Read Me, I'm Important!: I want to thank everyone who has been reading and reviewing. Y'all have really made this experience wonderful. The next chapter is sadly the last chapter. It's time to end this story on a high note and begin a new adventure! Thank y'all for joining me on this adventure and sticking with this story. It really means a lot to me.

Let's see if we can get this story over 100 reviews before it finishes after next chapter! That would be spectacular!

Anyway, you know the drill.

Read, Review, and above all... Enjoy!


Kaleria lied on her back; staring up at the bright blue sky and watching clouds pass by slowly. The breeze sending shivers up her spine as she felt the cool ground underneath her. Her breath escaping her lips with a soft sigh, leaving smoky trails in the air from her naturally warm body heat.

She lied lifeless in the stillness of the field; the furthest field from the palace, hidden from the rest of Asgard, and she was alone. Earlier in the morning, she found her handmaiden, Aersie, and asked her to keep Henrik (after apologizing profusely for not letting Aersie continue her little mini vacation that Loki sent her on). Aersie was happy to obliged, admitting she missed taking care of Henrik.

It pained her to leaved Henrik but, she was unraveling. She could sense it deep down; her sanity was slowly coming undone. The last thing she wanted was Henrik to see her spiral downward.

She needed to think. She needed the space and distance from the world. Her mind racing from thought to thought, theory to theory, fact to fact; nothing added up like it should. Could she trust Loki? Could she start over with him and start their lives as a family once more? Possibly, it was a possible scenario among many others. The problem was simple, like in every scenario she found herself facing, would Loki change?

Kaleria wasn't dumb. She knew Loki was up to something. He disappeared at all hours of the night, she felt the empty side of the bed, and she knew he wasn't there. She played this game before. Yet like this game before, she was always three steps behind Loki and he knew that. It was his advantage that he did not take lightly.

She knew she couldn't trust him. That was a given. Yet, where did that leave her, where does she go from here?

With a wave of her hand, Kaleria conjured a fire ball, contouring it to her whim, making different shapes before her eyes. Any form of distraction was a good distraction. She watched the fires twist and turn, forming different shapes and sizes as she grew more lost in thought.

She needed a plan; she needed some sort of plan to fall back on. If Loki was up to no good, she needed to be a step ahead, she needed an escape route. Kaleria knew Loki would have to choose between power and his family. She was going to give him that one last benefit of the doubt. If not, she had to be ready to leave with Henrik; it was for his protection.

She sighed once more, extinguishing the flames she created as she realized this would be harder than she thought.


"Thor still has not returned?" Volstagg asked in complete surprise.

Kaleria shrugged. "No one has seen him yet."

"Do you think he survived the fight with Malekith?" Fandral asked.

"We would have heard something if he didn't make it." Sif surmised. "At least Kali would have."

Kaleria bit her lip. "Maybe I should go find him."

"Impossible, the gate keeper is here." Fandral jested, looking at Heimdall.

"I cannot see anything outside this room." Heimdall said. "There is a heavy magic here keeping me blind."

"You are our eyes and ears, Kali." Sif said. "Are you sure you've heard nothing?"

She shook her head. "It's strangely quiet."

"Maybe you can try talking to the All Father?" Fandral suggested.

Kaleria began to feel that sinking feel again as she avoided the request. "I will find out something soon. I'm sure of it."

"Where is Henrik today?" Volstagg asked. "I hardly ever see you without him."

Kaleria forced a smile. "I needed some me time to relax. You all said I looked tired last we spoke."

"You still look tired." Fandral commented.

Kaleria smiled wryly. "I didn't say I was very good at relaxing." The group eyed her suspiciously before she changed the subject. "I will ask the All Father." She spoke in defeat, knowing it was the only way to appease the group and keep them from asking questions about her.


Hesitantly, she wandered to the All Father's relic's room. Her gut told her she would find him there, no matter how wrong she wished she was. Odin was pacing his relic's room, slowly walking passed different items, stopping in front of a few to admire them. Kaleria quietly walked into the room, watching him carefully as he went. "It is not easy to sneak up on an old man." Odin's voice echoed through the room, echoing through her very being. He turned to face her this time. "You have questions?"

Kaleria nodded, forcing herself to take a few steps forward. She bowed her head in respect before speaking. "I wish to know if you have heard from Thor."

Odin pursed his lips. "I have."

Kaleria's eyes widened. "Is he all right?"

Odin thought for a moment before speaking. "He has chosen to stay on Midgard with the mortal woman."

"So he's safe, everyone is safe?"

"Yes."

"Then why are the warriors and Heimdall still locked away?" She asked. "Why has no one mentioned Thor was all right?"

"We are restoring order and peace." Odin said, looking back at a certain relic. "We cannot rush such a feat."

"But what about my sister, what about them; surely they do not need to be punished anymore?"

"I was betrayed." Odin's voice was harsh. "Traitors in the house of Odin cannot be tolerated and forgive so easily."

"I betrayed you." Kaleria boldly reminded him.

"You had a child to care for." Odin said. "I would not take a mother from child."

"They have done nothing wrong; they helped save the Nine Realms." Kaleria argued. "Forgive me, All Father but, they should be released."

"They will be when I see fit." Odin turned to face Kaleria, a menacing glare on his face.

That's when she saw it; the flash of ice blue in Odin's one good eye. As if he knew her next move, Odin stepped out of the way as a speeding fireball flew by his head. Before he could speak, another fireball shot directly for him. Odin quickly dodged it before a golden glow surrounded him, multiplying him into seven different projections. Kaleria growled. "That won't stop me."

"But it will slow you down."

Kaleria shot fireball after fireball at the different projections, trying to find the real Odin as she moved closer to the projections. Fireballs hit different objects, blasting through projections and hitting items behind the projections. Loud crashes echoed throughout the room as she kept blasting fireballs at the All Father.

Finally, she closed the gap between them. Her hands on fire as she slashed at the different projections before a hand grabbed her wrist. "Don't do this, Kali."

"Do not call me that!" She hissed, as she concentrated all her power to her wrist, heating it quickly forcing Odin to let go. "What have you done with Odin?"

"I'm merely taking his place for now." He replied, dodging another attack from Kaleria.

"Where is he?" Lashing out at him once more. "What is this all about, Loki?"

Unbeknownst to her, guards had rushed into the room, unsheathing their swords and ready to attack as they encircled her. She was panting as she realized she was now outnumbered. Odin backed away as much as he could from Kaleria. "Guards, take Lady Kaleria to her room and make sure she stays there."

"Do not listen to this imposter!" Kaleria yelled. "It's Loki; it's been Loki this whole time!"

Odin sighed. "The Lady is clearly not well and suffering from the death of her husband. She has turned against me and is a danger to herself and everyone around her. It would be best to keep her son away from her."

"Don't do this." Kaleria felt tears sting her eyes out of anger and fear. "Do not take him away from me."

"She is unfit and unstable to take care of him now." Odin said as the guards kept their swords pointed at her. "I will speak with her later, take her now."

The guards forced Kaleria to leave the relic's room, tears streaming down her cheeks as she glared at the imposter. He stood there, emotionless as Kaleria was forced out of the room and to her chambers. To the rest of Asgard, she was attempting to assassinate the All Father, but in the truth, she was really trying to save the crown. Now, she was to be locked in her room.


Aersie held Henrik outside Kaleria's chambers, her eyes wide as she saw the guards walking her to her room. "What is happening?" Aersie asked.

"The Lady has been deemed unstable; please take the child away from here." A guard spoke, as they opened her chamber door.

Kaleria looked at her son as he began reaching out for her. Kaleria felt her heart race as she immediately tried to reach for him. "Let me hold him!" She demanded.

Henrik began to panic as the guards grabbed at Kaleria, forcing her back from him. He soon began to cry at all the commotion. "Get her in the room!" A guard shouted. "Take the child out of here!"

Kaleria felt her body burn, her skin crawling as she felt the fire become uncontrollable. "Do not take him!" She shouted as Aersie held Henrik tightly, an apologetic look on her face. "Do not let Odin take him!"

The guards quickly pushed Kaleria into the room, a few burning their hands in the process as Kaleria fell into her chambers, fire forming all around her as the doors closed.


Odin stood outside her chambers, staring at the charred door. "She quieted down over an hour ago." He said. "The door knob is still very hot, we recommend using this." He handed a thick cloth to Odin.

Odin nodded. "This door does not open, is that clear?" The guards nodded. "No one comes in unless I call for you." Odin placed the cloth on the door knob, feeling the heat even through the cloth as he opened the door and entered the room.

The room was dark; the smell of fire and ash intoxicating the room as he moved forward, his form changing the moment he knew it was safe. "She burnt the damn room down." He muttered as his eyes adjusted properly to the room.

He saw her, curled up in the corner with her head on her knees. Her body was glowing dimly as she sat there. The wall behind her was covered in soot and ash, outlining her body where she sat. He did this to her and he knew that. He broke her heart too many times, disappointed her one too many times, and then took her son from her. He was the undoing of this woman; the love of his life. She finally moved, startling Loki slightly as he watched her lift her head lazily. She was weak; he could see that in the emptiness behind her eyes. He was prepared for her to attack, knowing if she hadn't done so already, he was safe for now.

She just stared at him, the glow of her body fading more as she looked right through him. This wasn't the woman he married, he completely destroyed all trace of her the minute he betrayed her trust. This was her pain and anguish finally appearing on the surface. "Kali…" He whispered. Without another word, she put her head back down to her knees, avoiding him once more. Loki sighed, rubbing his temples before admitting aloud to the woman who would not have it. "I have released your sister and the others." He had hoped that would stir some reaction from her yet received nothing. "Our son is fine, he's with Aersie." Her body began to glow again at the mention of Henrik. Loki watched Kaleria's body turn bright orange, lighting the room as she lifted her head.

"He is not your son." She gritted her teeth as she launched a fireball in his direction. Loki dodged it quickly, nearly being missed by the fireball as he watched Kaleria stand up, her eyes now glowing bright orange. The last time he saw her like this was when she thought him dead. "You will never see him again." She threatened, her body covered in flames.

"You're not thinking clearly, Kali. Let me explain." Loki tried to remain calm.

"There is nothing to explain!" She roared. "You will never change, Loki! Thor is probably dead, Odin is probably dead too."

"They are both fine, Kali, I promise."

"You promise?" She scoffed. "You promise? Forgive me for not taking your promises seriously." He knew with the heat she was emitting, he'd be burned easily. Against his better judgment and all reasoning, he removed himself of his Asgardian form, his body turning blue and eyes turning red. The coldness of his Jotun skin keeping him a normal temperature as the room heated up quickly. "You are the monster I had nightmares of." She hissed.

Loki narrowed his eyes. "You're being irrational."

"No, Loki." She glared. "I'm finally seeing things clearly." With that, the room burst into flames, lighting the entire room and suffocating the air from it.

Loki inhaled deeply, forcing ice from his hands and beginning the cool the room. The temperatures evening for a battlefield he knew he could handle. His Jotun powers were ones he tried to hide, especially after finding out what he really was. Yet now, he could not be more thankful for the ice powers.

She attacked him with the curtain rod, the rod itself orange from the heat as she swung at him. Loki only had his knives to protect him as she kept swinging the rod. They clashed, sparks flying across the room as metal upon hot metal collided. The hot metal touched Loki's skin, causing him to hiss in pain as he grabbed it with his hand, forcing as much coldness to his hand as he did to prevent the burning sensation. He threw the pole and immediately grabbed at Kaleria's throat, forcing her back to the wall with a loud thud.

Her breath left her body harshly as she felt the burning cold on her neck. She quickly threw her hand up placing it on Loki's neck and forcing as much heat as she could focus. The two glaring at each other as pain shot through their bodies. "One of us will have to give in!" Loki hissed.

"Then give in." She growled, the freezing cold in her throat becoming too much, as tears began to fall down her cheeks.

Loki took note of the tears, his glare softening as he let go of Kaleria's neck. Kaleria quickly kicked him back, placing a hand to her neck and coughing as the temperature returned to normal. She regained her composure and ignited her hand once more as she saw this as her opportunity. Loki was on the floor, looking up at her with desperate eyes as she walked over to him; his skin returning to a normal color. "Just do it. I'm not fighting you anymore." Loki sighed. "So do it."

Kaleria kept her glare as she clenched her enflamed fist, ready to end it, ready to stop all her problems right here and right now. She would kill him and it would all be over, there would no longer be this never ending battle, no more suffering, she'd be rid of him. It was too tempting. She yelled out in frustration, throwing the fireball behind Loki and turning away from him as she cried. "I can't!" She hissed as tears fell from her eyes. "I can't do it."

Loki felt a wave of relief wash over him as he watched his wife turn away from him and stand against the wall, slamming her fist into it as she placed her head against it and wept. Loki stood, walking up behind her and forcing her to turn around to face him. She looked at him in confusion, anger, and a hint of adoration. That little hint in her eyes gave Loki the okay to forcefully pull her close into his arms, holding her tightly as she sobbed into his chest. He softly whispered to her. "It's all right, everything will be all right."

"I'm tired of fighting you." She cried. "I'm tired of this."

"I know…"

"Why can't we just be normal?"

Loki chuckled. "That wouldn't be much fun, now would it?"

"I hate you." She whispered.

"I know, and I hate you too."

"What happened to us?" She asked. "What happened to our plan of existing? What happened to you and me, me and you?"

"Things happened." He admitted. "Bad things happened."

She pulled away from him. "Then why can't we fix them?" She asked, wiping her eyes.

"We can."

Kaleria shook her head. "We can but, you won't."

Loki sighed. "What do you mean?"

"I can't be with you like this, Loki." She felt her lips tremble. "I can't be a part of this; I can't stand by your side while you try to take over Realms. You know I can't and I won't."

Loki nodded. "I know that, I do not expect you to."

"Just end this, stop this false dream of world domination and just exist with me."

Loki looked away from her this time, afraid to look into her eyes. "I don't think I can."

"Then I can't be with you."

Loki became angry, not at Kaleria but at himself. "What would you have me do? What do you want from me, Kali?"

"I want my husband back!" She argued. "I want you to stop this and just be my husband, be Henrik's father. Just stop this madness!"

"And if I can't?"

"Then I'm gone."

Loki's eyes went wide as he looked at her, he could see in her eyes she meant it. "You cannot be serious."

"I am, Loki." She said. "I've thought about it. I know what I must do. I'm leaving Asgard, with Henrik. We are going to start over and get away from all this. If you do not come with us and give up this need of power; then you will not see us again."

"I won't let you leave." Loki argued. "You can't just leave."

"We will find a way." She said. "I will never stop trying to run away from you."

Loki felt his chest tighten, he would lose her. He knew he was losing her if he couldn't give up this false dream. He walked away from her and to the window, looking outside at the night sky of Asgard; a sad smile on his lips as he spoke. "We always were fire and ice. Fire and ice was always destined for destruction." He turned and looked at her, the sad smile still on his lips. "Maybe we were never meant for anything but destruction."

"Come with us, start over with us." She pleaded. "It is possible to change this."

"But can I change?" Loki asked.

"Not here, this place is toxic." She said. "You cannot find peace here."

"You'd be better off without me." Loki replied.

Kaleria could feel a smile forming on her lips slightly. "Yes but, we know I enjoy what isn't good for me."

He fought a smile of his own as he walked over to her. "I don't know if I can go with you."

Her smile turned into a sad one. "You can, you just won't."

He nodded. "I don't want to lose you again."

"So don't. Come with us."

"You make it sound so easy." He said flatly.

"You're overcomplicating it."

Loki let out a low growl in frustration at his wife. "This all sounds too much like a goodbye. I hate it."

"It very well may be." She sighed.

He sighed, grabbing her face forcefully as he crashed his lips into hers. The two locked lips, her body trembling as a few stray tears escaped her eyes. They pulled away regretfully. "Please don't do this." He whispered into her lips. "It doesn't have to end this way."

"Then don't let it. Meet us tomorrow evening at the Bifrost." He remained silent as the two stared at each other, his hand finding hers as he entangled his fingers with hers. Kaleria's tears falling silently as no words were exchanged. Loki would eventually nod once before transforming into Odin and leaving Kaleria alone. This was their goodbye, and she knew it. She knew tomorrow when she left for the Bifrost… she would be traveling with only Henrik and that was that.


Final Thoughts: I must admit, it kind-of stunk writing this chapter. It hit close to home and some of the conversation between Kali and Loki I've actually had in real life... minus the powers and Bifrost and whatnot, of course. Who knows where the final chapter will take us! Leave something fun for me to read and I'll see y'all at the very end. Thank you again for reading.