PART 4: REVOLUTION
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
-Albert Einstein-
She narrowed her eyes, glancing left and right, above and below. Nothing had changed.
She glared at the Gatekeeper, someone definitely not Heimdall. He appeared more like a mercenary than a guard, his shaved head covered in tattoos and his armour scraggly and deformed. She prepared her staff, readying herself in position, as she asked him, "Who are you?"
"Whoa," the man said. "Easy. I am the Gatekeeper. Skurge? Never seen you here but anyways—I replaced Heimdall not long ago."
Ase was not convinced, tightening her grip on her staff. "Where is he?" she demanded. Skurge trembled under her threat and stepped back slowly. What has happened? Has Asgard been taken away?"
"He was banished. He defied the king's orders multiple times. He's no longer in Asgard."
The information stunned her for the longest moment in recent years. "What?" she exclaimed. It's true she had not stayed for long in Asgard, but from mere observations alone she knew Odin had a deep trust in Heimdall. He would not banish his confidant so easily, especially since the treason he had committed had been for Asgard's benefit. Calming down, Ase swallowed the bitter truth and sighed.
"Fine. No more Heimdall then." Ase returned her staff to its place and walked past Skurge.
"Whoa wait!" Skurge said. "You cannot just go like that! I'm supposed to hand over strangers to—"
Ase whirled around and glowered at him. "I am no stranger, for your information. My name is Ase, daughter of Rhea. Ask anyone in Asgard and they will know my name."
She was uncertain if that was true, but her words at least silenced him. Ase stepped out of the observatory and squinted her eyes as the blinding sunlight shone on her. The sight of Asgard, her second home, warmed her heart dearly. She breathed in the clean fresh air, filled with magic and power, and smiled softly.
This was the place where her heart belonged. Almost.
There were no horses around, so Ase resorted to teleport herself in short distances towards the palace. All the while, she observed any significant changes in the city, to confirm her suspicions. There were none—the people were still lively, the children running down the streets, the sound of soldiers marching through. It was as if the Dark Elf incident had not occurred at all.
To those who live for thousands of years, grievances must have been trivial to them.
At last, she arrived at the doorsteps of the palace. The guards seemed to recognised her and made no move to block her path. Ase looked around again, her suspicions dying down—perhaps she was over-speculating after all. The idea gave her a sense of relief and solemnness, knowing she would not be able to see him again.
But as she stepped into the palace, and saw the gigantic statue standing before her, its golden armour glittering under the sun, she took her words back. With fury, her heart pacing once more, she rushed into the palace.
Son of a bitch.
oOo
Loki growled under his breath and scratched his hair, or Odin's hair, to be precise. He lifted his head, expecting a beautiful view of the gardens he had so carefully refurbished to suit his needs, only to see stacks of ochre paper towering him like menacing mountains. Why do I need to deal with so much paperwork?! he protested to himself. At these times he wished Asgard had adopted the documenting technology Midgard did, but doing so in the form of Odin would be outright suspicious—one of the things he hated the most was Midgardian technology.
That being said, it would do him no harm to continue reading from the garget Ase had given him.
Loki aimlessly flipped through the documents in his hand. Birger's letters stared back at him, his ever-polite words exuding the man's aura. Loki rubbed his temples and wondered how the Jotuns could turn from a barbaric civilisation to one of their most trusted allies; and how a Jotun like Birger could exist to begin with. Birger had done nothing but build diplomatic ties with Asgard, receiving funds and support to rebuild Jotunheim from the Aesir. Silently, Loki wished her could be like him, a wise ruler who had an unclouded moral conscience, just like his daughter.
"My king," a guard said as he appeared in the study. "You have an audience. She claims herself as Lady Ase."
Loki almost threw himself off his chair when he heard her name. Why is she here? he thought out loud. After losing her mother and him, he had expected that the pain would be too much for her to return to Asgard again. But his guards never lied, she had never lied.
The guard perplexedly watched as Loki adjusted himself from his slouched position and cleared his throat. "Let her in," Loki ordered calmly. The guard retreated hesitantly and Loki waited, his muscles tensing at the sound of her light footsteps. When she appeared, he held his breath and his heart sank.
The long, luscious ashen blonde hair had been cut into jagged strands of locks merely reaching her shoulders. Dark markings under her eyes suggested a lack of sleep, which was worse than the usual ones she had.
Whatever she had gone through, she truly suffered.
"Ase," Loki greeted plainly, in Odin's face, trying to hide his dismay. "Welcome back to Asgard."
Ase bowed deeply. "King Odin. I believe Asgard has been well while I was away?"
Loki nodded and stepped out of his desk. "The damaged houses have been rebuilt, the people joyous again. It truly has—"
Loki choked as a powerful punch connected to his jaws, launching him off the ground and sending him to the stacks of paper. A resounding boom followed, with the sheets of paper hovering above him.
"YOU SHAMELESS PIECE OF BULLSHIT!" Ase shouted, the loudest voice he had heard in his life besides the Hulk's roar.
It took Loki a few moments to register what was going on as he struggled to regain his grasp on reality. "Oh shit," he muttered. Ase paced towards him and pulled him by his collar from the floor, her eyes swollen red. "Wait—"
Ase headbutted him dead on and every sign of Loki's illusion dissipated, erasing Odin from sight and revealing the true God of Mischief beneath.
"You think it's funny, don't you? You think that I will easily believe that you're dead just like that?" Ase threatened him sharply. "Oh, no, Loki Laufeyson. I've read so many Norse mythology throughout my life and not a single story of yours leave out any deception or trickery!"
"Wait," Loki stuttered. "Let me explain—"
Loki yelped when Ase smacked her had on his forehead again. This time, Ase did not speak. Loki blinked and slowly regained his grasp once more. He felt cold drops touching his face. Ase did not move, a groan suppressing the tears welling at the corner of her eyes.
"Why did you lie to me?" she whispered. Guilt swept over him as he realised what he had inflicted on Ase. Her last words before he 'died' reminded him that to Ase, he was not a criminal. He was not the God of Mischief, not the destroyer of Jotunheim. To Ase, he was just another person she loved. He felt stupid for lying to her, for doing his so-called 'redemption'.
"I'm sorry—"
Before he could continue, Ase had pulled him into an embrace, a very warm embrace. Had she been this warm the whole time, beneath that cold exterior? "Thank the heavens you're alive," she said. "Stupid! Do that again and I'll kill you!"
At least she hasn't changed, Loki thought. Ase slowly pulled away and smiled at him. A sense of relief graced him and he too, for the first time in a while, sincerely smiled.
The last time he had been this close with her was when he bid her farewell, and truly she had never been so beautiful. It is true that Asgardians or Jotuns do not age as quickly as humans should, nor should their physical appearances metamorphosise so swiftly, but her face did—her jaws more angular, her lips softer, her skin paler, and her shorter hair glistening gold.
If he told himself that he didn't want to kiss her, he would be lying to himself. But he dared not do so, for there was something different between them—a disparity resulting from his falsified death. He could not discern her feelings for him at the moment, and he would not force her to tell him so.
"You've cut your hair," Loki remarked hesitantly, reaching her locks of her hair.
Ase shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "You've grown yours." She stared at him, marvelling at his own appearance. He was not as handsome as other Asgardians, but he sure was more charming and melancholic.
"I think both don't suit us as much."
Ase let out a small chuckle before her face darkened. "Now, enough of the touching reunion. Explain to me… about everything."
oOo
Ase's inner self struggled not to pound her head against Loki's again as she internalised the bulk of information Loki had told her. On the surface, his deceit had merely protected himself, but she should have expected more from this man. His deceit was not without purpose, almost visionary even. And the story behind the deceit was wrapped in an even bigger incredulity.
If he was not lying to her, Odin had personally given Loki the throne and the right to rule over Asgard before he mysteriously disappeared after Malekith's invasion. Loki dared not reveal his location to her. He was given a chance to redeem himself by rebuilding Asgard, and so far he seemed to be doing a marvellous job—albeit doing several questionable actions like building a statue to glorify himself. Nevertheless, he did a marvellous job, and the people lived nothing but happy lives after the ordeal. Ase believed that there must have been a certain level of trickery on Loki's part, but she could not protest further as she also deemed Odin as unfit to rule after Frigga's death.
"And you're saying that banishing Heimdall is merely a ruse?" Ase asked him as she picked up the papers scattering across the floor. The letters, much to her surprise, were legitimate diplomatic agreements and draft policies which should not have been in his possession if he were the same God of Mischief from New York.
Loki pursed his lips and nodded hesitantly, edging out the stack of papers in hand. "For what reason?" she further inquired.
"Both of us know that the Infinity Stones are too dangerous to remain in this world," Loki explained. "I want to find a way to destroy them. But I need to collect all of them."
Ase's eyes brightened when he heard his words. "Where did you know of this?"
Loki pulled something from under the desk and threw it at her. Ase caught it flawlessly and stared at the contents of the book. The familiar handwriting sparked the memory of gentle yet firm hands writing on the paper. "This is mother's handwriting… She's been researching about the Stones?"
"Under the orders of Odin and her own initiative," Loki said, huffing as he laid down the last of the stacks of papers. "I found it in her stash in the Head Sorcerer's Tower. She's written convincing theories regarding the Stones, so I doubt her methods would fail."
"But why Heimdall, of all people?" Ase asked, looking up from the book. "You should know that he is the Gatekeeper for a reason."
"His ever-seeing eyes are precious for Asgard's defence, I know, but it's due to that very reason that I choose to send him out. If he can see everything, then he has a higher chance of tracking the Stones with his bare eyes."
"If he overdoes that, he might need an eyedrop or two," Ase whispered to herself.
"What?"
"Nothing."
They were overcome with a necessary silence for a few minutes. "Has he found anything yet?" she further asked. Loki leaned against his desk and folded his arms, his expression grim and anxious.
"He has heard rumours of the Power Stone being used in the year of Malekith's invasion, but he hasn't found where it is located yet."
Ase flipped through the pages and found diagrams of tools and containers she assumed would theoretically store the Stones' powers. Rhea truly deserved her fame as an enchanter. Her diagrams and designs were impeccable in any manner, and she was sure any blacksmith would easily forge them with the specific instructions written. But each design ended up the same like the others—scratched red, denied as impossible, or simply being left out. It was on the last page which she found a clean, untouched diagram. A picture of a golden gauntlet, with 6 holes meant for each Stone engraved on it. Ase widened her eyes.
"I can't believe it," Ase muttered to Loki, noting the date of the journal's entry. "She has found a way to use the Stones at once over fifty years ago."
Loki formed a smile and nodded. "Rhea is indeed the smartest sorceress in history. I requested this item to Eitri, the king of the Dwarves, forger of Mjolnir, but he refused to make it, knowing its dangerous capabilities when fallen to the wrong hands."
"Well, you just need to convince him again, don't you? You're the Silver Tongue and you're the best at this," Ase said confidently. Loki blinked at her in disbelief, surprised by her absolute confidence and trust in him.
"I'll try," Loki whispered with another smile. This time, Ase really paid attention on his facial features as he did so. A strange feeling washed over her. She was not a person who considers one's physical charm, but she could not deny that all Asgardians were attractive, really attractive. And Loki was on a whole different world compared to them. Looking past his questionable behaviour, he was actually a decent man.
I have loved you, Ase. This is my word.
She lowered down her head and unconsciously, a faint blush crept up her cheeks. Why was she remembering this now?
"Right. Anyways," Ase said, clearing her throat. "I wish to find the other stone, the Soul Stone. That's why I come back here, to inform you. But since you've had a plan in motion, I will just need to do my part. I'll borrow a ship, if you'll allow me, and embark out of Asgard where presumably I can find the Stones in time."
Loki stepped forward and in a flash she was in front of her. "Please don't do that."
Ase lifted her brows, then frowned. "What? You're protecting me now?"
"Is it wrong to worry for your safety? For heaven's sake I've seen you dying and I don't want to see that again." His words stung himself, and Ase winced for him.
"I'm not going to die this time," Ase assured him. "You have no idea what I've been through on Earth. I can't say that my experience was better than yours, but it did hone my skills."
"Nothing can hone your skills better than by fighting against me," Loki retorted.
"Oh really? You want to prove it? Maybe this time you will die for good," Ase shot back playfully. Loki scoffed, knowing that he was no match against her physically, though perhaps he could outmatch her strategically with a slight method of cheating.
Loki pursed his lips. Certainly, she did not need protection. Hell, perhaps she was the strongest woman he had encountered, but that did not rule her out from encountering more powerful enemies. He had seen one, a mad man who glorified himself as the saviour of universe. Loki had seen personally what he could do, what he would do to beings as powerful as her whom he knew he could not get rid of so easily. He had experienced it first-hand.
But the pain he had suffered was not for nothing.
"Thanos," Loki whispered, looking away as he relived the agony Thanos had subjected him to. Ase sensed a turmoil within him and shivered. "Beyond the Nine Realms, his threat looms at large. I don't want you to meet him. I don't want you to find him."
Ase finally understood. "He's the one, isn't he?" she asked slowly. "The man who wants to collect the Stones?"
Loki rubbed his temples, his exhaustion seemingly overtaking him. "I don't know for sure, but our conversations surely implied that he was planning so. But implications are signs, and signs are warnings of the future. So, I decided to take the action by myself."
"You sound as wise as Odin now," Ase quipped. "Maybe you can start to look like him."
"I am not jesting, Ase," Loki retorted sharply, taking her hands. "This man will do more than to kill you if he realises you are searching and knows the locations of the Stones as well."
He saw in her eyes a slight hesitation, the more human part of Ase. She was fearful as well, but that fear was masked by the sheer determination and will she had always had. Gently she placed her hands over his, and drew a deep breath.
"You know I need to do this," Ase said gently. "Because you cannot do it alone either. There is no other way, if you want to stop him."
Again, her uncanny method of convincing him worked. The overwhelming apprehension inside him melted down slightly, enough for him to accept her recklessness and inexorable fate.
"Fine," Loki finally relented. "I'll arrange for a ship for you by tomorrow. In the meanwhile…" Loki glanced around and saw that his ink bottle had been toppled on the floor due to Ase's assault previously. "But first, you need to help me to clean this place. I hate an unhygienic workplace."
Ase smirked and knelt on the floor, picking up the bottle of ink. Loki had changed, though inside he was still the same man who had almost killed her back in Helicarrier.
But she was grateful for that.
oOo
The Head Sorcerer's quarters had not changed much since she had last visited it, despite its inhabitant being replaced by a much older man whose wrinkles only spoke of his frailty rather than his accumulated wisdom as a sorcerer. Apparently, he preferred his own quarters and did not tamper with Rhea's belongings in hers even after a year of her death.
Ase lit up the candle she knew would illuminate the entire room at once—her mother had invented the candle many years ago, she had been told, and Asgard had never seen darkness since then. In an instant, Rhea's untouched books and journals were revealed, as well as the carved magic circle at the centre of the room. The calm light from the moon seeped into the tower, lighting up several magical tools lying on her desk.
She could feel her mother still living inside his room.
Ase glanced down at Rhea's Infinity Stone journal. Loki informed her that it was from Rhea's room, though she failed to ask him where. "A little bit of fun treasure hunt, if you may," Loki had said, much to her chagrin. Ase fiddled around with all the drawers, but found nothing as significant as Rhea's book.
After half an hour of searching aimlessly, Ase finally gave up. Rhea would not give up her knowledge so easily, she should have known. Sorcerers liked sharing their knowledge and keeping them at the same time. Particularly if such sorcerer was Rhea, who liked to invent and research on subjects even most controversial to Odin himself.
Before her, the grand magic circle stared back. She remembered vividly how her mother had first given her lesson in magic—one which almost destroyed her precious books. But if that was the case, why had she built a magic circle in a room?
Ase slumped down to the floor and crouched, examining the lines drawn on the circle. "It's a door," Ase realised. "But what is the key?"
It should be a spell. But what spell? A spell only Loki and Rhea knew.
A spell she also knew.
Ase stepped back and raised her hands, charging them with an incredible amount of force. She channelled it to the magic circle, which glowed fervently under the increasing pressure. But this time it shone eerily blue, unlike before, and the ground trembled. She almost tumbled when the magic circle opened up, as if machines had been embedded inside.
"As expected from the best enchanter in Asgard," Ase whispered to herself as she gingerly approached the chest. She lifted its cover and saw ten books stuffed inside: 9 leather books with written dates with 500 years interval, and a single blue book right at the edge of the chest. A small paper was laid out on top of them, reading:
To Ase, when I'm gone. Use these on your own discretion for the good of the people.
Ase frowned. The blue book caught her attention and she grasped it. There was no title or description, so she opened it to digest its contents. Her hands shook as she read the first entry, dating more than a thousand years ago.
November 10.
I have never encountered such a beautiful being in my life. As I held her against my chest, her frail body breathing softly, I cried. I cried knowing that this child would soon leave my arms, because our society would wish her more harm than good. I cried, knowing that she will suffer for eternity. I cried, because I will not be there for her when she needs me. But I knew that she will be alright. I know Ase will be alright.
November 11.
What is done has been done.
Although the second entry would be vague for strangers, its meaning was as clear as day to Ase. Her heart raced and she flipped through the pages, finding entries dating a millennium later.
January 5.
Elliot has opened her casket a few days ago. He said that she was in fine condition. I am truly grateful. He said they would be living in a secluded island, which would be best for Ase to nurture her powers. But I fear that she might discover her true heritage too soon. She will not be ready.
March 6.
Elliot said that Ase has been growing finely. She can walk now, I've heard, and even exhibits a small degree of my powers. I can't wait to see how fine of a woman she will become. How I want to be there and see her grow and mature. But Asgard's watch over me still threatens her safety… and I need to teach Odin's mischievous son, Loki. How painstaking it is to teach a boy. I just hope he will grow to be a fine man as well.
The next entry she managed to read skipped 9 years later, then 17 years, then 40 years.
August 20.
Elliot wrote to me a few days ago. He said that Ase defeated him in battle for the first time. How powerful my daughter has become, even without her mother. I am truly proud of her. Alas, I cannot tell this personally to her. And here I am trapped in the palace, constantly dealing with Loki's mischievous deeds and Thor's rambunctious brawls. If… Ase had grown up alongside them… what would it be like?
February 15.
Perhaps hiding the secret has never been a good idea. I don't know what to do anymore. Will Asgard know? Has Heimdall seen her? If Asgard starts to move against her, then perhaps this entry shall be my last. Ase, I hope you stay safe.
December 30.
It appears she no longer needs my watch. Has she hated me all this time? Perhaps she has. Anyone will. I cannot justify myself. But now I need to worry no longer. Let me be the guilty one. I don't mind. I deserve it. As long as she lives safely and happily.
Ase's body did not move, only her hands which instinctively reached for the last page. There it was, the last entry her mother had written, engraved freshly with ink. The year was 2013, the day before Malekith's invasion.
All my life I have lived with guilt, with the fear of the unknown. Tomorrow I shall wait for the unknown once more. I fear for her safety, for myself. And I have had dreams, of terrible premonitions casting their shadows upon Asgard. But I do not fear them. I am content. I have seen my daughter grow and mature to become the strong and marvellous woman she is. I have heard her scream out her hatred and anger towards me. I have seen that anger subside as I teach her the ways of the magic. I have seen her eyes, no longer seeing me as an abomination like herself. I have seen love. Those are beautiful things, the most beautiful things I have seen throughout my life. And that is enough. I am content, and whatever happens tomorrow, I will have no regrets.
If you are reading this, Ase, know that you are not at fault. All of us are not perfect beings, and that's what makes us beautiful. Strive on, defeat the darkness. And I hope you have forgiven me.
A single drop of tear marked the last page. Carefully Ase wiped them off and closed the book. She turned around to see Loki waiting by the door, smiling sympathetically at her. She nodded her head, wondering if this was his intention all along.
"Thank you," Ase murmured. "Now there is nothing holding me back anymore."
oOo
The chest was heavier than she had thought. The ten books worth of Rhea's lifetime knowledge were as heavy as the responsibility she bore now. The ship Loki had given her was a small one, but he informed her that it was the most practical and fastest to handle for a single traveller. Besides the chest, she had not brought anything with her aside from her weapon and spare food in the ship. Ase had also discovered Rhea's invention—the observation device she had used to calculate the timing of the Convergence. Coincidentally, it could be used to derive any spike of energies possibly indicating the presence of Infinity Stones as well, which would be of much help considering there were billions of galaxies to search in. Money was not of the essence in the vast universe, only her street skills—something she had no shortage of. The impending journey would be perilous, she knew, with alien worlds and new enemies awaiting her, but she was ready.
"Last time Heimdall contacted us was in Sakaar," Loki told her. "The Grandmaster's lair, someone you should not meddle with. You can find him there, but if you don't, then Heimdall has moved on to new systems." There were no guards nearby, thus Loki appeared in his true form. Apparently, he had dismissed them for a festival held downtown. Loki presented her with the bracelet she had forced him to wear during his imprisonment.
"I managed to unlock it after you left," Loki confessed. "Certainly not easy, but doable, after reading Rhea's notes. Don't worry, this won't bind you at all. It's only a tracking beacon to confirm your location."
Ase raised her brows and accepted the bracelet. She studied it curiously before she wore it around her left wrist. "That's a comforting thought. Thank you."
It saddened her slightly how quickly her time with him had passed, just after she discovered that he was safe and sound. "Don't die," Loki pleaded. Ase did not answer him and instead threw herself to his chest. She squeezed him tightly and breathed. Loki wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. Such a comforting embrace for two individuals who rarely felt true familial warmth. They wanted to stay that way, maintaining their touch, but the world could be so cruel.
"I won't die," she promised him. "And so will you." Ase pulled back and gleefully punched his chest. "Don't do anything stupid while I'm away. Or Thor will know what you're doing."
Loki chuckled nonchalantly. Ase paused momentarily before she turned around and braced herself. Fumbling with his hands, he watched silently as her figure slowly entered the ship. But before she truly closed the hip's hangar, she looked over her shoulder, straight into his eyes. "What you said back there. I hope it wasn't merely one of your lies."
Loki shuddered. He had not the time to reply before she disappeared into the ship. The wind around him beat into live, the ship leaving the surface smoothly.
"I didn't!" Loki shouted, knowing well that she could not hear his voice.
But he knew that she was, like him, smiling too. He would wait, wait until all of their ordeals were over, then he would say those words again to her.