sparring. You and Volstagg are up next!"

Fandral grinned, calling back over to them "And we all know whose going to win out of the two of us!" of which earned a confident sounding laugh from Volstagg. Loki glanced at the exchange with bored eyes. He did not even want to come out to witness the bunch of gluttons and their maiden charge at each other, fighting like oaf's.

"Do stop staring, Fandral," Loki murmured when he felt Fandral's eyes on him once again. "It is rather irritating."

If that wasn't a warning, Fandral didn't know what was. He quickly shifted his gaze back to the fight before him, biting back all of the flirtatious words that threatened to leave his lips. If it were any other person of which was mildly attractive - of which Loki was, in his eyes - the words would have been spoken and he would be working his charms on whoever he was charming. Not towards Loki, though. Oh, no. Fandral had been there before and it was not, lets say, a very pleasant experience. He had experienced the sharp edge of Loki's words, the cold frontier that separated him from who Loki really was and he didn't want to go back there. Fandral had seen enough and had decided from then on he would stick to maidens - preferably ones that do not use magic - as he had also been threatened by The God of Mischief, Lies, Trickery and Fire.

As Thor threw Mjolnir at Sif, Sif found that she could not move as she usually would to gracefully dodge the hammer. Her legs felt as if they had turned to lead, leaving her frozen to the very spot she was standing in. She glanced up at the hammer heading across the field in her direction, not wanting to be hit by it. Making a frustrated noise, she tried to move her arms and upper body to at least duck the hammer that was going to hit her square in the chest, finding that she couldn't even do that. All she could do was watch as the hammer flew at her.

If Fandral had continued to watch Loki, then perhaps he may of seen the flick of Loki's wrist as he activated and manipulated a spell that would cause Sif's body to be paralyzed to that same spot she was still standing in. He had cast the spell without having to recite the words - like the imbeciles thought he had to. They didn't yet know that he could cast a spell without reciting the appropriate words, though Sif now had her suspicions. After all, she couldn't just suddenly become paralyzed after being fully able to move a few moments before. Especially since there was a certain God of Mischief sitting by the sidelines.

Just as the hammer was about to hit Sif, Loki waved his hand to the side, releasing the spell that he had cast on her. Sif found that she could now move her body again. Ignoring her suspicions, she attempted to dive out of the way of Mjölnir, but it was too late.

Thor's eyes widened as he saw that Sif was not moving out of the way. "Sif-!"

Sif let out a cry of pain as Mjölnir hit her square in the center of her chest, sending her flying across the field, being trapped under the mighty hammer as she was dragged across the ground, making dusty dirt fly into the dry air, leaving a trail as she dragged up ground as she went. She knew it was no use to try and get the hammer off of her, so she lay there in the blazing heat, the pressure of Mjölnir's power bearing down on her. She wheezed and clenched her teeth in agony at the feeling of immense pressure. If she were not a God, the mere force of the hammer would have killed her.

The Warriors Three and Thor watched wide eyed in shock for a moment, before they all sprung into action. Fandral scrambled up from his seat next to Loki and ran over to where Sif was lying. Volstagg and Hogun followed suit, whereas Thor called Mjölnir back to him as he ran over to Sif. Sif gasped for air as the pressure was removed off of her chest and she rolled over onto her knees, before being helped up by Fandral's hand.

"Sif, are you okay? I apologize, I knew not that Mjölnir would hit you." Thor looked guilty as he walked over to where Sif was standing, fuming, a look of hatred claiming her eyes as she stared over at Loki, who was sitting down in the same position as he had previously been in, having not moved, looking rather smug.

"Liesmith." She hissed, stalking over toward where Loki was seated. All eyes immediately went to Loki as realization kicked in that he had been behind the occurrence.

Loki glanced up at Sif, a look of innocence on his face as he masked himself feeling rather smug and the urge to laugh in the maidens face. "Yes?- Oh, my, Sif, you look rather filthy. Perhaps we should return back to the city so you can clean yourself."

Sif snarled as she grabbed Loki by the front of his dark brown, black tunic, dragging him up so that he was on his feet, pinned against the wall. Despite the height difference, Sif had no problem with this as she was strong and Loki was not that weighty. "You did that on purpose, Liesmith."

Loki looked down at her, tilting his head to the side slightly, replacing the look of sheer boredom on his face with fake interest and curiosity. "Did what, Sif?"

"You caused my temporary paralysis, of which led to embarrassment during battle!" Sif's sharp eyes never left Loki's gleaming green ones as her glare darkened, becoming more fierce. She had had enough of Loki's tricks, Loki's lies, the constant embarrassment that he caused to her.

"How was I the cause of your embarrassment when my lips did not utter a single word, let alone magic spell?" Loki asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly, daring her to answer the question that she knew not the answer to.

Before she had time to respond, Fandral was by her side, prying off her deathly grip on Loki's tunic. Volstagg was behind her, gripping her shoulders, pulling her back away from Loki. Hogun stood by the side, watching Loki carefully, for any signs that he had, indeed, caused Sif's temporary paralysis whereas Thor was by Loki's side to steady him when Sif's fingers were pried off of his tunic, though it was most un-necessary.

"Brother," Thor asked, putting a hand on Loki's shoulder and looking into his eyes for any sign of a lie. "Did you do this?"

"Of course not, Thor," Loki's lie was instant, rolling off of his silver tongue naturally. "I was lost in my book of spells, and you know as well as I that sorcerers cannot perform spells without reciting the words necessary."

Thor looked at Loki for a while, before looking over his shoulder at Sif who was now calming down in the hold of both Volstagg and Fandral. "Aye... Sif, you know as well as every other Æsir that the sorcerers need to recite their words."

Sif looked at Thor in disbelief, of which quickly turned into rage. "You believe the Liesmith, the trickster, over your friend?" She yelled, expressing how hurt she was.

Thor looked at Sif, seeing the hurt that was plastered on her face, the depth of it showing in her eyes, before looking back at Loki. "Well, unless Loki has found some way to cast these spells without the use of words-" there was a gleam in Loki's eyes, of which did not go un-noticed by Thor as he was looking into them. He paused, before his eyes widened in shock and realization. "Brother- but... how did you manage to accomplish such a task?!"

All eyes went to Loki as he swatted away Thor's hand that was resting on his shoulder. He glanced at each of them, seeing the disbelief and shock in their eyes, though it was also apparent on their emotion-filled faces. Loki brushed himself down of the dirt that had fell on him from Sif, before replying smoothly. "You all underestimate me, so."

There was a short moment of awkward filled silence, before Volstagg piped up, announcing "Thor, we should test your brothers new found skill!"

Thor grinned. "Aye! Brother, you must spar with us!"

Loki sighed, placing a hand over his eyes as his head hung slightly. He massaged his forehead with his slender fingers for a moment, before giving in, knowing that Thor would not leave him be until he saw at least a glance of him fighting without reciting the magical words that would normally of been necessary. "Alright," he agreed, "But I only wish to fight Thor." He added, causing, if possible, Thor's grin to widen.

He assumed Sif had wanted to fight him after what he had just done to her and his assumptions were proved correct as she huffed in annoyance, walking over and sitting cross legged on the ground beside Loki's now forgotten book of spells. As Thor and Loki moved toward the middle of the field, standing opposite each other, a few feet apart, The Warriors Three took their positions beside Sif in order to watch the spar that was about to take place.

Thor's grin faded into his determined, battle-lust filled face as he looked at Loki, holding Mjölnir securely by his side. "Brother, you may have expanded your power but you should not think yourself more powerful than I."

Loki stood there, his arms crossed over his chest as he gave Thor a look that screamed 'are you really that stupid?' - A look of which Thor has seen many times. He put his arms back down by his side, as he let out a fed-up breath. "You clumsily swing that hammer of yours around as your weapon, yet you do not even know the extent of your opponents powers. Please, brother, do not assume yourself more powerful than me."

Thor chuckled before stating "We shall see, Loki." and with that, he charged at Loki, raising Mjölnir in the air and swinging it at Loki, to find that Loki had used his magic to replace his empty hands with Sif's spear. Metal chimed as the two weapons hit each other and Loki used Thor's shock to his advantage as he kicked Thor's chest, making him stumble backward slightly.

Sif looked at her own hands, where her spear once was then back up at the fight furiously as she saw that Loki was now using her weapon as his own. She looked between the fight and her hand in bewilderment as for once she acknowledged and appreciated Loki's level of power. She knew that Loki could use magic - Norns, everyone in Asgard knew that he could use magic - but not to the extent of not needing to recite the necessary words.

The Warriors Three watched in amazement as Loki gracefully dodged Thor's attacks, using the spear to swat Mjölnir out of the way and shoot various elements of magic toward his brother. Thor continued attacking, not giving up, not backing down, not slowing his attacks as the battle went on. Loki continuously dodged and every now and then he made his own attacks using both his magic and the spear he had borrowed, without her consent, from Sif.

As Loki left a blind spot open, not really being specialized in one-on-one fights though he had practiced by sparring countless times with Thor, Thor quickly knocked the spear out of Loki's hands, sending it out of Loki's reach across the field, not too far from them. Loki sent a fake look of panic at Thor as he quickly swung Mjölnir at Loki's direction again.

Everyone with the exception of Loki thought that the hammer would hit him, send him flying - but when Thor brought his hammer down upon Loki and felt it slicing through the air, his eyes widened as the image of what he believed to be Loki flickered and faded from existence. Silence hung in the air as Thor stood up straight, looking around the field in confusion for any sign of his brother who had miraculously disappeared. Sif and The Warriors Three froze, wide-eyed, not quite believing what they had just witnessed. How could they not of seen before just how powerful Loki was? To of cast a spell of that level without even murmuring, without his lips even moving to recite the spells words?

They all looked up at the tree that Sif and the Warriors Three were by when they heard Loki's cackling coming from it. Loki was standing on one of the branches of the tree, leaning against the bark of it. He had his arms crossed over his chest and he looked down at them, a smug smile tugging at his lips. "I told you that you all-"

Before Loki could continue, a look of sheer panic took over him as he saw the colours of the rainbow and felt his stomach drop from the nothingness that temporarily surrounded him.

Sif, The Warriors Three and Thor looked up at where Loki had been teleported by the bi-frost, confused and still in shock.

"I do not think that was meant to happen." Hogun stated, breaking the silence that had crept up on the group.

As Loki's feet touched solid ground again, after a second or two of being teleported by the bi frost; the momentary feeling of pure nothingness around him - he looked around to see that he had been teleported to the rainbow bridge itself. He looked over at the bi-frosts entrance, or exit, seeing Heimdall standing proudly, sword in hand as he removed it from the slot that allowed his gatekeeper powers to activate the transportation device.

Loki hesitated for a moment, a frown of confusion making its way to his face as he walked elegantly over toward the gatekeeper. "Heimdall," he said, pausing before asking "Why did you bring me here?"

Heimdall's all-seeing golden eyes never left Loki's as The God of Mischief approached him. "The All-Father wishes to see you." the deep, calm voice stated, only confusing Loki further.

The Trickster stopped and frowned, tilting his head to the side as he looked at Heimdall. "Surely he would have sent a messenger to tell me of this instead of teleporting me to a place where he is not?"

"I brought you here to warn you." he replied shortly, not explaining any further, making Loki question him again.

"About what, exactly?"

"Our King wishes to speak with you about your recently revealed set of advanced skills." The gatekeeper spoke in riddles, but Loki was quick to catch on. He was no fool - Loki was intelligent, a quick thinker, far more intelligent than people gave him credit for. Not that many gave him credit for his smart intellect anyway; attention rarely came to him, unless he made it happen. Mainly through mischievous pranks, though sometimes through the anger that rose every now and then.

Loki went to reply, but was cut short as that familiar feeling of nothingness and the familiar sight of the colours of the rainbow invaded his senses. Before he knew it, he was stood before the All-Father - his father - Odin. The King of Asgard, who sat proudly, fully armored on his throne, looked down at Loki. His one-eyed gaze met Loki's green eyes and Loki immediately knelt down on one knee, putting an arm across his chest, his hand balled into a fist that rested over where his heart is. He lowered his head so that his gaze was on the floor before him.

He hated doing this. He would never admit it out loud, he would never voice it, but he hated kneeling before a man who favored Thor - his brother, over himself. A man who had for countless centuries ignored Loki's achievements, Loki's accomplishments, what Loki was proud of; for what? To brush off all of what Loki has done to attempt to make him proud. To look over at Thor instead, praising Thor for pointless, little things such as hunting down a deer for fun? For entertainment? He never, ever showed Loki any love. Not anymore. Not since himself and Thor had grown from when they were children. They now appeared as what the mortals called 'teenagers' - the period of when one is growing from a child into a man or maiden.
A man who hardly ever paid Loki any attention anymore, unless he wanted something, unless it was to bring the consequences upon Loki for one of his tricks. Punishments. Pain. Suffering.

Loki was kneeling before a man of which he desperately tried to gain his attention, his pride, his praise, his love and acceptance - but for what? For pointless attempts? To receive nothing but that same, disappointing look?

Loki hated it, yet he could not stop trying to gain what he wanted. To be seen as equal to Thor, by all of Asgard, by Thor's foolish friends, by all of the nine realms, by his mother - Frigga - but most of all, by Asgard's King. The All-Father. His father. Odin.

He wanted to find out, he desperately wanted to know why Odin would not see him as equal to Thor. Was it because he used magic over physical strength and weapons? Was it because Loki was dark haired whereas Thor's hair was golden and shining? Was it because Thor had a muscular form whereas Loki was thin, only toned with muscle unlike Thor - who had biceps as large as his head? Or perhaps the fact that Loki caused mischief, trouble and brought tricks upon people whereas Thor was the golden child, the obedient child, always obeying their father unless his own decisions clouded that loyalty?

He didn't know, yet he desperately wanted to know.

"Loki." Odin's voice caused Loki to snap out of his trail of thoughts. "You may look up."

Loki complied and raised his head, looking up at the All-Father. He remained silent, as did the rest of the hall, waiting upon what Odin would say next, though Loki already knew of it. His magic - Loki was here because of his magic - the fact that he is far stronger than what he made others believe.

"I expect you already know of why you are here, Loki," Odin started, not moving from his throne, his gaze still bearing down on Loki. Staying silent for a moment, he continued. "We did not know of how strong you truly were as you kept that hidden from the eyes of Asgard - and for that, it has been decided that you go in to the arena of trials to decide whether you are a threat to all of the nine realms."

Looking up at his father in disbelief, Odin continued. "We know not of your true potential, so you shall be put against many enemies until we have witnessed this potential of yours." The All-father paused, letting the words sink in before continuing, "Your trials shall begin in one hour. I expect to see you fully prepared within the arena. There shall be an audience of which will also witness the event, as well as myself and the Queen of Asgard."

"Odin, do not be so harsh, one hour? You cannot possibly think that our son will be prepared for this in-"

"Worry not, mother," Loki stood up, interrupting his mother as he looked up at his parents. "I shall be prepared and waiting."

Glancing between his mother and father - King and Queen - he gave them one last look through his sharp emerald green eyes before turning on his heel and leaving the throne room, servants and guards opening the massive double, norse-ruin engraved golden doors as he made his way toward them, exiting the massive hall, beginning to walk down the corridors of the palace and toward the direction of his chambers.

In one hours time, Loki was going to prove to Odin that magic can be as strong as weilding a mere weapon. He was going to prove that he could be equal to Thor, that he could make his father proud instead of disappointed. That yes, he could not spar using weapons very well, but he could, indeed, spar using magic. Loki was one of the best mages in all of Asgard and he was going to prove to the All father - Odin - his father that he was underestimating him.

In one hours time, the younger Prince of Asgard was going to prove to all of the Æsir that they had been underestimating him greatly.