Loki was running. Fast. He didn't want to be caught up by the angry cook. Through the lovely gardens of Asgard, the young boy was jumping over flowerbeds and marble benches. Finally he reduced his pace and joined a bush on his right. His brother Thor was waiting for him, hidden in it. When Loki arrived he gave the burden to his brother and they both ran away in different ways. The cook hesitated between the two brothers but he continued to chase Loki. Unfortunately for him, the little prince no longer had the cake he was looking for. The cook released him and promised him to report this prank to his parents. Although he was a bit worried about a possible punishment, Loki made his way back to Thor's bedroom. He found his brother sitting on his bed.
"Did you outwit the cook ?"
"No, but when he get me, I got nothing" he said with a wink.
"Good ! Your plan was really clever ! Now it's time to eat" said Thor.
"How are we going to cut a piece ?"
"Hum…"
While he was thinking about it, Thor was scanning his bedroom trying to figure out what could help them.
"Ah ! I know ! THIS !"
"Your wooden sword ? Really ?! Is that not a bit too much for the task ?"
"Don't worry, little brother. I know what I'm doing."
Thor took his little sword and gave three big blows on the cake to cut two pieces.
"That's it !" he said proudly. "You see !"
The cake was now completely crumbled but Thor snapped at the cake and ate his piece in one bite. Loki didn't even had the chance to bite in his. Just as he had almost reached the cake, someone knocked on the door.
"Oh oh… Maybe your plan was not so clever after all" said Thor his mouth full of cake.
"Don't be stupid" said Loki, "It could be anyone. Hide the plate under the bed."
"Thor ! Open this door, it's your mother !" heard the boys from the other side.
"I told you" said Thor to his brother. "I'm coming, Mother !"
The All-Mother entered the room when Loki just swallowed his piece of cake. Her two sons looked too innocent to really be.
"The cook complained about you, Loki. He said you stole the cake he made for your father's birthday" she said calmly. "Is that true ?"
The two brothers shared a look. They knew that when she was too calm, something was wrong. So they didn't try to lie to her.
"He just wanted to have a chance to taste it. Last year you, adults, ate it all…" argued Loki.
"Hum… Now that you have your bite, you must go give the cake back to the cook. Do I have your word you will do it ?"
"Yes, Mother" said the brothers together.
"Good. And don't forget to be ready for the diner tonight. Otherwise you will miss the show."
"What show ?" asked Thor.
"I'm not sure exactly, but I know that there will be animals and magicians. Thor, Loki, a lot of people will be there, so I expect you to behave."
"Yes, Mother" they said once again.
The Queen left the room and let her two sons alone.
"Wow, that was a narrow escape !" exclaimed Thor.
"Yeah. Next time, I should hide under a hood !"
The boys went back to the kitchens and put the cake, or what remains of it, on the oven where Loki found it in the first place.
"So now, what ?" asked Thor.
"What do you mean ?"
"We still have time to play another trick before the diner. What do you suggest ?"
"Are you sure this is a good idea ? Mother said…"
"Come on, Loki ! She doesn't have to know. This time."
Loki was doubtful. What was going to say their mother if she get wind of a new prank ? On another hand, the possibility of discovering the magician's animals was very tempting.
"Fine..." he said finally.
"Great !"
"Listen, you heard what Mother said about the show ?"
"There will be animals" answered Thor.
"Exactly ! Maybe we could discover what kind of animals it is."
"That sounds good but do you have any idea where they could keep them ?"
"I guess they should be next to the stalls. But beware, guards may keep watch over them."
"That shouldn't be a problem, Brother" said Thor with a wink.
When they arrived at the stalls, Thor and Loki watched attentively the scene to determine what their action plan would be. A few minutes later, they were walking peacefully one meter away from the guards. Thor spoke loudly.
"I heard it escaped by the back door !"
"What are you talking about ?" asked Loki on the same tone.
The guards started to take an interest in Thor and Loki's conversation.
"It is true ! I'm saying that one of the magician's animals escaped by the back door of the stalls !"
"Oh ! The King won't be pleased, that's for sure…"
The two guards looked at each other and decided to get around the stalls to capture the would-be escaping animal.
"We should tell Father that his guards are really dumb" said Loki.
"Come on, there is no time to philosophy !"
In the stalls they were a lot of different animals. In a cage apart, there was a big blue bird with a long neck.
"What is that ?" asked Loki.
"I don't know. What do you think about we take it back to my chamber ?"
"Why ? It will fly away. It's a bird. And he is far too big for us to remain unseen on our way to your chamber."
"OK, so be a coward. For I AM gonna take it with me."
Loki raised his eyes to heaven.
"You win... I open the cage and you go with it."
"YES ! I'm ready !"
After some minutes trying to open the cage, Loki succeeded and opened the door.
"Your move, Brother" he said showing him the bird inside the cage.
The animal was almost twice his height, but Thor wasn't afraid at all. He didn't hesitate and rushed into the cage trying to capture the bird. This one escaped his first attempt and reached a corner desperately. Thor pounced on it and ran away with it in the gardens. He was not very fast because the bird was struggling and flapping his wings in Thor's face. After just a few steps outside and the prince bumped into someone. He fell on the ground because of the shock. The bird fell of his hands but disappeared right away. And when Thor looked at the person who made him fall, he wished he never had this stupid idea.
"Father…"
Odin was looking at him with disapprobation.
"What is this masquerade, Thor ?"
As he said this word, Loki was just getting out of the stalls.
"Thor ! The bird ! He reappeared in his... cage !"
In the middle of his sentence, he saw his father standing in front of his brother and he knew they will have a hard time.
"I see you are not alone" said Odin to Thor.
Thor turned back to see his brother with a desperate look.
"He didn't do anything. He tried to stop me from stealing it on the contrary."
"Either way, you both trapped my guards in order to come into the stalls. THIS is NOT a demeanour suitable for two princes. WE have a rank to honour. It seems you didn't realize it yet. Come with me ! Both of you !"
Odin turned his back on his sons and hold his hands. Each boy took one and all three walked in the gardens.
They walked a lot. Finally reaching the vault. The most guarded place of Asgard.
"My sons. I am taking you here to show you something. That you may be playing in the ground today. But YOU will both have responsibilities in the future. And in order to be respected, you need to be respectable right now. I can tell you a story to make it more real to you. Once, mankind accepted a simple truth: that they were not alone in this universe. Some worlds man believed home to their Gods. Others they knew to fear. From around the cold and darkness came the Frost Giants, threatening to plunge the mortal world into a new ice age. But humanity would not face this threat alone. Our armies drove the Frost Giants back into the heart of their own world. The cost was great. In the end, their king fell, and the source of their power was taken from them. With the last great war ended, we withdrew from the other worlds and returned home at the Realm Eternal, Asgard. And here we remain as the beacon of hope, shining out across the stars. And though we have fallen into man's myths and legends, it was Asgard and its warriors that brought peace to the universe. But the day will come, when one of you will have to defend that peace… Today, you didn't engaged a war, but you endangered all the people who lives in the palace. They could have been hurt by this bird or any other creature that could have been hiding in this cage. This threat was for sure not as dangerous as the Frost Giants but we OWE those people PROTECTION. I hope you understand your mistake and won't do it again."
"I am sorry, Father. I just wanted to see what kind of animals were going to entertain us tonight."
"You are forgiven, Loki. And what about you, Thor ?" said Odin turning to his other son.
"I, I, I am sorry too" he said looking down. "I didn't realize I was doing such a bad action."
"Then you are forgiven too, my son."
"Do the Frost Giants still live ?" asked Loki to his father.
"When I am king, I'll hunt the monsters down and slay them all ! Just as you did, Father !" said Thor with enthusiasm.
"A wise king never seeks out war, but he must always be ready for it" answered Odin wisely.
Odin made his way back to the door. After sharing a look, Thor and Loki ran to their father.
"I'm with you, Father !" said Thor reaching out to Odin.
"So am I !" said Loki.
"Only one of you can ascend to the throne. But BOTH of you were born to be kings !"
Some explanations for this chapter:
- I imagine Thor and Loki as the appeared at the beginning of the first "Thor" movie
- I imagine the big blue bird like an archaeopteryx (prehistorical animal)
- As a bonus: I imagine the cook like the one in the Little Mermaid, but it's a bit off-topic !
