Chapter 6
After Colora saw Loki, she immediately left Earth and headed back to Asgard. She felt that she could no longer stay there to help them and Loki. For her heart was shattered into pieces by choosing the man she loved and saving Earth. After Colora left, the Avengers are ambushed by Loki's squad, and he escapes. Thor and the Hulk/ Dr. Banner are missing. Crew members of SHIELD are either dead or injured. Phil Colsen is dead. Hawkeye is no longer under Loki's spell. Tony figures out that the Tesseract is at Stark Tower so the team; Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye head for New York City.
Thor discovers that the team and Loki are in New York and heads to there to help them. Banner landed in an empty building, leaves and also heads there to help them. However, after they hear the news that a nuclear bomb was heading for New York, Tony decides to take the nuc through the portal while Natasha closes it with Loki's scepter. The nuc destroyed the Chitaurian Army, and the Avengers saved New York. Meanwhile, Colora was wandering around the palace, hoping that Earth was saved and that Loki was alive.
As soon as Thor returned, the guards took the Tesseract to the vaults. As for Loki, Odin had ordered the guards to take him to a cell until. As time goes by Loki is tried for his crimes and every day not only does he wait for Odin's judgment, he thinks about Colora. One year, later Odin has decided Loki's fate and has ordered his royal guards to bring him forward. At the same time, Dellinger finds out about not only Thor leaving for Vanaheim, but more importantly, Loki is alive and has been in Asgard for a year. After finding out, he immediately runs to Colora's chambers to tell her what he saw and heard.
Colora and Harisa are sitting down in her room talking until they see Dellinger coming. "Colora. Somethings happened," Dellinger huffed and puffed out. Colora and Harisa turn to each other then stand up. "What is it?"
"I was passing the Throne room, and I overheard the King talking to the guards and Thor. Loki has returned," Dellinger replied. Colora's facial expression changes. Harisa is concerned for her. "He's alive," Colora gasped.
"Yes. But there's something you should know first," said Dellinger. "Odin has ordered Thor to go to Vanaheim alone to help and fight off some war criminals who are threatening one of our villages."
"Why didn't he tell me?" Colora demanded in a loud voice.
"I don't know," Dellinger replied.
Colora glances away for a moment then asks, "The Tesseract?"
"Odin had it be put in the vaults," he replied. "Heavily guarded."
"And Loki?" Colora muttered and has tears in her eyes as she feared for him. Dellinger pauses because she knows how she will take the news. He takes a deep breath and replies, "Thor brought Loki back last year and Odin sent him to prison while he was being tried for his crim and today Odin is going to announce his sentence." Colora sheds a tear as she realizes that Thor had kept his promise by keeping Loki alive but disappointed that no one ever told her that Loki had returned. Dellinger takes a step closer and glances at Harisa as he knows that this is difficult for Colora to hear. "Is he going to be executed?" Colora whimpered. Harisa turns to Dellinger curious to know what he heard. "I don't know," Dellinger replied. "Odin is considering other options such as banishment or to spend the rest of his life in the dungeon.
Colora sheds another tear then quickly turns around and walks a few feet away from him. Dellinger and Harisa turn to each other with concern and sad for what Colora must endure. However, they notice a look on Colora's face as she turned around and asked, "What time is his trial?"
Dellinger raised his eyebrow, turns his head slightly to Harisa then answers, "It's in a few minutes."
Then just like that, Colora quickly storms out of the room. Dellinger looks at Harisa and points at her. "Stay here!" he commanded. Dellinger then runs after Colora.
A few seconds later in the corridor, Dellinger catches up with Colora and shouts, "Colora, wait! Where are you going?"
"Going to see his sentence," Colora replied as she didn't stop to face him.
"They won't let you in. Odin has refused for anyone to see the trial. He definitely will not let you see his sentence,"
"I don't care," Colora yelled. She stops and turns to face Dellinger. He stops and listens to what she has to say. Colora glances away for a moment, then continues, "I need to see this. I need to see him! What if this is the last time I will ever see him alive?" Dellinger sighs; knowing that she is right.
Colora sheds more tears and stutters, "I don't know if I could make it if I saw him for the last time if he is executed in front of everyone. Dellinger, this is my only chance." Dellinger sighs as he notices the pleading look in her eyes. He then glances from side to side then pulls her to the side. He whispers, "Alright, but if you want to see him, you're going to have to follow me and do not say a word about this."
A few minutes later, Colora and Dellinger head to a hidden room that shows the throne room. Dellinger pulls Colora in the hidden room and whispers, "I've done this many times. I would sometimes when I'm bored come here to listen to the council meetings." However, as Dellinger explains to Colora about this room, he notices that she is more and more nervous. Realizing that she is silent and breathing heavily because she is afraid that this might be the last time she sees Loki alive. "Colora?"
"I'm ok," she whispered.
Suddenly they hear a loud sound. They notice Odin and Frigga entering the throne room. Odin sits down in his chair; Frigga is down a few feet away from him. Colora turns to Dellinger and asks softly, "I thought you said it was just him?"
"I thought so too," Dellinger leans over and whispers.
Another sound approaches. The sound of rattling chains as someone is walking towards Odin. Surrounded by guards for protection for the king and from himself. "Loki," Colora sighs as her eyes grow wide as sees him in chains. She grabs Dellinger's arm as she is nervous about Loki's fate.
On edge, Frigga takes one step towards her son and says, "Loki."
He stops where Frigga is standing, turns and answers, "Hello Mother. Have I made you proud?"
"Please, don't make this worse."
"Define "worse?"" he whispers as Loki leans towards Frigga.
"Enough," announced Odin. Frigga and Loki turn at Odin. Colora and Dellinger lean in slightly to get a better look at what Odin has to say. "I will speak to the prisoner alone."
Frigga turns around then quickly leaves the room. As she leaves Loki watches her. Once she is no longer in his view, Loki takes a few steps then slams his right foot against his left to make fun as he stand to attention. He then chuckles and says, "I don't really know what all the fuss is about?"
Colora stares at Loki; breathing heavily as she feels more and more nervous for him.
"Do you not truly understand the action of your crime?" asks Odin. "Wherever you go, there is war, ruin, and death."
"I went down to Earth as a benevolent God. Just like you," Loki replied.
"We're not gods," Odin implies. "We're born. We live. We die. Just as humans do."
Loki shakes his head side to side; feeling that Odin has forgotten something. "Give or take five thousand years," Loki implied.
"All this because Loki desires a throne?"
"It is my birthright!"
"Your birthright was to die!" shouts Odin. Loki tilts his head slightly as he is surprised to hear what is coming out of Odin's mouth. "As a child. Cast out onto a frozen rock. If I had not taken you in, you would not be here now to hate me."
Loki takes a few steps forward and says, "I am hopefully for mercy's sake just swing it." Colora gasps and squeezes Dellingers arm tighter because she is shocked and upset that Loki had suggested to Odin to execute him. "It's not that I don't love our little talks it's just. I don't love them."
"Frigga is the reason why you are still alive, and you will never see her again," announced Odin. "You will spend the rest of your days in the dungeons."
Loki is shocked. Colora and Dellinger are also shocked, but Colora is relieved. The guards try to pull Loki back, but he hardly moves. "What of Thor?" demands Loki. "You'll make that witless oaf King while I rot in chains?"
"Thor must strive to undo what you have done. He will bring balance to the nine realms and then yes. He will be King," Odin replied.
Just before the guards could take Loki away, he shoves the guard and shouts, "Wait! What about Colora?" Colora has tears rolling down her cheeks and she gasps as she heard him say her name. Loki stares at Odin, breathing heavily as he waits for what Odin has to say.
"She is also the reason you're still alive. Therefore Loki, the rules apply to you as it does to her." Dellinger turns to Colora as he sees that she is squeezing his arm harder and breathing rapidly. Colora feels as if her heart is pounding so hard it is as if her heart is outside of her body. For Loki, he stares at Odin hoping that he will not punish her for the crimes he had committed. Odin sighs, stands up then says as he walks to Loki, "You will never speak to her, hear from her, and you will never see her again. As long as you both shall live." Loki expresses to Odin grief and sadness. Odin looks at the guards and gestures to them to take Loki away.
Loki looks down as Odin turns away and whispers, "No!" As the guards grab Loki, he tries to resist by pulling away from the guards, but they gradually drag him out of the room. As Loki leaves the room, Colora hears Loki screaming, "Colora! COLORA!" Colora turns to Dellinger, leans towards him and embraces him. Dellinger holds her as she cries as the sound of Loki's voice, calling out to her upsets her.
A few minutes later, the guards reach the prison, take the chains off of Loki and lock him in his prison cell. Once the guards leave, Loki tries to get their attention by asking and begging them to have Colora see him, but they don't say a word. When he can no longer see them, Loki banged his fists on the wall then turns away. After he turns, Loki looks on his desk that Frigga had put in his cell (along with other pieces of furniture a year ago) and notices something. He walks to the desk and sees a photograph laid out for him. Tears are in his eyes as he recognizes the picture.
On the photograph, it shows Colora and Loki crashing a party in Paris, France. Loki in a suit and tie, Colora is in a semi Vanir-Asgardian blue formal gown (however, more modern due to Midgard's sense of fashion.) As he gently picks up the picture, tears from his eyes fall on his cheeks as he gazes at it. As he shuts his eyes, a memory comes to his mind.
Asgard. One year earlier. Thor has Loki in chains and the Tesseract in a glass case. A guard approaches him and says, "Welcome back, my lord."
"Thank you," said Thor.
"Your father wanted us to tell you that he wants you to speak before the court about Loki's case," states the guard.
"When?" asks Thor.
"After the Princess," he replies.
Loki and Thor turn to each other then to the guard. Confused that the guard is referencing "princess" to Colora. Thor takes a step forward and says, "Colora? You mean she's -"
"Yes, she has been summoned to speak before the court to not only give testimony but to also be possibly punished for disobeying him," the guard replied.
"Punished for what?" Loki asks as he tilts his head slightly.
Thor and the guard look at each other then at Loki knowing what it means. Thor turns back to the guard with the Tesseract, hands it to him and says, "Thank you, I'll handle it from here." The guard bows slightly to Thor then leaves with the Tesseract. Thor turns to Loki and sighs.
"What did he mean by that?" asks Loki.
Thor sighs once more and replies, "I told Colora that you were on Earth. however, before I told Colora, father told me to not let her come with me because he was afraid that she might do something drastic. Which she didn't, and I knew she wouldn't. But, I know it would be hard for her to see you after what happened." Loki looks away for a moment and shuts his eyes. Thor stares at his brother as he knows how difficult it is for him and Colora to not be together, but knows that the actions that Loki made was a crime and he must pay the price. Loki looks back at Thor and says, "Brother."
"I know what you're going to ask and no absolutely not," Thor interrupted him, knowing what Loki is going to ask him. "You may not realize this Loki, but she did so much for you, and now she may end up like you. Why should I let you hear what she has to say?"
"Thor, please. I need to hear her; at least see her," Loki pleaded. "What if I never see her again?"
"Seeing her on Earth wasn't hard enough for you both?"
"Yes, it was," Loki claimed. He walks towards his brother. "But I need to hear what she has to say. Maybe even, if she has the answers to my questions. Wouldn't you do the same if it was Jane Foster?" Thor sighs as he knows that he would do anything for Jane, but still feels that he shouldn't help his brother. Even though he knows that he wants to help his brother and also has questions of his own to why Colora left instead of helping the team defeating his brother in New York. "Please."
Thor takes a deep breath as he looks away to decide what to do. He then turns to his brother and pulls him away. "Alright, but in order for this to work, you've got to do everything I say. Understand?" Thor whispered. He then takes off the chains and Loki nods his head.
One minute later, Thor and Loki, who has transfigured himself into Colora to get by some guards, enter a secret room and hide so no one can see them. "Alright, thank you, Frigga. We'll discuss more of this later," said Odin.
As Frigga is leaving, Loki is sad but happy to see that Frigga is alright. Thor notices that Loki is heading slightly towards the door but just before he does, Thor shoves him against the wall, which causes his illusion of Colora to change back to his normal self. "What?" Loki asks softly.
"Don't even think about it," Thor whispers. "This is close as your going to get, Loki."
Suddenly they hear a loud noise. They turn and get a closer look as they see Colora entering the room and walking towards Odin and his council members. "Close the doors," demands Odin. As Colora walks inside, Loki is awestruck and relieved to see that she is safe but nervous on why Odin had summoned her to speak before him. As for Colora, she walks towards Odin, knowing that he is upset at her for something and can see it in the look in his eyes. Odin sighs and says, "Princess Colora. Once again you like to not hear a word I say when it comes to following orders. Do you truly like to disobey me?"
One of the guards takes a steps and interrupts Odin, "Well technically sir, she wasn't told to not go to Earth. Thor did tell her." Odin turns to the guard with a stern look on his face. The guard takes a step back and looks down and says, "Sorry."
Thor and Loki glance at each other then back at Odin and Colora. Odin turns back to Colora and continues, "Loki made his choice to betray us. To betray you. Why did you go to Earth to see him? What did you possibly think to get out of him? To get him back?"
Colora takes a deep breath and states, "I know what you're thinking, but I was not only there to help get through to Loki, I went to Earth to help."
"Don't lie to me!"
"I'm not! As soon as I figured out what Loki's intentions were, I went to see the "Avengers". Earth's mightiest heroes to help them."
"But what I recall you mentioned that you knew him better than anyone. Frigga, myself and Thor."
"That's not true!" Colora yelled.
"Everyone knows it. Frigga knows it," Odin adds. Colora glances to the side for a moment as she is annoyed by Odin's comment. Thor turns to Loki as he sees the look in his brother's eyes. The look of nerves and eagerness for Colora has given her explanation. Odin leans forward and asks, "What did you talk to Loki about? What did you ask of him?" Loki breathes heavily and tears are in his eyes. As he sees a certain look on her face. She glares at Odin, however, then look down and takes a breath so she can calm down.
Colora looks back at Odin and answers, "At first, I was trying to get answers out of him by asking him what his plan was and why. But knowing how stubborn he is, I knew that I wasn't going to get him to talk to me as if he was a prisoner. I wanted to talk to him just like he and I used to talk. So I went to his cell to just talk to him, and when we spoke, not only did I see the Loki I once knew, I saw that he was; is lost. Something changed and manipulated him to act that way, even though he is still angry at Thor and you. He was very nervous and anxious. When I asked him why, what he could gain, he wouldn't tell me. But I genuinely believe that it is because he was afraid." Thor leans back against his chair as he is slightly intrigued by her assumption. "Yes, Odin what I wanted most of all was to bring him home. To have him come back to us."
"Then what made you decide to leave?" Odin asks. Loki leans closer as he is nervous and curious to know why Colora left.
"I wanted to help him, but he wouldn't let me in," Colora replied. "So I decided to leave because I not only knew that the Avengers would find the Tesseract and have them return Loki to us. But I couldn't face having to protect Earth and fight against someone that I care so much about. I couldn't go through that again." Loki sheds a tear as he is heartbroken that he had broken Colora. Remembering that Colora had fought and killed Phobos, a man who she had loved deeply. "However, before I left, he did say something. Loki told me that he loved me. I don't know if he meant it for sure, but I could see in his eyes that he is still there. He never left. Yes, Loki has done terrible things, but when I saw him, I saw that he wasn't truly gone. For no one can be really gone. Not even Loki." Loki gasps silently, covers his mouth and sheds more tears.
Colora takes a few steps closer to Odin and begs, "Please Odin. When and if he returns. Spare him. I know punishment by law is death but -"
"Why should I do that?" Odin interrupted. "You have put yourself at great risk."
Thor turns to Loki, grabs his arm and whispers, "Come on."
"I beg you!" she yelled.
Loki turns to Thor with pleading eyes and whispers, "Wait!" They then look back at Odin and Colora to which they notice that Odin is walking towards Colora.
"Tell me this, Colora," says Odin. He stops a few feet away from her. Do you still love him?"
Loki leans closer and sighs as he sees that Colora looking down to the floor. He sees a tear that is on her cheek that then falls to the floor. Loki realizes that deep down, Colora still loves him.
In his cell, Loki puts the photograph down on the desk, then lies down on his bed. Loki turns over where no one can see him as he weeps. Realizing that if he can no longer see his mother, there is no chance that he will ever see Colora again. In his mind, he had lost her forever, to the choices he has made.