Libertas

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Additional Notes(1): I have only seen the movies and read a few comics. I am receiving information of substance from my resident expert, though he is not Beta reading for me (nor does he actually know I am writing this!) Please bare with me if my story breaks one or all of the existing universes.

000

"Everyone ready?" Tony asked from his position at the newly formed control panel, "once I open this, we only have enough power for about twenty minutes on this side. I'll feed you as many of the short burst pulses as I can, but after that, it's on you all to get whatever's left of you, home."

Thor nodded, "and I assure you, should we win—when we win—between Heimdall and my father, you shall return."

They weren't too concerned about making it back to Earth. They knew that Thor had been transported not once, but twice to Earth through Odin's power. They would make it back… eventually.

The real worry was what was left of Asgard. It was uncomfortable not knowing what exactly awaited them. Thor couldn't be sure how much of his home still stood, much less how extensive his forces would be for another round against the Chitauri. They had no choice but to head in blindly and put together a more cohesive plan once they saw what they were up against.

"Alright boys and girls, and effeminate former gods, here we go." It took Tony only moments to get the portal rearing to life, it's bright blue-white power contrasting drastically against the red light of the setting sun. The group had to cover their eyes against it as they started to slowly move forward and cross through the circular gateway.

Of course Thor led the way. Even without the reassurance of almost-immortality, increased strength, and extra stamina, he went onwards to protect his team from whatever would hit them first. Loki followed behind, though that was mostly because no one wanted him to their backs.

The Asgardians wore pieces of armor granted to them by Stark. It wasn't much, just pieces on their forearms and legs. They resembled less of Iron Man pieces (though they were bits from other models and prototypes,) and more like medieval armor. They did not receive any chest pieces; they couldn't. Thor was so much broader and Loki so much longer, that nothing would by any more than a hindrance.

The Captain even wore similar bits, though his seemed specifically designed for him. He had been unwilling to done the armor at first, feeling that it wasn't quite his style, but Natasha persuaded him. He was reminded of the Chitauri weaponry and how easily it cut through flesh. He agreed to cover just enough to allow him close combat.

Clint, Natasha, and Bruce didn't bother with any extra protection. Two of those three did have armor piercing rounds to help cut through the aliens' metallic exoskeleton.

They fell into place behind the others as they crossed realms, with Banner bringing up the rear. He would be remaining nearby so that he could toss the pulses as far as needed—assuming the Other Guy listened to that direction, at least.

When their eyes finally adjusted to the eerie glow of Asgard's, a glow which led them to believe that it was likely nighttime, they saw that they were just in time for the final battle. It had to be the final battle—the crystal could be seen some distance off to their left. This was the execution of their entire plan.

There was an awful shriek coming from one of the cloaked Chitauri generals. Loki recognized him as the one who stood on the bridge of their satellite ship, commanding the assault that knocked Ash unconscious. Though they could not see at their distance, he was holding the orb containing Thor's might. Laser lights were pointed at the crystal, which caused a connection to the orb and a transmittal of power.

He dropped the orb, and it shattered into hundreds of tiny shards.

Thor roared and any chance of forming a plan with the others went out the window.

He charged off towards the Chitauri horde.

Some of the invaders braced themselves, screeching out a war cry to keep him from nearing their general. Thor swung his replacement weapon, another heavy hammer like object, and knocked the nearest Chitauri in the head.

"Some things never change," Loki muttered and watched the path the general took, gripping his own weapon in hand. It was a revamped Chitauri spear that spewed some sort of electrical energy—one that Tony assure him would work well against the aliens, unless it was shorted by the pulse. If that were the case, he would rely on just his own skill with scepter-like weapons.

The Captain started to reiterate their strategy quickly, but Loki barely listened to Rogers speak as he prepared to run off on his own anyhow.

"Stick to the plan, but try to cover Thor as much as possible. We need to try to keep him safe, since clearly, he isn't going to be doing that himself. Banner, you know what to do. I'm going in," Steve immediately zipped off to cover the fighting Asgardian. He reached him with just enough time to raise his shield against Thor's head to protect him from a Chitauri spear.

Loki did not need any more guidance. He sprint off, glad for the light armor, dodging and ducking enemy blows. It wasn't like him to go straight into battle, let alone aim for the strongest enemy on the battlefield. He had no choice, though. He had to keep the general from reaching the edge of the city barrier.

There was a rumble from somewhere behind him, indicating that the Hulk had made his appearance and was now slamming his fists against the ground.

Oh how Loki hoped that something would go right for them today…

He slid under two Chitauri spears as a pair tried to block his path and pushed himself back up, continuing to run. He was surprised at how well his mortal body was operating. The surge of adrenaline he was having, he had always attributed it to part of his unnatural strength. How was he to know otherwise? He had not known that mortal bodies had it in them to be mighty on their own.

The first pulse was thrown in the basic direction of the crystal. It wasn't great aim, but what could they expect from the beast? It landed and took out just over half a dozen of the Chitauri. Not exactly enough to make a difference, but just enough to show that the pulses certainly worked.

The enemies froze up suddenly and then dropped to the ground, clanging as they went.

Humans and their technology—something Loki was certainly glad for.

With a shout, he raised his weapon and whipped it against the neck of one of the aliens. It cut right through, decapitating the being. He could not help but reveal a satisfied smile.

While the Chitauri were surely formidable foes in their masses, that was where they stopped. They were only as good as insects looking to make a meal out of an animal. When one fell, another came forward, but so long as Loki remained nimble and lithe, he could dodge their mechanistic blows and move onto the next. He need only to worry about running out of energy.

Just a little bit more and he would be within range of the general…

He was thrown to the side by one of the Chitauri hover craft. There were not many on the field, but one of them had seen him making a beeline for the general and rammed into him. He hit the ground with a sickening crunch and a smack as his head hit against the hard, stone surface. A tentative arm raised to his side. The craft had nailed him right in the side, his ribs taking the bulk of the hit.

Loki moved his hand along the ground, looking for his weapon.

The Chitauri soldier on the hover craft landed its machine and stalked towards Loki, who looked to his left and tried to reach the scepter. He had almost reached it when another enemy came from behind and kicked it away.

If only he had his magic… he could have easily created a double of himself and escaped. Instead, he was watching the saliva drip down the approaching Chitauri's mouth as he screeched at Loki.

The soldier raised its blue lighted spear and pulled back, ready to plunge it into Loki's already damaged chest. Loki inhaled and tried to move away, but was blocked by the second soldier.

He was saved from inevitably being impaled by a sharp arrow that suddenly cut through the Chitauri's skull. Another one immediately followed, cutting through the eyeball of the alien next to him. One the first one fell, Loki could see Hawkeye from clear across the field pointing to him and then tapping his own chest, as if saying, 'you are mine to kill.'

Loki fought back his anger, his fury for needing to be rescued. He rolled over and muttered under his breath as he grabbed his scepter and stood back up.

Around him, he could see that a few more pulses had been set off, this time taking out a great deal more than before.

If he could get the Chitauri general inconscious, then they may be able to detain him long enough to steal Thor's power back when Odin had the strength.

And Thor needed his power back. They could not leave Asgard without a protector. As much as Loki would have liked to have been that protector, he knew that it would never be, not while he was mortal, and not while he could not wield Mjolnir.

He jogged as fast as he could to try to get to the city entrance, but it just wasn't enough. The general was nearing, and the Hulk just wasn't getting the pulses to where they needed to be. They were almost out of time as well—the portal would close and Stark wouldn't be able to send anything more through. They would be on their own.

"No!" Loki shouted as he watched the general spring to the large entrance. His arms went out and he managed to release one large burst of thunderous energy.

That was all it took.

The shimmering barrier seemed to crack just like the orb had, and then burst outwards, sending everyone near it to fly back a few feet. "No, no, no!" Loki cried out again, struggling to stand.

What could be done? Were there still warriors in the city to help the fight? Had the siege given them enough to recuperate? Loki didn't know. He couldn't know—he had been gone far too long, as had Thor.

He was about to turn and rejoin the fight, hoping to take down as many as he could when he felt a peculiar feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was a slight feeling at first, but became much worse, an intense pain.

Loki was forced to kneel. As he was on his one knee, he watched as a particular Chitauri soldier ran past him, heading straight through the now open Asgard gate. He didn't understand where this phantom pain came from—not until the soldier had cleared his general area, and the pain subsided to leave an almost relieving tingle through his body.

And in that moment of understanding, he whipped around and sprint after the soldier, ignoring the angry grinding in his chest.

That feeling—oh how he knew it well.

The hum through his bones.

The rejuvenating energy.

He had come to miss that chilly power in the past few months. He had not thought he would feel that power, his power, again.

Loki blocked out everything else out around him, scepter in hand, and slowly started to gain speed on that one Chitauri soldiers.

He blocked everything else so much so that he did not notice when the Hulk finally landed a pulse near the open gateway, knocking the entire score of soldiers down, save one who, oddly, stood in the middle of the group. He didn't notice when that one particular soldier crouched down next to the unconscious general and stabbed him through with his own weapon before the Chitauri general could be detained.

000

Author's Notes (two): nearing the end here. Like REALLY nearing. There may only be one or two more chapters, and that may or may not include the epilogue. We will see how well I can wrap things up. I don't want to just cut the story off, but I don't want it to drag on to the point where it loses any drama either!

I would love to know how you think that this is going to end! Feel free to review or PM me!

Love you always,

A.F