11

Dream Warriors

Heartened by Odin's sincere praise and admiration, that night Loki slept well for the first time in months. He awoke feeling more spry and eager than he had been in a long time. Ravn remarked that he thought Loki was slowly getting better, and his prince flashed him a smile as he put his boots on.

"We'll see, won't we?" was all Loki said.

Axelle rubbed against his ankles and he stroked her back, making her purr loudly. "I think . . . I think I will go and practice with my daggers after breakfast," he told his valet.

"Very good, My Prince," Ravn said, trying to hide the grin that crept over his face.

"Yes, I fear I will grow rusty otherwise." Loki admitted.

"A wonderful idea, sir," Ravn said. "Shall you take breakfast here or in the hall with your brother and the Warriors?"

Loki considered, then figured he didn't want to stress himself too much and said, "Here is fine, Ravn. I will go to the sparring arena afterwards."

"Shall I inform Lady Viva where you are?" the valet asked while Loki ate his bacon, eggs, and buttered toast.

"Yes, that would be a good idea," Loki agreed. "Just in case."

Afterwards, Loki took his twin Uru daggers down from their space on the wall and fastened the belt about his slim waist. "I'll be awhile, Ravn so after you've finished here, go and take the morning off and go see Astrid and the baby."

"Thank you, My Prince. I shall. Perhaps you would like them to come for a visit?" the valet suggested shyly.

"That would be wonderful. Let's make it for this weekend," Loki said, thinking that would give him enough time to go and shop for a baby gift for Vannora.

"I will tell my sister,"Ravn said, bowing slightly.

Finished with breakfast, Loki walked down to the sparring arena, prepared to spend several hours regaining the edge he had lost while a prisoner. Since it was early, at first the arena was deserted, allowing him sufficient space to practice throwing his daggers at stationary targets and then upgrading them to moving ones which flew into the air or holograms which peeked out from trees, rocks, walls, and other places.

A light sheen of sweat trickled down the back of his neck, making him glad he had chosen to wear his hair caught back in a tail. He continued tossing his daggers, using several positions to do so-sometimes kneeling, other times prone.

He hit the mark every time, though he was slightly slower than he had been months ago. He practiced throwing while moving, taking out multiple opponents with four daggers, using combinations of martial arts and magic that was dazzling to behold.

"Seems like you've lost none of your skill, Brother," Thor praised after Loki had dismantled a construct.

He turned. "I just need to work on my speed again."

Thor was glad to see Loki finally regaining some of his old autonomy again, then he waved at him and went to practice with Volstagg. Loki reprogrammed the holograms in the target arena, setting them up again for another session.

As he did so, Fandral stepped into the ring next to his with Sif, the two of them jeering goodnaturedly at the other as they prepared for their bout.

At first Loki ignored them, concentrating on his own practice, but slowly he became aware of the noise of Sif's sword being parried by Fandral's rapier. He glanced up, and saw the handsome warrior giving ground, and then Sif's foot shot out, connecting with Fandral's knee, and the other folded with a grunt.

"Good one, lady!" Fandral laughed, straightening.

Suddenly Loki was no longer in the sparring arena but back on Titan . . .

"You WILL tell my father what he wishes to know, Trickster!" Nebula growled at him. "Or else!"

Loki glared at her from where he was chained. "I pity you with a father like that!"

"Pity? Your pity is wasted!" the blue-skinned woman spat. "I am strong, like he is! Worlds tremble at my coming!"

"I'm sure you can be proud of that one," Loki sneered. "It is better to be feared than loved," he quoted a Midgardian author.

"Indeed!" Nebula affirmed. "Now tell me where the Tesseract is!"

Loki rolled his eyes. "Obviously, none of you have been listening. I. Don't. Know."

"Lies!" she raged. "You HAVE to know! Your people were the ones who hid it!" She clenched a fist. "I give you fair warning. Tell me or face my wrath!"

"Would you like me to lie?" Loki countered. "Because I really don't know."

"I don't believe you," sneered Nebula.

"Not my problem," Loki shrugged, his chains clanking. "You want to find something go hire a Seer. Or a bloodhound."

"You will show respect or I shall beat it into you!"

"For you? Or your father?" Loki's lip curled. "I have news for you, darling. I don't respect anyone who locks me up and tries to interrogate me for information I don't have."

Nebula bared her teeth in an evil grin.

Her first blow snapped his head back, banging it against the wall. "Coward!" he taunted. "Only a coward hits an enemy who can't defend himself."

"Shut up, Trickster God!" Nebula howled. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

A flurry of blows followed, making him gasp, but he used his magical discipline to withdraw from his body, passing out moments later.

He woke lying curled on his side, his ribs and back throbbing, even his hair hurt. Woke to her ice-cold devilish face glaring at him, hissing, "There is no escape from ME, Asgardian! No esscape . . ."

Her bionic hand reached for him, then it turned into a blue viper and bit him . . .

Abruptly he was back in the present, yet he felt his whole body shuddering as he recalled how badly she had beaten him. His breath came in harsh pants and he hovered on the verge of a full blown attack.

No! I will not let this happen! he thought ferociously. He dug in a pocket and found the orange diffuser. Bringing it to his nose, he inhaled sharply.

The soothing scent of cloves, oranges, cinnamon and lavender drifted to his nostrils.

He breathed it in, slowly, taking deep breaths, until he felt his heart slowing and the fear leaving him.

He tucked the ball away, one hand still gripping his dagger, a feeling of triumph echoing through him.

"Brother, are you all right?" Thor queried, seeing Loki just standing there clutching a dagger.

"Yes," Loki nodded. He tossed the dagger and it landed dead center in the hologram's eye. He imagined it was Nebula's face.

He held a hand out and the dagger magically returned to him. Sheathing it, Loki decided to go and see Viva and tell her what had occurred, and speak to her about the vision he had yesterday. Perhaps the Mind Healer would know what the mystery woman meant.

Soon he knocked on the door of Viva's office.

"Come in!" she called cheerily.

Loki did so. He found her sitting on the couch, dangling some string for Kiva to play with. "Hello, Viva."

She smiled at him, and he wondered how it was that she was still single. Then he reminded himself that was none of his business. "Hello, Loki."

She waved him to a seat on the couch. He stood before her awkwardly.

"I'm sorry to disturb you-" he began, feeling guilty for bothering her on her day off.

"No, not at all. Has something happened?" she queried, looking worried.

"In a way . . ." he began, telling her what had occurred in the arena and then telling her of the dream he had had.

Viva listened without interruption, looking surprised when he spoke of the strange woman he had dreamed. She was puzzled at his description, but did not show it. How odd. It sounds almost as though he were dreaming of my mother.

"Do you know what she was referring to?" Loki asked.

"I do." Viva replied. "She is referring to an ability I have developed as Mind Healer and Empath. I can travel in your dreams."

"Is that what she meant by facing my fears?" Loki mused.

"Yes. Together we can confront your fears and hopefully banish them," Viva conceded.

"Banish them how?"

"By me going into your head and projecting myself there as a frost-blue knight to help you deal with what you fear most. However, this requires you to trust me implicitly which is why I did not suggest it to begin with."

"I do trust you."

"Then go lie on the couch," she pointed towards it. He lay down and she placed a pillow behind his head. Kiva hopped on top of the couch as he looked up at the cat and he reached up, scratching the cat's ear. Kiva purred as he smiled and Viva moved a chair to the couch, sitting down.

"What do we do now?" Loki asked.

"I need you to close your eyes."

Loki nodded as he closed his eyes and Viva sent calming thoughts into his mind.

"Don't fight me. Just let me in."

"Right," he said with a nod.

"Concentrate on your breathing. In and out. In and out."

Loki breathed as his body relaxed and he realized he heard the soft whisper of the wind and tinkling of wind chimes. He could smell the orange scent filling his nose and he sighed.

"Loki, can you hear me?" Viva asked.

"Yes," he said in a sleepy tone.

She moved to sit on the couch as she placed her fingers against the sides of his head and she gently rubbed his temples. Closing her eyes, Viva slowed her breathing and she opened her mind. She felt her mind link to Loki's. Then she appeared in his mind and she shifted into a Frost Knight.

She looked around when she realized she was in a barren landscape of ice and snow and the sky was dark. She felt the coldness in the air and a frosty mist blew out of her nose. She started walking when she saw Loki and he was dressed in his body armor.

Her armor was pale blue and glistened with iridescent highlights. She carried her sword, Frost Reaver across her back and her hair had changed from ebony to platinum. But her eyes were silver and her skin ice pale

"Viva?" he asked.

"Yes, it's me," she said.

"You look... You look so different."

"This is my warrior persona. Is this how you see things?"

"Sometimes," he said with a sigh.

"It is so cold and bleak."

A sudden scream made them peer into the darkness and Loki summoned his twin Uru daggers and Viva removed Frost Reaver from the scabbard on her back.

"The scream came from that direction," Loki pointed. They ran into the darkness while the wind whipped through them and the snow started falling. They came to a clearing when they saw a temple made of ice and they slowly went inside. They heard screams and shouts as they came into a main room and their eyes widened.

Several dark shadowy figures were surrounding a woman and she held something wrapped in a blue blanket.

"No! Please! He is just a baby!" the woman shouted.

"He is a threat!" one of the shadows shouted, reaching for the blanket.

"Who are they talking about?" Viva asked.

"I think that's me," Loki said, pointing to the blanket.

She watched as Loki tossed the daggers as two of the shadow figures screamed and vanished. Viva ran toward two more as she swung Frost Reaver and cut through two others.

Loki came between the woman and the largest of the shadows and he thought he could see a face. The face became clearer as Laufey's face appeared and the shadow figure smiled.

"Well, if it isn't the bastard prince," the figure said in a slightly garbled voice and Loki backed up.

"I am not a bastard!" Loki said, thrusting the daggers, but the figure dodged out of the way. Viva watched them for a few seconds then she raised Frost Reaver over her head, bellowed and ran at the figure. She swung the sword as the shadow screamed then vanished and she turned to Loki.

He was looking at the woman as the woman hushed the baby. Loki approached them.

"Is he alright?" he asked.

"Aye, he's fine," the woman said with a nod. Loki looked at the blanket when something clicked in his head and he blinked.

Why do I have a feeling I have seen that blanket before? he thought and Viva came over. She peered at the baby then at the blanket and her eyes slightly widened.

No, it can't be, she thought after recognizing the pattern.

"Are you from Asgard?" the woman asked, holding the baby against her chest. "Please. Don't harm him. He's just baby."

"We just saved you from those shadows. We have no intention of harming the baby," Viva said.

"Thank you. His mother... She told me to bring him here. She said he would be safe."

"Safe from Odin and his army?" Loki asked.

"No. From his father."

"Why would his father wish to harm him?" Viva asked.

"It is because he is too small. Too weak. He would never be a proper Jotun."

"That shouldn't matter," Loki said.

"No, it shouldn't, but that is what his father wants."

They watched the woman place the baby on the stone as the blanket fell away from him then she kissed the baby's forehead.

"Be safe, Little Snow," she said then nodded and they watched her leave. The baby started crying as Loki and Viva looked at the baby and she noticed the markings on the baby's face and body.

Those are Laufey's family markings, she thought and Loki blinked. Suddenly, they heard someone coming as they ran behind a pillar of ice and Odin walked in the room. He walked to the stone as he looked down and Loki saw the look on Odin's face. Carefully, Odin lifted the baby up as they watched the baby change and Odin smiled. He didn't speak as he wrapped the baby in the blanket then in a corner of his cloak and he left the room.

"Did you see the look on his face?" Loki asked.

"Yes," she said as the temple faded and they were surrounded by the ice and snow once more.

A golden light shimmered in the distance as they started walking, but the wind and snow tried to stop them.

"Why is the weather so bad?" Loki shouted over the howling winds.

"It's your mind. It's fighting us," Viva shouted.

She was nearly blown off her feet by a particularly strong gust. Loki grabbed her arm. "I've got you!" he panted. "How do I stop this?"

"You have to focus your subconscious and will it to relax!" she cried, rubbing snow from her eyes.

A part of Loki wondered why these defenses had not manifested when Maw had invaded his mind before.

"Why is this happening now?" he yelled, as the wind rose to an unholy shriek. "I allowed you in. Not like Maw. Why didn't they work on him?"

"They probably did-for a time. But Maw knew ways that I will not use to subdue a mind who fights the intrusion of a psychic," Viva explained.

"As for why . . . it is not easy to let go of what you fear. Sometimes the worst enemy you have is yourself."

Loki closed his eyes as he tried to calm down and he breathed hard and fast through his nose.

It's all right. This is Viva not Maw. She will not harm us, he thought, but the wind kept blowing and he opened his eyes to look up at the darkness.

"Stop!" he shouted in a commanding voice and the wind stopped. The snow slowed to flurries. He looked at her when they heard someone approaching and Viva saw the little boy she had seen in Loki's nightmare. Loki watched him walk toward him then Loki looked at Viva and he frowned. "Why is my subconscious mind a little boy?"

"Because this is how you see yourself. A frightened little boy who no one loves or wants," Viva said.

"You are safe now," Loki told his small self. "No one will hurt you. You are loved."

"How do you know?" his younger self demanded suspiciously.

Loki paused then knelt and placed his hands on the small Loki's shoulders. "Let me show you our memories. Look!"

He concentrated, showing his younger self the family session he had with Frigga, Thor, and Odin. He replayed what they had said to him and then he showed the lost little boy self the letters they had written to him. Lastly, he showed him how Thor had helped him with his Bifrost demons and Odin had praised him using the tree imagery.

"Do you see now? You are not unwanted or unloved. Not anymore. I love you. And our family does too."

"I love you too," Viva said, and projected love and acceptance at the child.

His younger self blinked, absorbing the truth that Loki had shown him and Viva felt for him. Two glistening tears fell from his emerald eyes. "Do—do you mean it? It's not a trick?"

"No. It's real," Loki reassured his younger self. Then he drew the small boy into a hug.

Viva wrapped her arms about them both and together their combined embrace of love and acceptance caused his younger self to stop crying and smile instead, as love filled the unwanted child to bursting.

Suddenly, Loki's younger self began to glow with a steady gold and green light and when the light faded the two dream warriors found they were hugging a tall figure dressed in ceremonial green, gold, and black robes holding a scepter and wearing a golden diadem.

Loki released him and stepped away. "What—what happened to-?" he sputtered.

"Love made me grow," laughed his adult self. "I am now the prince I was born to be. Love makes all things possible."

Your perception of yourself changed, Viva sent. So now your inner self reflects that.

Does this mean I am healed? Loki queried.

No, not yet. But you have made a great stride to being whole again. How you see yourself is half the battle.

The snow and wind had calmed and suddenly there were green shoots poking up from the frosty ground. His princely self grinned.

"See you around!" Then his subconscious vanished.

"Where did he go?" Loki wondered.

"Back to sleep," Viva informed him. "You have calmed your subconscious."

"Now what?"

"Let us continue," the frost-blue knight replied. "Though your subconscious is not actively fighting us any longer, that does not mean your fears are laid to rest."

No sooner had the words left her mouth then they heard the clash of steel on steel and cries of battle.

"This way!" Loki called, and led the way down a snowy slope into a clearing.

There they saw another Loki, this one dressed in gray with a soft green tunic, barefoot, fighting a blue-skinned warrior maid with bionic implants in her arm, leg, and head. Blood dripped from several slashes on his person, and stained the snowy ground crimson.

"You cannot defeat me, Trickster!" Nebula snarled. "You are weak! Unfit!"

"I beg your pardon?" the armored Loki cried. "You are the one who is unfit, lady! Unfit to command so much as a flea circus!"

Nebula turned, blinking as she beheld the two warriors. "Have at thee, varlets!" she howled and rushed them.

Loki dodged and tossed a dagger at her. It embedded itself in her arm.

"Nice shot!" Viva said approvingly, then slashed Frost Reaver down at the other woman.

"Traitor!" Nebula growled.

"What did you call me?" the frost-blue knight demanded.

"Traitor to your own kind!" Nebula spat. "You are a woman, yet you fight on his side!"

She parried Nebula's rush, setting the other back on her heels.

"I fight on the side of right, not might," Viva snapped. She spun Frost Reaver about and brought it smashing down against Nebula's skull.

The blue assassin staggered, going to one knee.

Then Loki swooped down upon her, stabbing her in the opposite shoulder, and Nebula cried out, then lunged upward, trying to skewer him.

Until the barefoot Loki smashed her over the back of the head with a rock.

Nebula crumpled to the ground and lay still. An instant later she vanished.

Barefoot Loki saluted his rescuers, then disappeared.

"Well, that's one fear laid to rest," Viva declared in satisfaction. "Well done!"

"One down and who knows how many more to go?" Loki muttered.

"Would you like to continue?" the blue knight asked. "Or do you feel drained and tired? If you so, then we can go back and wake up. Sometimes being in the dream realm can exhaust you."

Loki considered. He was feeling rather tired. "But there are more fears to fight," he pointed out.

"Yes. But we do not have to battle them all in one day," Viva said reasonably. "Who was the blue warrior maid we fought?"

"Her name was Nebula. She was one of Thanos' adopted daughters. She was trained to be a master assassin. She would torture me if I refused to do what Thanos wished—which was tell him where the Tesseract was hidden."

Viva's mouth tightened into a grim line. "I see. Well, she has been defeated."

Loki debated whether or not to go on. He wasn't sure he wanted to face Ebony Maw yet. At the same time he didn't want to leave.

Off to the left there came the unmistakable crack of a whip upon flesh.

Loki snarled. "Come, Lady Viva! Someone is in trouble!"

Together the two dream warriors raced towards the dreadful noise, weapons drawn.

This time they emerged onto a crowded arena, similar to the sparring one Loki had been using. But unlike the real one, this one had high stone walls and benches built in a semi-circle overlooking the sands where a huge black wolf with bright green eyes fought a tall alien wielding a whip and a glaive.

"Corvus!" Loki spat, his eyes blazing.

"Who?"

"Corvus Glaive. Thanos' second." Loki growled.

Corvus attacked the snarling wolf, thrusting with his glaive and striking with the whip.

The wolf, recognizing the glaive as the bigger threat, dodged it, and only the whip struck him.

The two adversaries circled, while above in the stands, faceless people jeered and yelled at Corvus to finish off the monster.

The great wolf lunged, his teeth scoring Corvus's side.

Thanos' general cursed in some alien tongue, then stabbed again with his glaive.

It sliced a shallow cut along the wolf's shoulder.

As the wolf drew back, his snarl growing to a crescendo, Loki and Viva flipped over the stone wall and landed in the arena, inbetween the wolf and Corvus.

"Who the hell are you?" Corvus demanded. "This is none of your business! Leave!"

"We're making it our business!" Viva snapped.

"Your funeral, babe," laughed the alien.

"I rather doubt that," answered the blue knight, and she sliced the whip in two with Frost Reaver, the runes along the blade glowing brilliant cobalt.

"You bitch!" Corvus cried, dropping the now useless whip. "You're going to pay for that!"

"Make me!" Viva taunted, then she parried a blow from the glaive.

Loki summoned a scepter and thrust it at Corvus, it glowed and then discharged a bolt of blue magic.

It slammed into Corvus and knocked him flying.

As the other flipped to his feet, the gigantic wolf sprang, its huge front paws pinning the alien to the ground. Corvus screamed as the wolf's fangs sought his throat.

"No! Get it off! Get it away!"

"In your dreams!" Loki giggled. "See you in Hel, you pathetic wanna be!"

He reversed his scepter, bringing the butt end down upon Corvus' head. His former tormentor went down, stunned.

The wolf quit growling and went and licked Loki's hand. He ruffled the sleek fur, and the wolf whined happily and wagged his tail slightly.

Before Loki could speak, the wolf turned and became a large flowering tree.

Loki bowed and muttered, "That's two!"

Before Viva could persuade him to leave, Loki began yawning.

"I think it's time to go back," he told his therapist.

"Follow me," Viva ordered. They soon reached the crossroads in a blink. Loki was now exhausted. "But we'll be back!" he called, shaking his fist towards the darkening landscape.

Viva slipped from Loki's mind first, waking a moment later.

Loki felt muzzyheaded, but the dizziness faded and then he found himself waking up as well.

He sat up slowly, a weight upon his chest. Looking over he saw it was Kiva curled upon him.

He laughed softly. "Were you trying to protect me?"

"That or she liked the way you felt like a pillow," Viva laughed.

Loki turned and saw she was back to normal, with her dark pixie hair and bi-colored eyes, dressed in her soft mint green skirt and royal blue tunic. He almost expected to see the frost-blue knight sitting beside him, but the warrior was gone, lost like a dream upon waking.

"How do you feel?" she asked then.

"I feel good."

"Norns be praised!" Viva said in relief.

Loki reached for her hand and clasped it. "We make a good team."

They smiled at each other, their grins identical, though they did not realize it.

"Yes," she agreed. "We will do this again soon."

"I look forward to it."

He gently gave Kiva to her mistress, then rose and stretched. "I think I need to change before lunch," he stated.

As he left the office, another thought occurred to him. He remembered the baby wrapped in the patterned blanket. He did not know why the blanket seemed familiar, but he knew whom to ask about it.

He spun on his heel and headed down to Frigga's solar.