Tony sighed deeply as he stood around with this Asgardian warrior, soldier, guard army or what ever it was.

He felt really out of place.

These warriors, all decked up in their fantasy gear and holding sword and stuff.

That Helbindi guy was standing around being blue and having red eyes. Not just the irish, all of it except the black pupils. All red. Really looked like a demon Tony had to admit. Also he wasn't wearing a shirt so his bare chest with all these weird markings was fully visible. Tony would have asked more questions if he weren't so nervous.

It was a good thing the rest of the avengers were here to so Tony wasn't all alone in this bizarre world, all suited up in their armor. Tony himself wore bracelets that would unfold into his armour in a second. Only one missing was Loki.

"So Loki just kind of zoomed over to that other place Jotunnheim?" Tony asked. "To open a portal…. How does that work exactly?"

"Loki travels through the branches of Ygdrasil, and it is also by using the branches he opens the portals." Thor replied.

"That made no sense what so ever!" Tony huffed. "What the hell is this Ygdrasil thing?"

"Well…" Thor wet his lip. "It's a sort of… Force. That binds the nine realms together." he informed. "The main source is at Asgard, the halls of Asgard are build right on top of the main source and it then branches out to the other nine realms. Sorceress can pull from this very source to create great magic, my father used it to prolong his own life. And Loki can use it to travel between the nine realms."

"So why can he only open portals at specific places?" Tony asked.

"I think it depends on the thickness of the branch." Thor replied honestly. "A thick branch allows Loki to open a big portal, a thin one and he can only slip in by himself."

"I may be ill-informed." Helbindi then suddenly butted in. "But from what I understand. Asgard itself wasn't build, but sort of grown using the power of Ygdrasil."

Thor turned to Helbindi. "What?" he asked.

"I assumed that was why destroying Asgard would take a portion of Helas power." Helbindi stated. "Think of it as… if the source of Ygdrasil is a tree. Asgards halls would be a fruit on one of its branches. And what Hela draws power from isn't exactly stone walls, but Ygdrasil."

Thor blinked. "I… I don't know." he then admitted. "I have to ask Loki. I must admit I never listened to the lessons they gave me as a child."

"But then…" Tony frowned. "If we destroy this thing, we also destroy your magic source right? Is that all right?"

"Well.." Thor hesitated. "I assume it will weaken Ygdrasil quite considerable which is the point. But from what father used to tell me. Ygdrasil is alive, it always grows. So I don't see why it shouldn't be able to grow back eventually."

"Oh so you did listen ones in a while!" a new voice sounded and all turned to see Loki seemingly stepping out of the empty air in a golden glimmer.

"Loki." Thor breathed.

"The portal between Asgard and Jotunnheim is open, the Jotunn warriors merely awaits their signal." Loki informed smoothly. "And as for your question. Yes, Ygdrasil is indeed alive. It always changes, its branches constantly grows and twirls while others wither and vanishes. We take from Ygdrasil when using large portions of our magic, but also give back when drawing on our own sedir. And yes, we will be cutting down some of Ygdrasil by taking Asgard." he said. "Ones again it is best to think of it as a tree. We will be cutting off part of the top." he said. "But that doesn't mean the end, Ygdrasil will indeed grow ones more. And the more we nourish it, the more it will grow. Though I fear it'll probably take at least ten thousand years before it reaches the same power as it has now."

"Loki… Is it true that Asgards hall were grown using the power of Ygdrasil?" Thor asked in a gape.

"Yes. It is." Loki informed. "That's why each and every wall, each and every hall is brimming with so much magic. Mages in the past used Ygdrasils power to just grow the entire city. The throne the all father sits upon is grown from Ygdrasil that was the first structure and then from there they spread the groth. And that's also why Hela can draw power from it. You thought she got such massive magic power from regular stone buildings?"

"Well I… erhm. I didn't really think about it." Thor admitted.

Loki sighed deeply as he turned around so his back was to them. "Stand back, I need to reopen the portal."

And everyone nodded as they did what they were told.

Loki sighed as he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Loki…" Thor spoke silently.

"What?" Loki asked annoyed.

"When… It's time to rebuild Asgard. I want to do it the right way." Thor said. "I think we should do it without abusing Ygdrasil so much."

"Thor… We'll talk about it later." Loki huffed.

"I'm sorry." Thor muttered. "I just hoped you agreed. I want us to rebuild Asgard together after this is over."

Loki sighed deeply. "Thor, we'll figure it out. One issue at the time."

Thor smiled lightly. "We…" he breathed, his smile warm and hopeful as Lokis hands lightened up in green.

And then it was like he just tore a big hole in the fabric of reality itself.

Tony blinked. "Wow…" he breathed. "You can just do that?" he stated.

"Only where there is a branch thick enough connecting the two realms." Loki sighed. "Also this only works within the nine realms where Ygdrasil connects them all. The universe is far bigger than just the nine realms."

"So there are definite limits. Still, man. If you could just open a portal between US and France, that would be sweet." Tony commented.

Loki groaned. "Anyway, are you all ready?" he asked and Thor nodded with the others. "Hulk, this is your time to shine." he smirked. "Be as loud and destructive as humanly possible!" he stated. "You will be the first ones to enter, then when Hela has noticed you and her army starts moving out of the palace. Jotunns will come from the basement. Hopefully these forces will demand her full attention allowing me to sneak Tony in through the back door. Remember the only ones allowed to take on Hela herself are Thor, Hulk and Valkyrie! Everyone else stay clear of her, and just concentrate on making a ruckus and stay alive!"

Thor nodded then put a firm hand on Lokis shoulder. "May the norns protect you brother."

"Heh, speak for yourself! You're the one going to make yourself very visible." Loki smirked then turned more serious. "Stay alive, you big fat oaf."

Thor grinned then turned to the portal taking in a deep breath. "Come on then!" he exclaimed as Thor stepped through the portal as the first one following by Hulk and the others standing in a long line as only three people could step through the portal at the time.

"See you Tony." Steve smiled as he stepped through as well.

"Make it work." Natasha winked as she and Clint jumped through and Tony sighed.

"Let us move to position." Loki suggested as he turned and started to walk away and Tony nodded as he walked with him.

"So erhm.. " Tony began. "How can you tell how thick a branch is?" he asked.

Loki frowned. "It's hard to describe." he admitted. "I can feel it, sort of. I can feel the branches stretching across the realms. At least when I make myself notice them."

"So you can ignore them if you want to?" Tony asked.

"I think… most Asgardians just ignore them to be honest." Loki stated. "Potentially Midgardians to. The branches are all around us and I do often wonder how no one except the sorceres notices." he commented. "Of course they are far stronger at Asgard itself, which just makes me wonder even more how so few notices."

"But being able to open those portal things and travel through them is not a normal thing to be able to do?" Tony asked.

"No…" Loki hesitated. "I erhm… I was told recently that my biological fathers ancestors were one with the ice and the snow, which means… Perhaps they were creatures of Ygdrasil." he looked at his hand.

"Biological father huh?" Tony asked. "What's he like."

Loki snorted. "A psychotic maniac who left his own new born to die and insisted to continue a loosing war sacrificing his own people in the process. Consumed by his own hatred and lust for revenge."

"EI!" Tony exclaimed. "Apple doesn't fall long from the tree does it?"

"What?" Loki turned to him.

"Sounds like you take after your biological father." Tony grinned.

"Do not!" Loki stated in a warning tone. "Even begin! You have no idea. None. So shut up or I shall sew your mouth shut for you. I need your mechanic capabilities, I don't need you to be able to talk."

"Sssh, touchy." Tony pouted as the two walked side by side where Tonys machine was standing at the branching point they intended to use.

Loki sucked in a breath, now they just had to wait their turn. The game was on.