Thor and Loki

vs.

The Imperial Guard

"Look out, brother. Look out at the mighty kingdom of Asgard," Thor demanded, sweeping Mjolnir round in a careless arc that nearly took Loki's head off, "Is it not fair? And all the more so for the thought that I will own it all in but a week! "

Loki nodded vaguely. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, staring out at the clouds and stars. Something was not right, out in the abyss of space, but all he could see was the normal skyline, at least from this balcony.
"Indeed. Father will be so… proud."

"That he will," said Thor. He could already taste the feasting, "I have proven myself equal to every challenge yet set before me, I have bested every foe. There are none who can argue that I am not the rightful king of Asgard!" He raised his hammer high, and far above the clouds rumbled their agreement, spitting lightning and swirling angrily as though alive.

And then they were wrenched apart, revealing a great portal of writhing, crackling energy. Strange, distorted tendrils reached out, grasping futilely at the air before being dragged back in. Somewhere within Loki's mind, he heard a voice… A thousand voices, all speaking both forwards and backwards at once, and the result was cataclysmically, catastrophically beautiful. He reached out and-

And then his brother ruined it.

"I was never told of this power," he complained, "Why?" he looked almost accusingly at Mjolnir, as though the hammer should have informed him. His face was one of belated confusion.

"You dolt!" Loki almost screamed, "This is not your doing!"

"But who else could perform such a feat of magic?" pointed out Thor , "I shall consult my father at once, and ask why I have never seen been instructed on how do this."

He turned to leave the balcony.

"Wait," Loki held out an arm, "What is that?"

Above, a black shape was emerging from the portal, spewing black smoke. The great, palace sized object entered fully into the material world, and behind it the rent in space twisted shut leaving whatever had exited heading fast towards the ground. All but one of the voices speaking in Loki's minds were suddenly silenced.

"It seems to be some sort of large bird," Thor said curiously, "though it does not appear to fly well"

That at least was true; the great ship was spinning earthwards, various engines firing in a desperate attempt to slow the vessel's fall. Fires burnt along its length, igniting liquid spewing from rents in its hull as the thrusters worked to keep it airborne. However, it was a hopeless effort; within a minute, it had splashed down hard in a great lake on the outskirts of Asgard, sending a tidal wave of water over the sparse houses located there. The two looked at each other, and Loki raised an eyebrow.

"Well, O' esteemed brother. A challenger approaches." He grinned.