Here, There Be Giants!

When the attack finally came, it wasn't nearly the surprise the Torgyr had intended it to be. If it had been earlier that day, Loki and the others never would have seen them coming. But Bruce had mostly managed to get Loki's head back on straight, and the younger prince's magic sensed them before they ever appeared.

Six ice spikes the size of telephone poles appeared out of nowhere. But they never made it anywhere near their targets as a light blue barrier flashed into existence, stopping the spikes twenty feet from them and shattering them into pieces.

Several sounds of alarm came from his allies as they all took up ready stances and looked around for their, as yet invisible, enemies.

"Where are they?" Tony asked. "Jarvis can't pick up any readings."

Loki slowly lowered his hand, letting the barrier fade, but ready for any more attacks. "They're cloaked."

"But you can sense them?" Thor asked.

Loki nodded. "They're nearby, but I can't pinpoint them completely. I think they're toying with us, feeling us out. They were hoping for a surprise attack, which didn't work. They're likely regrouping."

"I take it our personal shields don't work against ice stalactites?" Steve asked.

"Not really, no. Magical attacks are one thing, but physical attacks are another. I can adjust them to keep out projectiles and the like, but that would block anything from inside as well as outside, which would include any of your own weapons," Loki said.

"Meaning arrows," Clint said.

"Hammers," Thor added.

"Shields," Steve agreed.

"Bullets," Natasha said, waving her guns.

"Ice attacks," Egil stated.

"And repulsor blasts?" Tony asked.

"Yes, to all of the above," Loki said. "That's why I limited it to magical attacks, since none of you are magic users."

"Then you'll just have to have our backs on surprise incoming ice," Steve said.

"I've got you covered," Loki promised.

"Have I mentioned, I'm glad you're with us?" Clint asked, his fingers resting on his bowstring, ready to draw and loose his already nocked arrow the moment he had a target to aim for.

A growing surge of power gathered at the edge of Loki's senses.

"Get ready," he said, unnecessarily, his friends already prepared for anything.

The next attack that came was just a wave of power, a magical attack, not a physical one. Loki didn't even deflect it, letting it harmlessly wash over and around his teammates shields. As the power flowed past them, Loki felt his senses narrow, and he grinned slightly.

The more the Torgyr attacked, the closer he was able to backtrack them with his magic and hone in on their location. Just another attack or two and Loki would be able to pinpoint them. The moment he did, he could use his magic to take down their cloaking. Then his friends could finally join the fight.

"Tony, can you send a repulsor blast to that general area over there?" Loki asked, subtly pointing in the direction of where he vaguely knew the Torgyr to be.

"Can you be a little more specific?" Tony asked.

"Not really," Loki said and quickly explained to them his intent to try to provoke the Torgyr so he could track them down.

"Gotcha, Antlers," Tony said before blasting the general-ish area.

He didn't hit anything of course, but it had the intended effect as Loki felt a slight flicker of magic before it disappeared again. It was brief, instinctive, but it meant Tony must not have been too far off, either that, or it had just been unexpected enough to startle at least one of the Torgyr into reacting to the blast with magic.

It wasn't much, but it was more than enough for Loki.

"Good! I'm getting closer," Loki said, keeping his voice low so only his allies could hear him.

"My men and I can cover the area with ice spikes, try to draw them out," Egil suggested.

"No!" Loki quickly replied, careful not to look in the Giants' direction as he spoke. "Unless I've completely lost my edge, the Torgyr shouldn't know any of you are here. I'm cloaking you from their magic. I want them to think it's just the same people they faced before, until you five can be fully utilized."

"But, if we're this close to the Torgyr, can't they just see them?" Thor asked.

"Do you see the Torgyr?" Loki asked, not unkindly.

The "ah-ha" moment was visible on Thor's face, for a moment, before his brow furrowed again as he glanced at the five Frost Giants standing with them. "But we can see them."

"And I'd imagine the Torgyr can see each other," Loki said with a grin, which Thor returned.

"How long have you been hiding us?" Egil asked.

"Since we left the quinjet," Loki said offhandedly, still scanning the area with eyes and magic. "Tony, I need another blast," he said, "but a little more to the left of the last one. And if you can, try not to let them know it's coming. At least one of them startles a bit too easily for their benefit."

"You got it," Tony said, and even Loki barely caught sight of the small projectile that shot out behind Tony from the little opening that popped out on his forearm where it hung nonchalantly at his side.

Loki tracked the tiny rocket with his magic, impressed by the size and silence of it, knowing that when it hit, it would still have a big bang.

As it circled around in a wide arc and struck the ground several feet from where the last blast had hit, it didn't disappoint with a decently sized blast and plenty of volume. Enough to startle their own team, let alone the Torgyr.

"Little warning next time?" Clint asked, a hand on his chest over his heart.

"I have to agree with Clint on that one, Dad," Steve said, taking a deep, calming breath.

"Sorry," Tony said, sounding genuinely sheepish.

It had paid off, though. The moment it had gone off, Loki felt a surge of instinctive, defensive magic. They'd manage to scare all six of them this time, and it was exactly what he'd needed.

"Got them," he murmured loud enough for his friends to hear him. "Be ready," he said quietly. "I'm going to bring down their cloaking. Egil, you and your men wait to attack until I give the word. Then I'll drop your cloaking."

"We'll use the surprise to its full advantage, I assure you," Egil promised, he and his men taking on predatory grins.

Reaching out a hand toward the hidden group of rogue magic users, Loki wrapped his magic around theirs and pulled.

Something gave and snapped.

The Torgyr materialized into view.

And the entire situation devolved into chaos.

)()()(

"Note to self, these guys do not like being surprised," Tony said as he rocketed out of the way of a very angry blast of energy, coming from a very put out Frost Giant magic user who wanted to conquer Tony's planet and create another ice age.

The moment Loki brought down the Torgyr's magical cloak, the six rogue Giants had attacked. If there had been any doubt left that the group had only been toying with them all the first time they'd met, it was gone now. The six magic-using Frost Giants seemed to have lost their desire to play games and waste time. They were not happy about this newest bout of interference, and they were letting the team of Avengers know it.

Especially where Loki was concerned, it seemed. Apparently, they took special offense to another magic user thwarting their plans, as well as their magic, as no magical attack ever came close to hitting any of the humans (thank you Loki's shielding), which only seemed to make the Torgyr even angrier. Oops.

Even so, the Torgyr were still formidable fighters, even without magic, and had plenty of size advantage on all of them. Meaning, it was all the humans on the team could do to hold their own right from the start. If not for Loki's protection, they'd all be down for the count already.

For his part, Loki stood back a bit, letting his friends engage them, while he focused on the other five allies with them. Without a word, Egil and his men quickly weaved through the fighting that had broken out, getting into the best positions for the most effective surprise attacks.

Loki watched them all, keeping them fully shielded and unharmed, as magic and weapons flew in all directions. They hadn't told him what their plan was, and yet, he had the feeling he'd know when the moment came.

He was right.

The moment the five Giants were in position and ready, Loki knew it.

"Go!" he yelled, dropping the cloak.

Six very shocked Torgyr stared, completely off-guard, for a moment, at the sight of King Egil and four of his best warriors.

It was a moment that lasted just a bit too long for the Torgyr.

By the time their brains broke free of the shock, all six had been sent flying, courtesy of some truly impressive ice attacks.

Even Loki had to appreciate the power and skill in Egil's and his men's ice wielding. Maybe he could get some pointers from- He shook his head. There was a time and place... like, another universe and never. They didn't even know he was a Frost Giant, and telling them? Yeah, when Asgard froze- He cut himself off with a quick glace around at the snow covered Grand Canyon. Best not to tempt fate on that one.

The Torgyr were not struck down by Egil and his men, but they didn't escape completely unscathed either. They all hit the ground hard. Unfortunately, their magic mostly shielded them, but it was still enough to briefly addle them and buy Loki's side a little time to regroup.

And as the Torgyr regained their feet (far faster than Loki would have preferred), he was rather pleased to see one Frost Giant yank a dislocated shoulder back into place, and another step forward with a limp, while all of them eyed Egil and his men warily. This was a development they hadn't accounted for. The humans working with the King of Jotunheim? The times they were a-changin'.

There was a moment of stillness, as if everyone were taking a single, deep breath, then the Torgyr were launching back into the fray, and the battle resumed.

Egil and his men, with their size, strength, experience, and ice powers, helped to balance the fight, giving the Avengers a fair chance.

One of the Torgyr, Loki thought he might be their leader based on his more ceremonial looking garb, leapt toward him, a long spike of ice encasing his arm.

Loki dodged the first stab, and on the second, swung Tyrnir up and into the ice weapon. The unbreakable metal of Loki's spear, shattered the ice spike.

Unfazed, the Torgyr leader lashed out with his other hand, a blast of electricity leaping from his fingertips.

The deep green shield that appeared out of nowhere, didn't simply stop the energy that struck it, but seemed to suck it in, absorbing it.

As the sparks cleared, the shield dropped to reveal Loki, crouched, with Tyrnir extended before him, and the jewel in its hilt glowing softly.

"Huh," he hummed appreciatively. "I've wondered if this could harness others' magic too or just mine. I guess, now I know." He grinned at the Giant who had just enough time to go from surprised to angry before he was blasted backward by his own magic.

The leader hit the ground with a spray of snow. He struggled to one knee, not badly injured, but a bit dazed and definitely singed, with some smoke curling up from his clothes in places.

Loki moved to press his advantage when something slammed into him out of nowhere, knocking him sideways. He hit the ground, rolling several feet and losing his grip on Tyrnir in the process.

When he finally stopped moving, he pushed himself to his hands and knees, needing to get into a position to defend himself but unable to make it any farther. He was off balance and muddled, his head hurting from when he'd hit it on... something.

Shaking his head, he blinked hard and looked up. A huge block of ice was where he'd been before. So that was what had hit him. Ice powers... And not even elegant ones at that. It was literally one, big, shapeless mass of ice. He'd essentially been taken down by an iceberg. Like the Titanic. His pride might have actually incurred the worst injury.

Pulling himself back to his feet, he called Tyrnir to him. His hand wrapped around the staff a heartbeat before the same block of ice was moving, shooting toward him.

With no time to react, Loki threw up a shield.

The ice slammed into it, unable to penetrate the magic, but still jolting him far harder than he'd been expecting. Loki stumbled back several steps but never lost his grip on his shield.

The ice withdrew, only to instantly come rushing back at him. Loki set his feet and braced for the impact. Once again, the shield held, and although Loki didn't stumble, the force of the hit was still enough to slide him back a few more feet.

Again and again the ice withdrew and slammed into his shield like a battering ram. Loki wasn't exactly sure what the point was, considering it was never going to make it through his magic. It was taking more effort to plant his feet and hold his ground, than it was to maintain his shielding.

The only thing he could figure, was one of the Giants was trying to keep him busy so he couldn't fight back, as the ice slammed into his shield with a rhythm that was too quick for him to move or counter. But it wasn't wearing him down or harming him. It was only occupying him. And it wasn't like they were trying to keep him from helping his friends. His allies were handling themselves just fine for the time being. So what was this even for?

Loki blamed the mild head injury he'd gotten for why he didn't realize what was happening until just before it did.

Dropping his head and shoulder, Loki leaned into the next hit like a football lineman trying to push back his opponent. The force still pushed Loki backward, his feet digging ever deeper furrows in the snow. As he looked down, said furrows suddenly caught his attention. Or rather, their length. He'd been pushed quite some distance.

A horrible thought suddenly hit him. He looked over his shoulder. Mere feet away was the edge of the Grand Canyon.

He had time to finally realize his attacker's strategy, but not enough to do anything to stop it.

As the next hit came, Loki somehow managed to look across the fighting grounds and meet his brother's eyes... just in time for Thor to watch in alarm, as Loki stumbled backward to teeter on the edge of the canyon.

Loki could do many things, but fly was not one of them.

With a last cartwheeling motion of his arms, gravity won out and Loki disappeared over the side.

"Loki!"

A/N Let the battle begin! I swear I didn't intend to leave you guys with a literal cliffhanger, but it just sort of worked out that way, and I can't bring myself to feel too sorry about it because it's actually kind of funny to me. Anyway, next week things get... interesting. We'll see the continuation of the battle, along with one or two other neat little things, perhaps. I'll give you a little tease, the next chapter will be titled "Secret's Out." I'll leave all of you to puzzle out what that might or might not mean. Feel free to send me your thoughts and theories! Until next time! :)