Asgard…
The situation on Asgard was tense as there was some discord between father and son in regards to the situation on Midgard. Thor had changed a lot over the years. He was no longer the rash and selfish prince he once was. Still, he couldn't believe his father had no plan to do something – anything – about the current situation. They had intervened on Midgard's behalf a few times over the millennia to defend it against intruders – the Jotuns and another time more recently when his own brother launched an attack of his own. Why Odin wasn't making any effort to aid Midgard in one of its most dire times was something Thor couldn't understand. Odin had ordered the Bitfrost to be closed and to not allow anyone out of or into Asgard – no matter what realm they were coming from.
Thor had another reason to despair beyond his father's lack of action. During his banishment, he had met an intelligent Midgardian woman named Jane Foster. He had not seen her since his being accepted back into Asgard. He yearned to see her again, hoped she was still alive in the midst of all the madness, prayed she hadn't succumbed to whatever was plaguing her realm. Thor wanted nothing more than to see her once more and hold her in his arms. He wanted to apologize for not making an effort to see her, wanted to explain what had prevented him from returning to her as he had promised.
Then there was Loki. Stuck on Midgard in the form of a tree. Though much had transpired between the two since his banishment, he still loved his brother – even if his brother didn't return the sentiment. Despite all Loki had done, Thor still believed that he shouldn't be left to rot on a realm in the midst of an apocalyptic event in the form of a tree. Surely something could be done for his brother.
The more Thor thought about it, however, the more he found himself wondering if Loki was still in the form of a tree. He wondered if his brother had managed to be freed. He openly shuddered at the thought of the mischievous God being the one behind Midgard's troubles again. It was certainly possible – he could no longer put anything past his brother.
There was only one way to find out. Thor would have to make the trip to Midgard and seek the God of Mischief out himself. This would be no easy task. Though he was a prince and next in line for the throne of Asgard, there would be no way that Heimdall would let him use the Bitfrost – not when the Allfather had so expressly forbidden it. He knew there were other ways; he just had to figure out what they were. His father had used dark magic the last time he went to Midgard when the Bitfrost was broken. There were likely other ways to get out and into Asgard without being seen, but he did not know of them. He was certain Loki knew, but his brother had never shared with him these different, secret routes. Nor had he asked about them.
This was a mission Thor would have to go on alone. He could not ask the Warriors Three and Lady Sif to join him. He was disobeying his father. Though this wasn't the first time he had disobeyed him, this time it may not only be him who was punished. He could not ask his friends to join him on this mission.
Suddenly, he wished Loki were here. His brother had always been good for a plan; something Thor had never given him much credit for back then. He wished for the days of old when they would play together and when they fought together on the same side. It bothered him that they were no at odds, that Loki hated him with such passion.
Thor was truly on his own this time.
