A/N: Hiiii! Haha, I realized that I forgot the author's note for the first chapter. But then I looked at the time (past 2 A.M.) and just thought: Oh well, I'm going to sleep. *rolls eyes at self* Anyway, I'm Alikay3196, but Alika is fine. This is my first fanfiction that I have ever posted, and I actually wrote the first chapter about a year ago... And then I was forced to edit and publish it by my friend, so here we are! And let me say, I was so happy when I saw people were reading this! I wasn't expecting as many readers as there are, that's for sure... and I thought reviews would be nonexistent! Haha, enough about me.
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Review Responses:
Guest: Always! :) Except there will probably be a one or two week update schedule, with school and all... Blegh. Hahaha...
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Eemmah: Aww, you're too nice! Everyone here is making me blush! Hehe... Oh! And here is the chapter you were waiting for! *slaps self* Well, obviously, Alika... XD
Without further adieu, chapter 2! :D
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Loki rushed back to the Palace as quickly as he could, the deep need to help his family fueling him. The man only thought of protection as he raced down the crystal bridge, through Asgard until he was standing in front of the large doors belonging to the Palace. The god threw them open, not wasting a moment, running to the ballroom- where the birthday festivities had been being held- and what he saw shocked him. As most of his family and friends fought the dark creatures known by the name of Fearling, a woman with black hair and pale gray skin was standing in front of Thor, as the god was being pinned to the wall by multiple Fearlings. Thor would have freed himself, had MjĂžlnir not been thrown from his hands.
"WHERE ARE THEY?!" she shouted at the God of Thunder as the Fearlings tightened their painful grip on the man. Loki growled and ran to the two, ready to help in any way possible... Just as the God of Mischief was about to attack the strange woman- who was quite obviously in control of the dark beings- she turned around, her piercing yellow eyes meeting his...
Loki stared in shock as she smirked evilly. "K-Kari...?!" he choked out. What had happened? Gone was her bright white hair, which Jaqueline had inherited, in its place hair as black as night. Her creamy pale skin had been replaced by a dull gray, and her eyes- once the color of storm clouds- were amber.
"Kari is gone." The woman smiled sickeningly. "I am Obsidia. Now tell me, where is the child?"
The God of Mischief shook himself out of his thoughts, knowing it would benefit to not become distracted. But still... what had happened?! His wife was gone... "I will tell you no such thing!" he snarled at this... this creature that thought it would just get away with taking Kari!
"Oh, really? I think you will..." Loki hadn't noticed that the fighting had stopped in one area of the ballroom, and the price would be costly.
"You're out of your mind if you think such!" The father was attempting to do whatever he could to keep his family safe. Obsidia gestured for the Fearlings to tighten their grip on Thor and took a step toward Loki.
"You will tell me," she said angrily through clenched teeth. "If you want your dear mother to live to see another day..." Three Fearlings appeared by her side: two holding Freya, and the third with a sharp black dagger held to the woman's delicate neck. "Make any move to free her from my Fearlings, and she will be killed instantly."
Loki, conflicted, looked between the woman who had once been Kari and his adopted mother. The god couldn't let his mother die... but he couldn't tell Obsidia the location of his daughter. It was official: Loki was trapped. He began to sweat in fear and nervousness as Obsidia clicked her tongue, imitating the sound of a clock ticking. The sound could drive one mad. "Time is running out..." The dark woman examined her fingernails as if they were more interesting than anything else in the room. "You have thirty seconds before my darling pets spill your mother's blood."
The God of Mischief looked worriedly at Freya, scared for her, but the woman stared back, unfearing. She knew what her fate would be. 'Protect Jaqueline... Don't tell her,' the Goddess of Love's eyes seemed to say. Loki's expression became guarded, understanding what his mother wanted him to do. He nodded, although it pained him to do so.
"Ten seconds..." Obsidia informed. Freya glared at Obsidia before her face softened. She looked at her sons, one of which who was still pinned to the wall. 'Goodbye... I love you...' Those were the goddess's last words... Before the Fearling slit her throat and her pained screams filled the air.
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The battle was more intense now than it had been before: the Warrior's Three, Lady Sif, Odin, Thor, and Loki fought viciously, not yet allowing themselves to feel sorrow over the loss of Freya and Kari. Instead, they demolished the dark creatures that threatened to take the realm. Fearling after Fearling vanished until only Obsidia and three of her best Fearlings remained. The Asgardians approached them, weapons shining dangerously in the light.
"Hmm, I suppose you are more formidable opponents than I previously thought," Obsidia said emotionlessly as she looked around at the messy ballroom. The woman shrugged. "Ah, well. I shall take my cue to exit, then." Obsidia began to walk towards the shadows of the room, but stopped when she reached the edge. "But remember, the war is far from over." The black-haired woman smiled darkly, showing off her pointed teeth as her yellow eyes flashed. She stepped into the shadows, her remaining Fearlings following like puppies following their mother.
The seven Asgardians stood in shock. This battle was over... Odin was the first to snap out of his quiet state, ordering the palace maids to clean the ballroom. A sticky black substance coated the floors in multiple places-likely some kind of residue left by the Fearlings. Decorations lay ruined on the floor, pieces of smashed tables, chairs and porcelain dishes everywhere. The All-Father then gestured for the group to follow him to his conference room.
They walked down many corridors before reaching their destination. Normally, guards would be standing on either side of the gold doors, but Odin had sent them out to patrol Asgard, giving his people reassurance that they were protected as well as observing for the presence of Fearlings and damage to the kingdom. The seven entered and took their seats at the table: Odin at the head, Thor to his right and Loki his left. Hogun sat by Loki, and on the other side of Loki was Volstagg. By Thor's side sat Lady Sif and by her was Fandral.
Odin had wanted to discuss their next plan of action, but instead he bowed his head. The group followed and they finally allowed themselves to grieve.
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The next morning, young Jaqueline woke up in an unfamiliar room. She looked around confusedly. The child knew she wasn't in Asgard, but if she wasn't there, then where was she? Jaqueline wondered about this for a bit of time, until the memories of last night came flooding back, one by one.
Her birthday... the Fearlings... Midgard... the Guardians... She remembered it all. Jaqueline sadly looked at her surroundings. The young girl wanted to go home, and now. Jaqueline pushed herself out of bed, deciding to go find Mr. North so he could contact her mother and father. The princess was happy that her mother hadn't dressed her in her evening gown, seeing as she was still wearing the simple dress she had worn yesterday.
Jaqueline walked to the closed door, standing on her tippy-toes to reach the door knob. She opened the door, and peered out curiously. Countless yetis and the strange elves who weren't from Alfheim walked by, busy with their jobs. She briefly wondered how she would even find Mr. North; this place was huge! The little girl shrugged that thought away, and started to wander purposefully through the workshop- that is, until a yeti stopped her.
"Argh blargen shi?" he asked. The child tilted her head in confusion. What had he said?
"I am sorry, I don't understand. Perchance, do you know where Mr. North is?" she asked. The yeti thought for a moment before nodding. He gestured for Jaqueline to follow him. The princess complied, and the yeti led her to the ex-Cossack's office. And- it just so happened- the other Guardians had spent the night at the North Pole as well.
The four adults had been discussing an "adult conversation not meant for little ears" as her father would have put it, when they heard a knock on the door. "Come in," North called as his friends quieted. The door opened, revealing the yeti and young Jaqueline. "Ah, hello, Phil-" So that's Mr. Yeti's name, thought the child. "-and Jaqueline. We did not expect you to be awake yet." The Guardian of Wonder greeted them. The others smiled at the two, as if they had not been talking about a very important issue.
"Hello, Mr. North!" Jaqueline replied cheerfully as Phil left, closing the door behind him. The four-year-old's hair was quite messy, but she didn't care at the moment- her mommy would brush it when she returned home. "I was wondering that, perhaps, you know when mommy and daddy will come to take me home? Or if you could contact them so they will come today?" she inquired innocently. The four adults shared a look of nervousness. How does one tell a child that she won't see her parents for a few years?
The Guardian of Memories sighed- this had been the issue that they were discussing, and it was decided that she would tell the child. "Jaqueline, sweetie, let's go to your room so I can tell you something really important, okay? Just me and you, the boys aren't allowed." To try to lighten the situation, she acted as if there was some huge secret that North, Sandy, and Bunny weren't permitted to know, as they were boys. Jaqueline frowned confusedly, but nodded anyway. The fairy told her friends that they will see them in a little bit, and the two returned to the young girl's room.
Tooth quietly shut the door, and Jaqueline sat on her unmade bed, waiting patiently to hear what Ms. Tooth had to tell her. The fairy didn't want to speak and wished that she didn't have to... But she steeled herself by drawing in a deep breath, and spoke.
"Sweet Tooth, I'm really sorry, but..." How should she word this? One simply doesn't go out and say 'Hey, I'm sorry but your parents aren't coming back for a few years! Oh, and there's the possibility that they could die, so have a nice day!' Obviously the Guardian of Memories knew she had to tell her somehow, but Tooth was aware that she would have to be careful. "Honey, your parents are busy with... foreign affairs," she tried to explain. "They can't bring you home until it's sorted out."
"How long will that take?" Jaqueline asked, concerned.
"It may take years..." The Guardian lowered her head. Tooth hated that any child would have to be told something like this...
Jaqueline's eyes welled with tears. "But-but Daddy said..." Daddy said he would be back soon... The tears began to fall, like salty paratroopers down the young girl's face. "You-you're lying... Daddy said he would come soon," she said, trying to comprehend the fact that her parents weren't coming for a long while.
Tooth's heart hurt for the child. The woman hugged Jaqueline gently, rubbing her back to calm her. "I know...," she whispered. Tooth had felt the pain of not having your parents there when you wanted them. "Hey, what do you say we get you dressed and brush your hair? Your mommy and daddy will want you to be brave, for them." Tooth said this softly. The four-year-old girl nodded as she wiped away her tears with her little hands.
They went to the closet to pick out an outfit. After much consideration, they decided on a simple dark blue tea-length dress.
Tooth helped Jaqueline dress, as the girl was too young to dress herself properly. After allowing Jaqueline to change her undergarments, the woman pulled the dress over the child's head. When they finished, Tooth took an oval-shaped brush with a pearlescent design covering its back and started to brush through the tangles in Jaqueline's knotted snow-white hair. After the child's soft tresses had been brushed, the fairy- with Jaqueline's quiet consent- began to braid the four-year-old's hair.
No sooner had they gone and finished making the twin-sized bed, when they heard a soft rap on the polished wooden door. While Jaqueline hugged a fluffy polar bear toy, Tooth opened the door, already knowing that her colleagues would be standing on the other side. Sandy, North, and Bunny entered, worried about how their charge had taken the news.
Said girl looked up at the adults curiously- what were they doing here? Ms. Tooth said that they weren't allowed! The emerald-eyed Pooka knelt down to the child's level (Jaqueline had since moved to the floor to sit and play with the toy bear). His concerned gaze looked her over, searching for a sign of distress, though he found none. Her tears from earlier had dried, and her eyes were no longer puffy. "'Ey Sheila... I'm sorry about your parents...," Bunny said softly, ready to offer comfort at a moment's notice.
The princess shrugged her tiny shoulders. "It's okay... At least they will come get me sometime..." The tone of her voice conveyed her sadness, though she did her best to conceal it.
"Hey, cheer up, little Sheila." Bunny would not let this child down. Bad things were happening in Asgard, but he wanted Jaqueline to be happy while she was here... Especially if she was left with one less parent.
"Why do you call me Sheila?" she asked. After all, Mr. North had told Mr. Kangaroo that her name was Jaqueline! The Pooka laughed.
"It's just a nickname. I have an idea- how about we all go get breakfast and then play a game?"
The Asgardian princess thought for a moment and then nodded. Polar bear toy still in hand, the girl walked with the four to the kitchen.
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Loki didn't even want to get out of bed. Now that Kari was gone, what reason was there to leave his comfortable isolation? All of the lights in his room had been turned off, and large thick curtains covered the windows. He still lay beneath his soft silk blankets, refusing any maid coming to clean or bring food. He didn't care if his room became a pig sty, nor did he care if he starved to death. His father and brother were in similar states, though not as bad as Loki...
In fact, Loki would never have left his depressive state if he hadn't heard it: the silent shifting of shadows...
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That was fun! Would this be a cliffhanger? If it is, I'm sorry! I will try to update about every week or two weeks. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Reviews are welcome XD and flames are for s'mores! Haha, bye bye!
-Alika
