ACT I
King Odin was sitting in his office, a large scroll of parchment laying in front of him. His one blue eye narrowed as he looked over the kingdom's expenditure report for the last four months a second time. It could not be right. There had to be some error in it. The only problem was he could not find one. "Guards bring me the blacksmith." Odin's voice boomed, still refusing to accept what he was looking at. After a few moment's two guards led in the small balding blacksmith. Odin's attention finally moved from the parchment to the dwarf in front of him. "Tell me blacksmith. Why have I been giving you 300,000 gold a month making armor and weapons? The lands are no long at war. All is peaceful. This expenditure for your services is getting out of hand."
The blacksmith rubbed his hands together nervously, his eyes shifting back and forth not once looking at the king. "It is you son's milord." He finally was able to stutter out some words as his eyes stared at the tips of his own shoes. "Every morning they come to me. They claim their weapons dulled. Armor scoffed. Need more arrows. All that they have in poor condition. When I go to their private armory to check their weapons and armor, all they say is true. So I do as they ask and make them new ones and place them in their armory before the day is up."
"What proof have you?" Odin's voice reverberated in the walls, not amused with this answer from the servant. "Show me these supposed battle worn weapons and armor." Odin stood up, and the blacksmith began to recoil. His entire body shaking as the king approached him and the two guards that stayed on both of his sides were not helping his nerves either.
"Of course milord. I have yet to take their weapons and armor. They should still be in their armory." He continued to stutter and deeply bowed as the king walked past him heading straight towards his son's personal armory. As they reached the large wooden doors encased in dark iron, one of the guards opened the doors to allow his king and the blacksmith entrance to the room. The room was shaped as a hexagon and divided into five separate spaces. An array of different weapons and armor in each section. As he approached each shelving unit he saw the same thing. Ripped and torn leather, blood stained armor, dented shields, dulled swords, and a bow with a fading string. All the equipment in the room looked as if they had been heavily used on a years long campaign. "I gave each of those items to the princes yesterday." The blacksmith spoke up, but his attention was on a quiver and all the arrows he made, gone.
"Have my son's requested new equipment to be made?" The king asked as he picked up a circular dented shield. He turned it around in his hands, touching each dent figuring out what could have damaged it so.
"Yes milord." He answered quickly. "They came to me right as the sun had risen requesting new armor and weapons be put in here before the sun sets this day. It is their same request every morning."
"How long has this been going on?" He asked his eyes still lingering on the dented metal.
"I would say six months next week milord." He said, while quietly counting the months on his fingers.
Odin set the shield down and walked to the soldiers, "I will be in my throne room. I know my sons are having their lessons, but bring them to me immediately." He did not saying anything else to the shaking blacksmith, but left him alone to his duties.
As the guards opened the door to the throne room, five teenage boys walking in a straight line entered. The first had golden blond hair that hit his jaw line; his red and gold tunic was sloppily put on and not tucked into his black slacks. His face had some patches of dirt meaning he was having combat training before being told he was required to have an audience with his father. The second son followed, his blue and white tunic was freshly laundered, and short blond hair parted off to the side. He had a stern, militant look on his face as he followed his elder fraternal twin in line. Then followed the third son wearing a purple and green tunic, a thick, leather bound book in hand, where his glasses were dangling from one of the leather cords on the v neck of his tunic. Following him was another blond haired son, a quiver strapped over his black jacket and only a small sliver of his purple tunic could be seen. No arrows were in the quiver or bow in hand but a glove was still on his hand meaning he was at archery practice. Finally, his last son came in. A thin, deteriorating book with ancient symbols on it was safely tucked under his left arm, and a black vest covered his green tunic. His shoulder length long dark hair was slicked back into a loose ponytail making his green eyes the liveliest feature on his sallow face.
All stood in line, oldest to youngest as their father rose from his throne and approached them. "Thor. Steven. Robert. Clinton. Loki." He said looking at each son individually. "It has come to my attention that you have been going to the blacksmith requesting new armor and weapons to be made. It's costing the kingdom hundreds of thousands of gold. I know you have been keeping up with your studies during the day, so where have you been sneaking off to at night?" Odin walked down the line meeting each son's eyes individually. None of the boy's eyes moved once. All stood tall and still not saying a single word to their father. "Very well. If you don't wish to speak, maybe this will loosen your tongue." Odin said as his pacing came to a stop. "You all are at marrying age. If you do not wish to tell me where you go, then I shall make this proclamation across all the lands. Any prince or princess. Knight or duke or dame. Any person with a noble title or lineage who can discover where you go at night will marry one of you. Whichever one of you they wish. Then you two shall take over the throne and rule the kingdom instead of me. But if that person does not discover your whereabouts in three days times, they shall be executed."
"Father this is madness." Thor finally stepped forward. "Would you truly hand one of us and the kingdom over to some stranger for something as petty as this?"
"You are leaving the kingdom without my permission." Odin started, his temper rising with every passing word. "Fighting in battles during these peaceful times. Wasting our kingdoms precious gold. You are all being selfish. Disrespecting not only your king, but your kingdom. I would say my bargain is quite fair." Thor did not step back in line with his brother's but continued to glare at his father. Thor could feel all four pairs of his brother's eyes on him as he stood up to their father.
"There is nothing to confess father." Thor shot back before turning around and leaving the throne room.
Steve finally turned his head to look down the line at his other brothers, indicating them to follow suit, and leave their father without another word.
As the other four brothers approached their bedroom, they could already hear the smashing of furniture. Thor was obviously not happy their father found out about their late night escapades. Loki was the first to enter the room, brushing past all his elder brothers. "Thor..." He spoke up placing a hand on his oldest brother's shoulder.
"Leave brother." Thor said turning his head to look into the vibrant green eyes of his youngest brother.
"Father was bound to find out sooner or later." Loki continued as Thor angrily sat down on the edge of his bed.
"How do you think father found out?" Steve asked as he entered the bedroom, Bruce and Clint followed suit.
Bruce placed his book on his end table and sat down on the bed as well. "The expenditure report." He stated simply. "It is the eighth month. Father must have noticed the money spent on weapons and armor was much higher than previous one."
"He plans to sell us off as cattle." Thor groaned with his face in his hands. His shoulders were slumping as he finally lifted up his head to look to his brothers.
Steve sighed and sat on his bed as well. "Maybe we should just tell him where we have been going."
"And let him know I have been using magic?" Loki shot back quickly. "You know using magic is illegal. If father found out what I have been doing..."
"You're not the only one who is using magic Loki." Clint interrupted Loki before he could continue. "Bruce is just as guilty of that as you."
"But I was the one who made that dimension in the first place." Loki's eyes narrowed as he glared at Clint for interrupting him. "None of you were supposed to know of its existence. You just so foolishly stumbled upon it." He muttered under his breath irritated. It was hard for him. Being the youngest of five. And the one thing he is talented in. Magic. It is banned from the kingdom. Anyone caught performing any sorcery is executed on the spot. All because his mother died at the hands of a sorcerer. After her death, his father stopped trusting magic users, and set up the laws. Also, his father told him, to his face when he was only ten years old, if he was caught using magic, he would be killed in front of the whole kingdom as an example to how serious he is about enforcing this new law.
He had to practice in secret after that day. Sure, Bruce dabbled in magic here and there, he is a talented animagus. But the only reason he started studying magic again was because of the other dimension. Before that, and after magic was banned, he was happy studying these new sciences. Biology. Chemistry. Physics. He never wanted nor desired the throne, so after learning basic sword techniques, he focused on the sciences. He was the quiet middle child who kept up with his studies and never once fought with their father. But when he got angry, everyone knew it. Still he is considered one of the smartest men in all the kingdoms and many follow him and his research papers religiously. Some claim his is one of the most brilliant men to come along in the past thousand years.
Thor and Steve, the twins, they are the golden sons. The ones most likely to be king. Honorable warriors. Talented fighters. Women and men alike fancy them. Everyone in the kingdom put them on a high pedestal and worships the ground they walked on. They could do no wrong in the eyes of the masses. It sickens Loki. He cannot understand how the kingdom can follow such fools so blindly.
Clint is also a talented fighter, but like Bruce, has no desire to be king. He just wants to fight battles, win wars, and train nonstop. Many in the kingdom also fancy him from afar. But he does not possess nearly as many devout followers as the humble Steve and Thor.
Loki felt like he was the only one who saw his elder brothers for who they truly were and didn't deserve all the praise they received. But he is forever living in the shadow of his brothers. Sure he is a skilled fighter, but nowhere near as powerful as Thor, Steve, and Clint. Yes, he has a high intellect. But it is not on the same capable level as Bruce. All his life he was compared to his brothers, so when he finally found the one thing he was good at, magic, and was told he couldn't use it. Practice it. It tore him apart.
That was until he found a book. Old. Mold growing on some pages. It was slowly decaying. Some pages turning into dust as he turned them. He found it in the castle library, along with a few other books that taught magic before he father could burn them all. But this spell in particular, was of most importance. If performed correctly, he could create a door to another dimension. A dimension of his own creation. A place where he could practice his magic away from prying eyes. Learn to fight with it. Become stronger without anyone knowing. A place where he could prepare to be king.
It took him three years of training in unwatched corridors, spots in the gardens when no one was looking, to finally be skilled enough to perform that spell. He created a secret door behind his shelves in the armory he shared with his brothers. It can only be opened by an incantation spoken by him, but the one drawback is the door is made visible to anyone until Loki passes through it. It was not until a little under six months ago, that he was found out. Thor, Steve, and Clint were at combat training, and Bruce was in his laboratory as usual. It was the ideal time to spend a few hours away from the world and continue practicing his magic. However, moments after he spoke the incantation, Clint barged into the armory because he forgot his archery glove.
Loki could remember perfectly the smug look on his brother's face as he saw the door instead of the shelving unit that normally consisted of daggers, a few staffs, books, and leather outfits. In that moment, his heart stopped beating and his brain was no longer functioning. He was trapped. Found out. No words he could speak would get him out of this situation. He truly was rendered speechless.
Barging past Loki, Clint entered the alternate reality, curious as to what his brother was hiding. With sense finally returning to him, he followed his brother down the path leading to the dimension. He finally met up with Clint who was studying the foreign buildings. They were tall and narrow, appearing as if the touched the sky. Unusual lamps that were not made with fire, but something else entirely. The sky was internally gray, clouds low, and menacing.
A snake like creature with armor on its back slithered out from one of the broken windows. On instinct, he reached for an arrow, but soon remembered he left his bow and arrows at the range. Two small, glowing daggers whizzed past his head, penetrating the creature right between its eyes. Clint's eyes slightly showed interest as the creature dissolved just becoming a pile of sand on the street. "What is this place?" He asked turning to face his much taller younger brother.
Loki knew he needed to think fast. Make a quick decision. His life could be on the line. Cast a spell on your brother. Make him forget all of this. He told himself.
No. Another voice chimed in. You always thought your brothers were fools. That none of them deserved the crown. This is your chance. You control the world. The monsters. That monster came to attack Clint because it knew you didn't want him here. This is your domain. You are a god here. And if one of your brothers happen to fall prey to one of the creatures. Well that's one less in line for the throne.
But they are my brothers. Loki fought back. They may be fools. Ill suited for the throne. But what right do I have to kill them. Use them as expendable chess pieces? Erasing Clint's memory should suffice.
Then you will forever remain the last son. The son with no use. Your only good will be for marriage to some other noble family. You will continue hiding who you really are. What you are capable of. But if you were king. You could use your magic. Show how worthy you are. You alone can change the kingdom. All you need to do is knock your brothers out. And what better way to do it than in a world you can only access. A world you have complete control of. You would never be found out.
"If I tell you Clint, you can never tell father."Loki spoke darkly as the two forces continued to battle within him...
"We need a plan." Thor finally said, his head rising from his face, causing Loki to snap out of his fantasy from the past. "I will not allow father to use us in his games."
"But can we really let innocent people die because of us?" Steve interjected quickly. "If father was not going to execute those who fail..."
"Loki." Thor said looking intently at his younger brother. "There is no one I know who is better at plans of trickery and deceit than you."
"That is true brother." Loki started slowly, a plan already taking shape in his head. A plan that could better assist him and his attempt for the throne. "But what you ask me to do will put us all at risk. Yes, I will be the one using magic. Manipulating not only father, but everyone in our kingdom. While I have no qualms performing such sorcery, I will not be the only one charged if caught. All of you will be at risk. And I will not hesitate bringing you all down with me if charged to death by father for using magic."
"Tell us your plan brother." Thor said without a second hesitation, making a small grimace form on Loki's thin lips.
*One Month later*
It was early morning, all the sons were at their various lessons, and did not know of the spectacle going on about the city. Sir Phillip Coulson entered the city on horseback, and all the citizens knew why.
It was no secret of the knight's infatuation with the second son of Odin. Prince Steven. And a chance to have him. To be able to marry the prince. Was an opportunity he swiftly jumped on.
Being the first to attempt the king's challenge, it was unknown what type of reception he would receive from the princes. If they were eager for the challenge. Rumors of bets being wagered among the servants and townspeople spread quickly. Many in the prince's favor over that of King Fury of Shield most loyal knight.
Guards came to each of the boy's lessons telling them their father requested their presence in his throne room. Entering one by one, each boy sized up the knight who was talking to their father. Their first victim. "Sir Phillip Coulson, Knight of Fury, I present to you my sons. My eldest Thor, second Steven, third Robert, fourth Clinton, and my fifth Loki." Phil's stoic face quickly turned jovial and the mention on Steve's name, but returned to his normal indifference as soon as the third son was presented. "You know what is expected of you."
"Yes your majesty." the knight said with a low, respectful bow. "I have three days to discover the location your son's go to at night."
"And if you fail." The king added making sure he could beat the severity of failure into his son's. "You will be executed the morrow of the fourth day." Coulson nodded his head in agreement, but knew he would not fail. "You may sleep in the room across from my son's, patrol the corridors, and the estate, but as soon as I lock my son's door for the night, you may not enter their chambers." The king said, setting the final crucial key.
"Of course your majesty." Coulson said with another bow, but his eyes moved back to look at the second son again.
"We will feast in your honor tonight." The king declared, "Until then, my son's will return to their studies, and you may search the castle for any clues."
"Of course, your majesty." The knight said with a final low bow, before the guards escorted him out of the throne room and to his own chambers in the castle
*Three days later*
The five boys stood on the terrace, but stood several feet behind their father. The stage was set. The executioner was studying his newly sharpened sword making sure the cut would be clean. Steve however could not look. "Loki you must do something." Steve whispered, as the knight was pushed into the kneeling position. "Sir Phil does not deserve to die because of me."
"Sir Phil huh?" Clint said slyly. "Since when have you been so friendly with the guy? Calling him Phil instead of Phillip."
"Please brother." Steve continued, his voice slightly cracking as the executioner swung the sword in the air a few times. "Is there nothing you can do? Spare his life."
Loki still stayed silent, not answering his brother, his eyes mesmerized by the polished silver of the sword. "Steve do you love this man?" Thor asked his younger twin, seeing the desperate look in the matching blue eyes.
"I don't know if what I feel is love. But I do care for him. And I know that I can't let him die. I will never forgive myself if I let him be killed because he was after my hand. Both he and I know father would never permit a union between us under normal circumstances. Despite his noble title, the marriage would gain the kingdom nothing. This was his only chance. If you can do something Loki. Please save him." Steve continued to plead, and Loki finally looked at his brother with apathetic eyes.
"You do realize what it is you're asking me to do. Use magic in front of the whole kingdom." Loki's voice was rigid as he spoke, not showing any care for his brother's pleas. "And even if I do use magic to save him then what? Father will suspect something if I break the sword. And if I teleport him away from the kingdom, there is still a chance people will recognize him. Whispers that he still lives will make it to the kingdom. Saving him will only result in more problems."
The time had finally arrived. The crowd of citizens were hushed and the executioner approached Philip. "I beg you brother. Save him. If you do so..." Steve's hushed voice trembled, knowing what he was going to say would more than likely bite him in the ass later, but he didn't care. Phil's life is more important than anything else. After all, what is the worst thing Loki could ask him to do? He may be a master of magic, schemes, and tricks. But Loki is his brother and he may get jealous at times, but has never shown any true malintent. "I will be in your debt, and do whatever it is you ask of me."
Only Clint saw Loki's face beaming at those words, for his lips, moved far too quickly for anyone else to notice. "Anything?" Loki asked keeping his indifference as the sword was lifted up in the air.
"I swear." Steve said, desperation, in his frantic voice as the sword seemed to be moving in slow motion towards the knight's neck. "Anything you ask of me."
Steve saw his brother's lips move for only a second before turning his attention back to Phil. He didn't know what Loki was doing, what was happening. All he did know was that the sword struck the neck, and the knights head, fell into a wicker basket. Tears attempted to break free, his eyes already beginning to redden as the guilt set in. He wanted to shout, scream. Cradle the decapitated body. But he could not show such weakness nor risk punishment from his father for such an act. Thor placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, gripping it tightly in support. It helped Steve to stand strong, to not show how much this truly is affecting him.
Their father walked passed them, his eyes glinting, and a small smile on his lips. Almost as if he was challenging his sons to continue with their plan.
Steve formed a fist in his hand, his whole body shaking at he glared defiantly at his father as he walked past them. Finally, when their father was no longer in sight, and guards left, that a trembling fist met Loki's face. "You said you would spare him." Steve shouted his heart could no longer handle it as few tears escaped.
Loki rubbed his jaw as he glared at Steve. "And I did as you pleaded. I spared his life." His said trying to keep his voice indifferent. In all actuality he wanted to fight his brother back. Show that he is not as weak of a fighter as he lets on. He hated putting on such shows around his brothers.
"I watched his head fall into the basket. Blood trickle onto the platform." Steve shouted incredulously.
"It was an illusion." Loki growled. "Your precious Sir Philip is actually tucked safely away in another dimension. A dimension where he will slumber until I so choose to pull him out of it." Loki decided to not go that deep into the logistics of it. Or give away what he actually did do. But even his laments term explanation of what he has done did not seem to please Steve, who grabbed his slightly taller, younger brother by the shirt, pulling him down to eyes level.
"And when will that be Loki?" Steve asked as his blue eyes pierced into the green ones. "When will you gift him the chance of freedom from this new prison?"
"You were the one that pleaded so desperately to me to save him."Loki said with a small bite of venom in his voice. "And I so graciously obliged to your request despite the risk of being caught using magic. If anyone was not paying attention to the execution. If they were looking our way. What I was doing could have been seen." Loki snapped back, more venom spitting out from his brother's lack of gratuity. "You needn't worry. I will free him. But remember. You are in my debt. And I will not free him until that debt is paid."
Steve pushed Loki away, freeing him from his grasp."And you question why father doesn't trust those who use magic." Steve said before straightening himself up and walking away.
After Steve was out of earshot Thor looked at Bruce and Clint. "Brother's leave me and Loki be. We need to talk."
Clint crossed his arms standing his ground. "No. I think I want to hear this. See how the silver tongue slithers his way out of this one." However Bruce grabbed his younger brother by the arm, pulling him away, to give Thor and Loki their privacy.
"Loki." Thor started, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You know when we first started this plan; Steve was the only one to express his dislike of allowing innocent to get killed. And despite saying he does not know if what he feels is love for Sir Phillip, I believe he has formed strong feelings for him. Despite this. None of us are ready for marriage. Ruling the kingdom. And what father is doing is wrong. Steve knows this, which is why he held back as long as he could. He understands this is the only way we can stand up to father. But was their truly nothing else you could have done for Sir Philip?"
Loki took a deep slow breath, regaining his composure. "If anyone was not completely focused on Sir Philip and the execution, then there is a chance they would have seen it. That brief moment when I placed him in the other dimension, and put a death row inmate in his place. I had to cast an illusion that made everyone believe that it was Sir Philip getting executed, no one else. If anyone looked away for even a moment, then they would have seen the switch."
Thor sighed, loosening his grip. "I understand the risk you took, but was there nothing else you could have done? Must he stay in this other dimension? And his release? You truly cannot keep him hostage until Steve keeps his promise."
Loki's eyes shifted to the ground, doing his best to keep on the performance. To continue acting like he cares about his brother's feeling, when in actuality, he does not give a damn. "He needs to stay in the dimension until all of this is over. Until it is safe to reveal what I have done. If father learns I have still been using magic. He will kill me. Or attempt to anyways. If Sir Philip was free. If there were any whispers that he lives. Father would get suspicious. He might figure out I have still been studying magic. I cannot allow it. So long as we keep up this charade, we do it on my terms since my head is the first one in line." Loki finally looked up into Thor's eyes. Seeing if Thor was falling for the act. Being sympathetic towards his brother's ordeal. "Steve should be grateful I did anything at all. I didn't have to spare his life. We knew that those who fail would be executed, and I came to terms with that when I came up with this plan. He should have done the same. Accept the fact you can't always play the hero. That sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good."
"You are still young Loki. Just turned fifteen two weeks ago. You still have much to learn about the world."
"You're only three years older than me." Loki shot back. "What do you know of the world?"
"That other dimension we go to." Thor said finally removing his hand from Loki's shoulder. "Training there. Fighting those creatures. Having to think up of battle strategies. Make sure we all come out of it alive. It has made me think on all the decisions our father had to make while he was our age. When the kingdom was at war. There were no peaceful times, like the ones we know. While I have yet to see battle in this world, and pray I never do, it has given me insight on what it means to be a king leading a charge. Tonight. When we fight. Maybe you should think about who you are fighting for. Why we are training so hard. Who it is you want to protect in this world, that you need the other to become strong enough."
Loki already knew the answer to that question. It was an answer Thor, Steve, none of his brother's would understand. He fights and trains for himself. For his own goals. For his own desire. He fights to become king. And to show his father, that he is worthy of the throne. He is a worthy son. That magic, his greatest asset, it is not something he can ever banish completely from the kingdom. That his fear in magic, will only make Loki stronger.
"I will speak to Steve." Thor finally said, seeing as how Loki was not answering him. "He will see reason, and you did what you thought was best to keep him alive. He just needs some time to get over the shock of how real looking your illusion was." With that Thor left, leaving the youngest brother alone on the terrace. He walked over to the edge of it, his hands tightly gripping the railing. A servant had a bucket of water and a brush, attempting to clean the new blood stains on the platform. One single person still stood where the crowd was, a cloak was covering her, but it fell as she looked up to see the sole prince standing there. Her tangled red hair broke free, and Loki immediately knew who it was. His next victim. His next target. Clint's secret love interest will now try her hand at the crown, and get revenge for her fallen comrade. Natasha Romanov. Dame of Fury. She would be the next to attempt to night time location of the princes. And just like Sir Phillip, she would fail. Become another pawn in his quest to become king. And that is one promise Loki would guarantee.