AN: Okay, here's the epilogue. I honestly don't like it. I just couldn't get it the way I wanted, and if I mess around with it to much, I'm certain I'll screw it up more.

Epilogue

Eight Years Later

The world had continued on its way , as it always did, and how Loki had known it always would, it was the way of things. But still, this small island town seemed so…unchanged by the passage of time.

Patch was where his…family lived. No blood relatives, but that hardly mattered to him now. The house he'd arrived at was silent, that told him the two little lunatics weren't around. He trod up the walk and knocked on the door.

"Hold on." A familiar voice called from inside and after a couple moments Yang had answered the door. "Loki." She said smiling "Come on it."

He didn't say anything as he walked into the Xiao Long family home and they walked in to the kitchen.

"Where are the twins?" He asked looking at the pictures on the wall, noticing some spot where some had been taken down recently.

"They are playing in the woods, they'll be back before dinner, are you staying?"

"I'm afraid I can't, business to attend to in the city."

"Oh well, they'll be sad they missed you." She said, "Want anything to drink?"

"Water, please." He said taking a seat at the kitchen table.

"Sure thing." She got him a glass and he took a sip, before asking his first question "So how are the twins."

Yang sighed and sat at the table, but smiled none the less. "Amber is a little hell-raiser, she's a sweetheart but I swear she doesn't think before she acts."

"Sound think someone I know." Loki said smirking "Well, two people."

Yang smiled "Ash is quieter, but he's no angle himself." She smirked at him "I think he takes after his Uncle."

"How are they in school?"

"Ash…he's better in classes, but Amber is definitely more outgoing."

He nodded "How is everyone else?"

"Well…Ruby is…still Ruby, I mean she's in her mid-twenties but still acts like a teenager." She said, clearly a little exasperated with her sister "She's doing well, but I swear if Jaune wasn't in charge of their budget she'd spend it all on…well that's not important."

"Sounds about right." He muttered and took another sip from his water.

"Ren and Nora are expecting their first, so you might want to get them something."

"Oh dear…what a terrible stroke of luck for the human race." He said smiling.

"Shut up." She punched him in the arm, but went oddly silent after that.

They sat in silence for a few moments before Loki asked, "You and Blake not work out then?" He said, sipping his water.

"Notice the picture huh?" Yang said rubbing the back of her head.

"Indeed."

"We tried." She sighed "And we had a good few years, but…well we have different goals, she has her work with Faunus rights, and while I'd love to help her...for me it's more about being a mom, and she didn't seem so keen on that idea, at least right now." She sighed "Her and Sun are back together, I mean we're still friends, but dating is kind of hard when you've got two kids."

They were silent before he asked the question he really wanted answered "Have they been asking about him?"

She didn't answer at first, but got up, got a cup of coffee, sat down, took a sip and answered, "They're starting to."

"Not before?"

"Well, they sort of always thought that me and Blake were their parents, at least from a point they can remember. But school started, Blake left…the question came up."

"What do you tell them?" His voice was cool, and sounded almost disinterested. He always tried to make it feel like he didn't care if he got and answer or not, even now, it was just to much a part of him.

"What I can, or…what I think is appropriate." She sipped her coffee "How do I tell my kids their dad was a thunder god?"

"He's pretty famous, after Mistral and the report from Atlas that he's the one who crippled the Grimm race, I'm certain they know of him."

"Yeah, but you know how many people know the truth? Not many, and with him gone and your power...well, it wouldn't be an easy sell."

"What do they know?"

"He…was a hero, he saved all of us a few times, I knew him at school, that sort of thing."

"They're going to ask more specific questions once they are older." He said, then added "Or much sooner…"

"Oh, I know." She sighed and finished her coffee before she changed the subject. "But what has the trickster god been up to. What's going on with you up there in the Great 'Weiss' North?" she smirked at her own pun.

"You know as much as anyone else outside the family." He said, keeping his face calm as not to betray any thought.

"Oh come one." Her voice almost whined "I should know more than others, we're family, practically." His expression didn't change, and he could of swore he saw her smirk. "Unless what that one tabloid said was true…."

"Of course it isn't" He almost snapped. He knew which one she was talking about, a totally baseless accusation about Weiss.

"So you guys still going strong?" She said, smirking at him.

"Of course." Was all he said.

"Ahhh." She sighed "You just don't like to talk about your private life do you."

"I suggest you talk to Weiss if you want to know."

"Whatever." She said, trying to sound angry, but didn't quiet hide her smirk. "I still can't believe that buzzard of a father of hers tolerated you two being together."

"Well, I've…helped them regain a fair portion of what they lost."

"Yeah, people say your magic…you aren't, still are you?"

"No, that's gone, but I have my sources."

"So…why are you here in Vale, some business to help get the Schnee's back on top."

"Partially." He said, reaching into his coat "I wanted to give you this." He slid a picture from towards her and Yang picked it up, and her face told him everything he needed to know.

"How did you get this?" She muttered "We…no even could have been there to take this picture."

It was a picture of her and Thor, from some point on their journey to Mistral. He had his arm around her and looked like he was attempting to kiss her on the check. Yang for her part in the picture was playfully pushing him away. Both were smiling like they hadn't a care in the world.

"I may be a fallen god." Loki said standing up "But I still have my ways."

"Is this some sort of…magic?" She said, her eye's glassy.

"Only the magic of informants." He said "Some shutter bug from the town you helped took it after you stopped those Shriekers." Her face seemed to fall a little, clearly hoping for some magic. But her smiled soon returned and she stood up and hugged him.

"Thanks Loki."

"There is another thing I wanted to talk to you about." He said, pulling another item out of his coat and laid it on the table. It was a hardcover book. It took Yang a second to read the title because to her view it was upside down.

"Lord of Thunder: Our Savior?" she read and looked at Loki. "What's this?"

"I was wondering if you might know, but given your reaction I'd say not."

Yang picked up the book and read the back cover. "Our world has known and worshipped many gods, but could it be that one has walked among us? New archeological evidence combined with eye witness testimony and news coverage makes this seemingly fanciful idea seem all too real. Read of a long forgotten culture, their history and their deities. Come read how one of these forgotten gods seems to have descended from the heavens in our greatest hour of need to save humanity from our greatest threat. Come and read the history, fact, stories and lore of the god of Thunder. Read of the life of Thor."

Yang face was confused and slightly flushed with anger. Loki spoke "That will be hitting Mistral markets next month."

"Why? How?" She sputtered.

"I've read it." Loki said "It discusses recent archeological finds that match with what I would understand to Norse or Viking people." He said "Along with some depictions of the gods. This author is drawing conclusions from events in Mistral and Atlas. My brother's appearance at the bridge is the biggest piece of it, when he destroyed and entire army of Grimm and Whitefang soldiers with a massive lightning bolt."

"This is bad." Yang muttered. "What will I tell the twins?"

"Well." Loki said standing "It won't be here for another few months, that should give you some time, but I wanted to give you a heads up about it." He put his hand on her shoulder in an awkward attempt to comfort her.

After a slightly awkward silence, she grabbed his hand in recognition. "Thanks Loki." She said.

After a moment he let.

"Give the kids my love." He said and started towards the door.

"If you see Jaune or Ruby tell them their niece and nephew miss them." She said as he made his way down the walk.

He waved over his shoulder to indicate h heard her.

True to his nature, he hadn't told her the whole truth of why he was here. There was business to do and had wanted to give her the picture and let her know about the book, but there was more.

He'd had one the dreams again, for the first time in seven years the dreams had come back. Weiss hadn't experienced them…yet, but the next logical choice for someone to experience them after himself were his niece and nephew. But if they had been having issues, especially in relation to their heritage Yang would have brought it up, and even if she didn't he would of picked up on something being off.

His dream had involved and crater in the forever fall forest that was bubbling the black tar like substance the Grimm grew out of and Salem reformed in to and grew back to full strength.

Grimm in general had become fairly rare, with the Beacon and the other academy's having shifted focus to more traditional military based educations than the heavy focus they'd had on Grimm. They still learned how to fight them, but the job demand for huntsman and huntresses had shifted and they had to change with the times.

But if Salem wasn't dead…he had to know. He knew the dreams weren't necessarily literal. It could mean just another threat of some unknown source, or perhaps an unusually large Grimm or pack of them was going to attack. He still needed to investigate.

There was magic in the air the closer he got to Vale, and there was something in the area that wasn't…completely natural.

His meeting wasn't until much later, and he wanted to use that time to investigate the forest.

The forest, he knew this was where his brother had been found, and where his hammer had originally landed. As he walked through the forest, he wondered were that old relic had ended up. Thor didn't have it on him when he found him, not that it mattered, there wasn't anyone who could lift. It was probably at the bottom of the ocean.

Reportedly the area had attracted Grimm when the hammer was here, for whatever reason they were drawn to it, but now, he saw only one Beowulf which he killed with ease.

He found what he believed to be the crash site, but the it didn't look like it had been. The trees were much larger than the surrounding area, like a much older forest.

The crater was empty, of hammer or Grimm spawning pits. So…at least the dream hadn't been literal.

A swishing of wings broke his thoughts away from the crater, and a black feather floated down. It was one of the two and he didn't care to see either.

"So." A woman's voice called "Have you seen my Grandchildren today?"

"Raven." He turned in the direction of her voice. "What do you want?"

"Straight to the point, I like that." She said, "I understand you are something of a master of magic?"

"I am…or I was." He said, "Not much good for more than card tricks these days."

"And you don't have a Nordic tome that will reveal anything you want about the present?"

"Hmmm." Loki hummed "So you know about that." He put his hands behind his back and slide concealed daggers down his sleeves. "Well if you know that, then you know I haven't dropped the hammer on you with law enforcement."

"Yes, but I'm not here about that, I just wanted to know if you had the ability to confirm what I want to trade with you."

"And what is that?" He sneered.

"You have to agree to help me first, as you know if I tell you, all you need is that book and I'll be useless."

"That will depend on what you need and what you tell me, if I deem it worthy of my aid."

"It's not going to hurt anyone you care about if that's what you're concerned with."

"I see." He said "And is it going cause harm to me, my image or my livelihood?"

"No." She said.

Loki was astounded how much she looked like Yang, hair and eyes aside. They even looked close in age, which brought up a question he'd long had on the humans of this worlds aging rate. But her eyes were so different, not the color although they were different, but in tone. Yang had very caring eyes, compassionate and kind eyes. Ravens were as hard as steel, sharp as a flint, and cold as Ice.

"Well then, tell me what you are after."

Raven grunted in frustration but said "Magic."

"You mean the maiden's." He said "Those are the last pieces of magic on this world."

"No." She said "The relics power, it's still out there."

"Oh?"

"Your brother destroyed the containers, not the power, I'm certain you already know this."

"Yes, although it latched onto my brother pretty well."

"You and your brother are unique and you know it."

She seemed quite well informed for someone who'd dropped off map for some time. But patience was important.

"Maybe it's better that the magic is spread out over the world." Loki said, "One person with that much power…it could be very troublesome…for my bottom line."

"Your world wealth is nothing to what could be done with that power." She said, he could tell she was getting aggravated.

"Well you better be offering something very tantalizing to get me to help you." The expression on her face was rather fun. She knew, as well as he did, even a mild clue could give it away and he'd just leave her hanging. Granted, Loki thought she might threaten him with physical violence. While he was no slouch, there was little doubt in his mind who'd come out ahead in a direct confrontation between the two. But direct wasn't exactly Loki's style.

"Well…" she said "How about I tell you about your brother?"

If Raven was closer to him, she portably would of seen a noticeable clench in Loki's jaw. "What about him."

"He's alive."

Loki almost bolted in this moment, feeling like he had all the information he needed. But Instead, he stood his ground. If she knew he had the Book of the Present, then she had more to tell him. Because if it was just that, then he didn't need her anymore.

"And?"

"Well, I'm certain you could find him, but I don't think you'd do him much good without your magic?" She said. "I'll come find you in two days." She turned to leave "Do your own research into it, and you'll see what I mean."

And with that, Raven vanished. But not in the manner she normally did, which really gave Loki a start. She didn't create a portal or turn into a bird. She just faded like smoke. A trick he used to be able to do himself.

She had magic skills now. Reaching into his coat he pulled out the tome and quickly wrote in it.

"Where is my brother?"

AN: So that's the end of this story, really more a set up for another one, which is being worked on now. I might re-write this sooner rather than later, and trim some of the fat and change some things.

So there are three things in the works now.

The Loki story, that will take place before this largly, then show what happens after this.

A Raven focused Story in the same setting as this

And the Re-Write of this.

So which, if any, would you rather see first.