Author's note: Ok, so this is the next chapter, and I'm still kind of trying to figure this out. I had some things written and I have been re-tweaking them… I have a lot of ideas, almost too many for this story, which means I will have to save some of them for another perhaps… and perhaps a third… lots of feels going on in my mind… Anyway, now Loki's back, and this will bring us up to the present… This chapter picks up after Frigga's conversation with Loki a few chapters back…

And, thank you so much to those of you following this story and leaving me feedback! Any feedback anonymous or signed is always appreciated!

"The Alfather wishes to speak with you," one of the guards shouted at Loki. Loki stood up and straightened himself out. He walked into the throne room, his head held high. He would not let Thor and Odin put him down. He would fight. He knew that he would most likely be put to death for his actions upon Midgard, so he cared little to censor himself. He would not grovel or beg for forgiveness.

He knew no matter what Thor would love him, forgive him, and most likely start babbling about redemption. The thought made him sick to his stomach. He looked at Odin, and inwardly rolled his eyes. His not-father was not going to crack him. The only person who could even stand half a chance at getting him to crack was Frigga, but they had already had their exchange, or so he thought.

"Loki my son," Odin boomed. "What have you to say?"

Loki looked up at Odin and Thor, his eyes questioning their intelligence. Just how stupid were they, how did they expect him to talk with a muzzle… really? He raised an eyebrow in question and Odin waved his hand, the muzzle disappearing.

Loki coughed, and brought his hand to his face, now realizing that his hands were free. He felt scars where the muzzle had been and cursed Odin.

"What have you done to me?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

'Loki," Thor exclaimed, taking notice of the marks that remained where the muzzle had been. "You did not tell me that it would do that," Thor growled at Odin, having yet another reason to be upset with the man.

At this point, Frigga entered the chambers. She took one look at Loki and glared accusingly at Odin. "Come." She waved to Loki to come forward. Loki hesitated. He was not a child.

"I said come forward," she repeated, her voice becoming cross. He stepped forward, not wanting to further upset his mother.

She placed a cool hand to his face, and Loki could feel an exchange of magic coming from her to him. He inhaled, taking in the energy and fell to his knees, intoxicated by the magic. He felt his face again and noticed his skin was smooth to the touch. He nodded in thanks to his mother and stood up again to face Odin.

"Odin has something he needs to tell you," Frigga said, a small smile on her face.

"Loki my son," Odin began again. "You and Thor are not my only children…"

Loki knew this. He knew Odin had hundreds of children; of course he and Thor were not his only two… Really there were three children Loki knew of well. Himself, Thor, and Baldr. To Loki's knowledge, Baldr had died when they were children; all thanks to him. He put his head down, remembering Baldr's death.

Loki had almost always hated Baldr. He could not remember a time when the two got along. Loki always felt attacked by their brother. Despite their age differences, Loki had always been the same height as his older brothers. He grew faster in childhood than them. Looking back, it probably had something to do with his frost giant parentage. He remembered that despite being as tall as Thor and taller than Baldr; he was much weaker.

Baldr and Thor were definitely the two meatheads of the family. They took after Odin himself, with his blond features, strong muscles, and battle hungry confidence. Loki however was much less muscular; he was more of a thinker. He excelled at school and learned magic, rather than strength and endurance. He had received the bulk of his education from Frigga, whereas Thor and Baldr had been schooled by Odin Alfather himself. The two older brothers often practiced fighting and participated in matches. They took classes on war and leadership, all to pave the way for the future. Loki's education was more based on spells, sorcery, magic, and strategy. Loki was trained to be agile, and quick witted, always with a trick up his sleeve.

"Your brother, Baldr," Odin began, pulling Loki from his thoughts. "He has re-emerged. He was found on Midgard and brought back to us." Odin, Thor, and Frigga studied Loki closely, looking for any sign of emotion.

"Loki," Baldr said, stepping out of the shadows. He looked from Loki to Odin, not knowing what else to say.

Loki looked at Baldr and studied him. While he no longer had his muscular body, Loki knew instantly that this man was telling the truth. As he was the God of Lies, he could always tell when someone was being genuine, but the man standing before him looked very much like Thor, just much smaller.

"So you are," he replied, not looking at anyone in particular. He focused in on Thor. "Just wonderful, I can continue living in the shade of everyone's greatness," he hissed, moving his gaze from Thor to Odin. "And to think, he is of mortal size.." he added snarkily.
"Loki, I do not understand why you harbor so much anger," Frigga exclaimed, a pained look on her face.

Loki inwardly regretted his words. Seeing his mother like that was the only thing that made him feel bad for what he was about to do. "Apologies Mother," he began. "I grow tired of living in your shadow Thor. And now, Thor junior over there is back from the dead… It's like childhood all over again…" Loki did not want to sound like a temperamental brat, although he felt as though he did. His voice remained dry and hard, and his face, void of emotion.

"I forgive you," Baldr tried, after being punched gently by Thor.

"Getting him to pretend wont' work brother," Loki hissed, a mocking inflection in his voice at the word brother. "He doesn't remember, does he… he just knows that I killed him. An understandable reason to not like me I suppose…. Not that it was an accident or anything," Loki replied.

"I know of my death. And accident or not, I do not like you for what you have done most recently to my home…"

"Well, I had to take what was rightfully mine." Loki's voice was hard, not an ounce of regret.

"And for that, you shall be punished," Odin interrupted, drawing all eyes in the room onto him. "Son, you and Baldr bring me the tesserect,"

"Yes father."

"Frigga and I have agreed on a punishment for your brother here…" he explained. With a wave of the Alfather's hand, Loki was stripped of his battle clothing and reduced to mere mortal clothing. He looked down at his new clothing with disdain.

How dare he reduce him to mortal clothing… Before he could protest, Thor and Baldr had returned with the cube.

"Loki, your father and I have thought long and hard about a just way to punish you for your actions against the people of Midgard… We at first were not going to punish you. We don't want to make you suffer, but you need to learn the humility, the kindness, and the –" Frigga was interrupted.

"The understanding of other beings that will make you a great future King." Odin finished, raising his staff. "You, for whatever reason lack empathy for others, and I do not know where we went wrong," he continued. "Loki Odinson… I hereby banish you, I remove your powers, magic, as well as your stake to the throne. Only when you are once again worthy of your title may you return to Asgard." Odin boomed.

"Father!" Thor cried out, raising his arm in protest. "NO my son." He called, pushing Thor back.

Loki smiled. This was looking all too familiar… and even now, Thor got more respect than he. All Odin had said to him was Aarraargghh., at least Thor got a 'my son,' he thought with a snicker. The only good thing he could take satisfaction in, was Baldr's small size… He smiled, and chuckled, looking from Baldr to Thor. The look in his eyes was one of pure mischief. He had no fear of Odin or his punishment. He figured wherever he was meant to end up, he would either die in transit or on the realm…

He had no idea what was coming.

"At least let me say goodbye?" Thor begged, his blue eyes pleading with the Alfather.

"Quickly," he replied, pushing Thor to Loki. He hoped that Thor could reach him, and that maybe by saying goodbye, Thor could impart to him some knowledge that would help him…

"Loki," Thor began, taking his brother by the cheek. "Our father knows what's best… Please listen to him. I miss my brother, the one I grew up with… the one who I shared everything with, who shared things with me…" Thor's pleading was almost too much, but Loki held it together.

"Thor, even now you want what is best for you. We both know without me, where would you be?" Loki spat. "You think I will come back, to forever live in your shadow… I would rather die." He replied, turning away from Thor.

"I would rather die…" the words echoed in Odin's chambers, leaving an uneasy feeling upon the family.

"Open the portal," Odin called. Thor instructed Liam and the two twisted the tesserect's case together. They watched as Loki's form disappeared into space.

"Where are you sending him?" Thor asked.

"That is for him to find out." Odin replied cryptically and left his chambers.

Okay, so what do you guys think so far? Any suggestions? i have a few different scenerios lined up for where Loki's going, but any suggestions, thoughts, or comments would be lovely. Please review, it gives me so much inspiration to hear what you readers are thinking!