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The young boy stood gazing out the large glass pane within the golden globe. His emerald gem eyes were scratched with tears as he escaped into his own thoughts. Reality wasn't worth facing; the young man favored looking out to the stars. His awe overtook his sorrow and let him forget his pain whenever he looked out to the distant galaxies and worlds.

"And what is the young prince of Asgard doing alone within the Bifrost?" A deep, husky voice inquired, "Planning your escape?"

"No." He answered Heimdall, the keeper of the gate, who sees and hears all. The young god of mischief was good at his tricks but he had never mastered keeping things from the all-knowing guard.

The taller man moved to stand next to the prince, his strong shoulders back and his golden eyes gazing out over the souls of the universe, "What has Prince Loki troubled?"

The young god gnawed on his lower lip and refused to answer.

"Does this involve Thor being presented as the next Asgardian King at the Feast tonight before the rulers of the other realms?" Heimdall was, of course, right.

"Father said that we were both born to rule but only one of us can succeed him. Apparently…" Loki worried his lower lip, his eyes drifting to the floor, "Apparently I am not good enough to rule when compared to Thor." The boy's eyes were dark with jealousy. It was clear he didn't think Thor was capable to hold the throne. At the same time, there was a depth of hurt that would never heal.

Heimdall looked to the boy, whose head hung in shame, "I am not sure that is what your Father means."

"What else could it mean? I have always been in Thor's shadow, I will always be." The boy looked out over the eternity of space, feeling that even in this vast world there would never be a place for him apart from his brother's cold shadow.

"If you are confident in your own ability, it does not matter what others do." Heimdall sighed, looking out to Midgard, "All you can do in life is be the best that you can be without comparing your gifts to another's."

Loki shifted his narrowed eyes to the guard, "That is easy for you to say. You are more powerful than the All-Father."

"It is a blessing and a burden." The guard replied honestly, "Easy is not what I would call it, however." Loki dropped his head, feeling the weight of guilt.

"For one so young, you have faced a lot, and you will continue to grow up faster than your age. There is another like you." Heimdall let a rare smile slip across his lips. Loki instantly looked up and followed his line of sight out the thin glass.

"Who?" He asked, looking back to the shifting gold irises of the guard.

"A young girl on Midgard. She has dreams, just like you, which are going to be crushed. She has had to grow up before her time, like you." Heimdall explained.

"What is her name?"

The old guard smiled, "Natalia."

The boy wrinkled his nose, "That is an odd name."

Heimdall rose a brow and looked to the child with a smile, "And Loki isn't?"

Ignoring the guard, the boy stepped up to the pane, "What is she like?" The young man inquired; pressing against the glass as if he could see her if he just tried hard enough.

"Her cleverness rivals some of the best of her kind." Heimdall explained, "And she will have a beauty that will prove deadly to those she encounters."

As the ancient guard spoke, the boy pressed closer to the glass, hoping to see a glimpse of what the great Heimdall saw, "Will I ever be able to see her?"

"Their life on Midgard is a heartbeat to us." Heimdall stepped up and caught the boy's attention, "I told you of her only so that you would not feel alone." Loki nodded and moved back from the pane.

Heimdall stood up straighter, "Your mother is looking for you. I suggest you return home." He looked to the boy with gentle eyes. Again, the young prince nodded and started on his way.

When he reached the end of the glistening bridge though, the boy turned and headed for the Forest of Knowledge. Citizens of Asgard were cautioned against going into the Woods alone, believing that the Woods brought forth one's greatest fears, but the young prince knew otherwise.

Always one for mischief, he had stumbled upon the secrets of the Woods by accident. Having fled when other children mocked his sparring skill, because of his weak figure, and doubted his relation to the mighty All-Father, he had run to the outskirts of town. The Woods had picked up on his fear and plagued him with it, but instead of turning away, he had kept running right through the Woods and ended up in a clearing.

After he had picked himself up and dusted his clothes off, he looked around in awe at the perfection. The trees that had appeared dead and dark from the outside were alive and beautiful. The grass was a lush green that was velvet to the touch. Crystal clear pools were scattered about. When his curiosity got the best of him and he investigated them, he saw the other realms. It was a natural Bifrost.

When he needed an escape, he always ran to the Woods, knowing no one would follow him. He would push past the fear that the outer trees forced upon him just to get to the beautiful sanctuary hidden within.

This is where the young prince headed now instead of the castle. Slowly, he walked around the pools, looking deeply into each one. Finally, he found one that he thought to be Midgard.

"Will you show her to me?" He asked the glimmering water. The water shifted and cleared away the scene it showed to reveal a new one. A girl, about the equivalent of his age in Midgard years, stood in a line of other boys and girls in a grey uniform.

An adult walked before them, speaking in a harsh tongue. He held a thin whip behind his back and, whenever one of the children did not complete the exercise to his satisfaction, he didn't hesitate to use it.

Loki's eyes watched as he heard the man call the name Natalia. Leaning closer to the pool, Loki awaited for her to appear. The water, sensing his curiosity, seemed to move in closer to the girl.

Venomous green eyes locked on her opponent as her body readied for his attack, her rich copper hair was pulled back in a tight braid that lay against her head. It looked similar to the braid Sif, Thor's friend, was fond of wearing, because it kept her hair out of her face when she sparred.

The man called the match and the pair went at one another. Within minutes, Natalia had her opponent pinned and the match won.

Loki smiled, enjoying her triumph with her. The young prince sat there, watching the young girl, until the sky was well dark and the torches were burning.

Loki, his name rung through his head, the Feast has already begun and your mother is looking for you still.

Loki stood, knowing he had to go, "I'll try and come back tomorrow." He told his new friend, even though she couldn't hear him.

Friend, he smiled at the word as he started back on the path through the forest. The Woods tried to plague him with his fears but he kept his thoughts on her and he arrived on the other side safely.

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Years went by and he kept visiting the pool, finding sanctuary with her. Once, when the young boy had grown into a young man, he chanced his luck and touched the surface of the pool while she slept. Ripples had appeared and his magic pulled him into her dreams.

Her reflection turned sharply to him with narrow eyes. "Who are you?" She demanded.

Loki, who was uneasy that his trick had worked, looked around nervously for an answer, "I'm a…a friend."

"I don't have friends." The girl spat, crossing her arms and starting to circle him.

Loki nodded, "I know you don't." Natalia stopped and glared at him. Loki stood tall, his body having never filled out from its original weedy form, and took in her beauty. While he hadn't changed much with age, she had. Her slender figure as a child had filled out and her hair now hung loosely down her back, like a cascading volcano that had erupted. Her green eyes were alight with strength; she wasn't going to back down.

"I don't have any either." Loki explained, remaining where he was, "But I'd like to be friends with you, Natalia." The girl looked at him skeptically, her distrust clear in her eyes.

"Who are you?" She asked again.

"Loki." He replied honestly.

She cocked an eyebrow and looked to him oddly, "The Norse god of mischief?"

"Norse? I do not understand." Loki chanced a step forward but stopped when he saw her grow nervous.

"He is the god of mischief in Norse legend." She answered, her shoulders relaxing when he kept his distance.

"I have been to Midgard, but I know not of this legend." Loki replied, sitting down on the grass. Natalia mirrored his actions, but kept her guard up, "Will you tell me about it?"

For the rest of the night, Natalia told him about the myths of Norse gods. When Loki asked how she knew all of this, she casually mentioned a book her father had left to her before changing the topic quickly.

Before the time came for the Midgardian to wake, she had grown comfortable enough around the god to sit next to him as they talked. When dawn broke, Loki took his leave and she woke, vaguely remembering the dream.

In Asgard though, their conversation was all that Loki was able to think of, and it was as clear to him as if they were still speaking.

The pattern continued for many more years; Loki visiting Natalia in her dreams with her barley remembering him when she woke and him admiring her from afar. His care and friendship for her turned to love, like it so often does, and the young Russian found herself in love with a dream.

Of course, life takes hold of every young man and woman. Responsibilities pile on and pull people apart.

As Asgard demanded more of their second prince, and his thirst to be his own man took hold, he found himself pulled away from the sanctuary of her presence and thrust into the world of blood and politics.

The once young girl, with aspirations of being a dancer, grew into a cold hearted killer with no dreams of her own left.

Though, as Fate often has it, those one leaves behind as they grow have a way of finding them again somewhere further down the road, for the Wheel of Fortuna is always turning.

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