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-Six: Brain Pains.
"God has mercifully ordered that the human brain works slowly; first the blow, hours afterwards the bruise."
― Walter de la Mare.
The sky above was black, the only light coming from the tiny faintly-glistening stars, and the moon that shined brightly overhead, like a great white eye in a sea of blackness.
Down below, the earth was burning.
In the Palace, Odin, Eir and Axel all dealt with their respective opponents one-on-one, while out on the far end of the city beyond, great streaks of thunder tore at the earth as Thor faced his own, new enemy, while slowly making his way toward the rainbow-colored Bridge, one step at a time.
But out on the Bridge itself, however, a truly different kind of battle waged.
As far as Ceil Zak'Vael was concerned, even as the golden city behind them burned, as thunder crashed down, lighting up the blackness with bight azure that illuminated the already impossibly bright flames and flakes of ice that flew unbidden at their feet as they fought, simply did not exist.
And to prove it: up to now, during the entire battle, did he take his eyes off Loki.
Getting tired?
Loki didn't answer.
Zak'Vael had been snapping little jabs at him since the beginning of their fight (Gods knew how long it's been since then; it felt like hours already), but Loki hadn't responded even once, instead keeping his focus as he watched every movement the former Honored King made, either countering him within split moments, or stepping just out of range of Zak'Vael's attack and then returning it in kind.
His movements were measured and precise; he was clearly taking great care in his attacks, his defenses, but there was something off about them- like something was missing.
This was not how Loki Odinsson fought.
Years ago, if faced with a duel of this standard, Loki would be giving it all he had; using every weapon at his disposal, every little trick he knew, to gain the upper-hand in battle.
But now, he clearly wasn't.
It was as if he was merely tolerating the foe before him.
As though the battle just a minor distraction to him.
As though his mind was somewhere else.
N._.s._.S
"Curses, curses, to you, the monster that survives.
The stars themselves are after you,
You shall be abandoned;
Those you love will turn their backs,
Even your soul shall damn you in the end.
And all this because-
Curses, curses, only to you, the monster that survived."
Thus was the Curse that was placed upon him, spoken by Remus Zak'Vael with his dying breaths as he lay, defeated, at Loki's feet. Those words unhinged Loki's already damaged soul, allowing it to come free of the physical bonds that kept it safe, deep within him, at last, allowing Zak'Vael a chance to seize it, and beyond that, the unimaginable, ancient power he sought, trapped within.
But what had made the first crack?
"Loki!"
Loki Odinsson looks up from the book he is reading and smiles; jade-green eyes lighting up as his older brother parades toward him, stick in hand as his sword, trailing behind him a too-long crimson cape that ripples in the wind, and wearing their father's winged, silver helmet to boot, hanging over his brows.
Some say it was Laufey who had made them, when he abandoned him as a newborn at the threshold of the Jotunheim at the end of the War; maddened with the loss of the War he had lost everything in.
The Casket wasn't the only thing you took from Jotunheim that day, was it?
No. In the aftermath of the battle I went into the temple and I found a baby. Small for a Giant's offspring, abandoned, suffering, left to die. Laufey's son.
Laufeysson?
Yes.
Others say it was when Loki learned the truth of his Jotun heritage, with the consequent roots of insanity brewing along with the shock of the ordeal.
Am I cursed?
No.
What am I?
You are my son.
What more than that?
But what it truly was, some believe, it matters not, for fate took its course nonetheless.
N._.s._.S
The memories were jerked away as Zak'Vael finally got a hit, smashing through Loki's guard and making a clear slice along his unarmored shoulder and chest. Caught completely unprepared, time seemed to stop as Loki's golden staff was flung away, landing with a bizarrely inaudible splash into the murky, half-iced over water as Loki himself stumbled backward, and then suddenly collapsed.
That drew you out of your reverie, it seems, Zak'Vael hissed, sharply, pitching his one bloody sword out and letting the crimson blood splatter into a neat crescent shape at his feet, Where were you just now, Laufeysson? You clearly were not here.
Loki didn't answer, and he remained on his knees, exactly where he'd fallen moments before, stricken silent and unblinking, staring at the ground as though seeing right through it, at something else, and he doesn't move even when Zak'Vael impatiently slams the points of his two swords right down, less than an inch from where the God of Mischief is sitting.
Loki doesn't move.
Doesn't even blink.
No reaction at all.
Intrigued now, Zak'Vael slowly knelt down to one knee, and, using his forefinger and thumb, slowly lifted Loki's head up so he could look into the God of Mischief's eyes.
Zak'Vael's dark eyes narrow.
N._.s._.S
"I, Ceil Zak'Vael,
Honored Lord of my people,
And ruler over this soul,
Let this one be undone!
I command you,
Be undone!"
This is the second Curse, then, spoken by the former Honored King himself, Ceil Zak'Vael. Unlike his son, Zak'Vael doesn't offer any words of consolation.
I shall spare you this one consolation, Laufeysson-Odinsson. If you survive this, then you may prove yourself worthy to live on in the eyes of my people, even as a Frost Giant.
Prove yourself worthy, and you may be spared in the end, Laufeysson.
His words are final.
Unforgiving, merciless, not giving a second thought to the life he had just destroyed.
Thor, I wish I could stand behind you for this. I truly do. I wish I could be at your side, and father's, too, but I don't know if that will ever be possible again.
So were Loki's, that night.
Inadvertently.
I wish I could tell you more. I wish I could tell you something that will make everything easier for you- that would give you the strength to stand fearlessly against such a terrible enemy and able to bear the reality that I truly could not.
The last thing Loki had wanted to do was hurt his brother again.
Better yet, I wish I could stand beside you like I did two years ago, staring down at our enemies with confidence; knowing you had my back and you trusting that I had yours, and that there was nothing in the world that could hope to stop us.
He couldn't bear it.
That chance is long gone now, though; what was then can never be again.
N._.s._.S
A cookie to the person who can tell me what happened to Loki!
Anyway, hope that settles you guys for a while.
Next chapter tomorrow, for sure!
Five chapters left! XD
Tell me what you think about this one!