Thor: The King of Everything.
Summary: (A sequel to "The King of Nothing") "One month after Loki's sudden, inexplicable disappearance and the cryptic message he left behind, Thor desperately tries to hold everything- and everyone- together. But now, facing the cruel reality that his brother before him couldn't bear, failed to overcome and ultimately left to him alone to face, a war that Asgard has no chance of winning; too many people who refuse to see that terrifying truth, and even loosing the one last person he fights for, the God of Thunder knows he has got to make a stand before it's too late. His quest for victory- and to finally end all the suffering around him- will lead him into a long since forgotten, forbidden place, and reintroduce him to the cruel world he never realized he knew existed. But, with the help of his friends, and someone else who may or may not really be there at all anymore, Thor might just end up saving not only himself, Jane, his people, and his home from certain doom, but someone else who no one knew needed saving in the first place."
Warning: "This will be a relatively tame fanfic, with the exception of some blood, violence, angst, some language, a character death or two, and other adult situations. So, to be on the safe side, we'll be going with Rated T. I have watched both Thor movies and the Avenger's movie, but this does not mean that I am perfect and/or know absolutely everything there is to know about, and I'm bound to forget or misuse something. So, with that, please forgive me if I screw up, and just enjoy the story."
Disclaimer: "I do not own Thor. Please don't ruin my day by thinking I do."
A/N: "This story is dedicated to Adamzgal."
N._.s._.S
Chapter Twenty-Five: Fighting Mad.
"The road to hell is paved with the bones of men who did not know when to stop fighting."
- Paulette Jiles.
"I hope he knows what he's doing."
Thor doesn't look up from Jane when he answers. "Loki always has a plan."
"That remains to be seen, I think."
"You mistrust my brother?"
"I mistrust none. I simply have my doubts."
"That's mistrust, Eir."
"Whatever you may think it is, I remain justified in keeping it," Eir told him, as he leaned his staff against the opposing wall, folding his arms across his chest in clear exasperation, "I do not believe Loki knows what he is doing, despite all his planning."
"Our father trusts him, as do I," Thor shot back, heatedly, "That should be good enough for you."
"You and Odin trust Loki, perhaps more than he should be warranted, because he's family, and that will always remain so, even should the day come when common sense tells you otherwise," Eir answered, sharply, "I, however, hold no such illusions of him, or what he may be capable of, and nor will I ever again."
"I trust him because he has given all but his life to stop Zak'Vael," Thor told him, strongly, almost defiantly, "And it's his actions, not just because he is my brother, that has earned him my trust."
"Loki lies," Eir retorted, shortly, clearly unmoved by Thor's words, even as honest as they were, "His nickname to our people, the people of Midgard, and even to the other Realms, 'the God of Mischief and Lies,' stand still, despite his recent actions. Such is his nature, whether he intends harm or not."
"He isn't evil by nature," Thor snapped, "How dare-"
"I did not say evil, nor will you ever hear me say such a terrible thing, of your brother, or anyone else," Eir interrupted, quietly, though quite sincerely, "No creature in these known Nine Realms is evil by nature; not even Ceil Zak'Vael, Laufey, or even Malekith or Algrim."
"All our enemies were victims of circumstance; and some may daresay even fate. They were shaped to be who they were by their experiences, and by the beliefs that stemmed from them. For Laufey, it was revenge and spite for those whom he could never best. For Malekith and Algrim, it was the fate of leading a people doomed by hatred. For Zak'Vael, it was simply his enemy outsmarting him- a crime he cannot bear to accept, let alone ever forgive, even should it mean his kingdom's ruin."
"But for your brother, for Loki, it was learning the truth behind his birth; a truth, I believe, that allowed him to be driven out of his already insecure mind by not only anger, but fear," Eir said with a short, decisive nod, "Fear that he would never be good enough for Odin, for Asgard, and, most importantly, for you. That was why he did as he did. That is why he does as he does now."
"I didn't care he was a Jotun. He isn't Laufey's son. He was never-"
Eir held up a silencing hand, and for some inexplicable reason, Thor heeded him.
"Listen to me, Thor," the Old Medic said, keeping his steely grey eyes on the God of Thunder as he spoke, "Whether Loki truly doesn't understand or whether he simply refuses to, he cannot comprehend that what and who he is, were and always will be, two very different things, as long as he can fight to prove it."
"Then that is why he's so adamant about facing Zak'Vael," Thor replied, as horror quietly crept into his voice as the realization dawned on him, "It's not his soul he cares about."
"Loki doesn't care whether he lives or dies anymore; that was decided the moment Remus Zak'Vael Cursed him," Eir told him as Thor's bright azure eyes narrowed at that truth, "What he cares about now, is proving, once and for all, that he is truly Odin's son… and your brother."
Without giving a response, Thor starts for the door, and when he passes Eir, he doesn't look at him when he finally answers, after a moment of dead, stricken silence.
"Take care of Jane."
The Medic doesn't even blink once as the door slams shut for the second time.
N._.s._.S
Loki had lied to him.
Again.
And, as usual, Thor hadn't even seen it coming.
If we stop him, then he won't be able to hurt you or anyone else.
Yes, Thor. If we beat him… then everything goes back to normal.
Thor didn't think for a second that Loki had meant to hurt him with this one, as with the other lies he'd been telling since the Vael first attacked. He didn't think that his brother had intentionally not told him about the (terrible) truth behind the Curse that Zak'Vael had set against him just to mess with him; or to follow ahead with some insidious plot- or whatever anyone accused him of these days.
He did it to protect him, that much was obvious.
But from what, Thor couldn't even imagine.
N._.s._.S
The first blow was, by far, the most powerful. From their position in the center of the narrow, luminescent, rainbow-colored bridge, a violent circle of waves and icy mists surrounded them, crashing together and fanning out again, rippling across the entire body of water.
It shook the black skies above them, the blow was so mighty.
The second caused sparks; a silent battle between the golden spear that was Loki Odinsson's, and the two silver rapiers, crossed at the middle, of Ceil Zak'Vael's.
They were deadlocked for only a moment before both used magic- Ceil Zak'Vael's powerful lavender against the blinding gold that was Loki's- and the force that resulted in the collision of the two spells sent both warriors rocketing backward, and another powerful blast of icy waves of water.
Both landed skillfully on their feet.
You are far more powerful than last we met, Zak'Vael said, twirling both of his silver blades while keeping his narrowed, midnight blue eyes on Loki, paying no mind to the mist that blew over his black skin, causing tiny cracks the size of pinheads to appear on the smooth surface, Your desperation becomes you.
"Desperation?" Loki laughed, brazenly, "I am no more desperate than you!"
We shall see!
Vael were, by nature, swift and nimble, thanks to their rarely covered hides and stamina that came naturally with the harsh environment of the Vaelheim, and Zak'Vael was no exception- he was actually faster than most of his warriors, and was a cut above even the Black Hunt when it came down to it.
Luckily, Loki was just as fast.
He had to be.
Their movements were barely visible after that short exchange, moving faster and faster in their attempts to keep a step ahead of the other, until they were merely magnificently luminous blurs of black, gold, silver, lavender and gold, throwing virtually everything they had at each other again and again, the force of each of their blows more powerful than the rest.
And so they fought on, all as the chaotic ocean crashed around them, and the sky above grew blacker and blacker, with stars peaking almost strikingly silently down at them, like they were witnesses not to a duel that was fated to be, but to a scene that promised the death and misery yet to come.
N._.s._.S
The Black Hunt was, perhaps unsurprisingly, quite good at surprising people.
There were five of them- each with their own names. There was Lor'Vael, a clear-eyed Vael that wielded a double-edged scythe and whom was unmistakably the leader of the group in the (immediately noticed) absence of Ceil Zak'Vael; Kai'Vael, who had large dark-chocolate brown eyes and wielded a normal, single blade; Xu'Vael, who had eyes as black as the sky above and wielded two large, silver axes, and Du'Vael; who had unnaturally bright, pink eyes and wielded two, three-meter long spears.
They came fast and precise; picking off clearly premeditated targets.
Xu'Vael took Axel Hernsson, drawing the new Honored King away from the All-Father, who was attacked by Kai'Vael moments later, with the resulting collision between the three spears shattering the marble ground at their feet, all while Du'Vael took Sanat Eir, who was already waiting in the hall just inside the palace surrounded by warriors of his own, Blackwood staff already poised at his side and steely grey eyes blazing with unprecedented, raw power.
Finally, Lor'Vael took Thor, waiting for him to clear the golden palace gates before attacking him out of nowhere, forcing him to summon Mjolnir and take a blind hit; thankfully catching Lor'Vael's scythe at point-blank range and forcing the creature into the streets as Thor quickly followed suit.
But he God of Thunder knew what their purpose was the moment he saw the leaderless group:
The Black Hunt was a distraction.
He needed to get to the Bridge.
To Loki.
N._.s._.S
Finally, huh? XD
I love this chapter. I thought it came out well.
Hope you guys liked it, more tomorrow (hopefully)!
Tell me what you think before then!
Six chapters left now!
And big thanks to you all, especially
Starburst333
Adamzgirl
PeaceHeather
LegionaryPrime
AthanasiaElpis
Elfhater828
Thane lover
47richardtrailer
Lokilovr (yours was epically funny, BTW)
AND TO EVERYONE ELSE! XD
See you next time!