The coronation grew silent in anticipation as the most perfect of faint breezes blew in through the pillars. The weather was always wonderful in Asgard unless Thor decided to throw one of his stormy tantrums. Today would not be such a day.

Odin looked around with his sole eye, his grip tightening on his spear.

Loki threw an unnoticed glance at his father. His brother loved to make entrances and would certainly arrive with some amount of flair about him. Even though the Allfather had made it a point many times to tell his oldest how a king should properly enter a celebration. Thor never listened.

He adjusted his hands clasped in front him and shifted his weight slightly. Barely making the ends of his cape flutter. This was yet another reason the thunder god wasn't ready to be king. Thor preferred childish action to reason and reliability.

At least he knew when such a lavish entrance was appropriate. Not that he would get the chance to show off his knowledge now. His tongue ran around the insides of his mouth. He could feel his father's impatience even from the step he occupied.

Frigga cleared her throat as murmurs spread throughout the gathered.

The Warrior's Three, standing across from the two royals and Lady Sif all stared at Loki, who had been the last to see Thor.

The mischief maker caught their gazes and shrugged enough for them to see. He wasn't the reason Thor hadn't arrived yet. He would be stupid if he tried dismantling Thor's new title before the ceremony had begun.

Sif glanced back to the Queen in an almost apologetic manner.

Frigga smiled at her, but she had the ire of a mother's wrath swirling within her bright eyes.

Right before the bulk of the crowd became antsy, Mjolnir flew up from the lower chambers, rising toward the high ceiling of the long hall.

Thor strode up the steps. As he walked past the beginning of the population, he called his hammer to him. Dropped to one knee and catching the weapon behind his back. He spun around while he rose. Then flipped Mjolnir into the air before thrusting it upwards in a victorious manner.

The whole of Asgard mightily roared at the arrival of their would-be king.

Loki rolled his eyes when his brother beckoned the crowd to cheer louder for him. What had happened to the lack of confidence earlier? The supposed nerves? Then again, Thor always knew how to pad his ego with the adoration of the civilization.

Those on the coronation hall throne's dais could hear a slight growl coming from the Allfather until Frigga shot him a placating expression.

The god of mischief smiled to himself. Pleased with Odin's displeasure of the blonde lug.

Thor continued through the line of soldiers, raising his arms and accepting all manner of vocal praise from his people. He yelled back at them. Commemorating them for their acknowledgments.

"Oh, please," Sif murmured as a touch of blush graced her cheeks.

Loki looked down at her with invisible indignation. She may have sounded annoyed, but he knew she liked whenever Thor put himself on display. Such coddling would only ruin his hot-headed brother more. Thor needed a woman who could humble him, not embrace his ego.

Then he caught his brother's gaze for a brief moment. Thor smiled at him with a happiness he hadn't seen in some time. But his brother relished in any kind of applause. However, there was also a hint of gratefulness in his expression.

He blinked. Was Thor still seeking approval from him? This was odd. Although he would have to see how long the gesture would last. For now, he would accept it. He inclined his head.

Thor stopped his one man parade at the base of the steps leading up to the throne. Removed his helmet and placed it on the floor after he knelt to one knee. Let Mjolnir fall to rest on its head. He caught his mother's proud gaze and winked at her. Chuckling when he received a stern look. Then he turned to his father. The grin fading from his features.

Odin stared at his son as he slightly lifted his spear and smacked it on the ground with a deafening boom! His gaze never left the firstborn as the last of the crowd's cheers echoed throughout the pillars. He had control of the hall.

Loki still noticed the irritation subtly etched in his father's features. No, wait. There was something else there, too. Fatigue, maybe? If he was to be honest with himself, he didn't know why the Allfather had chosen this specific time to crown an heir. This had come out of the blue. Had his father fallen ill?

The reigning king of Asgard lifted the spear again. This time without the reverberating sound. Spoke with natural authority as he turned his gaze to his royal weapon. "Gungnir. With it, I have defended Asgard and the lives of the innocents across the Nine Realms since the Great Beginning. Though the day has come for a new king to wield his own weapon, the duty remains the same. Thor Odinson is my heir, my firstborn."

Thor grinned up at his father.

Loki dropped his gaze to the step he stood on, his lips forming a thin line. The one thing that bothered him the most was that while Thor was the firstborn and technical first heir, he still wasn't qualified for the position being handed to him on a golden throne.

Odin continued. "You have been entrusted with the hammer Mjolnir, forged in the heart of a dying star with the sacred metal of Uru. Only one who is worthy may lift it. Its power has no equal as it controls the lightning and the storm. It can be a weapon to destroy or a tool to build. Truly a fit companion for a king."

The dark haired son of Odin couldn't help but roll his eyes. Mjolnir was never used for building. All Thor cared about was how many enemies he could destroy at one time with his hammer. He forgot how painful this ceremony would be. Not painful to his own pride, but painful with the amount of irony in the speeches.

The Allfather returned his singular regard to Thor. "You have been chosen with the greatest honor in all the Realms: the sacred throne of Asgard. I have sacrificed a great deal to maintain peace. Now a new generation must sacrifice to maintain that peace. Responsibility, duty, and honor are essential to every soldier and king."

A below-average temperature breeze swept through the hall. Its cold nature keeping it lingering along the floor.

Loki's gaze lifted, and he grinned to himself. His plan was about to be taken into effect. Sure, it may be an elaborate ruse only to point out the major flaw in his brother's personality, but it would be worth the effort once it was all said and done. Then he could be king and restore his beloved to Asgard.

Thor may have cared for the servants more than Odin, but he still saw them as beneath him. That was why Loki didn't think his brother would bring Aura back. In fact, the thunder god knew nothing of the situation. Didn't know his baby brother had fallen in love and then his love had been banished. Loki knew Thor would react in one of two ways if and when he found out: righteous anger for his brother or a lifetime of mockery. He would rather not take the chance for scorn and save Aura himself.

Odin didn't seem to notice the gathered rubbing their arms for warmth as he remained fixed on his eldest. "Thor Odinson, do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?"

The wielder of Mjolnir beamed. "I swear."

"Do you swear to preserve the peace I have established?"

"I swear."

"Do you swear to cast away all selfish ambition and pledge yourself only to the good of the Nine Realms?"

Thor's tone strengthened. "I swear."

"Then, on this day, I, Odin the Allfather proclaim you…" Odin stopped himself, looking down at his left while the rest of the hall was preoccupied with ice crawling over the banners above them. "Frost giants." With another clang of his staff, he awakened the monster within the Vault and swiftly walked away from the throne.

Grabbing Mjolnir, Thor followed his father. Eager for the battle that may await.

Loki glanced around with pretend concern as his own steps nipped the heels of his family's. But he was concerned, in a way. Odin had hit Gungnir against the floor as if he had called something to his aid. Yet, nothing came. Which meant one thing.

Growing up, he had read and heard the stories of a metal creation with a heart of fire. It was said to guard Asgard's greatest treasures, but no one had actually seen the construction, so everyone assumed it was another story meant to help children fall asleep. Or to provoke fear in potential enemies. Or to inspire the guards and soldiers.

His plan suddenly had a chance to be ruined should the monstrosity prove to be real. Although, nobody knew the size of it or how powerful it was, so perhaps there was a possibility it wouldn't be able to destroy all the frost giants before they arrived in the Vault.

He stopped behind his father and brother inside the Vault. Just in time to see the Destroyer finishing off the last frost giant with its shaft of raging fire coming from its head. His jaw set. Okay. So, the myths were real, and the protector of Asgard's treasures was a force to be reckoned with. Good to know. Well, now he could strategize accordingly the next time a scheme involved the Vault.

Thor, Sif, and the Warrior's Three watched the metal guard in wonder as its fire diminished and plates slid back to reform its helmet.

Odin surveyed the bodies then nodded at the creature.

The Destroyer placed the Casket back on its pedestal then returned to its post. The gridded bars originally shrouding it reverting to their positions.

Volstagg gasped in awe. "I thought it was but a legend."

Fandral glanced around the Vault, rolling back his shoulders. "I've never been inside this place before. It's said the Tesseract was once secured within these walls."

He turned to his comrade. "I thought the Tesseract was a legend, too."

"Quiet," Sif snapped.

Thor walked around the smoking bodies, his anger rising. "Those Jotuns must pay for what they've done."

Odin remained calm. "They have paid. With their lives. The Casket remains safe because the Destroyer succeeded in its duties. All is well, my son."

This didn't pacify the god of thunder. "How can all be well? They were able to break into the very Vault of Asgard. If those frost giants had gotten their hands on even one relic—"

"They haven't. So all is well."

"Then I want to know why they would even think—"

"The Casket of Ancient Winters once belonged to the Jotuns. They believe it's their birthright to possess it once again. You know this."

Thor glared off to the side. "Yes, yes. And if you had not taken it all those years ago, the frost giants would have set a path of destruction across the Nine Realms. I know."

Odin gave a nod. "I have a truce with Laufey, the Jotun king."

He looked up, motioning toward the bodies with his hammer. "And they have broken that truce. We must act before something like this occurs again."

Loki's brows rose. Maybe this would work out in his favor, after all.

The Allfather turned to the four that weren't a part of the royal family. "Leave us. Return to the others and relay that all is well."

Sif and the Warrior's Three hesitated, but they placed fists over their chests, bowed, and left.

Odin turned back to his wrath-filled son. His regal air never leaving him. "And what action would you presume taking?"

Thor squared right up to his father. "I would march directly into Jotunheim as you have once done. I would cause fear in their hearts, weaken their spirits so they would never think of stepping foot in Asgard again."

Loki ran his tongue along the inside of his lips again. This was going rather splendidly. Thor continued to prove he longed only for battle and recognition before common reason. How could he be the rightful one to rule Asgard?

Odin sighed. "You think only as a warrior."

Thor's volume rose considerably. "Yes, because this was an act of war. Can you not see that?"

The Allfather's tone resolved. "This was an act of only these few. They were doomed to fail, and thus, they have paid with their lives."

"They did not fail when they have gotten this far."

Loki glanced from Thor to his father. Back to his brother then back Odin, waiting for a response. His dark brows continued to be lifted and clearly visible without his helmet adorning his head. He had to maintain this expression of sarcasm lest he out himself with laughter. This was just perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Certainly Odin would finally see the truth and keep Thor from the throne. Perhaps he could be instated as acting ruler until Thor learned the delicate ways of politics. Even if he was king for but a short time, he could still undo Aura's banishment. All he needed was a short yet official reign as ruler. That was all he asked for at this point.

Odin shook his head. "All we need to do is find the breach in our defenses and seal it. Perhaps even take extra precautions. But there is nothing more that needs to be done."

Thor dared to take a stance of defiance. "As the new king of Asgard, I will—"

"But you are not king, are you?" The Allfather's words sliced the air. "Not yet. I never finished the ceremony. You are still but a prince."

Loki took a deep breath to keep from releasing a smile. Hoping his look of annoyance with his family's bickering remained intact. This was even better than what he originally planned. Yes, the Destroyer may have revealed an imperfection in his plan, but the resulting events proved to be beneficial to his ultimate goal. Extremely beneficial.

Thor studied his father, jaw setting. Then he searched the floor. Slightly shaking his head.

Odin stared his eldest down with the full weight of the Nine Realms.

The younger son kept tabs on the other two. He wondered if Thor was actually dumb enough to continue the debate, but the rage reddening of Thor's face told him otherwise. Although, it was a shame. He was curious as to what would happen if the conversation renewed.

Thor shook his head some more. Clutching his weapon, he stormed past his father and little brother. Refusing to look at either of them.

Loki glanced at his father, who now had his attention on him. He was unsettled by Odin's gaze, and he deliberated if his father had any inclination who was behind the attack. However, the signs of anger didn't seem to be directed at him.

Odin resumed his normal tone. "I put you in charge of ridding Thor from these belligerent ideas. My consequences will be severe if he does not follow my wishes."

He inclined his head. "I will do my best. But we both know how stubborn Thor tends to be."

"Then your best better be enough this time."

Loki straightened as his nostrils flared with a hard exhale. His manner softened. "Yes, father." Dropping his eyes, he left the Vault in search of his brother.