Thor could hear the laughing and talking of the party below. He was stuck in his room, feeling imprisoned as he would much rather be at the party than stuck in his room. Sif was probably there too, and great food and drinks. Now the reason he was in his room was because he and Loki had accidentally taken some golden apples and some potion making supplies without paying for them. Thor had let him explain to Father, because he was convincing ang good with words, but of course, Loki being the liar and trickster, Odin thought he knew better than to trust him. Loki, however, was probably just fine with this punishment, as he never really liked going to parties, anyways. Reading a book, the prince was doing just fine, and he liked this part of the story because it was the climax, and there was lots going on. Thor decided to walk into Loki's room, with a plan to get out of their bedrooms.

"Hey, Loki!" Whispered Thor, loudly.

"What is it, Brother?" Loki didn't bother to look up.

"I have an idea!" He said, now standing next to Loki.

"Your ideas are ones of fools. But go on." Thor ignored that comment and said:

"We shall go to the party downstairs!" A grin crossed his face.

"No, we shall not. If we do, we'll be found by Father, and i'd much rather stay here."

"Please, brother? I will tell you if father is coming and I believe Astrid will be there." Loki perked up as he heard that name. Astrid was very nice and pretty, and was very talented as magic. Loki really wanted to be friends with her. He also did enjoy the sound of causing a bit of mischief with the consent of his brother. That never really happened. Yet he would just rather stay in his room, finishing his new book.

"No, Brother, now stop bothering me."

"If you don't I will tell the whole village that you are in love with Astrid." Thor said, with a foolish smile.

"I am not in love with Astrid!" Loki exclaimed, shouting.

"That is a lie I will not believe, Loki"

"Fine," grumbled Loki. "But you need to look out to see if father is coming first, for me. Sometimes I really do wonder who should be deemed the 'mischievous one'."

Loki and Thor carefully crept down the asgardian stairs. They reached the party, and saw people eating, drinking and talking. Loki scanned the crowd for Astrid and saw her. Thor had begun to talk to Sif and Hogan.

"Brother, I'll be over there, talking to Astrid, alright?"

"Alright Brother, but make sure Father doesn't see you." He said, whispering so his warrior friends couldn't hear. Loki went up to Astrid. Astrid turned around and greeted Loki with a friendly hello.

"Hello, Loki!"

"Hello Astrid, I was wondering if you could show me how to do that new magic trick you learned."

"I don't know Loki. You're always playing tricks on my friends and they don't like it very much. You also hurt me that one time when you turned into a bird." Astrid looked down at the scar on her hands. Loki did do that, but he was planning to turn himself back after she had put the 'bird' down.

"Fine then, Astrid. I will just ask Kana. She will be sure to tell me."Said Loki with a mischievous grin on his face. Loki knew Karna was her older sister, and was always trying to make Astrid look honestly didn't like Kana, but that was a lie. If Astrid didn't tell him he would just try to convince Mother to teach him.

"Alright, Loki I will teach you. But you must promise not to play any more tricks on me or my friends. Do we have a deal?" Astrid had a cute smile on her face, as always.

"I suppose we do. Can you teach me right now? Outside of the castle?"

"I suppose, I will ask my Mother. Wait here." Astrid ran off to her Mother. A few seconds later, Thor came running to him.

"Brother! We must go now. Father is walking around here. I fear he will see us. Let's go back to our rooms for now."

"Thor, you are so careful of everything. I am staying here." Loki really wanted to learn that trick, and he couldn't see his father anywhere.

"Suit yourself, Loki. I am going up to my bedroom." Thor ran off to his room. Loki waited for about 30 more seconds before he heard a voice yelling:

"Loki Odinson! Come here this minute!" It was his father, Odin. Loki unwillingly ran to his father, trying to shake off the feeling of being looked at. He followed his father to an unpopulated place in the castle, and Loki sat down on one of the benches. "Loki! Why must you always cause mischief! You never take your punishment justly. You always must find some way to get out of it, mustn't you?"

"Father! I was not the one who wanted to go down to the party! Thor was, and he told me that I had to go." In a small, defiant voice, he added; "You're always saying how Thor is a good role-model for me." It was true. Father was always telling Loki to 'look up' to his older brother.

"I will not listen to you're silvertongue lies! Thor is in his room. Go to yours."

"But… Father! I am telling the truth! I am sure of it!" Loki did not want to be blamed for what his Brother made him do.

"Alright, Loki. I will go to see if Thor has the same story as you." Said Odin, now wondering if the prince was telling the truth.

Oh dear. This will not go well. Surly Thor will say he never went down to the party, and even worse, Father will believe him! If he does that I will never, ever do anything he tells me. Ever. Thought Loki. He made his way to his room, and a few minutes after finishing his book, Loki's Mother, Frigga entered his had a flustered, confused look on her face, but she smiled when she saw Loki, practicing his magic, carelessly.

"Hello Loki," She greeted warmly. "You have been dismissed of your punishment and you may leave the castle as of tomorrow."

"Thank-you, Mother. Have a good night." said Loki to his mother politely. "Oh, and Mother will you be able to teach me a new magic trick?"

"Perhaps, my son. I think you should get some rest, however. You get all tempered in the morning when you don't get enough sleep."

- The next morning-

Loki felt childish this morning, so he decided to go into Thor's room and started to jump on the bed.

"Thor! Thor! Thor! Let's go to the village! We could even go to the arena! We can do what you would like today! Because we were dismissed from our punishments! Let's go! Today we can do what you would like! Or.. we could go to the library."

"Shut up, Loki. I can't go anywhere." Thor was maltempered because Loki woke him up.

"Why? Are you ill?" Loki was confused.

"No. Loki I am to stay here, by the orders of Father. Go and have your fun." It clicked. Thor had told father what had really happened. Loki suddenly felt weak in the knees. His brother actually stood up for him, in a way.

"If you are to stay here, then I shall too," Said Loki, defiantly. Thor got up.

"Thank -you, Loki. I am very glad to have a you as a brother."

"I am too. And I always will be."