AUTHOR'S NOTE:...And here we go. We have now reached the defining moment in our odyssey. I hope and pray it is satisfactory. I can never say it enough, thank you for your positive feedback! You are the best audience I could ever hope for! Landon: Quede sin palabras al recibir su mensaje. Admiro sus esfuerzos al tratar de comunicarse en mi lengua nativa. Me siento muy halagada y captivada por sus hermosas palabras. Trajo una sonrisa a mis labios y un rubor a mis mejillas. Muchisimas gracias! (If you need help translating that, let me know! :-) )

Game of Shadows

Chapter 24

The doors to his chambers burst open and in rushed Odin and Thor, both dressed in full armor. Odin stopped in front of Loki, worry and hope written in his single blue eye as he regarded him.

"Son… we need you. Asgard needs you. I need you…"

Loki fixed him with a glare as he offered his bitter response.

"To what purpose? To help you defend your kingdom? So once you defeat your enemy you once again imprison me and bring me to face your misguided concept of justice?"

"That does not matter. Would you see Asgard fall and burn in recompense for my slights against you? Yes, Loki, I do attest to them, if that is what you desire. I have wronged you. You, who I loved from the instant I heard your cries in the temple. My plans for you were to one day see you ascend to the throne of your native people, restoring the fallen planet of your birth to its former splendor and glory. I lied to you, and by betraying you I betrayed myself and my worth as a father. I was hard on you, but simply because I knew you were destined for greatness, just as much as Thor"

"Don't lie to me!" Loki roared, his face contorted in desperation and anguish; the sounds of battle outside muffled by the sheer rage and anguish in his voice. "You groomed me to occupy a place beneath my brother! Always overshadowed by your golden child! I wasted my youth away trying to prove my qualities as potential ruler to the realm I loved, while my oaf of a brother drowned himself in wenches and wine! Do you call that love, father?" he delivered the final word with venom as his mother moved to stand before him. Thor reeled back with sorrow at his brother's words.

"Loki, please…" she begged.

Odin lowered his head, the arriving enemy outside forgotten momentarily as his son's words shook him to the very core.

"I'm sorry" he confessed as his heart broke, causing him to fall to his knees in front of his fallen son. Tears fell from his eye as he looked up at him again, nothing but truth in his eyes. "You have every right to hate me my son, and for that I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Direct all your contempt at this old man who betrayed your trust, who crushed your faith, and led you to the darkest and deepest recesses of pain and despair. But do not punish those innocent. Do not let lives that hold no payment for my offenses against you pay the price I must. Your faults stand as a reflection of my failure as a father" he sobbed as his arms stretched towards him.

Loki was taken aback. He stood dumbfounded as Odin kneeled at his feet. The most powerful being in the Nine Realms, whose kingdom was currently being attacked due to his ambitious bargain with a dark lord, had fallen to his knees before him. He took a step back in sheer shock as Thor finally spoke for the first time, approaching Loki and placing a hand at his shoulder.

"Fight beside me, brother. Let us prove the might of Odin's sons to the universe once again. Together we can take on the most powerful enemy, but alone we fall. Let us unite once more!"

Loki looked between Thor, Odin and Frigga, who had now moved to stand with her husband. She kept her eyes on Loki, a silent plea in her eyes. He approached the Allfather who remained on his knees. He looked down at him and placed his arms on his, coaching him up. Once Odin stood, he spoke.

"Do what you must" he said, and offered his right hand. Odin grasped it, and in an instant, Loki felt the warm surge of his powers returning, the familiar rush of his magic reunited with his being. His form began to glow, and he was once again clad in his armor. Odin placed a hand around his neck, and smiled upon seeing his son once again dressed in his regalia.

"My son, defender of my realm. My dark prince. Tonight we march and remind the Nine Realms that the house of Odin falls to no invader. Now come" he said as he looked at both his sons "we have an enemy to destroy and a realm to defend"

Frigga stood proudly as her husband and two children rushed from the chambers to face the foe.

They rode on horses to the courtyard Iðavöllr, the sprawling courtyard in front of the palace that marked the center of the city. Legions were assembled, stretching as far as the rainbow bridge and all around the city. The sounds of the Chitauri's beams, the roaring of their horrific Leviathans, the rumbling of gold and concrete shattering on the ground, mixed with the cries of the warriors as they cheered the arrival of their king, followed by his sons. The shouts became deafening as they recognized Loki, the prince regent who they had been told protected Asgard from Jotun invaders while Odin recovered in Odinsleep. He had fallen while saving the realm from Laufey, the Jotun king who slipped undetected into the palace, intent on assassinating the Allfather. Thor nodded to his brother as the army shouted Loki's name.

"For Asgard!" Odin shouted, thrusting his scepter into the night sky, summoning a large beam that he directed at a line of enemy chariots as they sped towards the courtyard. Loki took a spear offered to him by a general and the two brothers rode into the fray, bringing down all foes that stood in their path. Thor's Mjolnir summoned lighting and delivered deadly blows, while Loki cut down countless numbers of Thanos' forces. None were match for Thor's might and Loki's deadly accuracy.

The scene around them was one of a ruthless enemy bent on total desolation. The beautiful night sky, cluttered with stars and other planets was concealed by fearsome chariots and grotesque Leviathans. Tops of proud, golden edifices gave way and fell to the floor as powerful beams shot them down. Leviathans leveled homes, destroyed bridges, and lay waste to beautiful squares and gardens. Tall statues of warriors that defended Asgard in ancient times were now falling in heaps of rubble and dust.

Suddenly, thousands of Chitauri jumped out of Leviathans and attached themselves to the golden walls of the palace. They entered through alcoves and balconies and attacked the throngs of guards within, their ultimate goal being the powerful gauntlet in the weapons vault deep underneath the palace.

"The vaults!" Odin shouted. Thor turned his attention to the now overridden palace. Flipping his hammer, he took off, and flew in to defend the object the guards fought so valiantly to protect. Odin turned to ride in after his son, when a sudden rumble shook the ground and he turned in time to see Thanos flying in and landing in the middle of the courtyard, bringing down a large number of warriors around him. He stood upright, large and powerful, as he set his eyes on Odin, an evil smile upon his lips.

"We meet again, Allfather" he purred, his voice thundering and shaking the ground beneath.

"Thanos, remove your army. Your invasion will not succeed" Odin faced him, spear pointed at his large form.

"Hand over the boy and the gauntlet, or see Asgard turned to ashes" he warned.

"I do not tremble to the threats of a Death lord, and neither does my realm" Odin fixed him with a menacing stare. Thanos attacked, knocking Sleipnir to the ground, causing the Allfather to fall. He quickly stood and they engaged in combat.

Loki saw the arrival of Thanos and was overcome by blinding rage. He yelled out in anger and fought his way through the masses of Chitauri, soon reaching Thanos and Odin. He stood in front of Thanos, former allies now standing face to face on the field of battle.

"You think you can fight me, boy? You, who couldn't even defeat a pesky group of humans. You failed a simple task, and you run back home to the father you loathe to protect you. If anything, run like a scared little child, playing at being a man"

"I would call it survival" Loki sneered "and I'd say this child used you to further his plans"

Thanos roared and advanced. The fight was long and fierce, Thanos blocking the unrelenting onslaught of blows. Loki's magic and spear proving futile against the invulnerability of Thanos' powerful form. More than once, the king and his son were knocked down by the force of Thanos' amazing strength. As the battle progressed, the trio made their way past the Gate of Vili and onto the Rainbrow Bridge. The ocean roared below, bodies of both Chitauri and Aesir warriors bobbing lifelessly on its surface.

Thanos sent a large beam of psionic energy from his hands, hitting Loki on his side. He fell back against the glowing surface of the bridge. A sudden shout was heard, and Thanos stilled abruptly, his middle impaled by Heimdall's golden, magical sword. He slowly turned and fixed his fiery gaze upon the gate keeper. His hand began to glow as he clenched it into a fist and with a growl, he crushed it through Heimdall's chest. With a grunt, he tossed him aside, the now lifeless body of the all-seeing watchman falling to the ocean below.

Odin cried out, and shot a powerful beam of fire straight into Thanos's middle, where Heimdall's sword remained fixed. The Death lord staggered and fell to his hands and knees, before collapsing. The Allfather ran to Loki's side and knelt next to his son. Loki groaned and leaned on his forearm, accepting his father's arm as he got on one knee, moving to stand. Then his eyes went wide with horror.

"Nooooooo!" he screamed as Thanos' looming figure came down, and Odin's chest was run through by Heimdall's sword. Odin stilled, his single blue eye wide and burning into his son's horrified emerald green gaze. He slumped forward as Thanos cruelly tore it from the Allfather's body, and he fell onto his back.

"Your turn, traitorous Asgardian" he growled at Loki "I will run you through where you lay" He raised the sword and prepared to deliver the killer blow when a sudden crack of thunder hit his back and his still weeping wound. He cried out, dropping the sword.

Thor could be seen flying high in the air, lighting and thunder booming in his wake. The Chitauri and Leviathans shouted in rage as their leader stumbled backwards. The blond god landed and threw his hammer with all his might, hitting Thanos on his speared middle. The now defeated Death lord fell on his back, his massive form causing the bridge to quake, sending Odin's spear tumbling off the edge of the multicolor glass.

Terrified, Loki lunged for it, and caught it right as it plunged into the raging depths below. A firm grip caught his booted ankle just as he jumped off the Rainbow Bridge. His cape blew in the fierce ocean wind, and he looked back to see one of the Einherjar pull him up to safety.

Thanos roared, and the Chitauri screeched as they rushed to retreat. He crawled to the edge of the bridge, and before Thor could reach him, let himself fall into a waiting chariot beneath. The army cried out in victory as the invader and his forces retreated back to the secret portal they emerged from.

Thor and Loki fell to their knees next to the mortally wounded king. Thor gently removed his father's helmet and cradled his head in his hand.

"Help me take him to the healing room!" he shouted in anguish at a stunned Loki who couldn't tear his eyes from his dying father.

"No" came the whisper from Odin "it's too late"

"Father, don't strain yourself. You'll be well" he choked as tears sprang to his eyes.

"I'm dying, my son. I bleed for the realm I love. A fitting death for a king"

Violent sobs shook the body of the thunder god as he held his father's body. The bridge continued to hum below them, its colors shining brighter than before, as it slowly absorbed the energy and power draining from the king's form.

Odin weakly turned his head to the dark-haired prince who knelt with quiet tears streaming down his perfect features. He raised a hand and laid it against his cool cheek. The younger son he was leaving behind had much to learn, but at that moment he knew it was a perfect beginning for the journey he was about to embark on. It would be a morbid start that would take him down twisted paths, eventually bringing him and his older brother to a shared conclusion. Everything had a purpose, and one day they would understand it.

"Loki" he whispered, looking into the jade eyes of the baby he lovingly rescued thousands of years ago. "Find your way, my son. Forgive me. Forgive…" his voice trailed off, and the Allfather, the most powerful being in all the Nine Realms, became one with the cosmos. Like a tired warrior, he rested his head on the strong arm of the son he had begotten and closed his eye, finding rest at last.

"Father!" Thor's voice cried out to the heavens as he cradled the now lifeless body of the once powerful king of Asgard. Aside from the heartbreaking screams of the grieving son and the roar of the ocean beneath, all was quiet. All fell to their knees and placed their hands over their heart in honor of the fallen sovereign. Huginn and Muninn crowed loudly from the palace, and flew off into the vast expanse of the universe to rejoin their master in his place of eternal rest. Standing on a balcony high above in the palace, Frigga stood silently, before suddenly collapsing as her handmaidens caught the frail body of the now Queen Mother.

Slowly, Sif and Volstagg, the only two remaining top warriors in the realm to survive the battle approached. They were followed by the legionnaires who stood around the two grieving princes.

"We will carry him" Sif said softly. The warriors moved and gently picked up the body of Odin as an older man wearing the robes that marked him as High Priest and High Chancellor approached. Thor stood watching them as they reverently walked past kneeling soldiers into the palace. Loki remained kneeling.

"Did he name you king?" he asked a broken Thor.

"What?" he replied bewildered.

"Did he name you his successor before his last breath?" he asked with urgency in his voice.

Thor shook his head with confusion as the highest member of the council set his eyes on the youngest son that continued to stay on his knees.

"Then the one who holds the scepter of kingship at the passing of the Allfather takes his place upon the throne"

Thor's eyes opened wide as he looked at his brother, who had turned his head upon hearing the fateful words. Loki's eyes locked with Thor's, before he lowered them to his hands that clutched the Allfather's spear.

"Loki…" Thor warned as his brother slowly stood to full length. Shock was evident on Loki's face, and yet a corner of his mouth turned up as he regarded the golden scepter he held in his grasp. Thor tightened his grip on his hammer as he took a step towards him.

"Put it down Loki" he warned again. Loki turned his gaze on the blond god, and Thor shook as what he saw in his eyes. Grief had been replaced by astonishment, then confusion, and now, mischief.

"Turn of the fates" he spoke. Thor twirled Mjolnir as he glared at Loki.

"No, brother. Father's place is not for you to take"

Loki blinked in mock surprise. "I did before, did I not? I'd say it's only fitting I do it again"

"Put the scepter down or I will be forced to take it from you. You're not suited for the throne, Loki!"

"Not suited? As you once were?" Loki retorted as grief and anger combined in his heart once again "I was the king! It is only just that I take up the mantle again!"

Thor flew at Loki, Mjolnir swinging and making impact with the scepter. Their rekindled struggle once again unfolding on the bridge that suffered the wrath of their rivalry. They fought with a new rage, a new sense of righteousness that only stemmed from years of pent up sorrow and pain. Thor fought to save the realm from the imminent rule of his misguided brother, Loki to lay claim to the kingship that had once been his, then unjustly taken away.

Mastering up all his hatred towards Thor, he sent a powerful blast from the spear directly into his brother's chest. Thor fell on his back, Mjolnir at his side. Loki then directed the spear's power toward the source of Thor's strength, and the hammer flew off the bridge, and fell to the sea beneath, becoming encrusted in one of the jagged rocks protruding from the raging waves.

"Go back" he growled, opening the secret path that connected Asgard to Earth "return to the world you love so much, and remain there!"

Thor stood but before he could summon Mjolnir, Loki hit him with another powerful blast, sending him flying into the portal.

"No! Loki!" was the last he heard of his brother's voice before he disappeared into the void.

Legions of warriors stood silently as he slowly walked through the massive doors of the palace. He staggered as his wounds stood to attention, the rage of the battle starting to weigh heavily on his body. They watched in astonishment as he limped his way into the massive throne room. Soldiers followed behind as he reached the bottom of the steps that led to the throne. He began to climb the steps, but stumbled as the wound on his side throbbed with a sharp, new pain. He fell there, halfway up to his destination. Guards rushed to help, but he shoved them away.

"Leave me!" he roared. The guards retreated and stood back.

He put a hand on the next step above and willed his injured body to move forward. He seethed as he felt blood ooze and stain the leather of his armor. With amazing effort, he finally reached the top step. He got on one knee and used the scepter as leverage to bring his full body upright. As he stood to full length, he turned to the crowd of Asgard's victorious warriors. Loki watched them with immense satisfaction from under his golden, horned helmet, then flipped his cape before sitting upon the large throne. Legions of soldiers erupted in cheer and fell to their knees as they proclaimed their allegiance to the new ruler.

His glorious purpose was now fulfilled. He was a king, the rightful king of Asgard. Betrayed no longer.

End of Chapter 24