Author's notes: Hi guys! Sorry for the long wait for this chapter (and the last one as well). I've hit a bit of a rough spot in the storyline where the words aren't flowing as easily as they were, so it's been harder for me. I'm still fairly new to writing, so I'm trying to adjust to dealing with writer's block (it sucks). Please know that I have no intention of abandoning this story, though. I even have the next 5 or 6 chapters plotted out and I'm really excited about where it's headed (the ending in particular), so please stay with me! Oh, and this chapter is longer than normal to make up for my prolonged absence. Hope it makes up for it, if even just a little.

Also, please note: this chapter changes locations quite a few times, so I have noted it when a scene changes to a different location to make it easier to follow.

Chapter 14 – Return to Asgard

Jane jolted awake.

She sat up in her small bed as she scanned the room wildly, her mind struggling to catch up with how she ended up here. She couldn't remember. She couldn't even remember laying down to sleep. Loki….

Loki.

Without even getting up and looking around, she knew he was gone.

Damn it! She slammed her fist down on the bed.

Glancing at the alarm clock on her desk, she saw it 4:32am. She couldn't have been asleep for more than 20 minutes then.

It may as well have been hours though. She'd never be able to track him down now. He had the ability to shift between worlds. She'd have no chance.

No. I can't think like that.

Scrambling out of bed, Jane gathered her scattered clothing, grabbed a new pair of underwear, and threw on her clothes as she headed towards the front door. She had no idea how to find him but she had to try.

Jane nearly smacked into Darcy as she rushed out the door, slamming the door behind her. She'd obviously been poised to knock. Instead, she pointed up at the sky as it lit up around them, blinding them. Jane shielded her eyes and watched as Thor materialized in a cyclone of iridescent light a moment later.

"Jane," he greeted shortly, looking concerned as he approached her. He looked her over, inspecting her closely. "Are you all right?"

Jane nodded mutely as she watched the rainbow bridge dissipate. It was phenomenal sight to behold but he acted like it was no different than appearing in a cab.

"I'm fine," she replied distractedly. Looking back at him, it struck her as too much of a coincidence that he would appear now. "Why? Did something happen?"

He nodded, a perplexed look twisting his handsome features. "You disappeared from Heimdall's sight," he explained.

Jane's mouth opened slightly as it dawned on her what happened. "Loki was here," she admitted quietly, shame filling her the same as though she and Thor were still together. She wondered if she'd ever be able to look at him again without hating herself.

Thor didn't say or do anything to guilt her further however, and only nodded in understanding. "He must have shielded you from Heimdall's sight as well then."

Jane shook her head, hardly able to conceive of how he had accomplished such a feat in the state he had been in. "He looked awful." She shook her head in distress as she recalled how much he'd been shaking. "Like he was coming off some kind of powerful drug."

Thor nodded somberly. "Essentially, it is having the same effect. The Aether knows Loki craves power and chaos. It's pushing him to give into his desire and unleash its destructive powers. If Loki's fighting against it, it will only push harder for him to give in. It's probably taking everything within him to resist it."

Jane nodded, dread returning to her full force as memory of what had transpired filtered back in. "He said he needed to die. That it was the only to stop the Aether."

Thor shook his head, mystified by the rationale. "If he were to perish, it would only jump into another host."

Jane considered that a moment, doubting Loki would ever be so careless. "What if there were no other host bodies to jump into?"

Thor seemed to reach the same conclusion in that instant.

"The Dark World."

Jane nodded anxiously, a rush of purpose flowing through her as she realized they had a lead on where he may have gone.

Now that they had a heading, Jane was more than ready to leave but Thor still seemed lost in thought, as though weighing their options.

The fact that he was hesitating at all made her heart clench. What was there to think about? "We have to stop him. We can't let him kill himself."

Thor turned from her, pacing a few steps away and then coming back to her, following that pattern several times. Minutes passed before he looked back at her, face morose.

His eyes said it all.

Jane shook her head. No. No, she would never accept that.

"What else can we do?", he demanded of her, his voice quiet with despair. "The Aether cannot be destroyed. My brother knows that." It looked like it pained him immensely to say the words he knew were true. To admit they had to let Loki die. "He's done the only thing he can to prevent it from destroying everything in its path."

Jane shook her head again, refusing to hear the logic in his words. She'd never hear any logic in Loki allowing himself to die. Never. "What if we could stop it? Destroy it?"

Thor scoffed weakly, his eyes redder than they'd been a moment ago. "It cannot be destroyed. Many have tried and failed."

"By force, no," Jane countered. "But what if force isn't what can destroy it?", Jane appealed. Thor was already shaking his head, too sure it was impossible to hear her but she refused to relent. "You told me the Aether was forged from darkness. If it was created from darkness, light might be able to hurt it. Destroy it."

Darcy chose that moment to point to herself with her thumb, smiling proudly.

Jane rolled her eyes, smiling at the moment of levity, but returned her eyes to Thor in seriousness. "Couldn't we try?", she pleaded. "There could be a way. Something that hasn't been tried yet."

Thor considered her words in silence. Jane swallowed hard as she awaited his reply, feeling her hope waver as the moments slid slowly by.

When he finally met her eyes, hope had filled his. "We can."

Jane smiled widely, relief surging through her.

And Thor had said we. He wasn't trying to push her away anymore…

Thor smiled back at her and Jane felt the weight in her heart lighten dramatically. Maybe she hadn't lost him entirely after all…

"I guess this means you're off to space again, then, huh?", Darcy asked suddenly, definitively ending the heartfelt moment.

Jane glanced over at her, feeling guilt tug at her for having to leave her again. Darcy smiled at her reassuringly. "At least I get some warning this time," she said dryly. "Don't worry, I'll let everyone know you're all right."

Jane smiled gratefully at her. "Thank you." The look that passed between them conveyed Jane's true appreciation for her dear friend. Darcy only nodded, a smug smile on her face.

The next moment had Thor stepping closer to Jane, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as he called out to Heimdall. Blinding light filled the immediate area seconds later and they were gone before Darcy could wave goodbye.

"Good luck!" she called anyway, watching the shaft of light disappear into the night sky.

Asgard…

The trip to Asgard was exhilarating, unlike anything Jane had experienced before. She had to fight to urge to ask to go again once they'd arrived. It wasn't a ride. And this wasn't the time to be having fun.

Jane trailed behind Thor as they traversed the grand, iridescent walkway leading away from the rainbow bridge, her nerves building with each step they took. Every moment they weren't on their way to rescue Loki was like a band tightening around her chest, choking off her breath.

Loki…. Please be okay.

Looking up at the looming palace before them, it felt strange knowing he was not within its walls. During her stay here last time, he'd been the one she'd seen the most.

It felt lonely returning without him here.

Shaking the feeling off, Jane forced herself to steel her nerves as they approached the palace entrance. Sif, the Warriors Three, and a regal-looking woman stood there, waiting to greet them.

Jane smiled and nodded to Thor's friends, grateful to see some familiar faces, but felt nervousness grip her again as she connected eyes with the woman that was undoubtedly Thor's and Loki's mother.

Frigga.

It was more than a little awkward to meet the mother of the only two men she had ever felt strongly for.

She couldn't help but fear Frigga would despise her for dropping one son for the other.

Frigga defied expectation, however, as she stepped forward and embraced Jane warmly, as if it were the most natural action in the world. "Welcome home, dear" she whispered in Jane's ear as she squeezed Jane's sides lightly.

Jane felt her eyes mist over suddenly at the incredibly heartfelt welcome, unsure what she had done to deserve it. Regardless, it felt wonderful.

It was strange, but she did feel a strong sense of nostalgia coming back here. Like she was coming home.

Even if it was missing someone very important…

"Thank you," Jane replied softly, returning the embrace, and then pulling back to look at everyone in turn.

Thor excused himself then, explaining he would need to gather some things before they left. Jane stood there awkwardly after he was gone, unsure what to do.

Frigga smiled at her understandingly, holding her hand out for Jane to take. "Come and sit down. No need to stand here in the entryway until he returns."

Even though sitting down was the last thing she wanted to do, Jane nodded and smiled, taking Frigga's offered hand.

Please be okay…

The Dark World…

Crawling across the ground on his knees, Loki clawed at the dirt in agony. Dirt and small, sharp pieces of stone lodged under his fingernails unnoticed, the sensation incapable of penetrating through the constant barrage on his senses.

The Aether was digging into his subconscious, unleashing excruciating pain and pushing him to give into it.

To release the darkness inside him, if only to stop the pain.

He wouldn't though. Even if it was the worst pain he'd ever felt, worse even than what the Other had inflicted on him.

The pain was nearly blinding in its intensity. It felt like molten hot needles of ice were piercing his every nerve. He had nearly wretched from the pain more than once.

Still, he preferred pain to its other tactics.

Because when pain became too boring, the Aether had been toying with his mind instead, showing him things he knew weren't real.

That was the trouble though, wasn't it?

Can't trick a trickster.

Loki laughed haggardly as the pain suddenly receded again. Laughing was all he could do to keep his sanity. Though he wasn't sure how sane he appeared, hunched over in the dirt and laughing madly.

Thor and Jane materialized before him moments later and Loki felt his laughter die away.

This little show was getting old and Loki wished sorely that he'd just die already. It was too much to be mocked like this as he neared the end.

A jagged breath escaped him, the pain from earlier still lingering even after it had ceased its attack. It hurt to breathe, and taking more than a shallow breath caused him to cough harshly, prompting the false Jane to laugh.

The thing that looked like Jane gazed down at him with scorn in her eyes. It hurt so much to see her and yet not see her. He hated it. It wasn't her. It was some mockery of her, here to haunt him even as he willingly laid down his life to save her. To save everyone.

It was no wonder there were so few heroes, he thought to himself bitterly, if this was the reward for being noble. He'd never done anything he'd considered noble before in his life. And even if he ever got the chance, he was sure he wouldn't again.

The false Jane spoke then, Loki turning rigid as her tone bled with disgust. "You honestly thought I wanted you? Who would?", she scoffed, twisting the beautiful voice of the woman he loved. "The abandoned wretch of a monstrous king," she mused, shaking her head. "They should have killed you rather than leave you to fate. It so often errs."

Loki laughed harshly into the dirt, fighting the sting of words he knew weren't hers. "Wrong again," he chided with what little amusement he could muster. "You don't capture her at all."

It was so unlike Jane that Loki never could have believed it was her, even if he hadn't been assured of that fact already.

And it hadn't convinced him it was her once since the first time it appeared. It had chosen his weakest point then, showing him what he had believed to be Jane, covered in blood and clearly dead. It had been trying to make him despair and give into the darkness.

And it had nearly worked, but the Aether had failed to realize the extent of his connection with Jane.

He knew it wasn't her the second he touched her.

And now, the specter sough to injure him with her words, pushed him to seek vengeance against her instead, but it would never win so long as it portrayed her so poorly. Jane would never speak so cruelly, no matter how much he deserved it.

Switching tactics, the false Jane dropped to her knees in front of him, bringing her hand to his cheek gently. Loki gritted his teeth as the phantom managed to make him feel the soft caress as if it were Jane's.

"Loki, stop fighting this," the imposter begged, her voice sounding entirely like Jane's. "It's killing you. Please, I can't stand to see you in pain." Tears gathered in her eyes and Loki shoved her back instantly.

"Don't," he growled at her. "Don't disgrace her. She would never ask such a hideous thing. To give in and allow everything to fall to waste."

The look of sadness dropped away and the false Jane's eyes turned cold as she stood, returning to the false Thor's side.

"See? He's pathetic, as I said," the false Thor reminded her, his voice taunting. He cast his scathing eyes back on Loki. "Weak. He can't control it, that's why he's giving up so easily. I told you, you shouldn't waste your efforts on him."

Loki squeezed his eyes shut, anger filling him. It stung to hear these words, even knowing it wasn't Thor saying them. It didn't mean it wasn't what Thor thought, though…

Loki bit the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood, trying to force the spirits away any way he could. Pain seemed to be the only thing that kept them away, but looking up to see them still standing there, it seemed it wasn't enough.

Loki cursed inwardly. Was this his punishment? That he couldn't even be permitted to die in peace?

Would his brother's existence, contrived or not, mock him even into death?

He heard the false Jane chuckle again and lost it.

"Leave me! Both of you!", he shouted at the apparitions, watching as they finally dissipated into nothing. Loki released an exhausted breath of air.

Relief was fleeting, blinding pain ripping into his head only moments later. Curling into himself as the needles of fire and ice returned, Loki found he welcomed the pain.

He would withstand anything, if it meant the Aether would not mock him with those he loved most...

Back on Asgard…

While Jane waited for Thor to return, she had the opportunity to explain the light theory to Frigga. That she and Thor might be able to save Loki from the Aether if they could find a way to use light to destroy it.

Jane waited patiently while Frigga seemed to process everything she'd told her, watching as Frigga rose from her seat beside Jane to pace. She was silent for several minutes as she considered Jane's words.

Frigga turned to her at last, face resolute. "You cannot save him."

Jane felt her heart drop into her stomach, fear returning sharply. Couldn't save him? It was a thought she didn't even want to consider.

She was just about to argue when Frigga added, "But he can."

Confused, Jane asked, "Thor?"

Frigga shook her head. "Loki. Only he can save himself from this."

Unable to discern her meaning, Jane watched as Frigga paced slowly in front of her, waiting for her to explain further.

Frigga held her hands in front of her, absent-mindedly tweaking her left hand with her right as she considered her words. "Loki has a gentle heart. He always has. But that gentleness has become twisted by envy and desire for power." Frigga paused, seeming to mourn the loss of Loki's innocence all over as she recalled what he once was. "I provided him all the weapons he needed to fight the darkness long ago. Not only the darkness in his heart, but the darkness that resides inside him now as well."

Jane's brow wrinkled. "How do you mean?"

"Did Loki ever explain to you the nature of his power?" Frigga asked instead.

Jane shook her head. "He mentioned that he manipulated light."

Frigga nodded slowly. "I taught him everything he knows. Powerful magics. But I only taught him; never Thor." Moving to Jane's side, she sat back down beside her. "You see, Loki has always battled with feelings of inadequacy. He was never as strong as his brother or the others, and I couldn't bear to see him believing he was somehow lesser because of something as inconsequential as physical strength. So, I taught him how to use magic. Something to set him apart, something he could be stronger at than the others. It gave him confidence." Frigga smiled fondly as she recalled Loki's excitement the first time he performed magic successfully. His eyes had lit up with wonder and pride. It was so precious to see after all the times she had seen him so disheartened…

Her smile fell slightly. "I had to give him something to dispel the shadow he was forever cast in. A little sunshine to fight the darkness, you might say."

Jane nodded, encouraging Frigga to continue.

"You see, my power, Loki's power, is light." Frigga turned toward Jane and produced an orb of light in her hand, allowing Jane to observe it. "Every particle of light can be manipulated; altered to hide, reveal, or even alter what is there." Jane watched, entranced, as the light changed shape in Frigga's hand, taking the form of a short blade, then a glass of water, and then return to its original form. "The Aether is darkness, incredibly powerful, but it resides inside my son, utilizing him as a source of energy." Frigga's voice turned dark and the light in her hand went out.

Frigga looked up at Jane. "If Loki uses that dependency to his advantage, he may be able to turn it against the Aether and destroy it."

Jane nodded, hope swelling within her chest. Frigga rested her hand on Jane's. "He has to do it on his own. But you can be his strength, so he can fight it."

Jane nodded. "I'll do everything I can," she assured heartfeltly. And she would. Even if it cost her her life, she would.

Frigga smiled. "I know you will." She looked down for a moment before returning her eyes to Jane. "I have to…" she spoke softly, "thank you, for loving my son."

Jane felt alarm well within her, a part of her wanting to contradict Frigga because she felt it might still be too soon to admit to having so solidly shifted her affections.

But there was no use in denying it. She did love Loki. So much that it hurt to breathe every moment she didn't know he was okay.

Frigga smiled warmly at her in understanding. "I know their being brothers troubles you, but I can assure you that Thor will understand in time. He loves you, and in the end, he will always want your happiness first, no matter what that means. He wants Loki's happiness as well. He would never condemn something that caused it. And, I think… Loki needs you in a way Thor never could. And I will always be grateful to you for showing him that he can be to you what no one else can. He needs to know how special he is, and I fear he's always doubted it."

Jane unconsciously squeezed Frigga's hand, her heart clenching in her chest. She'd known this woman less than a day and already she loved her. She never knew her own mother, but she found herself wishing she had had a mother like Frigga.

Frigga released a heavy sigh, returning the squeeze gently. "I love my sons equally, but Loki has always weighed heavily on my heart. Thor wins respect, friendship, and admiration with ease, but Loki has never met with the same success. Even before he knew he was different, he had trouble fitting in; being accepted as Thor was. My heart aches for him. For the little boy inside him that still only yearns for love and acceptance, but feels it is always out of reach."

Jane felt her heart squeeze painfully. It hurt to know that he'd always felt like he wasn't enough. It was probably what pushed him to do what he'd done. Those desperate for love and respect would often accept fear if it was all they thought they could have.

Jane lifted her left hand and rested it on top of the hand Frigga had laid on her right. "I'll make it my mission to make sure he knows it isn't. That many people love him. That I love him."

Frigga smiled as tears formed in her eyes and looked back up at Jane. "Which is why I am so grateful for you, my dear. For someone else who sees past the walls he's built around his heart. I think he built them long ago, to protect himself." Frigga's eyes turned sad. "But now… he's trapped there."

Back on the Dark World…

The burning agony had ceased again.

Loki took a shuddering breath in as his entire body continued to throb and ache. He had no idea how long that bout had been but it felt like it had been hours.

Loki gritted his teeth, knowing better than to feel relieved that it had stopped.

Because he knew what it meant when the pain stopped.

"Loki."

Loki sucked a wearied breath in his lungs, choking on the acrid dust that seemed to be the only covering other than rock on the surface of this God-forsaken world.

Please stop, Loki begged silently, though he knew it would do no good. The Aether wasn't going to stop until he was dead.

Using what little strength he had left, Loki propped himself up from his position on the ground. Standing wasn't really an option anymore with how weak he was, but at least he was sitting up now.

He hadn't opened his eyes yet and he wasn't going to. It too much effort and he didn't want to deal with these marionettes anymore.

"Loki," Thor's voice called again and Loki damned the Aether for the millionth time for speaking in the voices of those he wished to forget. He just wanted to forget. Forget everything and have it all be over already.

Loki shook his head tiredly. He refused to look up at the imposter who wore his brother's face, not wanting to give it the satisfaction of his response. There was no purpose in indulging the Aether's machinations.

"Why?" the false Thor demanded, undeterred by Loki's silence. "Why have you betrayed me, brother?" Pain tinged his rumbled words.

Loki looked up unintentionally, meeting the false Thor's eyes. Guilt had twisted in Loki's heart momentarily, so convincing was this lie.

Thor's face twisted with torment. "What have I done, brother, for you to tear the one person I love from my side?"

Loki gritted his teeth and shoved down the swell of remorse.

It isn't real, he reminded himself. It isn't him.

But it could be, his inner-voice taunted back. You've earned these words.

Loki closed his eyes again and remained silent, hoping the Aether would lose interest if he didn't encourage it.

But of course, he could never be so fortunate.

"Is there no limit to your treachery, Loki?", the false Thor went on. "No sense of compassion at all? I loved her!", he shouted venomously.

"And I love her!", Loki shouted back at last, unable to keep silent a moment longer.

But he was shouting at nothing. The apparition was gone.

A moment of utter silent passed before Loki laughed madly, shaking his head as he realized he'd given in to the falsehood entirely for a moment there, defending himself as if he were actually speaking to Thor.

The Aether was winning; slowly eroding away his mind.

That was fine, he reasoned. It could win the battle, but he would win the war. He wouldn't break, no matter what it subjected him to. He swore it.

Protecting Jane and the Universe from the darkness inside him was the only thing he had left to give. He couldn't fail...

"Mon-ster," a small, child-like voice called out suddenly, piercing through the haze in his head. Loki's eyes snapped back open, startled by how utterly out-of-place the small voice seemed in this fallen world.

Loki looked up, stunned to see a small human child standing before him. She was covered in dirt and caked in blood.

And she was pointing her small finger directly at him.

Loki's heart lurched in his chest. He didn't need to wonder what had inspired this ghost…

Because he'd murdered her, after all.

"Mommy," the little girl whispered, reaching back for the woman standing behind her, while keeping her large, curious eyes glued to Loki. The woman's blank eyes stared lifelessly forward, blood running down her limp arms to drip onto the ground. The side of her head was hideously crushed in, obviously the result of the buildings falling to pieces as Loki and his army had waged war on a helpless populace.

"Is that man a monster, mommy?" the little girl asked innocently, still pointing at Loki. The girl sounded like she genuinely wanted to know; to understand how this being that looked like a man was actually a monster.

Loki's face crumpled, knowing the answer to that question all too well.

But the woman didn't answer her daughter. Instead, her bloody arm slowly rose, her index finger extending to point at him. Her lips moved, but no sound left them.

Not that it mattered. Loki knew what she said.

Monster.

In the dim light, the shadows of hundreds of other fallen people sprung up behind the little girl and her mother. One by one, each one pointed towards him, whispering one word in a cacophony of death.

All those he'd killed. Him and no one else...

It was his fault.

Loki bent over where he sat, covering his ears to muffle the whispered accusations.

Monster.

Monster.

Monster.

It wasn't working. He could still hear them.

Loki's fingernails dug into his scalp, but still, he could hear them.

No. Go away.

No. Please stop. Please stop.

"Loki," Jane's gentle voice suddenly cut through the din, and Loki wailed, a noise he'd never made before.

Not now. Please, not now, he begged silently, refusing to open his eyes. He didn't want her to see this. To see what he'd done; the lives he'd wasted.

Tears burned in his eyes but he had them squeezed so tightly shut that none escaped. He rocked in place, silently begging the false Jane to grant him his only wish.

Disappear.

"Loki," Jane's voice called again, but Loki shook his head, refusing to look at her. He couldn't look at her. He'd have killed her too, had she been so unfortunate as to be in the wake of his destruction.

And for what? What had been the point of it all? To rule? To destroy?

It's what you do best, a sinister voice in his mind whispered.

Loki whimpered.

"Loki!" Jane finally shouted, grasping Loki's wrist.

Loki gasped, his eyes snapping open as his eyes met hers. The real Jane. He knew it the instant she touched him. It was her. She was here.

Fear ripped through him. NO. No, she can't be here.

No…

The false Jane materialized behind her, completely unnoticed by the real Jane as she fretted over him.

The false Jane met Loki's eyes, and his heart filled with cold dread as a cruel smile quirked her lips.

Because now, the Aether knew it had won.