Chapter 2
The following day, Colora and Frigga begin their lesson. Frigga shuts her chamber door and locks it, so no one interrupts them."Alright, what I'm going to teach you is how to make yourself appear as an illusion," starts Frigga. "Once you're shown as an illusion, the magic will only last until someone touches you." She walks towards Colora and sits down in front of her. "Are you ready to begin?"
Colora nods her head and replies, "Yes."
"Good. Now sit down." Colora sits down in front of Frigga as she is told.
"Close your eyes." Colora closes her eyes.
"Deep breaths." Colora takes deep and slow breaths.
Suddenly, Colora opens her eyes and finds herself on Earth. She wanders down an alley and sees something. As this is happening, Frigga notices Colora responding to something; as if something is frightening her. "Colora? Colora what is it? What do you see?"
Colora's heart is racing and beating harder and harder as she stares at the man who had not only captured her heart but the man she lost a year ago and thought he was dead. "Loki?" she questioned softly. As she walks closer to him, Colora notices that he looks different. His skin is pale; his eyes are dark and sunken as if he hasn't gotten any sleep for days, weeks, maybe even months. But what not only scares Colora but intrigues her is a particular look on his face.
Suddenly, Loki takes a deep breath and uses his scepter to change his surroundings. As this is happening, Colora watches as the building shifts to what looks like a rocky terrain, rocks floating in the air, and stars everywhere. She realizes that they are in space as the illusion of their surrounding is changing. Suddenly an alien who calls himself, "Other," makes himself known to Loki. "The Chitauri grow restless," he states.
"Let them guide themselves," Loki replied. He makes an illusion of himself to the Other with his body armor and helmet on, and the scepter in his hand. "I will lead them in the glorious battle."
"Battle? Against the meager might of Earth?" the Other questions Loki.
Colora walks close to them to listen to their conversation.
"Glorious, not length," Loki replies. "If your force is as formidable as you claim."
Other turns to Loki and questions him, "You question us! You question him?" The Other puts his hand on a rock and uses his other hand to point at him. "He who put the scepter in your hand. Who gave you ancient knowledge a new purpose, when you were cast out. Defeated."
"I was a King!" Loki shouts. "Rightful King of Asgard! Betrayed."
The Other turns away from Loki once more and looks up. He snarls, "Your ambition is little and full of childish needs."
Loki also turns away from him, but he still looks at the Other to listen to him.
"We look beyond the greater worlds, the Tesseract will unveil," the Other added.
"You don't have the Tesseract yet," Loki interrupted. The Other prepares to attack him until Loki puts his hand and the scepter up in front of him. "I don't threaten. But until I open the doors. Until your force is mine to command. You have but words."
"You will have your war, Asgardian," said the Other as he puts his hand down. He then backs away then walks around Loki. As the Other walks behind Loki, Colora walks towards Loki and has tears in her eyes. "If you fail. If the Tesseract, if kept from us, there will be no realm, no barren moon, no crevice, where he cannot find you!"
The Other then leans into Loki's ear. "You think you know pain?" Loki sheds a tear. (This catches Colora's attention.) Other slowly put his hand on the side of Loki's face. "He will make you long for something sweet as pain."
Once the Other touches Loki's face, this ends the illusion for Loki which not only hurts him but makes him very afraid. Colora realized that something had happened to him. Just as the illusion ended for Loki, the illusion ends for Colora as well and it brings her back to Asgard.
Colora opens her eyes and gasps for air. Frigga kneels, takes Colora's hand and asks, "Colora, what did you see?" She sheds a tear another tear then look at Frigga; expressing that she has feared the very worst.
Days later, Thor discovers Loki's location and plans to take him. However, he's too late. For Steve Rodgers aka Captain America, Tony Stark aka Iron Man, Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow and other members of S.H.I.E.L.D have captured Loki and are taking him back as a hostage. A few hours after, being caught in Stuttgart, Natasha Romanoff is flying a jet to take Loki a ship. "Saying anything?" asks Fury through the intercom.
"Not a word," Natasha whispers.
"Just get him here. We're low on time."
Natasha switches the communicator from on to off.
As they head to their location, Tony Stark, and Steve Rodgers discuss the arrest. Every once in a while they glance at Loki to keep an eye on him. "I don't like it," Steve whispered.
"What rock of ages giving up so easily?" Tony asks sarcastically.
"No, I don't remember it being that easy. This guy packs a wallop," Steve replied.
"Still you're pretty spry for an older fellow," Tony remarked. Steve turns and gives Tony a look. "What'd you take pilates?"
"What?"
"It's like cal-esthetics. You might have missed a couple of things. Doing time as a capiscle."
"Fury didn't tell me he was calling you in."
"Yeah, there's a lot of things that Fury doesn't tell you."
Suddenly the sound of thunder and flashes of lightning appear. "Where's this coming from?" Natasha asks. The sound of rolling thunder and flashes of lightning continues, Steve turns to Loki as he notices that Loki is slightly on edge. Steve Rodgers asks, "What's the matter? Scared of a little lightning?"
"I'm not overly fond of what follows."
Steve and Tony turn to each other, confused by what Loki meant by that. Suddenly a loud thud hits the top of the plane. Everyone freaks out. Tony puts on his mask and pushes the button to open the door. "What are you doing?" Steve asks as he puts his mask on as Tony starts to walk out. Thor lands and stands right in front of him and sees Loki; Loki sees Thor and is terrified. Thor hits Tony back with the Mjolnir, to which then Tony lands on top of Steve. Thor then turns to Loki, grabs him and flies away. Tony and Steve get off of each other and stand up. "And now there's that guy," sighed Tony.
"Another Asgardian?" Natasha asks.
"Think that guys a friendly?" Steve asks.
"Doesn't matter. If he frees Loki or kills him, the Tesseracts lost," Tony replied. He then walks towards the open door.
"Stark! We need a plan of attack."
"I have a plan. Attack." Tony flies off and follows them.
Steve looks around the plane for a parachute and puts it on. Natasha is flipping switches and notices Steve putting on a parachutte. "I'd sit this one out Cap'!" advised Natasha.
"I don't see how I can," Steve replies.
"These guys come from legend. They're basically gods."
"There's only one God mame, and I don't think he dresses like that," Steve replies once more. He then runs and jumps off the plane.
At the same time, Colora and Frigga are training in Colora's chambers. "Alright Colora, let's try this again," said Frigga. "Close your eyes. Concentrate. Focus on your breathing." Colora does as Frigga asks of her. "Good, very good. Now tell me what do you see?"
"I see...lights flashing lights," Colora replied. Colora finds herself on Earth. She sees vast amount of trees, a river, and mountains far as her eyes can see. She looks up at one particular mountain and decides to climb up. "I'm on Earth. I'm on a mountain. I think."
"Ok good. Now, that was the first step," said Frigga.
"The first step?"
"Yes. The first step means that you have successfully transported yourself to a destination."
"What does that supposed to mean?" Colora asks.
"Personally, I don't know. That's what my mother told me when she taught me," Frigga replies. Colora looks around confused to why she was sent to this destination. "Now, even though you are at the location, you may not be able for a least for a few minutes get through to someone."
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is if you see someone and try to talk to them. They probably won't see or hear you."
"Wait, something is coming," Colora interrupted as she hears a sound of thunder and sees small bits of lightning. She turns around as she sees someone heading towards her.
Once Thor smashes Loki to the ground, he slides and touches the edge. He starts laughing. Colora runs up towards them. "Loki," Colora gasps.
"Where's the Tesseract?" asks Thor.
"I've missed you too," Loki replies as he continues to chuckle.
"Do I look like to be in a gaming mood?" Thor remarked.
"Ah, you should thank me," Loki replied as he tries to stand up. "With the Bifrost gone, how much dark energy did the all father have to master to conjure you here? Your precious Earth."
Thor drops his hammer and grabs him by the shirt and back of the neck. "Thought you dead," Thor whispered.
Loki looks into Thor's eyes and asks, "Did you mourn?"
"We all did," Thor replied. "Our father –"
"Your father," Loki interrupted as he points his finger to the sky. Loki hits Thor's arm as a gesture to let him go. "He did tell you of my true parentage did he not?"
Loki turns and walks away from him. Colora watches them talk from a distance.
Thor walks towards Loki and says, "We were raised together. We played together. We fought together. Do you remember none of that?"
Loki stops, turns to Thor, as he replies, "I remember a shadow; living in the shade of your greatness." They stare at each other. "I remember you tossing me into an abyss. I was and should be king!"
"So, you take the world I love as recompense for your imagine sights. No! The Earth is under my protection Loki."
"Hey!" Colora shouted as she takes a few steps towards them.
Loki laughs and adds, "And you're doing a marvelous job with that. The humans slaughter each other with drones while you illy threat. I need to rule them, and why should I not?'
"Think yourself above them?" asks Thor.
"Well yes?"
"Then you've missed the true reason of ruling brother. Throne suit you ill."
Loki gets pissed off, pushes Thor and walks away from him. Colora is confused to why Loki is acting this way.
"I've seen worlds you've never known about," states Loki. "I have grown Odinson in my exile. I've seen the true power of the Tesseract and when I wield it-"
"Who showed you this power? Who controls the wimpy king?" questions, Thor.
"I am a King!" shouts Loki.
"Not here!" yelled Thor. He grabs Loki's arms. "You give up the Tesseract! You give up this pointless dream!" He pauses as he looks into his brother's eyes. Thor then puts his hand behind Loki's neck and says, "You come home."
Colora's eyes water up, hoping that Loki will surrender. However, Loki smiles and chuckles, "I don't have it."
Thor gets angry and grabs his Mjolnir. Even though Colora knows that they cannot see and hear her, she tries to intervene. "Thor, no!" she shouts.
"You need the cube to bring me home, but I sent it off I know not where," Loki adds.
"You listen well, brother," said Thor. However, before Thor can continue, Tony takes Thor and grabs him before he could finish his sentence. "I'm listening," Loki replies as he stands there mockingly waiting for a response.
Miles away, Thor is smashed down to the ground. As he stands back up as he sees Tony removing his mask to let him see his true self. "Do not touch me again," commands Thor.
"Then don't take my stuff," Tony replied.
"You have no idea what you're dealing with," said Thor.
"Uh, Shakespeare in the Park?" Tony asks sarcastically as he glances up to where Loki is. Thor sighs; knowing he is not in the mood and has no time for humor. "Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?"
"This is beyond you metal man. Loki will face Asgardian justice," declares Thor.
"He gives up the cube he's all yours. Until then, stay out of the way," Tony states as puts his mask back on. Thor gets angry. "Tourist," Tony said behind his back. In anger, Thor then throws his hammer at Tony; smashing him far away. Tony is intrigued by him and says, "Ok." Tony then gets up and decides to fight him. Thor's hammer returns to him. Loki sits down and watches as Tony and Thor begin to fight.
Colora is speechless to what she is seeing in front of her. "Oh my God!" she said.
"What is it?" asks Frigga.
"Thor he's fighting someone in what looks like a metal suit of armor?"
"What about Loki?"
"No. He sat down. He's sitting right in front of me. He's watching Thor fighting whoever the man or machine is."
"Alright Colora, you might be able to take the next step."
"Which is?"
"Talk to him."
Colora stares at Loki with fear then replies, "What? But I thought you said that it wouldn't work."
"It should now since you've been in a trance long enough. Now try to talk to him," states Frigga.
"I don't know what to say. What should I tell him?"
"Just say something." Colora stares at Loki, fearful of what will happen. What will he say, what will he do? She takes a deep breath then replies, "Ok."
A few seconds later, a blast of flashing light goes off. This makes Loki smile and chuckle, pleasing him to see action like that. "Wow. Now that was impressive," said Loki.
As Colora approaches Loki from behind, tears appear in her eyes and a lump in her throat as she tries to speak up. She sheds a tear as she the stutters, "L...Loki." Loki's face then goes pale as he recognizes that voice and slowly turns around. "Colora?" he asked softly. Colora doesn't say another word as another tear falls down her face. Loki then stands up and walks towards her.
"Colora what are you doing here?" he asks.
"Never mind what I'm doing here. What are you doing here?" Colora asks. "How are you alive? I saw you fall into the abyss! I thought you died!"
"I was sort of rescued."
"What? By who?"
"It doesn't matter. What matters right now is that you and I are here together again!" Loki replied. They gaze into each other's eyes. Loki then looks down at her then sighs, "Oh, Colora!"
Loki tries to touch her, but Colora backs away and interrupts, "No! Don't touch me!"
"Why not?" asks Loki.
"Because I'm here but not," Colora replies. Loki looks into her eyes and realizes what she means. If he kissed her, she would have disappeared. "You're here by magic," Loki whispers.
"Yes," she replies.
They look into each other's eyes with deep longing and yearning. Knowing that not seeing each other for a year has torn them apart and has made it difficult for them.
"Colora," Loki whispers.
"Oh Loki," Colora sighs as so many emotions come into her mind.
Loki leans in, wanting to touch her as she knows that she wants him to; instead she turns and steps away from him. Confused, he gazes at her as she walks towards the edge of the cliff. "Colora what is it? What's wrong?" he asks.
"This. All of this," Colora replied. "What you're planning to do. Whatever it is. You know that it is wrong."
"Colora," Loki sighed.
As Colora and Loki are talking, Steve, Tony, and Thor are making their way back up to Loki. However, they notice as they go up that he isn't alone. "Hey, who's that with Loki?" asks Tony.
Thor stops as he recognizes that Loki is talking to Colora. "Oh no," Thor said under his breath.
"Loki, please, tell them where the Tesseract is and come home," pleads Colora. "Odin surely might lighten your sentence if you surrender and give them the Tesseract."
Loki stares at her and sighs, "Colora, I can't." This breaks Colora's heart because she knows that something is holding him back.
Suddenly in the distance, they hear Thor calling out, "Loki! Colora!"
Loki and Colora look at each other as they know what is going to happen next. Loki looks down and sighs, "Colora I." However, as he looks down, he touches her hands and sees the look on her face. He had forgotten that she had used magic and now she is slowly disappearing. "Colora?" Loki whimpers. Colora doesn't say a word; instead, she sheds a tear for him as she gradually disappears. "Colora!" he yells as he tries to stop her from disappearing. However, it doesn't work.
Loki stares at the ground then sheds a tear. Steve, Tony, and Thor approach him. "Who were you talking to?" asks Steve. Loki slowly turns around and stares at Thor. Expressing to him that he saw her.
