ENDGAME SPOILERS!

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Disclaimer: I own nothing! If I did, Tony would be yelling at me.

Summary: The scales are unbalanced, they have been for a very long time. And someone is getting pissed off that this keeps happening. So she decides to set things right. Very unconventionally...the Universe is not ready for this...no one is. Undying is a worse fate than torture, making you long for the sweet pain of death.

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To DesertBlueOasis, theweirdestone, hanabatake, johncorn: Thank you all so much for the Faves and Follows!

To Guest: Thank you, I truly appreciate your criticism on Kat, and no that is not sarcasm. I LOVE it when readers tell me something sucks! Well...how about instead of one next button you get TWO? Yay no more finals! Please please please tell me your theories! Old and New! I would love to know! I hope to keep Kat around, so keep on reading! Thank you!


Chapter Nine

Xxx

Years ago

Xxx

Snurri smoothed the blankets over the newborn with tender care, smiling as the baby snuffled in his sleep but didn't stir. His mother was still sleeping, finally, having nearly passed out after four days of caring for her new son. As the Queen's favorite handmaiden, and newly assigned nursemaid, Snurri was slowly getting the hang of caring for the princeling alongside the Queen and new mother.

Their realm had been tormented by clan wars for generations, sometimes broken up by horrid battles with the other realms, but mostly the seven largest feudal clans had disputed over lands and territories amongst the six minor tribes that encompassed the remainder of the population.

Somehow, the graces of the universe lead to the uniting of the two most vicious leaders.

Through marriage.

Son the Black Shadows, and Daughter of the White Stars, united in a ceremony of peace and prosperity to bring a monarchy into power over the realm holding council with the other clan leaders to ensure equality.

And control, the Shadows clan wasn't known for their ruthlessness for nothing.

With a year, the realm was flourishing for the first time in a millennia, and the era of fortune was welcomed even further when a daughter of shadows and son of stars were married, clan sister to the King and clan brother to the Queen united and made Royal Elects. For eight centuries the realm thrived, and wars with other realms died down to manageable levels that allowed the armies to bulk up to become a powerhouse.

To add to the splendor, the most perfect blessing happened.

And Snurri was currently holding him.

But even the news the Queen was expecting didn't stop the vicious wars from returning, first on Midgard, but now threatening even the Citadel itself once battles commenced on this realm. Blood flowed like lava among the harshness of the native winter, and the rage of weapons was louder than the storms.

Amongst all the chaos, there was hope…

Crown Prince, heir the realm, powerful in the gifts and arts of magic, and would one day marry the child of the Royal Elects. The Lady was expecting a baby any day now, gods willing it would be a girl.

A royal naming and a betrothal all in one, and with their marriage in years to come, the perfect unity of the clans would put an end to the stagnation in tribal and feudal negotiations for actual planet wide laws and trade agreements. Uniting the realm for eternity.

That and the potential power between the new ruling couple and the realm would be unstoppable.

A low murmur from the Queen made Snurri turn, glancing at her still face before the maid's focus returned to the newborn. Already, the ancestral markings were distinguishing themselves from the prince's baby wrinkles, the etchings telling the tales of his parentage and newly fledged power beneath his soft skin.

When the low knock sounded on the door, Snurri was expecting another midwife or maid, possibly even a guard with news on the war, yet after placing the sleeping princeling in his cradle and going to check the door-the last person in the entire realm was on the other side of the door.

King or no, he owed her respect, and until he'd set his weapon aside in the hallway she didn't allow entry. Stepping into the suite's antechamber when Snurri let him in, the king let out a low sigh as the chamber wards flexed at his presence.

"Does she rest?"

"The Queen sleeps your majesty, peacefully, as does your son."

The grin that had stolen his queen's heart spread on his face, the skin stained with soot and what Snurri was desperately hoping was not blood. All of his armor was marred, filthy with mud and questionable stains and tears from brutal weapons.

He stepped past Snurri again, into the bedchamber to gaze upon his wife who still slept.

The princeling however stirred at the new voice, blinking in the candlelight before he squirmed when his father eased the bundle of blankets into thick arms.

"Look at you…such a tiny thing, who could imagine you will one day be queen?"

Snurri scoffed, "Your queen for one."

Chuckling deeply, the king soothed his son before setting the groggy infant back in the cradle. "He will be strong, I am sending Maxir to guard my wife, Snurri you will take the prince to the Temples of Langthar at dusk."

"The temples? Your majesty!"

"Enough!"

Whirling on the maid, the king's eyes burned into hers, "He will be safe in the Temples, war will not reach him as it already does our realm. An oath binds the leaders of the Nine Realms to leave sanctuaries out of their warmongering, while battle rages my son will slumber."

As the King left, Snurri growled, clearing her throat abruptly to stop him, "Remove the cantrip."

"Snurri-"

"Remove the cantrip, the sleeping draught on the Queen, the one to hide your yelling."

Another low sigh, this one accompanied by a flick of the king's wrist and the drowsy haze in the room dissipated.

Once the door was locked again, Snurri bit back the sob building in her throat.

There wasn't time to fret, Maxir's dark and heavy voice was already at the outer doors speaking with the maids in call to tend their Queen. It was likely the Captain of the Guard's second was on the other side of the palace with the Lady Elect, ordered to protect the expectant mother until the birth of her daughter and would then put the newborn princess into hiding as well. The Lord Elect was almost assuredly right beside the King's General, ready to defend the realm.

Snurri waved a hand, setting up a spell to pack a few essentials for the newborn in a satchel, while the magic did its job, she gathered the princeling up properly. The heavy swaddled were enough to convince the baby to full sleep, ensuring there would be no noise on their journey.

Unfortunately, the Queen did not wake, the King's trick a little too heavy-handed and left her in deep slumber while Snurri left with her child.

Xxx

The Temples, while cool and without a great deal of fire, were a boon as they should be, from the frigidness of the mountain ravines in which they sat. Guarded by two massive stretches of crags and peaks, the deep gorges were both sheltered from winds, and a funnel to their might.

And yet, in all their years, the Temples still stood their tests of the generations.

Currently, they held a few Elders, and even less attendants, those unable to help on the frontlines, or in the medical camps scattered across the realm.

The oldest priest of Langthar lead Snurri and her escort deep into the main building beneath the Temple Spire, the compound of buildings surrounding them supposed to be filled with students and budding teachers. Now it held nothing…those able to wage war had gone to fight, those not had been summoned home to hide.

Now, Snurri stepped into the Chamber of the realm's most precious relic, and the power source the princeling would one day control.

Kneeling beside the stone basin set beneath the relic pedestal, Snurri rearranged the extra furs she's brought to ensure maximum comfort. The princeling stirred a bit when she set him down, keeping him well covered but not smothered in his wraps.

"Sleep my prince, all shall be well. I will return for you soon."

"Snurri! We must go! All wielders are being summoned to the Citadel!"

Hogarn's shout made her tear up again, and Snurri pressed a hasty kiss to the baby's forehead. "May the stars protect you."

Fleeing the Temples, Snurri had to force herself not to look back, shaking off her fears and gripping the heavy sword handed to her. The familiar weight of a Queensguard blade was like stepping back in time, her magic rippled over the weapon and ensconced her body in armor fit for war.

It wouldn't be enough.

Xxx

Shaking, the Queen tried once more to scry in the waters of the crystal basin, pouring every inch of her stuttering magic into the blood swirling among the cold liquid.

Nothing, just like the rest of times she'd begged the stars to reveal what she desired.

Somewhere, in the chaos of the wars, her husband had vanished, likely chasing after whichever Realm Leader had stolen their relic. Now the Queen was almost frantic to find news of her King.

A handmaiden poked her head into the Queen's study, "My lady?"

"Yes Agna?"

"The King is here."

She whirled in a flash, cringing as her aching abdomen protested the movement harshly. A fortnight after giving birth and she still was not completely healed. But, that didn't matter, her husband had returned and together they would raise their child and-

He looked terrible, half his armor missing and deep wounds marring the broad chest she loved to cuddle against to sleep.

"My darling, you are-"

"I have news."

She shook her head, "That can wait darling, send Maxir to the Temples for our child-"

A hand set on her shoulder paused the Queen's rambling, and the King stared down at her with a look of pain.

"The Temples of Langthar are no more, they have been destroyed."

"The relic-"

"Is missing, taken as a war bounty most likely, the Elders are striving to end this Winter for the people-"

"Where is he?"

The King sighed, long and low, "My wife-"

"Where is he?"

"The guards are-"

"Where is he?!"

Snurri's hands on the Queen's shoulders guided her to the floor, not allowing the monarch to just collapse as her body shaking sobs took over, the King lowered with his wife, holding her tight until she violently lashed out, claws raking across scabbing wounds to reopen them before a burst of magic sent the King careening into the wall.

"My SON! Where is my SON! Bring me my baby!"

Agna tried to aid Snurri, both handmaidens attempting to soothe the roaring Queen as she wailed, "My queen, the Temples were destroyed, nothing remains within, the relic was stolen and perhaps the princeling was taken with it!"

"Where is my baby?!"

"Oh shut it wench!" The King stumbled to his feet, shoving off a guard's aid with a snarl, "The prince is more likely dead, if not buried beneath the ruins of the Temples."

A howl from the Queen was enough to get the King to leave, and she descended into hysterics, crying out for her missing baby. The screams echoed in the palace halls, chasing after the King as he strode away to escape her grief but unable to out run his own.

Someone running caught his attention, and the King had to catch the young girl as she literally slid around the corner, a budding frost mage judging by the sparkling ice beneath her feet.

"My King! Your clan sister! It's a girl!"

He could only stare at the dark haired child, and she shifted nervously before dispelling the ice with a bit of concentration.

The elated smile on her face caved, just in time for the mourning bells to start the dreaded gongs echoing over the Citadel and across the realms.

"My King? A betrothal is now imminent, are you not happy?"

"Laelia," The King crouched to be eye-level with the young girl, setting a blood stained hand on her shoulder, "Go to the Lady, tell her the Lord Elect will return soon. And pass on my blessings for her new daughter."

Laelia dipped in a curtsey, beginning to sprint away again before the King called out again.

"And child!"

She spun back around.

"Tell my clan sister…tell her the betrothal shall be vilji konungsins, will of the king."

While the edict was heavy, Laelia still nodded and took off again, carrying with her the fate of the realm. The King watched her go, knowing his clan sister would be enraged to discover not only would her daughter be forced off the line of succession for the time being-but betrothed to the next heir born of the Queen. With the Crown Prince missing and very likely dead, this could stir the clans into anarchy amongst a war destroyed realm.

The son from the King and Queen would marry the new princess, be it a new child once the Queen mourned, or if the then eldest was actually found by some blessed twist of fate.

Be it what the stars decide, the King would enact his revenge on the Nine Realms, and wreak havoc those stupid enough break their oaths.

It was one thing to remove the Casket from the Temples.

Laufey would personally destroy whoever dared murder his son.

Xxx

Xx

Xxx

Avengers Compound

July 6th, 2023

5:48pm

Xxx

"So she's basically perfect."

Thor snorted, sipping his bottle of water-Loki was happy it wasn't beer or stronger-but the blonde just shook his head, "Not in the slightest."

Loki growled, "A Queen? How many royals in the galaxies have you met in our diplomatic happenings over the centuries? She has the power to siphon strength from others-given or not. Can perform spell casts in the like similar to my own, perhaps stronger as you said. Is capable of traversing the Void with the skills even I do not possess, and-" Shoving Thor lightly to get his full attention, Loki's eyes narrowed, "Brought not only myself back from the dead, but three others whose blood was spilt in the name of a war."

Chuckling a bit darkly, Thor shifted how he was sitting, braced against the railing that edged the rooftops of the Avengers compound where both princes had retreated after slogging through a couple hour long argument with the others, Loki had left first followed by Thor, and the two found solace above the rest.

"She cannot Jump forever, before I knew what she was doing-thinking she had your trick of teleporting-when Katherine would return to Stark Tower after a weekend away, upon arrival would be drained and weak. She's high on lightning, at she was this morning. It will not last long, and her powers flex and flow much like your own. Yes, Kat is powerful, but every power has its limits. Your duplicates brother," Thor gave Loki a proud smile, the one Loki had never seen cross Odin's face, "Your skills in such-she can never match, nor can she shape shift as well as you."

"Magic is an art, not precision, there are bound to be differences-"

"And she is not Queen." Thor turned sad, face pinching in distress, "Not yet if ever, her throne is watched by the Queen Regent, her own mother. But Katherine cannot take the throne without her betrothed, the name on the treaty is not the boy she is tied to, the first son of the King died or is missing, it has not been told. To maintain the agreement, she will marry the younger brother when he is old enough. Until then, she has been fostered out to another realm. One I am assuming we are familiar with, but I do not know which. Loki, she just desires peace for her people, as do I for Asgard. I do not wish to start a war with them, not when I do not know who they are and even if it is limited, she is capable of traversing the stars through the shadows unseen-if she can move an army in such a manner-"

"She would be unstoppable," Loki nodded, "A very diplomatic play brother, how royal of you."

"Politics is your field of play brother," Thor drained the last of his water, tossing the bottle behind himself to gather later, "But yes, I keep her secret from others, and allow her this freedom, and she keeps news of Asgard to herself and away from her mother. Should there come a time when a proper alliance is in hand, I would rather it be on the foundation of friendship between herself and I, rather than disagreements."

Loki couldn't blame him, Asgard-even after the reversal of Thanos' Snap-was not strong enough to hold off a true army. Not of the likes a few other Realms had, or other planets outside of Yggdrasil's reach. To start a war with an army lead by a young Queen with magic…backed by a ruthless regent. Neither Thor nor Loki were that stupid.

Left to his own thoughts, Loki mulled over the information, a noble woman, high born of another realm-in hiding from gods know what and left to live outside of her people while a regent dictates from the throne. As someone who was raised deep inside the myriad of dangers court brought…Loki at least understood Kat's position.

She did what she pleased, working for Stark in and out of the shadows of the Avengers, letting her mother sit on the her throne while in wait for either a death or a marriage. Kat stoked her power like fire, a flame quick to rage but slow to recover if the inferno blazed too high.

On the other hand, Loki was what she said, smoke on mirrors, smoldering from tended coals that radiated heat while smooth as glass. Glass that could reflect, cut, protect-

And shatter…

"I thought he'd truly done it this time."

Thor might have been startled by Loki's sudden words, but his brother wasn't paying attention, instead the long pale fingers brushing against an equally pale throat, a touch feather light that send sparks as sharp as knives to Loki's core.

"I…" Loki swallowed thickly, "I truly thought he had actually killed me this time. Thanos…he…there were days…in his hands, that I begged for death. When longing for the sweetness of pain was too much even then, I clung to the hope something-anything…would be my undoing, a hit-a strike-a lash-a stab…something would just kill me already."

"Loki…" Thor knew, he had been told a summary of Loki's fall into Thanos' hands, instead of stuck in the space outside Asgard's borders-the Void had thrown Loki violently into the Chitauri territory. Thor knew Loki hadn't actually given in as easily as one might think, not when Thanos had promised Asgard's destruction, they both held scars from the Titan, Loki more than others.

"I…I didn't want to," Loki glanced at Thor, unable to hide the tears completely, "Please Thor…I couldn't stop. I'd have rather Thanos kill me, but he wouldn't."

Thor's hand gripped the sorcerer's shoulder tightly, "Loki…the Mind Stone you wielded-"

Shaking his head, Loki was trembling beneath his brother's hand, "I did not, it wielded me. I could manipulate the power of an Infinity Stone, but not control it. I…I recall so little of New York in perfect clarity, even after the beast smashed me into the flooring. The haze of the Stone took time to clear, I do not believe I was truly free of it until those Adamantium shackles had blocked what was left of the power."

"You tell me you were under Thanos' control?"

Loki nodded, rubbing a hand over his face roughly, "Thor I begged for death, and yet I sit beside you, because that girl? That is not possible, that power does not exist. If even dying gave you a few more moments of life with Thanos attacking the ship, I would have succeeded. And yet, death could not hold me…why?"

Shifting a little, Thor didn't immediately answer, lost in thought and staring out over the Compound, when he did speak, Loki heard the years of the warrior and his brother, not of the king in charge moments ago, "I have a feeling that is something Katherine herself must answer, and if what Bruce and the others say are true, then her actions do not come without a price. One which I find myself reluctant to pay."


Tada!

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