Disclaimer: I do not own any Marvel or Thor Mythos characters. However, the plot is mine.

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BIRTHRIGHT

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Chapter One: Welcome Home

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VANAHEIM

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The immaculate doors of the grand hall were thrust open. Those present grew silent as a lone figured rushed heatedly into the room, intent on reaching the throne. The high king, bathed in a golden light, looked down on his subject as the newcomer kneeled down before him. "Step forward Heimir." He ordered in a booming voice. "What news have you?" The stern monarch inquired.

Heimir rose to his feet and stepped closer to the throne. "Olaf-king," He began, "The battle on Midgard has ended, with the destruction of the Chitauri army. The crown prince of Asgard has apprehended the culprit. It appears that their second prince, Loki, was the leader in this siege." He finished; his voice strong.

Olaf sat upon his throne in deep thought, choosing not to respond in that instant. His mate, on the other hand, quickly grew invested in the news. "Why would a son of Odin wage war on the realm of man?" The Queen questioned.

Heimir hesitated, before answering. "There are rumors, my queen, circling the nine realms." He answered, unsure if he should continue.

"Rumors?" Interrupted the ethereal beauty to Olaf's right. She also happened to be the heir to Vanaheim's throne. "What need have we of rumors?" She asked, with a face of indignation.

"Ylva, please, let him speak." The queen urged.

Olaf looked thoughtful. "Yes, continue Heimir. Tell us of these rumors and their relevance."

Heimir glanced at the princess and queen, before returning his full attention to his king. "Everyone knows that the second prince of Asgard was thought to be dead after his fall from the bifrost. However, with his arrival on Midgard, we now know this to be untrue. Furthermore, it is the murmuring about what happened to lead to such events that have put many on edge." He told them, pausing to let it sink in.

"Well, get on with it." Ylva pressed, already disliking the exchange of idle gossip.

"Yes, forgive me. It is said that this Loki is no son of Odin; that he is no son of Asgard at all. But a frost giant." The man's words grew heavy on the room. He looked at the expressions of the royal family; the princess looked bored, the queen looked concerned, and the king looked… afflicted?

"A frost giant?" Olaf asked, clearly upset.

Heimir did not know what to make of his king's behavior, but continued the story non-the-less. "It is a secret that was tightly held, so the details of how it all came to be are uncertain. However, it is of popular belief that this occurred sometime during the end of the Aesir-Jotun War. After all, it was after that final battle that the second son was revealed to all of Asgard." Once the words were out of his mouth, the entire hall was cloaked in silence.

The queen leaned over towards the king and spoke to him in a hushed whisper. "Olaf, the timing... If what Heimir says is true, then perhaps he is the lost babe of Far-"

"Astridr." He hushed. Olaf nodded his head and placed a hand over hers, in a hope to calm her down. He looked back to Heimir, ignoring the suspicious look he was receiving from his daughter. "Is there any evidence, to support this claim?" He asked, "Or is it all idle speculation?"

Heimir hesitated before speaking. "For now my king, there is none. Only the apparent abhorrence of which he receives from the Aesir. However-"

"Then it is of no relevance." Ylva spoke, cutting him off. She then turned to face her father. "Perhaps it would be best to discuss the matter of Midgard."

"Yes." The Vanir king nodded his head. "You spoke of Loki's capture; when are they holding his trial?"

"Immediately upon his return to Asgard." Heimir announced. "Also, I must note on the apparent 'saviors' of Midgard. They were able to defeat Loki as well as an army of Chitaurians. It is my suspicions that Loki was not the true commander of this legion. The species is one from the void of space. Their invasion of Midgard shows that these creatures grow in strength."

"Yes, that is troubling." Olaf commented on it while in deep thought. "However, I'm more concerned with what the supposed frost giant knows." He raised his fist to his chin. "Good work Heimir. For now, I need for you to return to Midgard and keep an eye on these enhanced beings. Only this time, insert yourself into the fold; befriend them." The Vanir king ordered.

Heimir bowed his head in acquiesce. "Yes, my King." He said, before backing away, turning, and exiting the room.

Once the grand doors slammed shut, the queen turned immediately to her mate. "Olaf, this Loki… could he be…" Her eyes widened as she realized she could not finish her sentence.

Olaf stood from his seat. "Yes Astridr, I believe he is."

Astridr looked stricken. "Then that means-"

"It means Odin stole him!" He all but growled. "Is there anything the Aesir will not do?! They war and pillage and take whatever they please! And expect the rest of us to bow down before them and accept it!" He shouted in outrage. "He ruined everything! If Farbauti…" He trailed off, mind wandering elsewhere.

Ylva stared on in wonder. This was a side of her father she had never seen. The usually benevolent king of Vanaheim was currently in an uproar and she was none the wiser to its cause. "Father! What is the meaning of this? What concern have you for this son of Odin?" She asked, sending a quick glance to her mother.

"When Loki is brought to Odin's court, he will immediately be tried and sentenced." Olaf looked to his daughter, only now seeing her for the first time. He fought to regain his composure. "Ylva, I need for you to go to Asgard." He spoke softer, and then returned to his throne. "But first, there is something I must tell you."

Ylva was completely confused by the look in her father's gaze. But he had her full attention. "Yes Father, what is it?" She urged him to continue.

Olaf glanced at Astridr, before continuing. "Not here. Follow me to my inner chamber." He spoke as he walked past his throne, Astridr and Ylva following after. Once everyone was situated in their new surroundings, Olaf sat down in a chair by his table. "Ylva my girl, what do you know of the Aesir-Vanir war?"

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ASGARD

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The voyage from Midgard to Asgard was but a blur to Loki. From the moment they had placed the mouth piece onto him, thusly silencing him; to the moment he was brought before the Odin-king; Loki saw nothing… felt nothing. It was as though he were made of ice. Though technically, he supposed, he was. Though one thing he was certain. All of Asgard was there to celebrate the return of their favored son; and witness the disgrace of their fallen one. Still, from his point of view, he didn't have far to fall; they never cared much for him to begin with.

Loki did his best to focus solely on his anger; refusing to allow any guilt or shame to swarm its way into his heart. He simply stared defiantly to all those before him. Walking tall, as the prince he was; despite the very group of Aesir guards flanking him, despite the chains they carried attached to him, despite the look of disappointment clear across Odin's face. Loki pressed on.

Frigga stood at his left, clearly distraught over his very being. He could feel her eyes digging into him; begging to meet his gaze. Unable to resist the pull, he gave in to her silent plea. Seeing the pain on her face, he nearly faltered; and with his defenses down, the guilt and shame finally made their way into his heart. Though, not one to easily give away his disposition; he immediately threw on a mask hiding his inner turmoil. He turned to her, an impish grin placed on his face. "Hello Mother, have I made you proud?" He asked sarcastically, whilst secretly wishing it were the case.

Frigga did all she could to rein in her emotions. Her son was home. Her son was home. And she wasn't even allowed to embrace him. "Please Loki, don't make this worse." She urged him. Not wanting her mate to have any reason to be harsher with Loki than he already planned.

"Define worse." Loki could not resist quipping. He would not show them any weakness.

Odin watched the boy, no man, which he had chosen to raise as his own. He allowed Frigga her moment with him, but if Loki was going to be so disagreeable… "Enough!" Odin yelled ending their moment. "I will speak to the prisoner alone." He voiced the command for Frigga to leave. And she did, but not before sending one last longing look to her wayward son. "You as well, Thor." He instructed when he noticed that his eldest had not move.

Thor seemed surprised at this request. With one last look at his brother, he left the sacred hall without a word. Although, he did not go far; as he decided he'd wait in the outer hall.

Watching his once mother and brother leave, Loki returned his gaze to the one-eyed man before him. He could not resist letting out a few chuckles. Really, this was getting ridiculous. "I really don't see what all the fuss is about." He remarked, hoping to rile his once-father up. He succeeded.

Odin glared down at his adopted son. "Do you not truly feel the gravity of your crimes?" He asked, not believing that this man could be the same tender boy he had raised. Where did everything go wrong? "Where ever you go there is war, ruin, and death."

Loki fought the urge to roll his eyes at his hypocrite of a father… once father, he had to keep reminding himself. "I went down to Midgard to rule the wild people of Earth as a benevolent god." He explained as though he were speaking to a child… or a halfwit. "Just. Like. You." He asserted. Wishing to remind Odin that he has done nothing different than Odin himself has done in the past; or his golden boy Thor.

"We are not gods." Odin instantly replied. Though it could be said that his tone didn't sound very convincing. "We are born, we live, we die. Just as humans do."

"Give or take 5,000 years." The dark-haired Aesir, err… frost giant added sarcastically. He looked at Odin, deciding the Allfather was full of shi-

"All this because Loki desired… a throne." Odin said condescendingly. He didn't like how cool Loki was behaving with all of this.

But those words caught Loki's attention. He had never desired a throne before… only sought equality. But since they simply refused to see that he was more than Thor's shadow, he felt that yes… he would take a throne; after all, "It is my birthright!" He screamed at Odin, finally losing his cool.

Odin was pleased to watch Loki's mask crack. And just for added measure, he decided to crack it some more until the entire façade gave way. "Your birthright," He began, truly glad he had sent Frigga away, "was to die!" He shouted. Loki faltered. Odin smiled. "As a child. Cast out onto a frozen rock. If I had not taken you in you would not be here now to hate me."

"If I'm for the axe then for Mercy's sake, just swing it." Loki pressed, eyes wild, cool… lost. Suddenly, he felt drain; emotionally as well as physically. He held his gaze on the man before him. The man who had claimed he was his father. The man who had claimed to love him. The man who had claimed that he was no stolen relic. The man who persists yet to lie to him. Loki was done. "It's not that I don't love our little talks it's just…" His gaze turned hateful. "I don't love them."

Odin looked down on his once son. His face, hard as steel. " Frigga is the only reason you're still alive, and you'll never see her again." He could show no emotion towards this prisoner, lest he show weakness. Loki was a criminal, simple as that. Only it wasn't so simple; because he was also his son. A son he neglected to protect. But Odin would not second guess any of his decisions; such privileges belonged not to a ruler of the nine realms. "You'll spend the rest of your days in the dungeon." He gave out the sentence.

Loki knew he should not be shocked, but he could not help the betrayal he felt strike within his heart. "And what of Thor?" He asked angrily, Thor messes up, slap on the wrist; Loki messes up… "You'll make that witless oaf King while I rot in chains?" He questioned as his heart filled with betrayal, anger and… disappointment?

"Thor must strive to undo the damage you have done. He'll bring order to the nine realms and then, yes, he will be King." Odin informed him as he motioned for the guards to take his once son away. A smarmy smile found its way onto his lips as he watched the look of horror cross Loki's face. It would do no good for Loki to see how hard this truly was for him. Knowing Loki, he'd only use it against him; and that, Odin would never allow.

The guards dragged a distraught Loki towards the large double doors of the hall. Before they could reach them, however, the doors slammed shut on their own accord.

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AN: My first Thor/Avengers fic. I wasn't sure where to place this since the Avengers will come into play later on, but it also has some Thor (non-marvel) mythos intermingled. Oh well, I decided on Avengers… why not.

This story has been in my head since Thor 1… but I didn't want to write it. It came back to me after Avengers… still didn't wanna write it. Came back to me after Thor 2… didn't wanna write it. But decidedly, I couldn't refrain myself. Hope you liked it. The part with Loki's return of course has the same dialogue from the film. But anything that happened after that point, didn't happen. For instance, the Vanaheim scene in the movie didn't happen in this fic, so don't bother referring to it.

Also in addition to the movies, comics, and actual mythos, I will also be adding my own spin… so I hope you like.

Please let me know what you think.

It's currently untitled.

Please review.

Thanks in advance.