It was not something Thor had known before, back when he was younger and before he had gone through so much, but now he did. Boy did he know… All this emotional stuff, crying and being angry.

It made you tired, it made you so very very tired, he wasn't even surprised that he could barely keep his own eyes open. After Loki had finally eaten a meal, Loki seemed to be in a rather similar position and both just kind of laid down each in their own bed without saying anything. The sun hadn't even gone down… But Thor was so tired. So extremely tired.

When he opened his eyes again it was pitch darkness, outside he could hear the faint sound of the ocean waves, reminding him he was back in Norway. He glanced up to see the thing that had woken him, Loki standing up from his own bed.

Oddly, Thor noted that Loki's hair was long again, perhaps Loki had just changed it to occupy his mind or… he just felt like it. Then Loki walked to the window and pulled away the curtains. He froze.

The next second Loki turned around and stormed outside.

That woke Thor up, he stumbled out of bed, nearly falling down as he ran after Loki. "Loki!" he called. "LOKI! Where are you going?!" he asked as he ran down the stairs and saw the door to the outside was open. Thor ran out and there he saw...

Loki, standing with his back to him, his long black hair swaying in the strong ocean wind that was also ripping at his clothes, looking up.

Thor looked up too and then his eyes widened as he gasped. "What in the AllFather's name?" he asked.

"Thor..." Loki swallowed, then he turned to Thor, his eyes shocked and scared. "We should not have used the Space Stone."

Thor was horrified as he looked up, it was so weird, it was like there were big holes in the carpets of stars, areas that were just completely black, there was nothing there. "Did… Did this happen because I used the Space Stone?" he asked.

"No… It was happening already." Loki swallowed. "Using the Stone though, sped up the process. The concept of space… It is collapsing, look! That star there! Keep an eye on it!"

Thor looked up to see a bright star, twinkling and blinking at him and then… It vanished. Simply vanished.

"That star belonged to Alfheim! It was their sun!" Loki exclaimed. "It's gone! And the entire area around it too."

Thor was shaking, he could barely even breath.

"Thor… There's not that much time left." Loki shivered then he turned to Thor, swallowing.

Thor nodded. "Then we better hurry."

Loki hesitated, then he held out a hand and in his hand appeared a golden cylinder which he reached to Thor. "You take it," he said. "I do not trust myself to not use it," he admitted.

Thor's eyes widened. "Loki?" he asked.

"Odin will be looking for us, he might even catch up to us, if I face him, I.." Loki swallowed. "I don't know what I'll do."

Thor's eyes dampened, then he nodded as he took the cylinder and put it into his own pocket dimension. "It takes an extremely wise and clever man, not to forget a strong man, to admit such a thing about himself," he stated.

"It's… just logic," Loki countered. "Using that Stone in particular could tear up reality itself at the current time. I will have my revenge on Odin, but for it to have meaning there needs to be a universe where it can take place."

"Loki… Is revenge really necessary?" Thor asked. "Aye, he wronged you but… What would it bring you?" he asked. "The last time you tried to get revenge, all it did was destroy you as you were caught up in a foolish errand. Why let Odin control your life? Why not just do what you desire free of his bounds?" he asked. "Wouldn't that be a better revenge anyway? Just you being free? And becoming more grand than he could have imagined? Not for his sake but only your own."

"I will admit, you are making a compelling argument," Loki admitted. "I shall have to reflect upon this… At a later time." Then he quieted, his eyes widening slightly.

"Loki?" Thor asked.

Loki swallowed. "Looks like… Heimdall finally found us," he stated as he turned to Thor. "I think… We might need to run."

Thor blinked. "What?"

Just then, a beam of pure light shot down right next to Thor and Loki, the energy so strong they both had to shield their eyes for a second and then when it was there gone stood a group of people.

Sif, the Warriors Three, and several Einherjar.

"Thor… Loki..." Sif breathed. "I am under orders of the AllFather to bring you home to Asgard! You can either come willingly or in chains. The choice is yours."

Thor swallowed as he stepped back, there were twelve Asgardians total in front of them. Mighty warriors.

Even so, Thor and Loki would actually have a decent chance if they chose to fight, both were considered some of Asgard's strongest warriors for a reason.

Loki's gift of being able to use illusions while fighting as well as his inhuman dexterity was the stuff of legends, and Thor himself, his basic strength was nearly unrivaled even among the Asgardians.

As it happened though… If they fought and won, all that would happen would be more Asgardians being sent down; they would waste time for nothing.

More than that, Thor didn't want to fight his own people and friends! If he wanted the slightest chance of winning, he would have to go all in and then someone would get hurt.

Sif… Fandral… Hogunn… Volstagg.

"Sif… Friends," Thor tried. "This is not what it seems, you must let us go."

"The orders came directly from Odin," Sif informed. "Thor... Please," she begged, her eyes pleading, her voice shaking.

Loki snorted as he crossed his arms. "And no one even questioned Odin's orders?" He rolled his eyes. "No one would even dare go against him!" he sneered. "So all are just supposed to follow his word blindly?!"

"Loki, not now. Please," Thor asked.

"You have the Aether and the Tesseract." Hogunn swallowed. "Thor, what are you doing?" he asked.

"Are you blind?!" Loki asked. "We're trying to fix that!" He pointed upwards.

They all quieted as they looked up.

"Planets and realms are vanishing and Odin's concern is us?!" Loki asked. "And you're just following his word like blind dogs?!"

Sif's eyes were wide. "What in the...?" she asked.

"The stars, what's happening to the stars?!" Fandral asked, bewildered.

"The bloody fabric of the universe is hanging by a thin thread!" Loki exclaimed. "I know it's hard for you lot, but try to use two brain cells instead of just one!"

"Loki," Thor calmly silenced him, then looked up. "Loki's words may be harsh but they are not untrue… The universe is collapsing, we are trying to fix it. Please," he implored.

"Then..." Sif swallowed. "You should explain that to the AllFather, he will listen."

Thor closed his eyes, hissing.

Loki snorted. "Any trust I had in the AllFather is now lost, you ought to think twice. You spend your entire lives following orders without question. Perhaps… learn to think one of these days. For once in our lives, it's time to think for ourselves," he stated.

"Loki," Thor breathed, looking at him then looked back at the others. "It's true... We've been acting blindly for so long. It is time to act on our own, to think for ourselves. To grow up."

Loki swallowed as he looked at the Asgardians.

"Thor..." Sif breathed, her sword lowering just slightly.

Then in a quick move Loki grabbed Thor and the next moment they were several yards away, as far away as Loki could teleport when he didn't know the terrain. "RUN!" Loki shouted and Thor nodded as they both turned and ran.

"THOR!" Sif's voice screamed. "AFTER THEM!"

Neither Thor or Loki paid much attention, knowing it was better to just get out of there.

"THIS WAY!" Loki shouted as he turned a sharp left.

"Where are we going?" Thor asked.

"I can sense a branch that way! We can slip into Yggdrasil!" Loki informed. "Provided I'll still have enough magic reserves to make the travel!"

"Well, don't use any more magic then!" Thor requested.

"That was the plan," Loki snorted back just as a group of Einherjar came from the side.

Thor closed his eyes. "Please forgive me," he whispered and then swung Mjolnir at them, releasing a great crack of thunder, pushing the soldiers back, buying Loki and Thor more time.

Suddenly a big beam of light appeared in front of them and Thor and Loki were forced to stop, more Einherjar had been sent down from Asgard to block their path. Thor sent another bolt of lightning, charring the ground, and then Thor and Loki went to the left, trying to avoid the groups coming both from in front and behind.

"They brought horses," Loki gasped out. "We can't outrun them!"

Thor hissed. "Well Loki, I suggest you hang on then."

"Huh?" Loki asked. He didn't get another word in though as Thor grabbed Loki's hand with one hand, and then swung Mjolnir with the other. Then by the force of Mjolnir's thrust he allowed the hammer to lift him up in the air as he held onto Loki's hand and Loki too was lifted off the ground only held up by Thor's hand.

"ARGH!" Loki screamed in shock as he reached up, grabbing Thor's arm with his free hand. "Tho-THOR!" he screamed. "What are you doing!?"

"Using Mjolnir to fly," Thor replied and Loki looked down with wide eyes to where his feet were dangling far above the ground and warriors were shouting.

"SINCE WHEN DID YOU START USING YOUR HAMMER TO FLY?!" Loki shouted.

"Other timeline," Thor replied. "Had to get somewhere quick and it just kind of came to me."

Loki gasped, holding on for dear life. "That has to be the stupidest thing you've done yet," he stated, only to shriek as an arrow came right for them. "THOR!"

"Kind of using both my hands here," Thor hissed and then had to make a sharp curve to avoid an arrow, making Loki shriek again.

"You need to go west! The branch point is west!" Loki exclaimed.

"Errrh." Thor halted.

"YOUR RIGHT!" Loki shouted.

"Ah." Thor nodded and changed direction as people were running beneath them.

For a while they flew. Loki seemed to have somewhat calmed down though he was still clinging to Thor, he was just concentrating on the ground. "There," Loki spoke. "That big cliff, at the foot of it, is the entrance point."

Thor exhaled deeply. "Good, let's get out of here," he suggested as he lowered them and finally let go so Loki could safely land on his feet, and Thor landed right next to him.

Loki sighed deeply as he straightened out his clothes and ran a hand through his black hair, then he looked at Thor. "Any other new tricks I should know about?"

"I don't actually need Mjolnir to shoot lightning anymore, I can do that on my own," Thor informed.

"Well you are the god of thunder, about time honestly," Loki replied. "Come on, it's right over here," he informed, taking a few steps to the left only to stop, as the point of a sword was right at his throat and Loki was forced to step back with raised hands as a warrior maiden stepped out.

"Not another step," Sif hissed.

"Sif," Thor gasped.

"What did you do to Thor?" Sif asked Loki.

"ME?!" Loki asked. "We are at this again?! Why me?!" he asked.

"Ever since Thor was supposed to be crowned," Sif hissed. "He hasn't been like himself! Not the slightest!" she hissed, her eyes growing misty. "Refusing to become King without giving a reason? Closing away in his chambers? Then running off with you?" she asked, her sword up at Loki's throat again. "Now he is disobeying orders from Odin himself! It's not like Thor! Only you can do such mind tricks, you desired for Thor to look bad! I heard you, heard what you said before! RELEASE HIM!" she demanded, her eyes wet.

"Sif." Thor stepped forward, grabbing the edge of her sword with his bare hand, then pulled it down. "Stop, my mind is my own. I assure you. Loki didn't lead me on this quest, I was the one bringing him."

"Thor." Sif looked up with wet eyes. "What's going on?" she asked. "You stole powerful artifacts, artifacts no one should wield."

"It is just like Loki told you," Thor informed. "The universe is collapsing, we have to fix it."

"Even if that is so, why this way? Why the secrecy?" Sif asked. "I don't understand! Who are you?" she asked.

Defeated, Thor looked at her. Then he sighed. "It looks like, no matter what timeline I am in, I am always hurting you. I'm so sorry," he breathed.

Sif blinked. "What?" she asked.

Thor lowered Sif's sword for her, then let go. Sif looked down then gasped as she realized Thor's palm had been cut and blood was flowing from his hand, Thor wasn't even reacting though. "Sif, please. Let us through," he asked.

Sif shook her head. "Odin ordered, and asked me directly. He said we shouldn't be distracted by sentiment."

Loki's mouth was in a sneer, he was obviously about to speak but Thor held up his hand and Loki actually kept quiet as Thor turned back to Sif.

He grabbed her hands and looked at her seriously. "Look at me, do you really think I am working with ill intent?" he asked.

Wide-eyed, Sif looked up into his eyes. Then her eyes grew wet and she shook her head.

Thor looked at her softly and Sif looked down.

"What's happening, Thor?" Sif asked. "I don't understand."

"I'll tell you when my mission is done, I promise," Thor said, then he leaned over and kissed Sif on the forehead, making her eyes widen, then finally he let go of her hands and walked past her. "Come on, Loki," he asked and Loki followed, past Sif who stood with a hung head.

Loki turned to Thor. "You do know that against the both of us she would have been incredibly out matched right? Knocking her out would take a second at most."

"That's not the point Loki." Thor sighed deeply as he heard footsteps of more soldiers. "We really need to go." He reached up his hands with the palms towards Loki.

Loki looked at them, the blood flowing from Thor's right hand, then he looked up but didn't say anymore as he pressed his hands against Thor's, not commenting on the blood now also smearing his own hand. "Where to?" he asked.

"You know where," Thor replied.

Loki swallowed but nodded. Then they slipped away just in time for the warriors to see. It was too late though, they were gone.


Traveling through the branches of Yggdrasil, Thor and Loki moved… Downwards.

Down… and down, to where it was dark and cold, the branches grew thin, they had to make detours and turn around as branches had started to snap, disappear, and then it stopped as in front of them was a vast empty space of… Absolutely nothing.

One step more… And they were in the void.

Loki was quiet, absolutely quiet. Even in his energy form used for Yggdrasil traveling he was tense.

Communication was exchanged through thoughts rather than voices, but it was easily understood.

"It's okay, Loki. We'll be okay," Thor assured.

"So we are just going to dive headfirst inside?" Loki asked with hollow laughter. "Do you know how big the void is? It is… a void! Cold and without life, and you say Thanos hides in there? How would he even?"

"He does," Thor informed. "Loki… we need to do this. Just, follow my lead and whatever you do... No matter what... Don't let go," he asked.

Thor could feel Loki's grip on him tightening.

"Ready?" Thor asked.

"No," Loki replied. "But I suppose we've come this far."

"Aye," Thor said. "On three…. One, two..."

And Loki breathed. "Three."

And then they stepped through, into the darkness, into the nothingness, into the void.